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Arsenal FC | 2025/26 Season

The old adage of "Defence wins championships" doesn't seem to apply to Arteta- not yet anyway.

He has some formidable players and backed to the hill financially- shocking if he does not win the Prem or CL this year.
 
topspin said:
You’re very much mistaken. I was not emotional with this take even in the slightest.
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Hey appreciate the detailed reply, top post. You have explained well how you came to the conclusion that Arteta is not the guy to take us to no.1.

topspin said:
The truth is the title race was lost before the season had actually began. I attribute this to the negative psyche in the set-up and make no mistake that all stems from Arteta.

I’ll give you an example. Remember that time when he said there are 8 or 9 teams that could win the PL this season?

If he had any self-belief, he wouldn’t be saying this. The reason why he’s saying it is because he wants to get his excuses in early as he knows deep down he doesn’t have what it takes to elevate Arsenal further and help them win the league.

The only reason why I didn’t call him out previously is because I gave him the benefit of the doubt as he didn’t have great squad depth last season and I thought he was unfortunate with injuries he had to contend with.
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Yeah there aren't 8 or 9 such clubs that can win the league any given year maybe taken out of context. I guess what he meant was that there are 8-9 clubs in the league that would aspire to win the league and that's very much true.

topspin said:
I’ve now realised that the reason why we’re already struggling with injuries (after a handful of PL games) is because of his training methods. He must be running these players to the ground. What makes this even more concerning is how underwhelming the side has been this season in the bigger fixtures (Man U, Liverpool and City).
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Arteta pushes his players too much sometimes and I am thinking players are finding it difficult to talk about injuries and demand rest e.g., that's what I gathered from Madueke and Odegaard injuries, and his management of Saka. So agree something wrong here that needs to be fixed asap.

topspin said:
It’s time to accept that Arteta ain’t that guy. If he falls short of winning the CL this season, the club have to look for an upgrade.

You have to remember Edu and Arteta were only hired because they were the best ex-Arsenal players available at the time for their respective roles. The criteria was a deeply flawed as it made it very difficult to find the best man for the job.

We’ve already seen what a difference it has made to upgrade on Edu. Berta has already done an exceptional job in the few months he’s been with the club.

We need a Head Coach who can truly exploit Berta’s eye for talent.

It’s time for a Berta-esque upgrade and tonfind a superior replacement for Arteta, who’s taken us as a far as he can. Thank you for your service Mikel but it’s time to go.
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This is for me the most interesting point you made and something I hadn't thought of before and which got me thinking actually. So you are saying that previously arsenal applied an ex-arsenal only criteria and Edu and Arteta fit that. If they now look through a bigger talent pool and look for a better manager they probably can. I am open to that in the larger context but I can't imagine Kroenkes didn't look beyond Arteta's gunner past. I still think Arteta has earned the right to be given another three seasons and if he wins then more.

topspin said:
Arsenal won’t be able to take advantage of Liverpool’s dips because they’ll continue to lose points in the same manner like they did last season. If they continue to play like this until the end of the season they may well finish below the top 2.
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I keep focusing on Liv because I still can't digest how they came out of nowhere last year. In my mind their best players like van djyk, salah, TAA were done but Slot made them champs again and now this year they invested so much. They are conceding so much though.
 
Obaidd said:
Hey appreciate the detailed reply, top post. You have explained well how you came to the conclusion that Arteta is not the guy to take us to no.1.


Yeah there aren't 8 or 9 such clubs that can win the league any given year maybe taken out of context. I guess what he meant was that there are 8-9 clubs in the league that would aspire to win the league and that's very much true.


Arteta pushes his players too much sometimes and I am thinking players are finding it difficult to talk about injuries and demand rest e.g., that's what I gathered from Madueke and Odegaard injuries, and his management of Saka. So agree something wrong here that needs to be fixed asap.


This is for me the most interesting point you made and something I hadn't thought of before and which got me thinking actually. So you are saying that previously arsenal applied an ex-arsenal only criteria and Edu and Arteta fit that. If they now look through a bigger talent pool and look for a better manager they probably can. I am open to that in the larger context but I can't imagine Kroenkes didn't look beyond Arteta's gunner past. I still think Arteta has earned the right to be given another three seasons and if he wins then more.


I keep focusing on Liv because I still can't digest how they came out of nowhere last year. In my mind their best players like van djyk, salah, TAA were done but Slot made them champs again and now this year they invested so much. They are conceding so much though.
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How are we CHATGPT LOL 😆
 
Amjid Javed said:
@Obaidd

Whats this fascination with lowest number of goals conceded,? Is it sime sort of trophy? Or achievement?

The objective is to finish 1st and win trophies. Not line up with 9 defenders and play terrorist football and bore people to sleep. I

Like I mentioned before back in 98/99 - Arsenal had the record for least goals conceded in a PL season which was 17 (Chelsea broke this record under jose)

Do you hear any sane Arsenal fan go on about it? No because Arsenal threw away the title with 2 games left and also bottled an FA cup semi final. That seasins was when united won the treble, but Arsenal should have be celebrating back to back doubles.

So all this wishy washy rubbish about "positivity", reality is your celebrating failure, that ain't positivity
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I certainly do have a fascination with clean sheets. Fewest goals conceded, that’s also something I put a high value on.

Few reasons. i) typically teams that concede the fewest goals are also the ones leading the charge for the title ii) the aesthetics of clean sheets please me, I prefer 1-nil over a 3-1 iii) post 2006 Arsenal were anything but solid in defence so now that we are the best in defence I derive a lot of pleasure out of this stability.


Now not saying this will necessarily lead to trophies but defensive solidity is often the foundation of a successful era.

AJ I am not going to ask you to lower your standards and accept coming second. I am just an easy going person what arteta achieved 2019 till now doesn’t look like failure at all to me.
 
Mamoon said:
@Obaidd is a proper fan who can see that Arteta has done a brilliant job. However, I disagree with him that the squad is ready.

It’s clear to me that some players are holding the team back and Rice is one of them.
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Yes Arteta has done a wonderful job putting Arsenal back on the map. Folks didn’t know anymore who played for us, now they even know who’s on our bench.

I can’t let the pursuit of the top prize make me forget about how far we’ve come.

You brought the point up about rice playing out of position here and seems like everybody agrees with you too so I think that’s a good call. Not something that can’t be fixed though. Your preference I gather is Zubi in 6 and two creative mids ahead. Odegaard and Eze I presume can do the that job?
 
Obaidd said:
Yes Arteta has done a wonderful job putting Arsenal back on the map. Folks didn’t know anymore who played for us, now they even know who’s on our bench.

I can’t let the pursuit of the top prize make me forget about how far we’ve come.

You brought the point up about rice playing out of position here and seems like everybody agrees with you too so I think that’s a good call. Not something that can’t be fixed though. Your preference I gather is Zubi in 6 and two creative mids ahead. Odegaard and Eze I presume can do the that job?
Click to expand...
I want to see this team assuming everyone is available.

IMG_8523.png
 
Roy Keane: “The few managers I've played under, particularly at club level, I always thought were gamblers - Brian Clough and Alex Ferguson were gamblers.

“They were all about winning and not waiting and not worrying too much about the opposition. They went for it and they got the rewards, and maybe Arteta is defensive minded.

“When I'm looking at Arteta, I think his mindset is, 'Let's make sure we don't get beaten today'. But because of the standards of the other teams, and we're talking about Liverpool and Man City over the last few years, that won't be enough.

“We've all sat there and gone, we'll take the draw. But you know too many draws won't get you anywhere fast, particularly when Liverpool are setting such high standards, and Man City did for a number of years, where Arsenal were competing with them.

“So they have to change that mindset, particularly at the start of the game today, 'Let's go at them'. It's as if they were waiting for something to happen. They've got the quality, the strength and depth. What are they waiting for? Have they got that belief?

“Arteta every week says he's proud of his team. I'd love for him to come out one time and go, 'No, I expect more from my players. We're Arsenal, we've got a big squad, we've spent a fortune, we're going places'. Instead of every week going, 'I'm proud of this and I'm proud of that'.

“You get proud of your team when you're winning trophies, and that's the next step for them. So Arsenal have to look at that and go, 'Are we proud to get a draw against a Man City team who aren't at their very best?'

“He has to be a bit more critical and say we need that extra bit if they're going to win the league title. Otherwise, come the end of the season, we'll be sitting here and they're second. But they've been second for the last three years.”

[Sky Sports]
 
Technics 1210 said:
Roy Keane: “The few managers I've played under, particularly at club level, I always thought were gamblers - Brian Clough and Alex Ferguson were gamblers.

“They were all about winning and not waiting and not worrying too much about the opposition. They went for it and they got the rewards, and maybe Arteta is defensive minded.

“When I'm looking at Arteta, I think his mindset is, 'Let's make sure we don't get beaten today'. But because of the standards of the other teams, and we're talking about Liverpool and Man City over the last few years, that won't be enough.

“We've all sat there and gone, we'll take the draw. But you know too many draws won't get you anywhere fast, particularly when Liverpool are setting such high standards, and Man City did for a number of years, where Arsenal were competing with them.

“So they have to change that mindset, particularly at the start of the game today, 'Let's go at them'. It's as if they were waiting for something to happen. They've got the quality, the strength and depth. What are they waiting for? Have they got that belief?

“Arteta every week says he's proud of his team. I'd love for him to come out one time and go, 'No, I expect more from my players. We're Arsenal, we've got a big squad, we've spent a fortune, we're going places'. Instead of every week going, 'I'm proud of this and I'm proud of that'.

“You get proud of your team when you're winning trophies, and that's the next step for them. So Arsenal have to look at that and go, 'Are we proud to get a draw against a Man City team who aren't at their very best?'

“He has to be a bit more critical and say we need that extra bit if they're going to win the league title. Otherwise, come the end of the season, we'll be sitting here and they're second. But they've been second for the last three years.”

[Sky Sports]
Click to expand...

Roy Keane- spot on!!

Arteta is clouded by fear of defeat, rather get a point than go for 3, he needs to go for it more in bigger games.

Arsenal defence is top notch, great CB pairing, quality keeper, excellent DM's, but he needs to back the team going forward more- I am not about matches vs Leeds et al. But when going to Anfield, Ettihad or when playing the top clubs.
 
GOSH11 said:
Roy Keane- spot on!!

Arteta is clouded by fear of defeat, rather get a point than go for 3, he needs to go for it more in bigger games.

Arsenal defence is top notch, great CB pairing, quality keeper, excellent DM's, but he needs to back the team going forward more- I am not about matches vs Leeds et al. But when going to Anfield, Ettihad or when playing the top clubs.
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Ah yes, another failure of a manager like Roy Keane is criticizing Arteta, who himself would struggle to finish in the top 6 with this Arsenal team.

His criticism has no value. Being a successful captain yourself or playing under successful managers doesn’t mean you know what it takes to be a successful manager.

If he did, he wouldn’t have been a resounding failure as a manager himself.
 
Feel free to look in the mirror and challenge urself. You can name what ever line up you want, make scapegoats etc.. reality is the Manager that you continue to dry hump over isn't going to pick these attacking line ups as he's a coward.

Pretty much most fans will call out the manager being a coward

Screenshot_20250927_145542_Chrome.jpg
 
topspin said:
I would love to have Glasner to take over from Arteta. Elite manager.
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Arteta isn’t the problem, Rice playing as a CM/B2B midfielder is.

Rice days as an undisputed starter should be over. He should start cup games and be Zubimendi’s backup in the PL and UCL or when Arsenal really need to park the bus.
 
Amjid Javed said:
He's done good job at all clubs he been at as well.
Click to expand...

After beating Liverpool, he has an 18 game unbeaten streak, which includes a trophy.

Crystal Palace now sit second and are the only team unbeaten in the PL and as you've said his managerial record is impressive.

Absolute no brainer. I would take him over Arteta in a heartbeart.
 
Mamoon said:
Arteta isn’t the problem, Rice playing as a CM/B2B midfielder is.

Rice days as an undisputed starter should be over. He should start cup games and be Zubimendi’s backup in the PL and UCL or when Arsenal really need to park the bus.
Click to expand...

You do realise you're contradicting yourself here?
 
If Arsenal fall short of winning the League and CL, I would like to see the board line-up Glasner before they end up sacking Arteta.

Maresca and Amorim are on sack watch, so Arsenal need to pounce on this opportunity before he ends up going elswhere.

A manager of Glasner's quality is too good to be coaching Palace.
 
topspin said:
If Arsenal fall short of winning the League and CL, I would like to see the board line-up Glasner before they end up sacking Arteta.

Maresca and Amorim are on sack watch, so Arsenal need to pounce on this opportunity before he ends up going elswhere.

A manager of Glasner's quality is too good to be coaching Palace.
Click to expand...

Utd will get him before Arteta is fired off
 
topspin said:
After beating Liverpool, he has an 18 game unbeaten streak, which includes a trophy.

Crystal Palace now sit second and are the only team unbeaten in the PL and as you've said his managerial record is impressive.

Absolute no brainer. I would take him over Arteta in a heartbeart.
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He did well at frankfurt in europa, now done well at Palace. He knows out to organise a team well and good team structure. So definitely deserves to manage a bigger club in future.
 
aboveandbeyond said:
Utd will get him before Arteta is fired off
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Glasner would be stupid to go to Utd. Each successive manager at the club is inheriting a bigger pile-up of mess.

Also, I don't think he would suit Utd because they require a long-term manager who's going to stay for at least 4-5 years to ensure they can recover from the shambolic state they're in. As you can see below, he's not one to hang around as he's trying to progress quickly in his managerial career:

1758992970592.png
 
Last season Arsenal failed on most occasions when Liverpool dropped points

Tomorrow is their 1st chance this season to take advantage. Sunday was already must win, even more so now
 
topspin said:
You do realise you're contradicting yourself here?
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There is no contradiction.

Arteta trusted him to raise his level but it’s clear after two years the he doesn’t have the talent to do the job that Arteta trusted him to do.

However, Arteta should recognize it now and the squad is now big enough for Arsenal to not suffer because of Rice’s low technical level. If he doesn’t, I will blame him.
 
topspin said:
Glasner would be stupid to go to Utd. Each successive manager at the club is inheriting a bigger pile-up of mess.

Also, I don't think he would suit Utd because they require a long-term manager who's going to stay for at least 4-5 years to ensure they can recover from the shambolic state they're in. As you can see below, he's not one to hang around as he's trying to progress quickly in his managerial career:

View attachment 158273
Click to expand...

Dont think he will go to Arsenal lol. Remedy for Bottle job Symptoms is even beyond him, unless he replaces the entire Gooners team with his Palace side.
 
Mamoon said:
I challenge every idiot who is disagreeing with me in this thread to prove to me why this lineup is worse than the lineup Arteta will choose with Rice.

I’m waiting.
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Challenge?!

Lol, aside from 1 or 2, rest see your footy opinion as irrelevant and that is being polite! You have zero idea of footy culture, the game in general etc.

Going from Arsenal in track after literally 3 matches of a 38 season to then saying league is over after 5 matches of a 38 season sums it up!
 
GOSH11 said:
Glasner- tactically astute and seems ro be a good man manager.....
Click to expand...

He is a good manager. At Palace though, he's under no Pressure to deliver success.

The moment he joins a major club whose ambitions are silverware and finishing in the Top four, is a totally different ball game.

Also the added media scrutiny is a nightmare in itself if results and performances dont go to plan.
 
Mamoon said:
There is no contradiction.
Click to expand...

You say "Arteta isn't the problem" yet he is the one who is asking Rice to play out of position as a box-to box midfielder?

Rice was once asked about his best position and this is what he had to say:

“I think my best position is probably as a number 6. My biggest strength is breaking up the play and taking the ball from deep,” Rice told TNT Sports post-match
Click to expand...

Mamoon said:
Arteta trusted him to raise his level but it’s clear after two years the he doesn’t have the talent to do the job that Arteta trusted him to do.

However, Arteta should recognize it now and the squad is now big enough for Arsenal to not suffer because of Rice’s low technical level. If he doesn’t, I will blame him.
Click to expand...

Arteta is the one who switched him to an 8 at the beginning of last season after the return of Partey in the side. So you can't just throw Rice under the bus and continue to defend Arteta, who is solely to blame for this error.

I never wanted Rice playing as an 8 but Arteta is the one who's ruining him but you're making it sound as if it's the other way around. Is this all just to wind up Arsenal fans?

I agree Rice shouldn't play as a 8. My midfield would look like this:

DM: Rice/Zubimendi

CM: MLS/Calafiori

CAM: Eze/Nwaneri

To keep Rice and Zubimendi fresh, I would rotate them and give them one game a week, so they stay fresh.

MLS is the most natural number 8 in the side. If that doesn't work I would put Calafiori there because of he's very good with the ball and has impressive technical ability. Arteta could always put Timber at LB and/or White at RB if required.

Eze is the best creative player but he's a hybrid CAM/winger, so I'm not sure if he's better suited on the wing or as a number 10 or play somewhere in between the two in a fluid system.

If there is one player who should be criticised severely, it should be Odegaard because he has regressed with his output over the last two seasons, when he should've been delivering during his prime years. He needs to be sold in the summer.
 
topspin said:
You say "Arteta isn't the problem" yet he is the one who is asking Rice to play out of position as a box-to box midfielder?

Rice was once asked about his best position and this is what he had to say:





Arteta is the one who switched him to an 8 at the beginning of last season after the return of Partey in the side. So you can't just throw Rice under the bus and continue to defend Arteta, who is solely to blame for this error.

I never wanted Rice playing as an 8 but Arteta is the one who's ruining him but you're making it sound as if it's the other way around. Is this all just to wind up Arsenal fans?

I agree Rice shouldn't play as a 8. My midfield would look like this:

DM: Rice/Zubimendi

CM: MLS/Calafiori

CAM: Eze/Nwaneri

To keep Rice and Zubimendi fresh, I would rotate them and give them one game a week, so they stay fresh.

MLS is the most natural number 8 in the side. If that doesn't work I would put Calafiori there because of he's very good with the ball and has impressive technical ability. Arteta could always put Timber at LB and/or White at RB if required.

Eze is the best creative player but he's a hybrid CAM/winger, so I'm not sure if he's better suited on the wing or as a number 10 or play somewhere in between the two in a fluid system.

If there is one player who should be criticised severely, it should be Odegaard because he has regressed with his output over the last two seasons, when he should've been delivering during his prime years. He needs to be sold in the summer.
Click to expand...
We are in agreement that Rice should not be an automatic starter anymore.

As far as Odegaard is concerned, he needs to raise his level this season. He hasn’t played with a conventional striker for years so that has affected his play.

He does really well with Haaland for Norway and he should also do well with Gyokeres. If he doesn’t raise his level this season, he should also be downgraded like Rice.
 
So far apart from a Poor Burnley team all the other teams who weren't favourites won apart from wolves who drew..

Hope the trend continues today cos we are never favourites to win at St James Park 🤪🤪.

I don't wanna see the dead midfield. Newcastle struggle to score but don't concede either.

Has draw written all over it
 
MK7Z said:
So far apart from a Poor Burnley team all the other teams who weren't favourites won apart from wolves who drew..

Hope the trend continues today cos we are never favourites to win at St James Park 🤪🤪.

I don't wanna see the dead midfield. Newcastle struggle to score but don't concede either.

Has draw written all over it
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Your post reeks of Negativity. These are the games you got to take by the scruff of the neck and win.

Every Liverpool slip up you must take advantage of and win.
 
Eze in 10 so far has shown more eagerness to get bal forward then Odegaard has in last 18 months
 
Pope keeping them in this game so far...

We need to keep the foot firmly pressed on the pedal
 
Amjid Javed said:
Gabriel was to weak on that cross
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Such an idiot...
All he had to to do was to keep his eyes on the ball and jump backwards which would have put their guy off... what any defender would have done...

Instead he goes down like a sack of potatoes at the slightest touch
 
Gabriel sh1t his pants. No excuses for there. Mosquera missed up with that attempted back pass.

But Arsenal were robbed with that penalty decision.

Shame that because Arsenal have played well in this half. Eze and Trossard have come close.
 
IMMY69 said:
Such an idiot...
All he had to to do was to keep his eyes on the ball and jump backwards which would have put their guy off... what any defender would have done...

Instead he goes down like a sack of potatoes at the slightest touch
Click to expand...
He knew he misjudged ball and looked to play for foul. Awful defending

We were on top as well
 
topspin said:
Gabriel sh1t his pants. No excuses for there. Mosquera missed up with that attempted back pass.

But Arsenal were robbed with that penalty decision.

Shame that because Arsenal have played well in this half. Eze and Trossard have come close.
Click to expand...
guys like Gabriel, Saliba, Rice, Saka don’t have the chops. It’s not always about the manager. He folded like a deck of cards.

This lot is not winning the league under any manager.
 
The morons in this thread who disagree with my assessment of the players will wake up in a few months and agree with me.

I don’t buy the popular narrative that Arteta is holding the players back. It’s actually the opposite.

His core players keep letting him down and today is yet another example, but yes let’s blame his tactics for this.
 
Mamoon said:
guys like Gabriel, Saliba, Rice, Saka don’t have the chops. It’s not always about the manager. He folded like a deck of cards.

This lot is not winning the league under any manager.
Click to expand...

I don’t think it’s fair to scapegoat Gabriel with that goal. Yes, he messed up but that was a very rare blunder from him.

Also, the root cause of that goal was Mosquera’s failed back pass which led to a corner.
 
topspin said:
He has a strange running technique but he's looked sharper and fitter today
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Looks fitter, but 4 or 5 times in different games he's hot space to run into and he's made a mess. He needs to watch videos if Henry on how to run and finish
 
topspin said:
I don’t think it’s fair to scapegoat Gabriel with that goal. Yes, he messed up but that was a very rare blunder from him.

Also, the root cause of that goal was Mosquera’s failed back pass which led to a corner.
Click to expand...
My only hope this season is from players like Eze, Gyokeres and Zubimendi when they find their rhythm.

We have seen the best of others and they clearly lack the extra bit to win you the league and will let down the club yet again.
 
topspin said:
I don’t think it’s fair to scapegoat Gabriel with that goal. Yes, he messed up but that was a very rare blunder from him.

Also, the root cause of that goal was Mosquera’s failed back pass which led to a corner.
Click to expand...
Was just poor all round, switch off on corner, allowed the cross, then poor marking.

All that after dominating the game
 
Mamoon said:
The morons in this thread who disagree with my assessment of the players will wake up in a few months and agree with me.

I don’t buy the popular narrative that Arteta is holding the players back. It’s actually the opposite.

His core players keep letting him down and today is yet another example, but yes let’s blame his tactics for this.
Click to expand...
Mamoon said:
guys like Gabriel, Saliba, Rice, Saka don’t have the chops. It’s not always about the manager. He folded like a deck of cards.

This lot is not winning the league under any manager.
Click to expand...

The data says otherwise.

1759077151566.png


The current squad is undoubtedly the strongest that Arteta has had at Arsenal yet the xG from open play is the lowest. This goes to show that Arsenal are getting worse in the final third because of him.
 
topspin said:
The data says otherwise.

View attachment 158305


The current squad is undoubtedly the strongest that Arteta has had at Arsenal yet the xG from open play is the lowest. This goes to show that Arsenal are getting worse in the final third because of him.
Click to expand...
Strongest Arteta has but not strong enough to win the league. This team lacks mentally tough leaders on the pitch who can take control.
 
Mentality or lack of it comes from owners, manager and captain.

Also yes the players have to take some blame as well. Collective failure here

Screenshot_20250928_180152_Chrome.jpg
 
Will be 5th time in 6 games that we have scored at SJP if we don't salvage this
 
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