Morning guys.
Max Dowman, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Marli Salmon, Theo Julienne and Ife Ibrahim, all 19 years old or younger, all have been given a chance by Mikel Arteta and none have disappointed. Two are already first team players, one an absolute regular. Salmon is looking like the most natural centre back at 17 years old I’ve seen in an Arsenal shirt in years and the other two, well, I hope this is just the start for them as it was for Salmon and Dowman a year or so ago.
Arsenal snapped up a number of under 21 players during the summer, most from other Premier League clubs and on Friday, the club announced that England U-16 striker Vincent Joseph has also made the move to the red side of north London. Signing him from Liverpool bring a smile to my face.
Whilst it’s highly unlikely that Salmon and Dowman, or any young player for that matter, will be playing each week, what’s been obvious is that when they have played they have been very very good. Remember when Haaland said to Myles Lewis-Skelly something along the lines of “who are you”? Well, he and the rest in the game know who he is by now. Myles has been selected to play for England which comes as no surprise to me as he’s been in fine form for his club. He’s not been listed as a defender either, he’s in with the midfield group.
Brighton is Arsenal’s test today and I think it’s going to prove to be the toughest test yet for Mikel Arteta’s players. We’ll be without William Saliba this afternoon but every other player could be line to make the squad. Yep, even Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Cristhian Mosquera which is excellent news. Whether they start or not is only something Arteta knows.
I’m pretty sure Kai Havertz will return to the starting eleven, especially after Viktor Gyokeres’ struggles in midweek. Goodness knows what is going on with him but whatever it is, I hope he can sort himself out. If it’s a fallout with Arteta, the pair could do with sitting down, drawing a line under the summer sand and our striker getting back to being the kind of player he was last season. Better even because he has a big role to play over the next seven months. All the time he’s an Arsenal player, I want him to do well. Kai Havertz isn’t my football cup of tea, nor is Noni Madueke but once the referee blows his whistle at the start of a game, all I want is to see them do well. More of the Madueke we saw against Ipswich would do nicely. By the way, Tuchel has left him out of his England squad.
Arsenal’s Adrian Clarke has been talking tactics ahead of the match:
Hurzeler’s team will present arguably our stiffest challenge so far this season. They move the ball around fluently, score goals freely and are a side designed to disrupt the flow of their opponents. They are the best pressing side in the division right now, registering 41 high turnovers, and Hurzeler loves his team to play aggressively, so our players must strap themselves in for a high-tempo, physical battle. Facing an opponent who plays this way might suit us. We are certainly playing well enough to pass through Brighton’s press, and if we manage that, we can expose a defence that is still bedding in as a unit. Brighton conceded four times at Chelsea, and in most matches, keeper Bart Verbruggen has been kept busy, preventing an extra 1.4 goals being scored in 2026/27.
Averaging almost 71% possession across four league fixtures, they like to dictate, so this may not be a contest we control matters inside the opposition half. Hassling their midfield unit of Pascal Gross and Yasin Ayari will be key to disrupting their flow. Again, this type of game may help, rather than hinder us, as no Premier League side has produced more direct attacks (11) than us. Veteran midfielder Gross is in sparkling form, so he is the danger man. In open play, he is level with Martin Odegaard for the most chances created (11) in this campaign. Left winger Maxim de Cuyper is another player we must keep close tabs on as the Belgian has been bright and imaginative during the early weeks, directly contributing to four goals in all competitions.
Darren England, not one of the Premier League’s finest referees is in charge of this game. I was going to say control but if he starts controlling it to suit his own narrative, we could be in trouble. Post Sunderland match, Arteta had a bit of a rant about the officials as a whole. He was right in what he said but I hope it doesn’t cost us today or in future games. It shouldn’t of course because he was simply answering questions put to him but I think we all know by now, Webbs lot will take a mile if Arsenal players give them an inch.
I’d love to see Arsenal go out there this afternoon and play Brighton off the park and win the game with a confident and clinical performance. Go into the international break on a positive note and then we can all enjoy the next three weeks…
Catch up in the comments.
Morning guys.
New post up.
Only 2 good things come out of last night’s game (1) it’s still very early in the season (2) they can now stop comparing this team to the invisibles,
I stayed up to 2 am watching that crap and God know how many soft foam balls thrown at the tv, but I feel sorrier for the fans who paid good money and turned up to see a performance like that, as I said during the match I hope the players and Arteta take a dam good look at the empty seats after the fans left early.
I am still in shock over how Brighton dismantled Arsenal with their fast-paced one-two, immediate pressing or gegenpressing with Arsenal utterly losing midfield battle for the entire match.
The team is unbalanced and has no communication with Bruno not setting the tempo and control the game. Rice was all over the places and where was he for the first 2 goals?
Overall, I see MLS-Rice-Odegaard Midfield give us balance.
Lesson learnt:
Never change a winning team to accommodate your favorite player.
We were punished by our hubris.
And the good thing it is early in the season, and a 3-week break for Arteta and Coaching to analyze video data analytics and quickly devised a solution and rebooted ArtetaBall.
All managers had noted our struggle against Sunderland and Brighton physicality and intense pressing game. Solution needed by 10 Oct.
Arsenal is not prepared for the fixture congestion because a large number os players had neithera proper vacationnor a well-planned pre-season.
I posted last week, that it would be a struggle right to the end in every match.
That wasn’t a coincidence: Arsenal is physically underprepared, individual player performance has dropped, the squad is thin(three attacking players left and only one arrived), the defense-as seen today-llows opponents to shoot at will, the tema lacks attacking depth, and the new rules, corners are nolongera major threat to opposing teams,among others issues.
Can’t believe they didn’t win…
At least the Arsenal Women got a point with an added time equaliser. 1 – 1
Agree re Brighton, as said earlier, anyone who has an ounce of common sense knew that this game was going to be tough. Brighton knew we were there for the taking and boy, that’s exactly what they did.
I doubt it Devil re Myles, at the moment, he’s been a rock in midfield. I guess he started midweek because Hincapie was ruled out.
I still don’t get why Arteta left the changes so late..
We were simply out played and had no player with the balls to take control and drive the team forward
..We continually attack with the wings and never go through the middle with any purpose. We play across the defence eventually getting it out wide and then if the chance to centre comes and no-one is in there to get on to it. we play it back and frequently all the way to Raya..The ball is then hoofed forward to the hapless Havertz who never wins a high ball and it comes straight back again.
We knew that Brighton would play high tempo and would press us back yet we played so many hospital passes to players with a man on his back that resulted in losing possession and we were slow to recover afterwards.
Hurtzeler had Arteta’s number and his lack of awareness was laid bare.
Before Koustulas strike there was no pressure. No meaningful challenge. Would MLS have allowed that??
Those were the holes which were left empty.
Yes, MLs needed a rest. But against Ipswich not today.
yes that thought crossed my mind as well Rico. But why today?? Couldnt he have been rested against Ipswich Town??
Rice and Bruno offered no balance. Brighton simply sliced and/or walked through with ease in midfield. Like there was nobody there. There was no protection, no resistance, no control.
Another issue is that Havertz and Saka played like their place was guaranteed. They lost chances they should have buried. No killer instinct.
What has VG14 done to merit not being a starter in such a match? He did put Havertz through one on one with keeper.
Evening Devil, I too was surprised MLS didn’t start but he has played a lot of football already so I guess that was behind Arteta’s decision to leave him out.
Good evening Rico and all.
A very bad day at the office. No win. no goals. No clean sheet.
But did Brighton win? Or did we gift them the win?? Did Brighton get in our faces tactically wise? Or were we too hopeless to bother attacking them??
In the last three years I have always stated one thing…..I am not afraid of anyone or any team. Except one….Arsenal themselves.
Did we have a brainfart moment??
For me MLS not beginning the game was the basic difference. I am still not sure that BG and DR are suited to playing alongside each other during certain games. Arteta not playing MLS smacks or arrogance imo. We all talk of Rice as irreplaceable but imo MLS is valuable as much as Gilberto was to the Invincibles. The players know that with MLS there was someone who did the dirty work and they could attack while they were defended. With BG there were holes at the back which were not filled up. And we did not adapt to that. We expected the same outcome that we had in previous games.
I think Hurzeler is a very good manager and I’m surprised one of the so called big clubs hasn’t gone for him before now. I also think Brighton’s recruitment has been good over the years especially as vast amounts of money haven’t always been available.
We seemed unprepared and that’s on Arteta and I rarely criticise him, he almost didn’t know what to do, Hurtzeler will be a very happy man this evening.
I was happy with our starting XI but I haven’t seen an Arsenal team under Mikel so totally outplayed since probably prime Man City under Guardiola.
Suprised that he didn’t make any changes at halftime but maybe he didn’t know what to do, our players looked a little shell shocked at the end…
Oh, and Darren England was shit
I’m glad I’m away next week 😂
Shambles…
Into every team a little rain must fall. In this case it was a downpour.
The International break can’t come soon enough.
3 – 0 final score.
congratulations Brighton, you made us look shit and Arteta had no idea what to do, I hope Arteta and the players noticed how many Arsenal fans left the match early.
80 minutes in our fans are leaving the match,
Gyokeres plays Havertz through on goal just the keeper to beat but no
I’d love it if he did..
20 minutes to make his case should have been longer
If we were so bad in the first half I wonder why Arteta didn’t make changes?
Not surprised after the fallout from last seasons match. Anyone with an ounce of common sense knew this game was going to be one of the toughest we play all season.
Brighton have bullied us from the start,
Brighton 3 us 0 we are so shit tonight that toot’s fans are even laughing at us
dont we jump for corners any more and surely heads must roll soon
3-0. This is a bit of a pasting so far and still 30 mins to go.
🤣 Potter
Things get worse 2 – 0
The proverbial has hit the fan . They are ckosing so fast that we are making slow or no progress . Too many of ours are jneffective etting caughtvin possession and the taditional lack of striker catching us out . Watching on a chinese stream and the only name that we can understand is SAKA . Thought they might have got Rice right.
45 mins in Brighton 2 arsenal 0 Brighton deserve their lead we are out played and out coached
Sounds like we’re being totally outplayed.
Brighton scores our defending is very shit at the moment,
No clean sheet today Brighton one nil up.
this is going to be a good test for our defenders,
Now they get a second but it’s too late, they have lost yet another game at the New Swamp.
looking at our starting lineup, I don’t think Arteta likes Gyokeres.
villa win 3-2
The take pity on Spurs committee have awarded the own goal to Gallagher.
Spuds fans leaving in droves, and Spuds get a goal but it’s an own goal.
Raya, Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Bruno, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, Tzolis.
Spuds 0 – 3
0-3…
And old useless goes and scores…. 😁
Tottenham scored…..
But it was offside 😂
Nicholas Jackson is useless
Moto Guzzi I think Rico? 😁
Hi Geoff, it’ll suit him.
Afternoon Rico and all, looks like toot’s captain is going to have a ripper of a shiner in the morning, following a clash of heads and an elbow just below the eye from the villa player
Afternoon Kev.
Is that Honda or Suzuki 😜
Manzambi lol
The Lions are beating the Hammers…
Unfortunately his 10 team mates are fairly average
then all of a sudden there you all are
Hi ya , everyone asleep ?
Have to say that the Japanese Aston Villa goalkeeper is having a very impressive game at the Toilet Bowl.
Afternoon Rico and gang, yeah, look out for KGB bots online…
Hurzeler has seen his squad decimated by injuries in the early weeks, including new recruits Femi Azeez and Michael Svoboda, who have yet to appear since their moves from Millwall and Venezia, respectively, while another new boy, Zadok Yohanna, has missed the last four league games.
Fellow winger Yankuba Minteh required surgery for a leg injury sustained in pre-season and is out until November, while Mats Wieffer and Stefanos Tzimas have knee problems. Jack Hinshelwood and Evan Ferguson have ankle injuries, while Kaoru Mitoma remains out with the hamstring injury that saw him sit out the World Cup. Hurzeler will be relieved that Luka Vuskovic and Jaouen Hadjam should be fine after picking up knocks at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Morning Limey, I too think this is a really tough test of our strengths. I’d take a draw but….
Ha ha, I’ve forgotten already Cicero.
Don’t down load the app,it could be dangerous.
Might be a good idea to delete all mention all of it.😟
Not available on appstore, just go to the address shown I haven’t downloaded it yet as I’m also checking it out.
Morning Rico/all
Morning all,two big questions,White or Timber(depends on fitness,it could be someone else) And Guimaraes or Lewis- Skelly in midfield. I think Bruno probably has the harder workload over the next few weeks,certainly more miles and with the form of MLS maybe Arteta will go with him.
This is one of hardest fixtures of the entire season,so much so that I might normally be happy with a point. The way we are playing we can beat anyone.
Have you downloaded the app Cicero? I can’t find it on the apple App Store so just checking it’s legit..
Good morning Cicero, all.
Thanks re the link, I’ll give that one a try.
Oops, my error then. Apologies 😂
Good morning Rico,
I didn’t miss out Saka, Rico.