Morning all.
The 2025/26 Premier League season kicked off last night with Liverpool v Bournemouth. Slot’s side won 4-2 but for much of the game, Bournemouth gave them plenty to be concerned about. With better finishing, my new local club would have left Anfield with at least a point. I thought Anthony Taylor and VAR made a few poor decisions and not all favoured the home team. Antoine Semenyo was superb for Bournemouth.
Yesterday, Mikel Arteta held his first pre-match press conference of the campaign which included fitness updates, his thoughts about the next ten months and whether or not players will be moved on before the summer transfer window closes. The latter was simple:
“I’ll leave that to Andrea [Berta] and the club. My main focus is just about performing, preparing the games in the best possible way and winning. Now we start the season, it’s been a long pre-season with the market and being so active in it.”
As far as players joining Arsenal, I think the club has done really well but I still think we’re a left sided player light.
Fitness wise, everyone barring Gabriel Jesus would appear to be ready to go, including Leandro Trossard if he trained yesterday. Rumour has it that Unai Emery wants him at Aston Villa. If true, they will want him on the cheap I’m sure. Every club wants our players on the cheap which is probably why Vieira, Nelson, Hein and Lokonga are yet to move on. Zinchenko’s comments about last season being awful as he wasn’t playing reminds me a bit of Ramsdale when he was cast aside for Raya although the Ukrainians comments came from an extract in his book rather than an interview. I wouldn’t be happy sitting on the bench for most of the season as I’m sure you wouldn’t either and unless Arteta plans to use him more which I personally doubt, he could be another who is searching for first team football elsewhere. Running his contract down at his age would be foolish in my opinion.
Arteta was asked if there is more pressure on us to win the title this season:
You keep digging, digging, digging. You have to keep digging because one day, the gold is going to be there. That’s all the time, what I’ve been taught, I’ve been educated and that’s it. For three seasons, we have more points than any other team in this league. It’s incredible, that’s why we have all the consistency. Now we have to do it in a season, to earn one more point or the same amount of points and more goals difference than any other team. That’s the objective.
I think what Mikel meant is that for three calendar years we’ve had more points but now his team has to replicate that in a ten month season.
He was also about his views on the tweaks to the rules in the Premier League and what happened last season:
It was very particular, and it only lasts for a few weeks and we were really punished for those few weeks but hopefully it won’t happen again. I think they’ve been very clear, we have very good meetings with the referees when we came here and in the manager’s meeting as well. I think it’s very clear what to expect and I wish everybody the best. I think we’re going to need the best of all of us and to have the best Premier League ever, which I think is going to happen, and hopefully we’re going to come on top of that.
He’s right of course, the new rules were implemented in Arsenal fixtures early in the season. Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard fell victim of them and paid the ultimate price, a sending off for a second booking for kicking the ball away. Both were ridiculous and no other player in the league suffered the same fate. Another case of double refereeing standards was over the weekend when Saliba was sent off for denying a goal scoring opportunity. Fine, but less than 24 hours later, an almost identical situation was dealt with by way of a booking for a Chelsea player.
The inconsistencies didn’t stop there though but we dissected them throughout last season. If Webb’s motley crew continue to as poor and inconsistent this coming season then Arsenal as a team need to be smarter. I know they shouldn’t need to be but it’s probably the only way to beat the officials at their own game.
Thankfully, Raya has been releasing the ball a bit quicker during pre-season so hopefully he won’t be the guy who concedes a corner for holding on to the ball for more than 8 seconds. It used to be 6 seconds but funny enough, the referees never bothered to implement the law. Imagine how many free kicks would have been conceded if they had.
Only captains will be allowed to approach referees during Premier League matches this season. Yellow cards can be shown to players who approach officials without permission and behave in a disrespectful manner. This rule should increase the yellow card tally for every club, if of course the law is applied in every game and for both clubs.
The last big change is yet another attempt to reduce the “grappling inside the penalty area”. Now this I can’t wait to see in action because let’s be honest, it happens in every single game played. It’s been tried many times I think but officials get more and more complacent as the season goes on. Apparently, VAR as well as the officials will be trying to spot if an offending player is watching the ball or his opponent. Good luck with that I say…
Catch up in the comments.
The corner changes are a direct attempt to negate Arsenal’s corner tactic of coming into the goal area late. I fully expect our first set piece headed goal to be ruled out ,lets face it set a precedent and the subsequent outrage makes their case and doing it to Arsenal creates more column inches than say Sunderland or Wolves .
It Villa want Trossard , then there is a market and they should pay market prices pure and simple. The problem of the market is that only a handful of clubs can pay the figures that our clubs pay when they shop abroad , once a player is in the system here if they are stepping down in class their price goes down with it .
We start away to a rejuvenated United buoyed by the purchase of the player that apparently we have wanted for more than 2 years .
It’s tailor made for Sky to get the anti Arteta campaign underway , let’s hope that Gabriel and Saliba stop that happening.
Good morning Rico.
I was interested to read, what I believe, to be a significant hint about changing responsibilities at the club.
Arteta’s response to a question about comings and goings was blunt and to the point, “I’ll leave that to Andrea (Berta) and the club”.
I think our “manager” is morphing into our “head coach”. The Sesko/Gyokeres saga seemed to indicate a rift between Arteta, who wanted Sesko, and Berta who bought Gyokeres. Morphing may be the wrong word, how about demotion instead?
Morning Potter, Cicero and all.
I thought similar re the grappling in the box, it’s a knee jerk reaction to our goals which is amusing really because haven’t we moved on from that set pice being our only set piece option?
I’m sure Jovier has been working on many other formats.
Totally agree re any of our players, pay the market value or go away.
If you’re right Cicero, it’s a good thing imo. Arteta tells the board what we need and they go and get the player. I’m sure they both had a healthy discussion about both Sesko and Gyokeres though.
Arteta has a big enough task on the pitch and the last thing the club needs is another Wenger situation where he took on every roll. Jack of all trades, master of none springs to mind.
I think the all powerful club manager such as Wenger, Ferguson etc is extinct, or almost. With D o Fs data analysts, sporting directors the coach will do just that coach. He may suggest which or what type of player he needs but he won’t have the final say.
Replacing a head coach is far easier then replacing a manager.
Agreed.. I don’t know why Mikel didn’t stay as head coach..
Watching Villa/Magpies, Unai Emery is going grey at the temple’s.
A Newcastle team with Isak in the team would be winning 3-0…
The Geordie owners should tell Isak that they’ll give him a pay-rise but that he has to stay another year, then if he wants to move on he can go in the summer of 2026.
That will allow Newcastle more time to sign a replacement and for Barcelona to swoop in and sign Isak next summer, you know, like when Liverpool kept Luis Suarez and he eventually left for the Camp Nou…
It’s not as if Newcastle need to sell..!
Yep, as Liverpool did with Suarez..
Fenerbahce interested in Zinchenko
Latest from Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth:
Fenerbahce are interested in signing Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko.
It’s understood they have explored the conditions of a deal.
Arsenal are listening to suitable offers for Zinchenko.
He has entered the final year of his contract.
The commentators said Newcastle haven’t won any of their last 5 without Isak.
I agree with the comments about how a Manager/head coach should concentrate on coaching,however I do think they should have the final say or at least be consulted on players coming in.
Afternoon Rico and all,
Fingers crossed for this weekend.
Rico, I will not be on site for a few days, unfortunitly my Dad lost his battle with Cancer today,and it has taken it taken it’s toll on me, try to explain to my mum who has mild dementia that dad has passed away.
Keep smiling all
Afternoon Geoff, I’m sorry to hear of your loss.. Thinking of you and your family..
Limey, I’m sure Arteta had a big say in all of our transfers, after all, it’s him who has to get them ticking on the pitch.
My sincere condolences Geoff.
Yep, the Magpies look toothless without a central striker, even more so than we did last season.
No harassment of the ref. No time wasting by the “keepers. No wrestling in the box. Couple of bookings and one dismissal. No goals. Pretty boring in fact.
Good afternoon Rico and all
Its up to the players not to give the refs a decision to make by converting at least 33% of the chances created. Now I know we will not get that opportunity every game however we all know that we create a plethora of chances.
If the present laws are designed to stop Arsenal from scoring from a set piece then I suggest one thing, simply pass to another player from the corner. Pass it outside of the box. We are used to keeping possession around the box and then pass it back. The opposing team will feel foolish marking space in the box while Arsenal keep possession. Mix it up. For three corners pass it out. that will force a rethink. If we pass it out for three consecutive corners the opposition will be left guessing. Do they come out or they stay in. then on the fourth put an inswinger. Again, what do the opposition do??? do they mark players or expect Arsenal to pass it out. There is no rule that says that from a corner you have to put in a direct inswinging or outswinging cross. You can do whatever you want
There is another thing that Arsenal of the AW era used to do….score early in the game. That changes the physionomy of the game and forces them to come out. Because until we convert chances early in the game the outcome would be the same as last season.
If we score early and convert more chances then whatever the refs do even if they fuck up all decisions we will not give them decisions to make. Fouling a player is part of the game, but kicking the ball away is not. holding your ground in corners and going body to body is part of the game, but grappling and annoying others is not. Yes the refs should see that everyone observes these rules however we can only blame ourselves if we kick the ball away.
Sincere condolences Geoff. I know perfectly what you are going through having lost Pa a year and 4 months ago. Mum also has dementia, not light but its acute now. And even after more than a year there are still moments when I am still not over it. Being with dad for 56 years, speaking daily and seeing each other daily and now suddenly there is a void takes its toll. And its not easy especially as I am an only son.
A big hug to you from me. Here I think we can all offer our support.
And yes it will take time to recover. Whenever you miss him just look in yourself. He lives in you.
SOmething weird about my dad. coincidence it may be but I dont know
When Pa was born, that day Arsenal played Chelsea during a wartime game….and won 4-1.
When my Pa passed away, that day Arsenal won 5-0….against Chelsea (season 23/24)
Geoff , cancer doesn’t take sides and neither does dementia , You have my sympathy. I have been there and hopefully my son and his family won’t have to go through it with me. There is no quick fix you just have to work through it.
Didn’t watch the game, not going to watch football until tomorrow , can’t stomach the pundits not telling me what my eyes have seen.
That’s the reason you have a mute button Potter.
Watching Xhaka clatter into a West Ham player brought back some happy and not-so-happy memories.
Geoff, you’re really going through it mate, as have most of us on here.
Please accept my condolences along with the rest of the crew.
Stay strong and come back when you feel ready…
Xhaka will surely get a warm reception at the Emirates. He is still loved. At least by me.
Afternoon Devil, all.
Dementia is evil, that and MND – no way back. ☹️
Apparently, we’re interested in Luiz Benedetti, a 19 year old 6’ 6” Brazilian central defender.
I quite like a good Brazilian. 😉
😳🤣
Just a quick one.
Sincere condolences Geoff, I grew up in Welfare Care so never got to know the identity of my father.
It sounds like you come from a really good loving family so this must have hit you hard.
I’m sure everyone on Highbury House is thinking of you and giving you their best wishes.
Take all the time you need to respect your father’s memory and to grieve, but when you feel the time is right, please let Rico and the gang know that you are ok.
Cheers mate, stay safe.
I echo condolences to you Geoff,been down that path myself and no one can really understand unless they have had cancer themselves.
Superstar I now realise that I know you.
Eze loves Arsenal can’t wait to join blah blah and now has turned to Spurs .Another mercenary we don’t need.
I feel that tomorrow Havertz will begin the match. Gyokeres to come in later on as a sub.
Potter I’m in sympathy with you regarding commentators/ pundits. I would like an option to hear just the stadium sound with no extraneous voices to distract me. Neither clubs or broadcasters consider it necessary to provide a live commentary to the fans in the ground, why should those of us watching on t v need one when we have a much, much better view of the game.
Morning guys
New post up