Pre-Season 2025/2026 thread

[Mac76]

My big issue last night was Arteta playing Gyokores to start the game, with half the staring 11 on the bench.

Then when he brings on Odegaard, Rice, Zubimendi, etc - they guys that you would expect to start feeding Goku some through balls and the like - he takes him off and puts Merino up front

Managing Goku to bring his fitness levels up is fine and understandable.

Not having him play with the main players that he should be is inexcusable.

yes that's 100%, it was frankly barmy - totally blew an opportunity to give them all game time together - either he's as dumb as many of us think or I guess we have to say it's maybe because he wanted to hide what they've been working on - I wouldn't bet on it though...

[Letters]

It’s preseason, relax....

It’s game week 3, relax....

It’s game week 12, relax....

We’re gonna go on a crazy run in the 2nd half of the season....

season ends trophyless

Injuries, ref decisions, rain, etc - we go again!

Didn't you post something similar about 2 days into the transfer window when I thought it was a bit early to call the whole window a fiasco.
That said, HCZ's point about the way we are playing is of more concern. I actually think we've done pretty good business this summer but if we play the same shit as we did for much of last season then it won't yield much.

[HCZ_Reborn]

So discussing the situation with a friend who identified another issue. We have zero actual fullbacks

Lewis-Skelly is basically a midfielder, White, Timber and Calafiori are primarily centre backs. Whilst White does overlap with Saka, he’s getting older that natural pace is no longer there and whilst Saka has the ability to win the ball deep, it means that the left doesn’t get the service.

So we criticise Martinelli and Trossard as much as we like but they often aren’t getting the ball played to them quick enough especially for someone like Martinelli who relies on raw pace.


His words were we essentially have 14 centre backs and defensive midfielders in the squad

Lewis-Skelly, Calafiori, Kiwior, Gabriel, Saliba, Mosquera, White, Timber, Rice, Norgaard, Zinchenko, Merino and Zubimendi


When you look at it like that it’s patently absurd. Especially in comparison to the attacking players we have

[HCZ_Reborn]

It’s the obsession with having merino and rice at 8. Merino can’t play at 8 he’s too slow (and he’s no good at 6 either so he needs to go). Rice can play at 8 but not against mid table teams that defend deep, you need someone who is a natural dribbler to open teams up.

So against your liverpools your cities etc id play both Zubimendi and Rice. For most mid table teams would play either Zubimendi or Rice at 6 (most likely Rice) and play a direct dribbler next to Nwaneri/Odegaard

That would be anathema to Arteta but the irony is we are not getting more defensive solidity by playing two defensive minded players in most games because we are having to push up more and leave space at the back

If you have more naturally creative players in the team who will run with the ball you can leave the 6 back to protect the back four and less likely to be stretched

I think the inverted full back shite works when you want to strangle the life out of the opposition and stodge up the midfield and stop the other side from having attacking opportunities.
But when you have a team that will only come forward on the counter, it fucks you for width and means players that aren’t necessarily that quick are having to push up

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

As expected, a much stronger team and likely the starting 11 against Man U. Lets hope for a better performance but I really hope he doesn't force the magic and just pulls off players who aren't contributing ( and yes, I'm looking at Martinelli).

Arsenal team news:

Team to play Athletic Club: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.

Subs: Kepa, Rojas, White, Mosquera, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Lokonga, Merino, Madueke, Nwaneri, Nelson, Havertz

Courtesy Sky

[Mac76]

Probably our first choice 11, apart from Cala ofc, odd not to start MLS, if he starts with Cala at Old Shiteford we've no chance

[HCZ_Reborn]

As expected, a much stronger team and likely the starting 11 against Man U. Lets hope for a better performance but I really hope he doesn't force the magic and just pulls off players who aren't contributing ( and yes, I'm looking at Martinelli).

Yeah thinking myself that this is probably if not the side he plays at Old Trafford close to it

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Probably our first choice 11, apart from Cala ofc, odd not to start MLS, if he starts with Cala at Old Shiteford we've no chance

I think he'll take off the fullbacks in the 2nd half and give both MLS and White a twirl.

He has clearly set out not to concede today and started with his strongest defenders (which includes Martinelli as Maccy has corrected me on)...and in this case I do agree that Calafiori and Timber are stronger defensively than their counterparts at the moment.

[Mac76]

I don't agree, Cala can't defend adequately, certainly not in the LB position (he's possibly slightly better at CB), MLS may not have been at his best v Villareal but I'd have him above Cala every time, both going forward and defending

[HCZ_Reborn]

I think he'll take off the fullbacks in the 2nd half and give both MLS and White a twirl.

He has clearly set out not to concede today and started with his strongest defenders (which includes Martinelli as Maccy has corrected me on)...and in this case I do agree that Calafiori and Timber are stronger defensively than their counterparts at the moment.

Calafiori is also better on the ball than Lewis-Skelly. Though neither he or MLS are natural fullbacks and this is to a degree why we struggle going forward.