AFTV News

  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...

By Jonny Bray When Callum   Chambers   arrived at Arsenal back in the summer of 2014, many thought he would usher in the end of a period of defensive instability in North London.  While Arsenal's defence certainly has improved since then,   Chambers   has had little to do with those improvements.  He struggled to cement his place in the team during his time at the Emirates, despite such an incredible start to life at Arsenal.  His great start wouldn't last, and a combination of injuries and a lack of support from senior players during his formative years appear to have scuppered his chances of ever being the first choice at Arsenal.  So, were the club right to sell him?  Or will Mikel Arteta look back on this decision with regret if   Chambers   turns out to be a world-beater under Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa?  How did his Arsenal career go?  It's a shame, really, because   Chambers   offered so much at a time ...

Who do Arsenal need to sell? By Tom Masters Arsenal ’s transfer policy appears to have changed recently, with Mikel Arteta handed significant amounts to land his summer targets.   Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Aaron Ramsdale, Martin Odegaard, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Nuno Tavares all joined the Gunners in the summer for a total of £149m – the most in the Premier League.    But while they managed to secure a lot of talent coming into the club, they were unable to move a lot of players onto pastures new, with only Joe Willock leaving permanently.   But this January it will be Arteta’s main goal to see some of the lesser members of his squad sold to generate more funds to bring in that all important goal scorer.    We look at who could be on their way out of the Gunners squad this January.    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang    The Gabonese forward was only made captain recently, but that has already been stripped, as has his place in the team as ...

  Arsenal v Brentford Player Ratings Arsenal kicked off the Premier League season with an incredibly disappointing 2-0 defeat to new boys Brentford. With fans back and in full voice at the Brentford Community Stadium, Mikel Arteta’s men had no answer to Thomas Frank’s inspired Bees. Goals from Sergi Canos and Christian Norgaard ensured Arsenal made the short journey back across London empty handed.  Here’s how we rated the players. Bernd Leno - 4/10 The German goalkeeper potentially did not see all of Canos’ shot but he should not be getting beaten so easily at his near post.  Not a very calm presence at the back on the ball, plenty of room for improvement. One save from Bryan Mbuemo reminded Gooners what the No.1 is capable of. Calum Chambers - 3 Should not have let Canos cut inside so easily and was slow to close him down. Did not show he is the answer at right-back with very little offensive threat. Ben White - 5 Not the dream Premier League debut for his new club he w...

Dramatic draw at West Ham showed the best and worst of Arsenal in 90 minutes    Is there a more wildly frustrating team than Arsenal in this season's Premier League?  The trip across the capital to face West Ham was the latest journey on the rollercoaster. In the stadium that hosted the 2012 Olympics, the Gunners were sluggish out the traps but pulled off what amounted to a sprint finish as Alexandre Lacazette's late header secured a point.  From 3-0 down, it has to be considered a point gained rather than two dropped. But the contrast between the team that played the first 35 minutes and the remaining 55 was staggering.  Mikel Arteta admitted his side 'cannot have two faces' but both were on show on Sunday and consistency remains elusive for Arsenal this season.  The negatives - dodgy defending and Auba off the boil  Jamie Carragher wasn't wrong when he pointed out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's passionate celebration of Lacazette's leveller was about hi...

Arteta admits to having concerns following slow start in West Ham draw By Peter White If Thursday night’s Europa League clash against Olympiakos had set pulses racing among Gunners fans, Sunday’s dramatic draw at West Ham back on Premier League duty saw stress levels hit a new high.   Any suggestions that Arsenal should prioritise the continental competition had appeared to have got through to the starting XI in east London, who gifted the Hammers a 3-0 lead with little over half-an-hour gone.   Manchester United loanee Jesse Lingard - fresh from his England recall - put the hosts in front after just 15 minutes, before Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek goals looked to have put the game to bed.   Defeat at the London Stadium would have opened up a ten-point gap between Arsenal and the fifth-placed Irons - and all but ended the Gunners’ hopes of qualifying for Europe through a top-six finish.   But Arsenal pulled one back before the break after Alexandr...

FA Cup finals and 3-2 thrillers: Five great matches between Arsenal and Aston Villa in the Premier League By Adam Le Roux Arsenal travel to Villa Park this Saturday looking to respond from the horror show against Wolves on Tuesday night, slumping to a 2-1 defeat and finishing the game with just nine men on the pitch. You don’t have to go too far back for the last time the Gunners went head to head with Villa, as Dean Smith’s side rampaged their way to a 3-0 win at the Emirates thanks to Bukayo Saka’s own goal and Ollie Watkins’ double. In what has been a largely forgettable season for Arsenal to date, that humbling at home from the Villans was one of the lowest ebbs, as Jack Grealish and Ross Barkley had the Arsenal defence on tenterhooks throughout. But it hasn’t been all doom and gloom for the Gunners against Villa in the past, with many a fine victory coming against the boys in claret and blue in recent history, so let’s take a trip down memory lane to reminisce on five of the all-t...