Author | Lightnews

Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · 1d

Arsenal have now won seven matches in a row against Spanish opposition. No team has ever done that before in the Champions League.

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · 1d

Arsenal haven't unpicked the Atletico defence. They have smashed it to pieces. Better in every department: bigger, stronger, faster, smarter. Monstrous second-half performance.

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · 1d

Declan Rice's set-piece delivery is absurdly good/consistent. So much whip on that one.

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · 1d

Martin Zubimendi is so much more dynamic and aggressive than I thought he would be when he joined the club. He has adapted ridiculously well to probably the most complicated/demanding position in Arteta's system.

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · 1d

Here’s the #AFC lineup for tonight’s game against Atletico Madrid.

Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · 2d

The leading defensive coach in Europe will be on the touchline at the Emirates tonight. Hint: it's not Diego Simeone.

Arsenal have the best defensive record in Europe's major leagues since 2023. This season, they have become even stronger. Here's how:
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Arsenal’s defence so good they are on course to equal Chelsea’s record

William Saliba and Gabriel’s partnership the cornerstone of a unit that has conceded just three goals in 11 games in all competitions

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · 7d

Is Arsenal now the Josh Kroenke show? Not quite. Stan remains the ultimate boss. But there is no doubt that Josh's influence is growing. The dynamics are shifting at #AFC, a club that has been further "Kroenke-fied", and Josh is more powerful than ever.
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Josh Kroenke: The man with Arsenal’s future in his hands

Former college basketball player and Walmart heir is the public face of club’s ownership with the board recently ‘Kroenke-fied’

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · 9d

Antoine Semenyo: probably the best all-round attacking force in the Premier League this season? Here's how he reached this point in his career (after quitting football at 15) and why his "blockbuster" two-footedness is such a formidable weapon. #AFCB

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

How Antoine Semenyo became the Premier League’s most devastating player

Bournemouth winger has fought his way to the top after multiple academy rejections and loan spells at Bath City and Newport County

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · 10d

Always good to hear from Jack Wilshere and he was as engaging as ever at his Luton Town unveiling today. He said this is a "new Jack Wilshere, a different Jack Wilshere" — and revealed a nice piece of advice from Mikel Arteta: jump and swim

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

The ‘new Jack Wilshere’ is determined to finally fulfil his potential as Luton manager

Former England midfielder, who is taking on his first full-time managerial role, will have experienced coach Chris Powell alongside him

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · 14d

Arteta adapted his tactics to the players he had, won the FA Cup and built around academy talents.

Amorim has refused to adapt his system to his players, finished 15th last season and has either ostracised or sold United's best academy graduates.

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Ratcliffe is talking rubbish comparing Amorim to Arteta, and here is why

Man Utd co-owner’s claim, in defence of his manager, that Arsenal coach had ‘miserable time’ at start of reign, can easily be picked apart

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · 14d

Curious to see Sir Jim Ratcliffe backing Ruben Amorim by citing the early struggles of Mikel Arteta. It feels like a terrible comparison. In terms of playing style, tactics and "philosophy" in the first year, Amorim has basically taken the exact opposite approach to Arteta.

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · 15d

Arsenal built the Emirates Stadium for a future that never materialised. Just as they committed to the new arena, football's financial landscape mutated. It left them lagging behind. Now the game is changing again — and they need a better Emirates. #AFC

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

The Emirates must be revamped to secure Arsenal’s future

North London club built stadium just as matchday income became less important and now the football landscape has changed again

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · 17d

Ten games, three goals and a growing divide in the fanbase. It has been a curious start for Viktor Gyokeres at #AFC. His performance metrics have declined massively from last season (stats in piece), but how much does that matter? Analysis here

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Arsenal fans are split on Viktor Gyokeres and here is why

Summer signing without a goal in six games but his movement and industry have been praised by Mikel Arteta and Bukayo Saka

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · Jul 26

Deal done. Viktor Gyokeres joins #AFC for £55m + £9m. Here's the story of an extraordinary saga: Berta’s strategy, Sesko interest, Keir Starmer’s plea, blackmail accusations, strike threats, broken pacts, army captains & Vogue covers

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Strike threats, father’s tears and Keir Starmer’s plea: Inside Viktor Gyokeres’ £64m Arsenal move

Mikel Arteta finally has his striker but there were other options and negotiations with Sporting CP proved slow and tense

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · Jul 24

Arsenal came into the summer with plans to spend big on a centre-back. They wanted Dean Huijsen & showed strong interest in Marc Guehi. Here's why they pivoted towards the cheaper Cristhian Mosquera (initial £13m) instead. A hugely exciting talent. #AFC

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Why Arsenal ended up with Cristhian Mosquera after eyeing Marc Guehi and Dean Huijsen

Described ‘as the most precocious centre-back in Valencia’s history’, the 21-year-old is perfectly suited to north London club

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · Jul 24

Spurs are working on a move to sign João Palhinha from Bayern Munich. My understanding is that Arsenal also showed strong interest in Palhinha & explored a possible deal earlier this summer, before going for Christian Norgaard. #AFC #THFC

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Tottenham plot Joao Palhinha move as LAFC bid for Son Heung-min

South Korean forward is contractually obliged to play in pre-season friendly in Seoul next month but could then depart after decade at club

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · Jul 23

Hugo Ekitike is quick and gangly, scores goals in all sorts of different ways & can play in lots of different areas of the pitch. There are many similarities between him and Alexander Isak. #LFC will hope he can now follow a similar trajectory to Isak.

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Liverpool hope Hugo Ekitike can be the next Alexander Isak – or even better

There are uncanny similarities between the two forwards but new Anfield arrival will need to brush up on his finishing

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · Jul 23

Max Dowman has now played for Arsenal. He is only 15, but it feels like his debut has been a long time coming. Big read here on why there is so much excitement, his records/achievements at youth level & what the #AFC staff and players make of his talent.
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

A year from his GCSEs, 15-year-old Max Dowman is Arsenal’s star in the making

Mikel Arteta may have made a raft of summer signings but there is no holding back the teenage prodigy that has the whole club excited

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · Jul 22

Ozil was around £43m and Lacazette was around £46m

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · Jul 22

just thought it was interesting. maybe it's not. cheers

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · Jul 22

Number of players signed for £50m+ by the so-called 'big six' clubs:

4 - Spurs
5 - Liverpool
7 - Arsenal
15 - United
15 - City
18 - Chelsea

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · Jul 19

Arsenal have named two 15-year-olds in their travelling squad for pre-season in Asia. Attacking midfielder Max Dowman (born December 2009) and defender Marli Salmon (August 2009) are both on the plane. #AFC

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · Jul 19

For all the (understandable) doubts in the Arsenal fanbase about Noni Madueke’s arrival from Chelsea, I’m told Bukayo Saka & Declan Rice gave him glowing reviews when talking to Mikel Arteta/the club. Both players evidently think Madueke is good enough to make an impact at #AFC.

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · Jul 16

Arsenal want to sign teenage striker Will Wright from Salford City. The 17-year-old made his League Two debut last season. #AFC

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Sam Dean @samjdean.bsky.social · Jul 16

Progress on Ethan Nwaneri’s contract is fantastic news for Arsenal, especially because there were genuine concerns earlier this summer that it might not happen. Nwaneri always wanted to stay at #AFC and made that clear — but that doesn’t mean it has been easy to sort.

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