AFTV News

What did we learn from Gabriel's comments on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang? By Jack Lacey-Hatton Gabriel's revelations over the weekend that an in-house bust-up with coaches led to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's departure last month hasn’t come as a dramatic surprise to anyone with an interest in the club.  More surprising is that a senior player has chosen to speak about the incident, at a time when the former-skipper's departure as a result of soured relationships is still fresh in the mind. In an interview with ‘Oh My Goal’, Gabriel was surprisingly candid as he spoke at length about his affection for Aubameyang. The two were teammates for one-and-a-half seasons at the Emirates and clearly struck up a strong relationship during that time. So what new light did Gabriel shed on the forward’s departure?   Rift with Arteta In the immediate aftermath of Aubameyang's move to Barcelona at the start of February, speculation was rife that his status within the dressing room had ...

With three months to go - will Arsenal make the top four and return to the UEFA Champions League? by Hugo Mirabel-Hardy A rsenal’s late winner over Wolves on Thursday propelled their chances for top four into their own hands, as they have two games in hand over their rivals in the table. While top two seems to be a certainty for Liverpool and Manchester City, and Chelsea look to have secured third - the fight for the final spot looks like it could be a four, or potentially five, horse race. The Gunners sit fifth, having played 24 games and have 45 points. Manchester United are above them by a two points, and West Ham are three points below – both teams have played more games. Their opponents on Thursday, Wolves, have 40 points but have played 25 games, and an outlier to top four, Tottenham are six points adrift of their north London rivals. At the time of writing, United and West Ham are the only two teams left in Europe, while the Irons are Spurs have games left in the FA Cup. Therefo...

Player profile: Borna Sosa By Hugo Mirabel Hardy Borna Sosa has recently been linked with a move to not only Arsenal, but also London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham who are believed to be interested in the full-back’s signature. A relatively unknown name to fans outside of the Bundesliga, the 24-year-old Croatian has impressed pundits this season for Stuttgart despite his side facing relegation as they sit 17th in the league. So, who is Borna Sosa? Let’s take a look at the potential summer signing for the Gunners.   Profile:  Born in 1998, he is currently 24 years old and has been at vfB Stuttgart since the 2018/19 season, making 74 appearances across both Bundesliga and the dfB Pokal.  Sosa has scored three goals in that time, two of those coming this season, and has provided 19 assists during his time there, 10 of those coming last season. He is on his way to replicating that again this year, popping up with five assists so far across all competitions.  Sosa mai...

  3 potential captains for next season The captaincy at Arsenal has been something that has changed hands all too regularly in recent times. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of the armband in December, being replaced by Alexandre Lacazette. However, with the French forward’s own future at the club uncertain ahead of his contract expiring in the summer, it is likely that Mikel Arteta will pick a new captain in the summer. We look at three players who could be in line to take the captaincy next season. Kieran Tierney The current vice-captain, Tierney would be an obvious choice for Arteta in the summer as he is already part of the leadership group. The Scot is a complete professional on and off the pitch and has already captained his country on one occasion. Tierney is also a part of the long-term plan under Arteta having signed a long-term contract in 2021 with his performances also suggesting he’ll be around at the Emirates for some time to come. This commitment could make him...

Would Armando Broja be a good summer signing for Arsenal? By Jonny Bray Armando Broja truly burst on the scene when he picked up the ball on the edge of the Crystal Palace's defensive third, turned, and fired a low driven shot into the bottom left corner of Vicente Guaita's goal. He immediately sprinted towards the Palace fans and let them know exactly how he felt about it. That game between Palace and Southampton at Selhurst Park may have ended 2-2, but it was the start of a superb run of form for the Chelsea-loanee. After six goals in 21 appearances, the Albanian striker has been linked with several top Premier League clubs. But would he be a good summer signing for Arsenal? Plenty of potential Broja is just 20 years old but he already possesses the build of a full-grown man and has plenty of pace and skill as well. He can hold up the ball, is prepared to work hard, and could be the perfect fit for Arteta's side. The forward's best characteristic is his desire, and in...

By Nick Powell For much of last summer, Granit Xhaka was seen as the most likely candidate to be heading out of Arsenal before he signed a one-year contract as the transfer window drew to a close. But despite missing out on him in 2021, La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy are reporting that he remains the “first name” on Roma manager Jose Mourinho’s wish list this summer. With Xhaka set to tip the wrong side of 30 later this year, and young players needed to continue Arteta’s long-term re-build, it’s hard to see he would halt another Roma advance. So if, unlike last summer, the two clubs manage to agree a fee and Xhaka moves on, where can Arsenal strengthen their midfield to fill the gap Xhaka going to Roma would leave? Douglas Luiz A target that emerged in the gossip columns in the last week of January 2021, Douglas Luiz has been on the Arsenal radar for a number of years. The 23-year-old deep lying holding midfielder has thrived in the Premier League since his move to Aston Villa in 201...

Player Profile: Zach Awe By Oliver Gafsen The eagle-eyed viewer would have noticed 18-year-old Zach Awe replacing Takehiro Tomiyasu on the bench in Arsenal's 1-0 victory at Molineux earlier this month. An academy player breaking into the seniors barely a year after putting pen to his first professional contract speaks to how big an impact Awe has made at Hale End. Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe have already demonstrated the class of our graduates in recent years, so here's everything you need to know about Arsenal's next wonderkid. Background The Young Gun was born to Nigerian parents in Greenwich in 2004 – mid-way through our invincibles season. If that doesn't make you feel like one of the old-timers, nothing will. Palace spotted his promise and snatched him from his Sunday league team, but Awe said: "when Arsenal came calling a year later, it was an opportunity we just couldn't turn down." So clearly, the youngster is a big Arsenal fan who feels a gen...

By Tom Masters Arsenal take on Brentford this week as the business end of the Premier League approaches.  The Gunners will hope to earn three valuable points as they look to return to Champions League action after five seasons out of the competition.  Ahead of their clash with the Bees at the Emirates Stadium, we look at three Bees players who Mikel Arteta should look to sign in the summer.  Ivan Toney  The Gunners have not kept it secret that they are in the hunt for at least one striker this summer after Pierre Emerick Aubameyang’s departure to FC Barcelona in January.  The Gabonese forward leaving has left Arteta with just two recognised strikers in the squad in Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah; Lacazette’s contract comes to an end this summer, meaning it is entirely possible that Arsenal will be left with just Nketiah to lead their line.  Toney is Brentford’s top scorer this season with six goals and Arteta is known to be an admirer of the 25-year-...

  What are the worst refereeing decisions that have gone against Arsenal? By Jonny Bray Gabriel Martinelli's red card against Wolves was one of the most bizarre refereeing decisions Arsenal fans have seen in a long while. It brought back memories of poor decisions in the past that have cost Arsenal dear and had many fans wondering which of these calls was the worst. With plenty to choose from across numerous competitions, it shouldn't be too hard to find some absolutely disastrous decisions from recent years. Robin van Persie v Barcelona – Red Card Robin van Persie's red card against Barcelona in the Champions League back in 2011 is still widely regarded as one of the worst refereeing decisions of all time. The Dutch forward described it as a joke, Arsene Wenger was left furious by the call, and fans were forced to relive the moment years after the fact when it went viral. In short, van Persie saw a second yellow for taking a shot on goal. Massimo Busacca blew his whistle t...

Three of the best London derbies from recent years By Kit Shepard Arsenal have had some titanic clashes with London rivals. Whether they are taking on Tottenham in the North London Derby or battling Chelsea, their familiar West London foe, emotions often run high in tenacious encounters. The Gunners have enjoyed several memorable occasions against these opponents, with stunning comebacks, cup final victories and slick attacking displays all included. Here are three of the best recent Arsenal matches against sides from across the capital. Scintillating second half earns comeback win: Arsenal 4-2 Tottenham (December 2018) Unai Emery’s spell as Arsenal manager is remembered for its acrimonious ending, but there was a brief period under him where the Gunners appeared a club reborn. The Spaniard’s first North London Derby was perhaps the highlight of his time at the Emirates Stadium. Hosting a Tottenham side above them in the table, Arsenal produced an electric display to go above the...

Player Profile Orkun Kökçü By Kit Shepard Orkun Kökçü has been linked with a move to Arsenal since 2018. The Feyenoord and Turkey playmaker is a technically gifted operator, and a switch to a major European league appears to be a matter of if not when. With Arsenal seeking greater midfield depth, they are poised to launch a fresh pursuit of the 21-year-old’s signature this summer. So, what exactly would the Gunners be getting? Here's all you need to know about Orkun Kökçü. Who is he? Kökçü was born on 29 December 2000 in Haarlem, Netherlands and is of Turkish and Azerbaijani heritage. He made a spectacular professional debut for Feyenoord at just 17, scoring in a 4-0 win against VV Gemert in September 2018. The following December, he scored one and assisted another on his Eredivisie debut against FC Emmen. However, it was the 2019/20 season where Kökçü truly broke into the first team. He played 22 Eredivisie games for Feyenoord, double the previous year’s total, before the pandemic...

Will Arsenal regret letting Luke Plange leave the club? By Oliver Gafsen It's far from certain Luke Plange would have survived a January transfer purge that left Mikel Arteta struggling to field a futsal team. His 2021 academy transfer to Derby is unlikely to foster the regret of watching Serge Gnabry at Bayern or the bubbling rage of Van Persie at United. However, with Vieira forking out £1million for the young striker who retired Tom Huddleston with a double nutmeg last Thursday, Stan Kroenke may be chucking the cheque book to Josh in years to come. Born in Twickenham, Plange attracted immediate attention from Fulham, Palace and Chelsea, but his heart was on Arsenal, joining the academy aged six for the two hour trip to Hale End. He showed early promise, making his U18 debut at 15 with seven goals in 23 appearances, but was pushed off the ball too easily in the U23s, moving to Pride Park last March on a free. The 19-year-old wasn't deterred, showing his resilience with five g...

Arsenal’s five greatest Champions League nights By Alec McQuarrie With the Champions League returning to our screens this week for the first time in over two months, let’s crack open the archive and look back at five of the most unforgettable Arsenal performances in this prestigious competition. The Gunners have a long and proud history in the tournament, qualifying for the group stage under Arsène Wenger for 19 consecutive seasons from 1998 to 2016 – only Real Madrid can better that with 25 and counting. Wenger failed to make the last-16 just twice, reaching six quarter-finals, two semi-finals and one final in 2006. The Gunners lost 2-1 to Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona side that included Carlos Puyol, Andrés Iniesta Deco, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o. Inter Milan 1-5 Arsenal – Group Stage Matchday Five – 25 November 2003 “Not in my wildest dreams could we have predicted that sort of result,” said Arsène Wenger after the Gunners sent shockwaves through Europe by demolishing the previou...