Arsenal Back To Winning Over Nottingham Forest: Madueke Shines, Zubimendi's Beauty, and Champions League Focus

 Arsenal’s Big Win 

Arsenal put in an impressive performance, dispatching Nottingham Forest 3-0 in a dominant display that saw the Gunners grab all three points and a well-deserved clean sheet. Raya now has how many clean sheets since he joined Arsenal, some ridiculous number like that. Massive props to that defence. Back the the game, with a brand-new front three leading the charge, Arteta’s side sent a strong message, showing they mean business this season. A lot of positives from the game, but let's break it down.

Madueke’s Electric Performance: A Step in the Right Direction

Noni Madueke was the standout player for Arsenal against Forest. On the right wing, the young forward was a constant menace, showcasing pace, dribbling, and directness that made him unplayable at times. His performance was nothing short of electric, and he was central to Arsenal’s attacking threat. Neco Williams wont forget his in a hurry with the torrid time he had defending against Noni.

However, while Madueke created 5 big chances—the most by any Arsenal player on the pitch—his final product was still missing. Yes, he’s creating chances, but it’s about converting those into goals and assists. Still, it’s hard to ignore his influence on the match, and this is exactly why Arteta and Berta brought him in. The Gunners needed a player who could offer dynamism and creativity on the right, and Madueke is certainly delivering in that regard.

I’ll admit, I was one of the skeptics when Arsenal first signed him, but his recent performances have me eating my words. Sure, the jury’s still out when it comes to consistent goals and assists, but if he keeps playing like this, it won’t be long before those numbers follow. Even Gary Neville, who’s not exactly my go-to for praise, had this to say: 

“'I'll be honest with you, when Arsenal signed him [Madueke], I'd seen him play quite a lot at Chelsea. I thought....I can see why Chelsea sort of let him go. I tell you--- what a different player at Arsenal, and in the England games in the last few weeks'.” 

If Neville’s right about anything, it’s that Madueke has taken his game to another level since joining the Gunners.

Zubi’s Stunning Volley & Arsenal’s Depth

Of course, it wasn’t just Madueke who stood out. Zubizarreta’s stunning volley was a thing of beauty—peaches, as Wenger would say. The technique was immaculate, and it was a reminder of the quality Arteta has at his disposal. A player who’s fast becoming a crucial part of this team.

What also stood out was the depth of Arsenal’s squad. Mikel Arteta has a wealth of attacking options, and Leandro Trossard, who came on as a substitute, made an immediate impact with an assist for Zubimendi’s second goal. Trossard is a clutch player, and he’s shown time and time again that he can be relied upon to make a difference when needed.

Gyokeres Continues to Impress: 3 Goals in 4 EPL Matches

Viktor Gyokeres also deserves a mention. The Swedish striker scored his third goal in four Premier League appearances for Arsenal, continuing to prove his worth. Whether it’s a tap-in or a world-class finish, Gyokeres is in the right place at the right time. His job is to score goals, and so far, he’s been doing just that.

Left-Back Battle: Calafiori vs. MLS

One interesting subplot at Arsenal is the ongoing battle for the left-back spot between Riccardo Calafiori and MLS. Calafiori has impressed with his attacking runs and ability to create chaos on the left, but he still has the occasional lapse in concentration. MLS, on the other hand, is the more defensively solid option especially how he uses his body to shield the ball, but he doesn’t offer as much going forward, fine margins between those two at left back.

Both players have their strengths, and it’ll be interesting to see how Arteta rotates them throughout the season. I’d expect both to get plenty of minutes, especially as the season progresses and more competitions come into play.

Champions League: Arsenal’s Focus Turns to Bilbao

Image Credit: Arsenaldotcom

Looking ahead, Arsenal’s Champions League campaign is about to kick off, and their next challenge is a trip to Bilbao. While the Gunners have already beaten them in the Emirates Cup earlier this summer, the stakes are much higher now. Bilbao has started their La Liga season strong, winning 3 out of 4 games, and they’ll be playing at home, so this won’t be an easy test for Arteta’s men.

It’s important not to get complacent. Bilbao is a team with plenty of quality, and this is the real deal. Arteta will need to ensure the squad is fully focused and comes with the right mentality. One potential change could see Riccardo Calafiori rested for this game, with MLS stepping in to offer more defensive stability. It’s an opportunity for both players to stake their claim, and given the importance of the match, Arteta will be keen to get it right. In midfield without Odegard I may want to go with Merino, Zubi  Rice with Merino in the quasi 10 role. Start Ethan on the right, resting Noni ahead of the weekend game against City. Eze starts on the left with Gyok-9 still at the tip of the spear. On the bench, I still have Martinelli, Trossard (impact sub), Dowman (chaos), Calafiori, Hincapie, Madueke

Final Thoughts: Arsenal’s Momentum & A Long Season Ahead

Arsenal’s depth, attacking quality, and defensive options are looking strong as we move deeper into the season. Juggling Champions league, Carling cup and EPL games will be where we know how well Mikel Arteta has grown as a coach. Madueke, Zubimendi, and Gyokeres are all showing they have the ability to make a difference, and Arteta’s tactical flexibility is starting to show. With a solid win over Forest, the Gunners will want to carry this momentum into their Champions League opener against Bilbao. Sterner tests lie ahead in games Vs Athletico Madrid, Bayern and Inter. The gunners need to zone in to rack up as many away wins as possinble to finish higher on the Champions league table. Anyway as the season progresses, we would see thing unfold. Lets hope Mikel Arteta and the boiz get us off to a winning start in the champions league tonight. That is it from us here at #Anaijagunner, remember to like the blog post, Comment share your thoughts on my team selection and share the word. Do enjoy the game where ever you are....Ciaooo

Arsenal Internationals Recap & Nottingham Forrest Preview

Is this mic on? Oh yeah, mic is on, and Football is back. Did it go anywhere though? I mean, we had the  Internationals right? Not the same if you ask me, however, if your weekly dose of EPL game has to be interrupted by some international break, it might as well be a break where, first and foremost, no one gets injured while on national duty, second, your players are at the heart of goals and assists

Here goes the mini report for the boys while on National duty, (someone can correct me if wrong in the comments)  G-goal A-Assist

Ødegaard 1G 2A,  Madueke 1G 1A, Rice, 1G 3A 

Merino 4G, Zubimendi 1A, Gyokeres 1A, Nwaneri 1G

Not bad for a weekend's work if you ask me. The standout performer was obviously Merino for Spain with his 4 goals in 2 matches, his second goal against was my pick of the bunch, sublime finishing, and the 3rd one for his hat trick, top draw too. Ødegaard is in with a shout for his 10/10 performance against struggling Moldova. I have never seen a ''WhoScored'' rating of 10 out of 10, but he got one. Now to Madueke, those calling him the new coming of Saka's replacement really need to calm the heck down. Sure, the young man has acquitted himself to life at Arsenal quite remarkably, which is a lot of credit to his mentality following the vitriol his transfer triggered from the goonerverse generally. My hands are up to say, I wasn't too enamoured by his signing in the first place and would still hold out the jury on him till he starts to bang in GAs consistently. That's not to say he hasn't impressed on the right side so far, can't knock a brother for taking his chance; however, Saka is still LEVELS above him, and I don't mean to throw shade at Noni, not at all. Let's all take a step back and realise how much Saka has been consistent for both club and country....I rest my case on that.

---

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest: What to Expect

ARSNFO
After the international break, Arsenal returns to Premier League action at home in a must-win match against Nottingham Forest. No doubt some folks are wondering why it's suddenly become a must-win. Consider how Liverpool pretty much strolled to the EPL title last season and we just lost to them in matchday 3, add the backdrop of how much the Gunners have spent in this window, I am sure you begin to catch my drift. Beyond the game itself, there’s quite a bit of subplots surrounding this match, and it’s shaping up to be an interesting one for several reasons.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Sacking at Forest

First up, Nuno Espirito Santo was recently sacked by Forest. It was a tough decision for the club, but the fallout with owner Marinakis and the rumored tensions with ex-Arsenal sporting director Edu certainly didn’t help his cause. Nuno went public about the strained relationship with the board, which pretty much sealed his fate as inevitable. On one hand, you have to also say it wasn't exactly fair, having helped the team push for and get a European spot by finishing 7th. If you remember, Forrest was at some point pushing for.r Champions.League finish.  It’ll be interesting to see how Forest reacts to his departure and what kind of football they will play under their new coach.

Big Ange’s Appointment: A New Era at Forest

Speaking of Forest’s new manager, Big Ange Postecoglou is the man stepping in. He’s known for his high-press, high-line all-out attacking football, which is a complete contrast to Nuno’s more compact, counter-attacking style. It’s going to be fascinating to see if Postecoglou can implement his philosophy in such a short space of time. It’s unlikely, though, that he’s barely had the squad for a little more than a week, so to fully adapt to his high-energy game immediately, that's asking a lot. In the off chance that he does get this done, then it could play into Arsenal’s hands, especially if Forest pushes high up the pitch while we can counter with some runners in Madueke and Gyokeres, so let's see.

Zinchenko’s Loan & Edu’s Connection

Another spicy subplot is Zinchenko playing on loan for Forest. There are rumors of a fallout with Arteta, kind of, and with Edu’s involvement in the transfer dealings, there’s a bit more intrigue here. Zinchenko being on loan means he can't play for Forrest against us, but it does dial up the notch a bit more, being in the middle of two masters, that's the extra spice to this game.

Tactical Battle: Will Forest Play High?

While Mikel Arteta has some questions to answer, like does he unleash Eze from the start or go with Merino Rice Zubi combo that he got so much stick for at Anfield? So, how will Postecoglou approach this game? Will he stick to Nuno’s more conservative, compact style, or will he go full throttle with his high-line, attacking approach? If Forest plays high, it could open up space for Arsenal’s pacey attackers — and that’s something Arteta will definitely look to exploit, especially with Ola Aina missing through injury at their back. It’ll be fascinating to see if Postecoglou’s tactics take hold in just his first game in charge . Zubi would be key to releasing our men of chaos with his quick passing, while Martin Ødegaard needs to bring home his form from the break; maybe the new haircut has done it (I sure hope so). Anyway, this is a game Mikel Arteta is expected to win, and he must do so with a performance to boot. Forrest hasn't beaten us at the Emirates, if I am not mistaken, and I would expect us to preserve the form with the quality we have all around. Let's hope I am right. In addressing the elephant in the room, I would be starting Eze on the left with Ødegaard as the 10, while Noni gets the nod ahead of Nwaneri for the right spot. See my starting eleven below, even though we still have a couple of injuries, I believe Arsenal has enough in the tank to get all 3 points with a clean sheet too, hopefully. Let's know what you think about the squad picked in the comments.

Image Credit: Arsenal News Channel

---

Arsenal’s Jersey Sales: Fans Loving the Summer Signings

On a much lighter note, it appears Arsenal fans are loving the summer signings. Word from Colney is that Eze and Gyokeres' jerseys are flying off the shelves. Arsenal has clearly made a big impact with these new acquisitions, and fans are eager to show their support. It’s a great sign of ambition, and it’s encouraging to see the club making moves in the market. It’s exactly the type of BIG club ambition we need to keep growing. Talking about signings, the famous X handle @handofarsenal has tweeted some positive developments on the renewals of Saka and Saliba's contracts. If this gets sorted, then Andrea Berta is the Don, QED!

On that note, we say that's it from us here at #Anaijagunner. Expecting an exciting match against Nottingham Forest, and let’s hope for a dominant performance from the Gunners with a winning bounce back, #COYG. Do like, share, and comment on the post and enjoy the game wherever you are ....Ciao!

International Break Lull – Arsenal Eyes Worldwide - Injuries Thoughts & More

Gyökeres Watch: Sweden Slip Up Late

Holla Gooners, the international break is here, with Arsenal players at their national teams in action pitchside. I know we all miss our weekly dose of club football, but it can be a blessing when you take a chill pill to relax from EPL rush, its healthy kindaa .........NO its not!! Okay, Okay, I get it, #bringbackEPL! But hey, international duty gives us a glimpse of our Arsenal boys (and girls!) on the world stage, and that’s always worth watching init?

Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres featured for Sweden as they drew 2-2 with Slovenia, conceding in the dying minutes — a frustrating result for the Swedes I must say. Conceding a goal in what may have been the last kick of the game (Benjamin Sesko did really well with the hold up play for the assist). They’ll be looking to bounce back later today when they face Kosovo. One would expect Gyökeres and or Isak to be central to any attacking success. I would like to see Mikel take some notes on how to get Gyok-9 firing for us to major honors, the guy has it, now Mikel find a way to unlock it.

---

Spanish Masterclass: Zubimendi & Merino Run the Show

Merino Stars: Hits A Trick For Spain

Now to the main attraction over this brealk, cue in the Spanish Armada! Spain looked absolutely electric during this break, and Arsenal targets (or wishlist favorites) Martín Zubimendi and Mikel Merino were right at the heart of it.

• Spain 3-0 Bulgaria: Merino scored, Zubimendi bagged an assist — dominant and composed.

• Spain 6-0 Turkey: A total demolition job, and the highlight of the break. Merino grabbed a hat trick, with goals 2 and 3 being pure class — think Berbatov-esque levels of finesse. If you missed it, go back and watch the replay — footballing art.

With performances like these, Spain are definitely looking like early favorites for the next major tournament except of course we jinxed it with that tag, did you notice I mentioned nothing of Lamine Yamal or Nico Willy?? Merino's performances for spain in the box to box attacking role kind of puts how Mikel Arteta uses him at Arsenal under the lens. Could we get a more consistent offensive tune out of him in the middle of the park. Mikel Arteta bore so much unfair criticism for his approach to the liverpool game at Anfield. While I understand the question marks raised seeing  a starting  midfield trio of Merino, Zubimendi and Rice against Liverpool. We must all agree that it did work for the better part of the game, with us more in control and looking the more threathening. We cant deny that, the issue was reacting late to the change in tide and thats my own critique of Arteta, he can be very set in his ways and likes to double down on his convictions, which to be fair, is necessary for a winner but one must also be a bit flexible. I would caveat the raised concern by puting into perspective, Merino's role as a Center forward last season where he bagged 9 goals. That was Mikel Arteta's stroke of genius

---

Three Lions: Routine Win, Still Missing Sparks???

England cruised to a comfortable win over Andorra, with Arsenal's Declan Rice on the scoresheet and Noni Madueke providing that much-needed flair, no one else did much to get us excited. Eberechi Eze had moments in fits, showing flashes of brilliance, but we’re still waiting for that full breakout display. Unfortunately, Bukayo Saka remains sidelined with injury and is expected to miss the next match — a tougher test awaits against Slovenia. Thomas Tuchel has to get the lads playing some exciting football with the talent at his disposal. One could argue that the English team isnt at par with some of the best like Spain or France but, they do have the tools to put any team away so expectations continue to remain high.

---

Arsenal Women: Off to a Flying Start

The Arsenal Women kicked off their 2025/26 league campaign in style, thrashing London City Lionesses 4-1. Our Canadian record signing, Olivia Smith, wasted no time in making an impact — scoring the equalizer to level things at 1-1 before the team turned on the style and blitzed the opposition.

A perfect way to begin the new season for the reigning Women’s European champions, now lets hope they can consistently stay at those high levels of focus to wrestle the WSL title from the west london team in Chelsea women. London deserves the finest as league title champions and its the Arsenal Ladies Please....Thank you(insert smiley)

---

Squad Depth & Games Incoming

Back to the Men's game, loads od banter on social media post Liverpool match and a lot of it was just way off the mark about how Arteta sets the team up for the top 6 clashes especially away from home, even former Man United Keeper made a bold claim that our football was ugly. The other day it was Tony Adams knocking Odegard's selection as Captain, wanting Rice to be given the mantle, All I see is an English bias. Honestly, I hate to challenge one of these footballing greats cuz they have been there and done that so yeah, maybe they have earned the right to say their piece but are they always right? Thats the question, they are not, I respect them and cherish the memories they have giving folks like us priviledged to have watched them in their hay, but I disagree with them in times like these. Shikena! 

Arsenal Squad Depth 2025/26

Lets move on the injuries and Squad depth, William Saliba looks to have joined our long hopefull no more growing list of injured players, its purported to be 3-4 week of being on the sideline. These Injuries are annoying but the bright side is, Arsenal now have a deep squad that so far can  handle the absences. One prays it gets better from here. Mosquera showed he could mix it at the high level, he is still new but he has shown good acquittal to far, long may it continue. Looking at the squad arsenal have as the games begin to come in thick and fast, with Champions league and Carling cup games coming into the mix, we not only added bodies we added quality, thankfully. Liverpool are still the favorites to win the league, if you look 'only' at just their front line, in midfield and defence however, they may be one body short off the bench. The gunners on the other hand (no biases here) appear to have a more balance mix of needle movers and quality squad players, add a stingy defence to this and Mikel has the recipe for Title winning cooking, if he uses his squad right (lets hope he does). Heres is hoping the lads come back from their national duties injury free. Ok guys, thats it from us over here at #Anaijagunner on twitter, do like the post, share it and let us know your thoughs, is the squad deep enough or still lacking in areas like.....?  Comment down below on that, until the next post, from us over here its.......Ciao.

Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal: Szoboszlai’s Stunner & Gunner's Deadline Day Departures

     Sighhhh... that was a chess match. A very cagey affair for the most part, with both teams prioritizing a "don’t lose" mentality. Arsenal, however, leaned a bit more into this from the starting lineup. More on that later. This made it crystal clear that the game would be decided by fine margins, and boy did Szoboszlai deliver with that worldie of a free kick from 30-something yards. Some fans are talking about how Raya should’ve saved it. Really, guys? I get it—you can complain about the mistimed tackle in a dangerous area within the final 10 minutes of the game, but saying "Raya should have done better"? Maybe some folks need to watch it again and then again. The shot went in off the post, top corner. A free kick that probably doesn’t go in 7-8 times out of 10 if taken from the same spot under the exact same conditions by the same guy. Sometimes, you just have to tip your hat to the opposition when they produce moments of brilliance and say well done lad(s). That’s what big games are about.

Szoboszlai's 83rd Minute Stunner

    Both managers summed it up nicely. Arne Slot said, “It was such a tight game that if played 10 times, 8 times you’d get a draw, Liverpool win once, and Arsenal win once.”

Mikel Arteta echoed a similar sentiment, saying, “They did it for a period of 15-20 minutes in the second half, and then there were no margins left, so the game was going to be decided by an individual error, which didn’t happen, or a magic moment. Unfortunately, they delivered with Szoboszlai taking an incredible free kick that gave them the game.”

The 5 Things We Need to Talk About

Now, let’s address the not-so-great parts.

    Losing at Anfield for the first time in over three seasons is painful, but were we the architects of our own downfall? The answer is NO. There’s absolutely no shame in how we lost, but yeah, still gutted. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, and at the risk of jumping on the hindsight bandwagon, one question I have for Mikel Arteta is: why wait so long to bring on the attacking cavalry? It turned out to be a little too late. To be fair, the midfield trio of Merino, Rice, and Zubimendi did a good job of nullifying the KOP’s attacking threat for most of the game. Mosquera was solid at the heart of the defense alongside Gabriel. My only gripe with Arteta is that he didn’t make those changes sooner, especially as it became clear the Anfield crowd was starting to lift the Liverpool players. You could feel the tide turning just after the 60th minute. Not sure if it was the introduction of Curtis Jones for MacAllister that sparked it, but Liverpool was playing better, and Van Dijk was cutting through our midfield press with some long passes.

Eze showed us what we’d been missing during that short spell, and this isn’t meant to shade Martinelli. For all his industry—tracking back, defending, going forward—he didn’t do enough to make Szoboszlai (a makeshift right-back) uncomfortable that night. Gabby needs to shake the cobwebs off and get back to the 2022/23 Martinelli urgently.

Key Takeaways

LivArs Stats

    This isn't a title decider. Even with the loss at Anfield, we’ve improved our results against Manchester United and Liverpool compared to last season. This season, we’ve got 2 points from both (2 draws), and now we have 3 points from both (1 win, 1 loss). That said, Arteta needs to take the handbrake off a little more. Hey Mikel, you now have the tools! The team barely created much for Gyokeres, and I say that because Eze, Ødegaard, and Ethan were all on the bench, while Madueke was our only outlet. His battle with Kerkez was an interesting one, with the right-back often coming out on top. It’s clear that Noni is better on the right, and our right-hand side was more threatening. Again, we need the 2022/23 Martinelli back urgently. Liverpool may be fearsome going forward with Isak joining on deadline day, but their achilles' heel could be their defense, especially now that Guehi didn’t join. They created fewer chances, were mostly contained at home, and really didn't threaten us that much. They did win, which is what counts the most, but it has to be said, their defense can still be exposed. As for us, bad news with Saliba’s injury (injury gods, please be kind), but Mosquera is looking like a steal at less than £20 million and just 21 years old. If we can keep teams at bay like we have so far this season—just one goal conceded, 6 points from 9, with two of the toughest grounds out of the way—then Arsenal’s defense could very well be the key to winning trophies this season. The million-dollar question is, how do the gunners get the best of Victor Gyokeres, Arteta, over to you!

  Squad Depth & Deadline Day Deals

    Let’s quickly touch on the deadline day deals. Yes, Liverpool closed the deal for Isak, but does that mean we hand them the league title now? I hope the mentality of the boys is a firm HELL NO! The squad depth is being tested, with Saliba picking up an injury to add to the tally of  Havertz, NØrgaard, Saka, and Jesus. For once, the international break may be a blessing in disguise—hopefully, the lads return injury-free and ready to go. Noni, MLS, Rice, and Eze all got England call-ups, while Ødegaard was named in Norway’s squad. Fingers crossed that Saliba doesn’t play during the break... touchwood.

Before we wrap things up, let’s talk about the transfer window. As expected, deadline day saw a lot of departures from the Emirates. Reiss Nelson went to Brentford on loan, having been courted earlier by Fulham and Crystal Palace. I wish we had gotten a straight sale instead of another loan. We need to take a leaf out of Stamford Bridge’s book on how to do this—Nicolas Jackson for over £70 million in total? Really??? Chelsea is having a good laugh to the banks. Zinchenko was also loaned to Nottingham Forest, while Lokonga and Vieira joined the Bundesliga, with Hamburg securing them on loan.

The only significant fee Arsenal made from player sales was for Kiwior at less than £25M total package. Honestly, not good enough for me. But credit where credit’s due: the incomings by Andrea Berta and his team have been nothing short of outstanding. It’s been a solid 7-8/10 transfer window, though I’m still disappointed by the lack of significant return on player sales. But hey, we’re not bean counters, are we? On that note, I'd say that's it from me and the crew at #anaijagunner. Don't forget to comment, like, use the hashtag #anaijagunner, and share the post just to support the channel. Until the next one.... ciao!

 

Hincapié to Arsenal Done, Eze to Start & Liverpool vs Arsenal Preview – Early Marker Laydown!

 Hincapié to Arsenal is done, Fabrizio "here we go", confirmed! Eze is settling in quite nicely after that remarkable unveiling at the Emirates last week, just before the Leeds game. 5-0 to the Arsenal, by the way! Viktor Gyökeres got off the mark after his trademark inside-left channel run, burying it at the near post. He then proceeded to smash home a penalty, won once again by Max Downman, who’s quickly making a habit of getting fouled with his direct, forceful runs. That was a very long sentence, wasn’t it?

So, let’s rephrase the 5 things:   

Eze Unveiling

It’s done, Gooners. Hincapié to Arsenal. "Here we go," confirmed. Eberechi Eze is settling in beautifully already. That unveiling at the Emirates Stadium before the Leeds game? Pure class from Arsenal. Applause, standing ovation, you could feel the excitement as Eze strutted onto the pitch wearing the number 10 shirt. Fans lapped it all in with adulation. The vibe was 10 out of 10. If you had any doubts, cue Tottenham copying Arsenal with their unveiling of Xavi Simons before their game against Bournemouth — a game Spurs lost  0-1, by the way. It’s a wonder how they escaped with such a low score, because the Cherries were absolutely dominant. Spurs only had their first shot on goal in the 69th minute. Wow, is it too early to say Spurs being SPURS are BACK?! Okay, okay, enough of the jabs, let’s get back on track. Then came the match itself. Arsenal 5, Leeds 0. Statement win, nope but same 3 points nonetheless.

Viktor Gyökeres opened his account with his classic move — drifting in from the inside-left channel and burying it at the near post. Cold finish. He completed his brace later, smashing home a penalty won (you guessed it) by Max Downman, who’s quickly turning his direct running into a reliable penalty trigger. It's becoming his thing. Timber got a brace for the first time in his career. Yes, Arsenal won, but Leeds were in it for a bit, especially in the first half. Raya made a good save from a header after a Leeds corner to keep things at nil-nil. We got the trademark set-piece FC goal — Ole ole! — and then killed it off just before halftime with a high-press turnover that Saka smashed into the net with his weaker right foot (ironically, nothing weak about that shot).

Bar that, it was a comfortable game for the Gunners. We barely had to get out of gear 3, let alone 5. What I didn’t like was that we’re still ponderous in possession at times, with Ødegaard guilty of delaying passes just a tad too much. Calafiori showed the lads how it’s done, with the Gyök-9 up top.

As for the not-so-good news, Saka pulled a hammy, and Ødegaard left the pitch with a shoulder injury. Combined with Kai’s knee issue against ManU, and injuries to Norgard, Ben White, and Gabby Jesus, it’s not looking good. But their replacements? Exactly what the team has been crying for — solid floor-raisers. The Arsenal squad now has the right mix of needle movers and floor-raisers, which bodes well for a team seeking to challenge for trophies on all fronts. Let’s hope we keep this momentum going.

Now, onto Sunday’s big matchup at the Scousers. Let’s show respect to the defending champions. Arteta said, "They are champions for a reason. They deserve to be champions. They were the better team last year, the most consistent one, the one that found ways to win in many different ways. We want to be that team this year. We need to go to Anfield with that spirit and that conviction." While some might feel it’s too early in the season for these big matchups… we can agree to disagree that, pedigree-wise, ManU is still a big team, right? I’m really not fussy about when we play these teams. It’s the same 3 points, win or lose, now or later. As for me, I'd say we get these games over with rather than kicking the can down the road.

On injuries — I’d say there’s an inevitability to that. Saka’s obviously a miss for us, but I believe having a deep squad with close-quality players helps mitigate it. Liverpool isn’t without their own issues, especially at the back. Kerkez is looking shaky, Frimpong is out injured, Wirtz hasn’t quite caught up to speed, and Konaté is looking like he’d rather be concentrating on defending somewhere in the Spanish capital alongside a former teammate. Their midfield currently looks easy to play through, having conceded 2 goals in each of their last games.

It feels like, without McAllister and Gravenberch playing together, it’s a coin toss for both teams and their issues. Up front, Liverpool have shown to be clinical, with Etikité ticking well and scoring in his last 3 games. Here's hoping our very stingy defense can keep a clean sheet against Salah, Hugo, and Gakpo. I know it’s a tough ask, because you'd have to go all the way back to the 1924/25 season when we won our first three matches without conceding. That said, if there is a team that can shut out any other team with a masterclass in defensive display, it is Arsenal FC, no questions asked. Our midfield needs to tick well. I’m talking a disciplined performance from Declan Rice and Zubimendi, giving the creators the freedom to wreak havoc on Liverpool’s shaky defense. Not a rope-a-dope, end-to-end, pound-for-pound game like Liverpool vs Newcastle… Nah. Stay compact, pick your moments, and spring our front 3 with the right passes. Mikel Arteta has some decisions to make: Does he start Eze in the 10 role or stick with Nwaneri? Does he go with Martinelli for his speed and defensive abilities on Salah’s side, or use Eze there? Will Calafiori be picked over MLS at left-back? Does Max get a look-in at 70 minutes to have a crack at Kerkez? Interesting propositions, but Mikel knows.

As for their manager, Slot says: "In the beginning of the season, normally teams don't play their best game unless you keep the same squad completely and you add three, four, five, six or seven players, then you can maybe expect the team is growing even further. If you look at our situation, we have lost a few and we have added a few". 

Mo Salah has also been speaking on the title challenge, picking the Gunners as favorites. Salah’s an absolute legend, but I see him trying to deflect pressure from his team with these comments:

"Arsenal are the favorites because they have a team that has played together for five or six years, so they understand each other’s game."

I won’t quote the whole line, but he’s forgetting that Arsenal replaced a couple of outgoing players with about seven new signings. That’s a lot of change! Compare that to Liverpool, who’ve basically kept most of Klopp’s squad intact, aside from Trent and Diogo Jota (God rest his soul in peace). My team sheet would look as follows: yes, I am starting Dwonman over Noni Madueke, he is an unknown quantity against Kerkez. I know he is only 15, but he is a bet I am willing to take, the bench will still be quite stacked with: ( Trossard, MLS, Madueke, Nwaneri, Merino, Keppa, Mosqera)

#LivArs Team Selection

It's going to be a tough game, Anfield has never been a walk in the park, still, I fancy us to do it this time (touch wood), let's hope the lads have the belief to win it and lay down a marker... #COYG. That's it from us, but before we go, who do you think will win the Liverpool vs Arsenal match? Like & share the post, let us know your predictions in the comments, and use the hashtag: #anaijagunner on X. Lastly, please don't forget to follow us on Facebook, see you in the review.....Ciao

Eberechi Eze's Homecoming: Arsenal's Summer Stunner & Leeds Preview

     Football is back with a BANG, and what a way to make a comeback! It has been a while my people but I had to come out of my hiatus for this!! Eberechi Eze is coming home, and we are all still giddy from the sweet feelings of tingling emotions from doing one over tiny totts...LOll. I hate to rub it in on them spuds at seven sisters road, but how the heck did Arsenal Football Club just pull that off? Yeah, we all know Eze wanted Arsenal all day, it was never a debate, but my word, you still have to wonder how Daniel Levy waffed that up? To add the fact that all this has happened on the back of the botched deal for Morgan Gibbs White, Tottenham FC, I'm sorry lads, hold that L. How did you come second in a race you were the only one running? I mean, I'm still buzzing, but I also can't get how they snoozed on this.

    Anyway, back to things on the gunners, I do believe the official announcement of Eze as a bona fide gooner is imminent with the medical pretty much wrapped up at London Colney, hopefully everything goes smoothly. I know it would be too much of an ask to expect him to be in the squad for this weekend's game against Leeds United (more on the match in a bit), but I expect him to be ready to ball for us by the time we go away to Anfield, fingers crossed. Rumour has it, he would be getting his dream number, the Iconic number #10 jersey. I say iconic for the likes of who Dennis Bergkamp, David Rocastle, Kevin Campbell, and maybe for the young gunners in the comments, Mesut Özil, Jack Wilshere and ESR. Look at the names bar ESR, you have to say that's some decent company he would be hanging out with. I just can't wait to see Eze curl in those free kicks and outside-the-box long rangers. BOOM!! Okay, let's segway quickly to this weekend's action against Leeds.

    The gunners welcome Daniel Farke's boys from Elland Road to the Emirates in what has to be a winnable game for the team (no disrespect to Leeds). I expect the Gunners to play much better than they did away at Old Trafford last weekend, cuz that was a subpar performance to forget, albeit stolid from a defensive point of view. We were totally out of sorts from the midfield to the attack with misplaced passes, terrible ball control, and a lack of creative nous from our attackers, try as they might. Mbuemo and Cuhna had us pinned back for the most part, while I am sure Gyökeres would be fuming with himself when he watches the replays of his game, one to forget. In fairness to the lad, he had almost zero service on the afternoon as De Lit stuck to him like glue throughout the game. It would be most redundant to say we have to adjust our style of play to get the best out of Viktor Gyökeres, it's clear for all to see. The boiz did try to get him into the game but ManU was having nothing of it by pressing us quicker and smarter in the middle of the park, much to our surprise. Declan Rice was shockingly anonymous except for the corner kick he put in for the goal.

    Thats all history now, the first game at the Emirates, Arsenal have to show bite with not just a win, but an improved performance to keep the winning momentum going. It's going to be a long season with so many games to play. We need a robust squad (cough, cough to last season), so the Eze deal is so apt, I can't begin to overstate the importance of getting him, his quality on the ball, Prem proven, shots from outside the box, deadballs, just so many facets to like. I know I haven't mentioned Kai's injury, which some argue was the main reason we sprung Eze from the clutches of Spurs. One can only wish him a speedy recovery. The club hasn't issued a timeline for his return from the Knee injury he sustained last Sunday. It's unfortunate for him, we hope its not too serious cuz challenging on all fronts means there are loads of games to go around everyone, let's not kid ourselves, we need everyone. Other notable absentees from injury include Gabby Jesus, Norgard, and Ben Blanco. The teamsheet would look like:

#ARSLEE Team Selection

That would be my team for the evening kickoff game this Saturday at the Emirates. The bench remains quite stacked with Martinelli, Trossard, Merino, Nwaneri, Mosquera, Calafiori, Keppa, Maybe Max, so yeah, we look okayish. All in all, we have more than enough to get past Leeds without taking them for granted. The boiz should knuckledown, stay focused, get the win with another clean sheet hopefully and keep the winning momentum going. Lastly, before I sign off, massive props to Andrea Berta, this man has been cooking since he took over, get Saka and Saliba to renew, get the outgoings moving and I'd day we have had the very best summer window, since the Emirates era so far, 7.5 out of 10 for the window as it is. What do you all think? How would you rate the Arsenal transfer window so far? Let us know in the comments......Ciaooo

Match Thoughts & Bournemouth Preview

Image Cred: Amazingdotbet

We are back after what’s been two games since the gunners hosted Villa at the Emirates. A yo-yo game Arsenal narrowly won after going down to 10 men. First the positives, the gunners had a job to do and that was, get back to winning ways in the EPL after picking up just 2 points from the 3 consecutive league games against Liverpool Spurs and Watford in that order. The game against Watford is of serious annoyance at it was more of two points dropped but we are talking positives, right? 3points was a must, and we got all 3 however only just, especially when the lads had to do it with 10 men after Maitiland Niles got his marching orders for a second bookable offence. I must commend the desire by the gunners to keep plugging away at Villa in order to nick the win. Auba, as usual, came up with the goods at the dearth with that free-kick. God knows where Arsenal would have been on the league table without his goals. I know, that’s his job and he is doing it well, 7 goals in 7 games is good stat but the other parts of this team and Arsenal’s current position on the league table bring me to the not so positive.

 We had to come back against Villa twice before “stealing” the win. The defence is still a long way from assured while the pressing protection by the midfield is still without balance, now throw in Emery’s continued desire to have the team play from the back, the result is an Arsenal team that is just a few mistakes away from conceding a goal. If we aren’t conceding silly penalties, we are gifting opposition teams pops at goal in dangerous areas which isn’t pretty for a BIG club of Arsenal’s stature, one supposedly harbouring dreams of competing for the biggest trophies. The team has a mere +1 goal difference, with just one clean sheet in the 7 league games played so far.  That is reminiscent of the much-maligned latter Wenger era where the plan seemed to be, keep playing attacking footy so you can outscore your opponent. That wasn’t an effective game plan in the now more competitive EPL.

The game against Manchester United was only good about the point got as play was turgid at best. To be honest, play was lethargic ponderous and lacking in that fire quality we would expect from these sides especially from united. There were a few spells in the second half when the gunners sensed Man united was there for the taking and tried to force the issue but that was cut short by Mctominay’s goal just before the interval. These two teams have issues, maybe the gunners are slightly upward in their trajectory but defending has to improve, it just has to or else all the good work being done by our front line will continue to be undone by shambolic defending (Emery I am looking at you).  In Emery’s defence, one could argue that this same Arsenal team has kept straight clean sheets in other competitions (Europa League and League cup) without showing any hold back to their attacking side. The only difference has been the combination of personnel. Now I ask, does it mean it might have more to do with getting the balance right or what? Well, that’s for Emery to figure out not me.

Moving on then, just before we pause for another international lull, up next for the gunners is hosting Eddie Howie’s boys at the Emirates. This is set up as a must-win yet potentially laced with banana skin if the lads don’t come in with their game on. Arsenal has the momentum with Spurs and United seemingly out of sorts while Chelsea is kinda there in transition, the onus is on us to win this top four race, meaning games like this must be put to bed. Bournemouth is enjoying their 5^th straight season in the topflight and is in decent form. 2W 1D 2L in 5 games isn’t a bad forth their top half position on the league table. Calum Wilson is rumoured to be courted by some big clubs in Manchester and London due to his fine form. We also know they like to play open expansive football which on their day, can be scintillatingly good or could leave gaps behind for Arsenal. The gunners have to be up for it however they served as there are no easy games these days. Arsenal is also in some sort of good form as I alluded to earlier and I would particularly want us to try keeping a clean sheet in our quest for 3 points, the coach needs to get his midfield selection right. Torreira, Guendouzi, Özil/Ceballos works best for me, Xhaka can come on later but let’s start with a disciplined compact spine down the middle. Upfront I might be tempted to give Martinelli or Saka another starts alongside Auba. Pepe has to come up with the goods now that he has his first goal….no pressure. My lineup will look something like this below. 

I know Özil isn’t getting much love at the moment but he is still a top-quality player. While we may debate his seeming lack of work ethic, this game is tailor-made for his magic want if you ask me. Emery has to find a way to get the fire back up his butt, imagine him playing Pepe/Martinelli in……….now you get my point. Anyway, that’s it from us over here, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog, like us on facebook by clicking this red link and of course share. Whatever you do, do enjoy the game wherever you are…..Ciaooo

Arsenal's Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde & Villa Preview

Its been a so so three weeks or so since our last post and well, we have seen quite a number of different shades to the Arsenal, from the good to the not so good if I may put it nicely. The thing with the gunners is, you just never know what you might get, tough as brick or soft as jelly, scintillating or abject in performance, you just never know.

The game against Spurs just before the international break was pulsating and full full of energy, the gunners showed guts even if the glory of 3-points never came, we applauded the performance, pumped our fists for the fight shown to come back from two goals down. Its what you want from a team surely aint it? Maybe we expect too much from Emery and his lads or maybe we are just not there yet or never will. I don’t know, but the same team turned in a rotten second half crap show against Watford that saw the gunners do the reverse, get pegged back from a two-goal cushion. How on earth are they expected to be taken seriously...seriously? It was hugely disappointing to leave Vicarage road with a point. I know there are no easy games in the EPL these days, still, that’s 2 very massive points dropped, let’s just leave it at that!

          Now fast forward a few days after the Watford fiasco, the gunners, inspired by a Bukayo Saka virtuoso performance do the biz at away in the Europa League @Frankfurt. Sometimes I just wonder with this team. Kudos to the team for the job done even those Frankfurt had their moments which if they had taken, maybe just maybe Arsenal would not have had the easy ride the 3-0 scoreline belies. Call me a cynic but I am being realistic. The positives from the game I would say, Bukayo might be getting more game time along with Neilson and Wilock who by the way I highly rate especially after another solid performance in Germany. Pepe needs to start delivering the goods and I mean goals. He had another assist in for Saka’s goal but he was there in flashes. Lets give him time.

To the EPL, the gunners welcome newly promoted Aston Villa to the Emirates in what must be a response game, I mean look at Man City ripping Watford (yeah the same Watford) a new one in the game earlier today after Pep’s lads were shocked last week by the Canaries. I know I said there are no easy games in the Premier League but come on, would anyone had seen that loss coming? I think not. If after 5 games we currently are on 8 points with 0 goal difference, things aren’t looking good. The points need to start getting on board now if we are to win the top four race this season, forget about competing for the league.  This time, with all due respect to Aston Villa, the gunners must put in a ruthless shift, again like Man City transferred aggression onto Watford. Arsenal has to play good defence with no silly penalties given away (3 in 3games), that needs to end. We stay tight in the middle with Torreira Ceballos and Willock, Xchaka should rest. Ozil behind Auba and Pepe to finish the chances. I need a BIG+ response and care less how they get it. I need to see the boys show they want the 3 points and a clean sheet at home, the injury to Lacazette makes us light upfront coupled with the loan of Mickhi (Emery what were you thinking). Trying to lighten the wage bill when you don’t even have enough proven quality? I don’t get Arsenal FC sometimes. Auba good enough is a stealth finisher, give him the goods, he will give you the goals. My fear is, if he gets injured which he rarely does, what happens? The options are very much lacking. Anyway, I won’t want to get talking about the negatives, lets focus on the positives and move on. This game is a must win, we, Spurs lost earlier in the day, while Chelsea take on Liverpool at the bridge, it a chance for the gunners to start thinking ahead by getting the points on, one game at a time. I admitted it earlier that there are no easy games, but these are the boys need to get serious by giving a face-saving response to last week’s horrendous capitulation, the fans don’t want to know how……Just get it done please. All that said I hope we get the win with a clean sheet, that defence needs to shut Villa out and I repeat no silly penalties conceded, David Luiz I am looking at you. My team selection would be like this:

The bench doesn’t look too strong with just Granit, Neilson and Saka as the closest to an attacking option we have but, that’s what it is. I suggest the gunners start the match with the same intensity they showed against Totts anything less may not cut the mustard, 3-points full stop. That’s it from us for today, do like our facebook page (Link Here) or subscribe to our blog via the subscribe button so you get all our posts as they drop. Do enjoy the game wherever you are………Ciaooo