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
It's annoying that at a time when Arsenal could really do with a good break or a lucky bounce they cannot seem to get one.
I mean, really. Shots that dudes will never again hit in their career. Make one mistake all game, get punished with a goal that goals off a defender, post, defender and in.
I mean, really. Shots that dudes will never again hit in their career. Make one mistake all game, get punished with a goal that goals off a defender, post, defender and in.
February 18, 2026 at 11:38 PM
It's annoying that at a time when Arsenal could really do with a good break or a lucky bounce they cannot seem to get one.
I mean, really. Shots that dudes will never again hit in their career. Make one mistake all game, get punished with a goal that goals off a defender, post, defender and in.
I mean, really. Shots that dudes will never again hit in their career. Make one mistake all game, get punished with a goal that goals off a defender, post, defender and in.
The guys in that locker room don't give two shits about what everybody else is saying or who is laughing.
They'll need to bounce back from the disappointment of this match in particular.
But it's about them and how they respond. Y'all really overindex the effect of the outside noise.
They'll need to bounce back from the disappointment of this match in particular.
But it's about them and how they respond. Y'all really overindex the effect of the outside noise.
Got what we deserved. And worse, the psychological damage of that result will kill this season. Everybody is laughing at us.
Manager got it completely wrong, players completely off it.
How are we ending that game with guys who can barely run? Mad.
Manager got it completely wrong, players completely off it.
How are we ending that game with guys who can barely run? Mad.
February 18, 2026 at 10:54 PM
The guys in that locker room don't give two shits about what everybody else is saying or who is laughing.
They'll need to bounce back from the disappointment of this match in particular.
But it's about them and how they respond. Y'all really overindex the effect of the outside noise.
They'll need to bounce back from the disappointment of this match in particular.
But it's about them and how they respond. Y'all really overindex the effect of the outside noise.
I'd like to come back to Gabriel Martinelli getting completely slid through by the defender at 2-0 in the second half.
Basically a carbon copy of Alisson on Matheus Nunes. Manchester City got the call and the win. Arsenal did not and dropped points.
Basically a carbon copy of Alisson on Matheus Nunes. Manchester City got the call and the win. Arsenal did not and dropped points.
February 18, 2026 at 10:46 PM
I'd like to come back to Gabriel Martinelli getting completely slid through by the defender at 2-0 in the second half.
Basically a carbon copy of Alisson on Matheus Nunes. Manchester City got the call and the win. Arsenal did not and dropped points.
Basically a carbon copy of Alisson on Matheus Nunes. Manchester City got the call and the win. Arsenal did not and dropped points.
There is zero chance we get a ruling on Manchester City's 115 charges before the end of this season now, by the way.
February 18, 2026 at 10:33 PM
There is zero chance we get a ruling on Manchester City's 115 charges before the end of this season now, by the way.
How long after Leandro Trossard got smashed in the jaw did Wolves score? Was he back on the pitch and back into his spot in the defensive shape?
February 18, 2026 at 10:21 PM
How long after Leandro Trossard got smashed in the jaw did Wolves score? Was he back on the pitch and back into his spot in the defensive shape?
This is an absolutely absurd statistic.
The 19 shots that resulted in Arsenal conceding have a combined xG value of 2.99. That is the biggest 'overperformance' by opponents in the Premier League since the 2020-21, by a quite ludicrous margin.
February 18, 2026 at 10:16 PM
This is an absolutely absurd statistic.
Viktor Gyokeres was awful today. A complete and total zero.
February 18, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Viktor Gyokeres was awful today. A complete and total zero.
I cannot begin to wrap my head around how an intentional shoulder to the jaw isn't a yellow card (which would have been a second), if not a straight red.
February 18, 2026 at 10:07 PM
I cannot begin to wrap my head around how an intentional shoulder to the jaw isn't a yellow card (which would have been a second), if not a straight red.
Wolves equalize. Gabriel and David Raya take the ball off each other.
February 18, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Wolves equalize. Gabriel and David Raya take the ball off each other.
So far, Arsenal have been far worse in the second half than in the first.
February 18, 2026 at 9:14 PM
So far, Arsenal have been far worse in the second half than in the first.
It's, uh, not great that the ball went to Viktor Gyokeres with space to run and my immediate thought was "nothing is coming of this" and I was right.
February 18, 2026 at 9:11 PM
It's, uh, not great that the ball went to Viktor Gyokeres with space to run and my immediate thought was "nothing is coming of this" and I was right.
The natural evolution of all this "defender (may have) touched the ball, not a penalty" is for Arsenal to lose a match conceding a penalty where our defender clearly touches the ball, right?
February 18, 2026 at 9:05 PM
The natural evolution of all this "defender (may have) touched the ball, not a penalty" is for Arsenal to lose a match conceding a penalty where our defender clearly touches the ball, right?
Just went back to watch the penalty shout again, specifically looking at Paul Tierney's positioning and what he might have saw.
There is almost no chance he saw what happened in live action through multiple bodies and his angle.
There is almost no chance he saw what happened in live action through multiple bodies and his angle.
February 18, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Just went back to watch the penalty shout again, specifically looking at Paul Tierney's positioning and what he might have saw.
There is almost no chance he saw what happened in live action through multiple bodies and his angle.
There is almost no chance he saw what happened in live action through multiple bodies and his angle.
The problem there WASN'T an on-field call.
I would bet a significant amount of money that Paul Tierney was not in any position to call it nor did he actually see what happened in live time.
So we're applying a "clear and obvious" standard to a decision that wasn't a decision.
I would bet a significant amount of money that Paul Tierney was not in any position to call it nor did he actually see what happened in live time.
So we're applying a "clear and obvious" standard to a decision that wasn't a decision.
that’s probably a penalty but not enough to overturn the on field decision
February 18, 2026 at 8:50 PM
The problem there WASN'T an on-field call.
I would bet a significant amount of money that Paul Tierney was not in any position to call it nor did he actually see what happened in live time.
So we're applying a "clear and obvious" standard to a decision that wasn't a decision.
I would bet a significant amount of money that Paul Tierney was not in any position to call it nor did he actually see what happened in live time.
So we're applying a "clear and obvious" standard to a decision that wasn't a decision.
With Bukayo Saka signing his new deal, of the current group of regulars at Arsenal, only Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are out of contract after next season (2027).
Definitely nothing up for debate with those two, right? /s
Definitely nothing up for debate with those two, right? /s
February 17, 2026 at 4:01 PM
With Bukayo Saka signing his new deal, of the current group of regulars at Arsenal, only Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are out of contract after next season (2027).
Definitely nothing up for debate with those two, right? /s
Definitely nothing up for debate with those two, right? /s
Jockomo feeno ah na nay
Jockomo feena nay
Laissez les bon temps rouler
Enjoy Mardi Gras, y’all
Jockomo feena nay
Laissez les bon temps rouler
Enjoy Mardi Gras, y’all
February 17, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Jockomo feeno ah na nay
Jockomo feena nay
Laissez les bon temps rouler
Enjoy Mardi Gras, y’all
Jockomo feena nay
Laissez les bon temps rouler
Enjoy Mardi Gras, y’all
It's not the rule (on paper) but I think the interpretation of "natural position" and assessment of whether something is or isn't a handball and penalty should adjust on a sliding scale based on the opportunity denied to the opponent.
Ebere Eze definitely has a case for a Wigan handball. The placement of that arm stretches the definition of "natural position" and it prevented a really good scoring chance.
February 15, 2026 at 6:07 PM
It's not the rule (on paper) but I think the interpretation of "natural position" and assessment of whether something is or isn't a handball and penalty should adjust on a sliding scale based on the opportunity denied to the opponent.
Someone should inform the announcers that it is really dumb to talk about how Myles Lewis-Skelly would have given away a penalty kick and maybe gotten a yellow card for pulling back a player who was offside.
Because if he's onside, he's level with MLS and not in a position to be pulled back.
Because if he's onside, he's level with MLS and not in a position to be pulled back.
February 15, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Someone should inform the announcers that it is really dumb to talk about how Myles Lewis-Skelly would have given away a penalty kick and maybe gotten a yellow card for pulling back a player who was offside.
Because if he's onside, he's level with MLS and not in a position to be pulled back.
Because if he's onside, he's level with MLS and not in a position to be pulled back.
Myles Lewis-Skelly (rightly) gets the first yellow card of the match in the 69th minute.
February 15, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Myles Lewis-Skelly (rightly) gets the first yellow card of the match in the 69th minute.
Wigan should do Pop Tart Bowl things with their mascot Crusty the Pie.
February 15, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Wigan should do Pop Tart Bowl things with their mascot Crusty the Pie.
crusty the pie might become my sleep paralysis demon
February 15, 2026 at 5:35 PM
crusty the pie might become my sleep paralysis demon
Thought you might be interested @poorlydrawnarsenal.com
Had to improvise and use the phone because the ESPN player does not play nicely with screenshot tools.
Had to improvise and use the phone because the ESPN player does not play nicely with screenshot tools.
February 15, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Thought you might be interested @poorlydrawnarsenal.com
Had to improvise and use the phone because the ESPN player does not play nicely with screenshot tools.
Had to improvise and use the phone because the ESPN player does not play nicely with screenshot tools.
I would be fine if both teams just sat down on the pitch for the second 45 minutes.
February 15, 2026 at 5:18 PM
I would be fine if both teams just sat down on the pitch for the second 45 minutes.
We're going to have a jar full of Tickle Pickles by the end of this one.
Cue the Tickle in a pickle jokes.
February 15, 2026 at 4:55 PM
We're going to have a jar full of Tickle Pickles by the end of this one.
Reposted by Aaron Lerner
Jesus has gone roaming on several occasions so far and the four he has around him really allow Arsenal to get a bit freaky. He's just gone left with Martinelli and Madueke in the CF spots and Saka out on the right wing.
February 15, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Jesus has gone roaming on several occasions so far and the four he has around him really allow Arsenal to get a bit freaky. He's just gone left with Martinelli and Madueke in the CF spots and Saka out on the right wing.