Chuba Akpom scored against Arsenal on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup, a decade on from a spell at the Emirates Stadium where the goals came in pre-season but the opportunities never followed.

The Newham-born striker made just 12 senior appearances for the Gunners, a return that sits awkwardly alongside his numbers in friendlies. In the summer of 2013 he scored four times in pre-season, and ahead of the 2015/16 campaign he top-scored again, helped by a hat-trick against a Singapore XI.

Those goals did not translate into minutes under Arsene Wenger. Instead came loan moves — five domestic switches in total, taking in Brentford, Coventry, Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion, the club Arsenal face this weekend — none of which brought him any closer to a place in Wenger's starting XI.

'Why am I not getting opportunities?'

Speaking to The Independent in 2018, Akpom explained the thinking behind his repeated push to get out on loan.

"I pushed for a loan as soon as I turned 18," he said. "It can be tough [on loan]. You might not be in the squad, might not start, there's a lot of things that make that little bit of doubt creep in."

"Especially when you're thinking like Arsenal are looking and I'm not playing. It looks bad, but I saw people my age playing and I thought I want to be as well. I don't want to be in the reserves, I want a challenge. That's just who I am."

He added: "At Arsenal, it was frustrating. Just thinking why am I not playing? Why am I not getting opportunities? I think I did well when I had the chances, I was top goalscorer in preseason, and I think I did well when I played in the cups. Sometimes, that's just how it is. Maybe my path is different from other players, but I've never had any regrets… but I didn't really get a real opportunity [at Arsenal] in my opinion."

A career built abroad

The breakthrough came away from north London. A final loan at Sint-Truiden brought six goals in 16 games, followed by 18 across two seasons with PAOK in Greece.

His return to England was slow to ignite, but Michael Carrick's mid-season arrival at Middlesbrough changed things dramatically. Akpom finished with 28 Championship goals — seven more than any other player — as Boro secured a play-off finish.

Ajax came next, with 15 goals in all competitions in his first season, three of them in the Europa League, and four more in Europe the following year. A loan at Lille then delivered Champions League football, more than a decade after Wenger first named him on an Arsenal bench in the competition.

In the summer of 2025, months before turning 30, he came home. A year on loan at Ipswich ended in promotion, and after making the move permanent he has already matched his first-season tally of two goals.

"I have had lots of good experiences over the last few years, at Ajax and playing in the Champions League with Lille, and I feel like all of these have improved me as a player and helped me be the person I am now," he said after signing for Ipswich. "I'm here to do as much as I can do to help the team, in the changing room and on the pitch, and I'll bring a winning mentality here."

Arsenal have changed enormously since Akpom's departure, and their academy pathway looks different again. His goal on Tuesday was a reminder of a career that found its shape elsewhere.

David Raya’s path to Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris St-Germain represents one of football’s most remarkable journeys, taking him from National League grounds to European football’s biggest stage.

The Arsenal goalkeeper will become only the third player in history to make the leap from non-league football to a Champions League final, joining Steve Finnan and Chris Smalling in achieving this extraordinary feat.

From Macclesfield to the pinnacle

In September 2014, a teenage Raya was beaten 3-0 at Moss Rose while on loan at Southport from Blackburn Rovers. Playing in front of fewer than 1,500 spectators, few could have imagined the Spaniard would reach European football’s summit just over a decade later.

“I don’t think anybody could have predicted or scripted it,” Paul Carden, Southport’s former assistant manager, told BBC Sport. “You wouldn’t be 100% surprised, but you wouldn’t have put a bet on him.”

Raya’s journey began in Barcelona’s outskirts with Third Division club Cornella before moving to Blackburn at 16 through a partnership between the clubs. Unable to break into the first team behind established keepers, he made the bold decision to drop three leagues to Southport in search of regular football.

Learning in the lower leagues

The loan spell proved crucial for Raya’s development, exposing him to the physicality and pressure of senior football. Despite opposition teams targeting his 6ft frame with high balls and extra aggression, the young Spaniard’s confidence never wavered.

“There was a ball that came back to him, late on in the game, and you’d expect a keeper just to shell it back up the pitch, because he’s getting closed down by one or two forwards, and he’s chopped one of them then just casually passed it out to the full-back,” Carden recalled of Raya’s composure under pressure.

His Southport spell culminated with a memorable FA Cup third-round performance against Derby County, where multiple outstanding saves kept Championship opposition at bay before a stoppage-time penalty decided the tie.

From Blackburn to Arsenal

Returning to Blackburn, Raya established himself as first choice following their relegation to League One in 2017, helping secure immediate promotion back to the Championship. His performances attracted Brentford’s attention in 2019 for £3m, before Arsenal completed a £27m deal in 2024 after a successful loan spell.

The 30-year-old has since become integral to Arsenal’s Premier League triumph and Spain’s Euro 2024 victory. Saturday’s Champions League final against PSG in Budapest represents the pinnacle of a journey that began in non-league anonymity, proving that unconventional paths can lead to football’s greatest stages.

A pivotal conversation in late 2016 between Freddie Ljungberg and a teenage Bukayo Saka may have shaped the winger into the player Arsenal supporters know today.

Jan van Loon, Arsenal’s former head of coaching, has revealed how Ljungberg delivered stern words to a then-confident Saka during a one-on-one evaluation when the youngster was playing for the under-15s.

The conversation that changed everything

“Bukayo was sitting there feeling pretty confident because he was scoring goals and things were seemingly going well,” van Loon recalled. “But Freddie said: ‘I’m actually not that satisfied, because you’ve got so much more in you. You need to take a good look at yourself.'”

Ljungberg told Saka he needed to become a leader, demanding the youngster be “the first one out there on the pitch and the last to leave it” while carrying the team.

According to The Guardian, Saka was taken aback by the criticism but quickly embraced the feedback. His father Yomi, who was present during the meeting, smiled broadly, recognizing someone was finally challenging his son to reach his potential.

The transformation begins

“It was as if everything just clicked right there, like the pieces of a puzzle falling into place,” van Loon explained. “Sometimes, in a player’s career, you can trace things back to one moment where he realises: ‘I can’t let the talent I’ve been given slip away.'”

Before the conversation, Saka wasn’t truly standing out despite his natural ability. “Even at 50 or 60% of his ability, he could already be the best on the pitch. He became comfortable, he wasn’t being challenged,” van Loon noted.

When van Loon took over from Ljungberg the following year, the transformation was complete. “I hardly had to do anything because Bukayo was doing it all,” he said. “He was running the dressing room, organising the warm-up, making sure the intensity in training was right.”

The England international’s journey hasn’t been without setbacks, including missing a penalty in the Euro 2020 final. However, England assistant coach Chris Powell believes these experiences strengthened Saka’s character.

“Not only did we get Bukayo back, but I think we got a better player back,” Powell said. “Sometimes you go through very difficult moments, but those experiences can help you in the end.”

As Arsenal prepare for their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, Saka’s development from talented but comfortable teenager to world-class performer stands as testament to the power of honest feedback and unwavering determination.

Arsenal legend Robert Pires has opened up about the lasting pain from the Gunners’ 2006 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona, calling it a “horrible moment” that still haunts him two decades later.

The French midfielder was substituted after just 18 minutes at the Stade de France when Jens Lehmann was sent off for fouling Samuel Eto’o, forcing Arsene Wenger to bring on Manuel Almunia. It proved to be Pires’ final appearance for Arsenal after six glorious years at the club.

“It was a horrible moment for me,” Pires told the Daily Mail. “The moment was very difficult. I was very upset because we lost. I had bought seats for all my family. Everyone was there.”

The 2-1 defeat marked one of Arsenal’s greatest sliding-door moments, squandering a chance to be crowned European champions and ushering in an era of trophyless years at Emirates Stadium.

Arteta’s Arsenal have ‘same DNA’ as Invincibles

Despite the painful memories, Pires is excited about Arsenal’s prospects under Mikel Arteta, drawing comparisons between the current squad and the famous Invincibles team he was part of in 2003-04.

“I think Arsenal have the same DNA,” Pires explained. “In my time with Arsene Wenger, it was to try to play good football. Today with Mikel Arteta, it’s the same.”

The Frenchman particularly praised Declan Rice, comparing him to his former teammate Patrick Vieira. “When you have a player like this, you are more comfortable with your team. He can make the balance between the defence, between the attack.”

Key to toppling PSG

Looking ahead to Arsenal’s Champions League ambitions, Pires believes the club’s defensive solidity will be crucial against elite opposition like Paris Saint-Germain, who they faced in last season’s semi-finals.

“Arsenal have a very good defence,” he noted. “But when I talk about defence, it’s not only the four defenders and the goalkeeper. It’s the team, they work together.”

Pires credited Arteta’s evolution as a manager for Arsenal’s transformation from mid-table strugglers to title contenders. “Between the last season and this season, mentally there has been a change, because Arteta has learned about this.”

The Arsenal legend’s message to the current squad is simple: “Just be concentrated, focused and enjoy this moment. Of course, the objective is to leave with the trophy.”

After delivering the club’s first Premier League title in over two decades, Arteta’s project appears to be reaching its crescendo, with European glory potentially completing one of the most dramatic rebuilds in English football history.

Mikel Arteta’s transformation of Arsenal from a club in crisis to Premier League champions didn’t happen overnight. The journey began in a Manchester suburb at 1am in December 2019, when managing director Vinai Venkatesham left the Spaniard’s home after hearing his “hugely impressive” five-year rebuild plan.

According to The Guardian, that clandestine meeting nearly backfired when paparazzi photos surfaced in The Sun, causing “displeasure” from Manchester City where Arteta served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant.

Perfect Storm of Circumstances

Arteta’s appointment came at a crucial moment. The Kroenke family had just bought out Alisher Usmanov’s 30% stake, finally giving them full control and the promised investment funds. “Mikel had money Unai and even Arsène didn’t really have,” a former employee revealed.

The backing proved essential during dark periods. After winning the FA Cup and Community Shield in his first eight months, Arsenal endured a disastrous 2020-21 campaign. A seven-game winless run in December 2020, including defeats to Everton and a 4-1 Carabao Cup humiliation to City, had observers questioning his future.

Tough Decisions Define Leadership

The board’s unwavering support became clear with Mesut Özil’s expensive departure in January 2021. “That was totemic,” one source noted. “It cost the club a lot of money, but they backed Mikel’s judgment.” The message was reinforced when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was sold despite Arsenal’s Champions League chase.

Rob Holding and Mohamed Elneny’s conversation, captured in the Amazon Prime documentary, summed up the squad’s reaction: “Boss had balls.”

The 2021-22 season started shambolically with defeats to Brentford, Chelsea at home amid boos, and a 5-0 thrashing at City. Yet Arteta remained resolute. “Mikel is not the type of person to get overwhelmed about anything,” said a senior football staff member.

Building Championship Foundation

While Arteta deserves credit for the culture shift, he inherited key building blocks. William Saliba had been signed by the previous scouting team, though Arteta initially sent him on loan before being persuaded to recall him. Gabriel Magalhães arrived in September 2020 through a deal already in place, and Bukayo Saka emerged from the academy.

The transformative moment came in summer 2023 with £200m invested in Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurriën Timber and David Raya. Arteta’s charisma proved crucial, with Rice rejecting Chelsea, Manchester United and City for the Arsenal project.

The journey from crisis management to title glory validates the club’s patience and Arteta’s five-year vision, proving that sometimes the boldest gambles yield the greatest rewards.

Mikel Arteta has revealed the extensive measures he has taken to transform the atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium, calling it ‘non-negotiable’ for Arsenal’s success as the Gunners chase their first Premier League title since 2004.

The Arsenal manager’s focus on crowd engagement stems from a sobering experience in December 2019, just days before his appointment. As Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, Arteta witnessed Arsenal trailing 3-0 at half-time to City, with half the Emirates empty.

‘It was the first thing because a few days before I was appointed here, I was on the other bench with Man City and that image, that feeling of the stadium, the crowd … 50% of the stadium was empty,’ Arteta recalled. ‘It really got into me. I said: ‘With this, there is no project. This is not going to work.”

Detailed changes behind the scenes

Arteta has implemented numerous specific changes to boost crowd engagement. The club no longer shows the second half of matches on concourse screens, encouraging fans to return to their seats. The stadium announcer now pauses after reading a goalscorer’s first name, allowing the crowd to complete it.

Most notably, Arteta ordered the removal of the players’ tunnel cover at the start of this season, ensuring both teams hear the crowd noise before kick-off and promoting more interaction with supporters.

‘We need to ignite the atmosphere so they can play every single ball with us because it makes such a difference,’ the manager explained. ‘We want to play and win things. That’s a non-negotiable. You need to have a stadium that is able to create those moments, for sure.’

Tangible results on the pitch

The transformation reached new heights during Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final victory over Atlético Madrid, when supporters were encouraged to arrive two hours early to greet the team bus.

According to The Guardian, Arteta described the impact: ‘The players were in the other bus, but I could see straight away all the staff and everybody was there just looking at each other and saying: ‘Wow, we’ve taken this to a different level.’ The engagement, the passion, the enthusiasm of our fans in their eyes, I think that was something special.’

Arsenal are reportedly exploring plans to expand the Emirates’ 60,704 capacity beyond 70,000, with talks underway with Populous, the original architects. Any major redevelopment could require a temporary move to Wembley, something Arteta would prefer to avoid given the progress made.

The manager emphasized the mutual relationship between team and fans: ‘When the stadium provides that level of energy, passion and optimism, they play every single action with the team. The value of that is just infinite.’

Myles Lewis-Skelly has opened up about his challenging Arsenal campaign, describing how he overcame a frustrating period to establish himself as a key midfield player during the Gunners’ title push.

The 19-year-old has made just his third Premier League start of the season in Arsenal’s crucial 1-0 victory over West Ham, but his recent performances suggest a dramatic turnaround in fortunes.

From frustration to breakthrough

After breaking through last season with 15 Premier League starts and memorable moments including his first Arsenal goal against Manchester City, Lewis-Skelly found opportunities limited this campaign. His place in the England squad was also lost as minutes dried up.

“It was tough for me initially,” Lewis-Skelly admitted. “But I pride myself on having mental strength. Sport is not one pathway because there are ups and downs. It’s how you bounce back from that, how you are in those moments when you face adversity. That is what defines you.”

The teenager revealed he deliberately avoided social media noise during his difficult period, focusing instead on staying prepared for his opportunity.

Arteta’s ‘gut feeling’ decision pays off

Everything changed when Mikel Arteta made what he called a “gut feeling” decision to start Lewis-Skelly in midfield against Fulham – his first start in that position at senior level despite playing there in the academy.

His driving performance in the 3-0 victory rekindled his Arsenal career, with Arteta keeping faith for the Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid and the vital West Ham clash.

“It feels so natural for me to be there [in midfield],” Lewis-Skelly explained. “The boss told me: ‘You are going to play midfield, so go for it.’ That is what I did. I had to be bold and play with courage because that is what this league demands.”

The academy graduate has now climbed above Martin Zubimendi in Arsenal’s midfield pecking order, though he faces competition from captain Martin Odegaard, who made a significant impact as a substitute against West Ham.

Title focus amid uncertainty

Lewis-Skelly’s future had been questioned during his difficult spell, with speculation about potential exits. However, the teenager is solely focused on Arsenal’s remaining fixtures as they sit five points clear of Manchester City with two games to play.

“I am focused on the games we have got coming up,” he said. “And bringing this club back to glory.”

Arsenal face Burnley at home before traveling to Crystal Palace, while City have a game in hand with fixtures against Palace, Bournemouth and Aston Villa remaining.

Arsenal’s teenage sensation Max Dowman has a remarkable family connection to one of the club’s greatest legends, with genealogy research revealing he is distantly related to George Male – the first player to win six English top-flight titles.

The discovery was made by retired teacher Dave Male, who spotted 14-year-old Dowman playing for England Under-16s during a holiday in Spain two years ago. According to The Guardian, Male recognised the surname from his own family tree and traced the connection back through their shared ancestor.

“My grandmother was born Maria Maud Dowman and she was the mother of George Male, who captained Arsenal and England. So it turns out he is distantly related to Max through his great, great, great, great grandfather William Dowman,” Male explained.

A legendary lineage

George Male was a cornerstone of Arsenal’s dominant 1930s side, helping the Gunners win five league titles in eight seasons. The defender made over 300 appearances for the club and earned 19 England caps before becoming the first player to achieve six English top-flight titles at age 36 in 1948.

Male later became a youth coach and scout at Arsenal, notably discovering Charlie George, who starred in the club’s famous 1970-71 Double-winning team. He remains commemorated in two locations outside the Emirates Stadium.

The family connection traces back to 1800 when William Dowman was born in North Benfleet, Essex. George Male descended from Christopher Dowman, while Max comes from the line of Christopher’s younger brother, William Jr.

Following family footsteps

Dowman has already created his own piece of Arsenal history, becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history with his stunning solo effort against Everton last month. The 16-year-old also holds the record as Arsenal’s youngest FA Cup player at 16 years and 66 days old.

The Dowman family has maintained strong footballing connections in Essex, with Max’s grandfather playing as a goalkeeper for Billericay Town’s youth team and his father Rob also representing the club in his youth. Rob later joined the consortium that took over Billericay Town in 2019.

Max was discovered by Arsenal scout Johnny Knight while playing for Billericay and spent five years in their youth system before joining the Hale End academy permanently. Mikel Arteta has described the teenager as “something special,” with some even suggesting he could feature in England’s World Cup squad.

Dave Male, who uncovered this remarkable family link through ancestry research, expressed his pride in the discovery. “Sport seems to run in the family. It’s quite thrilling for us really,” he said.

Dowman is expected to feature in Arsenal’s FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton on Saturday as he continues building his own legacy at the club where his distant relative once captained the side to multiple titles.

Merino’s Strong Attributes

Aerial duels: one of his strongest attributes is for how good he is in aerial duels, both offensively but also defensively. He wins a lot of duels if it becomes physical and he is 6’2.

Passing: He is also quite comfortable with his feet, leans a lot on his left foot though. He plays for the most part short passes, give and go on the left side. Can switch the ball if it becomes too tight. He is progressive passer.

Goal scoring opportunity: He is good at attacking spaces up front when the opportunity is there either from corners or him playing 12 and attacking inside the penalty area. He likes to take shots from outside of 16 meters which will give Arsenal another attacking threat.

Tackling: He is a harder worker and will tackle if he gets outpaced. This can go both ways though.

Experience: Not only will Arteta get a player who fits his profile type in a midfielder in terms of his technical ability, but also a player with experience in the highest level and a winner. Merino had an outstanding ending to his season in international stage, winning the Euros with Spain. Before that, Merino won UEFA national league, Spanish Cup (Copa Del Rey), European champion under-21 and European Champion under-19. Unlike the other signings Arsenal has made this summer, Merino is player who has seen it all. He is at an age now where his next logical step is to compete for titles on club level.

Area of improvement/weakness

Fouls: He has tendencies to commit silly fouls. Merino has the habit of getting unnecessary many yellow cards by pulling players or misjudging and tackling a player.

Lack of tempo: He can struggle against pacy, quick opponents as he is not the quickest player. His turning radius can let him down if the ball is played behind him.

How would he fit Arsenal

He would be the natural replacement for Xhaka. A player similar to his profile when it comes to work rate, creating chances, linking up with the left side of Arsenal’s attack (especially Martinelli) who has suffered because of the departure of Xhaka. With Merino, the left side will create overload when attacking with him and Martinelli. This could open up space for Merino to shoot from distance or open space for Martinelli to run behind the defensive line.

Grant Xhaka left a void in the 8 role, a position that was initially was intended for Havertz, but he lacks the passing and composure to excel in that position. Merino would slot in perfectly in that role as he has been molded in that position for the past few seasons.

Style of play

Merino’s style of play and what he is used to at Sociedad is similar of how Arteta’s sets up his Arsenal team. Heavily reliant on having the ball, keeping possession, quick passes in the final third and creating overload with the wingers, but also Ødegaard and at times Rice when he is playing more offensively.

For Merino, the adaptation time won’t be an issue as this is the style of play that has been implemented on national level, but also for Real Sociedad. Another factor is the chemistry with his former and current teammate, Martin Ødegaard. They played together in 2019/20 season. This will likely boost the adaptation process for Merino, having played with Ødegaard.

Arsenal are getting an experienced, strong midfielder to fill their left 8 hole in midfield that checks a lot of boxes, so Gooners should be excited about Merino this season.

Arsenal have found themselves surprisingly short of defensive reinforcements following the closure of the summer transfer window. With the departures of Auston Trusty, Kieran Tierney, Nuno Tavares, and Rob Holding in August and September, the Gunners have been left with just eight natural defenders at the club, six if you discount the injured Jurrien Timber and unwanted Cedric Soares. Considering that it was the lack of depth in defence that cost Arsenal the Premier League title last season, it seems worrying that they are so short this time around.

Jurrien Timber looked like he was set to be a key part of Arsenal’s defence for the 2023/24 season prior to his ACL injury against Nottingham Forest. His absence put a dent in the Gunners’ defence, but this was fixed slightly by the return of Oleksandr Zinchenko. However, the Ukrainian’s injury proneness won’t fill Arsenal fans entirely with hope as he is now the only natural left back at the club. Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu have played in that position for the Gunners before, but would struggle to fully adapt to Zinchenko’s versatile way. This is one part of the defence that already looks weak.

At right back, Ben White should be starting most games there and has proven so far in his Arsenal career that he is reliable when it comes to injuries. Tomiyasu has spent most of his Gunners career on the right side of defence so he would be another option for Mikel Arteta. Cedric Soares would also be a right back option, but it seems his time at the club is up and will struggle to get game time. Academy star Reuell Walters has featured in the Gunners’ last two pre-seasons and has appeared multiple times on the bench for the first-team. He could possibly be given a promotion to the first-team in order to strengthen the defensive depth. Thomas Partey has featured at right back in recent games so would be another option, but this should be a last resort as his strongest position is midfield.

In the centre of defence is probably where Arsenal are the most fortunate. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are by far the best centre back duo available to Arteta. Whilst Ben White is naturally a centre back, it’d be wasteful to take him away from the right back position. Kiwior and Tomiyasu are far better options to cover Saliba and Gabriel as they would be able to come into the team without weakening other areas. Declan Rice also played in defence during his time at West Ham United so, like Partey at right back, could be a last resort option for the centre.

Overall, Arsenal are short in defensive options and really could have done with signing a replacement once Jurrien Timber got injured. However, the versatility of certain players throughout the team should at least get the team through to the January transfer window without any serious problems. It’d be good to see Mikel Arteta bring in a new defender in January, like he did with Jakub Kiwior this year.

The highly-anticipated Champions League group stage draw is complete. Arsenal were in Pot 2 along with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Leipzig, and Porto. The result of the draw positioned Arsenal in Group C, setting the stage for their first upcoming matches in the Champions League in 6 years. 👀

In this draw, Arsenal were restricted from being drawn in the same group as any other English teams, namely Manchester City, Manchester United, and Newcastle United. This ensured that fans won’t witness an all-English showdown in the initial group stage. Now, for the group…

Group C:

• Sevilla 🇪🇸
• Arsenal 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
• PSV Eindhoven 🇳🇱
• RC Lens 🇫🇷

Arsenal will face each of these teams in a two-way battle, playing one match at home and another away, forming the core of their group stage journey.

Arsenal previously faced Sevilla in 2022 in the Emirates Cup, winning 6-0, with a hat trick from Gabriel Jesus.

Arsenal last faced PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League group stage in 2022, winning one game 1-0 and losing the other 0-2. Against RC Lens the last match was in a friendly in 2016, where we drew 1-1.

The commencement of Arsenal’s Champions League journey is scheduled for either September 19th or 20th, setting the pace for an engaging tournament. The following games will be spaced with either two or three-week intervals, building up to the sixth and final group stage match on December 12th or 13th.

It’s important to note that this Champions League season marks the last of its conventional format, featuring 32 teams distributed across eight groups of four. Each group’s teams will compete against one another twice – once at home and once away.

Arsenal’s return to the Champions League after a six-year hiatus is a significant moment for the club and its fans. Looking ahead, the 2024/25 season will introduce a new setup, with 36 teams participating in a single league.

Each team will engage in eight matches against distinct opponents, split between home and away fixtures, sparking a fresh era of competition in European football’s premier tournament.

Nketiah’s journey from the Arsenal Academy to a senior England call-up has been marked by dedication and consistent progress. The 23-year-old striker initially found his footing in football after his tenure with Chelsea, when he joined the Arsenal Academy. Over the years, Nketiah’s commitment and prowess have propelled him from youth levels to the revered first team.

The Arsenal faithful have eagerly awaited this moment, advocating for Nketiah’s selection to the national team, particularly in light of his impressive performance with Arsenal. Over the previous year and the early stages of this season, Nketiah has demonstrated a good run of form, capturing the attention of fans and pundits alike. His consistent contributions on the field have underscored his potential for an international role. Whilst his inclusion in the Arsenal first XI causes debate, there’s no doubt he’s been a valuable member of Arteta’s squad.

The 2023-2024 season has unveiled a promising start for Nketiah. With participation in three matches, he has already secured two goals for Arsenal, indicating his efficacy as a goal-scorer. As his career trajectory continues to ascend, there’s a sense of anticipation surrounding his potential debut appearance for the national team.

Arsenal supporters, in particular, will be keeping a close watch on Nketiah’s journey with the England squad. The prospect of witnessing his first appearance on the international stage is an exciting prospect for both fans and football enthusiasts alike.

Nketiah’s inclusion in the England squad signifies not only his personal accomplishment but also highlights the steady development of young talents fostered within Hale End – Arsenal’s youth academy. As Nketiah prepares to wear the England jersey, his journey stands as a testament to dedication, perseverance, and what’s possible when you keep working.

For Gooners & football enthusiasts, Eddie Nketiah’s evolution from a young talent to a national team prospect is a narrative that embodies the spirit of the beautiful game – one of growth, aspiration, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

Sami Mokbel, a reliable source in football reporting, indicated that Arsenal’s primary focus in the upcoming days will be offloading players from the squad. This deliberate approach aligns with the club’s objective to streamline the team’s composition ahead of the new season.

The prospect of bringing in another player, however, hasn’t been ruled out entirely. Mokbel suggests that should Arsenal decide to make one more signing, it’s likely to be in the defensive department. This could potentially address any gaps in the backline and bolster the team’s defensive options. During the winter, when Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu are gone for their national team competitions, the squad will have just 5 defenders available for selection: Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, and Jakub Kiwior.

Despite their emphasis on player departures, Arsenal remains vigilant for any last-minute opportunities that might arise before the transfer window deadline. The club’s proactive stance reflects their readiness to seize advantageous situations that could further enhance the squad’s depth and capabilities.

Fabrizio Romano, a reliable source for transfer news, reported that negotiations are ongoing with Mallorca regarding the potential transfer of Rob Holding. The Spanish club’s interest in Holding has prompted discussions to determine the conditions of the deal. While these negotiations unfold, Holding’s future remains uncertain as the transfer window countdown continues.

Furthermore, the situation surrounding Holding’s potential move has taken another twist. Following a phone call from Luton Town on Monday, the possibility of a move to the Premier League side was seemingly on the table. However, recent developments indicate that Luton Town is poised to secure the services of Teden Mengi from Manchester United, potentially altering their transfer priorities.

Lokonga and Cedric are also in the shopping window to leave the club this summer.

As Arsenal remains active in the transfer market, their dynamic approach to both player outgoings and potential signings demonstrates the club’s commitment to optimizing their squad composition. With the clock ticking down to the transfer deadline, the football community is eagerly anticipating the final outcomes of these negotiations and their impact on Arsenal’s squad for the upcoming season.

Jorginho is a regista, a deep lying playmaker in terms of profile. He operates deep, has good technical qualities, and he specializes in passing. He progresses the ball by passing rather than carrying, and he’s really good at it. He is defensively quite sound, and wins duels consistently, as long as he doesn’t have to defend large spaces.

Jorginho’s best quality is his ability control the tempo, and dictate the play. He is a volume passer, and pips long balls often. In terms of passes attempted and completed, he’s in the top 10% among midfielders in Europe. He can slow down the tempo to our liking, and impose better control.

Some people complain that he only passes sideways and backwards. Jorginho is one of the best progressive passers in Europe, averaging almost 6 per game. In terms of passing into the final third, he’s in the top 7%. A proper progression specialist.

He is technically adequate, just not the most athletic player in the side. He receives the ball under pressure, and he’s among the top 10% in Europe when it comes to that. He’s press resistant, and dubbed as a very intelligent player who reads the situations well.

Defensively, he is very good, unlike what many think, including myself. Reads the situations well, wins ground duels very often, and an imposing ball winner atb. He’s among the top 10% in Europe when it comes to tackles and interceptions.

Talking about his limitations, a couple things comes to mind- athleticism and physicality. He could be a defensive liability in transitions, if he has to defend large spaces, because he can’t make the ground often.

But Arsenal are one of the most compact sides in the league, with the fullbacks covering the space in transition, so it’s going to be very rare for him to be isolated in transitions. In duels, he is very, very strong.

So, how is Mikel going to use him? For now, many alternative options come to mind. For instance, in a double pivot when Zinchenko is unavailable, as a lone 6 when Partey is out, to break low blocks, to see the game off late etc. In essence, he will offer the required tactical flexibility to shuffle things around and change the outcome.

All in all, overlooking the athleticism issue, he’s been a top buy. The issue shouldn’t be that big a deal in Arsenal’s compact shape, and he should strive in this new environment. Mikel and Edu has brought the best possible alternative, yet again.

From @knilirabaj: “Now that we’ve seen Tomi play left back, are you interested in seeing how he does at LCB. Especially if Big Gabi has a dip in form.”

He definitely could play left center back if we needed him to. I actually wondered last week if we could see him there if Cedric started at right back when we hosted Bodo/Glimt. I think he would be great there, just as he is everywhere else in the defense, it seems. But I do want to note that it would take a string of consistently bad performances for me to seriously consider replacing Gabriel in the starting lineup. I still think he’s a terrific defender, kind of in the Laurent Koscielny mode with some added physicality. And he contributes so much in terms of goals; last season he was the highest-scoring center back in the league. But yes, one day I would like to see Tomiyasu at left center back at some point, probably in a cup match.”

From @ArtOfMikel: “Do you think we can use Liverpool fans’ salt on some fries?”

For sure. What you’ll want to do is thoroughly scrub the potatoes before cutting them. Then, drain the potatoes and pat them dry with a towel. After that, slice them into strips and heat a pot — I personally prefer to use a Dutch oven — of vegetable oil to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (I believe that is about 162.78 degrees in Celsius). Work in batches when frying the potato strips; throw too many in at once and you’ll get soggy fries. After five minutes of frying, lift the fries (or chips, if you’re British like that) out of the oil and drain them on a wire rack. At this point, add the Liverpool fans’ salt immediately. The salt must be sprinkled onto the fries/chips while they’re still hot. That will maximize the flavor you get from the salt. And if you want a good dipping sauce to pair that with, I like to mix three parts ketchup, three parts mayonnaise, and one part sriracha. Enjoy your Liverpool fan-salted fries!

From @SemperFiArsenal: “Watched Tavares closely past few matches and he’s not going to comeback as a player who has improved on his weakness because of the role he plays at Marseille. Do you think we need to let him go in the summer or will you give him one more year at Arsenal.”

This is tough. I think Nuno Tavares has definitely improved as an overall player from what I’ve seen of him at Marseille. But I agree, I doubt his defensive ability has risen to a level that makes him reliable in the Premier League. In addition to his defensive deficiencies, there are a couple big negatives going against him at the moment in turns of keeping him. The first is that we currently have Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko, both only 25 at the time of writing. They are both firmly ahead of Tavares in the pecking order when he returns, and I don’t see the Portuguese player being accepting of that. Secondly, I think Tavares sees himself as more of a wing-back than as a left back. He indicated as much early in the season when he stated that Arsenal had played him out of position last season. I guess my answer is that if he was happy to stick around for a little while longer then I wouldn’t mind. But I currently don’t see a place for him at Arsenal long-term for the reasons above, especially with who we currently have, Takehiro Tomiyasu also being able to play that role, and the likes of Lino Sousa potentially coming through the ranks as well. We would be guaranteed to make a pretty good profit if we sold him next summer.

From @ydembri221: “Do you think we can sign players in January which will help us win the league?”

Maybe. I certainly think people who expect the coming January transfer window to resemble the previous one haven’t taken into account that the 2023 window will take place almost immediately following the World Cup. Every player who has a good showing in Qatar will attract attention from top clubs. Those players will want to use that attention to catapult up the ranks in their club careers. Clubs will see an opportunity to cash in and capitalize midway through the season. Granted, some clubs will want to hold onto their star players for the remainder of their campaigns, but for the most part I expect more movement than usual in January. To that end, I think we can use that to our advantage, although the two players we have been most linked to — Mykhaylo Mudryk and Danilo — won’t feature at the World Cup (was about to include Douglas Luiz in here, but he just signed an extension with Aston Villa). I do think it’s important to note that despite KSE reportedly being willing to back Arteta in January, I don’t see us signing superstars. We’re not going to push the boat out for one of the biggest names in the sport. But I certainly think we will go for at least two more talented footballers, especially if we are still in the running for the title in the new year. Based on what they did with the Rams last year in signing Odell Beckham Jr. and Von Miller, the Kroenkes have set a precedent for pushing their chips in when they feel a championship is in sight.

From @afcbinks: “Would you take Kylian Mbappe at Arsenal?”

If money wasn’t an object and we had assurances that he would behave in the dressing room, then sure. But we don’t live in that reality. The fact of the matter is that despite being probably the best player in the world, Mbappe is not worth the money he would cost. On top of his reported yearly salary of about €50 million, he also received a signing bonus of around €180 million and full control of his image rights upon inking his new deal in May. It also appears that he is being given more influence at PSG, almost as something of a pseudo-board member, and was allegedly instrumental in bringing Luis Campos to the club. I hope this isn’t news to anyone reading this, but Arsenal could never offer that. The salary alone would tank our wage structure. But Mbappe would expect that and more if he was somehow enticed into joining Arsenal. We aren’t in the Champions League yet (we are certainly on track for it, but the job’s not finished), and it has been a long time since we competed for Premier League or CL honors. He will need additional incentive to “downgrade” and join a team that isn’t yet firmly entrenched among Europe’s current elite. We have been tremendous this season, but that is probably how Mbappe will view it. And we even if we did somehow scrounge up the money and the gumption to give Mbappe all that, it wouldn’t be worth it. For all that trouble, we would probably get 40-50 goal involvements, which is great for a season. But then there would be dressing room clashes. Players would leave, either because Mbappe wouldn’t want to share the spotlight with them, or because we wouldn’t be able to avoid increased salaries for other players due to how much we were paying Mbappe. And even when it became apparent that we were suffering in the long term, offloading Mbappe would be nigh-on impossible because of the financial burden. TL;DR: Mbappe is a generational talent, but signing him would destroy the club’s finances, which has an impact on what we do on the pitch long-term. So it’s a no from me.

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From @MitchPeotter: “What do you think our goals should be in the domestic cups? I think we should put way more focus on EL and PL”

For me, our first priority is to get back into the Champions League. Obviously, our two avenues for doing so are through finishing in the top four in the Premier League and winning the Europa League. So I want us to focus on making those things happen, but that isn’t an excuse for bowing out of the FA or Carabao Cups early. I think our aim should be to make a deep run in each of the domestic cups, perhaps at least to the semifinal round, but if we are knocked out by City or Chelsea in the quarterfinals of either, I wouldn’t be too upset. I think we should also try to use the domestic cups as rotation opportunities; even past the earlier stages, I’m comfortable giving minutes in later rounds of those competitions to players like Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Eddie Nketiah, and Fabio Vieira.

From @_slavlad: “If you were the technical director in January what positions would be your priority targets for strengthening? (And who would you love to bring in)”

The two areas we definitely will need a little help in during the second half of the season will be at wide forward and at the six position. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have been excellent, and we have Vieira, Gabriel Jesus, Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson, and Marquinhos who can all play out wide to some extent. But we need someone else there who can take on a significant number of minutes but produce the same level of quality as our current starters would. There, I would love to see us go for Mykhaylo Mudryk, and it sounds like he wouldn’t mind coming to Arsenal. At six, we currently have Thomas Partey but he’s proven unreliable due to his penchant for picking up injuries. Mohamed Elneny should be back in the new year but we’ll see how long it takes for him to get into the swing of things and he isn’t the future at that position anyway. As a long-term option, I like Danilo from Palmeiras. But in terms of someone who can contribute immediately, I still think going back in for Douglas Luiz could work. He knows the Premier League, has done well for Aston Villa, could play in our system, and would be cheap (if Villa are actually reasonable this time around).

From @MrKeshaiv: “What were your first impressions of Marquinhos after seeing him with the u23s and in the Europa League?”

When we signed Marquinhos, he struck me as our seemingly yearly Hail Mary acquisition of young Brazilian talent. Perhaps this longshot is going to hit, though. When he featured for the U23s, Marquinhos looked like someone who was clearly too good for that level, which is really impressive considering he’s still only 19 years old. Against Zurich I thought he was tremendous. His late run into the box for his goal was really savvy, and his cross from deep to assist Nketiah was top drawer. Against Bodo/Glimt this week, he was a little less on it; he seemed to refrain from taking his man on a bit, and he didn’t make himself an option for his teammates as much as he should have. But considering what we were expecting in the summer, I think Marquinhos has been supremely impressive. He has a good technical ability, pace, some end product about him, and a physical build that will help him a lot at this level. We just may have unearthed another gem.

From @realadammcohen: “What do you make of our chances against Liverpool, do you think Klopp can get a response from them or are we too good?”

For the first time in years, I feel like we might be slight favorites against Liverpool. They have been pretty poor to start the season, and I don’t think that’s just down to injuries. A lot of their starters look like they have aged out of their primes. Of course, I expect them to show up in a much bigger way than they have all season and I’m sure Mikel Arteta is telling the players we need to take this seriously. But if we do three things, we can beat them: keep Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz quiet, win the midfield battle, and target the right side of Liverpool’s defense. The first one is pretty self-explanatory, but I like our odds of doing it if Tierney starts at left back. For the midfield battle, our trio of Partey, Granit Xhaka, and Martin Odegaard will have to get the better of Thiago, Fabinho, and Jordan Henderson. Based on the respective forms, I think we can get that done. And then if we force-feed Martinelli the ball and have him target Trent Alexander-Arnold, I am confident that we can exploit that defensive weakness while Gabriel Jesus helps keep Virgil van Dijk occupied. It’s going to be tougher than we expect it to be, but this Arsenal team can win.

From @MhammedGooner1: “Would you consider selling ESR if it meant getting Maddison instead?”

I think James Maddison is a great player. When Spurs were linked to him during the summer, I was legitimately concerned. If he does not make England’s World Cup squad, it will be a travesty. And he was solid as the fourth President of the United States. But I would not effectively trade Smith Rowe for him. I just think Smith Rowe’s talent ceiling is a little bit higher and he has already shown qualities that we need more than what Maddison would bring. The Hale End product might be one of the best in the Premier League at running with the ball. His carrying ability, especially from midfield, forces opposition players into making decisions and opens things up for other attackers. Smith Rowe is also a really impressive goalscorer. Don’t forget that he notched 10 Premier League goals in his first full season in the first team. And he’s also very secure in possession in the final third, which helps us sustain pressure and makes us less likely to lose the ball in compromising positions. We’re not at the point where we should be ready to give up on a player with those qualities, especially one who came from our academy. But if we could get James Maddison anyway, well… that would be exciting.

From @bukayo7__: “what do you think is the plan with Balogun?”

This season, I think we have sent Folarin Balogun somewhere where he can be the main striker in a top flight team. It also helps that Ligue 1 has a history of producing a plethora of high-quality attacking players. But Balogun said something telling when he mentioned that Arteta had told him that he wanted the striker to “develop as a man”. Personally, I think that means learning to fend for himself in a setting that is far outside his comfort zone. He is in a different country, adjusting to a different culture, speaking a different language with his teammates. I think that will be really good for him. With regard to what the long-term plan is, I don’t really know at this point. Nketiah is pretty entrenched as the no. 2 striker at the club, and he himself has vastly improved over the last couple seasons. Maybe he could be tempted away by a starting job somewhere? I don’t think we want to sell Balogun at this juncture. So I suppose he will either rejoin the team as third in the pecking order next season, or he will be loaned out again. But I have no doubt Arsenal still think of him as a significant part of their future.

From @Arsenalian66: “Are you worried about our transitional control in big games given how we’ve struggled in certain parts of the games vs Spurs and Utd?”

Not particularly, if I’m being honest. I think the way we currently play, committing players forward in attack while playing a high line, comes with a built-in risk of being caught on the counter every once in a while. So I’m not surprised that teams like Spurs and United have given us trouble in transition, because they’re good at doing that and it’s probably our biggest weakness. But I’m fine with that. Even City gets caught on the break occasionally. The upside is that we create a smorgasbord of chances so that even on an inefficient day we are still likely to score a goal or two. The bet that we’re making is that by committing that extra man or two on offense, we will always score more goals than we concede by being susceptible to the counter. Again, I can live with that. And players like Partey, Ben White, Gabriel, and William Saliba make me feel more secure about playing that way. I do think one thing we can change is limiting the number of times we give up the ball in central areas (we did that a number of times against Spurs), but other than that, I think the transitional difficulties somewhat come with the territory of the current iteration of Artetaball.

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Match Officials: Referee: Anthony Taylor. VAR: Darren England.

Arsenal once again have the duty of raising the curtain on the latest Premier League campaign, with a visit to Selhurst Park kicking off the 2022/23 season on Friday night. Hosts Crystal Palace will be entering their tenth consecutive season in the top flight, and as Premier League regulars, they will know exactly how to deal with the occasion. The Gunners will be looking for an opening day victory in the Premier League, after this alluded Mikel Arteta’s side last year at the hands of Thomas Frank’s Brentford. This is the fifth time that Arsenal will be involved in the first game of a new Premier League season, with a strong record of three wins and one loss in this scenario.

The prospect of a London derby to begin the season is exciting for the neutral, however Arteta’s side will certainly have to be cautious, as Selhurst Park in particular has proved to be a tricky ground to visit in recent memory for Arsenal, winning just two of their last six visits to South East London, with the latest loss being a heavy 3-0 defeat back in April, which inflicted major damage on Arsenal’s hopes of finishing in a top four spot last season. Combining this with the brilliant form of Patrick Vieira’s Palace last season, that saw the Eagles visit Wembley in an FA Cup semi-final, and finish in style with a run of six consecutive home games unbeaten, in which they kept five clean sheets, and Arsenal will have to be careful not to fall at the first hurdle on Friday.

How Arsenal can avoid opening day upset…

With Arteta yet to defeat Vieira in his two managerial meetings with the Arsenal invincible, a new plan will be needed to overcome the failures of old. The main issue with our performances against Palace last season came from a lack of maturity and intensity at times in both games, and despite a great show of resilience to claw a point back at the Emirates in the 95th minute back in October, leaving it late will be the last thing on any Arsenal fans mind for the first game of the season.

In the aforementioned home fixture, Arsenal did not struggle to control the game per se, dominating the attacking statistics, but showed a real naïvety when the ball was lost, particularly in the final third. Whilst it is true that these were the early days of a move away from a 4-2-3-1 shape for the Gunners, meaning certain dynamics such as Emile Smith Rowe as a #8 and the lack of proper spacing between players were teething problems that had not yet been resolved, the performance allowed an easy counter-attack which Vieira’s team, spearheaded by Jordan Ayew, Christian Benteke, Odsonne Édouard and later Michael Olise, took full advantage of.

Once the sides met again in April, Arteta’s switch to a fluid 4-3-3 was no longer in its infancy, and the confidence amongst the fanbase and team reflected this, with the system bearing fruit for Arteta’s men. Simultaneously though, Palace had improved themselves, with Wilfried Zaha returning to be a key player, as well as Jean-Philippe Mateta and Olise announcing themselves as mercurial talents, and key bows to the Crystal Palace arrow. On this night, Arsenal’s downfall was no longer about a misunderstanding of tactical instruction, but more a capitulation under the lights on a Monday night, where Palace outfought, and out-thought us. The intensity on the pitch was low from kick-off, and the game had an end of Arséne Wenger era feel to it, with players struggling to win first or second balls, getting passed around and dribbled past with ease, and showing a lack of an organised press – which contributed to CB Joachim Andersen’s second assist of the game, so it was no surprise that within 30 minutes we were 2-0 down. A second half penalty sealed our fate, and the difference from October was the dominance in the Palace performance, rather than the weakness in ours. Another toothless performance come Friday and we may as well forget about a positive result, as Palace will have their fans right behind them, and early in the season one off ‘surprise’ results are far from infrequent.

Fast forward to August from the dismal night in April and Arsenal’s system has kept refining itself since, and with our new players, new combinations, and ever-improving confidence, the game has a fresh dynamic. Since we have had the full compliment of players that we will take into the game on Friday, in Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and returning loanee William Saliba, Arsenal have scored ten goals and conceded none in two games to first Chelsea, and then Sevilla, and whilst this may be pre-season, which I do not bother drawing too many conclusions from, the team has played with a noticeably better freedom and fluidity. Players are interchanging all over the pitch, everybody has a brilliant understanding, and the rotations and patterns of play are gorgeous, as well as proving to be very difficult to stop.

I have talked in more depth in my season preview about our new signings and players that I believe will particularly impress this season, but in a few words, Jesus has opened endless possibilities in comparison to last season, as his link up, dribbling, pace, finishing and shot creation is worlds above that of Alexandre Lacazette. Saliba’s return and new recruit Zinchenko both bring a lot of the same improvements to the team, with both hugely lifting the composure and technical security of our defence whilst being astute defenders. Saliba allows for cover across the backline in the form of Ben White shifting to RB, whilst we wait for the injured Takehiro Tomiyasu to make his return – however this is far less urgent now. Zinchenko also provides cover for the injured Kieran Tierney, with the Ukrainian providing calmness in possession, and the ability to both overlap and invert effectively – making him much harder to pick up.

These improvements in defence and attack alone make it less likely that the same mistakes from our last visit will reoccur, as we notably failed to have any high quality attempts on goal, with Palace defenders Andersen and Marc Guéhi marshalling Lacazette expertly, with his lack of physical qualities making it an easy day at the office for the pair. As well as this, Cedric and Nuno Tavares serving as the two fullbacks on the night were incredibly erratic on the ball, often hoofing it long which only served to rebuild pressure from Palace and their fans. Both also struggled to deal with their respective wingers, and with the quality of Vieira’s wide-men, this caused dangerous situations frequently. In midfield, unfortunately new recruit Fábio Vieira will miss out as he has a slight injury, however Arsenal still boast an incredibly strong trio of midfielders for the trip, who have only grown in their understanding of the roles they are tasked with.

With that, as long as Arsenal play their game, and avoid the mistake of letting Palace set the tone with the crowd behind them, I believe from a footballing point of view we have got what it takes to be dangerous enough going forward, whilst frustrating the Palace attack enough to prevent a similar scoreline as last season. Arsenal will have to be cautious on set pieces, as Palace are a real threat in these situations, having the players to win plenty of fouls, and despite our strong record on corners in particular last season, giving any team dead ball situations can help to build confidence, at the very least. This game will be the biggest test for Arteta’s side until the trip to Old Trafford in early September in my view, meaning a positive result here would be massive for the confidence of this ever developing side. A negative result would not be followed up by tough consecutive games as it was last season, but ultimately if Arsenal want to achieve their goals, a win is all that will do.

How Vieira can get Palace purring against his former side again…

Discussing how Arsenal have improved and will provide a new set of challenges for the Eagles on Friday in isolation can skew reality, and it must not be lost that Palace have had a positive few months since the sides last met too. Palace certainly make use of the feeling they get from a game when playing against Arsenal, and this stretches back to the 3-0 embarrassment of 2017, where Sam Allardyce’s team rampantly bullied Wenger’s collapsing Arsenal, as if the crowd were telling the players what to do telepathically. The energy generated by the faithful “ultras” of the ground will be no different on Friday, and the electric atmosphere the fans help to build will be a major factor in not just this game, but all games at Selhurst Park this season. The side boast the strong home record mentioned prior for a reason, and if Arsenal are not at their very best, I am certain that Vieira will utilise this and incorporate it into the way his team approaches the night.

Palace under Vieira have deployed a fairly traditional 4-3-3, however there are plenty of tactical nuances to this system, and each player has a well defined role, particularly from an attacking sense. Going from front to back, the South London outfit have not been scared to utilise three traditional CF’s across the frontline, with Ayew the clubs official #9 often finding himself on the touchline of the right flank, Benteke still rotating as a useful starting CF, and Edouard playing from the left. This is because when Palace attack, the LW often tucks in, almost forming a two man strike partnership of yesteryear with the defined CF. Ayew can hold his width and is often supported by what was the busy RCM of the midfield three last season in Conor Gallagher – who has since returned to Chelsea after his loan spell – which may cause some tactical tweaks to the system. Where the LW in this system often tucks in, young English LB Tyrick Mitchell is tasked with stretching the pitch, staying as high and wide as possible. The fullback got his first senior England call up last season, and has a notably strong ability to keep possession and deliver the ball from wide, whilst acting as a ‘stopper’ style traditional fullback.

Anchoring the midfield has been a mixture of Cheikhou Kouyaté – who has now left the club, Will Hughes, and Luka Milivojević, with these players ordered in how many Premier League minutes they played last season. To the left of this deeper midfielder is often a ‘busier’ box to box style player, as despite Gallagher’s tenacity, his focus was more offensive. This player comes in the form of Palace veteran James McArthur, as well as Jeffrey Schlupp, who are both willing runners, providing the squeeze on opponents, harassing them into making quick, rushed passes. The side then form something of a back three to accommodate captain Joel Ward’s strengths, with the excellent Guéhi and Andersen partnership joining him.

Another note to make about that pair is the brilliance of their passing – particularly over long distances. This combined with a physically capable set of tall attackers in a front three is perfect for getting from back to front quickly, as not many defences can deal with this bombardment. Palace do not boast an amazing pass accuracy percentage, neither do they play what would be traditionally ‘beautiful’ football, however the pace at which they act with the ball is frightening, whether it be a long ball to a forward, quick give and goes through midfield, or the sight of Zaha and Olise dribbling in full flow, they have plenty of ways to flex their attacking might. The combination of pace in attacking movement, as well as the high press and squeeze which can shrink the old school pitch of Selhurst Park will be a danger for Arteta to consider, and whilst Arsenal will certainly not want to surrender possession via long balls, they will need to be accurate, composed, and communicate well when building up to avoid any mishaps.

Vieira’s Palace tactics are hardly reinventing the wheel, however they have strong principals, rooted in the era where Vieira graced the Premier League as a player, with a modern twist. As well as these principals on the pitch, Vieira has created something far deeper and long term at the club. Palace had been stagnant ever since the 2018/19 season, with star players often departing, leaving an ageing squad in their place. Despite the ownership at the club taking an active interest and chairman Steve Parish being a boyhood fan it was simply too risky to get rid of Roy Hodgson and these players, as whilst stagnant the formula was ensuring Palace’s Premier League survival season after season. Following Hodgson’s retirement from management though, Palace were forced to switch their system around, and following nine senior players leaving the club in the summer of 2021, Vieira took charge, and has become a part of the family, with the Frenchman taking an interest from top to bottom, even watching academy games regularly. Vieira is becoming a figurehead at the club, and with such a strong crop of talented players, both past and present, beginning their careers at The Academy – which received a £20M rebuild in 2021, there are exciting times ahead.

However, there may be a slightly bitter taste in the mouths of Palace fans following Gallagher’s move back to Chelsea at the end of his loan spell. The 22 year old had an outstanding campaign for Palace last season, with the all action midfielder epitomising the style that Vieira wishes to imprint upon his side. The Palace faithful fell in love with the young English midfielder, and will be nervously awaiting to see if any of the solutions to his vacancy can replace his impact.

Of these solutions are two more under-25 midfield talents, in the form of Ebere Eze (24), who spent the entirety of last season out with a bad injury, yet has seen plenty of action under Vieira in pre-season so far, and new signing Cheick Doucouré (22), who arrived from Lens in Ligue 1 for £22M in July. Whilst the profiles of both of these players does not replicate Gallagher’s directly, we could see a shift to a double-pivot from Vieira’s side, with Eze lacking the defensive work rate to be a box to box in the Gallagher mould. The upside though, is that Eze is as silky on the ball as they come, and I believe he will help Palace retain the ball better, pass with a vastly improved accuracy and create more chances from open play. Doucouré would also suit my proposed formation change, as he is suited to a deeper position, however the sky is the limit under Vieira, who told him “I’m going to make you better. I know your game, I’ve known it for a while, so I know what you need”.

Another area of concern for the Palace faithful, will be the messy pre-season the club undertook this summer, with the squad essentially being split in two, with just eight senior outfield players having travelled to Singapore and Australia for a tour that was due to commence ahead of the 2020/21 season, but was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst the foreign tour has been revealed as a big money maker, and positive for brand exposure too, it is far from ideal for squad cohesion of new signings, amongst other purely footballing queries. Zaha, Eze, Guéhi, and Olise all remained on English soil and whilst the 26 man squad was filled with young, hungry players for Vieira to keep his eye on ahead of the new term, as well as the pre-season both on UK soil and abroad yielding positive results, you would think the idea may have just added unneeded confusion and stress to preparation for Vieira.

Predicted Lineups:

Arsenal:

Injuries: Emile Smith Rowe (Groin), Fábio Vieira (Ankle), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Thigh), Kieran Tierney (Knee).

Suspensions: N/A

As previously discussed, Arsenal will retain their 4-3-3 on Friday. The team practically picks itself, through a combination of reliable quality, and some positions that are injury hit. After Bernd Leno’s departure to Fulham on Tuesday, there is no doubt that Aaron Ramsdale will start – that is if there was any doubt cast in your mind anyway. The back four sees new boy Zinchenko in, as Nuno Tavares left the club for a year long loan move to Marseille on the weekend, and Tierney is still nursing an injury which kept him out at the back end of last season. Ben White starts at RB, following his spell here in pre-season, where he played with excellent authority over the position. Tomiyasu has a chance of playing, as he looks likely to return soon, but I don’t see it myself on Friday. It would be throwing him in at the deep end facing up to Zaha when he would just about pass as available for the game.

Thomas Partey starts at the base of the midfield three, despite the Ghanaian being in the midst of a legal battle which turned incredibly public via Twitter last week. The club seem to have a clear stance which will not be unchanged, which is to support Partey, meaning unless in the eyes of the law his situation changes, he will continue to be picked, however that is received by fans. Xhaka has featured heavily in pre-season, and his typical reliability will be useful in this game. As for Ødegaard, the new official club captain is a guaranteed starter without question, and it will be interesting to see if the Norwegian can forget his woes from this fixture last season. The front three has two of our finest players in Jesus and Saka undoubtedly starting, supported by new #11 Martinelli, who due to Smith Rowe’s injury, has an opportunity to make that LW spot his own.

Crystal Palace:

Injuries: Sam Johnstone (Quadricep), Jack Butland (Hand), James McArthur (Hip), Michael Olise (Ankle).

Suspensions: N/A

As for Crystal Palace, I have opted for a 4-3-3, as this was Vieira’s preferred lineup last season, however with the new midfield profiles I would not be shocked by a 4-2-3-1 shape, which could see a re-shuffle in midfield, with Schlupp coming out of the side for Hughes to partner Doucouré. Regardless though, Eze will certainly be gifted with a free role, with his main challenge to create chances and keep Palace ticking over against an Arsenal side who love to have the ball. The back four and goalkeeper are easy choices for me, with Guaita actually being the only senior keeper available, as both other keepers including new recruit Johnstone, finding themselves on the injury list.

From the midfield to the attack I will reiterate that there are numerous choices and combinations available to Vieira. The missing McArthur will prove to be a big blow for Palace, after Kouyate’s experience has been lost this window. This leaves the Eagles thin in central midfield, and possibly needing another midfielder before the transfer window closes, especially if the club wish to improve their control on games this term. As for the front three, Zaha and Ayew seem certain to start, with both players being trusted on big occasions. The CF option at Palace is never one I am confident of predicting, with Vieira happy to roll the dice and rotate between his three options, although on this occasion I believe Mateta will play, especially after his excellent performance against the Gunners back in April. One last plausible suggestion is that new and promising youngster, Malcolm Ebiowei could feature on the wing from the start, although I believe on Friday he may only see minutes from the bench – the young Englishman will certainly make the first XI very soon, though.

Final thoughts…

I believe Friday will be a high quality, captivating contest to kick the newest instalment of the Premier League off, with two teams of contrasting styles trading blows – the question is which system will falter first? The key battles will come from midfield, and Arteta must ensure that Arsenal survive the fast paced football Palace will serve his team. There will be top individuals in both attacks, and if either of Jesus or Zaha decide to switch the fireworks on, not many defenders will have a say in what follows. If Palace bombard Arsenal aerially they may get some joy, but in the same tone Arsenal will be too strong if they are able to keep hold of possession and bring wave after wave of attack, which will suffocate the space Palace want to spring a counter.

But of course, that is just the football, and once the ground is full, the fans are up for it, and all eyes are on the London based outfits, you never really know what may happen. Expect the unexpected, the Premier League is back!

As we approach the business end of the season, chasing an illustrious top four spot, it is equally as important to plan ahead to next season. In this series, I will be profiling the best possible acquisitions we can make to really propel this side to the next level. 

To kick off the series, we will be looking at the all important hunt for our next star-studded striker. I have compiled a list of names that we could potentially be seeing grace the pitch at The Emirates next season.

As we have scored just 56 goals in league action this season, it is clear a new star-studded striker is paramount to progressing as a club. We have failed to score in 11 of our 37 Premier League matches to date this season, with 8 of them coming away from home, the 5th worst record in the division. So without further ado…

Profile

• Club: Man City
• Age: 25
• Nationality: Brazil
• Height: 1.75m
• Preferred foot: Right
• Current Value: £45m

Gabriel Jesus has became a household name for Premier League fans over the years with Man City. The newly turned 25-year-old striker left his homeland over 5 years ago now when he swapped the sandy beaches of São Paolo for the gloomy skies of Manchester, and he hasn’t looked back since. Over 150 appearances, 56 goals, 32 assists, 3 league titles, 3 league cups and 1 FA Cup for “O fenômeno” as he is known in Brazil, testament to his lung-busting work rate.

However, with the proposed arrival of Erling Haaland looming, as well as Argentine wonderkid Julian Alvarez joining up with the squad from River Plate this summer, Jesus’ time looks to be up at the Etihad. Arsenal have been heavily linked in recent weeks regarding the signing of Gabriel Jesus, and with only 1 year remaining on his deal, a discounted deal may be on the agenda.

Strengths

With the ability to play anywhere in the front 3, Gabriel Jesus is a very admirable pick for Arsenal and especially Arteta. The Brazilian has over 50 full international caps for Brazil, blessing him with a wealth of experience not too dissimilar to our own Alexandre Lacazette, at just 25 years old.

His versatility and work rate is a major plus for Arteta, who will know him well from his time spent at the Etihad as a coach. Although he may not offer the typical presence of a ‘number 9’ he can offer an abundance of other traits. His stellar finishing, gritty determination and stereotypical Brazilian flair make him a highly valuable asset to Arteta and the way we play.

His versatility for me makes him one of the most elite options we could find, combined with his Premier League prowess. There was once a time that Gabriel Jesus was regarded as the best up and coming striker in the world of football, and with him being just 25, his best days are arguably still ahead of him.

His decisiveness in front of goal is far from being his biggest strength too, as his aggressiveness when pressing opposition defences can be a match made in heaven for Arteta’s side. The images below signify his determination and grit to win the ball back high up the pitch, something that he does on a regular occurrence.

Due to his aggressive nature, he will likely create plenty goalscoring opportunities for others. Saka, Smith-Rowe and Martinelli is all players that would reap rewards from his ruthless press.

Jesus registers the third-most tackles in the attacking third for players who have played more than 10 games this season for Pep’s side, averaging 0.58 per 90, which is considerably more than Arsenal’s Lacazette who averaged 0.32 per 90, despite considerably amassing more minutes on the pitch. He also ranks 1st amongst the attackers at Man City for tackles and interceptions (2.09 p90).

What stands out the most in the Gabriel Jesus repertoire however, is his elite npxG statistics (non-penalty expected goals). His npxG of 0.44 per 90 ranks him in the 94th percentile in all of world football. Again, for context, Bukayo Saka has the highest npxG for Arsenal this season, totaling 0.25 per 90.

Having a player such as Gabriel Jesus in the ranks is destined to increase our points tally, and it is a move he would more than likely welcome with regards to the World Cup later in the year. Ideally, he wants to be playing consistently and that is most definitely something Arsenal could offer him.

Weaknesses

As Jesus enjoys playing on the shoulder’s of the last line of defence, he often gets caught offside, however, that record has drastically improved this season. He has recorded just 0.45 offsides per 90 this season, which is slightly less than his fellow compatriot Gabriel Martinelli who records 0.51 offsides per 90.

However, this may be due to a tactical tweak in Pep’s system, which has seen him be deployed as a right winger more often this season. Jesus primarily lead the line before this, which saw him record 0.74 offsides per 90 last season and 0.80 the season prior to that.

Another area of concern is the fact that he is not to be trusted with penalty duties for the club. He is one of the few strikers in world football to have missed more penalties (7) than he has scored (5), so as long as we can keep him away from penalty duties, we should be okay.

Summary

Gabriel Jesus is one of the most explosive strikers in the world, and his 4 goals in the one game v Watford this season is testament to that. His versatility and lung-busting work ethic make him a must sign for me. He may not be able to carry the club to glory single-handedly, but he will most definitely propel our club in the right direction.

I would hope a deal between Pep and Mikel won’t be too hard to accomplish, and we are not required to break the bank for the man with one year remaining on his deal in Manchester. If a deal <£40million can be arranged, he’s a must buy in my opinion.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Winners

Nuno Tavares

After playing Granit Xhaka at the position and suggesting he might do so again, Arteta decided to deploy Tavares at left-back. And after a nightmarish showing at Palace, the Portuguese deputy to Kieran Tierney looked mostly up to the task this time. He started brightly, exhibiting his pace, physicality, and aerial ability. But most helpfully, he also demonstrated a willingness to cut inside on his right foot and even shoot on goal. Obviously nothing came of it on the day, but

Eddie Nketiah

In Alexandre Lacazette’s absence, Nketiah wasn’t particularly effective on the day. But at times throughout the match, he was lively. And he offered something Lacazette hasn’t been able to provide in ages: defense-beating speed. Nketiah was able to get past center-backs and offer a threat in behind, and also was active on the left flank a few times as well. It’s not much, but considering Arsenal’s ability to create chances did not seem to suffer too much for it, Nketiah retaining the starting position might be something to consider.

Gabriel

On a day when Ben White, currently sporting a taped-up right knee, put in one of his worse performances in an Arsenal shirt, Gabriel clocked in an admirable shift. The Brazilian remained fairly dominant in 1-v-1 scenarios, keeping things clean on his side. His distribution was also excellent, repeatedly playing line-breaking passes. He remained progressive in his use of the ball throughout the afternoon. After a string of questionable performances, it was encouraging to see Gabriel stabilize and look like his usual secure self.

Losers

Martin Odegaard

Wearing the captain’s armband on Saturday, Odegaard failed to significantly influence the match. He was far less anonymous in the second half, trying hard to play in the forwards and having a few cracks at goal himself. However, his final ball was lacking and his shots were inaccurate. It’s not the first time in recent weeks that the Norwegian has gone missing. Perhaps worst of all, Odegaard repeatedly stepped aside to let Cedric squander good dead ball situations. In multiple senses, Saturday’s captain needs to display more leadership on the pitch.

Cedric

Speaking of which, Cedric appears to be turning back into a pumpkin after several weeks of admirable service. The Portuguese right-back stole the show for the wrong reasons on Saturday, repeatedly firing in useless crosses and getting caught in poor defensive positions. To top it all off, he was somehow allowed to take most of Arsenal’s set pieces on the day. The delivery on those dead ball situations was woeful and surely cost Arsenal multiple golden opportunities to equalize. Hopefully, Takehiro Tomiyasu is finally nearing a return to action.

Arsenal’s January window

In January, Arsenal had a chance to strengthen in order to bolster the squad’s quality for the run-in. But the club chose not to, opting for a thin squad to end the season. With Tierney done for the season, Partey likely facing the same fate, and Arsenal’s forwards failing to consistently score, that decision has looked poorer and poorer with each passing game. To be fair, the permanent options at striker weren’t great. But there were decent forwards available for loan moves. Either way, Arsenal gambled top four, and potentially even top six, on two average forwards and a cast of young attacking players. As things stand, that bet isn’t panning out.

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Winners

Thomas Partey

With Partey out injured, Mikel Arteta opted to deploy Sambi Lokonga as the six in the 4-3-3. Unfortunately, the young Belgian proved unable to control the midfield the way Partey had prior to his unavailability. It just goes to show how key the Ghanaian is to the way Arsenal plays, and how so much of Arsenal playing well relies on No. 5 having a good game. His return is a must if Arsenal are to continue fighting for a Champions League position.

Eddie Nketiah

With Lacazette making no impact in his last few matches, Nketiah may be beginning to play himself into contention. While the Frenchman finished the match with seven passes and no shots, the young Englishman was involved in two big chances after coming on in the 62nd minute. It is clear now that Arsenal need goals if they are to finish in the top six, let alone remain in the fight for top four. Nketiah looks much more capable of providing that than the current starter.

Losers (not named Alexandre Lacazette)

Nuno Tavares

It remains to be seen whether his Arsenal career is over, but Tavares’ season certainly seems to be. Granit Xhaka was preferred to Tavares at left-back and when that didn’t work, Martinelli was deployed at left wing-back while the Portuguese defender remained on the bench. Even at a crucial moment in the season, Arteta clearly refused to trust the man signed to be understudy to Kieran Tierney. And that is as damning as it gets.

Emile Smith Rowe

Smith Rowe completed a rare poor showing on Saturday. The academy product repeatedly looked flat-footed, was absent in his defensive duties, and failed to make an impact offensively. As exciting as it was to see the “fab four” on the pitch together, deploying Smith Rowe as a left-sided eight looks like a non-starter at this juncture.

Mikel Arteta

Arteta has enjoyed an impressive few months. But after losing Partey, the manager has failed to adjust. Against Brighton, he got his team selection wrong, once again making the mistake he made last year and opting for Xhaka at left-back instead of a more mobile player. That led to Sambi playing alone in midfield, which resulted in Brighton’s domination of the pitch for most of the match. Arteta arguably cost his team the match with his decisions. Now, with the season on the line, he needs to maximize his remaining players, regardless of system. The question is, though, can he?

Arsenal’s top four chances

Entering last week, Arsenal were marginally ahead of Spurs in the top four race. Now, after losing two of the easier matches in their schedule while Spurs romped their opponents consecutively, the two sides are neck and neck. Unfortunately, Arsenal appear to have blown a tire while Spurs are on fire. And the latter’s run-in looks far more straightforward. With no points from six against Palace and Brighton, possibly their most important player out indefinitely, and their archrivals poised to end the season on a tear, Arsenal’s once-strong chances of earning a Champions League place appear to be slipping through their fingers.

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