Month: August 2025

Welcome back to this weeks blog. So there we have it, just another 37 games to go, this one memorable for the result, the performance, not so much.

1-0 to the Arsenal was how it finished, courtesy of a Riccardo Calafiori header in the 13th minute.

Now the starting line up did throw up some surprises with the goal scorer in ahead of Skelly, which points towards Calafiori for now being the senior pro in that position and White starting at right back. Who generally played quite well, and as we know gives you attacking prowess over Timber, who is more of an out and out defender.

The midfield comprising of Zubimendi partnered with Rice, Odegaard just ahead and a front three comprising of Saka, Martinelli and our new 60 million pound signing Gyokeres through the middle.

Now the goal did come against the run of play, United looking lively early on and that was to be expected, a warm sunny day in Manchester, new signings and Amorim wanting to make his mark with his own signings.

Arsenal looking jittery and sloppy in the open ten minutes. But just before the corner we did spring with energy, winning the ball back with a high press, Calafiori winning the ball before a blocked cross leading to the corner.

The delivery by Rice on a sixpence, just under the bar with Sailba in a physical duel with Mason Mount just in front of the United keeper Bayindir. We’ve all seen the analysis but serious questions from a United perspective must lie with the keeper here, easily moved with no foul, as Raya showed in the second half and if you caught Match of the day Sunday evening, excellent analysis from Joe Hart dissecting the difference with Raya’s punch in the second half and how he positioned himself to get their first, unlike the United keeper for the goal. Parrying the ball with his arm to the back post, where Calafiori waited to nod it in on the line.

As the half kicked on, it became a very open game, something we don’t really like doing, United seemed very good at switching to the wing backs cross field, time after time, something we didn’t get used to, resulting in one chance where Dorgu fired one of the base of the post, just wide.

Where we are good, is defending close to the goal, be it, Saliba or Gabriel getting a leg in around the 6 yard box, or Raya pulling off great saves, one in the first half from Cunha, very low down from a tight angle.

Arsenal for how off the pace we did look, did have opportunities on the turn over, eleven to be in fact. One in the first half which was glaring, Odegaard bursting forward, Saka pulling wide, Gyokeres with space in behind but the final ball was just not there on the day from the attacking players. From the eleven turnovers, how many ended in shots, 0 to be precise and that’s where Arsenal need to get better if we are to be in the mix in May.

And that’s where I did feel for Gyokeres on the day, he showed physicality, made some channel runs, De Ligt and him having a great physical battle on the day. The lack of pre season maybe showing yesterday for the Swede and a team still getting used to him.

I liked Odegaard performance generally, he looked bright, one instance in particular a great burst and skill to get away from Fernandes, powering a low shot just before the end of the first half which the United keeper got down to.

I do think he will need to look to play more risky through balls in this new way of playing with a out and out striker. He has been used to the one and two touch passing with Saka and White on the right, crafting out chances slowly. Now you have a willing runner in Gyokeres. He will run and run the centre backs ragged, perhaps a few more Cesc or Ozil like balls down the channel will be needed as we learn how we will use Gyokeres over the coming weeks, something the skipper will be central to.

In terms of digging in and grinding it out, this was standard Arsenal of the last two seasons. Raya in the second half getting down low to an Mbeumo header that looked destined for the bottom corner.

On reflection that was the most threatening it was from United in terms of a shot on target, but Mbuemo and Cunha very lively on the day giving Saliba and Gabriel a few testing moments. Was Saliba lucky not to give away a penalty? Possibly, if given you could see why, but then again, VAR is a not a perfect science and interpretation will always be in the game. Cunha getting across, potentially initiating the contact, Saliba sliding in the box and then poking the ball away.

Havertz, came on in the 60th with Madueke replacing Gyokeres and Martinelli.

Now, the left hand side, again, it’s just not functioning currently, Martinelli not really offering much from that side, an upgrade is definitely required currently. Teams seem to have worked that side out, they know press close to the by-line, force Martinelli back, he just doesn’t seem to have the confidence to try something different currently, it’s very again risk adverse play, confidence related.

When Madueke gets more minutes, don’t be surprised if he gets a start down that side, possibly Leeds at home might be his opportunity. We need more unpredictability and physicality on that side, I thought as soon as he came on, he protected it well, showed glimpses and powerful running ability to help us get out of deep positions defending our box.

Havertz, showed a few nice touches, held the ball up well, unlucky not to win a few fouls but he did draw one late on from Maguire in the 83rd minute, which Rice had a deflected free kick just past the post. Along with Gyokeres though, not a shot on target and something that needs to improve as we get going this season.

Towards the end of the game, a late Saka chance crafted by Odegaard with a little flicked ball over the top on the edge, De Ligt just coming across to keep it a 1-0, followed by a late 95 minute chance with a United player getting a touch to stop Madueke scoring from close range from a good piece of work by Saka on the left hand side.

A win at Old Trafford, we’ll take it, was it vintage? No. Have I seen us play a lot better up there and lose? Yes, on many occassions.

Same kit colours come to mind, 2008, I see an image of Ferguson walking down the tunnel with Wenger at full time, with Ferguson looking like he knew how good the losers on that day were.

How the tables have turned, Arsenal, the team that got bullied, the one that league used to watch play nice football but if you physically go after them, more than likely you could get something. The Arsenal that in 2017 against United saw De Gea pull off 14 saves in one match in a United win.

This Arsenal team, are they pretty on the eye? Probably not a description that comes to mind.

Industrial, that’s the way I sum us up currently. We don’t get bullied, we stand up well to physical tests, we look at set piece margins to get goals, across the media that now seems a stick to beat the club with.

Do I think we could be more expansive, yes, but the game that I think switched this team was the 4-1 defeat in the run in with City in 2023, we tried to go toe to toe and we were physically and football wise outdone that evening.

Over a 1000 days since without defeat to a traditional top six club. Now if Wengers team was all about style, expression and passing which in 2009 he tried emulating Barca’s tika taka style with low centre of gravity tidy footballers. Artetas Arsenal right now, more of Simeones Atleti in their pomp, when they were winning leagues and playing champions league finals, with a robust doggedness to be water tight.

It was interesting hearing Chris Wilder talking about his first game back against Arsenal for Sheffield United in 2024 on a clip this weekend. His message to his players, stick one on them early.

He said after two minutes, he knew this team was different to Arsenal teams he’d faced prior, the Arsenal boys just physically dominating them, in particular McBurnie two minutes in on the floor going up against Gabriel for a 50/50 header and ended up outmuscled and Arsenal running out convincing winners on the night.

I did mention after one of the pre season games that a counter attack style will be a possible way to unlock this side. If anything I take away from Sundays game was once again, at times, was winning the ball, having 11 transition opportunities in the game, the final passes will need to come, the patterns and players need to get used to a new striker, new movements and runs to take these opportunities. Zubimendi will be absolutely key to that area, the screen for the defenders, mopping it up and springing quickly. It was noticeable how quickly he played forward and finding Odegaard time and again in the pocket when we did win it back.

When you analyse the three main challengers for the title, all three have their strengths to why they feel they could win the title. Liverpools attacking power, they look like a high scoring machine, the best in the league, City, the best manager, best playing style on their day and then Arsenal, the best defence and structure.

For Arsenal now, it will be about unlocking those chances in a game, we won’t concede many, its will we score enough over 38 games? Old Trafford showed us, we can be dangerous on the break, we need to maximise those opportunities, so the score line can look more comfortable and rewarding the defenders performances even more.

Until next week, the Leeds game, the first at home. Hopefully a few goals in the game and maybe another week on the training ground will develop those patterns and transitioning attacks which we saw on Sunday. Until the next one, COYG.