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@olipb.bsky.social

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Write/Talk Arsenal. UFC. Comms. BBC Sport Arsenal contributor. Read my weekly free substack: https://fresharsenal.substack.com/

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PB @olipb.bsky.social · 3d

New🚨✍️

#76 - 3 things Arsenal must do in the next block of six games

🔸Integrate those on the fringes
🔸Protect the ‘crown jewels’
🔸Find the lockpickers

Read in full & sub for free 👇
fresharsenal.substack.com/p/3-things-a...

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 2d

Yep

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 2d

Gabriel, Timber, Zubimendi & Saka rest vs. Brighton and Slavia please 🙏 Those four feel so important.

2 1

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 2d

Gabriel Martinelli looks a threat again.

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 3d

Lewis-Skelly in midfield against Brighton (league cup) next week please. Hincapie at left back. Let's try something.

1 6

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 3d

Really love the off-the-ball work we saw in the Nwaneri cameo.

1 4

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 3d

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 4d

Arsenal have the most touches in opposition box and average 2 more corners per game than anyone else in the league.

Good open play football increases chances of corners and therefore goals, too.

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 4d

Liverpools summer had loads of hype but it was poor squad building

Sold all their depth to invest £250m in 2 nailed on no.9s

VVD or Grav get injured & they are in big trouble

They bought 2 small FBs to play behind wingers who don’t defend

Small + attack minded loaded midfield

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 5d

My son was born on 24 September and since then Arsenal have won every game and Liverpool have lost every game. Thanks son 🙏

2 1 49

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 5d

It's extremely early, 3 games ago Liverpool were 5pts clear and we were one result away from being written off entirely.

30 games to go, but things look promising considering we've missed key players and had a tough start.

Focus on ourselves and keep building 🦾

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 5d

Sunday Funday 💉

3 13

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 5d

Yeah agree with all of that

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 6d

Pundits were obsessed with telling us Eze had to play centrally but he was the quietest he's been in any game today and played #10.

I want to see him from the left still, with Nwaneri in Odegaard's role at times in his absence.

Eze, Ethan, Saka rotating behind the ST😋

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 6d

Players with load issues, I would start from the bench against AM.

Bring them on at HT if we need to - the Palace is huge & I want all the key players firing.

In this block of six we must see a couple starts for each of Hincapie, White, MLS, Norgaard & Nwaneri to integrate.

1 2

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 6d

Gyokeres did well to work those two second half chances, but needs to be doing better with the finishes.

Obviously needs to improve but there were two goals out there for him tonight, I’ve no doubt his finishing will improve so getting the chances key.

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 6d

Bukayo Saka won 14 duels today. FOURTEEN. Captains performance.

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 6d

We weren’t great but were still clearly the better team and it’s 3 points, another 3 points we didn’t get last season.

On we go 💪🏼

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 6d

Rice was a bystander for 35 mins and we had 1 shot.

He woke up and started driving forward with his runs and passes and we had 7 in the next 15 mins.

He needs to continue that + others have the same switch.

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 6d

Think Eze and Trossard have been poor.

I'd be tempted to move Eze left and bring Nwaneri in. He might lose a turnover but with our back four, shielded by Rice + Zubi, we have to be willing to take those risks.

and/or Martinelli on.

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 6d

Someone tell these players there's a title to be won.

No urgency or energy at all.

Look like we warmed up a bit towards the end of the half but you can't take breaks in the Premier League.

Work to be done in 2H.

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 9d

There's also the reality that Gyokeres has been somewhat run into the ground by club and country over the last month and he can't start every game until Havertz is back.

Would not surprise me at all to see Merino start one or two games as the striker in the run til Christmas.

1 1

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 9d

I think Merino is going to start with Rice and Zubimendi again at the weekend. Arteta will be keen to play him in this form again.

With Eze and Saka on the wings - both wide creators, it might have more of a chance of working, playing Merino as more of a second striker.

1 2

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 9d

🇪🇸 Mikel Merino vs. Bulgaria - playing as a #10

🔸41/47 passes (87%)
🔸5/7 ground duels
🔸5 key passes
🔸5 shots
🔸2 goals
🔸2 big chances created
🔸1 penalty won

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 13d

🇪🇸 Martin Zubimendi for Spain tonight vs. Georgia

🔸90/95 passes (95%)
🔸7/7 accurate long balls
🔸5/5 ground duels won
🔸2/2 aerial duels won
🔸1/1 dribbles
🔸3 interceptions
🔸4 tackles
🔸0 dribbled past

What a player 👏

PB @olipb.bsky.social · 14d

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Ethan Nwaneri tonight for England U21s vs. Moldova

🔹32/40 touches
🔹8/13 duels won
🔹3 key passes
🔹2 assists
🔹5/7 succesful dribbles

🪄