Arsenal FC | 2025/26 Season

[topspin]

HT 0-0

Saka needs to get into game more.

The midfield has been average as well, to many safety 1st passes.

Other that trossard, their has been zero threat

We've missed Rice in the centre of that midfield. Zubimendi and Merino do not have the mobility to help with the attempt recoveries running back on the counter. Villa have found it too easy to penetrate Arsenal in the middle of the pitch. Worrying signs.

Gyokeres had 2 good chances. Should've scored at least one of them.

 

[Amjid Javed]

We've missed Rice in the centre of that midfield. Zubimendi and Merino do not have the mobility to help with the attempt recoveries running back on the counter. Villa have found it too easy to penetrate Arsenal in the middle of the pitch. Worrying signs.

Gyokeres had 2 good chances. Should've scored at least one of them.

The most annoying thing is number of times Villa have easily transitioned through midfield due to zero mobility we have with zubi and Merino.

Havertz and Jesus will be brought on soon im sure at somepoint.

It is still 0-0 so we can still win the game. We just have to get ball out wide quicker

Very frustrating 1st half

 

[Amjid Javed]

Scrappy goal but who cares Gabriel 1-0

 

[Amjid Javed]

2-0 thats better get in.

Zubimendi

 

[aboveandbeyond]

Stepped up second half Arsenal. Zubemendi Odegaard dominant in midfield.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Stepped up second half Arsenal. Zubemendi Odegaard dominant in midfield.

Miles better and more convinction and purpose

 

[Amjid Javed]

Merino needs to be careful, no need for stupid **** like that

 

[aboveandbeyond]

Merino needs to be careful, no need for stupid **** like that

Agree. No need to be stupid and let them back in.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Agree. No need to be stupid and let them back in.

Needs to be taken off, he's done nothing all game apart from yellow card

 

[Amjid Javed]

Having Gabriel back makes so much of a difference. He's been excellent tonight

 

[Amjid Javed]

*** hincapie

 

[Amjid Javed]

What a goal by trossard

He's deserved that 3-0

 

[Amjid Javed]

Will be 2026 by time they do VAR check ffs

 

[IMMY69]

COYG

 

[aboveandbeyond]

Scintillating Arsenal second half performance. This will give you boys hugh confidence going forward

 

[Amjid Javed]

Who would have thought If you pass ball forward and quickly, then you create more chances

 

[Amjid Javed]

What a goal by Jesus 4-0

 

[Amjid Javed]

Saka should have made it 5

 

[aboveandbeyond]

Statement performance from Arsenal in the second half. No doubt about it.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Stupid goal to give away, no cleansheet

 

[Amjid Javed]

How the fk is that not handball

 

[Amjid Javed]

Job done - brilliant 2nd half performance.

Most of importantly regaining form after some very indifferent performances.

Bournemouth up next. Who took 6 points of us last season, so we need to beat them and improve away performances.

Arsenal at home have been good 90% of this season.

 

[SherWaqar]

Champions elect

 

[Rana]

Great win

Finally Villa tamed!

 

[topspin]

What a brilliant second half that was from Arsenal. That's what you call a statement win and to pull it off without Rice was some achievement because we clearly struggled without him in the first half.

Odegaard was superb and richly deserves his MOTM. He stood up like a proper leader with the way he won he that ball back and then played a lovely ball into Zubimendi, who produced a lovely finish for Arsenal second's goal.

This is the Odegaard we want to see. Ever since he scored that pen in the shoot out against Palace, he's been great and I hope he continues this form until the end of the season.

 

[topspin]

We've missed Rice in the centre of that midfield. Zubimendi and Merino do not have the mobility to help with the attempt recoveries running back on the counter. Villa have found it too easy to penetrate Arsenal in the middle of the pitch. Worrying signs.

Gyokeres had 2 good chances. Should've scored at least one of them.

@aboveandbeyond I'm guessing you're laughing because I said we missed Rice?

 

[aboveandbeyond]

@aboveandbeyond I'm guessing you're laughing because I said we missed Rice?

Not at all. Im surprised you were so critical in the first half. Elite level teams fine details make the difference. Most times it can take time to make the difference.

What i would say is Gabriel Saliba combo give the rest of the side confidence. Imperative Arsenal have them fully fit for second half of the season.

 

[topspin]

Not at all. Im surprised you were so critical in the first half. Elite level teams fine details make the difference. Most times it can take time to make the difference.

What i would say is Gabriel Saliba combo give the rest of the side confidence. Imperative Arsenal have them fully fit for second half of the season.

Villa totally dominated us in the first half. They should have gone into HT with at least one goal lead. Could've easily been a different game because Villa would've parked the bus had taken the lead and we all know how Arsenal struggle against low blocks.

 

[aboveandbeyond]

Villa totally dominated us in the first half. They should have gone into HT with at least one goal lead. Could've easily been a different game because Villa would've parked the bus had taken the lead and we all know how Arsenal struggle against low blocks.

Arsenal turned up the tempo in the second half and Villa started making mistakes.

We got to remember, they are a very good side. After recent wins over you boys and Man City. So full credit for the second half performance. Heard it was the best Arsenal performance of the season so far.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Arsenal tempo in 2nd half was the difference, the 1st half was to safety first. To many side ways and backwards passes. 2nd half Arsenal got balls into the channels quicker and there was more 1 touch passes and not slowing play down. Obana going off for villa effected them, bit more so it was Odegaard and Zubimendi actually being positive that changed the game. If the captain could actually shoot properly and not like a 2 year old toddler when it comes to power the game would have been 6 or 7 in 2nd half.

Arsenal now need to replicate the same number of points atleast from 1st 19 games in 2nd half. 90 points should be enough to win a PL title for which ever side gets that points tally.. Espcially when a lot of teams are taking more points of each other, if your getting that volume of points you should get over line.

As long as home form remains good, their just needs to be an improvement in the away performances for remainder of season.

 

[Theo_14]

A very good 2nd half from the Arsenal. Trossard and Odegaard made the difference. Both of them were playmaking and inverting with ease. Refreshing to see Arsenal score goals from the middle.

Aston Villa tactically outclassed Arsenal in the first half and should have been 2-0 up. Onana being injured really cost them.

I know Rice/Calafiori were injured but we have players slowly coming back. Jesus, Havertz, Gabriel and Ben White. Arteta really needs to manage his squad. We can’t afford to lose key players from the 2nd half of the season.

 

[Amjid Javed]

A very good 2nd half from the Arsenal. Trossard and Odegaard made the difference. Both of them were playmaking and inverting with ease. Refreshing to see Arsenal score goals from the middle.

Aston Villa tactically outclassed Arsenal in the first half and should have been 2-0 up. Onana being injured really cost them.

I know Rice/Calafiori were injured but we have players slowly coming back. Jesus, Havertz, Gabriel and Ben White. Arteta really needs to manage his squad. We can’t afford to lose key players from the 2nd half of the season.

Every team selection has to be done on merit, based on what players are in form. Can't have a situation where certain players gets picked and are not providing anything to the team. We've seen this to often before in other seasons.

9 games in January. Arsenal should be able to rotate players in the FA cup game vs Portsmouth, and the 2 CL games. We have already made top 8.

The 5 PL games and league cup semi final the strongest 11 needs to be put out

 

[Obaidd]

It’s amazing how everybody agrees that this team hasn’t played to its potential yet but still managed top of UCL, 45 points at halfway mark in PL, and league cup sf.

Even till the midway point in the last match, Arsenal hadn’t played the fluid play that is required to dominate teams in EPL. Odegaard clicking is critical for this team, not just because he is the captain but also because he occupies that chief creator position. Zubi finally letting it go and making that run into the box was what did it for me. I hope the floodgates are now open. This team has enormous potential.

Trossard is another standout performer this year. I have always admired Trossard’s ability to take shots with his first touch and he used it so well again. Jesus too is someone who’s going to add further fluidity to the attack. (Unpopular opinion here but I am so excited to see Kai Havertz back).

It all builds though from that key duo of Gabriel and Saliba. Now that the main partnership is back the team will play with more confidence up front too.

 

[Amjid Javed]

It’s amazing how everybody agrees that this team hasn’t played to its potential yet but still managed top of UCL, 45 points at halfway mark in PL, and league cup sf.

Home form in all competitions has been excellent so far this season. Other than Man city at home and wolves, every other performance has been at high level.

The issue has been away from home where the team seems to struggle with the intensity of opposition teams being physical and direct against us. That is something that will have to improve in 2026, tactically we seem to be setting up to not lose games away from home. Or as soon as we score we just Try and shut up shop. 11 goals in 9 away games is pretty bad and that will be something that needs to improve massively, has to be more creativity shown and also more of a clinical edge. Unless their is a tactic change away from home. You will be keep seeing indifferent away performances for rest of season. Also how the squad is rotate in 2nd half of season, including in January with 9 games will start to show if this team is finally ready to change from falling short to getting over line.