AFTV News

What have we learnt from the first three episodes of All or Nothing By Matt Wright It’s finally dropped. We’ve known for a year that Arsenal were to be the latest subject of the glitzy All or Nothing series for Amazon Prime and now we’ve finally seen the results.   Depending on how much you enjoy their brand of behind-the-scenes (albeit the scenes their subject wants you to see) documentaries, you’ve either been anticipating or dreading the release.   Now the first three episodes are with us – the rest are being released on August 11 and 18 – here is what we have learnt so far…   The elephant in the room   OK, let’s address the sneak peak that went viral, particularly among opposition fans, this week: Mikel Arteta having speakers at the training ground playing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ in the build-up to Arsenal heading to Liverpool in an attempt to prepare his players for the (often overrated) Anfield atmosphere.   It’s certainly an unorthodox approach. It’s ...

Mikel Arteta, 39 AFTV piece: Six weeks to go - what needs to happen before Prem opener?  By Jonny Bray The day we’ve all been waiting for is fast approaching.     The Premier League commences once again on the 14   August 2021, and Arsenal will be looking to finally compete at the top of the table for the first time in over a decade.     However, it’s becoming clear with just over a month to go that Arsenal are in no fit state to do that.     For what seems like the 15 th   consecutive season, Arsenal will head into this campaign woefully unprepared to battle the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and perhaps even Spurs.     Whilst clubs like Leicester City fine tune their squad and Aston Villa take the mick out of us, we are seemingly stagnant in the transfer window while little has been done to solve some of the deeper underlying issues at the club.     Last season won’t be remembered for the...

Who should Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta target if owner Stan Kroenke sanctions summer spending?  By Bradley West Yes, Arsenal have just completed the double over Chelsea for the first time in 17 years and that is an achievement to be proud of.  But, it’s fair to say that this season hasn’t quite worked out as many fans would have hoped in Mikel Arteta’s first full campaign in charge.  For too long now the club has accepted mediocrity. The Emirates, and Gunners fans, deserve Champions League football.  With a hugely talented young core including the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, there are positives signs for the future but this summer is vital.  If Stan Kroenke wants to try and appease fans after the European Super League debacle then he should dip into his own pocket and put his money where his mouth is to instantly improve the squad with a raft of summer signings.  He’s promised it on internal calls, but actions speak far louder than words....

Who will be the winners and losers if Arteta is backed by Arsenal hierarchy? By Peter White Following their dismal Europa League semi-final exit at the hands of Villarreal last Thursday, Arsenal managed to avoid rubbing further salt into the wound with a comfortable 3-1 win over West Brom, which kept slim hopes of continental qualification alive.  Maiden league goals for Arsenal from Emile Smith Rowe and Willian either side a thumping Nicolas Pepe strike were enough to relegate Sam Allardyce’s Baggies, who had given themselves a glimmer of hope when Matheus Pereira struck to make it 2-1.  While short of setting pulses racing in north London the three points moved Arsenal back above Leeds United into ninth, now five points adrift of last season’s champions Liverpool in sixth, with three games to play.  A spot in Europe next season remains a tall order for the 13-time English champions, especially considering their next clash is a trip to FA Cup and Champions League finalis...

Who is Daniel Ek? The Spotify supremo linked with Arsenal takeover By Peter White While Arsenal may have tentatively taken a step back from their European Super League commitments last week, the fallout from the debacle is far from over, with current owner Stan Kroenke under mounting pressure from fans to sell the club.  Several thousand supporters flocked to the Emirates ahead of Friday night’s home defeat against Everton, protesting against the American billionaire businessman and the rest of the Arsenal hierarchy for their involvement in the highly controversial ESL scheme.  Alongside Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham, the Gunners had earlier reversed their decision to join six other high-profile European clubs in the proposed competition that was met with widespread condemnation.  Despite director Josh Kroenke and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham issuing apologies for Arsenal’s involvement, such a move marked the tip of the iceberg ...

Anti-Kroenke protests biggest positive after latest dismal display If nothing else, Bernd Leno's late own goal on Friday night was a fitting end to a dreadful week for Arsenal Football Club, both on and off the pitch. A shambolic home performance against relegation-bound Fulham and an equally dismal display when the Toffees came to town sandwiched the European Super League fiasco - from a purely footballing perspective, this week's results have shown just how out of place this Arsenal side would have been had the idea somehow come to fruition. But it was events off the field which dominated the agenda on Friday evening as Gooners descended on the Emirates to make their feelings about the ownership clear. Banners from the heartfelt ('You took our home, we moved; whatever price you demanded, we paid; all for you to sell our soul') to the meme-inspired ('Dear Lord, what a sad little life Kroenke…') proved beyond doubt that this week has brought years of bubbling il...