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shamsdale.bsky.social
(Sham)
@shamsdale.bsky.social
1.6K followers 160 following 940 posts
Patron saint of iced lattes. Guess The Gooner finalist. The target is to post so well that it becomes an art.

✍️ https://thenonnegotiables.substack.com/
🎙️ @notthatgooner.bsky.social
Posts Replies Media Videos
shamsdale.bsky.social
📝 NEW: In the wake of Gabriel’s injury while on international duty, we’re all frustrated. Many of us want someone to blame. In that spirit, I started writing about who it should be and the conclusion I reached was… surprising.

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/on-gabriel...
On Gabriel, International Football, and Competing Priorities
Why figuring out who to blame for Gabriel's injury on international duty actually isn't all that simple.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Reposted by (Sham)
demidinho.bsky.social
Really good insightful & analytical article! Enjoyed reading this. I hope it gets a wider reach cos there are some interesting points worth looking at for even the football administrators! Brilliantly written by @shamsdale.bsky.social 👏🏿 open.substack.com/pub/thenonne...
On Gabriel, International Football, and Competing Priorities
Why figuring out who to blame for Gabriel's injury on international duty actually isn't all that simple.
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:16 AM
shamsdale.bsky.social
📝 NEW: A season after his breakout, Myles Lewis-Skelly now faces challenges for minutes for both club and country. I discuss how for him and Ethan Nwaneri, time out of the spotlight isn’t the end of the world. In fact, it’s all part of the process.

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/the-arsena...
The Arsenal Kids are Still Alright
On Lewis-Skelly’s quiet season, his and Nwaneri’s development, and why their futures are still bright.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:45 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
📝 NEW — Ballers & Fallers: Sunderland (a)

BALLERS

⭐️ Zubimendi
🚀 ???
🔥 ???
😮‍💨 ???

FALLERS

9️⃣ Merino
🗑️ ???

I discuss the best and worst performances from Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at Sunderland. Give it a read, and subscribe if you enjoy!

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/ballers-an...
Ballers & Fallers: Sunderland (a)
Four of the best performances and two of the worst from Arsenal's 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:10 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
📝 NEW: On Saturday, Arsenal will play newly-promoted Sunderland. But it’ll be an emotional one; the Black Cats are now captained by a man who used to captain Arsenal — Granit Xhaka. I say a few words on what the former Gunner once meant to this team. 👇🏽

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/granit-xha...
Granit Xhaka, We Had Granit Xhaka
An ode to the former Arsenal captain before he faces off against his old club on Saturday.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:14 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
📝 NEW — Ballers & Fallers: Slavia Praha (a)

BALLERS

✅ Saka
🧠 ???
✌️ ???
👍 ???
🤩 ???

FALLERS

🤷‍♂️ Nwaneri
📉 ???

I go over the best and worst performers from Arsenal’s 3-0 win in Prague. Have a read, and subscribe if you enjoy.

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/ballers-an...
Ballers & Fallers: Slavia Praha (a)
Five rising stocks and two falling stocks from Arsenal’s fourth Champions League win this season.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Reposted by (Sham)
lgambrose.bsky.social
I don't think we will but it would be worth trying something that isn't Merino up front tonight, ahead of the weekend.
November 4, 2025 at 12:31 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
📝 NEW — Ballers & Fallers: Burnley (a)

BALLERS

🔥 Gyökeres
⭐️ ???
👍 ???

FALLERS

😕 Saka
🚫 ???
😡 ???

I discuss the best and worst individual performances from Arsenal as they got the job done up north. Have a read, and subscribe if you enjoy!

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/ballers-an...
Ballers & Fallers: Burnley (a)
Three Ballers and three Fallers from yet another win and clean sheet in the Premier League.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:48 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
📝 NEW — Ballers & Fallers: Brighton (h) (EFL Cup)

BALLERS

🧤 Kepa
👀 ???
💪 ???
👍 ???

FALLERS

📉 Nørgaard
😂 ???

I give my thoughts and some individual performances from Wednesday night. Have a read, and subscribe if you enjoy!

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/ballers-an...
Ballers & Fallers: Brighton (h) (EFL Cup)
Four positives and two negatives from Arsenal's progression into the EFL quarterfinals.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Reposted by (Sham)
shamsdale.bsky.social
📝 NEW: Those who say Arsenal are boring and other detractors aren’t upset about how the Gunners are playing. They’re upset that it’s Arsenal who are doing so well. And it should be sweet music to our ears.

Have a read, and subscribe if you enjoy.

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/let-them-t...
Let Them Throw Their Fit
A few more thoughts on the widespread backlash against Arsenal for currently being the best team in the league.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:18 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
📝 NEW: Those who say Arsenal are boring and other detractors aren’t upset about how the Gunners are playing. They’re upset that it’s Arsenal who are doing so well. And it should be sweet music to our ears.

Have a read, and subscribe if you enjoy.

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/let-them-t...
Let Them Throw Their Fit
A few more thoughts on the widespread backlash against Arsenal for currently being the best team in the league.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:18 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
📝 NEW — Ballers & Fallers: Crystal Palace (h)

BALLERS

⚽️ Eze
💪 ???
😮‍💨 ???

FALLERS

6️⃣ Zubimendi
🤕 ???
🏆 ???

I talk about the best and most disappointing performances from a critical home win for Arsenal. Give it a read and subscribe if you enjoy!

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/ballers-an...
Ballers & Fallers: Crystal Palace (h)
The good and the bad from Arsenal’s 1-0 win against the Eagles.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:55 AM
shamsdale.bsky.social
Declan Rice is gonna post a picture of himself having the time of his life on the day West Ham get relegated and I can’t wait to watch it send their fans’ heads to Neptune.
October 24, 2025 at 7:22 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
📝 NEW: By being the best set piece team in England, if not all of Europe, Arsenal may have stumbled onto the PL’s version of the Tush Push. I discuss why widespread criticism of that ability is just bad faith.

Have a read, and subscribe if you enjoy.

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/why-the-an...
Why the Anti-Set Piece Narrative Against Arsenal is Nonsense
Why pundits and fans bemoaning the Gunners' strength from dead ball situations is just more bad faith commentary.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:49 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
📝 NEW — Ballers & Fallers: Atletico Madrid (h)

Ballers:

⚽️ Gyökeres
💯 Zubimendi
🦹‍♂️ ???
💨 ???
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ???

Fallers:

😂 ???

I go over five Ballers and a sad little Faller from Arsenal’s 4-0 win last night in the CL. Have a read and subscribe if you enjoy!

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/ballers-an...
Ballers & Fallers: Atletico Madrid (h)
Five hits and a miss from a four-score statement win in the Champions League.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:34 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
📝 NEW — Ballers & Fallers: Fulham (a)

Ballers:

⭐️ Saka
📈 ???
💪 ???

Fallers:

🙁 Eze
🪑 ???
⁉️ ???

I go over the encouraging and not-so-encouraging performances from Arsenal’s win at Craven Cottage. Give it a read, and subscribe if you enjoy!

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/ballers-an...
Ballers & Fallers: Fulham (a)
The good and the bad from a successful outing at Craven Cottage.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 11:35 AM
shamsdale.bsky.social
Before the football is back underway, I wanted to take a moment to discuss a recent off-field development for Arsenal: the departure of Tim Lewis, resulting boardroom shakeup, and what it means for the future.

Have a read, and subscribe if you enjoy!

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/arsenal-ha...
Arsenal Have Entered a New Era
What the recent shakeup at the board level means for the Gunners' trajectory.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:35 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
Figured this international break was as good a time as any to write my first Player Concern Index of the season. In it, I go through the Arsenal first team player by player and give my thoughts on them. Have a read, and subscribe if you enjoy!

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/player-con...
Player Concern Index — October 2025
Using the international break to take stock of Arsenal’s current first team roster.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
October 12, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by (Sham)
shamsdale.bsky.social
Seen a lot of talk about Gyökeres as what will be a long two weeks without club football kicks off. I wanted to talk about Gyökeres, too. Specifically, I wanted to talk about how he’s impressed me so far.

Have a read and subscribe if you enjoy.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/the-unexpe...
The Unexpected Selflessness of Viktor Gyökeres
A few words on how Arsenal's summer striker signing has already contributed massively to his new team, but not the way you probably would have bet on.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 7:01 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
Seen a lot of talk about Gyökeres as what will be a long two weeks without club football kicks off. I wanted to talk about Gyökeres, too. Specifically, I wanted to talk about how he’s impressed me so far.

Have a read and subscribe if you enjoy.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/the-unexpe...
The Unexpected Selflessness of Viktor Gyökeres
A few words on how Arsenal's summer striker signing has already contributed massively to his new team, but not the way you probably would have bet on.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 7:01 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
I’m tired of Arsenal fans jumping to dramatic conclusions all the time. So I wrote about Nwaneri, Saliba, and how folks who think “something is going on” between them and the manager are telling on themselves. Have a read and subscribe if you enjoy! 👇🏽

thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/stop-proje...
Stop Projecting Onto Ethan Nwaneri
Getting some thoughts off my chest about why some people always suspect foul play in these situations when the explanation is probably much simpler (and less dramatic).
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
October 3, 2025 at 1:09 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
Ahead of the CL clash with Olympiacos, I offer a final reflection on Arsenal’s victory at Newcastle — a match I didn’t think was must-win, but one that ultimately might prove to be a turning point in our season. Have a read, and subscribe if you enjoy 👇🏽
thenonnegotiables.substack.com/p/why-the-wi...
Why the Win At Newcastle Matters So Much
On conquering adversity at Newcastle, how Arteta and the players made it happen, and what it means for their title challenge.
thenonnegotiables.substack.com
September 30, 2025 at 11:12 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
United lose
Chelsea lose
Liverpool lose
Welbeck brace
Nketiah winner at the death
September 27, 2025 at 4:44 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
William Saliba is a prime example of how your average Twitter goofball has no idea what a pro footballer is thinking. First people were convinced he hated Arteta and wanted to go. Saliba stayed. Then people were sure he thought this Arsenal project was a dead end. Saliba stayed.
September 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
shamsdale.bsky.social
I think something that a lot of Arsenal fans need to remember is that not all games are created equal. It’s a long season. Some matches need to be inch-perfect and absolutely should be picked apart microscopically. Some matches are just about getting a win and going home.
September 25, 2025 at 12:45 AM