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...

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...

Arsenal’s greatest ever chants  Arsenal fans have been in top form in the last 12 months, churning out hit chant after hit chant with catchy and creative lyrics.  The infectious ‘Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe’ chant made its debut on the terraces at the start of last season and has been followed by some certified bangers.  Three new signings have already been christened with the ultimate honour this term.  Oleksandr Zinchenko grabbed an assist on his debut against Crystal Palace and heard his name sung to the tune of ‘Gold’ by Spandau Ballet.  It was William Saliba’s turn next, with fans turning The Champs ‘Tequila’ into a brilliantly simple serenade for the centre back.  But the Gabriel Jesus ‘hymn’ surely tops the lot – Lonnie Donegan’s ‘My Oldman’s a Dustman’ converted into a genius tribute to the Brazilian.  The lyrics are below for those unaware:  Ohhhhhh Mik Arteta called him,   Said, ‘now’s your time to shine,’   Coz I’m col...

Who are the sides in Arsenal's Europa League group?  By Jack Lacey-Hatton After coming so close to a UEFA Champions League return at the end of last season, Arsenal have had to settle for a spot in Europe’s secondary competition this time around. Thursday night football may often be the source of ridicule for rival fans, but in truth, the competition is not to be sniffed at. The Europa League not only offers Mikel Arteta a chance to lift some silverware for the second time in his fledgling managerial career. Crucially it presents a direct route to Europe’s elite with the winners guaranteed a berth in the 2022-23 Champions League. Arsenal’s road to a potential final in Budapest’s Puskas Arena starts on Thursday in Group A. Here is the lowdown on the other three sides.   PSV Eindhoven A stalwart in the heyday of European football, Dutch side PSV Eindhoven have serious continental pedigree. Unlike Arsenal, they have previously lifted the European Cup, winning the 1988 final on pe...

Who should start at right-back: Ben White or Takehiro Tomiyasu By Tom Masters Despite a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United last weekend, Arsenal sit top of the Premier league table after the first six matches of the new campaign and one man who has been a key part of that is Ben White.   White, who was purchased from Brighton and Hove Albion for £52 million last summer primarily as a centre back has played in all six Premier League matches this season at right back.  That has come partly down to the return of William Saliba from Marseille, who has formed a quality pairing with Gabriel, and partly down to the injury sustained by last season’s first choice right back Takehiro Tomiyasu.  But with Tomiyasu now back fit, the big question on many Arsenal fans’ lips is who should be the first choice right back?  Pick on form?  I t must be nice for Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff to have options, after a season last year in which there was very little wriggle room for ...

By Oli Dickson Jefford So much has been made of Arsenal’s positive start to the season and the success that new signings have had since their arrival. Gabriel Jesus has been a standout performer in the campaign so far, while Oleksandr Zinchenko has also impressed since they both arrived from Manchester City this summer. The success of Jesus and Zinchenko has meant that the arrival of Fábio Vieira has not attracted anywhere near as much attention as it could have done. The Portuguese only made his debut with a brief cameo in this weekend’s 3-1 loss to Manchester United, having been consigned to the bench in matches before that. With  €40m having been spent on the 22-year-old midfielder, Arsenal fans will be keen to see more of him in the coming months. However, in a competitive squad, can he break through and become a first team regular? Attacking strength Vieira’s talent has been hailed by many and he could become a truly great player, but he is not a player that can address Arsena...