Football Club News, Analysis, History, Schedule, Rumours
Arsenal have no plans of letting young defender William Saliba leave in the summer and want to integrate them into their first-team squad next season, as per Fabrizio Romano. Mikel Arteta wants to solidify his backline with another commanding defender to compete with Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes. Arsenal Aiming to Negotiate New Contract for […] READ MORE
In his latest column for CaughtOffside, Fabrizio Romano shed some further light on the neverending Raphinha saga. Focusing on just Arsenal, Romano states that manager Mikel Arteta is “really in love” with the Leeds United winger and would like to sign him, with Nicolas Pepe likely departing the club. Mikel Arteta ‘In Love’ With Leeds […] READ MORE
Mikel Arteta must feel as if he will forever be in Patrick Vieira’s shadow. Having been one of the numerous players who failed to fill the giant hole that Vieira left in the Arsenal midfield (a hole that remains unfilled nearly 20 years on), Arteta now finds himself suffering unflattering comparisons with Vieira the manager. […] READ MORE
Patrick Vieira and Mikel Arteta meet again as managers tonight, when Vieira’s Crystal Palace host Arsenal in what could be a vital match at Selhurst Park, after their teams played out a 2-2 draw at The Emirates in the autumn. And although this is only the second time that they have managed teams against each […] READ MORE
And then there was one. Because Arsenal failed to qualify for Europe last season, they were only ever going to compete in a maximum of three competitions this season and after the recent cup calamities, including the Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg defeat to Liverpool, they now only have European qualification through the league to aim […] READ MORE
For the first time since the days of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil linking up in Arsene Wenger’s later years, there is a real likability to Arsenal. There is a sense that something – something positive – is happening. That the process some accused of not even existing is well on course for ultimate success. […] READ MORE
Once again, news that Mikel Arteta tests positive for Covid means the Spaniard will miss New Years Day Premier League clash against Manchester City It is the second time since the pandemic began that Arteta has tested positive having been the first Premier League manager to do so in March 2020. The news was confirmed […] READ MORE
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, something is missing at Arsenal. In amongst the growing potential surrounding the squad, the playing style and the clear ‘process’ taking shape, something – or someone – isn’t quite clicking. And that’s Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang. Previously the superhero-mask-wearing, goal scoring star of the show, the Gabonese forward […] READ MORE
Tony Adams famously thought that it was because “we used up all our luck in ‘89”, but whatever the reason Arsenal have often struggled at Anfield. Obviously, prior to 1989 and the famous Championship win, Arsenal struggled to win at Liverpool’s home ground because every team in Europe struggled to win there, which of course only […] READ MORE
Almost every successful manager can identify a turning point in their career, when they saw their fortunes almost literally alter before their eyes, because they achieved an unexpected result or just benefited from a slice of luck. For Alex Ferguson, it was the winning goal by Mark Robins in an FA Cup tie against Nottingham […] READ MORE
I am a scriptwriter (of plays and screenplays, including a biopic of Shakespeare, www.theshakespeareplays.com), journalist (writing on cinema for The Script Lab and on sport for LastWordOnTennis.com and LastWordOnFootball.com) and poet (having written a collection of short poems, entitled Shards, extracts from which have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3). I am married with three children and live in London.