This Hale End star deserves to start against City on Sunday

By Danong

Was Ethan Nwaneri's performance in Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Girona his best yet since joining the senior team?

Having already qualified for the Champions League round of 16 with their 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb, coach Mikel Arteta didn't have to be cautious with his team selection against Girona.

This was a match where Arteta and his technical bench could afford to rest some players and give others an opportunity to show what they can bring to the table.

Girona broke the deadlock, with Danjuma giving them the lead in the 28th minute after capitalising on poor positioning by Partey compounded by Arsenal deputy goalie Neto's rustiness in decision making due to lack of game time.

However, that lead didn't last long. Arsenal were handed a penalty after Arnau Martinez's foul on Thomas Partey, which Jorginho converted from the spot.

In the 42nd minute, Ethan Nwaneri scored a fantastic curling 'Sakaesk' type effort from the edge of the box to give Arsenal the lead.

That was Nwaneri's 6th goal of the season, making him one of the few PL stars to achieve such a feat before turning 18, a milestone only Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen had reached before him.

Arsenal went into the break with a 2-1 lead. Girona tried to turn things around in the second half and almost succeeded through Cristhian Stuani, but his 76th-minute goal was disallowed due to offside.

In injury time, Raheem Sterling could have made it 3-1, but his penalty was saved by Girona goalie Pau Lopez.

He was handed the penalty by his teammates so that he would regain some confidence and also become the first player to score in the CL for three separate teams. He never looked like he was going to score.

However this match was an opportunity for Nwaneri to show his capabilities and he took his chance with both hands.

The Hale End graduate was a hit, putting up a performance that yelled "This kid is the real deal."

Watching him, I couldn't help but feel our star boy is a hybrid version of Bukayo Saka and a little bit of Phil Foden. He's got a keen eye for goal, lovely footwork, and great finishing ability.

He was named Man of the Match and rightfully so.

According to AiScore he had the most :
shots on goal(3), accurate crosses (2) and turnovers (2).

The 17-year-old's maturity and physicality make him look mature and experienced. It is scary what he could be able to do with more time at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.

Saka has always been the point of reference for Arsenal's emerging talents. Well, Nwaneri is certainly  following in his footsteps.

The Arsenal #7 had 15 G/A for Arsenal at 17. Nwaneri is on 6; it's uncertain if he'll surpass this record, but with more starts he certainly will get close to it.

He deserves to, and will probably, start against Manchester City on Sunday. 

Midfield Duo Returns as Arteta fields a strong starting 11 vs Girona

 By Danong

The 2024-25 UEFA Champions League phase wraps up tonight with the Matchday 8 fixtures played simultaneously.

Arsenal will be looking to end the UCL group stage on a high as they take on the Spanish side Girona at the Estadi Montilivi stadium. In 7 games played on the European stage, our Gunners boast 5 wins, a draw, and a loss.

Last time out, Arsenal beat Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 to book a spot in the round of 16. Even so, I don't think they'll be complacent. They'll be looking to maintain their impressive form of not conceding from open play in the UCL.

They’ll also be keen to extend their 4-game unbeaten run and remain unbeaten in 9 games away from home across all competitions.

Girona's Struggles

Girona come into this game on a poor run. They've lost their last 3 matches in all competitions and have only won 2 of their last 11 games.

Their Champions League form is also worrying; they've only won once and have lost their last 4 Champions League games without scoring a goal.

They have nothing to play for in the Champions League as they're already eliminated (31st in the table).

Perhaps they'll play for pride and look to stun Arsenal for a perfect turnaround to their poor campaign.

Arsenal Team News

Merino and Odegaard were in training on Tuesday after missing the 1-0 win over Wolves. Havertz, who looked drained at full time on Saturday, was also training.

However, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White, contrary to reports, weren't in training. So, like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, they'll certainly miss this game.

If Merino and Odegaard are available for the game, they should play to get them up to speed. Havertz, Rice, and Timber should be rested ahead of a tricky run of fixtures against Manchester City and Newcastle.

Predicted Arsenal Line-Up vs. Girona

- Raya
- Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly
- Jorginho, Merino, Odegaard
- Martinelli, Trossard, Nwaneri

This line-up looks very strong and is expected to finish the league phase of the revamped CL with a win.

PL Star's Latest Heroics Push Arsenal Toward Big-Money Move

 By Danong

Arsenal has been heavily linked with Alexander Isak as a marquee signing for summer 2025 (though Newcastle will be looking to offer their star man a new lucrative deal by then). 

Performances like the one he had against Southampton justify why the Gunners might be willing to break the bank for the Swedish international.

On Saturday evening, Isak was once again the hero as Newcastle managed to beat Southampton. The Saints took a 10th-minute lead, looking to stun the Magpies. However, Isak wasn't going to let that happen.

After a VAR review awarded a penalty for Joe Aribo's foul on him, Isak converted the penalty in the 26th minute to equalize. 

Then just four minutes later, Jacob Murphy teed him up inside the box, and he rolled the ball into the bottom right corner past Alex McCarthy. Sandro Tonali's third goal early in the second half ensured Isak's efforts didn't go to waste.

If Arsenal wants a tried and tested Premier League striker to massively upgrade their attack, they shouldn't look further than Alexander Isak.

Performances like the one against Southampton are a stark reminder that he may be one of the best out there, and there should be no ignoring that.

Alexander Isak vs. Southampton:

- 80 minutes
- 2 goals
- 19/27 (70%) successful passes
- 1/2 successful long balls
- 2/3 successful dribbles
- 4/9 duels won
- 9.2 match rating (Sofascore)

Isak has now scored in Newcastle's last 5 away games. Brentford, Ipswich, Man Utd, Tottenham and Southampton.

In the last 15 games, Isak has 16 goals and 4 assists, making him the most in-form Premier League star.

Looking at other Arsenal striking targets:

Matheus Cunha (22 league games, 10 goals, 4 assists),

Benjamin Sesko (18 league games, 8 goals, 2 assists),

Viktor Gyokeres (19 league games, 22 goals, 4 assists)

Maybe Gyokeres is more productive than Isak. However, the fact that Gyokeres wasn't pursued last summer and this winter is quite telling. 

Perhaps the Arsenal scouts feel he isn't a perfect fit for this Arsenal team and there's a question mark over whether he can be a hit in the Premier League.

Darwin Nunez was a top goal-scorer in the Portuguese league but hasn't been able to replicate that in the PL.

If Isak was leading our attack against Wolves, before Myles Lewis-Skelly was controversially red-carded, we'd have probably a lead to hold on to.

Don't you think so?

This Gunner is Cementing His Spot in The Arsenal Team Amidst Criticism and Replacement Links

 By Danong

On Wednesday, with a 3-0 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb, Arsenal has most probably secured their spot in the round of 16.

Goals came from Declan Rice, who delivered a £105 million-worthy performance, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard.

Havertz's goal was his 14th of the season, which is what he actually scored for the whole of last season!

What is also equally interesting is Havertz's goal stats when compared to some of the strikers fans suggest we should bring on board. 

He is averaging 0.5 goals per game which is about the same as the strikers suggested for Arsenal:

- Havertz: 30 games, 14 goals, 4 assists
- Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford): 26 games, 13 goals, 4 assists
- Matheus Cunha (Wolves): 22 games, 10 goals, 4 assists
-Benjamon Sesco (RB Leipzig): 26 games, 14 goals, 3 assists

Many believe that if Arsenal landed a killer No. 9 this winter, it would massively boost our title chances.

Yes, Arsenal needs a top goal-scoring striker, but let's not overlook the fact that Havertz has been decent and quite underappreciated.

Even if we manage to sign someone like Benjamin Sesko, Havertz, who's not considered that clinical, deserves a chance in Arteta's lineup as he could end up making this his most prolific season.

In fact, it should be scary to opponents what a prolific striker paired with Havertz could offer this Arsenal team.

The title?

The bench fills up and new faces go into the starting eleven vs Dinamo

 By Danong

Champions League football returns at the Emirates Stadium tonight as Arsenal take on Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb.

After a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, Arsenal now have just one win in their last five games (with two draws and two losses) across all competitions. They will surely be keen to get back to winning ways.

Dinamo, on the other hand, settled for a draw in their last game and are on a run of two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last five games.

Form aside, this game is of great importance for both sides. Arsenal, currently 5th in the Champions League standings, will be hoping to secure their spot in the top 8 with a win for automatic qualification to the UCL round of 16.

Dinamo Zagreb, 25th in the table, will want to sneak into the top 24 teams and have a chance to book a UCL knockout spot through the playoffs.

Team News
Ben White, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Takehiro Tomiyasu are still expected to be out for Arsenal due to injury.

The Gunners could welcome back Ethan Nwaneri and Riccardo Calafiori for their squad for this clash. 

However, despite being available, it’s likely that Nwaneri and Calafiori will be on the bench providing better quality and experience than the academy players who were on the bench against Aston Villa.

Thomas Partey and Declan Rice might be rested, with Mikel Merino and Jakub Kiwior deserving minutes. 

Given limited attacking options, Arteta will probably retain the attacking trio that started against Villa last Saturday. Here's the predicted Arsenal lineup:

Raya  
Timber, Kiwior, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly  
Odegaard, Jorginho, Merino,   
Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard

As for Dinamo Zagreb, they will be without sharpshooter striker Bruno Petkovic, who's dealing with a muscle problem, and are also expected to be without Petar Sucic.

Nevertheless, former Ballon d'Or winner Fabio Cannavaro still has a decent squad to field a competitive lineup in his first outing as the Croatian side's boss.

That said, Arsenal have the chance to all but secure Champions League qualification tonight at the Emirates Stadium. Let's take it. 

Guess what the results have been when Partey was moved to right back

By Danong

In the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, Thomas Partey’s lapse in marking Ollie Watkins, leading to the equaliser, has fans furious with coach Mikel Arteta for sticking to one strategy: playing the midfielder at right back.

Partey filling in at right back does more harm to the team than good. Arsenal entered this season with their sights set on winning the Premier League, but such results make their quest for league glory trickier.

Have a look at these Arsenal games below. Guess what they have in common.

- Arsenal 3-1 Southampton
- Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool
- Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
- Fulham 1-1 Arsenal
- Brighton 1-1 Arsenal
- Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa

In these six games, Arsenal has only managed one win. Why highlight these games? Well, those are the league games Partey has filled in at right back.

For sure, Thomas Partey at right back is not having the impact it was meant to have on this team. 

It is about time Mikel Arteta and his technical bench were bold enough to try someone else at right back and play Partey in midfield (we  score more and win more with him as a #6).

Mikel Arteta has made some bold decisions that have paid off, but there's one thing most of us fans would like him to embrace. The Spaniard ought to play his best players in their best positions.

Thomas Partey, ignoring the right-back issues, has had a great campaign in red and white. As the pivot in Arsenal's engine room he has excelled, creating chance after chance, making those crucial tackles with the penetrative passes to follow.

Though controversial to say, him playing right back is not the problem—his absence in midfield is where the problem lies.

Against Villa, Arteta should have been bold enough to play Partey in midfield where he excels, with Jurrien Timber at right back, where he's shown his true brilliance.

His decision to move Partey at right back meant that four players were forced to change positions!

Partey was one, Timber moved to centre back was another. Rice moved to #6 and Merino brought into the starting 11 as a left sided midfielder makes four.

So, who would I have Arteta replace the injured William Saliba with (expected to be sidelined for two weeks)?

Jakub Kiwior, a center back, should be covering for Saliba unless Ben White or Tomiyasu return soon.

Imagine you don't have a proper striker, don't have your best winger and then you opt to not play your available best midfielder in midfield and also opt to not play your available best right back at centre back. How'd that patched-up team work?

With so much at stake, Mikel Arteta, please try playing your players in their best positions.

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.