02 Sep 2025 09:08:16
With the transfer business now settled and the first (unnecessary) international break is upon us, it’s fair to say that we had a great transfer window and good start to the season.
With the team sorted, I feel we have below three issues to address for the season to be successful:
1. Arteta’s team selection and approach, he has to be brave, select players according to the opposition and make the changes if something is not working during the game, not wait until the customary 60-70 mins mark. We have to be more attacking and try and score more goals.
2. Injuries - not sure what the problem is but since the second half of last season, we are having too many injuries and it is across the team not necessarily attackers, something needs to change to protect the players to ensure they are available fit throughout the season.
3. Raya: somebody needs to talk to him and ask him to be more careful in his passing. He is a sweeper keeper and makes some decent saves but every game there is at least one ‘heart in your mouth’ moment which he brings on himself and the team. He needs to be more secure.
02 Sep 2025 09:37:38
Mostly agree Highbury mate. That said though, as frustrated as I am to lose at the weekend, I think we are taking a little too deep of a look into the Liverpool game given it's likely our toughest fixture of the season, they only won it by a wonder strike, and we had like 5 new signings on the pitch at one point. We were never going to look very cohesive and with Gyökeres and Madueke I can confidently say I see the tactical changes Arteta is trying to introduce - more directness, more aggression, and faster transitions.
We are 3 games into a new system. If we're 15 games in and nothing has changed from last season, then fair enough. I'm not making excuses for Arteta, for what we've spent this year I think we really need to deliver some trophies, but it's also just way too early to make long term prognoses.
02 Sep 2025 10:38:52
VeHello Highbury and Wire hope you and your families are good.
Very valid points made by both of you. From a personal point of view I was extremely pissed off by our performance and missed a golden chance to make a statement by our negative tactics. How Martinelli started the game let alone get 70 minutes when we had Nwaneri, Eze on the bench.
Anyway get the international break over and hopefully we will bounce back with a convincing win against Forest, take care both of you.
02 Sep 2025 16:24:11
Thanks Highbury and yours too. I think as you say, we may not get a better chance to beat Liverpool away for a while, which is fair. However the season is won over 38 games, not 3, so for the sake of my blood pressure I'm trying to take the long view.
02 Sep 2025 16:50:03
All good here!
Wire, I get your point, I am also of the opinion that we have a long way to go, however, I have just highlighted what we need to be addressed. We now have great balance and bench in the squad so the frustration is that we should have tried to change things and sooner. Eze has been playing in this league for long and was match fit, he should have started or at least got more than 40 mins to show what he can do. Same with Nwaneri, he should have got some time to have a go at Kerkez or Szobozlai. Instead we played safe. I hope we don’t have more injuries on international duties and then come back to the fluid attacking football.
02 Sep 2025 17:10:51
It was a bit of a blow to lose Saliba so early in the game. I remember the last time he was out, that didn't end well!
02 Sep 2025 20:25:01
Hi Sally, Saliba or Gabriel out of the team is always a major blow, but Mosquera’s display was assuring. Let’s hope Saliba is not serious and returns after the break but we have an able deputy plus Hincapie is good as well. Like Kwior covered for Gabriel last term, these guys should be able to cover. That is the success of this transfer window which has added quality depth to the team.
03 Sep 2025 12:14:25
I agree Bill, previously an injury to Saka, Saliba Rice or Raya would be seen as a devastating blow but because of our new strength in depth there are or would be blows but not devastating blows should totally derail our season.