‘Lovely new things’

An Arsenal blog from a coach’s perspective.

A glass half full post.

If we won what we want to win this season, and my posts were more glass half empty I’d be embarrassed. Even though there are always needs for improvement and analysis, I think it’s important that we bathe in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean whilst they are crystal clear.

I didn’t have my full focus on this game if I’m honest. Probably because I don’t want to have a car crash.

I was driving to Birchwood, Tennessee for a former student’s wedding. A great couple who are full of smiles and happiness. Wonder and excitement for their future, which will be beautiful.

I saw the first half at home and bits and pieces of the second half.

This game may end up being fairly pointless or even seen as one of the reasons why we ended up playing Juventus in our knockout game. I remember last year when Liverpool won the Champions League group stage and had to play PSG in the next round. Not exactly a benefit.

What is a benefit though is skipping the next round entirely. Particularly for the English teams. Liverpool, Newcastle, Chelsea and Tottenham are on the borderline and hopefully don’t make it whereas City have started to look like the ‘snowball halfway down the hill’ version of City.

Arsenal used to be more predictable in these games. Finding them tricky and coming away with a stressful point. I don’t know about you, but I still occasionally forget that we are better than that now.

So back to the glass being half full.…

After so many years and decades, the thought of Arsenal at least trying to shoot from outside the box is returning. I’d still like it far more often, especially when the horseshoe is right on the edge of the box, but often the improvement is seen more in results than instruction.

If you were to pick Arsenal’s top five goals of 2025, then they may well consist of both of Declan Rice’s free kicks and those two goals against Bruges. It used to consist of delightful, flowing passing movements. The epitome of teamwork.

What’s important is that we are capable of both and every avenue is being used.

This is the direction that Arteta’s team has been going in for quite a few years. Covering every base and opening every possibility. The word on the street is that Madueke is the most frequent to stay after training. Working on concepts that look awful lot like his first goal. If you’re willing to do that, then you don’t have to think and more importantly, you don’t have to fear. Most players don’t shoot because they fear that they will miss. If you repeat the action and at least get mighty close every time then you are itching to show everybody.

He had to do a lot more than Martinelli had to do to create his chance, but Martinelli‘s was technically more difficult. Almost heading southeast when he hits it northeast. Some flexible hips right there.

Is it strange that I was actually more excited by the 2nd goal though? A simple back post cross and a tap in of sorts. Arsenal have been allergic to this for years, which is so bizarre considering we are arguably the most technical team so therefore you’d think would be more able to be accurate with our crossing. We have scored more goals in the 6 yard box so far this season then we probably did the entire of last season. VG scored with his goolies, Trossard won the game against Fulham in there, plus a handful of headers.

It was the determination from Noni to get there as well. That has been lacking as part of the package. 

If Noni can do this more often than he has one advantage over all of the other wingers that we have. Arteta loves to use the back post. You see this on a regular cross and any inswinging free kick because a back post cross eliminates the goalkeeper. Heading is Saka’s weakness and probably Trossard’s, also. Martinelli is actually very good in the air but for some reason doesn’t score back post headers.

Perhaps, this is my greatest thrill when watching Arsenal. Beyond scoring goals and winning games, this might be it.

POSITIVES:

Madueke:

The timing of his performance was perfect. They was starting to be rumblings of the inconsistencies that Chelsea told us about. What is unfortunate for him but to his credit  is that he seems to possess the same ability to shield the ball whilst running with it that Saka does. I’m sure that this has been one of the first things that the coaches have worked with him on. This is so important because if he gave the ball away too much then the fans would lose patience because Saka doesn’t really give the ball away.

His first goal might even nudge Saka to be a bit more direct when in transition and do it by himself.

Hincapie:

It was great to see him becoming an offensive threat at corners. He is becoming more comfortable and improving. I hate it for him that as soon as he will get in his groove, he will probably be replaced. I suppose he knew the deal when he signed.

Norgaard:

I’ve been a little surprised that he has been utilized very infrequently. I don’t think it’s really a knock on him, but he’s competing with the best defensive midfielder in the world football right now. There will be more games for him over the Christmas season and I particularly look forward to watching him from set plays as he’s very dangerous. 

Nwaneri:

I’ve been surprised that he hasn’t gotten a few more minutes. He offers more consistent offensive threat than any of our midfielders but seems to be third choice. 

Arsenal is a fantastic club to be at when you are an Academy player. Even though we are one of the best around we still give opportunities to Academy players. The trouble for them though is that there is a big difference in being given an opportunity and becoming a consistent first team regular as Ethan and Myles are finding out.

Marli Salmon;

Another great moment for a clearly talented modern player. Apparently the club see him much like they saw William Saliba. There is a plan for him to go out for a few years and develop. Very smart, considering that the defenders are probably the strongest players in our team, currently.

Zubimendi and George Michael:

What genius came up with Zubermendi ‘s song? They even came up with it at the right time of year.

If you haven’t heard it, then here are the lyrics… 

“ Last Christmas I gave you my heart

  But the very next day you gave it away.

This year to save me from tears,

I’ll give it to Zubermendi”

Winning without this crew:

The positive chat about Arsenal this season is how our depth is allowing us to win regardless of the lineup. Take a look at the lineup that did not play against Bruges.

Jesus:

When a player misses a whole year, I think we forget some of what he can do. Not all of it, but some of it.

Unpredictability is never the wrong idea at Arsenal. We have added a little more, but the lack of it can still be our kryptonite.

Jesus can do everything on a football pitch and is more driven than most.

I always thought that he could’ve and maybe should be an eight. I feel like he profiles that way as he is not a regular finisher.

Behind closed doors:

We played Manchester United two days ago. We beat them 3–0. Not sure who scored, but Jesus played as did Alex Oxlade Chamberlain.

That situation is rather interesting. I do sometimes wonder if we are doing more than just a favor for him.

I wonder if Arteta sees him as a last option if we get an injury crisis. The issue is that he would have to take somebody’s squad place and our squad is our strength as they are all properly better than him these days.

NEEDS:

Nwaneri:

Just a concern that he will lose patience. You don’t want to build the best squad in the club’s history and then lose the depth. Maybe Ethan‘s biggest enemy is Arsenal’s success. I think the coaches see him as a last 20–30 minute sub to unlock the defense but if Arsenal are winning then it’s probably not Ethan that you want to bring on, especially if you think about defending hopeful crosses and set plays.

Odegaard:

I had a student in my classroom the other day asking me who I thought Arsenal‘s best player was. He asked me if it was Saka or Rice and it might well be one of those two. My mind skipped to Odegaard and wondered if he was in the conversation. The thing is with Martin Odegard that he is different to all the other top players at Arsenal. I feel that he can be a great help and sometimes a hindrance.

I wonder if he just needs to be let off the leash. Before he came to Arsenal, his highlight reel was of a player that looked like he could thread the needle. Until VG showed up, we haven’t really had the striker for him to play the ball behind to. When Martinelli plays, he makes frequent runs behind, but is largely ignored. This could of course be a decoy or a way to move defenders out of the way so that the ball can be played to a player between the lines. When the decision was made to sign VG, I thought it would unlock the part of Odegaard’s game that we rarely get to see, but he is seemingly ignoring these runs. He’s more frequently seen hanging out with Saka as you know and curling the ball into the box where it is repeatedly headed out by the first defender. If Arsenal players were a group of lemons, he would be one that you could get much more juice out of. What a strange analogy.

HOPES:

World Cup tickets:

This summer the World Cup is likely a trial run for changing the football clientele. They’ve been trying to push the regular fan out for a little while, and certainly in the city of London, attract as many tourists as possible, who will go into the club shop. I think their plan for the World Cup is to elbow out the working class and middle class football supporter. This is clearly seen by the ticket prices. These people might be corrupt, but they’re not stupid. They know that your average person can’t afford $375 to watch Switzerland play Qatar, which was the cheapest ticket I could find.

It’s unfortunate to say this, but the best thing that could happen is half empty stadiums much like how it was at the World Club Cup. Don’t be deceived when you watch it on TV, they make sure that the lower tier is full so that the TV camera doesn’t have to pan to the upper tier and show you the empty seats.

I guess I should be upset about all this because I’ve always wanted to go to the World Cup and watch a game. Then it shows up on my doorstep and I would have to remortgage my house to take my family to a game. The thought of watching Switzerland play Qatar with 7000 fans there in a game that probably won’t mean much isn’t my idea of World Cup festivities, so I will pass. Big shame.

Having said that, if anyone knows a way to get into a World Cup game, I’d be happy to know.

Alex Ox:

It’s probably ridiculous of me to wonder what he’s doing training at Arsenal beyond us doing him a favor.

If I was to guess, Arteta probably allowed it to happen both as a favour and also in case he had an injury crisis. The Ox will always go down as somewhat of an unfulfilled potential. I thought he had the potential to rise to the very top of the game. He seemed to be more of a 90’s player, similar to David Rocastle. A guy born in the wrong era who needed more freedom rather than ‘get it and give it’ and work hard, which is what he seemed to turn into.

Rumours:

It’s been a weird world on social media since the start of the season. Satisfaction is not the adjective I would’ve thought I would see in Arsenal fans. Nobody pushing for Vini Junior, who seems upset at Real Madrid, or thinking we could sneak Konate on a free in the summer.

If the rumour is true, then I really like the strategy. A bunch of cheaper, no name players with clear talent and a huge upside. Why bother trying to sign ready-made superstars when you have enough of those and you are in a position to take a few risks and maybe spend 40 million on three players who could end up being worth quadruple their current value.

Bring them in and possibly send them back out on loan like Chelsea do, or give them FA Cup and League Cup minutes, giving players like Zubirmendi and Rice a chance to rest and those players like Martin Odegaard and Saka a better chance of staying fit for longer. 

A player that we are being most strongly linked to is Toni Fruk. England will see him in the summer as he has just broken into the Croatian national team. A lovely fluid attacking midfielder. A dribbler with 2 feet and much adventure.

Then there is a goalkeeper who might actually come in for Kepa. I can’t believe that he is too thrilled at being largely ignored which I’m totally fine with. It’s not that he is miles off David Raya, but I trust the coaching staff with this. Kepa has still got half of his career ahead of him and I’m sure he will leave in the summer if not a January loan. We will need a backup and Diant Ramaj is the rumour. He is a Dortmund goalkeeper on loan.

Then there is Ayyoub Bouaddi.

One of the best young talents in world football. Eighteen years old and currently starting at Lille. I suppose the thought process is that Norgaard may move on sometime soon. Not sure that this is the right move for his development as he’s not going to surpass Zubimendi any time soon and be trusted to anchor the midfield as an 18 year-old in the Premier League. He is clearly a top talent though.

TWEETS and THOUGHTS:

This will be a really big deal to him in the club as they seem to push clean sheets as much as anything else. You can tell by the players reaction when any goal goes in. It seems to hurt them so much more than it does other players on other teams.

Mikel with his own fancy stat.

He seems to shine in the champions league

My team

I loved Tomi.

FINAL THOUGHT:

I was thinking last night what team I would play against Wolves. Apart from bringing Declan Rice back into the team, I’d love to think we could start with the same lineup and get the same result.

I don’t know if we’re gonna have an easier league game this season than Wolves at home.

Mike McDonald

Former Highbury regular. Moved to TN, USA in ’99. Married with 3 kids. Coached in UK and US for 27 years.
Mike McDonald Soccer Academy in Morristown TN, Olympic Development coach, Regional Premier League Champion.