Remember the Times (Positives Needs & Hopes) [ARS 3-0 FUL]

‘Remember the Times’

An Arsenal blog from a coach’s perspective

It doesn’t seem possible for a group of players who all looked so far from their peak one week ago, to do what we saw against Fulham.

I was watching Lewis Skelly closely. I posted before the game that this game could change his Arsenal career. So, I was ready for something different, even if it was just from him. What happened was that we got something different from everybody. It was like a domino effect. That’s the way it is in sport. Quality play indirectly affects the mentality of the next man, and then the next man and so on.

I think men like to be inspired. I think it is that simple.

In football, sometimes I think that the centre forward is the catalyst. Probably because he is the main one that gives you hope of winning. VG had his best game for Arsenal. Not simply because he scored but everything he did was effective. He was on it and I have a feeling that this was enough for the others to push the next domino down.

It could also have been the return of Saka. That has to give everybody a lift.

As one player after another found their groove we look like a team from late 2025. Ominous. Never going to concede. Calm. Totally in control and Arteta’s favourite word, dominant.

I can imagine that this will continue on Tuesday and I expect us to get to the final. The final won’t be as straightforward as many predict because if we have found our attacking groove, at least enough to win one game of football, then nobody will argue that we have the most solid defensive structure.

Some would say that we have found our groove at the perfect time. Let’s hope we haven’t waited too late.

I’m happy to move on to the next section which will be much longer than it has been recently.

POSITIVES:

Lewis-Skelly

Conclusions after one match as a midfielder are silly. Even if it’s ‘his position.’ If he is given another chance or two then the club may have saved themselves £60M. To warrant buying you have to not only find someone better but he has to be 60M better. He also has to fit.

In my mind, Arsenal have a need for a midfielder who will be good enough to be picked. For whatever reason, Norgaard’s level isn’t close enough to Rice and Zubi.

He also needs to offer what we don’t have and what we need.

Arsenal need a midfielder that can do the following 6 things;

1. Have the ability to run with the ball through midfield
2. Contribute 5–10 goals
3. Elite passing ability
4. Understand Arteta’s defensive positioning requirements
5. Be at least as competent defensively as offensively, if not more so
6. Offer the level that encourages Arteta to rest Zubi/Rice

MLS has the first one. If he can repeat what we’ve just seen today then I believe he will have the last one. It would be unfair to make an assessment on his ability to score because he’s not really had the opportunity at this level before.

Having seen what we’ve just seen, it would be hard to find somebody who could do better in the two defensive areas, considering he did it almost perfectly in his first game.

Elite passing is more down to Mikel allowing his midfielders to take more risk from deep areas.

For now what is important and may never be replicated is his ability to contribute to Arsenal winning the Premier League or the double.

Calafiori 

For somebody who comes in and out of the team, he doesn’t seem to miss a beat. A young man with extreme technical confidence.

Alongside MLS, I think that he could also play the midfield role. Don’t discount it because around half of our squad have been given new positions under Arteta.

Saliba

It won’t go down as one of his best games because defenders normally get that honor when the game is difficult. Perhaps they should be given the award when they don’t have to make it difficult because they are so good at making it easy.

Rice at 6, again

Just wanted to mention how encouraged I think we all are that he is using Rice in his best position.

Trossard 

Maybe he picked up his game because everybody did. Maybe he’s starting to believe that he might not be around next season. Maybe he already knows that he won’t and wants to end strong. Maybe he just wants to win major trophies because if he does leave, he’s unlikely to play for a team that can win these two trophies ever again.

The issue with him is that he hasn’t really been a factor in 2026. On the field, but not really a threat. He was a factor again both in front of goal and on the wing.

Saka

Maybe my opening piece should’ve been about him. Ultimately, he was the main difference maker. I absolutely loved his cross for the first goal. I pine for simple. A striker with hunger to attack the 6 yard box and a winger putting it in the most dangerous area.

I’m really not sure why Fulham left Robinson one on one. I know that he’s one of the better defenders that Saka plays against but when he’s in the mood, he’s just too good for anybody. The timing of his run for his goal was elite perfection. Other players would have switched off or just stayed still and wanted the ball to feet.

Viktor

As far as level of performance throughout, this was his best game for the club. Perfect timing. For a club like Arsenal his first season will end up being at least on par with expectations. If he keeps scoring, then it will exceed.

If he is the reason that we win one or both trophies then he will be a legend and all that inconsistency and lack that he showed previously would largely be forgotten.

I really think that the fact that his body shape is different to any other striker causes people to be harsh when they talk about his deficiencies. It’s easy to pick on the guy that looks too big. Not only was his decision-making today so much better but his execution was perfect. It looked like the coaching staff had been working with him on his posture when protecting the ball, especially in holdup play. Most centre backs have dominated him in this area, but Anderson, who is larger than most, couldn’t do it.

Rooney knows.

Fernando

You won’t know Fernando. One day you will though.

He is a freshman on my team. Every once in a while you meet someone exceptional. Not always exceptionally talented but exceptionally different. The kind of person that everyone wants to be around. Fernando is going through a tough time in his life. His Mum got sent back to Nicaragua today. He deserves happiness because he gives so much of it to others. Fernando won Man of the Match on Thursday night with a top level performance. I’m introducing you to him because it will make him happy when I show him that he is on the internet.

NEEDS:

Jesus

Seeing ESR reminded me again of why we moved him on. He was doing fine, but our level had gone beyond him. I think that is where we are with Jesus. On some days, he absolutely looks like a contributor at the level, but Arsenal just can’t have inconsistency. Even though a player like VG has been inconsistent, he has fairly consistently scored goals, which Jesus just doesn’t do.

VAR

No reason or relevance to posting this today, but I thought it was worth thinking about.

HOPES:

Tuesday 

I feel confident about the second leg. So much organic energy has been created because of today’s performance. If we win on Tuesday, I don’t expect us to win the Champions League but I believe that we will win the Premier League.

Odegaard

Should I be scared that he will be picked on Tuesday? That’s probably harsh. He might be picked with Eze on the left which looked rather good on the last two occasions.

Godts

I watched Mika Godts play for Ajax against PSV today. Very interesting. He is clearly an extremely talented player. I will be honest and say that I will be surprised if he is Arsenal‘s first choice pick for a left-winger. If we signed two left-wingers then I can see it. I think he’s good enough as a rotational option as his ceiling looks extremely high.

He also scored a cracker at the end to equalize.

FINAL THOUGHT:

If the media in England was focused on being complementary and proud of success then this would be the narrative.

It isn’t close to being the narrative which shines a spotlight on them more than it does Arsenal Football Club.