AFTV News

Three things we learned from the latest All or Nothing episodes By Tum Balogun Another week and another three episodes of All or Nothing for Arsenal fans to sink their teeth into.  Last week’s edition highlighted Arsenal’s early season travails, boardroom machinations, and a whole heap of Catalan-accented pep talks.  This week’s triple zeroed in on the portion of last term where things really started to click, with a healthy dose of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang content for good measure.  Let’s take a look at three things we learnt from episodes four, five and six.  Arteta’s little black book Aptly titled ‘Respect, Commitment, Passion’ episode four of the behind-the-scenes documentary lifted the lid on the  Aubameyang indiscretion which broke the Areta back.  Somewhat disappointingly however, we don't actually get to see the forward’s pivotal misdemeanour, only a few statements alluding to his consistent tardiness.  Nevertheless, it was reassuring for fans...

Were Arsenal fans too harsh on Granit Xhaka? By Jonny Bray Granit Xhaka has vowed to stay at Arsenal until he achieves something special, hitting back at legions of Gunners fans who don’t rate the Swiss international.  The tough tackling midfielder has made 181 Premier League appearances since joining the club in 2016 but has never truly endeared himself to the Arsenal faithful.  And that culminated back in October 2019 when he was hit with audible booing as he walked off the pitch.  Xhaka responded by making several sarcastic gestures and, twice, angrily swearing at the fans who jeered his name.  What did he say?  The midfielder has spoken passionately about how the experience impacted his opinion of Arsenal fans. Xhaka said: "I was shocked. I had never experienced anything like this," he added. "When I got close to the tunnel, I looked up at the fans sitting there, and this is the part that I will always remember. "When I close my eyes now, I can still see the...

How will Arsenal cope without Thomas Partey for the run-in? By James Reid As the race to finish in the top-four goes down to the wire, Thomas Partey’s potentially season-ending injury could have a big impact on Arsenal’s run-in.  Mikel Arteta’s men face a crucial few weeks if they are to qualify for next season’s Champions League with key matches against Chelsea, Manchester United, and West Ham coming up in the next few weeks followed by a potentially decisive North London derby against Tottenham.  Consecutive defeats to Crystal Palace and Brighton have dented the Gunners and the loss of midfielder Partey is a further blow to Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for European football’s top table for the first time since 2017.    How Partey’s injury has upset the balance Ghana international Partey went off with a thigh injury in the defeat at Palace and leaves Arsenal’s midfield light on options.  Arteta’s conundrum in the centre of the park is further co...

Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey: the best midfield duo in the Premier League? By Oliver Gafsen In a season that has swivelled from crisis mode to Champions League return, Arteta’s ‘new Arsenal’ have the midfield duo of Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka to thank. It’s no coincidence the Gunners success since December has been matched by the pair's consistent starts, having won 12, lost three and drawn none when Partey and Xhaka line up. Their reversal of fortunes has been astonishing from a summer when Partey and Xhaka epitomised problems to solve; big signings ill-suited for the Premier League and old guard too expensive for the door. But what has transformed the midfielders into one of the best engine rooms in the Premier League? A Brave New Role In December Arteta adopted a bold system, pushing Xhaka further up the park as a No.8 while Partey dropped in behind at No.6 at the base of a triangle with Martin Ødegaard. The result was stark, as an Arsenal side struggling to find the net w...

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...

Preview: Manchester United v Arsenal - Can the Gunners maintain their strong record against United? And will Bukayo Saka PLAY? By Josh Graham Arsenal head to Manchester United off the back of four wins in five Premier League games as Mikel Arteta’s men look to get one over their old enemy. A trip to Old Trafford is never easy and these two played out many a classic in the early 2000s. But the Theatre of Dreams is no longer the daunting venue it once was under the rule of Sir Alex Ferguson. In fact, this game will mark the beginning of Ralf Rangnick’s interim time in charge, although the 63-year-old will not be manning the touchline due to work permit delays - caretaker manager Michael Carrick again finding himself in the dugout. Both sides will be looking to get December off to a flying start ahead of the busy festive period. Form The Gunners bounced back from the 4-0 hammering dished out to them by Liverpool against Newcastle last time out. Second-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabri...

Does Matteo Guendouzi have a future at Arsenal FC after all? By Oli Dickson Jefford In a club full of polarising figures in recent years, very few have been quite as polarising as Matteo  Guendouzi . For some,  Guendouzi  was a bright young talent who showed natural leadership qualities and could have become a mainstay in the starting XI. For others he was an erratic, hot-headed and at times reckless footballer who cost Arsenal more than he gave them. Mikel Arteta decisively thought the latter, shutting the Frenchman out, and several fans seemingly switched to that view as he became a maligned figure at the club. Loan spells The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Hertha Berlin and is now at Marseille, where all of a sudden his career has seemingly been reborn. Guendouzi  scored twice as Marseille beat Lorient 4-1 on Sunday, and he was the club’s Player of the Month in September. Now, many Arsenal fans believe he may actually have a future at the club af...