Billy Carpenter
@billycarpy.bsky.social
Write about Arsenal. I also write for SCOUTED. Here's my newsletter:
https://billycarpenter.substack.com/
https://billycarpenter.substack.com/
Pinned
Billy Carpenter
@billycarpy.bsky.social
· Dec 19
Connections
On building chemistry under pressure, Madueke’s fresh legs, Gyökeres and the Pinnock Test, Hincapié’s trial by fire, and the ripple effects of Saliba’s absence
billycarpenter.substack.com
My new Arsenal long-read is out. On Madueke, Gyökeres, Hincapié, and building chemistry under pressure.
This'll get interpreted to be about Martinelli/Gyökeres, which: yes. But it's also about Hincapié and Eze.
There's real juice in the whole Calafiori (65 mins) -> Hincapié thing.
And Eze looked like himself in attack + better OOP. Had a great dribble and release against flow.
There's real juice in the whole Calafiori (65 mins) -> Hincapié thing.
And Eze looked like himself in attack + better OOP. Had a great dribble and release against flow.
Fucking great.
Small space players when the space is small.
Big space players when the space is big.
👍
Small space players when the space is small.
Big space players when the space is big.
👍
February 7, 2026 at 8:44 PM
This'll get interpreted to be about Martinelli/Gyökeres, which: yes. But it's also about Hincapié and Eze.
There's real juice in the whole Calafiori (65 mins) -> Hincapié thing.
And Eze looked like himself in attack + better OOP. Had a great dribble and release against flow.
There's real juice in the whole Calafiori (65 mins) -> Hincapié thing.
And Eze looked like himself in attack + better OOP. Had a great dribble and release against flow.
Arsenal in second halves:
— 31 goals scored (most)
— 11 goals conceded (fewest)
— 31 goals scored (most)
— 11 goals conceded (fewest)
February 7, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Arsenal in second halves:
— 31 goals scored (most)
— 11 goals conceded (fewest)
— 31 goals scored (most)
— 11 goals conceded (fewest)
Such a far cry from the Stadium of Light, when we had zero attacking subs to throw on (no Martinelli, Gyökeres, Ødegaard, Kai, Jesus), lost our legs at the end, and coughed up the lead.
Every game is attritional these days.
Every game is attritional these days.
February 7, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Such a far cry from the Stadium of Light, when we had zero attacking subs to throw on (no Martinelli, Gyökeres, Ødegaard, Kai, Jesus), lost our legs at the end, and coughed up the lead.
Every game is attritional these days.
Every game is attritional these days.
Fucking great.
Small space players when the space is small.
Big space players when the space is big.
👍
Small space players when the space is small.
Big space players when the space is big.
👍
February 7, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Fucking great.
Small space players when the space is small.
Big space players when the space is big.
👍
Small space players when the space is small.
Big space players when the space is big.
👍
Havertz makes Gyökeres better because Havertz makes everybody better. Insanely selfless, helpful player.
February 7, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Havertz makes Gyökeres better because Havertz makes everybody better. Insanely selfless, helpful player.
Dan Ballard is made entirely of thigh muscle.
February 7, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Dan Ballard is made entirely of thigh muscle.
Reposted by Billy Carpenter
“Zubimendi will give Arsenal a calm, controlled presence in the midfield.”
Zubimendi with Arsenal:
Zubimendi with Arsenal:
October 1, 2025 at 9:15 PM
“Zubimendi will give Arsenal a calm, controlled presence in the midfield.”
Zubimendi with Arsenal:
Zubimendi with Arsenal:
That's Zubimendi's career high for goals in a season (5).
Six in all comps.
Somehow feels like more.
Six in all comps.
Somehow feels like more.
February 7, 2026 at 3:59 PM
That's Zubimendi's career high for goals in a season (5).
Six in all comps.
Somehow feels like more.
Six in all comps.
Somehow feels like more.
Why don't teams come out and play against Arsenal?
February 4, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Why don't teams come out and play against Arsenal?
Oh, I'm not supposed to value the Carabao?
In English, 'Carabao,' if you split the word, it's Care About. And that's what we're doing here. We're caring about.
In English, 'Carabao,' if you split the word, it's Care About. And that's what we're doing here. We're caring about.
February 3, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Oh, I'm not supposed to value the Carabao?
In English, 'Carabao,' if you split the word, it's Care About. And that's what we're doing here. We're caring about.
In English, 'Carabao,' if you split the word, it's Care About. And that's what we're doing here. We're caring about.
Without Kai, there are tradeoffs.
*This* lineup has no galloping outlet. *That* one has no connector. *This* one is vulnerable OOP + set pieces. *That* one has no big box presence.
With Kai, the only tradeoff is that he used to miss shots sometimes.
And I don’t give a fuck.
*This* lineup has no galloping outlet. *That* one has no connector. *This* one is vulnerable OOP + set pieces. *That* one has no big box presence.
With Kai, the only tradeoff is that he used to miss shots sometimes.
And I don’t give a fuck.
February 3, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Without Kai, there are tradeoffs.
*This* lineup has no galloping outlet. *That* one has no connector. *This* one is vulnerable OOP + set pieces. *That* one has no big box presence.
With Kai, the only tradeoff is that he used to miss shots sometimes.
And I don’t give a fuck.
*This* lineup has no galloping outlet. *That* one has no connector. *This* one is vulnerable OOP + set pieces. *That* one has no big box presence.
With Kai, the only tradeoff is that he used to miss shots sometimes.
And I don’t give a fuck.
My fondness for Kai Havertz has no limits.
February 3, 2026 at 10:33 PM
My fondness for Kai Havertz has no limits.
Why does this look potentially good for Timber?
— Noni frees him from touchline responsibilities
— Eze floats and frees up the inside pocket so he can drive, combine, etc
— Important Jenga block of back-threes is getting those wide CBs to jump out too far
— Noni frees him from touchline responsibilities
— Eze floats and frees up the inside pocket so he can drive, combine, etc
— Important Jenga block of back-threes is getting those wide CBs to jump out too far
February 3, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Why does this look potentially good for Timber?
— Noni frees him from touchline responsibilities
— Eze floats and frees up the inside pocket so he can drive, combine, etc
— Important Jenga block of back-threes is getting those wide CBs to jump out too far
— Noni frees him from touchline responsibilities
— Eze floats and frees up the inside pocket so he can drive, combine, etc
— Important Jenga block of back-threes is getting those wide CBs to jump out too far
How I'd play it. Eze floating central/SS and a little left to give a dribbler/creator to the left, Timber in the half-space, Rice deep, Zubi helping pocket play on the right. Tricky part is whether Gyök is ready to press on the right.
Conditions are good for Timber in attack. 👍
Conditions are good for Timber in attack. 👍
February 3, 2026 at 7:40 PM
How I'd play it. Eze floating central/SS and a little left to give a dribbler/creator to the left, Timber in the half-space, Rice deep, Zubi helping pocket play on the right. Tricky part is whether Gyök is ready to press on the right.
Conditions are good for Timber in attack. 👍
Conditions are good for Timber in attack. 👍
With Ø off his best (especially physically), we can start rotating in looks like this.
— Double-pivot with Rice RCM, doing Henderson runs around the right
— Eze/Kai front-two in the press
— Swap in Timber+Trossard depending on the opponent. But I like giving Eze someone to release.
— Double-pivot with Rice RCM, doing Henderson runs around the right
— Eze/Kai front-two in the press
— Swap in Timber+Trossard depending on the opponent. But I like giving Eze someone to release.
January 29, 2026 at 8:33 PM
With Ø off his best (especially physically), we can start rotating in looks like this.
— Double-pivot with Rice RCM, doing Henderson runs around the right
— Eze/Kai front-two in the press
— Swap in Timber+Trossard depending on the opponent. But I like giving Eze someone to release.
— Double-pivot with Rice RCM, doing Henderson runs around the right
— Eze/Kai front-two in the press
— Swap in Timber+Trossard depending on the opponent. But I like giving Eze someone to release.
That Kairat game was hilarious. Every player was playing like an exaggerated slapstick impression of themselves. Except Kai, who was doing an impression of prime Müller.
January 29, 2026 at 3:54 PM
That Kairat game was hilarious. Every player was playing like an exaggerated slapstick impression of themselves. Except Kai, who was doing an impression of prime Müller.
Calafiori filling in for Gabriel at LCB.
January 28, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Calafiori filling in for Gabriel at LCB.
I'm writing more, and will post when I'm done, but:
One thing that doesn't neatly fit with the narrative flow: Arsenal weren't being cagey or conservative in the period after the first goal. If anything, they were going too impulsively for a second, and losing it while doing so.
One thing that doesn't neatly fit with the narrative flow: Arsenal weren't being cagey or conservative in the period after the first goal. If anything, they were going too impulsively for a second, and losing it while doing so.
January 28, 2026 at 3:59 PM
I'm writing more, and will post when I'm done, but:
One thing that doesn't neatly fit with the narrative flow: Arsenal weren't being cagey or conservative in the period after the first goal. If anything, they were going too impulsively for a second, and losing it while doing so.
One thing that doesn't neatly fit with the narrative flow: Arsenal weren't being cagey or conservative in the period after the first goal. If anything, they were going too impulsively for a second, and losing it while doing so.
Think people would be surprised at just how many Eze moments there are for Arsenal already. I started listing them off from memory, and it became too big for a tweet.
Let's play him, shall we?
Let's play him, shall we?
January 27, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Think people would be surprised at just how many Eze moments there are for Arsenal already. I started listing them off from memory, and it became too big for a tweet.
Let's play him, shall we?
Let's play him, shall we?
I have completed my monthslong investigation into Bukayo Saka’s form. Here it is in its entirety:
He’s playing quite well, but missing shots. Bit annoying.
Thank you for reading.
He’s playing quite well, but missing shots. Bit annoying.
Thank you for reading.
January 26, 2026 at 11:02 PM
I have completed my monthslong investigation into Bukayo Saka’s form. Here it is in its entirety:
He’s playing quite well, but missing shots. Bit annoying.
Thank you for reading.
He’s playing quite well, but missing shots. Bit annoying.
Thank you for reading.
EXPECTED ASSISTS
• Bruno Fernandes: 5.6
• Bukayo Saka: 5.1
ASSISTS
• Bruno Fernandes: 10
• Bukayo Saka: 3
(data: opta)
• Bruno Fernandes: 5.6
• Bukayo Saka: 5.1
ASSISTS
• Bruno Fernandes: 10
• Bukayo Saka: 3
(data: opta)
January 26, 2026 at 11:00 PM
EXPECTED ASSISTS
• Bruno Fernandes: 5.6
• Bukayo Saka: 5.1
ASSISTS
• Bruno Fernandes: 10
• Bukayo Saka: 3
(data: opta)
• Bruno Fernandes: 5.6
• Bukayo Saka: 5.1
ASSISTS
• Bruno Fernandes: 10
• Bukayo Saka: 3
(data: opta)
In retrospect, the Havertz cameo at Portsmouth was kinda cruel.
January 26, 2026 at 7:13 PM
In retrospect, the Havertz cameo at Portsmouth was kinda cruel.
Vibes are sufficiently bad for me to post this now.
I think Arsenal have the best crossing CM (Rice) and winger (Saka) in the league.
Arsenal full-backs are 9 for 75 (12%) on crosses this season.
Timber: 2/32
Calafori: 3/20
White: 2/13
Hincapie: 2/10
Lewis-Skelly: 0/0
I think Arsenal have the best crossing CM (Rice) and winger (Saka) in the league.
Arsenal full-backs are 9 for 75 (12%) on crosses this season.
Timber: 2/32
Calafori: 3/20
White: 2/13
Hincapie: 2/10
Lewis-Skelly: 0/0
January 26, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Vibes are sufficiently bad for me to post this now.
I think Arsenal have the best crossing CM (Rice) and winger (Saka) in the league.
Arsenal full-backs are 9 for 75 (12%) on crosses this season.
Timber: 2/32
Calafori: 3/20
White: 2/13
Hincapie: 2/10
Lewis-Skelly: 0/0
I think Arsenal have the best crossing CM (Rice) and winger (Saka) in the league.
Arsenal full-backs are 9 for 75 (12%) on crosses this season.
Timber: 2/32
Calafori: 3/20
White: 2/13
Hincapie: 2/10
Lewis-Skelly: 0/0
Against Newcastle, Gabriel lost touch-distance with Woltemade while barking instructions to others. I don’t think anybody doubts if given a simple mandate (“win this duel”) he’d prevail. There are downsides to everyone feeling maximally responsible for everything at all times.
January 26, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Against Newcastle, Gabriel lost touch-distance with Woltemade while barking instructions to others. I don’t think anybody doubts if given a simple mandate (“win this duel”) he’d prevail. There are downsides to everyone feeling maximally responsible for everything at all times.