{"id":11604,"date":"2025-08-11T08:53:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T07:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=11604"},"modified":"2025-08-16T12:35:37","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T11:35:37","slug":"another-trip-on-the-rollercoaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=11604","title":{"rendered":"Another Trip on the Rollercoaster"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As we await the new season I think back to the last moments of the old one. Martin \u00d8degaard snatching a late winner at Southampton and it was over. And I\u2019m going to confess I was relieved. I wasn\u2019t ‘footballed out\u2019, but I was glad of the break from putting my hopes and fears on the line in supporting Arsenal. When people on the blog cursed the interlulls last season I embraced them as a break from the pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now if my wife was reading this article she would be saying to herself, as she says to me continually, \u201cIt\u2019s only a game for goodness sake, don\u2019t let it dictate your life\u201d. Of course she doesn\u2019t understand that it\u2019s not only a game, supporting Arsenal is part of my identity – a big part – and it has provided some of the most memorable moments of what has been a memorable life. Arsenal is ingrained in my soul like it was in my father\u2019s soul and his Dad\u2019s before him. When my  Dad was cremated we draped his coffin in red and white because that would  have been what he would have chosen. But we didn\u2019t burn his Arsenal scarf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy!\u201d you  might say, this is a downbeat beginning to a preview of Arsenal\u2019s 2025\/6 season but the point I am making is that I seem to invest more and more into my supporting as the time I have left to support inevitably dwindles. I must confess that I am conflicted between the visceral support, much in evidence on this blog, that supports the club through thick and thin and the attempt to employ honest recognition of where the club is and what we can achieve. I desperately want us to win the Champions League and the Premier League but at the same time I recognise three successive second places as a huge improvement on where we were five seasons ago – which while it wasn\u2019t nowhere, was a pretty mundane and unexciting place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of our readers will have supported Arsenal in some very good times, after all it doesn\u2019t come much better than the Invincible season, but younger readers will have a real frustration of the sort that I had through the 1960\u2019s as far as Arsenal was concerned. Our recent history hasn\u2019t been turbulent in other club\u2019s terms. Even after Arsene Wenger\u2019s performance started to decline we still won FA Cups and qualified for Europe and although at the end of Unai Emery\u2019s tenure the club was a pig\u2019s breakfast, he had taken us to a European final the season before. You may have expunged that game from your memory because our performance was execrable. So were all the performances of Emery\u2019s side just  before his departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that\u2019s history, history we all know and this is a preview of the season so why mention the past? A fair question but one I would answer with the one word – context. The club was in a mess when Mikel Arteta took over and five years later we are one of the strongest sides in Europe. Those second places have only been second places because twice a club owned by a nation state and one that is accused of gross irregularities ( they deny the charges) accumulated more points. On one occasion that side was undoubtedly the best in Europe and on another we took them to the last minutes of the last game of the season before their title was confirmed. They might still be stripped of both those titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last season we came up  against a club who were both superbly consistent and able to field the same team consistently. Our second place was earned despite a catalogue of serious injury to most of our best players at different times  and what seemed like a refereeing approach that persecuted Arsenal in a way no other top, or for that matter bottom clubs seemed to suffer. As a handy adjunct we finished third in the new league stage of the Champions League, reached the semi finals of the competition, outplayed the holders home and away and won our first knockout game 7-1 away from home. The reaction to this result was for many to complain that Arsenal did not reduce prices for the return leg! That spoke to me of an element of our fanbase who feel outrageously  entitled. Who might have wrought that change in attitude? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the last five years we have seen a wonderful connection (Arteta\u2019s word) build between the majority of our fans and the  team. C100\u2019s wonderful reports behind enemy lines illustrate how loyal and passionate that following is. But Arteta apparently begins this season under pressure but I don\u2019t personally know an Arsenal fan who wants him removed as coach (and I know a lot of Arsenal fans). Yet pressure builds on wretched social media sites, in some of what Keenos calls \u2018bottom tier\u2019 blogs and in some of the more sensationalist papers. It creates noise but little in the way of informed debate. If there is a coach in world football, working with Arteta\u2019s resources who could have guaranteed at least one league title in the last few years I\u2019d be anxious to know his name. It might be Guardiola, Klopp, Luis Enrique, Slot or Ancelotti but the list would end about there and I would challenge some of those names. So if we lose Arteta with whom would we replace him that can immediately do better?  If progress is not almost immediate you lose the momentum built up in the last few years. Shock Jock sports broadcasters are good at slinging mud but less gifted at credible suggestions for improvement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All this has been a long, but I would contend necessary preamble into a look at the upcoming season. One that I would like to defer for several weeks! Arsenal face the season as second favourites to win the title in the majority of peoples\u2019 eyes and are probably in most peoples\u2019 top six for the Champions League. That\u2019s not a bad starting point but after so many near misses we crave serious silverware. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve focused quite a bit on Arteta because he is the fulcrum of our club, the person who drives everything. Arteta is secured on a long contract and would appear to be obsessively determined to bring success to Arsenal. He might be feeling great pressure if he listens to idiots on Sky or TalkShite or if he scans through the bottom-tier blogs (I love that phrase!) However, it is very clear that he enjoys significant support in the Arsenal boardroom. They have provided him with a war chest of almost \u00a3200m net so far this window and with the rate at which we seem to sell players that figure may not be heavily reduced by outgoings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The big difference this year is a new Sporting Director Andrea  Berta who has attained a very big reputation for his efficient purchasing of top players. So far we have signed six and we can all probably recite their names in our sleep. They used to say that Harry Redknapp always wanted one more signing, however many new players he had, and I would love us to make a seventh signing in Eberechi Eze. More about him later but what of those we have signed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The New Boys<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viktor Gy\u00f6keres<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you remember years ago you had to be either Blur or Oasis? VHS or Betamax, Remainer or Brexiteer ? Earlier in this window Arsenal fans seemed to need to be Sesko or Gy\u00f6keres. Frankly, I would have taken either but I was much more convinced by the incredible recent goalscoring record of Gy\u00f6keres than the future potential of Sesko. So I was glad we did the deal that we did. Gy\u00f6keres is already being written off by morons after 72 minutes of football coming on the back of a fragmented pre- season for the lad. He is a Goal Monster and will be our Goal Monster but, like those two incredible failures Bergkamp and Henry, he will need time and some patience. Adaptation on both sides is necessary but this boy eats defences for breakfast and he is very hungry. If he gets 25 goals this season we will have a very good chance of winning the league. No pressure Viktor! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martin Zubimendi <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have been quietly warning people in the blog that this was a deal that  may very well falter at the last minute as shy Basque lad Martin couldn\u2019t face winters in N5 and the far north. He, of course, did join us and in his interview impressed as a very well balanced personality who was sold on the Arsenal project. That he might be one of the best holding midfielders in the world is not in doubt and great credit should  go to Edu\/Ayto for tying him  up so tightly. He also relieves us of the need to employ Thomas Partey any more. His interaction with Rice, Merino and \u00d8degaard will be hugely significant next season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christian N\u00f8rgaard <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t expect this signing but always thought he looked a very decent player for Brentford and as a replacement for Jorginho he fills the bill well and for a reasonable price. His aerial ability will add to our armoury at corners and he has extensive Premier League experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kepa Arrizabalaga<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If one was being critical of last season\u2019s transfer activity it would have been in the goalkeeping position. Fortunately, Raya didn\u2019t get injured but prolonged exposure to Neto in goal would have been very bad for our health based on Neto\u2019s one outing in Girona. Accusations that Edu might be transferring his barbecue to the East Midlands were fuelled by the Neto deal. One pre- requisite of a back-up keeper deal is that he can relieve the principal keeper in the cups. Neto had already been cup- tied for the Carabao Cup and was presumably not deemed good enough to replace Raya for our FA Cup tie with ManUre. Kepa for \u00a35million looks a snip. He was solid last season for Bournemouth, is vastly experienced , a good distributor and unlikely to try to make saves with his hands forty yards from goal. If Neto had been a better keeper he would probably have left us with ten men in Girona!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christhian  Mosquera <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will ultimately be revealed that Mosquera\u2019s godfather or the priest at his christening was dyslexic. I suspect he may be a Kiwior replacement. I\u2019ve never seen him play but I trust those who have and he looks a big, strong athlete. I will try not to lisp when disscutthing him on the blog. We must have guaranteed him reasonable game time which may suggest he could ultimately be a potential long-term replacement for Saliba. But let\u2019s not think about that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noni Madueke<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few seasons ago I was lucky enough to meet Scruz en route to a Europa League game against PSV. He arrived late in an attempt to minimise the time he had to spend with me. (His wife is delightful and far too nice for him.) At that game which was won by Arsenal with a goal from my favourite player, Granit Xhaka (always loved him :0\/). PSV brought on a very lively winger who caused the left side of our defence serious problems.  That man was Jan Van Eyck! No seriously, it was Noni Madueke and he went into the famous TTG notebook then and there. I noted he had been a Spud. He arrives as the biggest surprise signing of the summer at the Home of Football but has been assailed pre- signing by bottom-tier criticism by those who suggest a current England winger is a waste of money at \u00a348m, or thereabouts. Can I also make it clear that when I refer to bottom-tier in this respect there is no smear intended of CER, 21CG and C100, who all sit in the bottom tier at Arsenal, but are fine and respected judges with whom I have watched matches. Anyway, I think Madueke may prove to be a conspicuous success, relieving the pressure on Bukayo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That covers our inwards movement at the time of writing and there has not yet been any outwards movement of note but that should alter and needs to. It\u2019s becoming a clich\u00e9 that we aren\u2019t a good selling club \u2026\u2026probably, because we aren\u2019t a good selling club. I used to blame Edu but it may be a curse that afflicts anyone trying to dispose of playing assets. We must hope to realise at least \u00a360m in sales with a consequent reduction in our wage bill. If Kiwior is sold or we get a very big bid for Martinelli we may realise more in sales and this might enable us to arrange a loan as well as buying the exciting Eberechi Eze from Palace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Priorities<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have got an extraordinarily strong squad now. It appears that we have targeted players with good fitness records which will almost certainly result in hitherto boisterous and healthy players breaking down in droves. We have cover in all the key positions except possibly our left sided attacking positions  (that\u2019s a matter for debate). Last season, one major criticism was that we lacked creativity. We scored 69 goals compared to 91 the year before. If my maths is correct that\u2019s a drop of 31% and that\u2019s very significant. That suggests a lot of low blocks foiled us. The Everton and West Ham games come to mind particularly. We had excuses – the absences through injury at various times of Saka, Jes\u00fas, \u00d8degaard, Havertz and Martinelli. Even Gabriel\u2019s absence for the last few months denuded our attack of its main set- piece threat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are those who feel that the early success of our set-pieces which brought specialist coach Nicholas Jover into the limelight led us to be too reliant on them. I wouldn\u2019t agree with that but our play last season appeared formulaic on many occasions, with much more emphasis on the right side of the attack. We certainly appeared less creative and it was impossible not to notice how \u00d8degaard struggled to be as effective as hitherto he had been. In his defence it seemed to a number of us that his ankle injury sustained early in the season while on international duty with Norway hindered him all season. This was a more credible explanation than the impact of fatherhood on his level of fitness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It often seemed last season that we were intent on walking the ball into the net. We had few players who shot from distance and we tended to start games very slowly. My feeling is that we need to lift some of the responsibility for the creative burden from \u00d8degaard and the acquisition of Eze would give us a creative player who could play off the left, someone who is not primarily dextropedal and who is a goal threat from thirty yards from goal. Gy\u00f6keres is a frequent shooter from distance and so is Madueke who could play as a non-inverting winger on the left running in behind or could relieve Saka by playing wide on the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our friendlies at the time of writing haven\u2019t been much more than a public runout for the squad with wholesale substitutions but one of those substitutions has been extraordinarily interesting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young Stars of the Future<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A couple of years ago I began to hear whispers about a prodigiously talented young winger who was creating huge waves at Hale End. I was told he came from very sound Arsenal stock and was amazingly good for his age. Gradually everyone got to hear about Max Dowman. He played outstandingly in the UEFA Youth League becoming the youngest ever scorer in that competition. He showed to huge effect in the Youth Cup, my neighbour at Arsenal texting me from the ground to say that  Dowman was incredible. We\u2019ve seen his impact from the bench against first team players on this tour and it was particularly sweet to see Joelinton turned inside out. In his first moments at the Emirates in a first team shirt he looked immediately at home and earned a penalty within minutes of coming on – the second he has earned this pre- season. Arteta\u2019s dilemma is how much to use him in the first team. At his age he needs to play full matches. A season coming off the bench without starting won\u2019t give him the experience he needs but with a boy this good it is hard to imagine how Arteta can resist the clamour to play him especially if our start to the season doesn\u2019t go particularly well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dowman will be walking a well-trodden path. Bukayo Saka went straight into the first team, albeit at left back and last season we saw the delightful emergence of MLS and Nwaneri who both contributed enormously and who are both going to be contracted to us for the next four years. Young Marli Salmon, a young centre back, went on tour to Asia despite also being only fifteen and acquitted himself well. Back home Kyran Thompson, a fourteen year old winger, is getting rave reviews. While it is wonderful to have a host of brilliant youngsters coming through their pathway to and through the first team requires careful charting. Last year\u2019s positive experience with MLS and Nwaneri suggests this is an area we will monitor very carefully .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s different this season?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exodus of Carlos Cuesta to Parma was a blow as was the loss of Mehmet Ali as the Under 21 coach. Gabriel Heinze has been added to the coaching staff and is apparently creating a strong impression. LJW is rumoured to be returning to coach our U21\u2019s which is a very circuitous way of moving up a level in the hierarchy.  Arteta as we know is constantly trying to evolve and innovate and it is fervently to be hoped that we can develop a silkier passing rhythm and much more pace and verticality than we showed last season and in some of our friendlies so far. We must be able to harness the power and directness of Gy\u00f6keres as optimally as possible. We also need to re-erect the defensive wall that has served us so well in recent seasons. Gabriel\u2019s return can\u2019t come soon enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Rivals<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The transfer window burst  into life early and is showing no signs of slowing down. Liverpool\u2019s investment looks particularly ominous with the captures of Wirtz and Ekitike, two flying full- backs and very possibly Isak giving them a remarkable squad. Whether the tragic death of Diogo Jota will have an effect cannot be predicted but the new arrivals will certainly create a buzz that may electrify the club. Manchester City have recruited strongly but have lost De Bruyne and Walker and don\u2019t carry the aura that they used to particularly since we beat then 5-1 last season. World club champions Chelsea might mount a charge but their squad, though heavy with exciting wide players hasn\u2019t got the defensive depth of Champions. The Saudi Arabian project is falling apart on Tyneside which leaves two other possible contenders. Manure have created a forward line that looks certain to be potent. They were incredibly inconsistent last season though Amorim will have had time to school his team in his favoured three at the back formation. The dear old Spuds are champions of Europe with a much more credible manager, a playmaker out for the season and Kudus added to their forward line as Son leaves. Frank is a much better coach than Big Ange and we might expect them to be a top six contender this season rather than a side struggling  just above the relegation zone .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In just a week\u2019s time another season will begin. It will be way too early for me, unless we hit the ground running, in which case I won\u2019t be able to wait to get to the Leeds game. Arsenal fans who care for the club are very much behind Arteta and I hope we can create the momentum we need to drown out the naysayers. A slow start, especially for Gy\u00f6keres will see a media frenzy that will be unhelpful and unnecessary but will delight the many enemies that Mikel Arteta seems to have made. But if we win at the Toilet and Gy\u00f6keres looks a much better buy than Sesko we will hopefully develop a momentum that will help us cope with a challenging start. By way of comparison, Chelsea who have just returned from the Club World Cup don\u2019t meet a top six side until October. That\u2019s one for the conspiracy  theorists who will no doubt be examining our experience with referees in the early games. We mustn\u2019t go in with a victim mentality but it is to be hoped that we are not on the receiving end of the sort of horrendous refereeing decisions we experienced last season. Keep Michael Oliver well away!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seasons roll round quickly and each one seems to be more intense and controversial than the last. I still find it remarkable that there could be any speculation about Arteta\u2019s position but we don\u2019t live in a rational world and negative noises will start to emanate from more militant fans if we drop behind the leaders too early. The Premier League is a marathon not a sprint but it will do us no harm at all if we can shoot out of the blocks very quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Come on you Gunners! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Two short notices for your attention:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOLICS ROPEYLEAGUE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Could I take this opportunity to remind one and all that the prestigious
HolicsRopeyLeague will once again be open to any and all Holics who
would like to join and test your team selection skills.
Who will challenge that Masked Man from, er Kent? Or will it be a two-peat
for the Terror of Tonbridge? Come and join us to find out!!! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any new players just let us know in the ‘Drinks’ if you\u2019d like to join and I will send you our league code pronto. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only two rules as ever
\u2013 there must be at least one Arsenal player in your squad at all times
\u2013 there must be No Spuds in your squad at any time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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JOIN THE 2025-26 PREDICTATHON<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A quick reminder that the clock is ticking down on getting your entries in for the 2025-26 Predictathon. Next Friday is the deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Past players should have received an entry blank by email. Check your spam\/junk folder if you haven\u2019t seen it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

New players, come and join us. All you have to do is predict the final PL table for the coming season. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. How to enter, entry blanks and details of the scoring system are to be found under the GHF Contests tab above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As always, your entry fee to the Predictathon will support Bob Wilson\u2019s Willow Foundation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As we await the new season I think back to the last moments of the old one. Martin \u00d8degaard snatching a late winner at Southampton and it was over. And I\u2019m going to confess I was relieved. I wasn\u2019t ‘footballed out\u2019, but I was glad of the break from putting my hopes and fears on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[33,28,13,11,10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11604"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11604"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11604\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11630,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11604\/revisions\/11630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11604"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}