AFTV News

Five academy stars who could step up this season Hale End has produced some cracking footballers down the years.  Gunners legends such as Liam Brady, Tony Adams, David Rocastle, Ray Parlour, Paul Merson, Ashley Cole and Jack Wilshere have all come through Arsenal’s academy.  And the latest off the conveyer belt, Emile Smith-Rowe and Bukayo Saka, are shining for club and country, while Folarin Balogun is tearing up trees in the French top-flight for Reims.  But who are the next stars in the making, ready to make the step up to the first team?  Catalin Cirjan  Even after 480 days out with a horrific knee injury, Catalin Cirjan is pushing for an Arsenal debut that is long overdue.  The Romanian midfielder tore his ACL, medial collateral ligament, and meniscus in April 2021 and finally made his return against Swansea for the Under-21s last month.  Before he was injured, he was expected to make his senior debut at the end of the 2020/21 season and sign a ne...

By Tum Balogun  The Gunners have already assembled an elite group of Brazilians who have helped fire Mikel Arteta’s team to the Premier League summit.  The summer addition of Gabriel Jesus has many concluding this season will bring an end to Arsenal’s Champions League drought and owing to technical director Edu Gaspar’s connections in his native Brazil, the club has no intention of easing their penchant for South American talent.  Let’s take a look at the next Brazilian gem who could be walking through the doors at London Colney.  Who is he?  Danilo is a 21-year-old midfielder, who is primarily deployed at the base of a three, and currently plies his trade for Série A outfit Palmeiras.  A solid defensive presence, the left footer also offers plenty in an attacking phase with a progressive style which suits Arteta’s football.  The youngster was part of the Palmeiras team who won back-to-back Copa Libertadores crowns, most recently in 2021, which was fol...

Should Mikel Arteta go all out in the Europa League this season?  By Tom Masters After a season away from European action, Arsenal are back competing on the continent in the Europa League this season. They marked their return with a 2-1 win over FC Zurich last Thursday and were due to host PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates stadium this week, but due to the passing of Her Majesty the Queen and policing requirements around her funeral, that match has been postponed.  With the Gunners flying high in the Premier League, should Mikel Arteta go all out in the Europa League? Potential to win  Arsenal would without a doubt be among the favourites to challenge for the Europa League this year along with fellow Premier League club Manchester United, Italian sides Lazio and Roma and of course any number of Champions League sides who may drop down into the Europa League knockout stages.  The Gunners were in Europe’s secondary competition for four consecutive years from 2017/18 to 202...

Arsenal women v Brighton women key match-ups By Tom Masters With Arsenal’s first Barclays Women’s Super League match of the season against Manchester City postponed due to the sad passing of Her Majesty the Queen, the match against Brighton and Hove Albion will be their first of the season.  The Gunners have faced Brighton on ten occasions, winning nine and drawing the other, including a 2-1 win at Meadow Park in January last season and a 3-0 win at Broadfield Stadium last year.  Arsenal went on to finish second by just a point on the final day of the season, with a 2-0 victory over West Ham not enough to overcome eventual champions Chelsea, who twice came from behind to win 4-2 and seal the title.  Meanwhile Brighton finished the season in seventh, ending the season with a 1-1 draw with Everton.  And ahead of the game, we look at the key match-ups between Arsenal women and Brighton and Hove Albion.  Beth Mead v Poppy Pattinson  Euro 2022 winner Mead has ma...

Are Arsenal title contenders? By Jonny Bray After six games, Arsenal sit atop the Premier League table.  The Gunners have been brilliant from the word go, scoring 14 goals while conceding just seven.  Mikel Arteta has rejuvenated the club, with fans now firmly behind this young and exciting side.  However, trouble is on the horizon.  The Gunners have nine matches in all competitions during October, with some crucial clashes against the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool and defending champions Manchester City.  So, with that in mind, can the North Londoners be considered title contenders at this stage in the season?  Or will Gooners have to settle for a spot in the top four?  Arsenal are title contenders Arsenal's starting XI is one of the strongest in the league, and on its day, it can be a match for City and Liverpool.  That is, in part, because Arteta's new signings have hit the ground running. Gabriel Jesus has scored three goals and registered thr...

How much will Brazil’s snub benefit Arsenal?  By Tom Masters Arsenal’s sensational start to the Premier League has seen them win five of their opening six matches to sit top of the pile and there are three players who have been extremely important in that run.  The three Gabriels, Gabiel   Magalhães ,   Gabriel Martinelli and new signing Gabriel Jesus, have all been essential mainstays of Mikel Arteta’s side that have started the season in such dominant form.  All three have scored important goals in that run and the Brazilian trio seemed destined to be a key part of their national squad as a result.  But incredibly, despite their early season form, none of the three have made the Brazil squad for the upcoming international break, a key window ahead of the FIFA World Cup starting in November.  With those three vital cogs in Arteta’s current winning machine all snubbed by Brazil, how much is that likely to benefit Arsenal?  Fitness  One big wo...

Are Arsenal ready to reclaim the WSL this season?  By Tom Masters Arsenal last claimed the Barclays Women’s Super League in the 2018/19 season, with London rivals Chelsea since claiming the title for three seasons in a row. But after a summer in which their stars thrived at the Euros, are Arsenal ready to reclaim their WSL crown this season?  The Gunners finished third in both the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, before finishing second by the barest of margins last season – with Chelsea having to come from behind to beat Manchester United to claim the title by just one point ahead of the Gunners on the final day. Coming so close a year ago led to captain Leah Williamson coming out and admitting how much motivation that feeling has given her side ahead of this year.  But are they ready to win the top flight for the 16 th   time?  Feel good factor  There is an undeniable feel-good factor at Arsenal after the European Championships, with the likes of captain Will...