Aaron Lerner
@aaronclerner.bsky.social
Managing Editor @ theshortfuse.sbnation.com (Arsenal). Also Caps, sports, gaming, and random musings.
MD native. Speak up for and protect those who cannot do so themselves.
My rescue dog Gunner is much cuter than me.
You may know me as Nefarius. He/him
MD native. Speak up for and protect those who cannot do so themselves.
My rescue dog Gunner is much cuter than me.
You may know me as Nefarius. He/him
Pinned
Aaron Lerner
@aaronclerner.bsky.social
· Aug 11
Arsenal alt codes for the 25-26 season:
Viktor Gyökeres - ALT + 0246
Christian Nørgaard - ALT + 0248
Martin Ødegaard - ALT + 0216
Viktor Gyökeres - ALT + 0246
Christian Nørgaard - ALT + 0248
Martin Ødegaard - ALT + 0216
But few people are talking about the injuries in the conversations about yesterday’s match.
I’ve seen little about Saliba missing, Havertz missing, Merino missing. Ødegaard only having 20 good minutes before taking a knock in the match. Saka coming back early from injury and offering nothing.
I’ve seen little about Saliba missing, Havertz missing, Merino missing. Ødegaard only having 20 good minutes before taking a knock in the match. Saka coming back early from injury and offering nothing.
February 13, 2026 at 1:01 PM
But few people are talking about the injuries in the conversations about yesterday’s match.
I’ve seen little about Saliba missing, Havertz missing, Merino missing. Ødegaard only having 20 good minutes before taking a knock in the match. Saka coming back early from injury and offering nothing.
I’ve seen little about Saliba missing, Havertz missing, Merino missing. Ødegaard only having 20 good minutes before taking a knock in the match. Saka coming back early from injury and offering nothing.
MO and / or Saka playing meant Gabby Jesus didn’t. Does that make the difference? Who knows, maybe not.
There is also the Eze question - they’ve got to figure out how to get more from him.
There is also the Eze question - they’ve got to figure out how to get more from him.
February 13, 2026 at 4:29 AM
MO and / or Saka playing meant Gabby Jesus didn’t. Does that make the difference? Who knows, maybe not.
There is also the Eze question - they’ve got to figure out how to get more from him.
There is also the Eze question - they’ve got to figure out how to get more from him.
The more pertinent issues from today, to me, were should Ødegaard have stayed on the pitch after staying down for so long. He was a non-factor after his knock.
Should Saka have been involved at all - he didn’t seem to have much of anything. Or at least he didn’t contribute much.
Should Saka have been involved at all - he didn’t seem to have much of anything. Or at least he didn’t contribute much.
February 13, 2026 at 4:27 AM
The more pertinent issues from today, to me, were should Ødegaard have stayed on the pitch after staying down for so long. He was a non-factor after his knock.
Should Saka have been involved at all - he didn’t seem to have much of anything. Or at least he didn’t contribute much.
Should Saka have been involved at all - he didn’t seem to have much of anything. Or at least he didn’t contribute much.
I agree.
I also think asking Arsenal to create that amount of chances without Havertz, essentially without Saka, and with 20 minutes of Odegaard not limping around the pitch is a very tall ask.
I also think asking Arsenal to create that amount of chances without Havertz, essentially without Saka, and with 20 minutes of Odegaard not limping around the pitch is a very tall ask.
February 13, 2026 at 4:26 AM
I agree.
I also think asking Arsenal to create that amount of chances without Havertz, essentially without Saka, and with 20 minutes of Odegaard not limping around the pitch is a very tall ask.
I also think asking Arsenal to create that amount of chances without Havertz, essentially without Saka, and with 20 minutes of Odegaard not limping around the pitch is a very tall ask.
Remember how we said people were going to die because of the decisions made by Trump’s administration?
February 13, 2026 at 2:39 AM
Remember how we said people were going to die because of the decisions made by Trump’s administration?
Let me amend: I think this summer it was never an option because of the price.
It may have been at a previous point in time.
It may have been at a previous point in time.
February 13, 2026 at 1:29 AM
Let me amend: I think this summer it was never an option because of the price.
It may have been at a previous point in time.
It may have been at a previous point in time.
It's a good thing most Arsenal fans aren't running the club! Signing Isak for that money would have been disastrous.
Also, I'm fairly certain Isak was never an option for Arsenal. It was always going to be Liverpool for him.
Also, I'm fairly certain Isak was never an option for Arsenal. It was always going to be Liverpool for him.
February 13, 2026 at 1:25 AM
It's a good thing most Arsenal fans aren't running the club! Signing Isak for that money would have been disastrous.
Also, I'm fairly certain Isak was never an option for Arsenal. It was always going to be Liverpool for him.
Also, I'm fairly certain Isak was never an option for Arsenal. It was always going to be Liverpool for him.
Isak is not a comparison point. Also, Isak has shown, in more than one season, that he cannot stay on the field.
February 13, 2026 at 1:18 AM
Isak is not a comparison point. Also, Isak has shown, in more than one season, that he cannot stay on the field.
Fair enough. I think Sesko would have been a disaster in the fall with how he was playing and how much Gyokeres had to play without Havertz available. Sesko looked significantly worse than Gyokeres.
February 13, 2026 at 12:56 AM
Fair enough. I think Sesko would have been a disaster in the fall with how he was playing and how much Gyokeres had to play without Havertz available. Sesko looked significantly worse than Gyokeres.
I think the problem with the discussion is that it wasn't a binary decision as we're talking about it.
Yes, it seems like it was Sesko vs. Gyokeres. But "who is the better player now and down the road" doesn't give the answer to "did the club make the right decision.
Yes, it seems like it was Sesko vs. Gyokeres. But "who is the better player now and down the road" doesn't give the answer to "did the club make the right decision.
February 13, 2026 at 12:47 AM
I think the problem with the discussion is that it wasn't a binary decision as we're talking about it.
Yes, it seems like it was Sesko vs. Gyokeres. But "who is the better player now and down the road" doesn't give the answer to "did the club make the right decision.
Yes, it seems like it was Sesko vs. Gyokeres. But "who is the better player now and down the road" doesn't give the answer to "did the club make the right decision.
It's pretty tough to say that Sesko instead of Gyokeres would make a significant difference in the title this season.
Sesko was worse than a passenger for three or four months after arriving at United.
I doubt they are much more than a wash on quality this season.
Sesko was worse than a passenger for three or four months after arriving at United.
I doubt they are much more than a wash on quality this season.
February 13, 2026 at 12:34 AM
It's pretty tough to say that Sesko instead of Gyokeres would make a significant difference in the title this season.
Sesko was worse than a passenger for three or four months after arriving at United.
I doubt they are much more than a wash on quality this season.
Sesko was worse than a passenger for three or four months after arriving at United.
I doubt they are much more than a wash on quality this season.
Even if they strip City of the titles (they won't), the joy that was stolen from us cannot be returned. We cannot ever be made whole for that loss.
February 13, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Even if they strip City of the titles (they won't), the joy that was stolen from us cannot be returned. We cannot ever be made whole for that loss.
Yeah, I'm hopeful you'll turn out wrong. But I'm not going to hold my breath.
I don't think I'm ever going to let it go, FWIW.
Honestly, even if they were cleared of the charges, the game seems so rigged that it would be tough to trust the outcome. Yes, I see the issues with that stance.
I don't think I'm ever going to let it go, FWIW.
Honestly, even if they were cleared of the charges, the game seems so rigged that it would be tough to trust the outcome. Yes, I see the issues with that stance.
February 13, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Yeah, I'm hopeful you'll turn out wrong. But I'm not going to hold my breath.
I don't think I'm ever going to let it go, FWIW.
Honestly, even if they were cleared of the charges, the game seems so rigged that it would be tough to trust the outcome. Yes, I see the issues with that stance.
I don't think I'm ever going to let it go, FWIW.
Honestly, even if they were cleared of the charges, the game seems so rigged that it would be tough to trust the outcome. Yes, I see the issues with that stance.
FWIW, I don't think there was a chance in hell Arsenal were signing him in Jnauary to keep him from City, even if he reportedly preferred Arsenal. (And if he did, he probably could have done more to make that happen).
If you're signing players to keep them from rivals, offer 5M more for Guehi.
If you're signing players to keep them from rivals, offer 5M more for Guehi.
February 13, 2026 at 12:26 AM
FWIW, I don't think there was a chance in hell Arsenal were signing him in Jnauary to keep him from City, even if he reportedly preferred Arsenal. (And if he did, he probably could have done more to make that happen).
If you're signing players to keep them from rivals, offer 5M more for Guehi.
If you're signing players to keep them from rivals, offer 5M more for Guehi.
Seems like I don't rate Sesko quite as highly as you. Similar general ideas, though.
I'm cautious of not over-indexing Sesko's recent up-turn in scoring form because goals can be fickle and development curves are tougher to predict than we think.
I'm cautious of not over-indexing Sesko's recent up-turn in scoring form because goals can be fickle and development curves are tougher to predict than we think.
February 13, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Seems like I don't rate Sesko quite as highly as you. Similar general ideas, though.
I'm cautious of not over-indexing Sesko's recent up-turn in scoring form because goals can be fickle and development curves are tougher to predict than we think.
I'm cautious of not over-indexing Sesko's recent up-turn in scoring form because goals can be fickle and development curves are tougher to predict than we think.
At some number, he's not a value signing, though. It seems like Arsenal hit that number, which is why they backed off.
It seems like there could be some other factors - resentment for RB pulling the rug a bit - in there.
It seems like there could be some other factors - resentment for RB pulling the rug a bit - in there.
February 13, 2026 at 12:23 AM
At some number, he's not a value signing, though. It seems like Arsenal hit that number, which is why they backed off.
It seems like there could be some other factors - resentment for RB pulling the rug a bit - in there.
It seems like there could be some other factors - resentment for RB pulling the rug a bit - in there.
So they thought they had it set then RB tried to up the price? Wasn’t there something odd with the agent, too?
FWIW, I don’t think Sesko is a meaningful upgrade over Gyokeres now. In a few years, maybe he develops into it. But nobody will remember or care if Arsenal win things this year.
FWIW, I don’t think Sesko is a meaningful upgrade over Gyokeres now. In a few years, maybe he develops into it. But nobody will remember or care if Arsenal win things this year.
February 13, 2026 at 12:17 AM
So they thought they had it set then RB tried to up the price? Wasn’t there something odd with the agent, too?
FWIW, I don’t think Sesko is a meaningful upgrade over Gyokeres now. In a few years, maybe he develops into it. But nobody will remember or care if Arsenal win things this year.
FWIW, I don’t think Sesko is a meaningful upgrade over Gyokeres now. In a few years, maybe he develops into it. But nobody will remember or care if Arsenal win things this year.
Isak, in particular, seems like it was always Liverpool for him.
And boy, having him and Havertz hurt for the first half of the season might have sunk Arsenal.
And boy, having him and Havertz hurt for the first half of the season might have sunk Arsenal.
February 13, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Isak, in particular, seems like it was always Liverpool for him.
And boy, having him and Havertz hurt for the first half of the season might have sunk Arsenal.
And boy, having him and Havertz hurt for the first half of the season might have sunk Arsenal.
I agree on Gyokeres, I’m not sure he’s at the right level. I have concerns now.
Isn’t the word that plenty of Arsenal people, in the building, wanted Sesko but the number was too high?
Was there ever a chance either of Ekitike or Isak going to Arsenal?
I’m not sure there was.
Isn’t the word that plenty of Arsenal people, in the building, wanted Sesko but the number was too high?
Was there ever a chance either of Ekitike or Isak going to Arsenal?
I’m not sure there was.
February 13, 2026 at 12:10 AM
I agree on Gyokeres, I’m not sure he’s at the right level. I have concerns now.
Isn’t the word that plenty of Arsenal people, in the building, wanted Sesko but the number was too high?
Was there ever a chance either of Ekitike or Isak going to Arsenal?
I’m not sure there was.
Isn’t the word that plenty of Arsenal people, in the building, wanted Sesko but the number was too high?
Was there ever a chance either of Ekitike or Isak going to Arsenal?
I’m not sure there was.
Yes, I feel that way too. What they don’t seem to understand is that they’re damaging their own brand.
Right now, we literally do not know if the Premier League is a fair competition.
Right now, we literally do not know if the Premier League is a fair competition.
February 13, 2026 at 12:07 AM
Yes, I feel that way too. What they don’t seem to understand is that they’re damaging their own brand.
Right now, we literally do not know if the Premier League is a fair competition.
Right now, we literally do not know if the Premier League is a fair competition.
Of course, regardless of the outcome of the charges, they won’t dismantle Manchester City.
So it’ll be lifelong, white-hot revulsion and hatred. More than I could possibly ever feel for Tottenham, even.
And I reckon many Liverpool fans will feel the same b/c they’d have had titles stolen, too.
So it’ll be lifelong, white-hot revulsion and hatred. More than I could possibly ever feel for Tottenham, even.
And I reckon many Liverpool fans will feel the same b/c they’d have had titles stolen, too.
February 13, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Of course, regardless of the outcome of the charges, they won’t dismantle Manchester City.
So it’ll be lifelong, white-hot revulsion and hatred. More than I could possibly ever feel for Tottenham, even.
And I reckon many Liverpool fans will feel the same b/c they’d have had titles stolen, too.
So it’ll be lifelong, white-hot revulsion and hatred. More than I could possibly ever feel for Tottenham, even.
And I reckon many Liverpool fans will feel the same b/c they’d have had titles stolen, too.
And don’t even get me started on the fury I feel about the two seasons where Arsenal lost out on the title.
If it turns out that City have been cheating for more than a decade, which the charges suggest they have, I will not be satisfied until that club is literally dismantled.
If it turns out that City have been cheating for more than a decade, which the charges suggest they have, I will not be satisfied until that club is literally dismantled.
February 13, 2026 at 12:04 AM
And don’t even get me started on the fury I feel about the two seasons where Arsenal lost out on the title.
If it turns out that City have been cheating for more than a decade, which the charges suggest they have, I will not be satisfied until that club is literally dismantled.
If it turns out that City have been cheating for more than a decade, which the charges suggest they have, I will not be satisfied until that club is literally dismantled.
But every time it looks a little less likely, it’s impossible not to think about how the team trying to chase Arsenal down might have cheated to get where they are.
It is a shame.
It is a shame.
February 13, 2026 at 12:02 AM
But every time it looks a little less likely, it’s impossible not to think about how the team trying to chase Arsenal down might have cheated to get where they are.
It is a shame.
It is a shame.
You don’t really think about as much it when Arsenal are winning, extending or at least maintaining their lead in the table.
Why would you? You’re focused on your team winning and the chance to lift the trophy.
Why would you? You’re focused on your team winning and the chance to lift the trophy.
February 13, 2026 at 12:00 AM
You don’t really think about as much it when Arsenal are winning, extending or at least maintaining their lead in the table.
Why would you? You’re focused on your team winning and the chance to lift the trophy.
Why would you? You’re focused on your team winning and the chance to lift the trophy.
Every time Manchester City move closer to Arsenal in the table, the specter of the 115 charges looms larger.
At this point, I doubt it’s resolved before the end of the season.
It continues to cast a pall over the season and throw the integrity of the Premier League competition into doubt.
At this point, I doubt it’s resolved before the end of the season.
It continues to cast a pall over the season and throw the integrity of the Premier League competition into doubt.
February 12, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Every time Manchester City move closer to Arsenal in the table, the specter of the 115 charges looms larger.
At this point, I doubt it’s resolved before the end of the season.
It continues to cast a pall over the season and throw the integrity of the Premier League competition into doubt.
At this point, I doubt it’s resolved before the end of the season.
It continues to cast a pall over the season and throw the integrity of the Premier League competition into doubt.