Season Review Part 1 – “Undisputedly Elite – (Positives Needs & Hopes) [Arsenal: Champions!]

Up until the month of May 2026 there was a fair argument that Arsenal Football Club were not in the same bracket as the elite.

I have called Arsenal an elite club for the past two years at least but fans of other clubs had a fair argument when disputing this.

I felt that impressive results against Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, etc…., justified us being in that conversation. Perhaps I was right, but perhaps I was wrong. The argument was always that we had to win the Premier League or Champions League before we got entrance into this club and that was at least a fair argument. I suppose it depends on whether you are a ’ trophies only’ person or whether you judge based on competitive evidence.

The season 2025/26 has put that argument in the past.

Winning the Premier League and getting closer than any of the current elite clubs have to beating the best in PSG (alongside beating them at the Emirates), picks the argument up, puts it to bed and turns off the light. It would be the same for anybody winning the toughest league in the world.

Taking that step from being good enough to winning the trophy is almost entirely mental for Arsena. Our team has been good enough for a little while now. The naysayers had a point and many Arsenal fans agreed. Were we mentally capable of taking the last step?

Opposition fans won’t stop jabbing at Arsenal Football Club. It’s too far ingrained in them and let’s be honest, we live in an age where admitting you are wrong is the worst of all sins in the eyes of way too many.

What they say has never been particularly interesting to me anyway. You and I both are likely more concerned with our club and whether they could provide us with irrefutable proof of their standing in the game.

Listening to many Arsenal opinions over the last two weeks has been fascinating. It’s almost as if Arsenal fans all feel the same way. The World Cup is coming and we aren’t really there yet. We are too busy breathing again, dreamy and living the life of an eternal massage. The world is good. Our shoulders have dropped. We will try to get a refund at the chemist for our anxiety medication and we are happy doing nothing other than watching edits and footage of Arsenal in May.

I don’t know where you are doing nothing but I have been sitting in my fancy elevated way too expensive bed that we mistakenly purchased when we could’ve bought a new car. I encourage you to not make the same mistake as we did.

I’m wondering why I’m not more upset that I recently lost my job. Why I’m not more focused on my family’s five week trip to England, which to me is the most exciting time of my year. Why I’m ok with making such silly statements to my daughter LivyLea as, “yes, I’ll watch Love Island with you and EllieAnn tonight.”

Nothing is important because everything in the world is good.

POSITIVES:

Mikel Arteta:

My last blog was entirely focused on Arteta. I don’t want to repeat myself, but I will say that as Arsenal go, so does Mikel.

Arsenal elevated themselves and so has Mikel. A trophy for Arsenal is a trophy for Mikel and he has surely elevated himself to the highest bracket of coaches worldwide. He was there already for me.

Gabriel Heinze:

Without ever getting to see what he actually does, there has been much talk recently that he is the main reason for our defenders’ personal improvements and collective structure improving yet again.

When you look at Calafiori’s one on one defensive improvement, look at Gabriel Heinze.

When you look at the extra 20% effort that our defenders give to block shots that look like a lost cause, look at Gabriel Heinze.

David Raya:

I’ve always thought that it is somewhat of a travesty that only one player gets  honoured at the end of the season as Player of the Year.

There are 500 players in the Premier League and I feel that if you make it to the top 10, then you should be celebrated.

When it comes to trying to choose one player, how on earth do you compare someone like David Raya and Erling Haaland?

Why can’t both of them be celebrated?

Perhaps there should be a top two in each position? It would make more sense and will be far easier to compare like with like.

It’s got to the point with David Raya that I am surprised when the opponent scores. I expect him to save everything. When I was young, there was a football comic that had a goalkeeper called ‘the Cat.’ David Raya is the closest that I have seen to these levels of lightning reflexes on top of his total domination in crossing situations which, for the smallest goalkeeper in the league, is a little embarrassing for the others.

Jurrien Timber:

The fact that opponents almost refuse to go down his side when he is playing is the biggest compliment you can give him. I really wish that Holland didn’t make the World Cup but with half the teams in the world being given a chance that wasn’t going to happen. If anyone needs a break to rest their body it is him.

He might be the best lockdown one on one defender that I’ve ever seen. To think that many rate Lee Dixon and Lauren higher is odd to me. Certainly when you’re talking about defending. Lauren was to be fair, a very good attacking full back. The only one who comes close for me when it comes to defending is Sagna, who is actually quite similar. Mikel has very cleverly formulated his back four with four centre backs. When you do that you get the aerial and physical qualities that a centre back has as well as  the abilities that a full back offers. I hope for him that he goes on to solidify his reputation and grow it to the point where he is considered one of the greatest full backs of all time. He is very capable of this.

Ricardo Calafiori:

He’s becoming a fan favourite. I have maximum respect for any Italian that comes to the Premier League and excels because that has rarely happened in the past. Last season, he was too flat footed when defending and was frequently beaten, but he has clearly listened to the coaching staff and become almost as difficult to beat as Timber is. The two of them are equal for me, but Ricky should eventually surpass Timber. With his huge improvement defensively he might be able to rival Timber in that area long-term. Going forward is where Timber likely won’t come close. Calafiori exudes confidence on the ball. You don’t let him float into different areas of the field and playmake on a team full of top talent if you aren’t special. At some point, he is going to become a serious goal scoring threat. We see it in glimpses and I see an explosion ready to happen.

William Saliba:

Simply a continuation of the previous years. Just getting better and better through increased confidence, aggressiveness, and aerial ability. His growing energy for Arsenal Football Club from a fans perspective, is so much fun to see.

Gabriel:

Saliba is the elegant one, but Gabriel is changing the concept of playing centre back. He is more of an old school defender. Focuses on the attributes of defending his goal with a warrior like spirit. Doesn’t turn around and flinch when people shoot but squares up and takes the hit. Fearless at corners yet no bigger than other players in his position. I don’t think many people thought that he would be considered the best centre back in the world a few years ago. If Arteta wanted to exhibit his coaching talent, and that of his staff, Gabriel would be the best example.

Hincapie:

Another incredible defensive recruit.

Equally as effective at centre back and his new position of lett back. You wouldn’t think that he hasn’t really played that consistently before. Apart from being another lockdown defender and another warrior to boot, he has added a first touch left foot cross to our attack. A new dimension that VG will thrive on in the future.

Mosquera:

Although he had a couple of hiccups, for his age and entering such a high-level group, he has been one of the signings of the season. The positive defensive habits of the others have rubbed off on him. You can see that. If he could work on his burst of speed, then he wouldn’t be quite as susceptible when left one on one.

White:

A legend of Arsenal Football Club now.

MLS:

Every once in a while, a player and a moment collide.

If you were to write a list of the qualities that Arsenal’s midfield needed, most of them have been covered with this positional move. His confidence comes from the way he was raised and his faith and you can see that manifesting itself on the field. He’s got to make sure that he doesn’t force it though. Just keep doing what he’s doing and they will be a natural evolution to creating more free kicks from his long runs, assists for others, and eventually the goals will come.

Rice:

The genius I suppose was in signing him. Let’s be honest, his performances, desire, and inspiration are not really a surprise to anybody. He is another one that just needs to relax and not overthink and put pressure on himself. When you are that athletically good and technically brilliant, your statistics and moments will happen naturally.

I would imagine that he is the one player, if you had to pick just one, that every team would like to take from us.

He’s like a fire blanket. In the modern game, his ability from set plays, Corner kicks in particular, are proving to be his contribution in the attacking third. We are fortunate. I’m hoping that this €150 million player that Florentino Perez is talking about, is not Declan Rice. Actually, I’m not worried at all. He wouldn’t go anyway. You can see a man in love.

Zubimendi:

A very good start to his career. A career that might actually be quite short (read my transfer thoughts upcoming). The judgment on him has been unfair considering the amount of minutes he’s played.

It’s almost unheard of that a player from abroad comes in and hits his ceiling in his first season. This is a player who has dominated at the highest level and may well do so at Arsenal again. Just needs to be encouraged to be braver, but he has been the latest one to open up the ‘Mikel Arteta book of things you have to do or else,’ so I understand why he has been more cautious.

Odegaard:

For as much criticism as he has taken, we cannot forget the positives. He’s a different kind of leader, but an outstanding leader nevertheless. The best kind of leader actually. One who takes responsibility in the moments when others are shy to do so. Adult captains aren’t as needed as the players should be self motivated at this level. Having said that when you have 60,000 people shouting at you it sure helps if you have somebody that is willing to try to take the game to another level, and at the end of the season he did that.

Eze: 

One of the most interesting players that I’ve ever had to cheer for. So incredibly capable yet seems to wait for the game to come to him to do what he’s capable of.

Perhaps it’s the transition from being the main man to playing for a team where all the players are capable of making the difference, that has affected how laid-back he can be.

He has the best first touch I’ve seen since I was blessed to watch Dennis Bergkamp at Highbury. You can fire a ball at him and he puts it where he wants. Such an advantage. He also answered the need of last years team by being a moments player. A midfield/attacker that added goal threat that was very much needed. I’d be interested to see him playing deeper on occasion. You’ll remember that the first part of the season saw him sending some perfectly weighted passes from deep, notably for Martinelli against City.

Merino:

He’s always reminded me of big players from the past like Ljungberg.

A player that is hard to describe but ultimately a player that you want on the field if you need a goal. The Spanish national team agree as he’s doing the same for them as he has for Arsenal. Also, seems like the nicest man in the world.

Norgaard:

I’m sure that he will be off which is somewhat of a shame. I feel sorry for him personally. I thought that when he did play that he was absolutely of the level, but whatever reason he wasn’t trusted.

Dowman:

I don’t think he gets the full credit that he deserves, honestly. To play Staleybridge Celtic at the age of 15 would be a huge achievement.

To be able to get minutes and crucial minutes for a team who are in the top three in world football is quite astonishing. Then to sometimes look like the most likely player to make the difference is equally astonishing.

His gifting isn’t necessarily the obvious one. The fact that he is so fast with the ball at his feet is a huge benefit, but his decision-making should not be this good already. He dribbles more effectively, cutting players off and uses his body fainting so well that it’s hard to believe he’s been playing the game almost half as long as the rest.

Whatever happens in the transfer market, we have to consider him as a true first team option now rather than just a bonus.

Trossard:

I love the fact that he doesn’t have an inferiority complex. If you were to look at the perceived profile of every player, his would be on the low end for sure. The fact that he is underrated in this regard is probably helpful to us. He seems to have a positive anger in the way that he plays that is healthy and drives him to prove that he is worthy.. There are many pleasant Arsenal players that had really important moments this season. His moments were just as many if not more than almost everybody else though.

Saka:

What might be best for Arsenal is if Saka is absolute pants for England against Croatia. That Madueke comes on and lights it up and takes over. That England win the World Cup with Saka coming off the bench for two minutes, dribbling around everybody and roofing one.

This season he hasn’t hit the heights or improved like he had in previous seasons. I’m sure that is connected to his Achilles, which the club can’t really talk about because he would be constantly kicked and stepped on. I fear that he might end up being one of those players that has a shorter career than the rest because he started so young and played so often and is a victim of there being way too many games of football for the best players to play.

Madueke:

Another player that ideally needs to change from being a ‘maybe’ and a ‘moments’ player to being a consistent threat. The comparison with Saka probably doesn’t help. That is arguably Saka’s greatest strength. He’s reliable and rarely has less than an eight out of ten game.

Maybe we are overthinking it and Madueke is seen long-term as a ‘finisher.’ For that role he is almost perfect. His electricity over 5 yards put even the best defenders like Nuno Mendes in trouble. If I was coaching him, I would challenge him to change his game from being a spectacular highlight reel to a full 95 minute threat.

Martinelli:

His positives are a few individual big moments and the fact that his defensive contribution elevates him in the modern game to being a game changer when protecting a lead is needed.

Havertz:

Such an interesting player to evaluate. Rarely changes the game as an individual, but certainly does so for the collective. Just has the all-around ability to make the entire team structure work, the team play better and the result more likely.

Gyokeres:

Again, for a first season, he did well. I’d rather his impact be at the back end of the season as it was, which was important. He seemed lucid in vital moments willing to take responsibility where needed.

What is so pleasant to think about is that if you look at his highlights in Portugal, you’ll see that the pieces that have not quite worked out yet for him at Arsenal are his strengths. We have to find a way to bring out the best of him because he’s only being used at 50% of his capability. Primarily, we need to play him through on goal one on one far more often whether it be from deep or just slipped through on the top of the box. If you think about his highlight reel at Sporting you remember what a clinical and brutal finisher he is. I don’t think we even saw one of those goals this season. An absolute banger that was unsavable.

When considering that Arsenal need an upgrade at striker, consider that if we sign a midfielder or winger that can unlock the other 50% of Viktor then perhaps we get the total striker that we are looking for.

The second part of this blog will be out in the next few days.

It includes our improvement needs, and hopes for the transfer window.

If you could do me a favor and share this post with your followers, that would be quite delightful

Bless you!