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.

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.

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.

Can Arsenal Make History with 5 Wins in a Row Against Manchester United? Expect a close game

 By Danong

It’s no secret that the biggest fixture in European football this weekend is Manchester United versus Arsenal. The two Premier League giants are set to square off at Old Trafford this afternoon in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.

While both teams have rich histories and passionate fanbases, their contrasting current form adds an extra layer of intrigue to this showdown.

Manchester United, who find themselves languishing in an unimaginable 14th place on the league table, are desperate to climb into the top half.

Arsenal, on the other hand, will be playing for pride. With a 14-point gap between them and league leaders Liverpool, it seems unlikely that the Gunners will snatch the title this season. However, they can still make it tough for Liverpool to seal the league and aim for a strong finish.

The Gunners are expected to be without some of their finest attacking options, including Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli. 

Yet, after demolishing Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven 7-1 earlier in the week, Arsenal have shown that they are capable of finding goals even without key players. Their confidence will surely be high heading into Sunday’s game.

Manchester United, however, have struggled on both ends of the pitch. They have failed to keep a clean sheet in seven consecutive matches and have only scored nine goals this season—a tally that explains their difficulties in climbing the table.

With Arsenal’s solid defense and United’s lack of firepower, the Gunners may only need to replicate their “PSV effectiveness” to secure a result.

Yet in our previous encounters this season we struggled to break them down and had to rely on set pieces to claim the victory in the league. And in the cup they again made it very difficult for us taking the game to penalties which they won.

So don't expect an easy game for Arsenal. 

The suggested lineup for Arsenal remains unchanged from Tuesday’s triumphant outing:  

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

If Arsenal manage to beat Manchester United on Sunday, they will make Premier League history as the first club to defeat the Red Devils five times in a row in the PL. With such a record on the line, both teams will be motivated to leave everything on the pitch.  

Are you confident in Arsenal’s chances of extending their dominance over United?

What we have really learned from yet another disappointing performance

 By Danong

Much has been said about Arsenal failing to beat Forest, but at Arsenal Analysis, here's a round-up of our key takeaways:

1. William Saliba’s Stellar Defense:

William Saliba kept us in the game with an underrated defensive performance. Despite the goalless draw, his impressive numbers stood out:

- 7 Clearances
- 5/5 Aerial Duels
- 2/2 Recoveries
- 2/2 Interceptions, one being very important
- 1 Clean Sheet

2. Kieran Tierney’s Solid Contribution:

Introduced at halftime, the Scotland international put on a very decent defensive performance. Here’s a look at his key stats from the second half:

- 45 Minutes Played
- 12/15 Passes Made
- 80% Pass Rate Accuracy
- 26 Touches
- 50% Ground Duels Won
- 100% Aerial Duels Won
- 2 Clearances
- 1 Headed Clearance
- 1 Defensive Interception
- 2 Defensive Recoveries
- 0 Times Dispossessed

3. Sad to say, but Liverpool are on top because they deserve it:

Drawing 0-0 with Forest and Liverpool beating Newcastle 2-0 widened the gap between Arsenal and the Reds at the top of the league to 13 points. Liverpool might have played a game more, but it’s unlikely Arsenal can turn things around.

The 1-0 loss to West Ham and the draw with Forest have nullified any threat Arsenal had in the title race.

4. Offensive paralysis, but would have Liverpool coped?

Arsenal have now failed to score twice in a row, highlighting how downgraded their attack has been in recent weeks.

Against Leicester, Mikel Merino managed a brace, but his recent performances leave some wondering if it was through sheer luck or if Leicester were that bad.

Even Nuno Espirito Santo admitted, "Arsenal don’t have a striker, so with Mikel Merino playing in that position, there’s no need for an extra body in defence."

But it's really worth wandering how Liverpool would have coped if they had the equivalent players out.

- No Salah (Saka)
- No Jota (Havertz)
- No Gakpo (Martinelli)
- No Diaz (G. Jesus)

We would probably have been neck and neck.