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.

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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 Moussa Lamine Sarr’s (MLS) electric run through Atletico’s midfield — slicing through bodies before laying it off perfectly for Martinelli, who finished clinically. That’s Martinelli at his best — instinctive, ruthless, and efficient in this new role. He’s already got 5 goal involvements this season, 4 in the UCL alone — looks like a man on a mission. Next, Viktor 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.

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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 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 and deny Palace’s transitions.

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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!!

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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.

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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.

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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. 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!