Roumors about this Arsenal's central defender's availability emerge. Team prediction vs Villa

 By Danong

Fresh from painting North London red, the Gunners will be looking to teach Aston Villa, one of their 2023-24 boogey teams, a lesson.

Last season, Villa managed to do something so rare: they beat us home and away. And losing the Premier League title by 2 points only adds to the sting.

Villa hosted Arsenal earlier this season, last August and Arteta and the boys managed to leave Villa Park with all 3 points albeit needing some remarkable saves early on by Raya to keep us in the game.

This weekend, Villa are coming to North London and I don't see them getting anything from a ground where the Gunners have remained undefeated in the league thus far this season.

For Arsenal out Injured:

- Ethan Nwaneri (muscle)
- Bukayo Saka (hamstring)
- Gabriel Jesus (knee)
- Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee)
- Ben White (knee)

Injury Doubts: Riccardo Calafiori.

It is reported however that there are doubts about Saliba's participation.The Evening Standard mention of rumblings on this issue on social media.

If this is true then we will all be concerned. Not only loosing his fantastic defending for today but whether Kiwior can come in and be up to scratch especially since he hasn't played now for a long time.

We have to keep our fingers crossed that he may not be needed as his defending leaves a lot to be desired.

That said, regarding lineup changes, I think Raheem Sterling will be replaced by Gabriel Martinelli. Not that Sterling hasn't been great, but the Brazilian winger should return to the XI and offer a fresh, strong attacking threat. 

I predict Arsenal will line up:

- Raya
- Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber
- Partey, Rice, Ødegaard
- Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard

What About the Opponents?

Speaking to the media, Unai Emery admitted, "Donyell Malen could be involved against Arsenal. Duran won’t face further suspension, which is good news. Barkley, McGinn, Torres, and Diego Carlos are still out."

So, Jhon Duran returns, but these players are out injured:

- Ross Barkley (calf)
- John McGinn (hamstring)
- Pau Torres (foot)
- Diego Carlos (calf)

Villa seem to have rediscovered their form after a mini dip, but Arsenal will be looking to get nothing but 3 points from this match whatever Liverpool's earlier result against Brentford will be.

Also doing the double over Villa will be sweet revenge against Emery and Villa who did the double over us last season.

Gooners, where would we be without our new Tony Adams?

 By Danong

After Manchester City and Liverpool dropped points on Tuesday night, Arsenal had to beat Tottenham Hotspur by any means necessary, whether it was a North London derby or not.

Well, they did just that, but Tottenham made them work hard for it. Though the Gunners dominated, Heung Min Son gave Spurs the lead in the 25th minute. 

Thankfully, Arsenal maintained their cool and didn't panic. Their patience paid off when, from a corner kick in the 40th minute, they equalized through a Gabriel Magalhães header that deflected off Dominic Solanke into the back of the net. 

Four minutes later, from a Thomas Partey steal to a Martin Ødegaard pass, Leandro Trossard (scoring his 18th goal against the big 6) fired a powerful shot into the bottom right corner to sensationally give Arsenal the lead and complete their comeback.

The second half was intense, with Arsenal trying to kill off the game and Spurs attempting to turn things around. However, it ended goalless. Arsenal won 2-1, managing to contain Spurs' second-half forward push.

There were many takeaways from that game, one of them being how and why Gabriel Magalhães is key to Arsenal's game plan. 

The Brazilian is one of Mikel Arteta's most reliable, consistent, and fierce performers.

Like Tony Adams, he plays for the badge on the front of his shirt, and that's why we keep mentioning him game after game. 

Last week  he was superb, just like he was in early September when the two clashed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Gunners won 1-0.

Gabriel's stats across the two Premier League meetings with Tottenham this season:

- 10 clearances
- 7/10 duels won
- 7 touches in the opponent's box
- 5 blocks
- 4 tackles
- 2 interceptions
- 2 shots
- 1 goal plus causing an own goal from Solanke

His passion and aggressiveness in defending adds fuel to the team's functioning.

We often talk about how we miss Bukayo Saka's contributions and how we struggle when Martin Ødegaard has a bad game, but Gabby is an underappreciated key cog in everything Arsenal tries to do. 

This season, he has scored against all of Arsenal’s big rivals: Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City and Manchester United.

He picked up the Man of the Match award for his NLD performance, his second Man of the Match award for this derby this season and third for this fixture:

Man of the Match:

April 2024: Tottenham 2-3 Arsenal 
September 2024: Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal 
January 2025: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham 

Honestly, the Brazilian is criminally underrated. Where would Arsenal be without him?

This Arsenal player can be the match winner in the NLD

 By Danong and 1970s Gooner

Another North London derby is here! When Arsenal and Spurs clashed earlier in the season, our Gunners painted North London red. A Gabriel header from a Bukayo Saka corner secured all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Today, Spurs make the short trip to the Emirates Stadium, a ground where the Gunners are yet to lose in the league this season. Ange Postecoglou will be hoping his team can resurrect their season with a win.

But I feel he's in for a rude shock. Arsenal are winless in 3 games, and like a wounded lion, they'll fiercely fight for a win, once more confirming who runs the show in North London.

Team News

Both teams are inundated with injuries.

Gabriel Jesus (with a devastating ACL), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Ethan Nwaneri (hamstring), Ben White (knee), and Bukayo Saka (hamstring) will miss the game. Riccardo Calafiori could be available but is a doubt.

As for Spurs, Timo Werner is out with a hamstring injury. He joins Destiny Udogie (hamstring), Ben Davies (hamstring), Micky van de Ven (hamstring), Guglielmo Vicario (ankle), Wilson Odobert (hamstring), Cristian Romero (thigh), and Rodrigo Bentancur (concusion) on the treatment table. However, Richarlison may be back from injury.

Arsenal will probably line up as follows:

- Raya
- Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis Skelly
- Partey, Rice, Odegaard
- Sterling, Havertz, Martinelli

Sterling is very likely to start as he had a very decent game against United. He combined with Odegaard and Timber very well, reminding us, in a way but not of course completely, what we've been missing when Saka was about.

It appears that Sterling has helped rejuvenate Odegaard who had at last a focal point to operate with and create those triangles of passing which go a long way to confusing the opposing defenders.

Sterling has also always excelled against Spurs with 12 wins, 8 goals, and 5 assists.

He could indeed be the player to watch in this match.

With North London bragging rights at stake but more importantly title rivals Liverpool and Forest dropping points, Arsenal HAVE TO beat Spurs to get back in the title race and make Liverpool feel that they've got a real competitor breathing down their neck.

Isak's Masterclass Highlights Arsenal's Striker Dilemma: Even Arteta Can't Deny the Need

 By Danong

Arsenal versus Newcastle may not have been pretty for us Gunners, but it certainly opened our eyes to many things—like the glaring absence of a one-man-army striker like Alexander Isak.

In a game where our toothless attack was exposed, Newcastle walked out of the Emirates Stadium victorious, largely thanks to their star man, Isak.

It was as if the Swedish international was proving Arsenal pundits right, showing that the club should break the bank for his services.

Against our Gunners, Isak was a force to be reckoned with—running in behind, dropping deep, executing confident 1v1 dribbles, showing off his final pass, and finishing like a world-class striker.

He quite literally has everything, and I can comfortably say he’s the trickiest striker William Saliba has faced thus far this season.

If Arsenal were to sign him this winter, they’d surely be getting on board one of the most in-form strikers. With the uninspired performance Havertz put up against Newcastle, can we trust him to fire this Arsenal team to glory?

Alexander Isak proved to us last night that he is one player who could easily fire this Arsenal side to league glory.

Mikel Arteta couldn’t help but hint at the difference a quality striker like Isak offers a team. 

He said, “He was involved in both goals, unfortunately the two times that he had the ball in the box. And that’s what you have when you have real quality up front. They can make the difference. They’re very clinical.”

I wish his deal was as easy to do, but it looks like a £150 million swoop isn't something Arsenal is agreeing to this winter.

The whole team were clueless

 By 1970's Gooner 

Odegaard is way way below his best. He looks lost when he gets the ball and looks lost when he hasn't got the ball. 

The absence of Saka means that we have no real threat from the right and also renders Odegaard ineffective. 

Martinelli on the other side tries his best and looked better tonight but that's all really. He couldn't finish when he got through, going for the near post instead of going across the keeper.

Havertz was way off it having been ill in the last 10 days and contrived to miss an easy header with only the keeper to beat. The absence of a proper number 9 was way evident.

In defence Saliba and Gabriel were edgy throughout and Raya kept giving the ball away in the opening 15 minutes or so.

The difference between the two sides was that Newcastle had a game plan of blocking the avenues for Arsenal and knew exactly what to do to get the ball to their forwards.

Arsenal didn't know how to break their block and when they did didn't know how to get to scoring positions.

The whole team were clueless... except Myles Lewis Skelly 

Considering Arsenal's injuries and current form could Newcastle get a result tonight?

By Danong and 1970s Gooner 

Arsenal and Newcastle face off at the Emirates Stadium tonight in the first of a two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final clash.

Heading into this bout, Newcastle will be missing Fabian Schar and Bruno Guimaraes due to suspension, while Nick Pope, Callum Wilson, Emil Krafth, and Jamaal Lascelles are all sidelined with injuries.

Arsenal, on the other hand, will be without Ben White, Bukayo Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Raheem Sterling. Ethan Nwaneri is also expected to be out for the next few weeks with a muscle injury.

Hopefully, Kai Havertz makes the squad. After missing the weekend's 1-1 draw with Brighton, Timber returns to reclaim his spot at right-back, which should see Thomas Partey return to midfield alongside Rice and Odegaard.

Myles Lewis-Skelly deserves to start at left-back, allowing Calafiori to rest and avoid injury given how physical the Magpies are.

Gabriel Martinelli should have another chance at right wing with Leandro Trossard on the left and hopefully Gabriel Jesus continues his resurgence leading the attack.

Coach Mikel Arteta could field this lineup:

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

Alternatively Mikel could bring Havertz in the line up and rest Trossard who has been below par recently. Merino could also be rested.

In this scenario Jesus could play on the right wing and Martinelli on the left. Havertz to lead the line.

Raya
Timber Saliba Gabriel Calafiori
Partey Rice Odegaard
Jesus Havertz Martinelli

Whatever line up Arteta chooses Arsenal must be at their best, be competitive and full of fight to overcome an in-form Newcastle.

Make no mistake this is going to be a very tight, highly contested tie and the players need to pick themselves up for it. If they do then we will be going in the return leg with a win.

The Eddie Howe-led side have been on a fantastic run, with six straight wins:

- Newcastle 4-1 Leicester
- Newcastle 3-1 Brentford
- Ipswich 0-4 Newcastle
- Newcastle 3-0 Aston Villa
- Manchester United 0-2 Newcastle
- Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

Arsenal haven’t won the Carabao Cup (EFL Cup) in 32 years. Isn't it time that changed? Winning tonight would go a long way toward making that dream a reality.

Its also important that Arsenal return to winning ways. 

Arsenal's Mid-Season Review: Unlucky or Not Good Enough?

By Danong

After 20 games, Arsenal sit with 40 points, exactly where they were at this stage last season—a season where we went on a title-winning run but ultimately didn't win the league.

Let's not kid ourselves; we haven't been good enough. But has bad luck contributed to our struggles?

Our Gunners had an insane start to this Premier League season in terms of fixtures. 

We faced demanding away games against Aston Villa, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, and Chelsea, as well as big UCL games versus Atalanta, PSG, and Inter. 

Liverpool didn't have such a tough run and had easier fixtures to deal with helping them  build momentum.

Injuries have also held us back. Injuries to Mikel Merino, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and most importantly, Martin Odegaard, have been significant setbacks.

Now, we are also without Bukayo Saka, our best player. Without injuries, especially that of Odegaard, we would have been better off, trust me.

Controversial referee decisions have also held us back. Three awkward red cards cost us all three points against Bournemouth, Brighton, and Manchester City. 

That absurd penalty from the head collision between William Saliba and Joao Pedro on Saturday for the 1-1 draw against Brighton also cost us 3 points.

Liverpool coming out of the traps running and Mohamed Salah putting up Ballon d'Or performances to carry them with his goal-scoring exploits has exposed us.

Apart from Bukayo Saka, we certainly don't have another attacker as influential as Salah. If only we could have another Saka in our team.

Moments like Martinelli being a toe offside versus Fulham, resulting in a winning goal being ruled out, and Gabriel being subbed off versus Liverpool, losing our defensive solidity for that draw, have also played a part.

We haven't had much luck. But there's nothing we can do about that—it's in the past. We just have to continue pushing and strive to be better in the next few months.

Hopefully attacking signings come through and Liverpool's luck and good form is bound to run out.

Notably, we are in a position where some feel that to have a shot at lifting the 2024-25 league title, we need to replicate the run we went on in the last 18 league games of last season. 

With 16 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, Arteta and the boys unluckily missed out on the title race by 2 points.

With Liverpool dropping points like we know they will (they've started doing so with that 2-2 draw with United), 16 wins should win us the league.

Havertz in contention but will he start and who plays at right back?

By Danong

Arsenal travel to Brighton to take on the Seagulls at the Amex Stadium and really have to win to keep their title hopes alive and put some pressure on Liverpool who play tomorrow.

League leaders Liverpool have a commanding lead in the title race, 6 points ahead of the Gunners with a game in hand.

Brighton had a brilliant start to the season, but have struggled since then. They last won a game in November. Their results since then are disappointing.

For Arteta and the boys, they're unbeaten in 12 games with 9 wins and 3 draws.

Reports suggest Brighton could be without James Milner, Jack Hinshelwood, and Ferdi Kadioglu. Danny Welbeck and new signing Diego Gomez are not expected to feature. Mats Wieffer, Pervis Estupinian and Adam Webster could be available for this fixture.

Arsenal, on the other hand, will definitely be without Bukayo Saka, Ben White, and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Jurrien Timber misses the game due to suspension. 

Kai Havertz, who was out ill when Arsenal played Brentford, could return. Raheem Sterling could make the matchday squad, having returned to training.

The two major decisions to be made are whether to reinstall Havertz in the starting eleven and who will replace Timber at right back.

Arsenal's forward line is producing the goods so far with Jesus and Martinelli both scoring in the away win at Brentford. I would expect that they will continue as will Nawneri who deserves to keep his place in the team.

Havertz may return in the starting 11 as a left sided midfielder so that Partey can play at right back.

Alternatively Arteta may opt to keep Havertz out and continue with Merino in midfield.

I'd expect Arteta to play this starting XI:

- Raya
- Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori
- Rice, Merino, Odegaard
- Nwaneri, Jesus, Martinelli

Arsenal have historically dominated Brighton, with the H2H stats suggesting so:

- Brighton wins: 8
- Draws: 6
- Arsenal wins: 17


I'm feeling confident and predicting a 2-0 win for Arsenal, with an incoming Thomas Partey masterclass at right back.

Is Isak Available This Winter? Newcastle's Transfer Fee Hint

By Danong

The winter transfer window opens this Wednesday and among Gooners there's an expectation that the club will be active.

The Arsenal attack has been highlighted as the area that must be bolstered. Although Arsenal is scoring goals, when the games are tight it's considered that you need an out and out goalscorer to open the doors.

There's a notion that giving this Arsenal team a clinical striker would make them the stuff of nightmares for opponents.

One attacker consistently linked with an Arsenal switch is Alexander Isak.

The Newcastle man is continuing his goal-scoring exploits with the Magpies, having racked up 11 goals and 4 assists in 16 league games.

Interestingly, he's etched his name on the scoresheet in the last 10 Newcastle games. Since Arsenal missed out on him in 2022, failing to hijack his switch to St James' Park, he's scored 42 goals in 68 Premier League games. Such figures clearly show he was meant to play in the Premier League.

The feeling is Arsenal shouldn't need much convincing about his potential swoop, but the issue is whether Newcastle is ready to let him go.

The Toons might have hinted they're open to offers for the Swedish hitman. You're probably wondering when this happened—well, journalist Luke Edwards of the Telegraph recently admitted:

"Newcastle will resist any attempt to sign Alexander Isak and value the striker at more than £150m to ward off potential suitors."

From those comments, one question arises: If you don’t want to sell, why put a price tag on a player? Shouldn't you just tell clubs that you’re not entertaining offers? 

With Newcastle putting a price on Isak and leaking it to a journalist… that screams "make me an offer."

If Arsenal has ever been serious about Isak, they need to try to close that deal this winter. 

In the last two seasons, Manchester City had Erling Haaland to fire them to league glory and Mohamed Salah is carrying Liverpool this season. 

Alexander Isak could be Mikel Arteta's "Salah or Haaland" to fire our Gunners to glory.

Arsenal's Amazing Record Augurs Very Well for Successful Title Challenge

By Danong

Arsenal is the Premier League side that owned 2024. Some may argue against that but these statistics solidly back this assertion.

In 2024:

- Arsenal have kept 18 Premier League clean sheets, four more than any other side.

- They have conceded just 25 Premier League goals, at least 14 fewer than any other side.

-They had the most goals scored (89) and the best goal difference (+64).

-They have won 26 Premier League games, more than any other side. These 26 wins are also the most under Mikel Arteta (2024: 26 wins, 2022: 25 wins, 2023: 24 wins).

-They accumulated the most points (85)

If there's a year Arsenal rose to the occasion, it is this year without a doubt.
The hope is that Arsenal do even better in 2025 and clinch league glory.

Liverpool may currently have a 9-point lead (after their win over West Ham before the Arsenal versus Brentford game), but given how great we've been in 2024 we are bound to turn things around.

Especially after making the necessary recruitments and getting those clinical forward signings the team is yearning for.

And given how defensively solid Arsenal are, once they're firing on all cylinders, they'll surely maintain a strategic position to pip Liverpool in the title race.