The referees must handle games with common sense

 By 1970s Gooner

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

But really they ignore the most obvious of facts:

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

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

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

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

You only need to use your common sense.

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

By Danong

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

Raya

White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber

Partey, Rice, Odegaard

Saka, Havertz, Trossard

 

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

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

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

By Danong

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By 1970s Gooner 

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

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

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

Personal terms with Calafiori have already been agreed. 

GREAT NEWS

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

 By Danong

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Timber the answer to Arsenal's summer transfer straregy

By 1970s Gooner

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Danong

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

2019-2020: 56 points and finished 8th

2020-2021: 61 points, finished 8th

2021-2022: 69 points, finished 5th

2022-2023: 84 points, finished 2nd

2023-24: ??

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Danong and 1970s Gooner

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

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

 

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

 

David Raya (5/10)

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

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

 

Gabriel Magalhaes (4/10)

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

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

William Saliba (5/10)

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

 

 Ben White (7/10)

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

 

Oleksandr Zinchenko (4/10)

 

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

 

Declan Rice (6/10)

 

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

 

Martin Odegaard (7/10)

 

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

 

Kai Havertz (6/10)

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

 

Leandro Trossard (5/10)

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

Gabriel Jesus (5/10)

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

Bukayo Saka (6/10) 

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

 

Substitutes:

 

Takehiro Tomiyasu (6/10)

 

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

 

Gabriel Martinelli (5/10)

Had an uneventful game. He was not impactful. 

 

Jorginho (4/10)

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

 

Emile Smith Rowe (4/10)

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

 

Eddie Nketiah (N/A)

He came on late and did not contribute significantly.

 

 

Manager:

 

Mikel Arteta (4/10)

 

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

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

He is partly to blame for the loss.

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

 

By Danong

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

 

1. Overreliance on the inverted fullback

 

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

 

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

 

2. Ineffective midfield setup

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 By Danong

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

Raya 

White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior

Rice, Jorginho, Odegaard

Saka, Havertz, and Martineli