Month: August 2025

Welcome back to this weeks blog.

What a great and almost perfect day all round, injuries aside. It started with the announcement by the club to be in your seats fifteen minutes before kick off and at 5pm the announcement came. Eberechi Eze officially Arsenals new number 10, checking my phone and seeing him and Wrighty in the video, it was done and what a way to announce it.

There was a buzz around the place as the players warmed up and then came the moment, Eze appearing from the tunnel, the crowd on our feet, just an absolutely fantastic moment watching someones dream coming true, things did really work out and as the song Indecision by Sampha rang out around the Emirates, you could see him point to the sky, it had really come full circle and I’m so excited to see what he can do in this side.

As predicted last week, Madueke came in on the left from the start and the only other change was Timber coming in for the injured Ben White.

Arsenal started on the front foot and looked bright in the opening ten minutes, Zubimendi with zipping passes, great combination plays with Calafiori at left back with Madueke, who instantly looked direct from the left, a couple of blocked crosses and a shot which was pulled back for a foul on the edge of the box.

Leeds gradually grew into the game, and from around the tenth minute to the half hour mark, did make inroads into Arsenals half. Forcing a few corners and their best chance on the day came from one, in which Struijk connected very well with his header, Raya saving well in the centre of the goal tipping it over.

Soon after, it was 1-0 to the Arsenal, set piece again ole ole and all that. A wicked Rice delivery and it was Timber glancing a header to into the far corner. Not long after Odegaard was forced off with injury to his shoulder, following an awkward fall following a foul earlier in the half. Hopefully more of an impact injury to the skipper than long term.

Nwaneri coming on and who I thought looked excellent in the role, constantly on the move and finding pockets of space, he will grow into such a great player in that position the more he plays there. Hale End seems to have a knack of producing excellent young technical players, and someone else we’ll discuss later on caught the eye also.

Our second of the afternoon, just before the break and as everyone was heading to the concourse for a half time refreshment, Saka flashed one past the Leeds keeper from a tight angle following good work from Rice and Zubimendi with a slide rule pass by Timber into Saka, registering an assist on top off the first goal. That Saka finish is a bit of trademark, he seems to hit them at such power there’s not much a keeper can do to set themselves and is it crashed into the far top corner.

So, 2-0 at the break. And it was not long to wait until the third, three minutes in the second half to be exact, Gyokeres powering his way past two Leeds defenders and finding a near post finish. This was trademark Gyokeres of Sporting Lisbon for the last two seasons, running power down the left channel, cutting in and firing. This one came from a Calafiori long ball down the channel, something that was lacking in the first half, and perhaps the coaching team recognised, you’ve got Viktor now, hit him early and as I said against Bilbao he plays on the shoulder of the defenders, the man may not be the most polished but he lives for goals.

Then, minutes after Saka bursting away and driving inside to the edge of the box, felt his hamstring area and we were forced into a second change of the day, Trossard replacing Bukayo. We await to find out the extent of the damage.

Madueke switching to the right, and looking like he can deputise from that side, great combination play and linking well with Trossard with a little flick, which ultimately ended with Nwaneri forcing a blocked shot leading to a corner. He did look more comfortable on the right, with the ability to shift inside and come in on his left foot.

The third came courtesy from that very corner Nwaneri won. Another dangerous Rice delivery right into an area of crowded bodies where the keeper can’t come and collect. The ball bobbling around, Saliba keeping it alive, Calafiori getting a touch but ultimately finished off by the goal getting, assisting, Jurien Timber flicking it towards goal and the Leeds defender on the line unable to scramble it on the line from going in. Those who play fantasy football must be delighted with Timber this week, two goals and assist, after I said last week that White is the more attacking right back. But one thing Timber does have, is a real goal getting knack from set pieces and being in the right spot at the right time.

A further few changes with around twenty minutes to go saw Mosquera and fifteen year old Max Downman enter the fray.

And it was instant impact from the young kid, he lit the place up, the crowd even singing a song about him at fifteen, yes i’ll repeat fifteen.

Within minutes of coming on, winning a free kick, dropping a shoulder, close control, as I said in pre season, looking quicker with the ball than without. Perfect way to introduce him when four goals up, but he looks physically ready against grown men and Premier League players. He also had a couple of opportunities, one where Trossard switched a cross field ball, dropping a shoulder and going past three before lifting a shot over the bar, the other, the ball dropping too him from a cleared corner firing past the post.

The excitement around the player will intensify but the club will manage those minutes and cameos like this are perfect for him to come on with the game virtually won with time to spare.

And as the game was coming to a close, it was Dowman who won the penalty, going another run, the confidence to drive at two defenders before contact just as he made his way into the box. Gyokeres hungry for more, dispatching from the spot, no stuttered run up here, put it down and hammer it and so he did, sending the keeper wrong way and it was 5-0 to the Arsenal.

Overall, a game that showed how important the first goal is to open up a match against low blocks and as long as Arsenal can rely on the weapon of set pieces this will always be a threat to the opposition whatever the state of the game.

Once ahead and the game opening up, you could see the space that the players can exploit, Gyokeres driving into channels and the thought of adding Eze to the side means even more weapons now to the attacking front line, with more chaos and unpredictability.

The downside on a largely positive evening, were the injuries to Saka and Odegaard. Throw in the Havertz injury from the week, this time last year, catastrophic stuff, the swirl of negativity around the Emirates would of been evident. Yesterday, it had a different feel, everyone felt a calm, an assurance and it simply comes down to depth we now have and the players that came in.

Across the squad, two defenders for every position who can play multiple roles as Mosquera showed yesterday replacing Timber. Calafiori able to operate also at centre back.

The flexibility of the midfielders, Nwaneri able to operate at attacking or wide midfield, Eze now a hybrid player able to operate wherever you play him when he joins the squad. Trossard a positive yesterday after the announcement of improved terms to his deal, an experienced attacker, again able to deputise in a few roles also.

What does this mean for Martinelli with links to the Saudi pro league in the week? Interesting he didn’t come on when Saka was forced off considering Trossards lack of pre season. Going into the final week of the window, it is maybe one to keep an eye on.

Ultimately my key takeaway is the depth to this side Berta and Arteta have built. Losing players last year derailed the title challenge. This year, the squad looks more durable, more options, like for like replacements and players able to step in with no drop in quality. The acid test next week at Anfield on Sunday, looking like Eze’s debut, from which position will be interesting and Madueke making his mark from the right currently with Saka almost certainly out. Let’s hope for a positive result to keep this good start going.

Until the next one, the club will almost likely be shifting players on this week before the trip to Merseyside. Have a great week and speak to you then.