Shakhtar Donetsk’s rising star Mykhaylo Mudryk could have upset the apple cart at the Emirates, bust the wage structure and transfer budget, unbalanced the side and stunted Gabriel Martinelli’s development. Exciting to see the Ukrainian dart down the left wing at…
There’s an upside and downside to everything. Gabriel Jesus’s start to his Arsenal career has been stellar, with four goals and three assists in seven Premier League matches. Only Erling Haaland has been involved in more goals this season. But…
Granit Xhaka has achieved half a redemption, by being given a vice captain role, along with Gabriel Jesus to help club captain Martin Odegaard. Mikel Arteta said in April on the Palace debacle. “I didn’t want to see him leave…
There was a buoyancy to the Emirates, fuelled by the good pre-season, fine window to date and the Palace result. The raucous atmosphere helped see Arsenal over the line. Same eleven as at Palace. Zinchenko preferred to Tierney on the…
Good to see Charlie Patino, sparking on his debut for Blackpool. Michael Appleton, Blackpool head coach, said Charlie Patino has an old head on young shoulders as he came off the bench for his new loan club. Appleton said: “He…
Game of stages. Arsenal flew out of traps, carrying on their sparkling pre-season form. 30th season for the Premier League. 28th season for ANR. This was the earliest start in a top division fixture. The performance of Ben White in…
Arsenal never looked like winning this. Tiredness – both mental and physical along with injuries took their toll pre-match. And again, reserve defenders weren’t up to it. The first crucial goal came from a Tavares (in for Tierney) foul throw…
Death by four cuts. Holding was in. White on the bench. Therein lay a problem. Reserve defenders – not high enough quality. An Arsenal team missing over £100m of talent. And both immaturity and naivety raised their heads in a…
A top four team would have put the game to bed in the first half and the fact they didn’t, highlighted a weakness which needs addressing. Tomiyasu was back but started on the left. Holding was still in for White,…
Lucky. Key moments went Arsenal’s way. Not least United’s penalty miss and hits on the post and bar. One of the issues when Manchester United are in town: there’s tension between Man United’s historical image and their current reality. They…