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.

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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....

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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.

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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. 

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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.

• Man Utd: +2

• City: -2

• Liverpool: -1

• Newcastle: +3

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. 

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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.” 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Martinelli to the Rescue Vs Man City, Ballon d’Or Roundup & Port Vale Preview

 Arsenal 1-1 Man City: Martinelli’s Last-Minute Lob Snatches a Point

It all ended 1-1, a last-minute lob by Gabriel Martinelli—predicted, as we heard, by his girlfriend- snatched back a point for Arsenal after City went 1-0 up in the 9th minute. Pep’s team was a shadow of their usual imperious selves in the second half, having missed the first half… please don’t ask. Arteta wrung the changes at halftime, pulling Madueke off for Saka, Eze on for Merino, and Martinelli later replacing Trossard. Arsenal suddenly got more incisive on the ball, though they didn’t really test Donnarumma’s palms much, whether from our usually dangerous corners or open play. City were mostly penned in with two blocks of five and one man up top. This almost paid off on one of the rare breakaways, but Eze was on hand to mop up the spilled shot, almost scoring an own goal in the process.

Image Credit: Getty/Alex Pantlin

Credit to Martinelli for keeping his head down and performing when called upon as a sub. He now has 3GA goal contributions in 6 games. If sitting on the bench gives him a better perspective, maybe that’s the way to go—coming off the bench as an impact sub against tired legs, playing a hybrid winger-striker role instead of just hugging the touchline where he’s been ineffective lately. We may lose some of his defensive work rate, something for him and Arteta to work on. As for Trossard, safe to say he should remain an impact sub.

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Midfield Choices: A Balanced View:

I wouldn’t want to join the bandwagon slamming Arteta for his starting midfield of Rice, Merino and Zubi. While I understand the choice of three midfielders away from home, at home we should be able to play to our attacking strengths—that’s all I’d add. In my preview, I literally called the trio, bar Saka, as the ones who got Arsenal the equaliser. On the other side, City's Bernardo Silva made whiny comments that I'd rather skip after the game. Pep, on the other hand, had better things to say with no complaints:

“Our resilience was fantastic, otherwise we couldn’t survive. Last season we lost 5-1; today we were close. It’s by far one of the best teams in Europe. I would prefer to play another way, but when you play a lot of games in 10 years, teams defend deep, deep, deep and take a result of fantastic performance, mindset, strategy… Sometimes it happens. You have to defend, honestly. It’s because the opponent is better. When you have to accept it, you have to survive in that way. And we did it.”

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Dropped Points and Title Aspirations:

To sum it all up, we dropped 2 points we probably shouldn’t have, I say probably because there are no guarantees in football. That said, we sit 5 points behind so far unbeaten Liverpool with 5W in 5. If we want to win the league, our home games should be a fortress of wins. I know it's a tough ask, but it's the standard the EPL requires; there is no sugarcoating it. Comparing this Season to Last

We won City at home, now we drew..-2 points

We drew Liverpool away, now we lost..-2

We drew ManU away, now we won +2. That's a net of -2 for those 3 games comparatively, not good.  On that note, Newcastle becomes a must-win (we lost at SJP last season, winning now would be a +3), but there is a matter of Port Vale in the League Cup game tonight. Before we preview, let's pay respect to the current Ballon d'Or winner.

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And The Winner Is:

Getty Image Credit: 2025 Ballon d'Or Winners

The winner is Ousmane Dembélé! The winger morphed striker, capped off last season's fine performance by winning the Ballon d'Or for the year 2025.  In the women's category, Aitana Bonmatí got the nod to clinch the award. You have to applaud the turnaround for the much talented player who, for a long while, seemed attitude was holding him back from taking the very next step into the elite category, but Luis Enrique seems to have gotten through to him, helped manage his injury-prone body, and gotten him to deliver for the PSG team as a leader. Kudos to them all. Yamal, for all the hype, was a distant second according to reports, but he still has many years to come good. Vitinha came in 3rd to complete the podium finish. Yamal needs to look at Messi & Ronaldo's exemplary focus on football, so as not to get derailed by the starry lights of celebrity partying; he is too super talented to allow this to happen to him. #Anaijagunner congratulates the winners on the night, including our own Victor Gyokeres, who got the Gerd Muller award as the best striker fr his 54 goals at Lisbon last season, while the Arsenal Ladies won the award for club women's team of the year for the UCL triumph. All in all, a good night for the winners and back to our regular programming schedule.

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Looking Ahead: Port Vale and Injuries:

Before Newcastle, there’s a League Cup game tonight against Port Vale. Arsenal need to get their heads back in the game by winning comprehensively. Give Saka and the squad players a run—injuries are testing the squad with Madueke out for 2 months, Saka just back, and Hincapié dealing with a groin issue. This should have been a perfect opportunity for game time, but alas.

I honestly don’t know if Arsenal’s medical team is reviewing the frequency of injuries—it’s insane. Without the squad depth we have, imagine the damage.

Arteta said:

“A lot of players are going to take part, and they fully deserve the minutes. Kepa, for sure, is one of them. He’s been with us, his attitude, the way he supports us in every aspect of his role is the best possible. They deserve more minutes than what they’re getting.”

Darren Moore’s Port Vale sit 19th in League Two with 8 points from 9 games (2W 2D 5L) but are known for rapid counterattacks—their usual League Cup MO. The Gunners must avoid complacency, especially after the Man City draw. We don’t want to be on the wrong side of a headline upset. Lower teams have caught big clubs like Man United, Leeds, and others off guard, with Chelsea narrowly escaping just last night.

Despite rotation, I expect Arsenal to win comfortably, with all due respect to Port Vale, who have been troublesome opponents in the past. Does anyone remember the 1998 FA tie that went to a replay and then penalties? I'd expect the likes of Norgard, Keppa Downman Nwaneri to start. If Ben White is back, he should be in with a shout. Regardless of anyone we put out there, progressing into the next round should be the aim for Arsenal, so no teamsheets from here, let's just go there, get the job done, and be back to prep for a trip to Tyneside at the weekend. Anyway, that's from us here at #Anaijagunner, do like, subscribe, and don't forget to engage in the comments. Enjoy the game wherever you are.....Ciao

Arsenal's No Frills Win Over Bilbao & Massive Man City Clash Preview

Champions League Kick-Off: Gunners Grind Out Win in Bilbao

The Gunners began their Champions League campaign with a solid 2-0 win away at Athletic Club Bilbao. It wasn’t a fireworks display, but it was composed, professional, and showed the kind of maturity the Arsenal team is starting to show in European away games. More suited for Europe, maybe.

As I said in my UCL preview, this wasn’t going to be an easy ride. Club Athletic is no joke — 3 wins in their last 4, 4th in La Liga last season, and a team that plays with serious bite. So if you expected Arsenal to stroll to 3 points, think again. From the jump, the Basques were aggressive. Declan Rice picked up a yellow in under 10 minutes, setting the tone for a scrappy first half. Arsenal managed it well, though. Raya had a comfortable 45 minutes, and Unai Simon in the Bilbao goal only had one routine save to make — from Gyökeres, who also missed a decent headed chance. Eberechi Eze was quiet on the left, and while Noni Madueke looked lively, his decision-making in the final third is still lacking. That’s what separates him from someone like Bukayo Saka — Saka knows what to do and when to do it. He’s just elite. Hopefully, Arteta can help Madueke develop that quickly at Arsenal.

Second half? Much better. Bilbao came out strong, but Arsenal took control again. Rice’s delivery found Gyökeres, but another header went wide. Inaki Williams forced a save, and the game got physical — blood was drawn. Literally. Big Gabby clattered into Gyökeres; Merino had his own collision. This wasn’t pretty football. It was European football.

Then came the changes.

Credit to Mikel Arteta. With the match in the balance, he rolled the dice. On came Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, and they turned the game on its head. Martinelli’s run and recovery of the ball was pure instinct, and his goal was a thing of beauty. Then he set up Trossard to seal it. Both super subs, both delivering when it mattered. Martinelli needed that — he’s been under fire recently. People calling him a liability in a strong Arsenal side. Maybe Eze’s arrival is the push he needed. Martinelli plays best when he doesn’t have time to think — just instinctive movement and chaos. That’s what we got.

And Trossard? Mr. Clutch. One goal and two assists in three games this season. That’s 52 goal contributions in 120 Arsenal appearances. Call him what you want — I call him reliable. So, all in all — a clean sheet, 3 points away from home, and a boost in belief. Next up: Olympiakos at the Emirates. But before that, it’s City at the Emirates in what could be a season-defining clash.

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Arsenal vs Man City Preview: A Clash of Mentors and Mentees

Sunday at the Emirates. Arsenal vs Manchester City. The biggest test of the season so far. And honestly? Arsenal should go into this one full of confidence.

The form table says it all. Arsenal have won 4 of their last 5, conceding just once — and that wasn’t even from open play. City, meanwhile, are fresh off a 3-0 win over United and a strong UCL showing against Napoli. And yet, you look at the way we’re playing — solid at the back, midfield dominant, attack getting the job done without quite clicking — and you can argue Arsenal are slight favourites. And I’d agree. This is no longer the Arsenal that gets rolled over by City. We’re unbeaten in our last six against them. Pep remembers that loss at the Emirates last season, and Mikel certainly does. The chess match is real — two managers who know each other’s every move.

City still has danger men. Phil Foden is picking up form, Rodri is gradually getting back to being a midfield ticker, and Haaland always looks in fine form, even when quiet. But City’s back line is still not settled, and Donnarumma, though a great shot stopper, can be exposed if we’re brave.

This is where Arsenal must strike — in the gaps between City’s midfield and defence. Get the ball into Viktor Gyökeres early, isolate their left back, and feed him quickly. He will score if given the service.

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Arsenal Starting XI Prediction vs Man City

With Saka still out, Madueke keeps his spot on the right. Not the most productive winger yet, but he stretches the pitch. The big question is what Arteta does with the left wing and the central creative role.

Does he start Martinelli after his Bilbao heroics? Or stick with Eze on the left and Merino in the 10 role — or does Eze move into the 10, and Ethan Nwaneri gets the nod for his goal threat? There’s also the matter of Mosquera, who’s been immense standing in for Saliba. Does he keep his place next to Big Gabby, or does Arteta go with tried and tested? Here’s the XI I’d go with — not necessarily what Mikel will pick, but the one I believe gives us the best chance:

 
#ARSMCI Teamsheet

But more likely, Arteta sticks to the Bilbao team. Martinelli on the bench, Merino in the 10, and Eze wide left. Structure over chaos. As long as we win, I don't mind......We’ll see.

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The Stakes: A Statement Game for Arsenal??

Arteta and team have come under somewhat unfair criticism for his style of playing 'Not to Lose' instead of 'playing to Win', with Thiery Henry being the latest to send the barrage against his former team. I get it, the narrative has to be piled on, whether right or wrong. I won't come on here to disparage Henry for his comments; he wants us to go for it, he wants to see Arsenal winning, but I don't agree with some of his criticism. Now, if City do go for it and lose, they’re six points behind Arsenal and nine behind Liverpool after just six games. That’s pressure. If Arsenal lose (God forbid please), we’re chasing Liverpool and only just staying level with City. Not great either. A draw? Doesn’t help much, but hurts City more than us. So maybe Pep will be forced to be bold. The question is — will Arteta match that boldness? 

This is a game Arsenal can win. And if they do, the message is clear: maybe we’re not just title contenders, maybe we are ready to win the titles.  Anyway, that's it from us here at #Anaijagunner, kindly let us know your thoughts in the comments, like & share...#Coyg. Do enjoy the game wherever you are....Ciao

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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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)

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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!