Saka Returns, Arsenal Are Ready—Is This the Line-Up to Finally Put Fulham in Their Place?

 By Danong and 1970s Gooner

Arsenal return to action tonight in a London derby, as the Gunners host city rivals Fulham.

Fulham have recently tried to establish themselves as Arsenal’s bogey team, denying them all three points in the last three meetings:

- Fulham 1-1 Arsenal (a, 2024–25)  
- Fulham 2-1 Arsenal (a, 2023–24)  
- Arsenal 2-2 Fulham (h, 2023–24)  

With the North Londoners missing out on the title race last season by just two points, it’s fair to say that failing to beat the Cottagers played a role in their eventual disappointment.

Earlier this season, Arsenal were unable to impose themselves on Fulham, the match ending in a 1-1 draw. Tonight, however, the boys in red and white have a fresh chance over 90 minutes to rectify that and claim the win.

One major positive for Arsenal heading into this match is the return of Bukayo Saka. The Gunners’ number seven has been sidelined since December with a hamstring injury. 

Speaking about Saka, Mikel Arteta revealed: "He's ready to go," a clear indication that the star boy is set to play an important role in this game as he builds match fitness ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.

Jurrien Timber, who was ill during the international break, is also available for selection. Unfortunately, Ricardo Calafiori, who sustained another injury while on duty with Italy, remains out, though his absence isn’t expected to be lengthy.

With the players available, Arteta has decisions to make. How strong will he go against Fulham? A possible lineup could include:

- Raya
- Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly
- Partey, Rice, Ødegaard
- Saka, Trossard, Martinelli

Alternatively Arteta may feel that Saka should be eased in slowly and also that Timber may need to sit on the bench and let a fit again White play at right back. He can also rest Trossard who has been below par recently and start Nawneri.

Raya
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly
Odegaard, Partey, Rice
Nawneri, Merino, Martinelli

A win over Fulham tonight would maintain the faint hopes in the Premier League title race and put pressure on Liverpool. 

It would also help build momentum, laying the foundation for Arsenal’s ambition to end the season in style in both the Premier League and Champions League. 

5 Goal Contributions in 6 Games: Arsenal Star Proves He Is Worth the Price

 By Danong

What an impact Declan Rice has had on his club and country this March. In six games, the Englishman has directly contributed to five goals.

He had his fifth goal involvement on Monday night as England faced Latvia in a USA 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Last Friday, during England's 2-0 victory over Albania, Rice set up Harry Kane's goal that sealed the win. Despite his critics refusing to acknowledge the Arsenal man's playmaking ability, he proved them wrong again on Monday night.

Close to the 70th minute, the £105 million Gunner darted into the box, drilled a low cross across the face of the goal, and Kane tapped it in at the back post.

That assist capped off a complete performance from the ex-Hammer, as his stats reflect:

- Minutes: 79  
- Touches: 65  
- Passes: 64 (98.5% accuracy)  
- Key passes: 3  
- Assist: 1  
- Accurate long balls: 1/1  
- Accurate crosses: 3/7  
- Interceptions: 2 (most in the game)  

Focusing on that assist, Rice's run for Kane's goal showed how far ahead he is of others. Few holding midfielders make runs like that nowadays.

But without Rice's boldness, intelligence, and determination, these goal contributions would not have materialised.

- vs. PSV (assist)  
- vs. Man Utd (goal)  
- vs. PSV (goal)  
- vs. Albania (assist)  
- vs. Latvia (assist)  

Watching Rice over the March international break, it's hard to understand the disrespect he receives. He has even added goal contributions to his game—he's everything you could want in a midfielder.

Now Arsenal is facing a pivotal stage in their season. Catching league leaders Liverpool, 12 points ahead, looks unlikely (although you never know). However, they can target Champions League glory with Rice leading from the front.

Seeing Rice shine, no Gooner can help but say: Bring on Real Madrid!

Porto’s Gain, Arsenal’s Hope

 By Danong

As Gooners, let's not allow Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira's resurgence to go unnoticed—let's rave about it.  

In the summer of 2022, out of nowhere, Arsenal completed a £34.2 million deal for Vieira. The Gunners' scouts must have watched the Portuguese playmaker shine for FC Porto, where he racked up 6 goals and 14 assists and thought he'd be perfect for Arteta's project.  

Arriving at Arsenal with the moniker “Assist King,” many expected him to provide a wealth of assists at the Emirates Stadium. However, that wasn’t the case.  

After two full seasons at Arsenal, Vieira's career unfortunately failed to reach the heights many anticipated—especially in the Premier League.  

- 2023/24 season: 11 league appearances (2 starts), 1 goal, 2 assists.  
- 2022/23 season: 22 league appearances (3 starts), 1 goal, 2 assists.  

Injuries, the emergence of other Gunners and his struggle to adapt to the league’s physicality held him back.  

Last summer, Arsenal sought to resurrect his career by giving him a fresh start, allowing him to return to Porto on loan, where he thrived.  

The Gunners clearly wanted him to rediscover himself and this was evident in the loan deal with Porto, which includes a clause that penalises the club if Vieira doesn’t feature in at least 50% of their matches.  

Initially, an injury at Porto threatened to derail his progress, causing him to miss the start of the season. But upon his return, he gradually re-established himself in the team.  

There’s now hope for Vieira to finally reach his potential. This was underlined last weekend when he scored an impressive volley in Porto's 2–0 win over AVS.  

Vieira might have rediscovered his form, which is good news for FC Porto and of course Arsenal but spells trouble for the teams he faces.  

With that goal on Saturday, the Gunner has now registered a goal involvement in each of his last five appearances. Impressively, he’s also on a run of 3 goals in 3 games.  

Sofascore highlights his reliability, showing that he has started 13 of the 18 games he’s featured in this season and his match ratings are above 7.0 since early February.

He is clearly determined to be at his best ahead of the 2025/26 season, either to stake his claim in Arteta's team or to secure a big move elsewhere.

He has earned a place in Sofascore's Primeira Liga Team of the Week five times, while also recording 4 goals and 3 assists with an impressive 1.91 expected goals.  

There has been talk of Arsenal needing to recruit a natural playmaker to revitalise the number 10 role. Vieira might just be the answer, as he not only contributes goals but also brings the creativity to generate chances in the final third.  

Some Gooners called for Vieira to be recalled during the January transfer window. That idea is now starting to make more sense for the new season.   

Arsenal’s UCL Glory Hinges on Three Big Fixes Before Santiago Bernabéu Date

 By Danong

It will be at least 16 days until Arsenal are back in action—how boring the next few days are going to be for die-hard Gooners. Of course, some will pass the time watching the Gunners turn out for their national teams in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

While attention shifts to the World Cup qualifiers, the Arsenal technical bench along with Arteta has three pressing matters they must address to ensure the team ends the season in style.

With the Gunners sitting 12 points behind league leaders Liverpool, winning the Premier League title this season seems unlikely. Arsenal’s glory this campaign lies in the UEFA Champions League, where Real Madrid (in the UCL quarters) stand in their path.

The Gunners must devise a masterplan to eliminate the Spanish giants, excel in the semi-finals, and lift the Champions League title at the Allianz Arena in Munich, finishing the season with silverware.

Sounds like a tall order but get these three fixes right and glory may indeed follow.

1. Who leads the attack?

Mikel Merino has done a decent job leading Arsenal’s attack. Amidst calls to abandon his false-nine setup before the Chelsea clash, it was Merino who ultimately decided the match.

One could argue that the more Merino plays as the false nine, the more he grows into the role, builds momentum, and establishes on-field relationships to thrive in that position.  

So, does Arteta stick with Merino’s false-nine approach? With Bukayo Saka set to return and Gabriel Martinelli finding form, will Merino retain his spot in the starting XI?  

The fact that only Mohamed Salah (5) and Omar Marmoush (4) have scored more goals than Merino (3) since the Spaniard’s debut as a false nine highlights his impact. This makes it difficult to overlook his contribution.  

However, if Saka returns, Arsenal could opt for a front three of Trossard, Martinelli, and Saka. That would be an intriguing prospect and a decision needs to be made that will have a crucial impact on the outcome of the tie.

2. Rediscovering set-piece brilliance

Without Merino’s goal from a corner, Arsenal probably wouldn’t have beaten Chelsea 1–0 on Sunday afternoon. Whether mocked as “Set Piece FC” or not, Arsenal need to embrace this strength.  

Surprisingly, before Sunday, they had gone 12 matches in all competitions without scoring from a set-piece. That is disappointing, especially considering they had scored 12 set-piece goals in their first 21 Premier League games this season.  

Nicolas Jover, Arsenal’s set-piece coach, must come up with new strategies. In big games, where the margins are thin, set-pieces can be the decisive factor. 

Reinstating the fear factor around Arsenal’s set-pieces could be their secret weapon to knock out Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

3. The Ben White conundrum

By the time Arsenal are back in action, Ben White should be at peak fitness. So far, he has only managed 110 minutes of football since returning from injury.  

Mikel Arteta has hinted that he will not rush White into the team, but post-international break, excuses may no longer hold water.  

While White will need more minutes, benching Jurrien Timber in his current form would be a mistake. The Dutch full-back has been instrumental, ensuring Arsenal don’t miss Saka’s influence on the pitch.  

Does White earn his minutes by deputising for Timber, or is it time to reconsider White for a central defensive role? A combination of cameo appearances at right-back and central defence could help balance his game time and prevent frustration.

If these three issues are addressed by the time Arsenal return to action, there’s no reason the Gunners cannot be very optimistic of what a lot of 'experts' would consider an unlikely success in the Champions League...

Saka Nearer to a Comeback than we thought? Could Arsenal’s Dream Duo with Ødegaard Fire Them to Glory?

 By Danong 

Bukayo Saka has been sidelined since December with a hamstring injury that required surgery. However, there’s been a positive update on Arsenal’s starboy.  

On Friday, manager Mikel Arteta revealed that the Arsenal number 7 is nearing a return to the pitch.  

Speaking to reporters, Arteta said:  

"He’s going to be here next week. Hopefully with the ball at his feet. That will mean he’s shooting and running. He’s already done quite a lot on the pitch. The next step is to integrate him into more competitive training and see how he copes."

Following Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Chelsea to paint London red, Arteta was once again asked about Saka’s fitness and whether a return was imminent. He admitted:  

"He's got a good chance."

Gooners have undoubtedly missed Saka, and it’s hard not to look forward to his return. 

With 9 goals and 13 assists in 24 games, you can't help but feel frustrated that Arsenal were robbed of their best player due to injury. Any club would miss such an influential figure—imagine Arne Slot's Liverpool without Mohamed Salah; where would they be?

That said, beyond missing Saka, his partnership with Martin Ødegaard has also been sorely missed. Together with the Norwegian, Saka has illuminated Arsenal’s right-hand side.

While football is a team sport, there are moments when teams need certain players to drive them to success. For Arsenal, few would argue that, in a fully fit squad, Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard are the duo expected to lead them to glory.

This season, Saka and Ødegaard have only started 12 games together. In those games, Arsenal registered eight wins and three draws, scoring 30 goals while conceding just seven.  

It’s clear that Saka and Ødegaard are Arsenal’s most threatening partnership. Had they been available all season, it’s plausible the Gunners wouldn’t find themselves 12 points adrift of Liverpool in the title race.  

Last season, during the run-in, Saka and Ødegaard created 34 chances for each other—making them the Premier League’s most effective attacking duo. The fact they’ve only played together for a quarter of this season has undoubtedly held Arsenal back.  

As Saka’s return draws nearer, it’s hard not to feel optimistic about the impact he’ll have. While overtaking Liverpool for the league title seems improbable, Arsenal still have a shot at glory in the UEFA Champions League.  

Based on Arteta’s admission, it’s reasonable to hope that Saka will be ready by the time Arsenal face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals on 8th April at the Santiago Bernabéu.  

With 22 days until the first leg, there’s hope Saka could get minutes against Fulham and Everton after the international break. By then, he’ll be ready to start against Real Madrid—and perhaps he and Ødegaard will run riot in that game, reigniting Arsenal’s European dreams.

Merino's goal tally only bettered by Salah and Marmoush! Here are the alternative lessons from the victory over Chelsea

 By Danong

As Arsenal faced Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, was there ever any doubt they’d walk away with all three points—especially with Cole Palmer absent?

It has been observed that Palmer has struggled in Nicolas Jackson's absence. With both players unavailable for this game, the Blues posed little to no threat to Arsenal—and indeed, they did not.

Before Sunday’s London derby, Chelsea had failed to beat the Gunners in their last seven encounters. Arsenal boasted five wins and two draws, and on Sunday, they added a sixth victory to their record in this fixture.

In a game that glaringly highlighted the attacking struggles of both teams, it was Mikel Merino’s 20th-minute header from a Martin Ødegaard corner that proved decisive and separated the two sides.

What did we take away from Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Chelsea?

1. Top Four Almost Guaranteed

Arsenal might have silenced the doubters who were keen to include them in the top-four battle. If they had lost to Chelsea, they’d have been just seven points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester City and firmly in the top 4 battle. 

However, with this victory, Arsenal are now nine points clear. It seems increasingly likely that Arsenal will secure a top-four finish.

2. Jurrien Timber’s Stellar Performance

Jurrien Timber is playing himself into contention for Arsenal’s Player of the Season award. He was outstanding against Chelsea and deservedly earned the Man of the Match accolade. 

Defensively, he was exceptional, backing up the press and never allowing his marker any room to escape. His ability to handle aerial duels was equally impressive.  

  Jurrien Timber’s stats vs. Chelsea:
   ◉ Most duels won (9)  
   ◉ Most possessions won (6)  
   ◉ Most aerial duels won (4)  
   ◉ Most interceptions (2)  
   ◎ 3 fouls won  
   ◎ 3 clearances  

3. William Saliba’s Brilliance

Like Timber, William Saliba stepped up brilliantly. His dominance in aerial duels was a standout feature, as he won 3/3 against Chelsea. In fact, the Frenchman has now won every aerial duel he’s contested in his last three Premier League matches—6/6 vs. Nottingham Forest and 5/5 vs. Manchester United.

4. Mikel Merino’s False Nine Role

Mikel Merino’s effectiveness in the false nine role should not be understated. He has now scored three goals since taking on the position. To put that into perspective, only Mohamed Salah (5) and Omar Marmoush (4) have scored more during the same period. 

5. Dominance Against the Big Six

Arsenal are approaching two years without losing a league match to a traditional Premier League big-six opponent. Their unbeaten streak now stands at 19 matches, boasting 11 wins and 8 draws.

6. Martin Ødegaard’s Milestone

With his assist for Merino’s goal, Ødegaard now has five assists against Chelsea. This makes him the Gunner with the most assists against the Blues in Premier League history.

While both teams struggled in front of goal (with key attackers missing), Arsenal’s victory was secured thanks to their physical strength and defensive superiority. They kept Chelsea’s forwards at arm’s length throughout. In the past, these were the type of games Arsenal would have drawn or even lost.

I'm glad as Gooners we are long way past that.

8th Unbeaten? Arteta’s Perfect Lineup to Cement Arsenal’s Chelsea Supremacy

 By Danong

Arsenal versus Chelsea is the standout Premier League fixture this weekend as the two sides renew their rivalry.

Had all gone according to plan, this fixture would have been one to edge Arsenal closer to league glory. 

However, sitting 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool, it has now become just another must-win game to ensure Arsenal finish as high as possible. But also to make sure that a champions league place is secured.

Ahead of the match, Paul Merson shared his thoughts on why this is a critical game for Mikel Arteta and his team. The ex-Gunner has warned that failing to secure all three points in this derby could throw Arsenal into a battle for a top-four finish.

Merson, however, doesn’t see Chelsea as a significant threat to Arsenal, pointing out that Cole Palmer has struggled without Nicolas Jackson. With Palmer less effective, Chelsea have not been at their best.

That said, Arsenal still approach the game with injury concerns in attack. According to Mikel Arteta, Gabriel Martinelli is not yet fit enough to start matches. 

Speaking about the Brazilian, Arteta commented, “With Gabi, we have more options, but we have to manage the load. He’s a bit ahead of schedule, and we don’t want to take any risks by giving him too many minutes.”

So, which Arsenal line-up is likely?

We may see Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, and Leandro Trossard continue as Arsenal’s front three. Nwaneri and Trossard, who didn’t start in the 2-2 Champions League draw with PSV, should be fresh and ready to return to the starting XI on Sunday afternoon.

Martin Ødegaard and Thomas Partey, who also didn’t start against PSV, are expected to return. They, alongside Declan Rice, will look to control the midfield.

In defence, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are set to return to the starting line-up after being rested against PSV. Alongside Gabriel and Myles Lewis-Skelly, the four will aim to form an impenetrable back line.

Raya is of course expected to retain his place in goal, with Arsenal’s predicted line-up looking like this:  

Raya
Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly
Partey, Rice, Ødegaard
Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard

Earlier this season, Chelsea and Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. That result extended Chelsea’s winless run against Arsenal in London derbies to seven matches—five defeats and two draws.

This Sunday could see Arsenal stretch that unbeaten run against the Blues to eight games with a win looking likely. This will further cement their dominance in this fierce rivalry.

Who truly runs London? This weekend might give us the answer.

Why Lewis-Skelly Beat Spence for England LB Spot

 By Danong

Undoubtedly, the 2024/25 season has been a standout year for young English left-backs breaking through in the Premier League.

Myles Lewis-Skelly with Arsenal, Djed Spence with Tottenham Hotspur, Lewis Hall with Newcastle and Keane Lewis-Potter with Brentford have all made their mark, taking the league by storm.

With Luke Shaw struggling with injuries and Ben Chilwell lacking consistency, now is the perfect time for someone to break into the England Three Lions squad and cement a spot at left-back.

Thomas Tuchel, in his first squad selection as England manager, had the opportunity to choose one of the four. As you probably know by now, the German tactician opted for Arsenal’s young defender, Myles Lewis-Skelly.

With Lewis Hall sidelined by a long-term foot injury, his exclusion was an easy decision.

But why was Lewis-Skelly chosen over Spence and Lewis-Potter? Here are some reasons I believe Thomas Tuchel and his coaching team preferred Lewis-Skelly:

1. Superior Ball-Winning Ability
Lewis-Skelly excels at regaining possession, leading with 2.81 tackles per 90 minutes compared to Spence’s 2.52 and Lewis-Potter’s 1.46.  

2. Defensive Blocks
He’s more effective at stopping shots and passes, recording 1.50 blocks per 90 minutes, ahead of Spence’s 1.38 and Lewis-Potter’s 0.64.  

3. Aerial Dominance
The Arsenal defender wins 1.13 aerial duels per 90, surpassing Spence (0.97) and Lewis-Potter (0.32).  

4. Ball Progression
While Spence edges him slightly in progressive passes (4.55 vs 4.13), Lewis-Skelly remains highly effective at moving the ball forward, unlike Lewis-Potter, who averages only 3.02.  

5. Game Involvement
Lewis-Skelly averages 60.2 touches per 90 minutes, more than Spence (58.8) and Lewis-Potter (46.1), reflecting his higher influence on the game.  

Despite playing far fewer minutes than Spence and Lewis-Potter, Lewis-Skelly’s per-90 stats are better. While he may not dominate every metric, he is still the better prospect to gamble on.

Thomas Tuchel has coached some of the finest talents in football. When he calls Lewis-Skelly "nothing but impressive," it’s not just flattery.

The Arsenal youngster’s versatility, ball progression and defensive solidity make him the most promising left-back among his peers.

Just six months into top-flight football, he’s already turned heads in the national team setup. Imagine where Lewis-Skelly could be if he had the same top-flight experience as Spence and Lewis-Potter.

Sterling Silences Critics. His Game By Numbers

 By Danong

Arsenal thrashed PSV 7-1 at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven last week in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash. After that emphatic victory, it seemed almost certain that Arsenal had booked their spot in the quarter-finals.

So, when the Dutch side visited the Emirates Stadium, Mikel Arteta had the luxury of experimenting with his line-up ahead of this weekend’s clash with Chelsea.

As anticipated, under-fire Raheem Sterling was handed a rare start, giving him the opportunity to sway Gooners’ opinions—and he delivered in style.

In flashes, Sterling looked every bit at home on the pitch. He was excellent, contributing two assists in the first half—arguably his best football of the season.

For the first assist, Sterling showed clever movement with a subtle body check and a sharp pass into space, allowing Oleksandr Zinchenko to open the scoring.

Not long after, his stunning wing play set up a brilliant cross, which Declan Rice met with an instinctive header to give Arsenal the second. 

He was unlucky not to get a goal himself, but even without one, his performance stood out. For a player who’s struggled for form, his stats were impressive.

- 5 duels won  
- 4 touches in the opposition box  
- 4 fouls won  
- 4 crosses  
- 3 chances created  
- 3 shots  
- 2 shots on target  
- 2 assists  

With that standout performance, Sterling was named man of the match.

He made history as the first English player to contribute directly to at least one goal for four different clubs in the Champions League.

Additionally, he climbed the rankings for English players with the most goals and assists in the competition’s history:

◎ 52 – David Beckham  
◎ 50 – Harry Kane  
◎ 47 – Wayne Rooney  
◉ 46 – Raheem Sterling  
◎ 44 – Frank Lampard  

Sterling has, during his career, 280 goal contributions scoring 174 goals and providing 106 assists. 

As Sterling himself says, “I still believe within myself that I’ve still got a lot to play here.”

His wealth of experience could prove invaluable as Arsenal navigate the latter stages of the Champions League. Could Sterling be the difference-maker in Arsenal’s pursuit of glory?

You never know...

Who Rests, Who Starts? Arteta’s Arsenal Line-up for Dead Rubber Against PSV

 By Danong and 1970s Gooner

Last week, Arsenal ran riot in Eindhoven, smashing seven past PSV in a dominant 7-1 victory during the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash.

Many believe that resounding win has all but secured the North Londoners a place in the Champions League quarter-finals. It would take nothing short of a miracle for PSV to overturn a six-goal deficit and send the Gunners crashing out of Europe.

For Arsenal, this second leg may feel like a dead rubber, with little need to over-commit. Mikel Arteta could seize the chance to rest some of his key players ahead of a crucial London derby this Sunday.

What to expect from Arsenal’s line-up against PSV?

Arteta may choose to rotate heavily, giving some players a well-earned breather. 

David Raya, Gabriel, William Saliba, and Jurrien Timber (who has featured quite a bit lately) might be rested. Thomas Partey and Declan Rice may also sit this one out.

Neto seems likely to start between the sticks. Ben White could make his first start since returning from injury. 

On his recovery, Arteta told the media: “Ben has been building up well after his surgery. We’ve been careful with his minutes, but now he’s in a good position to start.”

So, we might see a defensive line featuring White, Jakub Kiwior, Riccardo Calafiori, and Myles Lewis-Skelly. In midfield, Jorginho, Mikel Merino, and Martin Ødegaard could take charge.

As for the attack, we may see Raheem Sterling given a rare opportunity, Gabriel Martinelli finally leading the line, and Leandro Trossard wreaking havoc on the left flank.

Here’s how Arsenal could shape up against PSV:

Neto  
White, Kiwior, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly  
Jorginho, Merino, Ødegaard  
Sterling, Martinelli, Trossard

It may look like a makeshift XI, but this line-up should have enough quality to deal with whatever PSV throws their way

On the other hand Arteta may decide to mix it up by providing some solidity in defence just to make sure that nothing extraordinary happens.

So in this case, Raya will start in goal with Saliba and Gabriel in the middle of the defence and Calafiori as a left back so that Myles Lewis Skelly is rested to start on Sunday against Chelsea. Ben White to start on the right.

Raya
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis Skelly
Ødegaard, Jorginho, Merino,   
Sterling, Martinelli, Trossard

Whatever team is selected it's important that we get a good win to bolster the players confidence for the games coming up.