Sparta Smashed 3 Nill || Sunderland V Arsenal Preview

 

Sparta Review: Gunners Conquer Prague and Match Historic Clean Sheet Record

Arsenal went to Prague and came back home with all three points and another clean sheet, equaling their best-ever record of consecutive clean sheets across all competitions. This has been a long time coming, and Mikel Arteta and the boys all deserve their due flowers. Yeah, I still caveat that with: they’ve got to win something but come on, the defensive stats are now entering elite territory. Even the biggest rival fans are eating humble pie, paying homage to Europe’s stingiest defense so far this season. I can’t say it enough goals win you games, but defensive nous wins you titles. This Arsenal team might just be on the cusp of that level. Back to the game the Gunners had a job to do despite our thinning front line (thank God for the squad), but the lads responded. The Czech side were unbeaten this season and top of their league. Their man-mountain up front made it clear from the get-go that our defense was in for a rough night. But here’s why I started with praise for our defense: the mentality shown by the team as a unit was massive.  

Image Credit: Arsenaldotcom

Hostile ground. Rocking atmosphere. Physical side. The lads were like, “No problem, let’s get it on.” Arsenal weathered an early storm where Slavia Prague came at us like white on rice. The Gunners showed maturity beyond their years. Norgaard needed a few minutes to rev his engines, as usual, before he settled in. I’m not sure if that’s just his rhythm or if he’s still finding full sharpness. Declan Rice helped to steady the team in midfield, dealing with wave after wave of Slavia pressure (more on Rice later).As the clock ticked on, Arsenal began to find their rhythm, gradually swinging momentum our way. Bukayo Saka had a much better game than the one at Burnley — constantly taking on their right-back, firing shots, and keeping him on his toes. With no Viktor Gyökeres, Saka needed to step up, and he did. I still wouldn’t say the Arsenal No.7 is back to his absolute best yet, but a 60–70% Saka is still levels above most players. We kept piling on the pressure, and Arsenal got a corner, which Slavia failed to fully clear. The referee was called for a VAR check, and a penalty was awarded. Now, here’s where I digress a bit — I must say, this season, Arsenal have been on the lucky side of penalty calls, and I didn’t agree with this one. The defender’s arm was over his head, yes, but not in an unnatural position — he was contesting a header! Was he supposed to jump with his hands glued to his sides? I really don’t understand the interpretation of these handball rules.

To make it worse, the ball came off Gabriel Magalhães’ head from close range, so there was no time for the defender to react. Anyway, rant over penalty stood, and Saka coolly slotted it home into the goalkeeper’s left corner. 0–1 to Arsenal. From that point on, there was only one winner. Slavia Prague huffed and puffed, but Arsenal’s new skill smothering and suffocating teams into playing where we want them was in full effect. First half ended 0–1 to Arsenal. The second half started beautifully. Merino finished a sublime move down the left after Trossard sent in a low cross. The guy is an enigma, not the flashiest player in Arsenal’s midfield nor the most liked, but when he plays up front, his numbers stack up among some very solid strikers. He wasn’t done, though; he headed in another after a brilliant Declan Rice delivery. Merino has an uncanny ability with headers, knowing when to power them in (Spain vs Germany, Euros) or deftly guide them home (Newcastle vs Arsenal this season). 3–0 to the good, Arsenal had a vice grip on the game, and it was hard to see any way back for the hosts. Mikel Arteta made changes with the game wrapped up. On came 15-year-old Max Dowman and boy, did he show why he’s being hyped. Zigging past defenders, riding rough tackles the kid looks special. Talent alone isn’t enough, though he’ll need the right people around him because attitude is everything.

Declan Rice deserves another shoutout. He ran that midfield like a general, covering, passing, tackling, and dictating tempo. He’s turning into a complete all-action midfielder with serious technical ability. You need that to whip in those perfect crosses for Gabby and Merino. Ethan Nwaneri had a quiet outing in the No.10 role, but he’s only 18 perspective is key. Andre Harriman-Annous got some minutes too. There was late drama when Slavia appealed for a penalty heart in mouths! The clean sheet record was at stake, and they hadn’t had a single shot on target. VAR review showed Ben White got the ball cleanly, and the call was overturned. Another clean sheet, another record matched. These kinds of lucky breaks are the total opposite of last season, where every marginal decision seemed to go against us — red cards, suspensions, penalties, dropped points. This season, Arsenal seem calmer, wiser, and maybe, just maybe, making their own luck. Even Mikel looks more serene in pressers. Whether it’s maturity or experience, long may it continue.

---

Arsenal vs Sunderland Preview: Must-Win Test at the Stadium of Light

Next up, the Gunners travel to the Stadium of Light for a date with Sunderland, who are flying high under captain Granit Xhaka. The newly promoted side sits fourth in the Premier League, with 18 points from 10 games (5W, 2D, 3L) — not bad at all. They’ve even beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, so Arsenal beware — this won’t be a walk in the park. This is another must-win match, and we all know why. Manchester City and Liverpool face off at the Etihad, meaning one or both will drop points. Ideally, it’s a draw I'd prefer, but regardless, Arsenal must realize they have to capitalize.

In Arteta’s words:

“When you analyse Sunderland and see how well-organised, they are, how they adjust things, and the spirit they have within the team, I’m not surprised by their position.
It is going to be a different game to Tuesday, and we need to read it early, understand what it requires, and hopefully beat them.”

Spot on. Sunderland are well-drilled, tough at home, and yet to lose at the Stadium of Light. Arsenal will need to stay focused, disciplined, and perhaps rely again on set-piece brilliance. Erling Haaland might be dragging City along like Salah did for Liverpool last season, but Arsenal feel more balanced. Even when not at their attacking best, they find ways to win. If Sunderland come to play, Arsenal can hit them for a couple. If they sit back, it might be another grind-it-out performance. Either way, three points are a must before the international break, another reason to stay sharp.

For the record, Sunderland haven’t beaten Arsenal in their last 15 Premier League meetings, with their last win coming way back in 2009. But with Granit Xhaka leading them, I can’t shake the feeling he might fancy scoring against his old club (please, no). It’s going to take something special to beat David Raya, but Xhaka has that in his locker. Hopefully, that doesn’t happen and Arsenal leave with three points and a new clean sheet record. I’m looking at Saka, Rice, Timber, Calafiori, and Big Gabby to drive us to victory at the Stadium of Light. Let’s handle our business, keep the momentum going, and head into the break as strong title contenders. Here's how I would line us up, especially with our thinness in attack, yeah......the injuries upfront are piling. Yeah, Mikel won't, I would start Max and keep some dry powder in Eze & Trossard to come off the bench. Ethan didn't have a stellar game in Prague. Let's give him another start while we allow Saka to drift to the left. It may give Sunderland something to ponder as we also unleash Max on the right-hand side of the attack. Anyway, with that, we at #Anaijaguners say hopefully another win, another clean sheet, don't forget to like, share, retweet, and come back for more, do enjoy the game wherever you are....#COYG

#SUNVSARS

Burnley Smothered 0-2 || Slavia Prague Vs Arsenal UCL Preview

Arsenal's Recent Performance: Good Win, But Injury Woes Loom

I’m not exactly a huge fan of Jason Cundy or Jamie O'Hara on talksport, but as a pair? I’ve got to admit, I love the dynamic they’ve got going. They're often much better together than they are individually. They’re just hilarious fun, especially when they’re going at each other. So, with that said, I’m going to start off by asking: what on earth is going on at Spurs? Seriously, their home form has been terrible. They can’t seem to catch a break or buy a win at that lovely stadium of theirs to save their lives—just four wins in the 2025 calendar year. That’s relegation form if you ask me and what was that by Spence and his team mate? You cant imagine trying that with Mikel Arteta? Is the Thomas Frank hype train coming off its tracks so soon already

Now, onto Arsenal. November is typical not one of Arsenal's best months but we got off to a good star with a win at Burnley. Viktor Gyökeres had his best game in an Arsenal shirt but had to come off injured. Blimey. What has Arsenal done to the injury gods to deserve this much good luck, so to speak? The latest news is that both Martinelli and Gyökeres are going to be out for a couple of weeks. Just when everything seemed to be running like clockwork, we're now back to Merino up top… again.

I can't fault the club for this one, though. The squad’s been beefed up nicely, but these injuries are starting to take their toll, and it’s frustrating. All this talk about squad depth is great, but injuries are chipping away at it, and it’s beginning to stretch the squad to its limits. It makes our potential title charge feel more tenuous. Speaking of the title race, Pep was asked if Manchester City were in the title challenge conversation after matching Arsenal's win at Turf Moor with their own victory over a high-flying Bournemouth. His response? "It would be nice if Arsenal conceded a goal." And I’m sure he meant it. That win at Burnley equaled Arsenal’s record for consecutive clean sheets—set by the legendary George Graham's team—seven in a row. Mikel Arteta will be aiming to break that record, maybe even push it to eight or nine, or perhaps even match Liverpool’s record of 11 consecutive clean sheets. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. It’s one game at a time. We did the business at Burnley. Although I missed the match due to competing commitments, I caught the highlights, and I can say we showed why we might finally be on a title charge. Gyökeres was lively, but it was a shame to see him go off injured. Saka missed a couple of chances he really should have buried, but Rice was imperious in midfield. We were 2-0 up at halftime, and let’s not forget—Burnley are a competitive side under Scott Parker. The Premier League is a harsh mistress, and Burnley are learning that the hard way. I still expect them to survive the drop, though. Right now, it’s looking like Wolves and West Ham are racing each other for the bottom. 

Back to the game—when Gyökeres came off in the second half, Merino came on, and you could feel a stark difference in our attacking presence. Merino just doesn’t occupy defenders in the same way as Gyökeres does. This gave Burnley some breathing room and allowed them to push forward, while we also dropped off significantly. Arteta mentioned this in his post-match comments—highlighting both the things he liked and didn’t like about the performance. I hope this was just a one-off because, as we all know, the Premier League is unforgiving. If you snooze, you lose, and Arsenal knows that all too well.

Saka had one of those off days, too. I thought he might have been starting to return to his best, but it seems there’s still some work to do. Overall, it was a good win, but there are plenty of reasons for concern. Injuries are the biggest issue. Why are so many players—Saka, Ødegaard, Martinelli, Gyökeres, Havertz, Jesus, Saliba, Madueke, White, and Jesus again—getting injured? And we’re only a quarter of the way into the season! Ten first-team players sidelined with injuries? Something’s not right.

---

UEFA Champions League Preview: Slavia Prague Away

But enough about the doom and gloom. Let’s shift gears and look ahead to Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League clash with Slavia Prague away. This will be Mikel Arteta’s second meeting with the Czech side, after a Europa League quarterfinal encounter back in 2020. Slavia Prague are currently sitting 28th out of 36 in the group stage, having picked up just two points from their first three UCL matches against Atalanta and Bodo. It’s funny, though despite their struggles, they’re actually above teams like Bayer Leverkusen, Ajax, and Benfica, sides with far more European pedigree. While their league form is also different, having beaten Banik Ostrava 2-0 too over the weekend taking them top of the Czech league.

On the other hand, Arsenal are coming into this match in fine form, with three wins from three in the UCL, and not a single goal conceded. We’re sitting 4th, just behind PSG, Bayern, and Inter. The game plan should be clear: win all your home games (looking at you, Bayern), grab a few away wins, and avoid losing on the road. So far, we’re on track. This should be one of those winnable away games, but the team needs to show up. I expect Arteta to have an eye on that #EPL fixture agaist sunderland at the stadium of Light hence, need to make a few changes. Some will be forced (Gyökeres being out) Zubi is suspended for this, while others will be more precautionary, as he’ll want to keep the squad as competitive as possible. A lineup similar to the one that faced Brighton, with perhaps Timber and Calafiori on the bench. In the middle, I’d go with Nørgaard and Rice, or even MLS, if we play Hincapié at left back. Here’s how I’d line up with Sak Trossard and Merino leading the line, it leaves a light bench though but we have to deal with it and hopefully still keep a clean sheet.

#SLPARS

Like I said, its going to be a short one, so thats it from us at #Anaijagunner, lets hope the boys get us the 4th win in the UCL and another shut out. Do enjoy the game wherever you are, #COYG

Arsenal Move Into The Last Eight || Crunch Time || Burnley Preview

 Arsenal March Into The Quarter-Finals with Comfortable Win Over Brighton

Arsenal made light work of Brighton to ease into the last 8 of the Carabao Cup with a 2-nil win, thanks to goals from Ethan and star boy Saka. two open-play goals, if I may add —wait, let me check that again to be sure... oh yeah, no set-piece goals on the night, who would have thunk that? The press must be fuming at our lack of set-piece goals. No sarcasm here, Brighton proved to be the toughest test we had encountered in this tourney so far.  All sarcasm aside, Brighton has tested us very early in the game so far. As expected, Mikel rotated many players but kept the bench stacked with the heavy hitters, should he need them. The lineup was pretty much what I’d previewed, minus Andre Harriman-Annous, who started as the tip of the spear in attack. He did well, solid link-up play, intelligent runs, and some nice touches, but with Max Dowman absolutely shining, it’s hard to take the spotlight away from him.

Like I said, Brighton made life difficult early on, causing us problems with their sharper team play, especially given they had a slightly stronger squad out there than Arsenal. They looked more dangerous on the break, while we did a good job of shading possession. Keppa had to make some key saves early on, diving to keep the score level. MLS struggled a bit against Brighton’s tricky winger, and Max had a similarly difficult time with their left-back, though both players held their own. Still, despite the pressure, we held firm and didn’t concede. If anything, Brighton might feel they deserved to be a goal up at halftime, but they didn’t test Keppa enough, and that’s what really matters.

---

A  Ruthless Second Half  and Defensive Nous

Mikel must’ve given the team a good talking-to during the break, because the second half was a different story. We came out more purposeful, tightened up in midfield, and started asserting control over the game. The breakthrough came from a beautiful move down the left: MLS found Eze, who played a deft backheel to Merino. Merino’s ball to Miles, who overlapped and whipped in a cutback for Ethan to finish with aplomb, was textbook Arsenal. MLS has been stepping up with his contributions, and I love his versatility—moving into midfield and getting involved in build-up play more often. He may still be on the fringes, but it’s hard to ignore how impactful he’s becoming, especially with Calafiori’s solid form. The same can be said of Ben White; despite his injury struggles, he looked solid, though when Timber came on, you could see why the Dutchman’s a step up right now. Timber’s run for the second goal was the play of the night. He really adds that extra bit of quality to our game, and he is a Big reason why everyone is all pumped about Arsenal's defensive solidity, long may it remain. 6 Games 6 Wins 12 Scored and Zero conceded all Month long!

Image Credits: Sky Sports #ARSCRY

Overall, I feel like this team still has another gear or higher levels to reach. Defensively, Mosquera and Hincapie were solid, and when Big Gabby came on for Piero, I felt even more confident. All in all, a good day for the Gunners. Arteta took a gamble with the lineup, and it paid off. The team may be on the cusp of achieving something big, and with the quarter-finals draw now out, we’re ready to push on.

All in all, a good day for the Arsenal, rounding off the month of October with another win and a clean sheet. Mikel took a gamble that paid off, and our team may be on the cusp of achieving something BIG this season in terms of winning trophies (touch wood). Let's go win trophies this season, and no, I am not getting ahead of myself. The quarter finals draw is out, and Arsenal would be facing another tough #EPL side in Crystal Palace, who must be in great spirits following their 3 Nil spanking of Liverpool in their 4th round matchup. Slot's number is in Oliver Glasner's Pocket right now with the way Palace has been handing Liverpool Ls this season. That's 3 consecutive losses against the Eagles. The gunners have been lauded for their October run of 6W from 6 games with none conceded....DAMN!! Can we repeat November, a month of our proverbial slump, that ran in the past? Mikel isn't resting on his laurels, though; he wants the team to keep grinding, force those fine margins to fall for Arsenal. No more playing victims, time to make our own luck. The full draws for the Carling Cup are below. Chelsea is the only club that would be facing a non #EPL team.

Arsenal v Crystal Palace

Cardiff City v Chelsea 

Manchester City v Brentford

Newcastle United v Fulham

---

Looking Ahead: Burnley and the Road to Silverware

Back to the #EPL, the Gunners head to Turf Moor for a date with the Clarets. The Burnley game this weekend is another must-win. We need to put as many points daylight between us and the chasing pack for the dip in form that most likely may come (I hope not). Every team goes through that, remember, Liverpool last season started like a house on fire, win after win, but their second-half form for the season wasn't as great, to their credit, they had banked enough points on board for that drop-off in consistency that found them in the latter stages of the season. It did help that Arsenal and City never really put up a sustained challenge for whatever reasons, but my point is, strike while the iron is hot. Arsenal is hot right now, not because we are playing so well, No, but we are winning in different ways. Arsenal needs to keep that up, pedal to the metal style, especially if there is a dip in form (which every team experiences at some point), likely on the horizon. Look at Liverpool last season, great start, but they couldn’t maintain it throughout the year. The gunners need to remain laser-focused without resting on our laurels. Burnley haven’t had a great start to life in the Premier League, but they do have two wins in their last three, so they’ll be dangerous. Scott Parker will have them compact, playing pragmatically, choosing their moments to attack. They would probably look to frustrate us for the most part, similar to how they almost held Liverpool to a draw until Mo Salah had the final say. I do expect the quality we have should be too much for them to handle.... Ultimately. On paper, the likes of Saka, Gyokeres, and especially Timber and Calafiori (or MLS), we should have enough to break them down. I’d go with Saka and Dowman on the wings, with Max in particular looking like he deserves that starting spot. Yes. I know you can ask why I would put Max in for a start, but watch this kid against Brighton, dude is giving me Jack Wilshire vibes, without the injuries. Arteta probably won't, but I'd love his fearlessness against Burnley's fullbacks. In defense, it's going to be the usual faces beside Saliba, who is still a doubt for this fixture. My teamsheet would look like this:

#ArsBur

I'd like to see the Gunners get an early goal in the 1st half, set piece Ole Ole, I don't mind, force Burnley to open up instead of sitting back to defend, hopefully we can then pick them off. I don't mean no disrespect, Burnley, but Arsenal needs to put this game to bed early, shut out Burnley, and take home the 3 points on the table. To do this, we must stay disciplined, not taking the clarets for granted at all, and hopefully, the boys get the job done with a clean sheet to continue our zero-conceded goals run. It also puts a lot of pressure on the chasing pack of City, Bournemouth and Liverpool. Anyway, that's it from all of us here at #Anaijagunner HQ. Remember to like, share and subscribe,  do enjoy the game wherever you are...#COYG

Eze’s Magic Seals Arsenal’s 1–0 Win Over Crystal Palace || Gunners Complete the Turnaround || Brighton Preview

 The Eze Derby Ends 1–0 to the Arsenal

So the Eze Derby ends 1–0 to the Arsenal. Arsenal has completed that turnaround from teams that proved too difficult for them last season Newcastle, West Ham, Fulham, and Crystal Palace. 12 points from 4 this season, compared to just 2 last time around. That’s a 10-point reversal. Even though we’ve dropped to 1 point from Liverpool and City ties, you still have to applaud the team for clawing those points back. It shows Mikel and the lads looked at last season’s dropped points and said, “Too many draws if you want to win a league.” So, well done, lads, let’s keep this going.

---

Tactical Chess at the Emirates

It wasn’t flashy, but as Mikel said, “the most valuable three points of the season.” I expected a tough game. Crystal Palace have been hard to beat, and Oliver Glasner set them up deep, a low block, sitting deep, hoping to hit us on the counter. The visitors had some anxiety-raising moments, but nothing to worry, Raya. So folks who are saying another set-piece goal by Arsenal, I mean, look at how teams set up against Arsenal when they come visiting. If you go back to watch their manner of play against Bournemouth last week, it was very open, end-to-end stuff. However, teams come to the Emirates and sit back, calling for Arsenal to go on the break and break them down. Besides Leeds, all teams have come to the Emirates and done so, just look at Pep and Man City. The set-piece situation is becoming so prevalent only because Arsenal attack and teams sit back under a lot of pressure, allowing the team to cough up a set-piece opportunity. We can't dictate how teams should play. If they choose to frustrate Arsenal with a low block, Arsenal has found another way to outmaneuver such ploys with the deadliness in set pieces. Could we do with a lot more goals from open play? Yes, absolutely, but the same applies to teams visiting; teams should come to the Emirates, let's play...Simple.

 Anyway, my plenti shalaye aside,  Arsenal was ponderous in the first half but played better come the second, Saka came close, Big Gabby crashed one off the post, Rice couldnt score with his follow up. The question is, we were the ones pushing, Palace was making it tough as any team would.  Could we use more goals from open play? Absolutely. But when teams park the bus, you find another route. Arsenal have, and that’s growth. Another qetion I'd like to clarify is when exactly does a 'set piece' stop being in play? Eze disnt exactly score from a set piece did he? I  am just asing for a fren😊

---

Eze’s Brilliance and Arsenal’s Balance

Like I said in my preview I backed Eze to haunt his former team and he did. He gave us that moment of magic in a tight game. Palace offered little, Mateta had nearly 0XG, and they managed just a single shot on goal. I honestly cant remember when Nketiah had that said shot, someone please help juggle my memory in the comments.Arsenal had 10 attempts, 3 on target, and pushed for the win. 

Eze, to be fair, has been knocking near misses against West Ham, duel with Nick Pope against the Geordies, Liverpool, and now he’s delivered his 1st of many #EPL goals. His contributions are already tangible: 4 points from our 22-point tally are down to him. That’s 20% from one player, not bad at all.

As he settles into Mikel’s rhythm, Eze’s influence will only grow. The month of October’s been solid overall, but the injury list is creeping up — Rice nursing a knock, Saka and Martinelli unwell, Saliba subbed early, Gyökeres looking fatigued. With Ødegaard and Kai out until November, Mikel’s squad management will be crucial.

---

Eyes on the EFL Cup: Arsenal vs Brighton Preview

Next up the EFL Cup 4th Round, Arsenal vs Brighton at the Emirates. Brighton, despite being thrashed by United, are no mugs. With talents like Gomez, Mitoma, Baleba, and a resurgent Welbeck, they’ll test Arsenal’s depth. Their recruitment model remains unmatched — lose stars, replace smartly, and still profit. I wish we’d borrow a leaf from that scouting book! Expect rotation from Mikel, but hopefully without losing defensive solidity.  Knowing that the seagulls have been in fine scoring form in this tournament makes it even more of a crunch tie. Diego Gomez has been their main man, with 5 goals in this tournament, the gunners would need to keep a close watch on him. Arteta understands the improtance of this cup as the gunners havent won it in a bit, not like we havent come close, a number of Semi's and Finals defeats have left us empty handed, last season anyone. He says its time and I agree with him

 Arteta: "I think Fabian has added something slightly different. They're a very well-prepared team, very difficult to beat them, you've seen the results against the big teams as well. So we expect a really tough match. "It's a competition that we haven't won in many, many years, and it has to start tomorrow. We have to play a great game in order to be able to beat a very good Brighton side, we know that, we are prepared for that, and we have to show it on the pitch."

My lineup prediction: Ben White, MLS, Mosquera get minutes; Nørgård and Zubi in midfield with Ethan in the 10, Eze and Max on the flanks. As for striker — Gyökeres needs a rest, probalbly Trossard or even Merino leads the line if Martinelli remains a doubt. See how I'd line up below.

#ARSBHA

Do I expect a stern test from Brighton, yeah without a doubt. Do I believe that second-string team can do the job upfront, absolutely. I know Brighton has had a bit of free hits coming to the Emirates in the past but here is me thinking, we should be able to do the job with the second string side. On that note, we call it a wrap from us at #Anaijagunner studios. Don't forget to engage with our post, like, share, subscribe, and comment. Do enjoy the game wherever you are.....#COYG

Solid month so far, Gunners — keep the energy

Arsenal Blast Atletico Dizzy || Gabby Injury Scare || Palace Preview

 Arsenal Dismantle Atletico Madrid in Style – 4-0 & Flying High

Well, that was something special! I genuinely thought Arsenal would beat Atletico, but not by such a blistering margin. A 4-0 win against a Diego Simeone team — their joint-worst European defeat under him is huge. The Gunners really do have a thing for Madrid sides, don’t they? It's even been said that Simeone was dressed appropriately in all black as they got buried in that four-goal massacre. It was also Arsenal's milestone of wins, 100 in the Champions League since their debut against Panathinaikos in 1998. 

Now that the dust has settled from that fantastic Champions League night, let’s unpack the performance. I backed Arsenal for two simple reasons: first, they’re just in that zone right now — hungry, focused, and businesslike in every match. Second, this Atletico team isn’t quite the well-oiled Simeone machine of old. But that doesn’t take anything away from Arsenal’s brilliance. This was another solid, composed, and disciplined display.

Image Credit: UEFAdotcom

Raya had his usual “Raya moment,” venturing a bit too far out, but Atletico only managed one shot on target and another off the post. Arsenal’s defensive discipline again shone through, keeping Julian Alvarez and co. quiet. The first half ended goalless, but Arsenal were easily the better side. Saka and Martinelli both came close — Oblak denied Saka in the 36th minute, and Martinelli’s goal was rightly ruled offside. That move, though, was poetry — Zubimendi’s pass to Saka was pure class. Zubi might just be the king of the “pre-assist” if that stat ever gets recognized.

---

Second-Half Blitz – Arsenal Shifts Gears To Blitz Atletico

The second half started with Atletico trying to press higher. Julian Alvarez rattled the woodwork early, sending a warning, but Arsenal weathered the pressure and then unleashed a storm, four goals in fifteen minutes of footballing excellence.

In the 57th minute, Declan Rice whipped in a trademark free-kick, and Big Gabby (Magalhães) powered in his trademark header. Simeone’s men were stunned. Then came Myles Lewis Skelly’s (MLS) electric run through Atletico’s midfield, slicing through bodies before laying it off perfectly for Martinelli, who finished clinically, Henry Style. That’s Martinelli at his best, instinctive, ruthless, and efficient in this new role. He’s already got 5GA this season, 4 in the UCL alone, looks like a man on a mission. Next, Gyökeres joined the party. As I mentioned in my preview, he needed a goal, and he got two. The first came when Zubimendi’s pass deflected off Eze’s strike, falling perfectly for Gyökeres to poke home past Oblak. Minutes later, he doubled his tally, nodding in from close range after Big Gabby’s flick. A proper striker’s brace. Arsenal 4-0 Atletico, no mercy, no goals conceded.

Simeone was furious but honest enough to admit Arsenal were superior. He even called Arsenal the best team in Europe right now. Maybe a stretch but we’re definitely moving in that direction. Three wins from three, zero goals conceded in this new UCL format, and 27 goals scored in nine games overall. Impressive numbers,  now let’s turn performances like this into trophies.

---

The Eze Derby – Arsenal vs Crystal Palace Preview

Next up, it’s back to Premier League business and it’s a special one: The Eze Derby. Arsenal host Crystal Palace on Sunday, and Oliver Glasner’s Eagles are no pushovers. Since his arrival, Palace have bagged their first-ever trophy, 2024/25 FA Cup, followed it up with a Community Shield win over Liverpool, and are now sitting 9th in the league with 3W, 4D, and just 1L. They’ve beaten Liverpool and Aston Villa already, with their only defeat coming (surprisingly) against Everton. Palace are well-drilled, confident, and very hard to beat.

Jean-Philippe Mateta is in form, fresh off a hat-trick against Bournemouth so Arsenal’s defense needs to be sharp. But this Gunners backline has been rock solid, the best defense in the Premier League and arguably one of the best in Europe. Saliba, Rice, Gabriel (if fit), and co. will need to keep that structure tight to deny any Palace goals in transition.

---

Eberechi Eze’s Time to Shine – and Arteta’s Selection Dilemmas

Now, to the man at the center of attention Eberechi Eze. The ex-Palace star is back facing his former club, this time in red and white. He left Selhurst Park on a high, and while he’s shown flashes of his class with 3 goal contributions so far, there’s definitely more to come. With Ødegaard out, Eze looks set to play centrally, perfect for him to pull strings and drive the attack. Surrounded by elite talent Saka, Rice, Martinelli, this could be the game where Eze really turns it on.

Arteta, meanwhile, has some tough calls. Gabriel Magalhães might be out injured, so does he stick with MLS or bring in Calafiori? I wouldn't risk Big Gabby if he isn't quite 100%. We can manage without him for a few games, just to avoid aggravating any injuries and losing him for an extended spell. On the left, Trossard or Martinelli? Personally, I’d move Eze wide left and give Ethan a shot in the center. Palace’s open play style could suit his directness perfectly. I know that's not likely what you all think or would like to see, I am just saying. Zubimendi, Rice and Saka would need to be on top of their game to keep Palace on the back foot and help win the game. I fancy Eze scoring in this game against his former club, kick off his EPL goal scoring streak... it would be nice.

Crystal Palace have created the highest shots on goal from the second-highest xG in the EPL this season, impressive for a mid-table side, but they’ve lacked ruthlessness. Arsenal must take advantage, dominate the midfield, and control tempo. One key edge? Palace played on Thursday (losing to AEK Larnaca), while Arsenal has enjoyed extra rest since Tuesday. That freshness could be crucial. We drew Palace at the Emirates last season to flip that result. Arsenal have made a habit of righting past wrongs this campaign. time to add Palace, my teamsheet would look like this 

#ArsCry

I believe the creative fulcrum of Saka, Nwanneri, and Eze, alongside the Zubi-Rice pivot, we should have more than enough to comfortably win. Obviously, it's not as straightforward, more often than not at least. Liverpool & Chelsea have yet again lost another game this weekend, let's capitalize on the dropped points and put as much daylight between us and the other title contenders, City, Liverpool, and I dare say....Man United. Who would have seen them up the table ahead of Liverpool 8weeks into the season? It tells us how fast things can change, so I'd keep feet on the ground, taking it game by game.

Lastly, before we go, it's giveaway time as promised. We want to use it as a way of saying thank you to our early supporters who have helped us get to 100 blog posts. We are giving away 5USD equivalent (Five US dollars equivalent) each of the first 10 readers to comment on this blog post ($50 in total) here in the comments, and to share our blog post with a retweet. Please make sure you either paste the link of your Retweet in the comments for verification. Remember, it's fastest fingers first, so start engaging.  Anaijagunner would also be launching a YouTube Shorts channel, and links would be shared for our fans, so watch the space. That's it from us, do enjoy the game wherever you are...#COYG

Anaijagunner @100 Posts || Arsenal Slowly Ticking, Fulham, West Ham Handled || UCL Test vs Atletico + VG’s Moment Coming?

 Thank You & Shoutout to the Team

First, I really want to give a BIG shout-out to the Anaijagunner gunner team for hitting that 100th blogpost milestone. Little beginnings they say, we’ve got some great things coming from this space, locked cannon style loaded... just keep it locked, football. Thank you to everyone who has stopped by to spare a moment to read or comment, or engage in one shape or form. We are super grateful, please keep the support coming—like, retweet, share, comment. Let’s make this a vibrant community. Also, we have a lil something planned to commemorate our 100th blogpost, a giveaw..... THANK YOU!!

---

Review of Recent Arsenal Performances

Image Credit: Skysports

Now, onto what this channel is about—Football! The EPL is back with a bang, the internationals are over, and boy oh boy, we can’t wait to watch Arsenal. Speaking of the lads, we have to shout out to our gunner lads, who, most of them, put in a great show on their international outings this past weekend.

Saka 1G 1A

Ethan 1G

Eze 1G

Trossard 1G

Martinelli 1G

Merino 2G

An all-round star-studded performance by the boiz on national duty. Unfortunately, VG and Sweden continued their barren form as he recorded zero GA on national duty. He really needs to rediscover his scoring boots. This brings me right back to the EPL. After dispatching the hammers to finally bury those demons that saw them come to the Emirates and pick up points in the past 2 seasons, we walked away with a solid 2-0 win. The scoreline flattered them, though. Nuno's men tried to nullify us, but our quality shone through, and the game was handled with accomplished aplomb. No frills, well-controlled, and professional: Get the job done, 3 points, and out. The Hammers had zero shots at Raya in goal. Says a whole lot about how Arsenal shields their goalie.

It was with that confidence we sought to resume normal service after the international break with another London derby, this time a trip to the Cottagers at Fulham. This was another potential banana skin, with the Cottagers playing much better than their current 15th position on the #EPL log deceptively suggests. But cue Arsenal to go there and turn things around in the league.

What I liked was the way the Arsenal team shut down Fulham. Sure, Harry Wilson had some speculative pops and Muniz was kind of a nuisance. Fulham played okay, even if they never had a shot on target. They put in a shift to make sure we got denied space or time on the ball. It took our usual set-piece Ole ole to bail us out again. Saka with the corner, BIG Gabby with the near-post flicker, and Trossard kneeing it home for the famous 1-0 to the Arsenal. Our opponents must be super tired of letting one in via our set-piece. Me? I’m taking all wins—beautiful or set-piece—as long as it brings us the long-awaited trophies, I don’t mind.

Before we jump to the next one, I want to say big ups to VG for his industry. His barren spell will end soon (Touch wood). I know many rival fans are waiting to label him a flop, but you can see he’s beginning to get into those positions regularly. Maybe once Kai is back and we can rotate him out, it would give him some much-needed rest and fire at the same time. Honorable mention to our fantastic wingbacks in Cala and Timber. Timber has upped his attacking guile while still remaining uncompromising on the defensive side. Calafiori, what a sweet goal, rightfully chalked off for offside. I don’t know what kind of left-back Cala is, but my word, he’s stepped it up a couple of notches and it’s enough to keep MLS out of the team.

On the penalty—unpopular opinion, but that for me wasn’t a pen. I’d hate for that to be given against Arsenal, no biases here, just saying it as is. The most important thing, I guess, is we beat Fulham regardless, and that makes it 3 U-turn results from last season:

Fulham D, now W = +2

West Ham L, now W = +3

Newcastle L, now W = +3

Arsenal has won back 8 points this season from the same fixtures compared to last season. Long may that turnaround continue, taking it game by game. Overall, I would say the team is moving steadily after the initial meltdown post Liverpool loss and City draw. Arteta has shown he can be flexible if need be without giving too much change on the defensive side. If you add the other rival results over the weekend, Liverpool lost again but to ManU, who saw that coming? Spurs losing to Villa, but City won, though, you can't get everything you want, I guess. Haaland can't seem to stop scoring, already on 15 GA in just 10games. Again, things can quickly change in this league. Weeks ago, City had been written off as title contenders, while Liverpool more or less had been nailed on by the bookmakers for the title after they signed Isak for 130M quid. I guess we all don't know $###t, so let's just stay focused as Fans, quietly go about our biz, taking it one game at a time. Palace is up next in the league, and we all know Oliver Glasner has is team ticking nicely. It would not be a cake walk, but it's definitely doable, turn a D into a W, +2 (touchwood), but before that, it's a tough cracker in the Champions League on Tuesday.

---

UCL Preview: Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid

Now to the UCL, where the Gunners welcome Atletico Madrid in what has to be the toughest test we’ve faced so far in the Champions League. Diego Simeone’s boiz put in a great comeback against Liverpool and almost ran the Scousers close to a draw, but Liverpool found a way as they so often do. Their La Liga form shows 4W 4D, putting them in 4th place, while in the opening two games in the UCL, 1W 1D. More importantly, against us, the red half of Madrid seems to have gotten the rub of the green, dumping us out of the Europa League Semis in Wenger's last season, with Mikel Arteta being the coach for one of those losses. I’m sure Mikel would have that at the back of his mind for some sort of payback—maybe it’s just me wishing. Anyway, Diego Simeone usually has a drilled team, so do Arsenal. Maybe this will be a battle of attrition, who can bore the other with defending to death?

While Arsenal may have a good record against Spanish opposition,  Los Rojiblancos team is definitely a cut above the rest so far. I won't be surprised if this turns out to be a boring draw or another famous 1-0 to the Arsenal. I am not taking Athletico for granted in any way; they have loads of fire power in Julian Alvarez, who is a great finisher with 10GA already this season, and the timeless Griezman. I just think we shade it slightly with our efficient attack and the stoic solidity at the back. Atletico hasn't been as impregnable as they were a couple of seasons ago, even with Oblak in top form. I fancy Gyokeres to break his Champions League duck in this game (Don't Jinx it now). A little bit of rotation would be for this game, not because I am taking Atletico Madrid with levity, but simply out of necessity. Calafiori to me must be in the amber to red zone right now, with the amount of minutes he has played, I'd definitely bring on MLS for him, and maybe Mosquera for Timber, maybe. I'd start Saka and Ethan with Eze on the left. Marcos Lloriente at RB likes to bomb forward, as we saw against Liverpool. For  Eze, it might be a good thing as he needs to take more control, Fulham game passed him by even though he was playing as the 10, let's try him on the left again and also give Nwanneri some much needed game time, yes I know its against a tough side in Athletico Madrid but I would give him the chance, should do his confidence a world of good. My team sheet would be this, with a strong bench of: White, Hincapie, Trossard, Martinelli, Keppa, Riccardo.

#ARSATM

I am quite sure this is just my own team, and Mikel won't go with this, but hey, I think this team does a good balance of rotation and keeping momentum going. Anyway, that's it from us here at #Anaijagunner HQ, don't forget to leave us your likes, comments and also share the post with other footy fans. Let's help spread the joy of enjoying club football and supporting Arsenal. If you stayed this far to read, we would be doing a giveaway on the next blog post, previewing the palace game, so keep it locked here. Till then, do enjoy the game wherever you are.....#COYG

Arsenal 2 - 0 Olympiakos: Professional Job Done & Hammers Preview

Arteta made a few changes to the lineup that beat the Geordies. No starts for Saka, Eze, or Rice, as in-form Martinelli was preferred on the right, with Trossard on the left and Gyökeres up top. Merino, Zubimendi, and Ødegaard made up the triumvirate in midfield.

(Credit: Julian Finney - UEFA/ GettyImages)

Strong Start but Wasteful Finishing

The Gunners started sprightly in the opening minutes. Martinelli had a huge chance to make it 1-0 from a lovely sweeping move and an MLS cross, but he headed—or shouldered—wide in the 3rd minute. He should have done much better.

Arsenal were moving the ball with sleek, quick passing. Olympiakos struggled to keep up with the pace and movement. However, the Arsenal backline hesitated on a back-pass that almost gave the Greek side a chance, but Raya cleared up and immediately sparked a counterattack. This time, it paid off. Martinelli showed great instinct to continue his run and slot home after Gyökeres showed great strength before getting his shot off. The Greek keeper parried, but Martinelli was alert and finished. Raya had to be sharp again to keep Arsenal’s clean sheet intact, making a smart one-handed save in the 20th minute. Olympiakos were proving no mere pushovers.

First-Half Summary: Dominance Without the Knockout Blow

The half eventually petered out with Arsenal 1-0 up. To be fair, the visitors had been fairly comfortable after weathering a period of sustained Arsenal dominance. Raya, again, was the busier keeper after the goal, as the Greeks settled and weren’t too ruffled. Arsenal needed a step up.

Olympiakos started the second half with a bit more urgency, trying to turn the tide. Arsenal still seemed to be playing within themselves. There were a few more half-chance headers Raya had to deal with. Trossard was especially profligate when through on goal on two occasions, and Gyökeres had two attempts go begging—one seemingly blocked, the other shot into Row Z. In all of this, Ødegaard was at the heart of it—pulling strings, dictating play, and spraying passes to unpick the Greek backline. On another day, he should have gotten more than one assist—but not tonight, I guess.

Substitutions: Fresh Legs, Fresh Energy

Then came the changes. Timber came on for White, who I must say had a few shaky moments on the right—understandable, considering he’s still on the mend from injury. Gabi had to come off in the 74th minute for Mosquera—hopefully he's fine.

The big guns also came on: Saka for Martinelli, Eze for Trossard, and Rice for Merino. The Gunners picked up the pace with renewed verve and energy. Passes were crisper, and Arsenal duly got their second goal. Saka, now in a free-roaming role, switched to the right, and Ødegaard found him with another gorgeous through-ball. Saka did what Saka does—finished smartly through the keeper’s legs. 2-0 to the Arsenal. At 1-0, the Greeks were still in it. You could tell Arteta’s relief when that second goal went in. All in all, a professional job, if not totally convincing.

---

Player Thoughts and Standouts

Ødegaard: Shoutout to our captain, he played like he had something to prove—running the show. He was just class. Eddie Howe’s comments after the Newcastle game? Game-changer. Whether it’s pressure from Eze’s recent performances or something else, let’s hope he keeps it up.

MLS: Played with so much composure. It’s gutting to see him benched (rightfully so) because Calafiori has been our best player this season, but Miles isn’t far off. If Calafiori drops his levels, MLS is right there. This bodes well for the team.

Martinelli: Continues his purple patch. He leads the Gunners in G+A with 3G and 1A so far. If the competition is what’s made him more clinical in front of goal—I’m here for it. We need everyone to chip in significantly if we’re going to lift major trophies this season.

Raya: Never gets enough praise. Yeah, he has a solid defence in front of him, but whenever he’s called upon to keep us in a game or hold the line, he’s there. We rightfully questioned his preseason form, but this season he’s been excellent, and we need that to continue.

The Rest: Did okay. Nothing more to be said, considering Bar Arsenal, no other English side currently has 2W in 2 UCL games, you would say glass half full. However, a little but....

---

The Not-So-Good

Let’s be real—the game hung in the balance for most parts. At 1-0, anything can happen—a magic moment or a calamitous mistake can flip things. So yeah, we understand the frustration. Arsenal needs to kill off these games earlier. I mean, go for the jugular when we are dominant in games.

---

Momentum Matters

This is a great opportunity to build momentum. We've already tackled the harder games— Man Utd away, City at home, Liverpool away, Newcastle away—and we’ve come out of them with a net +2 point improvement compared to last season:

• Man Utd: +2

• City: -2

• Liverpool: -1

• Geordies: +3

Slight net positive. It closes some gap. If Arsenal are to win the league, the team knows we must do better than last season. 

---

Westham Bounce Watch and Must-Win Territory

Next up, West Ham at the Emirates. Saturday, 3 PM kickoff. Mikel Arteta would be in the dugout for his 300th Arsenal game as a manager. From 2019 when he took over from Unai Emery, how time flies when you are doing good. He has done a fabulous job since coming on board, just the trophy haul left to crown things up for him nicely. Any coach that was going to succeed an 'Institution' like Arsene Wenger was always going to be under the microscope, just look at the mess at Old Trafford. Let's hopefully toast to a winning outing so Arsenal has to lock in. This is a big opportunity to gain ground if Liverpool slips up again against Chelsea on Sunday. The Hammers are with just 1win and a draw in six and just sacked Graham Potter, no surprises there. Nuno Espírito Santo steps in. I rate him, aside from that Spurs stint, look at his work at Wolves and even at Forest. He’s a good coach. I just hope he’s not good enough to bring that cursed "new manager bounce" to the Emirates. We absolutely can’t allow that.

They’ve won their last two league visits to the Emirates, which is… annoying. Time to set that record straight. Arsenal need to control this game, kill it early, and not let them hang around like Olympiakos did. They still have a few decent players in Bowman and Paqueta, with Soucek missing in their midfield, that's a plus for Arsenal, me thinks. This is a chance to build momentum. We’ve already faced the big boys — United, City, Liverpool, Newcastle — and came out with a net +2 points compared to last season. That’s progress. If we want to win the league, we must do better than last year. That starts with handling business against teams like West Ham.

Time for Ruthlessness and Squad Rotation

There’s a clear opportunity here. The next five games on paper are all winnable — no easy games in the Premier League, but Arsenal have to look at this stretch and target maximum points. The football is looking better — more fluid, more chemistry. Gyökeres is blending in nicely, though we still need to do more for him to get on the scoresheet, as we know he can. That means more Ødegaard through balls, better decision-making from the wingers — Saka, Trossard, Martinelli — squaring instead of shooting wastefully over the bar or into the side netting. There's also the numbers game regarding GD, it may boil down to that at the end of the season, so if there is an opportunity to boost the goal difference, I'd say seize it, lads. 

I’d like to see us start Saka, Eze, and Ødegaard together. Martinelli and Trossard off the bench — and yes, I know I’m reaching, but I still think Trossard would’ve buried one of those missed chances if he’d come on as a sub.  Saka would be starting his 200th Arsenal game, making him the 7th youngest to reach that milestone at 24 years and 29 days. Congrats to the Arsenal Vice captain and Star boy, now go cap it with a goal or two like Henry did on his 200th against Palace in 2005. Here’s hoping we kill the game early and get minutes for MLS, Nwaneri, and Downman. They need pitch time, and this is the kind of match that should allow for it, so we have to be ruthless from the get-go. So, lock in, boys. I want to see the team come out strong, hungry, ready to rip West Ham a new one, if nothing, for the hurt of killing our title charge last season at the Emirates. As alluded, here is my team sheet below, still leaves room for a strong bench of Finishers, let's hope we don't even need them to come change things.

#ARSWHA

On that note, it's a wrap from us at #Anaijagunner, let's cheer the lads on to hopefully another win to close that gap, even if temporary, mark Ateta's 300th game milestone, mark Saka's 200th too. Thanks for reading and remember to leave your thoughts in the comments, like and subscribe. Do enjoy the game wherever you are.... #COYG

Newcastle Match Review + Olympiakos Champions League Preview & Key Fixtures

Early Match Drama and Midfield Battle

The match starts with Saliba on the bench. Mikel went with Trossard and Mosquera on the left and center back, respectively, which was odd.  Arsenal went full flow and got a penalty in the 14th minute, or so we thought. The change in that decision still remains a head scratcher, PGMOL, we are looking at you! Anyway, the team switched through the gears after being wrongfully denied the pen,  Eze was having a game against Pope with quickfire shots off in the first 15 minutes—good job Pope, but only just. Trossard was almost crashing the post after a slick counter move, then found himself free at the back post from a Saka corner, but he should have done better to nod it to Calafiori. Arsenal was playing their best football since this season. Then, Mosquera had one of those moments, a miscued ball for a corner and Newcastle scored against the run of play

Newcastle worked the corner short and beautiful, with Tonali delivering a peach-perfect cross to give Woltermade a free header. Gabby was too soft on that—no complaints about the goal. Despite all our dominance, we were looking at 1-0 down. Deja vu at Saint James's Park all over again or not? Nope, not this time, the team picked themselves up to show that this Arsenal landed at SJP with a bit between their teeth, especially since Liverpool had slipped at Palace. Gyökeres looked up for it (more on him later), the team put in a wonderful shift—not fazed by the atmosphere or physicality of Newcastle’s midfield, Joelinton and Bruno at the heart of it. Big ups to Zubi, Rice, and Eze in the middle of the park. I wanted to see Nørgaard, but Zubi did very well—intercepting, winning headers against Dan Burn (imagine that), popping balls to the right flank of Saka, and that ball to Timber—how Pope saved that was unbelievable. Rice, though, what a machine in the middle—assist, chasing down Murphy, the Newcastle right back to block shots. Now, that’s the Rice we want, and he showed it. 

Gabby Wins It Late For The Gunners

We battled the Geordies until the breakthrough came in the 86th minute with that sumptuous cross from Rice for Merino to deftly head in off the post for the equalizer. The gunners weren't done though. Gabby turned his would have been 5.0 rating to an 8.0 game rating by doing what he does best in the opposition box, he scores the winner, breaking hearts across St James Park with that header. Massive shout-out to Odegard for the assist and pre-assist. Eddie Howie singled him out as the one who changed the game for Arsenal. That picture above tells you what that win meant to the lads, long may that hunger to win continue. 

---

Key Moments, Mistakes, and Gabby’s Role

Typical Arsenal, most gooners would say. Big Gabby—what was that? Was the referee supposed to blow a foul for that? C’mon? Anyway, we went into the break 1-0 down, but the team was playing well. Saka was good, still not best electric. Timber was showing himself to be quite an attacking fullback—taking notes from Benny Blanco, it seems. It was a big game performance from the boys.

All the positive stuff being rightfully said about the team, I want to mention some defining moments that could have cost us. Our hero of the day, Gabby, was at the heart of it all. First, his lack of effort for the goal we conceded—I mean, really? Then Gabby had the nerve to appeal for a foul on Woltermade, like double, really? He didn’t even try to jump for the header, very, very unlike Gabriel Meghales.

The other moment was Gabby’s shove on Woltermade, making things personal, it seemed. I’d say he was mega lucky on that one, knowing how itchy-fingered refs appear to be against Arsenal in big games—that could have been costly. The last incident, which might seem harsh to criticize him for, was the last-ditch tackle he had against Malanga... on another day, that would have been inexplicably given against us as a penalty, but not today, I guess.

I won’t want to be negative, but we got lucky on those potentially bad situations Gabby put us in. Anyway, I thought I’d put that out there because those were some ''in the balance'' moments which I expect Arteta, on replay, should call Gabby and say, “Hey, you are one of my leaders on the pitch, I expect better, do better so we can win the league, especially after dropping silly points last season due to similar type of silly mistakes.” 

---

Graft, Grit & Gyökeres; What Lies Ahead

Lastly, to Gyökeres—he played his best game so far for Arsenal, battling away with the Geordies and their physicality, but he wasn’t fazed. Holding up the ball, bringing other players into the game, he was much, much better.

Mark Ogden, who we all know is a Manchester United fan, summed it nicely:

“You can’t question the spirit of Gyökeres. He has been kicked, manhandled and wrestled by Burn, Botman, Thiaw, and now Lascelles, but he just keeps coming back for more.”  He is still getting to know the team, but by the looks of it, we got the right player here, not the other one we chased all summer.

The next five games are key for Arsenal: West Ham at home, Fulham away, Palace at home, Burnley away, and Sunderland away. Liverpool play Chelsea, United, Brentford, Villa, and City in their next five.  While it's important to note that we can't get too far ahead of ourselves, there is still an opportunity to build some momentum with Wins. On the flipside, things could get tricky if the team gets carried away by this win, so interesting times lie ahead. Up next is Olympiakos at the Emirates on Wednesday for a Champions League night.

---

Olympiakos Game Preview

The action returns to the Champions League on Wednesday night as the gunners welcome perennial Greek champions Olympiakos to the Emirates in game 2 of this season's league phase. Having started with an away Win at Bilbao, I am sure Mikel would want to bank the home games as wins to give the team a great chance of finishing as high as possible in the group. I wouldn't say one knows much about the Greek side but, they are in the Champions League for a reason. Besides, they did knock Arsenal out of Europe a couple of seasons ago, although Mikel repaid them in kind two seasons later. In all, Arsenal has met the Greek champions twelve times in history, and it's even stevens between us both, 6 W apiece for both teams, no draws, pretty odd if you ask me. Now, I would also be keen to see a bit of rotation. Defensively, Arsenal must be wary of set-pieces. Olympiakos have a history of scoring from corners and free kicks, so concentration from midfield to the backline will be essential to avoid the kind of costly mistakes we saw against Newcastle.

Overall, this is a game where Arsenal’s quality and experience should shine through, but complacency is not an option. Calafiori and Timber are due a breather, yeah, they rested for Port Vale, but they have been racking up the minutes lately while still prone to an odd injury, let's avoid it. Saka still needs minutes to get up to speed,  as does Nwaneri. I may give Gyökeres a rest, please don't sh**t me, let's see Martinelli down the middle for a bit then Gyökeres can finish the match. Truth is, there are loads of games to go around and everyone would get a piece of the action. Here is my team selection below.

#ArsOly

Now I hear a lot of you thinking, why should we underestimate the Greek side by putting out a B team, or change so much from the winning side? I'd say that team is still solid with an attacking tilt. I also believe that a bit of rotation is good for those who need the minutes while looking after those who have played a bit more. We currently have Gyökeres as the main striker, should something happen to him....God forbid. Saka and Odegard need to get match sharpness, hence their starts, and Eze is learning to play with the team.. We have seen what less fancied teams do to known names; let's not get carried away.  As long as we remain rock solid at the back, disciplined in the middle, and clinical up front, we should be winning the game, a lot of ifs, buts, and maybes, I know. Before we go, we wish a happy National Day celebration to Nigeria as our country clocks 65 years of sovereignty. On that note, it's a wrap from us at #Anaijagunner, let's cheer the lads on to hopefully another win. Remember to leave your thoughts in the comments, like and subscribe. Do enjoy the game wherever you are.... #COYG

Arsenal Keep Winning Momentum, Saliba Signs New Deal & Newcastle Preview

 

Port Vale Breezed Past: Gunners March On

Mikel Arteta played his 297th game as manager, and his boys got the job done at Port Vale with a much-rotated side, securing a place in the next round of the Carabao Cup. The match saw Saka start as part of his recovery, while Ben White, MLS, Norgaard, and Keppa earned their first starts of the season, getting back to full match fitness. Martinelli slotted into the box in the 9th minute, with MLS dummied to allow the assist for Eze to score a well-placed goal past Gauchi in the Vale goal. Eze could’ve doubled his tally just after the 20th minute, but the Port Vale goalkeeper saved comfortably. The first half saw Arsenal go into the break with a one-goal lead.

A slight hiccup came in the 74th minute when Mosquera played a misguided a pass across the face of the backline, but nothing came of it thankfully. Trossard made sure the Gunners would leave with a comfortable 2-0 win in the 86th minute, calmly slotting home a sumptuous lob from Saliba. Bar that, the second half was uneventful, except for Arteta’s substitutions—Big Gabby, Gyokeres, and Rice all got some valuable game minutes. To be honest, the game didn’t have much of a "chess match" feel. Arsenal controlled possession comfortably, but the criticism here is that the team didn’t shift into second gear. I get it—Port Vale didn’t pose much of a threat, but as we head into the next round, we’ll need to be sharper against stiffer opposition like Brighton.

All in all, it was a solid performance. Fringe players got some much-needed match minutes, others got up to speed with new teammates, Eze found the back of the net, and Trossard kept being clutch. Plus, there were no injuries—a win in every sense.

---

Saliba Signs: Arsenal’s Statement of Intent

Big news for Arsenal fans: William Saliba has signed a new 5-year deal, keeping him at the club until 2030. This is huge in more ways than one. Saliba is arguably one of the best center-backs in the world right now, and to fend off the likes of Real Madrid shows just how far Arsenal have come. How many players can honestly tell Madrid, “Buzz off, I’m staying”? Saliba’s message is clear: he’s here to win trophies at Arsenal. But this renewal isn’t just about Saliba—it’s a statement. With MLS, Big Gabby, Nwanneri, and others committing their futures, it’s evident that these players see something in Mikel Arteta and Arsenal that we fans may not fully grasp. It’s a positive sign for the future of the club, showing belief in the long-term project. 

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Berta is a Don. If he gets both Saliba and Saka to sign those renewals, Arsenal’s transfer window jumps from a solid 7.5/10 to a solid 9/10. The fact that players are eager to stay tells you they believe in Mikel’s vision. If they didn’t, they'd be seeking exits, and that’s not happening.

---

Newcastle Preview: Must-Win for the Gunners

After the draw against City, Arsenal now face a must-win game at St. James’ Park against Newcastle. The importance of this game only grew with Palace's victory over Liverpool, so Arsenal needs to seize the opportunity and close the gap. Some fans say it's a tough place to go, but that’s the mentality we need to change. If Arsenal are serious about winning the league, they have to show up at places like this and take all three points.

Newcastle’s midfield trio—Joelinton, Bruno, and Tonali—will be a serious physical challenge. They’re robust, and they know how to play on the edge of the rules. They caused Liverpool problems, and while the Geordies are without Isak, they’re still dangerous. Liverpool only managed to run away with 3 points, but my word, the team gave a good account of themselves against the defending champions, you'd be forgiven if you thought Liverpool was the one down to 10 men, not the other way round. Gordon, in particular, likes to put on a show against Arsenal, so Timber and co. will need to be sharp.

Tactically, I’d consider leaving Ødegaard out for this one. He’s not fully fit, and we can’t afford to risk it in a high-pressure match. I’d go with Rice and NØrgaard as the base of a double pivot. Let them hold the fort while Saka, Nwanneri, and Eze do the creative damage in attack. That front line can be deadly if they’re given the space to run at the Newcastle defense. Up front, I’d stick with Gyokeres as the focal point, not many options with Kai & Jesus still out. I am tempted to bring on Benny Blanko for Timber for more attacking impetus, but let's keep it solid for the start

It's going to be a battle in the middle of the park, but with the right mentality and approach, Arsenal can come away with all three points. I am looking at Mikel Arteta here, go for IT! This game is huge in terms of momentum. If Mikel gets the tactics right and the players execute, Arsenal could be just 2 points behind Liverpool—and that’s an opportunity we can’t afford to miss. My starting 11 would look like this below:

#NCUARS

This leaves us still with a strong bench of Trossard, Martinelli, Zubimendi Mosquera, MLS,  and Ben Whites. Now just go there, keep it tight at the back, get the job done, and be back to prep for the Champions League game against Olympiakos in midweek. That's from us here at #Anaijagunner. Please like, subscribe, and don't forget to engage in the comments. Enjoy the game wherever you are #COYG.....Ciao