16 09, 2025

Does the physical midfield battle against Bilbao mean a shuffle for Arteta?

By |2025-09-16T06:47:19+01:00September 16th, 2025|Arsenal, Arsenal FC, Arsenal Manager, Champions League, gooners, Gunners, midfield, Mikel Arteta, Tactics|0 Comments

It's Champions League match day one and we find ourselves up against a familiar adversary from the summer friendlies: Athletic Club in Bilbao. In the summer we saw an Arsenal side who swash buckled their way to a comfortable 3-0 victory at The Emirates with Big Vik also getting on the scoresheet in a game [...]

8 09, 2025

What is a Merino? Cross everything for Calafiori and the Adrenaline around Dowman

By |2025-09-08T08:56:47+01:00September 8th, 2025|analysis, Arsenal, Arsenal FC, Attack, gooners, Gunners, Internationals, premier league|1 Comment

Take a bow Mikel Merino son! He bagged himself a hat trick for Spain last night and the second one in particular looked like a really good strike. Naturally that kind of output and the fact he also scored in their last game against Bulgaria has you thinking about his life in an Arsenal shirt [...]

6 06, 2025

Merino’s versatility, Kepa’s ‘cheapness’

By |2025-06-06T09:16:27+01:00June 6th, 2025|Arsenal, Arsenal FC, Arsenal Transfers, Attack, gooners, Gunners, internationals, midfield, Mikel Arteta|0 Comments

First thigns first, how about that Mikel Merino bagging himself another goal in what sounds like an absolutely mental international game last night, eh? I saw the goal as it did the rounds on social media last night and it was a well worked piece and a very fine finish from our Spaniard. For somebody [...]

9 04, 2025

An historic night at The Emirates as Arsenal smash Real Madrid

By |2025-04-09T08:15:56+01:00April 9th, 2025|Arsenal, Arsenal FC, Attack, Champions League, Defence, gooners, Gunners, History, Match Review, Mikel Arteta|0 Comments

Well, well, well. Did I not expect that. Wowsers. I mean, I knew that Real Madrid were ‘getable’. I knew they had weaknesses. I knew that they had issues at full back and that’s where we, as a team, tend to excel with the personnel that we have. But still…this is Real Madrid. A team [...]

2 04, 2025

As slog their way to a Fulham win with the return of Saka

By |2025-04-02T07:38:32+01:00April 2nd, 2025|Arsenal, Arsenal FC, Attack, gooners, Gunners, injuries, Match Review, premier league|0 Comments

Last night’s 2-1 victory over a pretty average Fulham side (despite the fact they were in eighth before kick off) had a bit of a low-key affair to it, if I’m completely honest with you. Despite the fact Saka was named in the squad, despite the fact he came on to rapturous applause and even [...]

22 02, 2025

I think Arteta’s Sterling/Merino decision is closer than we might all think

By |2025-02-22T06:59:27+00:00February 22nd, 2025|Arsenal, Arsenal FC, Arsenal Manager, Attack, gooners, Gunners, Match Preview, Mikel Arteta, premier league, Tactics|0 Comments

Before we get on to today's task against West Ham at home, a word on the draw for the Champions League, which see's us up against PSV in the Round of 16, with victory in that tie meaning we'd be up against either Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid. A win there takes us to the [...]

18 02, 2025

Does the Merino project have a shelf life?

By |2025-02-18T09:22:27+00:00February 18th, 2025|Arsenal FC, Attack, injuries, Mikel Arteta, premier league, Tactics|0 Comments

Last night I was cooking dinner and I flicked on Sky Sports to have in the background. Almost immediate as the first feature story they had one of their reporters outside London Colney talking about the role Merino played at the weekend, whether he could be 'the guy' in at number nine for us for [...]

16 02, 2025

Merino as nine keeps Arsenal’s hope alive for another week

By |2025-02-16T07:51:48+00:00February 16th, 2025|Arsenal, Arsenal FC, Attack, Match Review, Mikel Arteta, premier league|1 Comment

Talk about a variation of emotions from the start, middle and ending of a football match, eh? On about 75 minutes Amanda messaged me and asked whether to bother with doing a post match Same Old Arsenal podcast. It'd been a pretty turgid game, punctuated only with the occasional bright spark from eventual man of [...]

23 11, 2024

Players returning a boost for Arsenal, as Forest’s blueprint and game plan is clear

By |2024-11-23T06:36:55+00:00November 23rd, 2024|Arsenal, Arsenal FC, Attack, gooners, Gunners, Match Preview, Mikel Arteta, premier league, Tactics|0 Comments

Couldn't sleep in the early hours of the morning, so decided to get my arse out of bed and do a bit of pre game reading, see what's out there and whatnot. First things first on days like today I usually go to the traditional 'pundits previews'. You know, your Merse's, Sutton's, Jones Knows on [...]

19 11, 2024

Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus are at an Arsenal crossroads

By |2024-11-19T08:29:03+00:00November 19th, 2024|Arsenal, Arsenal FC, Attack, Defence, gooners, Gunners, Internationals, Mikel Arteta, premier league|1 Comment

In a clear act of mercy for our current injury plight, the footballing gods (and Spain manager Luis De La Fuente) saw fit to rest both Raya and Merino last night, as Spain beat Switzerland in what sounds like quite a compelling match. I wouldn't know; international football and all that... Tonight the gauntlet is [...]

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