AFTV News

Five players Arsenal should never have sold By Alec McQuarrie It’s transfer season and while most fans will be focusing on the names arriving at the Emirates, the outgoing list is of vital importance too. Arsenal have seen more than its fair share of talented footballers leave through the exit doors over the years, some for better and some for worse.  So here we look at the top five players that Arsenal should have kept hold of, in no particular order.  Patrick Vieira  Some would argue that since Vieira left Arsenal for Juventus in 2005 in a deal worth £13.75 million, no player has adequately replaced him at the heart of midfield.  Nine successful years at Arsenal coincided with Arsène Wenger’s golden years at the club, after joining from AC Milan for £3.5 million in 1996.  The then 20-year-old cited the incoming compatriot Wenger as one of the major reasons why he decided to make the move to North London.  And the reason the colossal centre-midfielder gave...

  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...

Players who played for Arsenal and Manchester United By Oli Dickson Jefford There’s not much love lost between Arsenal and Manchester United on the pitch - but that doesn’t stop players crossing the divide and playing for both teams. Over the years several have worn both the red of Manchester and the red of North London, with varying levels of success. Ahead of tonight’s match, we look at a few of those who have represented both teams.  Robin van Persie We’ll start with one that was particularly controversial, with Van Persie joining Man Utd straight from the Gunners in 2012. The Dutchman was an incredibly popular figure at the Emirates, scoring 132 goals in an eight-year spell and proving to be one of their standout performers for several seasons. However, he caused the ire of fans when he left and went to Old Trafford for £22.5m, and ultimately won his first league title in the UK that year. Van Persie departed Man Utd for Fenerbahçe in 2015 and retired after a final spell at Fey...

Remembering some classic games between Arsenal and Liverpool By Jack Lacey-Hatton Arsenal travel to Liverpool tomorrow with the Gunners looking to keep up their recent good form. While the Reds will arguably be the toughest test Mikel Arteta’s team have had so far this season, it should be an intriguing game, particularly after their defeat at West Ham before the international break. But it will have to go some to be considered a real classic between these two, with this fixture having served up some belters in the past. Here are four of the best;   Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal, April 2009 Probably the first game every modern fan thinks of when classic Arsenal-Liverpool fixtures gets a mention. The celebration of a certain Russian forward holding up four fingers is iconic to a certain generation of Arsenal fans. On a balmy early-summer evening back in April 2009, a ridiculous game took place almost entirely remembered for a four-goal haul from Andrey Arshavin. This was...

Comparing this Arsenal squad with the squad of a decade ago By Jack Lacey-Hatton Mikel Arteta has already rode out some tough moments as Arsenal manager since his appointment in 2019. He still maintains the support of the vast majority of the fanbase and has already overcome a difficult start to the current season, with his team finding form in recent weeks.   However, despite some good summer signings, it is still difficult to gage just how good this group is and whether they are moving in the right direction. Maybe a comparison of the current players with the squad from exactly ten years ago, will give us a clearer picture.   Goalkeepers & Defence New arrivals Aaron Ramsdale, Nuno Tavares and Ben White have settled well at the Emirates since their arrival and the trio have greatly improved both departments. Without these signings it would be difficult to make a case for Arsenal having a strong backline, but all three have made a difference. A decade ago...

Five classic Arsenal v Villa encounters Arsenal take on Aston Villa coming off the back of two draws against Crystal Palace and Brighton. They weren't great results, and while a clean sheet against Brighton was a positive sign, the last thing the Gunners needed was to make several defensive errors in the very next game. Mikel Arteta needs a win in one of the most historic and prestigious games in England football. However, a win isn't guaranteed, and all Arsenal fans can be sure of is that they're in for another 90 minutes of fascinating Premier League action this Friday. Arsenal 5-0 Aston Villa (April 2006) Arsenal's 2005/06 squad may not have won any silverware, but on paper, it was an exciting squad with some incredible flair throughout the side. 38,183 fans crammed into Highbury to watch Thierry Henry and Co pull David O'Leary's side apart in savage fashion. Emmanuel Adebayor's header and Henry's sublime lob made it 2-0 before the break. The French w...

Is Salah Oulad  M'Hand Arsenal's next big thing? By Jonny Bray Salah Oulad M'Hand was probably the most heralded player in The Netherlands before an unfortunate injury and a reported dispute between his family and former club Feyenoord. Arsenal were able to capitalise on the row, bringing the 18-year-old midfielder to The Emirates back in August 2020. The right-footed youngster has been praised by fans and pundits alike throughout the age-grade levels, but he's experienced a lot of drama for such a young footballer, which can often damage development. However, this season, he's back with a vengeance and has been instrumental in Arsenal Under-23's impressive start to their Premier League 2 Division 1 campaign. There are still questions surrounding the young star; can he carry his talents into the first team, does he have the physicality needed to play in the Premier League, does he have the right mindset? But if his performances so far this season and the record ...

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...