- Do Arsenal have enough players to see us through the international matches?
- Arsenal v Hull City: to rest or not to rest amidst the fog….
By Tony Attwood
Two seasons ago, some columnists were describing Arsenal’s manager, and indeed, Arsenal themselves, as “eternal runners up”. They didn’t exactly use that phrase, but the implication was, Manchester City were simply so far ahead in terms of style and ability, there was no way Arsenal could catch them.
But behind the scenes there was movement. In 2019 the League began an investigation into the club’s financial arrangements. Then in 2023, the Mancs were charged with 115 breaches of the rules. In September 2026 the League announced that ManC were found guilty of 80 charges of financial wrongdoing, and 34 of the 35 charges of failure to cooperate. Throughout, the club maintained not just that they were innocent, but that they had absolute evidence to prove their innocence. It’s just that they haven’t told us what that is.
So that case if still running, but it is interesting just how many journalists tried to explain Arsenal’s charge to the top last season as somehow Arsenal taking advantage of ManCs decline, combined with a coincidental downturn in the fortunes of other clubs such as Liverpool, and even Tottenham Hots! Arsenal it seemed, would soon slip back to their rightful place lower down the league while Tottenham and Liverpool recovered and ManC would of course win the title.
In fact Tottenham Hotspur’s rise up the league fell apart when they were beaten by Leeds United. But meanwhile Arsenal kept on riding high and although it is now acknowledged that the club won the league, the fact that Arsenal had the best defence, were the second highest scorers, had the best goal difference, and won the title by seven points, seemed often to be left out of the commenatories. Instead ManU, who came third, were tipped to challenge their local rivals in the season to come. (They are currently 18th).
So the fact that Arsenal’s dominance has lasted from last season into this, has left the media bewildered, while the decline of those traditionally supported by the media such as Manchester City (who are still rarely if ever criticised in the media for their financial arrangements) is excused through any other excuses the scribblers can find.
The problem that the media have however is that of cumulative failure. The Mancs have lost of late to Brighton, Forest, and Villa and only just squeaked past Ipswich. And now for the first time the media is asking, could it be that the nine years of cheating is praying on players’ minds? Or are referees no longer influenced by the ManC style, approach and propaganda? Such thoughts are worrying, just as is the notion that PGMO men were always willing to give the benefit of the doubt to ManC players in game after game after game…
And then there is the thought, “how come Arsenal are buying exactly the players they need?” Why did not one else get Konsa? How on earth did Arsenal overcome the absence of Saliba, which should have (according to journalists) left the club bemused and bereft? Or put another way, why did none of the media see the 3-0 loss to Brighton to be an aberration which Arsenal could then put right, but instead saw it as the shape of things to come?
In fact, freaky one-off results happen to other clubs. When it is Arsenal it is a sign of instability, decay, uncertainty, and false promises. But quite how you then explain four consecutive games without conceding a goal, is a point that is left to one side.
And then there is the fact that William Saliba is now fit. and that at the present rate Arsenal will end up with 102 points this season. And then after that we are still able to have a few giggles at Tottenham Hots. They are 15 points behind Arsenal sitting in tenth and their goal difference is 11 worse than Arsenal’s. And just to add a bit more, there is nothing much that is positive one can say about Tottenham. They even have a negative goal difference and the pundits are saying they need another centre forward. But their debts are now so vast…. Well, we’ll leave that one.
So if ManC are tangled up in legal issues, Brighton are doing jolly good for a smaller club but can’t really be seen as title challengers, Chelsea have spent billions but are still letting in three times as many goals as Arsenal, Everton are Everton and Liverpool are sort of trying to sort themselves out, can anyone catch Arsenal?
Of course it is possible not least because four clubs have scored more goals than Arsenal this season, although even without the main man, no one has a better defence.
So maybe that suggests that somehow Arsenal still need to find a way to get more goals… except maybe they just need to find a way to get the ball forward a little more quickly. Except that last season Arsenal were the second highest goal scorers with 1.87 goals a game. This season they are only three goals behind this. So with just a little bit of an extra push from the forwards we could be there. I wouldn’t go spending a fortune on a new centre forward just yet. Although fortunately for everyone, I don’t run the club.
