Arsenal latest news: World class Raya | Player ratings | Martinelli's form | Who starts vs City

[@streetjustice4287]

I have to admit when I saw the double save all I could muster was “Jesus David, again??!”

[@DeathByDeadite]

Every single realistic fan here would've snatched your hand off for a win and a draw v Spurs & Atalanta once we heard Ødegaard got injured. A draw vs City would make this a terrific week considering injuries & Rice missing a game with 3 away games in 7 days.

[@Goona187]

Catman Raya !!😊

[@DC94359]

@DeathByDeadite The season doesn't end after the City you know. What about the 9-10 weeks after? What are we doing for creativity? How are we gonna break low blocks down?

[@simonpaul9654]

We will see vs Leicester and Southampton, after City. Remember everyone saying the same thing this time last year and we ended with 91 league goals. To soon to panic yet

[@DeathByDeadite]

@@DC94359 Good questions mate. I'd argue a 7 day period of 3 away games vs Spurs, Atalanta on Thursday & City is well worth viewing as a significant period to get through. I'm not too worried about our creativity just yet because we've played some top top teams. Let's see if we still have the same problems against the likes of Leicester, then I'll be worried.

[@zTom_]

​@@DC94359 One step at a time. :) Each week that passes means we're closer to a Merino return (well, "arrival" as we never got to see him😅) and more options available for our midfield. Just gotta hang on a few weeks. 💪

[@oliveryoung251]

Everyone is so stressed both fans and players, expectations are high and rightfully so, there's no need for it. Let's just take it game by game just as we did last season and the one before that. Let's have fun and enjoy watching such a good team and the players should focus on enjoying their football. Passion only becomes pressure when you think too much about it.

[@paulmelham9223]

Thanks Charles , thanks James. Great content as usual. Wow Raya , what a great double save. I agree with the oppositions manager " cat like save" . Martinelli needs some love , he is not on form and has not been for a long time. He should now be used as a super sub, come on and run our opposition ragged.. coyg

[@olubamidele5862]

Love what Arteta is doing; he’s built the defence with a world class GK, best CB pairing since Adams/Bould, the MF is set with Odegaard, Rice and Merino and the emergence of Nwaneri, plus I think there’s a gamble on Vieira and Miles-Skelly coming through and if not we’ll sell them on and buy. Next is the fwd line including wings. Two more windows and we’re ready to cook. We can’t build a team to challenge on all fronts overnight without cheating…115FC have proven that

[@chasf3433]

Part of the problem with these away games is that we are too slow in counter attacking, and when get a chance Jesus, Martinelli etc waste them.

[@SS-tz3qd]

I don't have a problem with Arteta being conservative in these games and against City, as long as we pick up enough points of course, but I really need him to show some bravery going forward in these coming weeks. I want to see some starts for Nwaneri, I want to see Sterling to come in and I really want to see more of Calafiori.

[@alanwallace2487]

Martinelli had serious problems finishing last season & he is just the same this season so far.

[@luvhenry]

we all just have to accept that the only way we are going to cope without Odegaard is to keep clean sheets and nick a goal through a setpiece of a brilliant goal. Thats the only way because he really is our identity.

[@DJ_ASH_B]

Brilliant show loved it being in the morning after the champions league match really good discussion from you both 💪🏽

[@iykeharrison9161]

Things i have learned from the last couple of games. 1. We are really going to struggle attack wise this season without Odegaard 2. As good as Timber is defensively as a Left back, he kills our rhythm going forward because he is not left-footed. I prefer Kiwior as left back

[@ARad-ul7kd]

Mate I totally agree with the Timber observation. He has a tendency to slow things down which kills our fluidity and allows the defensive team to get back into shape. Calafiori came on an was immediately a bit more direct and was willing to either break the lines with a pass or carry the ball forward to engage their players. I love Jurien but he definitely needs to work on that aspect of his game.

[@DJ_Dre.P]

Hi Charles & James. Clealry it's not the players, it's the manager with the lack of tactics to breakdown and break open teams. Put Odegaard, Saka, Trossard at Liverpool or Citeh and they'd score with ease.

[@Nostradanus86]

Havertz to play up top or on the bench. Not as effictive in a set midfield position also Sterling must start against City ahead of Martinelli, he needs to do a Trossard for a couple games.

[@benbrown5828]

This is the best please keep it a morning show. I can watch it at work helps the time go by.

[@caldepen372]

I don't recall Havertz ever having worked in the midfield... we work better with him up front.

[@sakalito]

I think we need to utilize Jorginho and his passing abilities, when Odegaard is out. He is not the fastest player, but Thomas isnt either. Jorgi>Thomas

[@jamesmassin7982]

No

[@chasf3433]

Odegaard is great at putting pressure on opponents but not so good under pressure against physical pacy teams.

[@DrReju382]

When you recall what they did to Liverpool and how many teams lost and dropped points away from home this match day…IT’s STILL A GOOD POINT… All YORUBA SPEAKING fans here should tell the world the name of this Italian Club…for better context😉😉

[@chrisnelson6151]

Hi Charles, Against Atalanta Trossard seemed to play quite deep when he came on and for me looked good picking the ball up and taking it forward. Against City I would like to see Havertz up top with Trossard behind in a creative floating role. Then have Rice and Partey or Jorgy sat as 2 holders. What are your thoughts?

[@ARad-ul7kd]

I would have agreed with you but based on Thomas’s performance yesterday I would start with Jorgi.

[@samthrupp1729]

Partey is on/off right now isnt he. Wins the ball well and then misplaces the pass kind of form. Agree on Trossard in the 10 and havertz up front. We lose alot without havertz up there for the logn ball. and trossard's creativity has actually been quite encouraging!! Rice as the defensive 6, have jorginho drop in for build up play out the back - we did this when we played liverpool last season if we all remember?

[@NSW_XUZIA]

HIGH WATTAGE ⚡⚡⚡

[@UnknownUser-rb9pd]

My take from this discussion is that if Arsenal have a disappointing performance it's the players fault and if they win then it's down to Arteta's genius. To be fair regarding Robbie Savage, he said the player should have scored the header but it was still a remarkable save. And if we're honest, if the roles were reversed and it was an Arsenal player that made that header, we'd have been disappointed that he didn't put the header into the far corner.

[@masonnealgrove7595]

Hey Charles, for me it has to be trossard playing that oodegard role/10 role. Leave havertz up top and have party and rice as the base of the midfield.

[@samthrupp1729]

100% except as a few comments have said...maybe jorginho in for partey. i love thomas and believe in him still but his performances are mixed rn

[@mithunmohan6102]

Jesus was trying to do way too much with the ball, in spite of having options to make simple passes. I never thought I would say this, but Havertz in the front is a better option than Jesus. Our passing was poor and lacked any sort of creativity. The game was awful to watch.

[@-MadMax45]

No Ødegaard, no tempo control, no ball retention, no creativity, no ideas, no final third combinations, no pressing traps in the final 3rd & ABSOLUTELY NO THREAT. You may say I’m being negative, but it’s the truths and it wasn’t much different from the game against Tottenham… The main differences are, Atalanta are a better team who are more organised and don’t play with such a high line - Hence why we weren’t able to trouble them as much. If only they kept a midfielder or signed another creative midfielder we’d have a ready made replacement to stand in at least.. Trying to shoehorn Havertz into the midfield to fill the void left by Ødegaard doesn’t work & clearly isn’t the answer as we’ve seen from both last season & in that match - Leave him up top to play ST where he’s been performing well, holding the ball up, linking up with Saka well & scoring goals. Jesus ain’t the answer right now… Quality player, but not consistent enough and doesn’t do what the team needs as he’s always out of position. Martinelli’s form is now bizarre… The workrate is clearly still there but the quality is currently not. I applaud the manager for sticking with him this long & for continuing to play him - Truth is the only way to get back into form is to get back amongst the goals, but it’s just not working for him right now.. He may need a few games out & now that we have Sterling he can fight with Leo for that spot. We rode our luck against Spurs and got the win.. We again rode our luck at Atalanta and got a point due to the brilliance from Raya - But how long do you think we can get away with this?! We cannot continue playing like this as teams in the league will punish us & we could drop multiple points. Either Zinchenko (once he’s fit) who has the technical ability & the passing range is given a fair chance in midfield to fill the void left by Ødegaard (and not a 20min cameo) or Nwaneri is given a chance to play… At this point what do we have to lose?

[@5-Y-5]

If you remember, at the start of last season it took months to find our rhythm and, subsequently our attacking prowess and that was all with Odegaard. Its a big loss, don't get me wrong but we're a quality side and will continue to show that this season.

[@joeabrahams6680]

I agree 100%. I couldn't have put it any better.

[@-MadMax45]

@@5-Y-5 Exactly, we took a while to get going and that was with #8 in the team… Now with him out for around a month or more (I know Arteta hasn’t confirmed a duration yet but we all know why they’re not going to put a timeline on it for damage control) along with the fact that Saka & Rice are both struggling with their fitness due to the summer schedule + last season - A number of our “key players” are nowhere near peak conditions so they’re not operating nowhere near the levels of what they did last season… We’re basically 2nd in the league due to our defence being sooooo solid and basically the best in world football at this moment - But to ask the defence to “carry the team” for the next 6-weeks is a massive ask & task. We defo need more from Martinelli or whoever plays LW + More from Havertz + More from Jesus and hope that Ødegaard can return asap as he’s clearly our answer to everything It’s what happens when you “put all your eggs into 1 basket” Depending on Ødegaard so heavily and having no plan B.

[@-MadMax45]

@@joeabrahams6680 Thanks brother, I’m calling it how I see it. We all want to see the team performing to a much higher standard, the same standards that we set ourselves over the last 2years.⏳

[@joeabrahams6680]

@-MadMax45 My biggest issue now is the bad side of Arteta's stubbornness. Even when it was obvious to everyone that we were bereft and devoid of creativity in any way shape or form, he still will not bring on Nwaneri, like he could do much worse than what was on offer already 😒. Reminds me of his personal project with Willian, even at his worst displays, he was still guaranteed a start up until he got slightly injured and then Arteta had no other option than to play ESR, and that's when our fortunes turned around. He's a great coach obviously but my problem with him has always been his willing, or lack thereof, to try something new when he's already stuck in his ways. Like his current pet peeve doings with Partey, one wonders how long that will go on for before Jorginho is actually allowed to start in his place. Probably not until Merino returns 😕

[@bbayboyznyc]

Are we forgetting Madrid at the Etihad in the QF? Sat back and escaped with a draw. Even the trans with the greatest swagger play to the occasion.

[@franzgrosser]

By a strange quirk of faith, I reckon Martinelli gets the winner in a very tight game at the Etihad!

[@ARad-ul7kd]

I would love that for obvs reasons. I am concerned about Martinelli. He’s completely lost his mojo and desperately needs a spark.

[@MikeJames.]

Not sure about 7 rating for Ben white Charles

[@jc6087]

European teams don't play the same way as premier league so our players have to feel out games more which is why they are more reserved. Adapting to tactics and systems you aren't used to playing against is key to winning the UCL, that adaptation is why teams that are in the UCL regularly do better than the newer teams.

[@NowegianRich]

Raya 9, White 4, Gabby 8, Willy Royce 8, Timber 7, Partey 3, Rice 4, Haverts 4 Martinelli, 2 Jesus 2, Saka 4

[@MrDmarkv6]

Jesus and Partey are bloody awful, and Martinelli not far behind. Gyokeres is on fire, so still bewildered with not signing him

[@adolphusjohnson7502]

Please tell the manager to play Ethan, he is the only 10 remaining in the club. Jesus should never again play as a number 9, Kai should be the one playing there.

[@事実陳列罪]

Lets accept it. Martinelli plays like a wing back now. Might as well put Calafiori at LB and Timber at Martinelli's place.

[@shadikanj4743]

Shut up and support the player

[@stevenalper3890]

Do you think Raya's recent form has anything to do with Ramesdale leaving. It must have released since kind of tension to have such a good number two leave the club?

[@fazzyth14]

Can we talk about Tomi, think its time to call it a day

[@fabienb]

Partey has been sloppy and superficial in the last matches, Jesus keeps getting us puzzled on why we still haven’t signed a proper striker, Martinelli who not only has evidently hit plateau but is even regressing… Maybe without the injuries we would be able to hide the problems better, but I don’t think we have improved at all on the fine margins Arteta talks about. Obviously we need to see the full fit squad but it doesn’t feel great. On the other hand, marvellous Raya this start of the season.

[@Biggfromthegrouphome]

What is weird about these European away games, is that it appears that we’re working with more space but we don’t know what to do with it.. we should have more flair but instead we are careless with the ball and have weaker ideas.

[@SisekoIzwelethu]

As expected arsenal fans having a meltdown which o dont get but need to deal with the entire season judging by some of these comments. Dont know how the team deals with such a fickle fanbase geez!! You'd swear we lost last nights game considering most of the time these assumptions are made via conjecture and not actual facts which is maun reason i dont really buy into opinions considering. Game was awful but some of the comments out here dont merit reply judging by how reactionary most are.

[@kennyego9264]

I think the game against Atalanta was probably one of the most boring Arsenal have played so far. While the defence was solid, the attack was a disaster. I’m not sure how Arteta plans to fix the offensive side so the team can start scoring more goals. Where’s the Arsenal from two seasons ago, scoring more than two goals per game? This season’s team seems too laid back and lacking that punch to get goals. Again, the defence is good, which is important, but if we’re not scoring, criticism from the fans will start to roll in. Atalanta is a solid team, but they’re not better than Arsenal. Yet, we gave them too many chances, and now they can walk away feeling good about their performance, which isn’t acceptable. Yes, we don’t want to concede, but we also need to focus on finding the back of the net. Saka’s performance was off today, likely due to his injury from last weekend, but I believe he’ll recover in time for the next game against Manchester City. It’s also clear the team misses Martin Ødegaard, and Rice didn’t have the best game either. Gabriel Jesus was an excuse for striker. Arteta has some work to do to make the necessary changes. Shoutout to Raya for saving the day, and Calafiori and Trossard for making some impact in the second half. With a big game against mighty Manchester City coming up, we’ll need all the luck and the best performance possible. It won’t be easy, but I think we can scramble for a draw, which would be a good result for Arsenal. Good luck to the team!

[@TheOnyx_Lens]

Ben White needs resting. Timber on the right, Ricardo on the left.

[@peterpickford4643]

Hi Charles, Watching Extra Time this morning I was disappointed at your easy dismissal of Stirling starting for Arsenal against Man City. Let's face it we are desperately short of ideas up front. Stirling is a big game player who should be a better option than Martinelli or indeed Jesus at present. I am convinced that both will get back to their best in time but frankly with MC this weekend we don't have that much time!! Also, Califiori should start at left-back. He offers something more with his tactical awareness and inverted style of play.

[@ARad-ul7kd]

Agreed I would drop Martinelli for Raheem.

[@asandamkhize6387]

Saka is the only player that can play Martins position

[@lewismartin4306]

If this arsenal without odegaard.. it’s going to be an awful few months

[@jamesmassin7982]

Delete your message and rewrite it so that it makes sense! 🙄

[@akshatmall1200]

Nah James, Sterling looks bad, he is in retirement mode

[@alirekmani]

Everytime Jesus plays well, he misses the next match for injury. Good news: he should be “so” available for next match!

[@chasf3433]

Arteta just seems not to learn that he cannot overplay Partey as he does with Saka, Saliba etc. He will soon break down and be out for months. But no Partey and Ode equals no creativity in MF and ability to play fast out from the back.

[@stevenalper3890]

'i really like thomas' made me throw up a bit in my mouth

[@j_dyme]

This is the exact reason why our transfer window was a mess. To leave ourselves with no back up mid for ordegard is almost derelict of duty

[@tropicaltrev1617]

Personally i think the manager has already lost faith in Martinelli, we tried to buy Nico after all! Martinelli failed last season and is continuing that form this season. For perspective, Anthony oop north has 1 goal from 91 minutes, Martinelli has 0 from 340 minutes with 0 assists! Why is it only gk’s we’re ruthless with!

[@whatevername8551]

If the manager lost faith in Martinelli, he would not be starting. Hopefully Arteta knows something that everyone else watching has missed.

[@DrReju382]

Front 6: Leo.Kai.Saka Rice.Jorgi.Partey. Back 5 selects itself.

[@m.d8434]

The same team starts

[@alijalilsani]

I love ESR really wanted him to be a Club legend but with Martin out for a few months no one is missing ESR or Fabio Vieira. So it just proves that Arteta was right to let them go in the summer.

[@whatevername8551]

We can't score in open play without Ø, so how can you say ESR is not missed?

[@Aza13]

Real Madrid incoming for Raya 😢😅

[@jc6087]

Martinelli is trying too hard and you can see he's heaping pressure on himself to perform which is why he's rushing everything and losing his composure. Arteta needs to get hold of him and settle him down.

[@DionHector]

When you are to be considered one of the best team in europe you go away from home and win like man city real madrid barcelloña atletico madrid and bayern munich my gunners still have to make that step up but with mikel we on our way

[@samwest8042]

Rice no more than 6 for sure. Thought he was as poor as Partey.

[@fazzyth14]

Sell Martinelli (real his is never coming back), Tomi (total sick note)

[@afccapetown2726]

The Light bulb 💡: Ethan Nwaneri Hopefully 🤞

[@jamesmassin7982]

Incorrect. We have spent years and millions to to generate another talent that resembles Cesc to destroy it all against Shity! Are you for real? Arteta will do the right thing and drip feed Nwaneri against Bolton, Leicester, etc.

[@AaMz112]

arteta/edu neglected our attack for so many transfer windows, and now it’s starting to show. nwaneri needs to play now - he can’t possibly do any worse than jesus and martinelli who’ve both been shocking for a year and a half

[@jamesmassin7982]

Negative crap. Keep it to yourself and Shut up!

[@whatevername8551]

Sterling, Havertz, Trossard, Jesus don't count?

[@obumnemeadubasim4880]

Arsenal lacked creativity. There's no sense leaving ethan on bench and playing jesus, saka couldn't function well.

[@gspianoguitar4369]

Any selection that has Havertz in midfield will / has always ended badly. Arteta will simply not accept it. Idiocy. Jesus up top? means Havertz in midfield and we''re buggered. It's not as if Jesus gives us anything - a goal every 2 games fro City / every 2.5 games for Palmeiras / every 4 games for us...Normally I attach little to statistics but that's Jesus. It's never going to improve or it already would have. Of course tried and trusted Smith Rowe could have easily and adequately filled in for Odegaard but..... Martinelli can't hit a barn door. If we get anything at full strength City I'll be amazed but only of Havertz goes uptop. If he doesn't we're getting a hammering end of.

[@dccy8504]

Partey needs to be removed from the starting 11 as soon as possible. Nothing positive going forward, horrible defensively. Gives the ball away in the most dangerous area of the pitch (opponent's final third) Havertz is not the answer to the left 8 better up front. Rice at the 6 trossard left 8, Jorginho. Wouldnt even mind trying out nwaneri over trossard. but PLEASE, no more partey.

[@geoffbutler2893]

Very poor that was boring to watch. Arteta needs to trust the younger guy a bit more. Partey jesus was awful. odegaard we all know everythink goes through him but this happened to city without de bruyne. I would go for trossard in the no 10 against city

[@billybatson2149]

Jesus was again terrible, and to make him captain was ridiculous. He hasn't performed at well for at least a year, Think it's time to move him on ASAP.

[@KayVilleRecords]

Arteta has naiveties that tend to be exposed on the international stage but they tend to go under the radar a little in the English football bubble. And thats really because those European sides dont have the same "fear" that English teams have of Arsenal. They respect us, but they dont treat us like they treat City, which is what we face in the EPL. So you tend to see Arsenal on the back foot. As a response Mikel doubles down on his main ethos, which is defend first attack second. This in turn feeds the loop as we cant then start playing our usual game and the players on the pitch get frustrated and start making all kinds of silly mistakes. Thats not just a UCL thing, we saw that against fairly average even weak UEL competitors. And no one ever won a European competition by being so conservative. This isnt Porto 2004...

[@Oceanpurplesky]

I m white fan. I m worrying him. Because he hasn't ode . His face lost confidence😢

[@marvellis6762]

Think I've had just about enough of Martinelli and I declare him a flop. Not remotely improved since he was a teenager! Can't have passengers when going for titles

[@joeabrahams6680]

Yep... Called it as soon as the seriousness of Odegaard's injury got confirmed... I know it's hard to accept but there goes our season 😂😂😂. We'll still finish in the Top 4 in the league and probably exit in the round of 16 in the UCL. Maybe we could win one of the cups if we get lucky in the draws but with Arteta's body language to domestic cups, I won't be holding my breath on Arteta winning any of them. The title race won't even be as close as last couple of years, it could be over by December. I know this is a wild take, but it's the reality I can see from here in light of recent events.

[@vernonhendrickse565]

arsenal were bereft of ideas. Let's be honest, Arteta will not win us anything. The side is one dimensional and little or no threat in front of goal. Arteta lacks tactical nuance

[@victoronyeukwu3903]

We scored over 90 goals in the premier league last season mate. Give it a rest. It's fucking September mate.

[@DC94359]

We are really going to see how bang average Declan Rice is at everything except breaking up play and being good defensively while Odegaard is out. It's the low blocks I'm worried about. Rice was hiding yesterday, and when he did get the ball, his first thought was to not lose it and play it safe. Partey is looking 50 years old and a liability. Martinelli and Jesus are painful to watch. Trossard other than finishing is absolutely shocking. Saka, Havertz, and set pieces are our chance of scoring with Odegaard. This team is so toothless going forward it's scary.

[@AdamPort41]

Every comment. Miserable. Feel bad for ya

[@trevor3286]

Wow do you support Arsenal ?

[@akwasiboateng7685]

​@@trevor3286 ask him again

[@DC94359]

@@AdamPort41 The truth can be miserable sometimes

[@DC94359]

@trevor3286 I still back the team, but you can't sit there with your head in the sand saying everything will be fine. We have no creativity in this team without Odegaard. Even saka is isolated on the wing with no Odegaard to link up with.