Arsenal’s second part of the season starts now

TotalArsenal

Firstly, a few words about the Villa game. We lost but I was very, very proud of the way the boys fought till the end. The loss did not come as a surprise given the form of Villa and having to play them away, and of course the 3 out of 4 CBs missing did not help. Yet we bossed large parts of the game and had chances to win it. It was a fab game of football and a draw would have been a fairer result, but for me the fight for the win, the passion in the team, and the devastation of the players at the end showed us how ready these guys are to win the title. I cannot ask for more.

Second part of season starts NOW.

We all know that a season has two halves. Every team will be played home and away, and once we played all teams once the second part of the season starts (except for the games v Villa which will be completed before we have played all teams at least once). Yet, when I looked at the Arsenal scheduled fixtures for this season, it was clear to me that the season for us would be split into the first 15 games and then the remaining 23. If we did well in those first 15 and stayed in touch with the league leaders, I thought, we would have a good chance of winning the league.

Many of the really hard away games are front-loaded during these first 15 games. Man United (somehow never easy for us), Liverpool, Newcastle, Sunderland (okay this was not expected to be such a hard fixture), Chelsea and Villa away are now all behind us, and yet we actually lead the league. This is a fantastic achievement, especially with so many injuries concentrated in key areas (attack and recently our central defence). We will of course have to play these teams again but playing them at home is a big advantage.

There are some remaining hard away fixtures like Spuds and Man City, and the likes of Nottingham Forest and Brighton will certainly be tough nuts to crack, but it really feels to me that the remainder of the season will be much more manageable. There is a good flow to this for the team and management to prepare well and know when they have to peak, and the home crowd and stadium make such a big difference in these key battles.

The team did also amazing in the CL and can take the coming three games lightly, if they so wish. The focus now has to be on the PL and try and push through as many wins as possible. Key is to nurse back our central defenders as soon as reasonably possible, and avoid further injuries. Easier said than done of course. For some reason, we keep getting those injuries in specialised areas constantly, and I don’t really know why this seem to be happening to Arsenal especially. Any thoughts, BKers?

It is time to increase the gap between us and especially Citeh, so let’s get cracking. But first we have to cross the Brugge. No idea what the lineup for rhis game will be. Again, any thoughts?

By TotalArsenal.

61 thoughts on “Arsenal’s second part of the season starts now”

  • Nice, sensible, thoughtful post Frank, well done…

    Emotions are raw due to previous near misses, it’s not a surprise if a little disappointing given the squad’s performances this season up till now.

    We’ve lost 8 points to late/added time goals, it’s going to hurt but it’s also a reflection on how hard this team fights, the Heinz effect perhaps?

    Time for all our recently missing attackers to come to the party, take some of the weight off of our defenders and rediscover that efficiency in finishing that we’ve maybe lacked somewhat up till now.

  • Stu, you are most kind as always, but believe me I’m not being modest – have I ever been? – when I say my quietness is a blessing in disguise.
    You all belong to a rare kind of gentlemen here, and simply don’t deserve to be burdened with the topics and aspects that I would bring up.

  • No, PB, just like “our recently missing attackers” it is grand to have two of our favourite boys back in town. GN5’s absence is hard enough to bear without missing out on those “topics and aspects”. Bring ’em on csapattárs.

  • The Heinz effect! Love it Kev. Yes the team suffered a few late Heinz sauce drops. We let them get too close to our box, maybe it’s fatigue? Should this be Norgaard’s time?

    Still, this only happened away from home in tough games, and i think we are entering a more controlled phase now.

  • “Our kids are alright”; you bet they are … I don’t think any Arsenal fan in their right mind would tell different, even in an emotional response to such a painful loss.
    I read all of Kev (welcome back, mate!) great reports of our games on Rico’s “Highbury House”, and in the comments of one of the latest ones, some of Rico’s “patrons” started a discussion about the profound religious beliefs of quite a few of our lads, how integral a part of their lives these were.
    I found that very interesting and I tend to think that, however disappointed we may be with some results, the values these boys share is one of the reasons why their attitude, commitment, have been so far, and will always be faultless. (Just to be clear) I’m from a divided family – “religionwise“ – myself: a non-believing father, and a deeply Catholic mother. I followed in my dad’s materialistic footsteps, but I know I can thank my mom (and grandma!) for the christianity-inspired “non-negotiables“ their beliefs tainted my education with …
    Anyway, our love for this 2025-26 glorious crop of Gooners shouldn’t keep us from discussing some of the reasons why we left Villa Pk. empty-handed. In the video Eris gave us the link of, Adrian Clarke comes up – as always – with some insightful remarks, easy to take because delivered in his own personal gentle, Arsenal-’til-I-die, manner.
    I agree with many of them, the first being (I rephrase, but that’s what he means) the classic “when you feel you can’t win, make sure …“. I would have signed up for a draw even before kick-off, actually, in fact I’d rather we’d been as conservative as we were at Anfield, so …
    Then he couldn’t help but highlight how heavy the legs of our two midfield jewels (Declan, Zubi) looked after a while. Our engine didn’t choke – even on a (slightly) underwhelming day, they’re too good for this to happen -, but the question has to be raised of why both of them have had to play 180+ minutes in less than 70 hrs, at the end of such a punishing period in the schedule, while Nørgaard sat watching …
    Our Dane is not at the level of DeclaMendi, there’s no question about that, but he’s an excellent DM, with a huge experience of the PL, a great addition to the squad imo, so that I was left scratching my head about this (not to mention how afraid I was either Martin or Declan, would end up limping off).
    Lastly, I think his remark about Merino not feeling as comfortable with Øde playing deeper as he is with Eberechi right behind him, even shifting positions with him, was very interesting. I don’t think definitive conclusions should be drawn from this, though; this was just one game, in very tough conditions for so many reasons, but I’ll sure keep an eye on this in the future …
    Anyway, CL time tomorrow … changes there will be, that’s for sure, but which ones? Brugge are in a tough spot at the moment but this is not Port Vale we’re talking about. In front of their fans they won’t let us have a stroll in the park. We’d better be ready, focused, from the getgo, which is why I’d love Mick to give a start to the very same back-four (Cala will get his rest later on, he’s suspended next week-end), with maybe Kepa stretching his legs behind them, and shuffle things around in midfield and upfront:
    Kepa
    White-Timber-Hincapié-Calafiori
    Nørgaard-LewisSkelly
    Nwaneri-Eze-Martinelli
    Gyökeres
    (Raya-Merino-Madueke-Zubimendi-Rice-Ødegaard + Dowman/Salmon/HarrimanAnnous/SagoeJr. ??? – Charles is having an outstanding season, in a U21 team that’s nor exactly flying, I think he’d deserve the callup))
    COYG

  • 57 varieties TA, a bit of perspective perhaps, ie Man City lost at Villa Park.

    We need to stay grown up about it, as is the case on here, that is you occasionally lose football matches and as long as it’s occasionally then that’s ok, you just need to deal with the odd defeat and ignore the noise.

    Hope you are well Stu…

  • Bill Le Conquerer, thanks, I’m glad you enjoy my reports, it’s become an enjoyable habit now and allows me to reflect on the games.

    What do you think of the two Ecuadorean youngsters we have signed, from the short YouTube vids I’ve seen they both look very technical and classically South American. I think they’ll make fantastic additions in 2027.

    Add them to some of the Irish lads we’re scouting and the one we’ve signed and it’s looking very positive for the health of the academy.

  • Legall, that lineup is perhaps a little too adventurous. I know you like MLS in midfield, but we need our remaining defenders for…. defence.

    A midfield of Norgaard, Merino and Eze sounds a bit more solid to me.

  • I don’t know more about the kids than the next Arsenal fan, Kev, and yet I’m pretty sure they must be very, very special talents.
    It so happens that I’ve learned a lot about scouting from abroad, lately.
    There was a historic change in the NCAA regulation in 2024: the Association and its five power conferences agreed to allow schools to directly pay players for the first time in the history of college sports.
    As a consequence, my boy (on top of his 30 or so years of experience in French BB as player, senior manager, youth coach …) has seen that as an opportunity to try and start going from coaching young French talents to scouting them for American universities. I do my best to help him out with all sorts of communication in English, which is why we exchange about this a lot … My point is, what I can testify to now, is the titanic amount of work he has to put into the profiling of just one kid. And we’re talking about NCAA, not NBA …
    Well the PL is football’s NBA, isn’t it? So when one the most powerful clubs in the PL agrees to sign up and fly over two Ecuadorean kids to London, you can be sure there’s been an army of specialized people who have been scrutinizing every aspect of the boys’ potential – and I do mean “every”, including personal ones like their family background for instance.
    That doesn’t mean both of them, or any of them for that matter, are sure to turn into hugely successful signings. Such a planetary alignment is needed for a kid to finally make it at top-level in football that you can never be sure it’ll take place, eventually … but we can take for granted there’s something – literally – exceptional about them for The Arsenal to bring them over.
    So yes: fantastic additions they’re bound to be indeed.

  • I’m well Kevski. Had a fab time with the grandies in Somerset. Was offered a ticket for the 4-1 demo of Tottenham but 450 quid was out of the budget, a long way out. Back home now and warming up and stretching in anticipation of this mornings match in Bruges. Instead of Brendon Gleeson and Colin Farrell we have Christian Norgaard and hopefully Gabriel Jesus to light up the screen. I’m surprised we haven’t seen much of the Dane, but he should prove an able deputy for our Declan, who I hope is back in London with his feet up having a good, well deserved night off.

  • Great to read you are in such a supportive role with your son, LG. I wonder if the research into Piero has been instrumental in uncovering these young Ecuadorian prospects?

  • A somewhat changed side, and rightly so, seeing as the walking wounded keep growing in this team. Norgaard as CB too. Thought Kepa would start but maybe Arteta didn’t wish to change much back there.

    We should have enough to get something from this one, methinks.
    COYG!

  • Arsenal Confirmed Lineup
    Starting XI: Raya, White, Norgaard, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres.
    Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, Nichols, Salmon, Calafiori, Copley, Nwaneri, Eze, Saka, Jesus.

    Club Brugge
    Starting XI: Mignolet, Siquet, Ordonez, Mechele, Seys, Onyedika, Stankovic, Vanaken, Forbs, Tresoldi, Tzolis.

    Subs: Van den Heuvel, De Corte, Meijer, Spileers, Romero, Sabbe, Vetlesen, Sandra, Furo, Campbell, Diakhon, Nilsson.

  • I thought the same, Stu … great minds and all that.
    A win tonight is a ticket for ending up 1st or 2nd (probably 1st, actually) of the group phase, Eris.
    So COYG indeed

  • Well, if that’s not an improved end product, I don’t know what is … Noni Madueke, I salute you

  • Some way to go in second half, but boys are playing with energy and focus. Central defence not great but hopefully Arteta can address a few things at half time.

    Would like to see Gyokeres getting into the game.

  • O Noni Noni… What a beauty!
    Bruges are giving it a good go, certainly shaking their recent form.

  • What a hit by Madueke and all down to a show of strength (Martinelli needs to improve this aspect of his game). Martinelli is on course for a goal scoring record for us in this season’s UCL, having scored in all his 4 appearances, so far. He could get 5 in 5 tonight. He has to step it up, unless records don’t mean much to him.

    I hope we can see a bit of Gabby Jesus tonight too, if things get more comfy.

  • Marti had been waiting for you to ask, Eris, that’s all there was.
    The spider webs in their top-corners are going bye-bye tonight, aren’t they?

  • Full time. Now, I am truly scandalised. No set piece goal tonight.

    Nice workout for Gabby, Ethan and Norgaard. Madueke did start to tire so, nice to have Saka come on for a runout too. I looked forward to a win but feared we won’t keep a clean sheet (Brugge did deserve a goal, on the chances they creates) so, to have both is delightful.

    We just need to get bodies back fit and we can start to look at a huge season for us.

  • I know Mbappe wasn’t playing for RM tonight but it looked like he was on the pitch in Bruge when Noni scored. The power and precision were, yes, reminiscent of Thierry, LG, but so very Mbappesque.

    Reyes had a fine game, and so good to see GJ back in action.

  • Well that silences the haters online for awhile at least.

    Pleased to see Jesus back and looking so sharp.

    Delighted to see 16 year old Salmon given his debut, another great product from the much maligned Arsenal academy played by a manager who apparently doesn’t like playing youngsters…. Confused? Yeah me too, but I’ll keep on reminding the naysayers…

    At the end of yesterday’s game Arteta had four Hale End boys on the pitch, because (are you listening?) the circumstances presented themselves.

    Have a good day everyone, I’m off to celebrate my birthday. 😇

  • It’s his countryman, Stu, so totally understandable. 😃

    I have not seen enough Mbappé to say whether Madueke’s move and thunderstrike is also reminiscent of the Real,Madrid man.

  • My Twilight team is top of the league after 3 consecutive wins this evening.
    Happy Birthday, Kev. I’m guessing you are early – mid fifties? 54?

  • Thumbs up again for your post-game morning report, Kev.
    The “HH” regulars, and Rico herself have dropped a few words about Gyö, echoing Total’s during the game. There’s no denying the boy’s in a tough spot right now. I keep thinking he’s the kind of player who needs to trust his body 100% to be effective but as of today, he just doesn’t appear to be fit enough to play his natural game, based on ceaseless, powerful, darting runs which make it impossible for his mates to not provide him with through balls – while at the moment he just can’t rev up, hit the redline, which turns him into some kind of invisible man for his mates …
    You can’t help but feel sympathy for the boy indeed, but he’ll have to get it together real quick, because GJ9 looked much better than I expected him to be, and Kai’s return mustn’t be that far away now. The hardest challenge he’s ever had to overcome is right in front of him now …
    As for our heroes of the night, Noni’s and Marti’s screamers wre all over French TV long after the final whistle … tbh, I expected a routine win, but nothing like this – with Nørgaard’s performance and the kids’ playing time, all of this turned into a night to remember, eventually.
    Aren’t we spoilt fans?

  • And a very happy birthday to you, Kev!
    A december man I am too, you know …
    The best champagne I’ve ever drunk comes from here:
    https://www.champagne-bio-lefevre.com/
    Don’t know if there’s a way to have some of their “Petit Jésus en Culottes de Velours” bottles shipped or flown over to London, though …

  • That’s LG, I like champers but I’m not an aficionado, so a glass of Merlot for me tonight.

    It’s such a shame for Viktor, the timing of his injury, just as he was looking the part and I agree, I don’t think he’s totally over his absence, but he’ll start vs Wolves and hopefully get a goal or two to boost his confidence?

  • If your bday was Dec 10th, you also share it with my Dad, who never owned a Porsche or a taxi but drove yachts pretty fast. Happy Bday to you, too, LG. That Champers sounds very fine, even just judging by its moniker.

    Gosh, we may soon have a full roster of Strikers Kai, Gabby J, Gyo, Mikel and even Leandro as a false Nine. A big challenge for Gyo, but also a happy selection dilemma for Mikel.

  • Thanks lads, but actually I was born december … 24th.
    I hadn’t specified, because I thought the holiness in me was pretty obvious.
    How disappointing it wasn’t to you. 😉

  • Morning Total, and all. We erected our tree yesterday, cut down from a shelter belt that runs the Westerly boundary of our orchard. I’m expectant that Mikel and the boys will be placing three points under its baubled branches in a couple of hours time.
    I’m picking Gyo to start with GJ coming on for the last 30, both to score. A 4-0 score line to set the jolly tone for this festive season.

  • Arsenal starting XI: Raya, White, Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Martinelli, Saka, Gyokeres #AFC

    Subs: Arrizabalaga, Jesus, Trossard, Odegaard, Norgaard, Madueke, Nwaneri, Merino, Lewis-Skelly

    Wolves starting XI: Johnstone, Doherty, Agbadou, Toti, Mosquera, Wolfe, Krejci, Joao Gomes, Andre, Hwang, Strand Larsen

    Subs: Sa, Bueno, Arias, Arokodare, Chirewa, Hoever, Lopez, Mane, Tchatchoua

  • Well, poorest half of the season, surely … some shuffling around is to be expected.
    COYG

  • Belated birthday greetings, Kev. That makes three December celebrants here; I am a December guy too; 1st day.

    I only got to see the last 25 minutes of the game and from what I have heard and read here, maybe it’s one we need to put behind and hope we learn from it as we make progress. I had to be at a wedding and reception which seemed to go on into the night.

  • Happy Birthday to you for the 1st December Eris and the same to you as well LG on the 24th.

    I’d like a Porsche for Christmas TA but I’m more than likely have to settle for socks and slippers…

    Last nights game was absolute rubbish, not sure why Myles didn’t start and that Ben was rested, but Ben will get a rest now with his hamstring, won’t be seeing him again until 2026…

    Ragged passing, no sharpness around the box until Trossard came on, the midfield looked gassed, Arteta said the players will get a couple of days off but I reckon and hope that the coaching staff should as well. Everyone needs to clear their mind and then start thinking about and training towards Everton on Tuesday.

  • Told ya’all… 4-0 stroll in the park. I promise lads, that is the last time I will prognosticate. Put it all down to my cocksure hubris. Thank God for Bukuyu. I wonder, does he get two assists for the own goals?

  • “Les absents ont toujours tort“
    I blame this nerve-racking night on Eris, and Pb.
    Just because I can.
    😏
    I hope these two days off will be enough to rejuvenate the boys’ bodies … and minds.
    Raymond Domenech is used to saying that, when he coached Ligue 1 teams, the last game before the Christmas break was impossible to prepare. The players would turn up to the game in their cars, packed up with luggage and families. At the final whistle they barely took any time under the shower, and just darted off, as far away as possible from football. All he could do was pray for a win to be his early Cristmas gift – a win he, as a coach, would have played no part in.
    My gut feeling is the lads knew about the 48 hour break before ko, so that – on top of their lack of respect for this Wolves team, imo – their minds were anywhere but on that pitch. But miracle time it was already for us, wasn’t it? Ironically, if we make it to that title that’s been eluding us for so long, I’m pretty sure these 3 points will be remembered for what they are: the undeserved win at the end of a nondescript performance which ends up crowning a champion …
    Now it looks as though the actual start of our “second part of the season“ will take place away at Goodison Pk. – or whatever the name is now. We’d better not mess up this one; with the return of the injured players (spare a thought for Ben here; as always, he kept a straight face, but he must have been devastated – for what it’s worth I was, for him) there’s headaches ahead about team selection for Mick.
    Flip side of the coin for having been gifted with such a squad, I guess … but we’ll have plenty of time to discuss this. As for now, we’ll still be leaders tonight; ain’t that news, ain’t that good news?
    COYG

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