Arteta's team selection for tonight will have a significant effect on Arsenal's fortunes for the rest of the title race

By Danong

While Manchester City continues to show they're no threat to us in the title race, Liverpool keeps sustaining their lead at the top of the table.

We must keep winning because Liverpool are bound to hit a bad patch and we will be ready to take advantage, even without Saka.

Arsenal takes on Ipswich tonight in a game they'll be hoping to use to put pressure on the league leaders and widen the gap between us, Chelsea and defending champions Manchester City.

Going into that clash at the Emirates, Arsenal will be without their star man Bukayo Saka—the Englishman is out with a hamstring injury. Raheem Sterling is also out due to injury.

The Arsenal boss will have to find a way to replace his most productive Gunner; almost all of Arsenal's attacking play went through Saka, who boasts 10 assists and 5 goals in 16 games.

Arteta may in fact have to reduce the emphasis placed on our right wing and use both sides equally thus helping confuse the opponents and have a more balanced approach.

Ethan Nwaneri, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli have been suggested as options to fill in at right wing.

So, who replaces Saka? Does Jesus retain his spot in the team? Will it be Jorginho instead of Partey? Rice, Havertz or Merino at LCM and who plays left-back?

Arteta's team selection for tonight will have a significant effect on Arsenal's fortunes for the rest of the title race.

Well, my predicted Arsenal line-up against Ipswich Town at the Emirates has:

- Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back: As decent as the young Gunner has been, playing him continues to build his confidence and gives him a chance to break into the team, which is great. 

- Thomas Partey has had a great season so far with Jurrien Timber at right-back. Partey continues his resurgence as the #6.

- Gabriel Jesus remains at the top; with 5 goals in the last 2 games, he's a man in form, and against Ipswich, he could have a great chance to continue his goal-scoring exploits.

When Jesus has scored in a Premier League match, he hasn't lost: he's unbeaten in 61 games (56 wins and 5 draws), so Arsenal needs him to keep scoring.

- Declan Rice also deserves to start, especially after his game-changing performance in his cameo versus Crystal Palace, where he scored and showed what a hit he and Partey can be—the Ghanaian international gives him all the freedom to influence the attack.

Martinelli was a hit at RW. With Odegaard and Timber on the RHS, any quality player will shine at RW.

For a player like Martinelli, with pace, he just has to get the ball, drive and cross with his preferred foot. He'll do well in Saka's absence there.

Predicted line-up against Ipswich Town:

- Raya
- Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly
- Partey, Odegaard, Rice
- Martinelli, Jesus, Trossard

An Arsenal win would see them reach 36 points, which is 4 points less than they had at such a time last year.

Some feel our Gunners haven't been at their best, but they haven't been that bad either. There's much to play for in the second half of the season.

Arsenal's Plan to Overcome Crystal Palace

By Danong

Arsenal and Crystal Palace clash on Saturday evening in a Premier League Match Day 17 showdown.

The Gunners, fresh from beating Palace 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium to book a Carabao Cup semi-final spot, now make the short trip to Selhurst Park to once again play their London rivals.

Palace proved on Wednesday night that they can't be taken lightly. Looking at their results prior to that Carabao Cup quarter-final—with 5 games unbeaten—it suggests they were finding their footing after a poor start to the season.

After draws with Fulham (1-1) and Everton (0-0), dropping 4 points, Arsenal's title ambitions can't afford another draw. A draw tonight is like a loss.

Mikel Arteta and his technical bench need to go for the kill. Fortunately, almost every Gunner will be available for that game.

Arteta hinted that Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori, and Oleksander Zinchenko, who missed the last few games due to injuries, are in contention to feature on Saturday evening.

On Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori, Arteta told the media on Friday: "They are both available to be in the squad."

And on any other injury updates, he added: "Zinchenko could probably be available as well. Tomiyasu won't be."

The Arsenal line-up should aim to get the best out of the left-hand side. Criticism arising from Arsenal's last few games suggests they're right-side biased, with almost every attacking play coming from the right through Saka.

The left wing needs to step up, and what better way to do so than to play the best Arsenal left-hand side players on paper? Merino was signed for LCM, and Calafiori was recruited for LB.

The chopping and changing of players in these 2 positions were highlighted as one of the big contributors to Gabriel Martinelli's struggles. Well, against Palace, let's give the Brazilian the perfect conditions to shine.

Notably, Martinelli loves playing Crystal Palace. He has 4 goals in his last 4 games against them. He’s scored more goals against them (5) than against any other club in the Premier League.

That fine statistic, plus the fact that he seems to be at his best when Calafiori is at left back, should have his resurgence arc on Saturday evening.

Martinelli's Stats:

- When he starts with Calafiori:

  - Games: 58

  - Goals: 2

  - Assists: 2

  - Avg rating: 7.84

- When he starts without Calafiori:

  - Games: 10

  - Goals: 1

  - Assists: 0

  - Avg rating: 6.96

Here's my predicted Arsenal line-up versus Palace that will ensure the boys in red and white bounce back to winning ways:

- Raya

- Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori

- Partey, Merino, Ødegaard

- Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

This is the line up that will allow Martinelli to rediscover his form and it could be the lift this Arsenal attack needs to fire on all cylinders.

Why These Four Players Should Start Tonight Against Palace

 By Danong

Tonight, Arsenal host Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium in a Carabao Cup quarter-final clash.

Under Mikel Arteta, our only success in the cup competitions was the 2020 FA Cup triumph. In the last two seasons however we've been making significant progress in the league, fiercely competing for the title and running Man City very close to league glory. We haven't shown however the same determination in the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup.

That needs to change so that Mikel Arteta doesn't have to be asked questions like, "You’ve only won one trophy. Is this a chance to win another?" like he was asked on Tuesday. He corrected the Sky Sports journalist pointing out the two Community Shields won too.

Tonight it is imperative that Arsenal beat Palace not only to return to winning ways but to also lay down the psychological base on which to win the PL game on the weekend against the same team.

Arsenal will have to do it without Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori who are now long term absentees.  More importantly Rice may also not be available after being subbed off due to injury in that 0-0 draw with Everton. Ahead of the Palace game tonight, Arteta said "He’s fine. We will make the decision on whether he’s available or not."

Even so, Arsenal should still have a strong team to beat a Palace side that the Gunners have beaten in the last four meetings.

I expect Arteta's line up to include Kiwior, Nwaneri, Jesus and Sterling:

- Goalkeeper: Raya

- Defense: Timber, Saliba, Kiwior and Myles Lewis-Skelly

- Midfield: Partey, Merino and Nwaneri

- Attack: Saka, Jesus and Sterling

Why this lineup?

Gabriel has just returned from injury and may need a rest and Kiwior deserves to play. Rice shouldn't be risked. Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz look like they need a rest (though it would be wise to introduce them in the second half). Merino deserves a chance to play. It may be wise to try Sterling on the left wing; he might just be the "savior" of that position given Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli's struggles there. Jesus should be given the chance to carry on the fine display against Monaco.

Arteta will get his players to come out fighting and force the game against Palace as we need to get back to winning ways and also score goals from open play so that the confidence can flow back. 

If we win tonight, here's where we are:

- Premier League: 3rd with 66 points to play for, 6 points off the top (with a game more than Liverpool)

- Champions League: 3rd, all but qualified, with Zagreb and Girona fixtures to play

- FA Cup: Third round vs United at the Emirates Stadium to come 

- Carabao Cup: Semi-Finals. By reaching the semi-finals we can surely go all the way and win it.

Yes, we’ve not been good enough recently, but it’s nowhere near over, is it?

Surprises predicted for Arteta's team selection vs Everton

By Danong 

Today, Arsenal and Everton are going up against each other at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners are looking to shake off that frustrating 1-1 draw from their last league match against Fulham at Craven Cottage, where they just couldn't snatch the win.

Arsenal faced some challenges leading up to their 3-0 win against Monaco in the Champions League midweek. 

They were missing most of their defenders due to injuries. Nearly all of their top picks, left-backs Oleksander Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori, found themselves sidelined due to injuries. 

The injuries of Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jurrien Timber, and Thomas Partey raised concerns about the right-back position. 

We thought that Mikel Arteta might have to bring in an academy player to fill that role. Luckily, Partey was able to play in the game.

That said, in that 3-0 win over Monaco, Arsenal really pulled together a well-balanced team that easily created chances through open play. If you've watched that game, do you think it’s too much to ask the Arsenal boss to keep the "Monaco lineup" for the game against Everton?

Arsenal thrashed the Ligue 1 side with the starting 11 of:

Raya

Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Myles Lewis Skelly

Rice, Merino, Odegaard

Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

Myles Lewis Skelly just had an amazing performance midweek! With Calafiori and Zinchenko still out injured, I really don’t get why you’d drop him.

With regard to Calafiori "We’re just respecting the times that the medical department has set," Arteta said. "Then we monitor his evolution every single day. We understand he’s not fully ready yet, but he’s getting very close now."

Arteta suggested that Gabriel might be ready to play against Everton, but it might not be a good idea to start him in central defence and shift Kiwior to left-back. 

Kiwior has really shown his skills as a centre-back and he is getting better and better the more he plays, so it doesn't make sense to move him to the left-back position just to fit Gabriel in. 

The Brazilian defender is back from injury, as Arteta suggested on Friday, but there's no need to risk him; he should sit out the Everton game.

Additionally, given his recent return from injury, I would advise against playing Timber against Everton. It might be better to give him a break this time and save him for the next match.

The same can be said of Havertz who has,  prior to the Monaco game, looked tired and not himself. 

It's better to give Jesus a start today as he did play well against Monaco and looked lively setting up Saka for his first goal. 

He got in some very promising positions but his finishing let him down. He is likely to get it right against Everton if we carry on creating the chances. 

Similar to the Monaco match, I believe Arsenal will be highly motivated for their match against Everton. The desire has to be to keep on winning in order to take advantage of a possible Liverpool slip. They will undoubtedly pose a formidable challenge to the Toffees, who should leave the capital with a big L.

 

Advantage Arsenal. Gunners Line Up to Beat Stubborn Fulham and Narrow the Gap at the top. Rotation on the cards?

By Danong and 1970s Gooner 

Arsenal and Fulham are going head-to-head today at Craven Cottage. Looking at results between them last season not being able to beat them, whether at home or away, was definitely a big blow to our title hopes.

Surely it's crucial Arsenal gets it right this time around. It should be so not as a payback for last season but because winning this game really helps Arsenal's title hopes.

Since Liverpool didn't play on Saturday because their match against Everton got postponed due to bad weather, Arsenal will have a chance to narrow the gap at the top of the table by just 4 points.

This puts some pressure on the Merseyside club. And some commentators have pointed out this slight advantage to the chasing pack.

On the other hand if the game had been played it would have been under some favourable circumstances.

The weather which, as severe as it was, would surely have constricted Liverpool in playing their normal passing game and given the lesser opponent a strong platform to get something from the fixture.

Now Fulham isn’t a team to mess around with. Even though Chris Sutton in his BBC column thinks Arsenal will win this battle, he still thinks this game is going to be a tough one for our Gunners.

The ex-Chelsea man, while predicting a 2-1 Arsenal win, admitted, “they did not miss Gabriel at the back against United, but this might be a tougher test for them, especially because some of Fulham’s key players are Gunners old boys”

Gabriel and Calafiori may return to the Arsenal lineup after missing the match against Manchester United. They did not take part in the open training session but it has been reported that they participated in individual training, which is encouraging news.

If they are not available then Arteta will likely go with Kiwior and Zinchenco again which is risky. Zinchenko although he has improved, he still is vulnerable to a pacy winger taking him on.

One alternative would be to move Partey to RB and Timber at LB. We have also favoured Tierney be used at LB but it looks like Arteta may be reluctant to do that.

In midfield the trio of Rice, Partey, and Odegaard  may continue (if Partey is selected to play there) to lay the foundation of an Arsenal dominance.

Trossard may return at LW for Martinelli who didn't justify his start there versus United.

Lastly in the attack Arteta may surprise a lot of people by resting Havertz and playing Jesus there. It wouldn't be a surprise really as Havertz looked jaded against Man utd. On the other hand he may choose to rest him for the midweek CL game instead.

The line up if Calafiori and Gabriel are available:

Raya
Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori
Partey, Rice, Odegaard
Saka, Havertz, Trossard

If they are not the Kiwior and Zinchenco are likely to start.

What would you change on that lineup?

Arsenal Line-Up and Score Prediction for Cup Final-Like Clash with Nottingham Forest

 By Danong

Arsenal will take on Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League's return this weekend. 

The Gunners have not secured a victory in their last 4 Premier League matches, placing them 9 points behind league leaders Liverpool and 5 points behind the defending champions, Manchester City.

If coach Mikel Arteta and the team aim to maintain their title aspirations, they cannot further widen the gap between them and the other two Premier League title favorites. 

On paper, a clash with Forest would seem like just another 3 points secured, but given the current form of the Nottingham-based PL side, that may not be the case.

Forest are experiencing a notable resurgence; a glance at the Premier League table reveals that their statistics are strikingly similar to those of Arsenal. 

Arsenal has played 11 games, securing 5 wins, 4 draws, and 2 losses, with a goal difference of +6. Like them, Nottingham Forest has played 11 matches, with 5 victories, 4 draws, 2 defeats, and a goal difference of +5.

Forest has been impressive; they are undoubtedly a challenging team to face, having conceded only 10 goals. Only Liverpool in the league has allowed fewer goals (6). 

The North Londoners must be at their best to secure a victory this Saturday afternoon. For that to happen, Arteta needs to assemble a formidable winning lineup, and I can't think of a better starting 11 than this:

On goal, David Raya starts. With Ben White out and Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu back, I anticipate Jurrien Timber at RB, William Saliba and Gabriel at central defense, with Calafiori returning to LB.

With his recent performance, Thomas Partey has become an indispensable asset in Arsenal's engine room. 

Martin Odegaard, the skipper, who injects creativity into Arteta's engine room, like Partey, must just start. 

There's to be a battle for LCM between Declan Rice and Mikel Merino. I'd start with Merino. Rice was nursing an injury versus Chelsea and even if he's recovered, extra rest could do him good. 

Remember the impact Merino made when he entered the game against Chelsea in the 1-1 stalemate prior to the interval, he can't be overlooked.

Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Bukayo Saka lead the team in the forward line.

Arsenal line-up versus Forest:

Raya
Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori
Partey, Merino, Odegaard
Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

With this line-up, I expect Arsenal to win. I expect this to be the turn-around of Arsenal's league campaign, as Paul Merson suggests in his Sportskeeda column, "This is a cup final for Arsenal, a must-win game. 

Mikel Arteta and company have some lovely fixtures coming up and will be hopeful of putting on a solid run. I back them to win their next six or seven games and it starts with this one."

That said, Merson predicts that Arsenal will secure a 3-1 win on Saturday. I think a 2-0 win is more probable.

What are your thoughts on that? Share your predictions below and let us know what adjustments you would suggest for the starting lineup.

Arsenal all out for the win, prove Merson wrong and challenge for the title

 By Danong and 1970s Gooner

Arsenal will face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening in the London derby. The Gunners go to this game following two consecutive defeats (1-0 to Newcastle and 1-0 to Inter Milan). They've also gone winless in their last three league games.

What's so obviously been missing in recent games has been a lack of creativity in the final third which has  resulted in a struggle to create and convert chances. 

Against Inter Milan, in that 1-0 Champions League loss, Arsenal had 20 shots and 46 crosses but still couldn't get a goal, failing to score twice in a row.

Certainly in the absence of creativity a team reverts to relying solely on crosses which is of course not a viable strategy.

Since his injury on international duty in September, Martin Odegaard has not played in the league. Arsenal's engine room has sorely missed his contributions.

In recent weeks, Arsenal's pressing has been subpar. Who leads the press from the font? Odegaard.

They were unable to break down defenses and there is a lack of creativity: who creates most of the chances? Odegaard.

Who orchestrates Arsenal's buildup? with Odegaard the Gunners have the capacity to build from the back when he drops in to help carry the ball.

In his six meetings with the Blues, he has two goals and three assists. He certainly looks forward to playing against Chelsea.

Remember when Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted, "The impact Martin has in everything that we do, it was too big to try to replicate it with one player"

Clearly, Arteta acknowledged that his game plan revolves around Odegaard, which makes it understandable why Arsenal has missed him so much. His possible return will be a huge boost.

As Arsenal hope Odegaard can help their attack click Chelsea too will hope Cole Palmer can do the same. Palmer has been nursing an injury he sustained against Manchester United last weekend and is also a doubt for the encounter.

As per Paul Merson, if Palmer misses the game, Arsenal will win, as he feels Chelsea just can't function so well without the Englishman.

Now surely, Chelsea versus Arsenal cannot after all be a Palmer versus Odegaard matchup. There are the rest of the players who will have to function at their best to win the game.

What the Gooners must hope is that Mikel Arteta is brave enough to start Odegaard, who in a few minutes against Inter Milan showed us what we've been missing.

Against Inter, it was clear that whenever the Norwegian playmaker received the ball, everyone immediately moved and simply trusted that it would arrive.

Arsenal will play as their lives depend on this game and will get back on track to challenge for the title.

Paul Merson has predicted a 2-2 draw. We think he will be wrong.

The referees must handle games with common sense

 By 1970s Gooner

The debate on the red card given to Rice is on-going. All the journalists try to keep neutral by characterising it as harsh and of course blaming Rice for getting himself sent off.

But really they ignore the most obvious of facts:

1.The Brighton player deliberately kicked Rice pretending he was aiming for the ball.

2. The ball was obviously not in a stationary position as it was rolling quite nicely away from Rice. So Rice with his back to the kicker and seeing the ball rolling could not be trying to delay the kick because there was no kick to be taken in his mind.

3. The referee must be of a low standard, in terms of handling the game, if he could not understand what was going on. If he had he would have given both players a talking to and waived play on.

4. As he waved play on for Pedro's attempt to delay a throw in.

You only need to use your common sense.

Arsenal vs Brighton: Team to win, Players to watch, and Arteta's strongest line-up

By Danong

Arsenal and Brighton open this weekend's PL action in the early kickoff on Saturday. The Seagulls, like the North Londoners, still have a perfect record this new PL campaign, so when the two sides clash, something has to give.

 

 Under new tactician Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton have beaten Everton 3-0 and thrashed Manchester United 2-1. They will be hoping to outmanoeuvre Arsenal, who have already defeated Wolves and Aston Villa with identical 2-0 victories in their first 2 games of the season.

 

According to some prediction sites, Arsenal, who've won the last two meetings (against Brighton) 3-0 and 2-0, are the favourites going into that clash. However, this fixture has consistently been tight, with most wins occurring in the second half. Of the 14 goals scored when the two clashed in the league, 11 came in the second half.

 

Speaking of goals, Arsenal, ever since the start of last season, have only failed to score twice at home (versus West Ham and Aston Villa). Therefore, you can confidently predict that the Gunners will score; in fact, many believe that star player Kai Havertz, who strangely failed to score or assist last weekend, will resume his goal-scoring ways.

In his last 9 PL games of last season, the German scored 8 goals and 7 assists; he then assisted and scored in this season's match day 1, hinting he'd carried that form to this season.

Bukayo Saka, along with Havertz, is an exciting player to watch in the game. The Englishman with a goal and two assists already this season has been off to a stellar start; he's looked sharp despite the Euros disappointments, losing to Spain with England in the European Championship Finals.

On the other hand, Brighton's Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro are players to watch out for. Welbeck, who's scored two in two games, could just be finding his stride and may get his first league goal against his former employer, Arsenal. 

Joao Pedro, aiming to enhance his impressive performance of scoring 20 goals across all categories last season, anticipates posing a threat to the Arsenal defence in the free role he has taken this new season.

 

Arsenal will need to be defensively solid and sustain their form against Brighton, who haven't been able to score past them in the last 2 games.

 

I anticipate that Mikel Arteta will field his strongest team, which couldn't be stronger than

 

Raya

White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber

Partey, Rice, Odegaard

Saka, Havertz, Trossard

 

Why those 11? Since he's still acclimatising to the team, Riccardo Calafiori is unlikely to start, but he could be a bench option. Trossard replaces Gabriel Martinelli, who needs the perfect reminder to step up his game.

That said, what would you change in Arsenal's predicted lineup above for the clash with Brighton?

Imposing Hale End star, the ultimate Thomas Partey heir, looks set to save Arteta millions

By Danong

Could Mikel Arteta have already found the ideal Thomas Partey heir? And are we fortunate that he has given us the pleasure of watching him in the past few weeks?

The Gunners have spent the last three weeks on a pre-season tour in the United States, where they have had the opportunity to play pre-season friendly matches against Premier League opponents Bournemouth, Manchester United, and Liverpool.

Aside from the 2-1 loss against the Reds, our Gunners won all of the other friendly games.

The preseason allows players to remind managers of their abilities and persuade them to incorporate them into their plans for the upcoming season.

Mikel Arteta handed academy star Myles Lewis Skelly a chance in preseason (he appeared in every game in the United States), and he took advantage of it.

For the past few months, academy coaches have been training Lewis Skelly, a midfielder, to play inverted left-back.

Watching the 17-year-old play fullback and outperform Oleksander Zinchenko, as he did in his cameo against Liverpool, brings back memories of the Bukayo Saka left-back period, when the Arsenal right-winger initially emerged.

Anyway, why is Lewis Skelly playing out of position? Coaches can experiment with players in various roles early in their development to produce exceptionally adaptable and high-IQ football players.

Given the "lack of room" in the Arsenal midfield, it's likely that Arteta, who has other plans for Lewis Skelly, is simply acclimatising the youngster to the first team as a left back, similar to Saka's introduction as a fullback, before moving to the right wing.

You're probably wondering how Lewis Skelly, playing as an inverted fullback, transforms him into the perfect 6, the Thomas Partey heir.

Playing left-back teaches the Hale End star how to dominate the tempo in possession and strike the right balance between progressive and slow play.

While out of possession, he will improve as a 1v1 defender when isolated against wingers, as well as learn to be a 1v1 dominator, for which he possesses many of the necessary traits.

Lewis Skelly's experience at left back could lead to him becoming a more well-rounded 6 as a Partey replacement, while also being able to play inverted left-back and even LCM if needed.

Ethan Nwaneri has received a lot of hype ahead of next season, but Lewis Skelly could also have a breakout season as well.

Calafiori tells Bologna to let him fulfill his dream move to Arsenal

By 1970s Gooner 

Riccardo Calafiori on his return from holidays for pre season told the Bologna hierarchy that he wants to leave and asked them to let him fulfill his dream and play for Arsenal. 

This is according to respected journalist Fabrizio Romano who also claims that Bologna have accepted Arsenal’s offer of an initial £33.7m plus £4.2m add-ons!

Arsenal are now working round the clock to finalise the deal and get it over the line so that the player can join the Arsenal squad that will be travelling to the States for a series of friendlies.

Personal terms with Calafiori have already been agreed. 

GREAT NEWS

Is this the midfielder this Arsenal team needs to shake off one glaring weakness next season?

 By Danong

Arsenal had an impressive 2023–24 season, finishing second in the Premier League with 89 points, just 2 points behind the league champions, Manchester City. Almost every stat this Arsenal team set was impressive; in fact, they broke record after record.

They set a club record-breaking 28 wins in a 38-game league campaign. They set a club record goal difference of +62, conceding the fewest goals (29) in 20 years. They also equaled the record for most goals from corners (16). 

Most of Arsenal's records were quite heartwarming, but there is one surprising statistic that has emerged, indicating the need for improvement in the upcoming season.

Arsenal scored a whopping 91 goals, but it's a bit of a letdown that only six of them were from outside the penalty area. The Gunners could use some more firepower from a distance. 

This discovery has exposed Arsenal's heavy reliance on close-range finishes and their limited ability to make impactful shots from a distance. 

While some Gooners may not view this stat as significant, given the continued success in scoring goals, it should be, as Arsenal strives for excellence in all areas. The fact that Manchester City scored 15 goals from outside the penalty area only highlights this weakness.

Being able to find the target from a distance and score from a long range, if not setting up the forwards for tap-ins, could have been really useful for the Gunners. 

It would have been handy in the first half of the season, especially considering the losses they experienced due to them struggling in front of goal. During the first half of the season, the team's attack lacked bite.

In the matches against Aston Villa (1-0 loss in December) and Newcastle (1-0 loss in November), having the option of long-range shots could have been useful. If Arsenal had won either of these matches, or even if they had ended in draws, they would have become the league champions. 

Arsenal appear to have mastered scoring from set pieces, and scoring from long range could be the key to their success next season.

With the transfer window upon us, Arsenal is looking to strengthen their midfield in addition to their attack. Maybe the Arsenal scouts should think about bringing in a top midfielder who has an eye for a shot. 

Even though he might be a bit expensive, Douglas Luiz is that player. The Brazilian definitely brings a much-needed long-range threat to a team. 

His shot-power rating in the FC 24 game was 83. In the 2023–24 Premier League season, Douglas Luiz, though a deep-lying midfielder, proved to be a consistent threat in front of goal. 

With 28 shots taken in 34 matches, he has shown his willingness to pull the trigger when the opportunity arises. His shooting accuracy of 60.71% is an impressive stat, with 17 of his shots finding the target. This accuracy has resulted in a goal for every 3.11 shots he takes, showcasing his efficiency in front of goal.

On average, he takes 0.87 shots per 90 minutes, highlighting his active involvement in the attacking phase of the game. 

Douglas Luiz's shooting stats speak volumes about his proficiency in front of goal and his ability to make a significant impact for his team.

We'll have to wait and see what happens this summer—if Luiz, who can't stop being linked with a move to the Emirates since Arsenal had three bids rejected for him, is finally captured.

Ultimately, Arsenal must step up their game in terms of scoring from distance. It could provide them with the extra boost they need to outwit Manchester City for the league title.

Timber the answer to Arsenal's summer transfer straregy

By 1970s Gooner

Jurrien Timber had a most impressive 25 minutes against Everton at the Emirates today, the last game of the campaign. It was his second appearance since he suffered that horrible injury in the season's opener.

But he was immense. Strong and determined he inverted towards the midfield as if he was playing all season there.

He will most definitely be Arteta's first choice left back for next season. No doubt about it. 

And in addition to saving all that money to buy a left back Arteta won't have to go for an additional centre back to cover for the fabulous duo of Gabriel and Saliba. Timber remember is a centre back as well as a full back. 

Tomi will be a cover for all positions at the back and the same goes for Timber! This is in addition to Quior and Zinchenko providing additional cover.

The transfer strategy and the financial resources will therefore switch towards getting another centre forward and a central midfielder if Partey goes.

The center forward will be selected to have the versatility to also play on the wing.

Add to all the above the large room for improvement that is within this young squad and the experience gained in the last two seasons.

It's a sure recipe for surpassing City and lifting the premier league trophy next May. 

On the Brink of Glory: Arsenal’s Progressive March Under Mikel Arteta

By Danong

Mikel Arteta has done an impressive job at the Emirates Stadium. Take a look at this trend:

2019-2020: 56 points and finished 8th

2020-2021: 61 points, finished 8th

2021-2022: 69 points, finished 5th

2022-2023: 84 points, finished 2nd

2023-24: ??

It is apparent that Arsenal under Mikel are on the rise; each season they improve. Since the Spaniard took over halfway through the 2019–20 season, Arsenal's points have increased significantly each season in an upward trend. 

Compared to the past seasons prior to the Arteta era, the Gunners have never remained still or exhibited signs of deterioration.

The 2023–24 season concludes today. An Arsenal victory over Everton will see the Gunners finish with a maximum of 89 points. Unfortunately, these points may not help them win the title (though they may win if Manchester City, who have 88 points, drop points against West Ham on Sunday).

Even so, reaching 89 points is commendable given Arsenal's growing momentum, but it is insufficient to meet coach Mikel Arteta's target of 90 points if his side is to win the Premier League.

"The demands, you might have to win every game. I don’t know. I have no clue. There are a lot of games and we are all going to have crazy schedules and this league might be different to last season," said Arteta back in March of the title race as quoted by 90MIN.

"Anything under 90 points I think would be very difficult."

Anyway, given the trend, there's every reason to expect Arsenal to gather more points next season than they did this season. So, if not this season, Arsenal will return with an even better version next season, aiming to win the Premier League title with 90 or more points. 

Whatever happens on Sunday, whether Arsenal win the league or not, the most beautiful days for the Gooners are ahead.

Arsenal player ratings in the Villa defeat: Very few players stood out

By Danong and 1970s Gooner

Arsenal needed to bag all three points against visiting Aston Villa to return to the top of the league, especially since Liverpool dropped all 3 points prior to Arsenal's game. 

One would have thought that this alone would be enough to motivate the players, but it wasn't to be so. Rather, in the first half they seemed a little bit more anxious than usual and coupled with going in at half time drawing culminated in the insipid display that we witnessed afterwards. Unfortunately, they suffered a disappointing defeat thanks to two late Villa goals scored by Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins.

 

Nevertheless they could have won it in the first 45 minutes had they been clinical. In the second half, Villa were re-energised; they showed passion and resolve to get something out of the game and it paid off.

 

David Raya (5/10)

He was lucky not to concede from the two attempts by Watkins and Tielemans that hit the post and bar respectively but they were fantastic shots. It's debatable if he was at fault for their first goal as Gabriel and the Villa player were both very near the goal post which must have put him off.

He can be blamed partially for their second goal as he didn't need to come out since Smith Row was very close to Watkins. By coming out he encouraged Watkins to chip it over him. He did come out of his area against Bayern and he conceded on that occasion too. Raya must learn to choose well when to rush from his goal. 

 

Gabriel Magalhaes (4/10)

He wasn't as dominant as we've known him to be. Almost conceded a goal in the first half by finding the back of Zinchenko's head which resulted in Watkins shot on the post. He made a very similar mistake for Bayern's first goal where he rushed a pass to an unsuspecting Kiwior. 

He also allowed Villa's forward to get ahead of him in the near post which resulted in the first goal we conceded. 

William Saliba (5/10)

He made some key interventions throughout the game. However, I'm not sure where he was when Bailey scored.

 

 Ben White (7/10)

Had an excellent game. He rarely puts one foot wrong. He was the best player for Arsenal yet again, but sadly, he was subbed off.

 

Oleksandr Zinchenko (4/10)

 

Was dreadful; his defensive troubles were obvious. It seemed like he was doing everything he could to win the league for Manchester City.

 

Declan Rice (6/10)

 

He had to play the No. 6 role, which requires him to be more cautious and reserved. He produced a good performance although he failed to spot Baily was behind him in the box who as a result had a free shot at goal. Rice has been a little underwhelming recently but would have been more effective in a free role—a box-to-box midfield role.

 

Martin Odegaard (7/10)

 

In the first half, Villa was unable to contain him, rendering him unplayable. His impact decreased in the second half. He was later subbed off with Arteta claiming he had felt something.

 

Kai Havertz (6/10)

His timed runs caused problems for the Villa defenders but he wasn't clinical, though.

 

Leandro Trossard (5/10)

Showed flashes of brilliance. He pressed with determination and, several times, demonstrated quick feet. It was disappointing that he did not score from two yards when all he had to do was hit the three quarters of the goal that were not being guarded by Martinez. He failed to show that he is more than just a supersub.

Gabriel Jesus (5/10)

His work with the ball was excellent, but he continues to demonstrate that he is not the Arsenal team's clinical striker. He just can't accomplish the easy stuff, which is frustrating. Arteta will have to sign a real goal scorer if we are to get anywhere.

Bukayo Saka (6/10) 

Had an excellent game in the first half and an average game in the second. His direct runs and intricate dribbling caused problems for the Villa defense. He had a few chances to score but didn't.

 

Substitutes:

 

Takehiro Tomiyasu (6/10)

 

Was solid. His impact was palpable. Should've started at left back.

 

Gabriel Martinelli (5/10)

Had an uneventful game. He was not impactful. 

 

Jorginho (4/10)

He gave the ball away cheaply for Ollie Watkins' goal.

 

Emile Smith Rowe (4/10)

He wasn't as game-changing as Arteta had hoped. 

 

Eddie Nketiah (N/A)

He came on late and did not contribute significantly.

 

 

Manager:

 

Mikel Arteta (4/10)

 

His team selection raised numerous questions. Why drop Havertz from his number 9 role where he's been at his best?

Jorginho and Rice in midfield excelled together; why change it?

He is partly to blame for the loss.

Where did Arteta go so wrong to be stunned by compatriot Unai Emery?

 

By Danong

With a win, Arsenal intended to maintain their strategic position in the Premier League title chase this weekend, but suffered a major setback by loosing 2-0 to a motivated Aston Villa. While Villa's tactical plan under Unai Emery was superb, Mikel Arteta made two key tactical blunders that contributed to that loss.

 

1. Overreliance on the inverted fullback

 

Since last season, Mikel Arteta's utilisation of the inverted fullback has been a major component of Arsenal's game plan. However, against Aston Villa, this strategy failed miserably. Oleksandr Zinchenko frequently overstayed in midfield, leaving Arsenal's left wing vulnerable for Villa wingers Diaby and Bailey to exploit. He also gave the ball away more often than not and we were lucky to avoid going one down much earlier than we actually did.

 

It's astonishing Mikel Arteta didn't realise Unai Emery's game plan was to capitalise on Zinchenko's shift to midfield, leaving space on the wings. Earlier in the second half, introducing Jorginho and either Jakub Kiwior or Takehiro Tomiyasu would have been the correct move. Jorginho would have eliminated the need for an inverted fullback role, allowing the fullbacks to play as typical fullbacks, giving the Gunners a chance in that game.

 

2. Ineffective midfield setup

 

I'm not sure why Arteta abandoned the Jorginho, Declan Rice, and Martin Odegaard midfield—it delivered week in and week out. Playing Kai Havertz in midfield just doesn't work. Rice has been effective when not playing as the No. 6; he's flourished when allowed a licence to roam and contribute to the attack. If Arteta hadn't started Jorginho, he should've started Thomas Partey to play the No. 6 role.

 

A Havertz, Rice, and Odegaard midfield provides more control than creativity and it also lacks the dynamism and penetration required to disrupt a well-organised defence like Aston Villa's.

 

Villa's midfielders routinely outmuscled Arsenal, restricting their build-up play. Arsenal not having someone play as the box-to-box midfielder allowed Villa to easily dominate the midfield duel, significantly restricting their establishing control, especially in the second half. 

 

This defeat to Aston Villa may have a significant impact on Arsenal's title aspirations. Arteta will need to reflect on these tactical mistakes, learn from them, and do better to lead this Arsenal squad to victory.

Rotate or not? Arsenal can put one foot in the UCL semi-finals with this lineup

 By Danong

Tuesday night sees Arsenal facing Bayern Munich in the highly anticipated Champions League quarterfinals at the Emirates Stadium. This game is a must-watch, as it would be the perfect litmus test if this Arsenal team truly has rediscovered its competitive edge. 

Bayern find themselves in a challenging situation as they grapple with the issue of inconsistency. Arsenal, on the other hand, have been in exceptional form, securing one victory after another. They have only suffered a single defeat (a 1-0 loss to FC Porto) since the winter break, triumphing in 11 out of their 13 matches during this impressive run.

Is it wise for Mikel Arteta to consider rotating his squad against this Bayern Munich side so that he has a fresh looking side for the game against Villa?

Despite Bayern Munich's recent inconsistencies, Arsenal should view them as their toughest challenge yet.

Last week, the Arsenal boss took a calculated risk by rotating his lineup against Luton. The outcome was a resounding success, with his side securing a 2-0 victory. Even if there's a big clash with Aston Villa coming up (with PL glory at stake), Arteta can't rest his best players in a must-win match like Bayern.

Reports suggest that all the Gunners, including Jurrien Timber, participated in full first-team training on Monday. Therefore, Arteta has an abundance of options when it comes to selecting who to play and who not to play.

 

Which raises the question: what is the most formidable Arsenal lineup the Spaniard can field Tuesday night? 

The lineup Arteta fielded against Brighton is strong enough for the task at hand, but there are just two changes I'd make if I were Arteta. I would drop Oleksander Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus for Jakub Kiwior and Gabriel Martinelli.

 

Oleksandr Zinchenko's defensive vulnerabilities were on display against the Seagulls, as Simon Adingra had no trouble in 1v1 situations with the Ukrainian international. It was evident that Brighton had identified him as a weak link in the Gunners defence, so they targeted him. 

Jakub Kiwior's performance as Arsenal's left back after the mid-season break was truly impressive. With Kiwior as a typical leftback, we witnessed Ben White embracing the inverted right-back role, which unlocked him to dazzle and may end up winning the player of the season award. 

Arsenal can trust they'll have a solid defence with Kiwior at left back and White at right back, especially with the reassuring presence of William Saliba and Gabriel in central defence.

 

Now that Havertz is the preferred striker, Gabriel Jesus is finding game time on the wings. Despite doing everything well, he continues to struggle with efficiency. 

Arteta needs an efficient attack versus Bayern. Martinelli, who's been making cameo appearances since returning from injury, ought to return to the starting lineup. The presence of the Brazilians, Kai Havertz, and Bukayo Saka in attack could spell trouble for Thomas Tuchel's defenders.

 

With this line-up below, Arteta could field a starting 11 that is more than capable of overpowering Bayern and put one foot in the semifinal of the Champions League. 

Raya 

White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior

Rice, Jorginho, Odegaard

Saka, Havertz, and Martineli

 

This Arsenal player wasn’t at his best. Arsenal player ratings vs Brighton

 

By Danong

Arsenal defeated Brighton 3-0. The Seagulls hadn't lost a league match at the Amex Stadium since August 26^th when West Ham defeated them 3-1 but then Arsenal showed up.

This highly impressive victory showcased very clearly Arsenal’s fantastic balance in its structure between defence, midfield and attacking play. It has sent an ominous message to its rivals for the Premier League crown especially to Liverpool who are next to play.

How it happened: Tariq Lamptey hauled down Gabriel Jesus in the 31st minute resulting in a penalty kick which Bukayo Saka converted to break the deadlock. Arsenal led 1-0 at the break. Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard scored in the second half for the 3-0 final score.

Mikel Arteta fielded close to his best lineup after resting a number of his key players in the 2-0 victory last Wednesday over Luton. As expected the Gunners, as a team, showed up alright but how did they perform individually?

David Raya (8/10).

Calm as always. He didn't have much to do. The only remarkable aspect of his play on Saturday evening was an impressive first-half save to deny Enciso. Except for a few errant passes early in the game (which he needs to eradicate from his play) he played well. Notably, he recorded his 12th Premier League clean sheet. 

Ben White (7/10).

Following his recent brilliance as an inverted fullback he returned to playing as a typical right back. He was a high-flying right-back on the right wing and his link-up play with Saka occasionally tormented Estupinian. However, Enciso gave him a difficult time. 

William Saliba (8/10).

He had a relatively quiet performance; he wasn't tested much and Gabriel performed all the dirty work. Though, as usual, he provided serenity to Arsenal's defence especially when bringing the ball out of the defence like a seasoned midfielder. With him and Gabriel playing as a pair, Arsenal have now gone 7 hours without conceding an away goal.

Gabriel Magalhães (8/10)

Saliba injected serenity, but Gabriel was hands-on, defending high and attempting to get on the receiving end of corner kicks. Should have scored with at least one header. He gave Danny Welbeck a hard time. Late in the game he made a key block in the penalty area and helped the Gunners record their 14th clean sheet. Had an injury scare towards the end of the first half but looked fine in the second half.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (6/10).

He wasn't at his best, mislaying a few passes. He didn't have the same impact on the game as we've come to expect as he neither helped the team defend nor assisted us to have more control in midfield. We can however forgive him because he's only recently recovered from injury and still trying to find his consistency. But he occasionally had a great link up with Gabriel Jesus. 

Jorginho (7/10).

Initially, Brighton found a way to isolate him. However, he tapped into his experience to still influence the game. His passing was impeccable and he played some fantastic through balls. His major contribution was of course the excellent assist for Havertz's crucial goal.

Declan Rice (8/10).

He covered a lot of distance as per usual. Had to chase back a lot, especially when Brighton broke Arsenal's press which was more than it should have been. Towards the end of the game he had the opportunity to put his name on the score sheet but didn't. He really should have passed the ball to someone who was better placed to score. But overall he had a great game and competed hard.

Martin Odegaard (8/10).

Leader. Continues to excel despite not scoring or assisting in the game. Is crucial to Arsenal's game plan especially when leading the press from the front. He's a joy to watch. He played an excellent pass to Jorginho who set up Havertz for Arsenal's second goal of the game. He was superb as usual—a captain's performance.

Bukayo Saka (6/10).

Coming off an "alleged injury," he was decent, not at his best. He missed a great opportunity to open the scoring when he managed to cut inside the area but his shot went out when everyone expected the net to bulge. He did score the opener a little later on however when he calmly slotted in the penalty. Linked up play beautifully with White on the right wing to trouble Estupinian..

Kai Havertz (9/10).

Clinical. Was the man of the match. Can we finally agree that Arsenal signed him to bolster their attack not to replace Granit Xhaka? The German's revival continued as he led Arsenal's attack against Brighton. He scored Arsenal's second goal of the game before assisting Trossard for the third. Kai Havertz is the Premier League player with the most direct goal contributions (8) since February 17th. What a player!

Gabriel Jesus (7/10).

Had a decent performance. Won the penalty. Forced a save from the Brighton custodian, missed a couple of headers, but was okay on the left wing.

Substitutes

Leandro Trossard (7/10).

He was fantastic and re-energised Arsenal's attack when he came on. Forced a save from the Brighton goalkeeper before scoring Arsenal's game-winning goal.

Gabriel Martinelli (5/10).

His impact was not felt. Had an uneventful game.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (5/10).

He was brought on to see out the game, which he did.

Fabio Vieira and Eddie Nketiah (n/a)

They came on late, with the Seagulls already taken care off.                    

 

Mikel Arteta (8/10).

Resting players vs. Luton paid off. He fielded a powerful lineup which ensured they left Amex Stadium with all three points. Every decision he made in that game, including the lineup and substitutions, was bang on. The Spaniard has convinced everyone that Arsenal can beat anyone they play.

 

 

Here's how Arteta should rotate Vs Luton

By Danong  

After a 0-0 stalemate with Manchester City the Gunners have a chance to return to winning ways when they face Luton Town at the Emirates.

On paper, given Arsenal squad's higher quality, experience and exceptional performance levels especially since the new year, the Gunners should easily win this game. 

However, everyone who has watched the Premier League knows that at this period of the season, this is a tough game. Luton, a relegation-threatened side, will go above and beyond to avoid dropping points.

That being said with the Premier League title race looking like it is—dropping points could well be catastrophical for the Gunners' title pursuit.

At the same time however Mikel has to consider rotating players that are suffering from slight injuries and fatigue so that he maintains a certain level of freshness in the squad. This is especially important when taking into account the really heavy schedule, of a fixture every 3 days, looming in the horizon when you factor in the Champions League.

So taking the above into consideration here's the best lineup Arteta can field to collect all 3 points:

Defence

David Raya starts in goal. Ben White and William Saliba should retain their spots. However, resting Gabriel Magalhaes and Jakub Kiwior is essential. Due to an inflamed Achilles tendon during the international break, Magalhaes was doubtful to face Manchester City. He, however, played 90 minutes versus the Cityzens, and despite his impressive performance he deserves a rest to avoid his injury recurring.

Kiwior, on the other hand, has been very good, but he has recently played so much for both club and country. A rest would allow him to recharge and be better prepared when called upon again. Takehiro Tomiyasu can start with Saliba in central defense, while Oleksander Zinchenko could return to left back.

Midfield

Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice should start as expected. But for who begins alongside them, Arteta should go with Thomas Partey. Partey looked crisp in his cameo versus Manchester City, reminding us of his excellent ball-passing abilities. He will be a big asset in this run in. Jorginho has been in terrific form in recent games, but after his lackluster performance against City, there's no chance he should start against Luton.

Attack

Gabriel Jesus should start on the right wing, Kai Havertz should continue to lead the attack and Gabriel Martinelli should start on the left wing (his first start since the 6-0 victory over Sheffield when he sustained an injury).

Yes, it's odd to bench the dependable Bukayo Saka. However, the winger deserves a rest; he was subbed off against City owing to exhaustion and a game against Luton is an excellent opportunity for that.

That stated, here is the lineup:

Raya,

White, Saliba, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko;

Odegaard, Partey, Rice;

Jesus, Havertz, Martinelli.

This Arsenal player should be left out of the starting 11 Vs Luton

 

By Danong

Bukayo Saka, Arsenal's star boy, should not play against Luton on Wednesday night. 

The Hale End graduate has been dealing with a minor issue for a while now; he missed England's friendlies in March owing to muscle tightness. He was able to start against Manchester City but wasn't influential as he had to perform defensive duties as well as contribute what he could in attack. He was eventually subbed off. 

Mikel Arteta admitted to the media after that game that his winger has been dealing with fatigue. ‘Well, as you know, he has been out for a few weeks now with a little problem and he was feeling that fatigue. Right now he hasn’t trained. He trained one day before the match; he had a big contribution but 90 minutes were too much for him today.”

The Arsenal manager's statement describes Saka's current physical condition and, for sure, reveals, why he should be rested against Luton.

To avoid dropping points in the Premier League final stretch, Arteta must field his top players for these last nine games to pick up maximum points. But, given the talent gap between Luton and Arsenal, the Gunners can still avoid naming Saka in their starting lineup Wednesday night but still field a capable line-up to defeat the PL newcomers. 

Gabriel Jesus, or even Fabio Vieira, may easily fill in for Saka against Luton. With the Brazilian attacker (or Vieira) on the right wing, Kai Havertz in the middle and Gabriel Martinelli making his first start on the left wing since the Sheffield Utd game early in March, the Gunners should have a strong line-up versus a tenacious Luton Town.

With the title schedule ahead, a full week's rest would be great for Saka to regain freshness and be fit enough to contribute massively in this captivating PL run-in. 

Seeing him in the starting lineup will be shocking!