Arsenal Season predictions 2025-2026

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Premier League: 2nd (behind Liverpool)
Champions League: Runners up
FA Cup: 5th Round
League Cup: Semis
Mind the gap?: Of course
Arsenal top scorer: Gyokeres
Most assists: Saka
Most cock-ups: Zubimendi
Breakthrough player: Madueke

I was a bit torn about our EPL place. Trying to ignore Liverpool's signings and/or hoping that there might be too many cooks in the forward department and that they have a worse defence than us. I do believe that but for our key injuries we would have challenged them properly for the title last season, and I don't think that there's much difference between us and them really. But while I'm enthused about our signings I am a bit concerned that we have totally overhauled our CM, and that the players we have brought in will take time to master Arteta's complex tactical approach. This and our brutal start might hobble us a bit. I think Zubi might be the player most affected in this regard. Also, we desperately need Odegard back to his best. If he isn't then I think we will struggle to win the league.

I think we will be perhaps a better CL side than an EPL side, given our defensive capabilities and now greater depth (*if Cala can be more robust).

We should go deeper in the cup comps with greater squad depth but Arteta's history here since we won the FA Cup last is poor.

I'm excited to see what Madueke can do for us. By all accounts the club/manager has been far more keen to do this deal than the fans, and I am really hoping that they get this one right.

Pretty decent predictions and I also believe Zubimendi will struggle in the begining and lead the early cockups chart.

I just hope he's enough of a professional to ignore the criticisms he'll get from haters like Gary Neville and rise beyond his mistakes and adapt his game. Hopefully Merino's personality will rub off on him a little bit.

I also think like you guys, that with Gyokores, we've got a real chance at cups now, even if the league ends up being out of our reach quite early.

[Mac76]

(*if Cala can be more robust).

as if...

he's a dud, we need to see if we can sell in January

[IBK]

Yup, fully agree with this. It's the way of most strikers, that have patches where they are scoring and those where they are quiet....the real good ones manage to contribute even in those quiet periods and more importantly keep those bareen spells to the minimum....not the crap Jesus (or should I say Arteta) has put us through for the last 3 years.

So I think your predictions on 10 goals before the end of October isn't far fetched, also your point that they'll taper out after a while, a bit like Haaland last season.

He'll do a minimum of 20 goals in the EPL this season, the question is will he spread them out enough for them to mean something, like the way Saka use too.

The real hope is that not only will Gyok score plenty of goals in his own right (how many times have we lamented good build up play but either no options at the end in the box, or noone to get on the end of final passes) but he will open up space for our other players to exploit. I think having a striker who will always make runs (he never stopped when we played Porto in the CL IIRC), and whose biggest asset is his sprinting in behind and into channels will help pull defences apart and be an antidote to the very well drilled defences that we often struggle against. There are question marks over his first touch, but having a target for our more technical players to aim for who is always in and around the box should surely improve us.

[IBK]

as if...

he's a dud, we need to see if we can sell in January

Problem is getting a decent fee for an injury prone player. He needs to sort out his knee!

[Mac76]

Problem is getting a decent fee for an injury prone player. He needs to sort out his knee!

that's the thing I think people can get too hung up on a 'decent fee' - just get the fucker off the books, free up a squad space plus save whatever we're paying him every week

[Mac76]

Yup, fully agree with this. It's the way of most strikers, that have patches where they are scoring and those where they are quiet....the real good ones manage to contribute even in those quiet periods and more importantly keep those bareen spells to the minimum....not the crap Jesus (or should I say Arteta) has put us through for the last 3 years.

So I think your predictions on 10 goals before the end of October isn't far fetched, also your point that they'll taper out after a while, a bit like Haaland last season.

He'll do a minimum of 20 goals in the EPL this season, the question is will he spread them out enough for them to mean something, like the way Saka use too.

Well like I say above, I think it will be more of a modest start (which isn't to say hwe won't score some goals) and then he will find his feet and our players will get used to how to feed him

I really hope he doesn't play vs Spuds (whenever that game is - today?) but knowing Arteta he will and then they will be all out to injure him before the season starts.

ED: ok, so that game seems to be happening now - on a very bad quality pitch apparently - what could possibly go wrong...

[IBK]

After a good start, we are making heavy weather of the pre season friendly against Sp*rs - not dealing well at all with the corners/crosses into the box....

[IBK]

We are going the long ball route to try to force goal opportunities...

[IBK]

Those f*cks have scored MLS mistake.

[Letters]

I mean. Who cares, really?
I'd forgotten this was on tbh (although I did talk to a colleague based on HK about it earlier)
He's a Spurs fan and couldn't get a ticket for L nor M.