Arsenal thread | 2025/26

Danny Tiatto said:
What amuses me is that all off season we were told that a striker was the missing piece of the puzzle and Gyokeres was going to come in and score a bucketload of goals but now the narrative has changed to him being crucial to free up space for other attackers.

Yet it is Gabriel & set pieces where they have been finding ways to win matches. Not sure why Arsenal fans can’t admit that so far Gyokeres has been very underwhelming and luckily for them their position on the table is masking it being called out.
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Perhaps there was some Arsenal fans that actually believed that, maybe the noisy online crowd.

However, i don't think any sane Arsenal fan (they do exist) ever thought he was the final piece in the jigsaw, & certainly the club didn't given they went out and bought 8 players in the summer.

Also, while certain Arsenal fans and a lot of the media thought that he was the ultimate answer at number 9, i'd also say i'm not sure with how much Arteta rates and admires Havertz, that was the clubs absolute thinking. Much in the same way Arsenal spent £50M on Madueke & £60M on Eze without them being definite first XI players, i think the club thought similar with spending £60M on Gyokeres

There were many Arsenal fans that assumed he was going to come in and score loads, there were also lots wary of the signing because of the quality of the league where he was coming from, & there were many debates with Arsenal fans picking sides in the whole Ekiteke vs Sesko vs Gyokeres debate about who best to sign.

I would agree that Gyokeres has underwhelmed, i'd also caveat that by saying that he has joined a much harder league, unfit and lacking a pre season and been thrown right in at the deep end. 4 in 10 in that circumstance doesn't seem overly bad, but totally agree you'd want to see more from him going forward.
 
GunnerGer said:
Perhaps there was some Arsenal fans that actually believed that, maybe the noisy online crowd.

However, i don't think any sane Arsenal fan (they do exist) ever thought he was the final piece in the jigsaw, & certainly the club didn't given they went out and bought 8 players in the summer.

Also, while certain Arsenal fans and a lot of the media thought that he was the ultimate answer at number 9, i'd also say i'm not sure with how much Arteta rates and admires Havertz, that was the clubs absolute thinking. Much in the same way Arsenal spent £50M on Madueke & £60M on Eze without them being definite first XI players, i think the club thought similar with spending £60M on Gyokeres

There were many Arsenal fans that assumed he was going to come in and score loads, there were also lots wary of the signing because of the quality of the league where he was coming from, & there were many debates with Arsenal fans picking sides in the whole Ekiteke vs Sesko vs Gyokeres debate about who best to sign.

I would agree that Gyokeres has underwhelmed, i'd also caveat that by saying that he has joined a much harder league, unfit and lacking a pre season and been thrown right in at the deep end. 4 in 10 in that circumstance doesn't seem overly bad, but totally agree you'd want to see more from him going forward.
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I disagree on Gyokeres - I think he's been by far our best signing just in terms of the space he creates for others and how he occupies the centre backs.

He's not the easiest on the eye and he's a chunky boi but he's also an absolute handful and he wasn't even match fit until the last couple of matches.

In terms of PL strikers there's Haaland, then there's clear daylight, then there's the next rung of strikers and he's in that rung. From what I've seen of other clubs' struker signings I think perhaps only Newcastle with the Woltemade signing got as impactful a signing.
 
bridgeno1 said:
I disagree on Gyokeres - I think he's been by far our best signing just in terms of the space he creates for others and how he occupies the centre backs.

He's not the easiest on the eye and he's a chunky boi but he's also an absolute handful and he wasn't even match fit until the last couple of matches.

In terms of PL strikers there's Haaland, then there's clear daylight, then there's the next rung of strikers and he's in that rung. From what I've seen of other clubs' struker signings I think perhaps only Newcastle with the Woltemade signing got as impactful a signing.
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I’m sorry but who exactly are these others he is creating space for?

Gabriel to make runs into the box to attack corners?

I think you are desperately trying to convince yourself that the guy is not a dud
 
bridgeno1 said:
I disagree on Gyokeres - I think he's been by far our best signing just in terms of the space he creates for others and how he occupies the centre backs.

He's not the easiest on the eye and he's a chunky boi but he's also an absolute handful and he wasn't even match fit until the last couple of matches.

In terms of PL strikers there's Haaland, then there's clear daylight, then there's the next rung of strikers and he's in that rung. From what I've seen of other clubs' struker signings I think perhaps only Newcastle with the Woltemade signing got as impactful a signing.
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You might be misunderstanding me, I'm not saying he has been useless. I think he offers the squad something different at number 9 that they don't have, and that's a number 9 that constantly wants to run in behind and stretch defences, and I can appreciate that helps open up space for others. I've been pleasantly surprised by his pressing and work rate as well, and as his fitness improves and he gets used to the league his hold up play is improving as well.

However, where he has underwhelmed is in the area many thought he'd excel, and that's actually in his shooting / goal scoring. Like I said, 4 in 10 isn't bad, but it's more the fact he, or we, don't seem to be making many chances for him to see the finishing that seemed to be his strongest point, it all seems that just half yard slow.

Now it's still early, and I think that's something he / we can still improve on further, especially as our chief creator Odegaard comes back, and also when we can rotate him with Havertz to keep him at peak power in games, but it is something I want to see get better.
 
GunnerGer said:
You might be misunderstanding me, I'm not saying he has been useless. I think he offers the squad something different at number 9 that they don't have, and that's a number 9 that constantly wants to run in behind and stretch defences, and I can appreciate that helps open up space for others. I've been pleasantly surprised by his pressing and work rate as well, and as his fitness improves and he gets used to the league his hold up play is improving as well.

However, where he has underwhelmed is in the area many thought he'd excel, and that's actually in his shooting / goal scoring. Like I said, 4 in 10 isn't bad, but it's more the fact he, or we, don't seem to be making many chances for him to see the finishing that seemed to be his strongest point, it all seems that just half yard slow.

Now it's still early, and I think that's something he / we can still improve on further, especially as our chief creator Odegaard comes back, and also when we can rotate him with Havertz to keep him at peak power in games, but it is something I want to see get better.
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Yeah we've given him hardly any chances. That's on the team to sort out - plus I've noticed Saka has a tendency to shoot all the time even if Gyokeres is free when a pass across the 6 yard box would get a better yield.

Finally Saka on penalties. Well, he has scored them but if you notice every single penalty is low to the keeper's left. Every time. He's been lucky that they have sometimes slipped under the keeper but a big keeper like Donnarumma or Pope is likely to save one.

Gyokeres has a 100% penalty record for Sporting, and hammered away the one he got against Leeds, he should be on pens.
 
I’ll say this about the current Arsenal, they are on a par with Stoke City and Wimbledon, a set piece team for want of a better word, imagine employing the long throw against a promoted team like Sunderland, it’s embarrassing from Arteta to spend so much money to play like this.
 
balotellishaircut said:
I’ll say this about the current Arsenal, they are on a par with Stoke City and Wimbledon, a set piece team for want of a better word, imagine employing the long throw against a promoted team like Sunderland, it’s embarrassing from Arteta to spend so much money to play like this.
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I find it quite funny the perception of how Arsenal play now, 1 of those things that people see the goals from corners and label us as Stoke FC or Wimbledon without actually looking into how we play, and it gets repeated on Social Media as some sort of banter & somehow repeated as fact.

I seen Utd fans bantering us for instance, until it's pointed out to them that Arsenal still have a higher open play xG than them, and that in terms of Long Balls played Utd top that table, with Arsenal 19th with only City having played fewer Long Balls.

People don't think about things like possession stats, field tilt, pressure, touches in opposition box, the fact we have the highest line from the defence, and play against the deepest defensive line.

In terms of our goals from set pieces, we basically score from corners, because we have 2 players with really good delivery from either side, & a player that's great at attacking them. Apparently you should feel a bit embarrassed about that now though? People can talk about set piece coaches, or blocking keepers etc, but that's the basic crux of it, & we'll see that now that the person that is really good at attacking them is out injured.
We very rarely score from free kicks, and we never score from long throws.
 
GunnerGer said:
I find it quite funny the perception of how Arsenal play now, 1 of those things that people see the goals from corners and label us as Stoke FC or Wimbledon without actually looking into how we play, and it gets repeated on Social Media as some sort of banter & somehow repeated as fact.

I seen Utd fans bantering us for instance, until it's pointed out to them that Arsenal still have a higher open play xG than them, and that in terms of Long Balls played Utd top that table, with Arsenal 19th with only City having played fewer Long Balls.

People don't think about things like possession stats, field tilt, pressure, touches in opposition box, the fact we have the highest line from the defence, and play against the deepest defensive line.

In terms of our goals from set pieces, we basically score from corners, because we have 2 players with really good delivery from either side, & a player that's great at attacking them. Apparently you should feel a bit embarrassed about that now though? People can talk about set piece coaches, or blocking keepers etc, but that's the basic crux of it, & we'll see that now that the person that is really good at attacking them is out injured.
We very rarely score from free kicks, and we never score from long throws.
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Your post begs the question, if the basic crux of it is that you've got a guy with a great "arrival" at corners which are delivered really well, why the need for the cheating on every one of them?
And it is...

EVERY

SINGLE

ONE!


I didn't think your lot could stoop lower than that Orange bloke ripping at the keeper's gloves as they prepared to take the corner, but you well and truly managed it. Hats off, and certainly nothing to be embarrassed about, oh no, not one bit pal!
 
To be fair, RE: the Gyokeres argument on this page, when we signed Grealish it was with the expectation that he would be a bit of a maverick who would play centrally and take some of the creative strain off De Bruyne. But when he got here, it turned out it was much better for our system to have him play very wide on the left, holding possession and creating space for others. I've not watched enough of Arsenal this season to know 100% - maybe Gyokeres was brought in to bag goals but now has a different role because he allows players like Saka, Merino, Eze, Trossard, etc. to be more dangerous around the edges of the box. He's likely to play 45-ish games this season which means he'll finish with 15-20 goals in all competitions. Arsenal will hardly have been short-changed if that turns out to be the case.
 
the-ecstacy-of-eight said:
Your post begs the question, if the basic crux of it is that you've got a guy with a great "arrival" at corners which are delivered really well, why the need for the cheating on every one of them?
And it is...

EVERY

SINGLE

ONE!


I didn't think your lot could stoop lower than that Orange bloke ripping at the keeper's gloves as they prepared to take the corner, but you well and truly managed it. Hats off, and certainly nothing to be embarrassed about, oh no, not one bit pal!
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Apart from the Orange bloke playing with the keepers gloves on that 1 occasion a season or 2 back, you might need to be more specific when pointing out the cheating at every corner goal we've scored this season?
 
the-ecstacy-of-eight said:
https://www.thefa.com/football-rule.../football-11-11/law-12---fouls-and-misconduct

...about as specific as I'm prepared to go for somebody who watches football on a regular basis (I assume you do that?)
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I do thanks, hence why i was intrigued and waiting on specific examples.

I'd say the most subjective was first game of the season at Old Trafford where Saliba backs into the Utd goalkeeper a bit, but nearly everyone apart from Utd fans seemed to agree that wasn't enough for a foul and the goalkeeper had to be stronger.

Struggling to see much wrong with the rest of them to be honest.
 
GunnerGer said:
I find it quite funny the perception of how Arsenal play now, 1 of those things that people see the goals from corners and label us as Stoke FC or Wimbledon without actually looking into how we play, and it gets repeated on Social Media as some sort of banter & somehow repeated as fact.
Click to expand...

Alternatively:
I find it quite funny the perception of how City are now, many of the things that people say we are without actually knowing the facts about how we operate, have been completely exhonerated by CAS, don’t have unlimited spending, don’t write wah-wah letters on club headed paper signed by 8 clubs, don’t forget past shenanigans like promotion fixing, stealing managers, blood money investment, cartel collusion behaviour, but, it all isn’t repeated on social media as some sort of banter.

Strange that.
 
GunnerGer said:
I find it quite funny the perception of how Arsenal play now, 1 of those things that people see the goals from corners and label us as Stoke FC or Wimbledon without actually looking into how we play, and it gets repeated on Social Media as some sort of banter & somehow repeated as fact.

I seen Utd fans bantering us for instance, until it's pointed out to them that Arsenal still have a higher open play xG than them, and that in terms of Long Balls played Utd top that table, with Arsenal 19th with only City having played fewer Long Balls.

People don't think about things like possession stats, field tilt, pressure, touches in opposition box, the fact we have the highest line from the defence, and play against the deepest defensive line.

In terms of our goals from set pieces, we basically score from corners, because we have 2 players with really good delivery from either side, & a player that's great at attacking them. Apparently you should feel a bit embarrassed about that now though? People can talk about set piece coaches, or blocking keepers etc, but that's the basic crux of it, & we'll see that now that the person that is really good at attacking them is out injured.
We very rarely score from free kicks, and we never score from long throws.
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It’s not the way you play football, it’s what you do when the ball is not in-play or when you don’t have the ball.

The time it takes you to take your set pieces does my head in. Only Sunderland take more time to take corners than Arsenal.

IMG_2905.jpeg

During those corners, there are multiple obstruction fouls on every corner.

The keeper always seems to have a sit down when Arteta sees something tactically from the opposition and has a fake timeout to get a message to his players.

When you’re winning later in games, players always seem to have to have a sit down before being substituted even when it’s a tactical sub.

Your players pretend to have a head injury a great deal (worst of all for that is Gabriel). Gabriel must be on the way to having his career cut short soon due to the early onset of chronic traumatic encephalopathy the amount of times he gets a ‘head injury’.

Another one he does (he’s not alone) is complain of being fouled whenever you concede a goal, even purposely diving when the opposition has a chance to score (Gabriel again the worst for that). And he’s supposed to be a big tough centre back.

The actual football you play when the you’ve got the ball in play is decent.
 
JASR said:
Alternatively:
I find it quite funny the perception of how City are now, many of the things that people say we are without actually knowing the facts about how we operate, have been completely exhonerated by CAS, don’t have unlimited spending, don’t write wah-wah letters on club headed paper signed by 8 clubs, don’t forget past shenanigans like promotion fixing, stealing managers, blood money investment, cartel collusion behaviour, but, it all isn’t repeated on social media as some sort of banter.

Strange that.
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The difference being, have i mentioned any of that stuff on here?

.db. said:
It’s not the way you play football, it’s what you do when the ball is not in-play or when you don’t have the ball.

The time it takes you to take your set pieces does my head in. Only Sunderland take more time to take corners than Arsenal.

View attachment 175383

During those corners, there are multiple obstruction fouls on every corner.

The keeper always seems to have a sit down when Arteta sees something tactically from the opposition and has a fake timeout to get a message to his players.

When you’re winning later in games, players always seem to have to have a sit down before being substituted even when it’s a tactical sub.

Your players pretend to have a head injury a great deal (worst of all for that is Gabriel). Gabriel must be on the way to having his career cut short soon due to the early onset of chronic traumatic encephalopathy the amount of times he gets a ‘head injury’.

Another one he does (he’s not alone) is complain of being fouled whenever you concede a goal, even purposely diving when the opposition has a chance to score (Gabriel again the worst for that). And he’s supposed to be a big tough centre back.

The actual football you play when the you’ve got the ball in play is decent.
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A good post. I'm going to address it as i see it, i know most might disagree but i do try to be fair. I'll probably slink away back in my corner in the Scottish Football threads after this and leave it to @bridgeno1, because most natives don't really like rival oppo fans talking about their teams on their forum, i just wanted to push back a bit on some of what i was reading.

I can see why the set piece thing does your head in, but if i count 5 secs in my head that would bring us back towards the Liverpool time that no-one seems to have a problem with, then i don't see it as a big issue myself. I also wonder if this time includes referee stoppages to have a word with players, because it stands to reason the better a team is at set pieces, the more the opposition will do in terms of trying to mark / grapple against them.

The keeper & player sit down is annoying as well, we did do that especially at places like Anfield & The Etihad when trying to stem the flow of the game, or to try & hold onto something, but i haven't seen that as much this season, so i hope that stays that way. In fact, a lot of the Arteta team talks this season seem to come when the opposition player is down getting treatment.

The faking head injury / claiming a foul thing does annoy me. I don't like it at all, i'll certainly call that out if i see that, Gabriel has probably cost us 2 goals against Newcastle & Sunderland doing that this season when he should be stronger & just defend the ball properly.
 
youngbob said:
To be fair, RE: the Gyokeres argument on this page, when we signed Grealish it was with the expectation that he would be a bit of a maverick who would play centrally and take some of the creative strain off De Bruyne. But when he got here, it turned out it was much better for our system to have him play very wide on the left, holding possession and creating space for others. I've not watched enough of Arsenal this season to know 100% - maybe Gyokeres was brought in to bag goals but now has a different role because he allows players like Saka, Merino, Eze, Trossard, etc. to be more dangerous around the edges of the box. He's likely to play 45-ish games this season which means he'll finish with 15-20 goals in all competitions. Arsenal will hardly have been short-changed if that turns out to be the case.
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He was brought in to score goals. Everything else is just an excuse
 
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