Squad Analysis 2025/26

[viktor]

we got many quality chance and created big xg who coming from martinelli alone when the fact martinelli not even better than saka, trossard, nwaneri & dowman also not to mentioned saka & trossard did not play since first half

so this squad more than enough to win premier league

 

[viktor]

our player need more shoot

 

[Gooner Zig]

our player need more shoot

Idk why but every time Saka takes a pen I still feel nervous even though he's one of the best penalty takers in the game.

I think it's because he relies on placement and making the opposition keeper guess wrong, there's always a chance of a save or a miss.

 

[DUFFMAN]

How do we end up losing a defensder every game in warm up??

One back in today and two out.

 

[BigPoppaPump]

Gyokeres, Saka, Martinelli, and Trossard really isn’t the type of options Champions have upfront.

 

[A_G]

Said it for ages

 

[Thrice]

Said it for ages

Who's his pick for RW then? Surely not Salah the way he's been slagging him off lately.

 

[A_G]

Who's his pick for RW then? Surely not Salah the way he's been slagging him off lately.

Kopama

 

[ThisFather]

All of a sudden our attack consists of many squad level players on very high wages on long contracts

 

[coleio]

All of a sudden our attack consists of many squad level players on very high wages on long contracts

It's almost as if people talk a load of ****.

 

[coleio]

Wasn't sure where to post this but I just wondered what people's thoughts were on this by Guillem Balague:

"Now that Arsenal fans are booing their own team and former players are lining up to criticise, let me offer the bigger picture, the one you hear across Europe.

Arsenal are not seen here as a team that has stalled. They are seen as a reference point. As the team many look at when trying to understand where elite football is heading.

The game has shifted, it is no longer enough to dominate the ball or to attack well. The top sides now compete in, and often decide matches through, the four phases that make teams excellent: organised attack, attacking transition, defensive transition and structured defence. At the highest level, those phases matter more than possession percentages or aesthetic debates.

This is where Arsenal stand out.

Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal control space, time and another very important element, rhythm. They are aggressive without being chaotic, but can create chaos to find gaps, they are compact without being passive. Their pressing is prepared in detail, lose the ball and the reaction is immediate. The opponent is denied oxygen.

Across Europe, this is understood as modern dominance.

The key battleground today is transition. Not what you do with the ball, but what happens the instant you lose it. Defensive rhythm has overtaken offensive rhythm. Space is smaller and time is shorter. The teams that survive are the ones that arrive first, win duels, plus reset order before danger appears.

Arsenal do this as well as anyone.

In Europe, Arsenal are seen as a team that has absorbed Guardiola’s ideas and pushed them forward, they have strengthened them for a football world that now plays faster, presses harder, and it totally punishes hesitation.

At the very moment Arsenal are being questioned at home, they are being analysed as a model.

Progress is often uncomfortable and it rarely moves in straight lines. Arsenal don’t look lost. In my eyes they look early!"

 

[GoonerJay24]

I think next season we need a slight tactical reset. The defence has been excellent and is still our foundation, but we look blunt in attack. There’s not enough dynamism or fluidity in the final third, and over a full season that’s catching up with us.

Therefore, I think we have to be brave with squad decisions. It's harsh, but I’d consider moving on a few attacking players and reinvesting in forwards who can genuinely refresh the attack. Keep the defensive structure, but modernise the front end.

Tactically I’d like to see a shift towards 442 or 4222. Invert the wide players (Saka right, Eze left, Nwaneri involved, Madueke backup) and let the fullbacks provide width. Rice and Zubimendi as the midfield base gives you control, with another option added for depth.

Up front we need multiple profiles: a top striker like Julian Alvarez plus a target forward; Igor Thiago has impressed and a young runner in behind. Maybe a left-back signing too unless Hincapie fully locks that spot down.

Injuries have hurt us again, but structurally I think this is the direction we should move in. For me, moving to 442 gives us the best chance to rebalance the team next season.

 

[merciarsene]

Perfect squad. Amateur manager

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Hard to argue against this.

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Arteta - Frank Grillo

Raya - Peter Dinklage
Timber -
Saliba - Idris Elba
Gabriel - Michael B Jordan
Calafiori - Adam Driver
Zubamendi -
Rice -
Ødegaard - Robert Knepper
Saka -
Gyokeres -
Trossard -

Dowman - Tom Holland

We are making a movie.

 

[Steps]

Arteta - Frank Grillo

Raya - Peter Dinklage
Timber -
Saliba - Idris Elba
Gabriel - Michael B Jordan
Calafiori - Adam Driver
Zubamendi -
Rice -
Ødegaard - Robert Knepper
Saka -
Gyokeres -
Trossard -

Dowman - Tom Holland

We are making a movie.

Alexander Skarsgård as Gyokeres.

 

[Jakarta]

We arent as good as we think

Only world class players in this squad imo are

Saliba
Gabriel Magalhaes(and that is being generous since he isnt the greatest on the ball but I'll give him world class status because he is a beast defensively)
Raya

The rest of our defenders are quality imo, not world class because they lack in attack i.e Timber. But our defense is the strongest part of our squad.

The rest of the team are lacking in midfield and attack to be considered world class, mainly technically, ball progression and attacking output. We are still judging this Arsenal team from the Emery days and 8th place Arteta finishes. But who thought after spending 1 billion that we would have an attack with this output this season in the Premier league as the first placed team.......

 

[Jakarta]

I forgot someone here mentioned our attacking players being all Sp**s level players and it ain't no lie.

Gyok isnt the one. He works hard but is technically bereft. He could barely hack it against Khusanov and an unfit Ake imagine against Dias and Guehi! Shouldn't be our starting striker should go back to a weaker league or join Sp**s in the championship.

Trossard can piss off! Slow ass mofo

Martinelli 1 premier league goal all season He can piss off as well.

Madueke ya knaa. 55m for 2 goals in the prem all season. Another Sp**s level player. Hurt my soul seeing us bringing him on to change the game for us 2-0 down.

Ødegaard captain magnificent that has been non-existent for two seasons. I'd take a prime Christian Eriksen over him any day of the week.

Saka I'll allow you but you ain't no Mohamed Salah that's for sure, you ain't no franchise player!

Edit
Oh and how did i forget

Mr Havertz missing a one on one with the keeper when we were on top the first 15 mins. Another Bundesliga hype job, send him back to Germany. I don't even get his purpose any more. Ruined the opportunity to sign a quality box to box midfielder and striker because of this foolish signing the last two years.

And Rice/Zubi we only need one of them in midfield and not both. Rice doesnt have the press resistance to play as a 6 but we push him up to play as a box to box mid but he doesnt have the technical ability to play in the final third. 100m signing solves a lot of defensive problems but damn when he gets the ball it feels like he has lead in his boots.

 

[Jasard]

Players withdrawn from international duty, have I missed any? Not sure who simply hasnt been called up.

Gabriel
Saliba
Eze
Trossard
Ødegaard
Timber

 

[DanDare]

I'd be looking to replace a few players

Nørgaard - Arteta doesn't trust him enough to take meaningful minutes from Zubimendi or Rice

Trossard - Over the hill. Has been a great signing but it's clearly time to part ways

Martinelli - If he was on half the wages I'd say you keep him, he knows the club, Arteta's system and has his strengths (running Vs a tired team late on). He isn't good enough for the wage he's on.

Havertz - He's basically been unfit for 2 years. Can't rely on him and he's our second highest paid player. Time to go

White - I love Sir Benjamin but I'm not sure we can count on him staying, seems Everton are keen. Will miss him a lot.

To sign:

- Rice Deputy that Arteta will actually play sometimes
- Left wing baller, pace, dribbling ability, finishing
- Right back
- Striker - Don't know names but needs to be more link up and technically secure type to contrast with Gyok

Changes to team:
- Zubimendi and Ødegaard are now in competition and fulfil the same role
- Timber doesn't play in zone 14 ever again
- If we're playing with Gyokeres, play to his strengths and get bodies around him or don't play him
- Rice doesn't play on the left any more, he's too one footed and it affects build up. Zubi or Ødegaard play left sided