Arsenal Thread | 2025/26

[the-ecstacy-of-eight]

You've defended well the last few games but before that it was keystone cops stuff at the back. So we need to take a longer view.

Are we allowed to cite injuries having an effect on form, or can your lot only do that? Bernardo and Dias also knew Joto, so you know, grief and all that too; it's a long process ;)

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

Diving and playing for free kicks, wrestling at corners, long throws, time-wasting. Total anti-football with a free pass from the London media. I would rather Chelsea, Villa, even Liverpool win the title if we can’t do it.

Nice the way that Martinelli kicked the spare ball away at that throw in near the end. Referee saw it but let it go. Sam Barrott the referee yesterday. The one that we had at Newcastle, definitely one to keep an eye out for.

 

[bridgeno1]

Out of their squad the only one I'd consider for City is Trossard.

Wow. Ok on the reverse, the players I'd take from City as 1st teamers would be Haaland, Rodri, Cherki and Foden (instead of Odegaard, not instead of Saka). Possibly Doku too. Certainly with Haaland and Rodri they pretty much count as 2 players each seeing how good they are at their best.

I'd also take Pep!

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

Wow. Ok on the reverse, the players I'd take from City as 1st teamers would be Haaland, Rodri, Cherki and Foden (instead of Odegaard, not instead of Saka). Possibly Doku too. Certainly with Haaland and Rodri they pretty much count as 2 players each seeing how good they are at their best.

I'd also take Pep!

None of them play with the cynical style required for Arsenal so would be like fish out of water.

 

[alib]

from their squad I'd have........
Saliba
Timber
Rice
Saka

no one else

 

[Vienna_70]

You've defended well the last few games but before that it was keystone cops stuff at the back. So we need to take a longer view.

In other words, we’re improving.

That, in my view, is a good sign for the rest of the season. The back four, plus González, is pretty much settled, despite the fact that the full-backs are playing out of their natural position, and Nico O'Reilly, a youngster, has taken to the position like a duck to water, and is improving all the time, as is Matheus Nunes on the other flank.

Nico G. seems to be up to speed on what Pep wants, and while he’s no Rodri, he’s definitely a more than adequate replacement.

 

[argyle]

Anyone remember when the media slated us for weeks and weeks because of the cost of the squad but Mancini set us up a few games to defend and we won whilst not scoring much?

They slated us for being boring.

Nothing like that on arsenal? Wonder why....

 

[bridgeno1]

In other words, we’re improving.

That, in my view, is a good sign for the rest of the season. The back four, plus González, is pretty much settled, despite the fact that the full-backs are playing out of their natural position, and Nico O'Reilly, a youngster, has taken to the position like a duck to water, and is improving all the time, as is Matheus Nunes on the other flank.

Nico G. seems to be up to speed on what Pep wants, and while he’s no Rodri, he’s definitely a more than adequate replacement.

I like O'Reilly a lot

 

[bridgeno1]

None of them play with the cynical style required for Arsenal so would be like fish out of water.

No way. Look at how many goals Haaland already scores at City. Now imagine the quality of delivery from Saka, Rice, Trossard etc coming in. He'd get Messi numbers.

 

[Vienna_70]

Anyone remember when the media slated us for weeks and weeks because of the cost of the squad but Mancini set us up a few games to defend and we won whilst not scoring much?

They slated us for being boring.

Nothing like that on arsenal? Wonder why....

They also called us for playing three defensive midfielders in Barry, de Jong and Yaya, though Yaya was never one.

Ignorant bastards!

 

[Sky Blue]

No way. Look at how many goals Haaland already scores at City. Now imagine the quality of delivery from Saka, Rice, Trossard etc coming in. He'd get Messi numbers.

Up at the crack of dawn starting on the Christmas sherry does you no favours.

 

[dickie davies]

For how long though playing like that last night.

You tell me
All I can see is they're playing poorly, as in not creating much, but getting over the line

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

I was with you until those last 3 lines. Forget the bookies and the media I have us as favourites.

Fair enough. It hardly needs saying that I want us to win, and think we're capable of it. Although my deep feeling is that this side will come to its full fruition next season rather than this.
Anyway… veritas filia temporis, as the saying goes.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Up at the crack of dawn starting on the Christmas sherry does you no favours.

Up at the crack of dawn with the crack pipe, more like.

 

[SK14BLUE]

No way. Look at how many goals Haaland already scores at City. Now imagine the quality of delivery from Saka, Rice, Trossard etc coming in. He'd get Messi numbers.

Wow. You’re saying Haaland would score more at Arsenal than City? Have a word with yourself mate.

 

[bridgeno1]

Wow. You’re saying Haaland would score more at Arsenal than City? Have a word with yourself mate.

Probably not due to system but if you used City's system and replaced Doku with Trossard, Silva with Saka and Gonzalez with Rice then Haaland would score more goals just based on quality of delivery.

You could argue also that sticking Odegaard in there would lead to a lot more goals given they play for Norway together but I wouldn't replace Foden with Odegaard so it might not be a good fit.

 

[Bluearmy]

from their squad I'd have........
Saliba
Timber
Rice
Saka

no one else

Their left back is decent also Calafiori and Gabriel. Otherwise agree!! They are better overall defensively, we are better upfront!!

 

[AFCAndy]

OK. At this, nearly the halfway stage, I think it's reasonable to assess this current Arsenal team in the following terms:
Very difficult to score against. Solid defence, well drilled, decent keeper now. I don't think there's much arguing with that. Considerably better at stopping balls going through the middle than we are.
Not very creative. For my money, this Arsenal team is not as easy on the eye as the team of two or three seasons ago. Yes, they get the job done. But the manner in which they get it done — so often, set pieces, penalties, own goals by the opposition — will always leave them vulnerable to a VAR decision that goes against them (and yes, that can happen to them, as it can happen to anyone), or a wicked deflection in their box, etc. These 1-0 and 2-1 (and sometimes 2-0) victories make me think of the double winning side of 1971 (another team that had a Rice playing in it, curiously): not very agreeable to watch, but getting-the-job-done level.
Above all, what I'm utterly convinced of is this: what you're seeing is what you're getting. Arsenal are not suddenly going to go up a level. They don't have another gear. I see no evidence of it.
Nobody in their right mind would say we're playing at our best level. We might not go up a level, we might not be able to go up that gear in the new year — there's no guarantee of these things — everybody can see that this is a team that is becoming. Arsenal's is a team that has arrived at what it is, and what it's going to be.
Being as fair-minded as possible, that's my take, for what it's worth. I still have them favourites. But the scrap is on.

Gabriel coming back will make us better. We were very shaky with Saliba and Gabriel out. Jesus is adding allot of rolls royce quality when he comes off the bench. How long that can last with his knee problems is anyones guess. Havertz is set to come back and has been an important player tactically. Gyokeres has been out and should be getting fitter game by game. Odegaard was out for a good while and isn't really back up to speed yet.

The other issues are, remaining fixture. You haven't played Chelsea yet, we haven't played Bournemouth yet

Your Away Games are (10): Forrest, Sunderland, Spurs, Liverpool, Leeds, West Ham, Chelsea, Burnley, Everton, Bournemouth

Our Away games are (10): Bournemouth, Forrest, Leeds, Brentford, Spurs, Brighton, Wolves, City, Wet Spam, Palace

I think yours look a tad tougher overall.

 

[dickie davies]

Gabriel coming back will make us better. We were very shaky with Saliba and Gabriel out. Jesus is adding allot of rolls royce quality when he comes off the bench. How long that can last with his knee problems is anyones guess. Havertz is set to come back and has been an important player tactically. Gyokeres has been out and should be getting fitter game by game. Odegaard was out for a good while and isn't really back up to speed yet.

The other issues are, remaining fixture. You haven't played Chelsea yet, we haven't played Bournemouth yet

Your Away Games are (11): Forrest, Sunderland, Newcastle, Spurs, Liverpool, Leeds, West Ham, Chelsea, Burnley, Everton, Bournemouth

Our Away games are (10): Bournemouth, Forrest, Leeds, Brentford, Spurs, Brighton, Wolves, City, Wet Spam, Palace

I think yours look a tad tougher overall.

Both our matches this season vs Newcastle are away!

 

[cheekybids]

You've defended well the last few games but before that it was keystone cops stuff at the back. So we need to take a longer view.

A longer view would show that over many seasons City are stronger from November onwards & go on long winning streaks to take the title. Most of the seasons start with defeats & calamitous defending only to turn into relentless winning machines.