AFTV News

  Arsenal – what have we learned from pre-season? By Jack Lacey-Hatton It only feels five minutes since Euro 2020, but incredibly we are just one week away from the new Premier League season starting. Arsenal will travel to newly promoted Brentford for a London derby in front of a noisy crowd next Friday night, not the easiest of starts to the new campaign. But what sort of shape are Mikel Arteta’s side in, going into what could be a defining season for the manager? We took a close look at what we have learnt from the pre-season period and what kind of shape the squad are in.   The new signings are ready to go It has been a mixed transfer window so far. Some fans would have expected more both leaving and arriving at the Emirates stadium over the summer. But positives can be taken - Ben White has arrived from Brighton for £50million, and highly-rated full back Nuno Tavares has come in from Benfica. Albert Sambi Lokonga completes the 2021 summer singings so far. Cruc...

Did Joe Willock play his way into Arsenal’s starting XI against Rangers? By Josh Graham Arsenal fans got a glimpse of Joe Willock back in the famous red shirt last week after his loan spell at Newcastle United. The 21-year-old was a second-half substitute in the 2-2 pre-season friendly draw against Rangers, but did he show enough to force his way into Mikel Arteta’s starting XI? Yes - Willock is ready to be an Arsenal regular You couldn’t help but be impressed with Willock’s impact at Steve Bruce’s Newcastle last term. The youngster went on a remarkable scoring spree by netting in seven consecutive Premier League games for the Magpies, only the second person to do so after Toon legend Alan Shearer. And he appears to have not lost any of his sparkling form, as fans and onlookers remarked on his impressive substitute appearance against Steven Gerrard’s men. Arsenal had to twice come from behind to avoid defeat and Willock did well in a slightly different role. The Englishman played in a ...