Why would a Gooner be sulking when Arsenal kicked off the 2025/26 season with a much-needed win? That was the question posed after Ian Wright’s comments in reaction to the game.
Some pointed out that this Manchester United side finished 15th last season. However, Wright insists that despite United’s poor campaign, they still represented a tough opening fixture.
Wright’s verdict on the win
Speaking on Arseblog, Wright explained:
“If Arsenal had Bournemouth or Wolves in their first game, I would have been a lot more comfortable than I would have been going to Man Utd – even though it’s this Man Utd team.
“So again, I just look back and I think to myself, yes, for everything that entails for us and what we’re trying to do this season, going to Man Utd and not playing anywhere near like we know we can… but look at our bench as well.”
He went on to stress that, in the end, the result should have been all that mattered:
“Not playing nowhere near how we can and getting a 1-0 win. And the discourse – I cannot, I can’t understand it, Andrew. I can’t understand it.”
A step towards a winning mentality
Three seasons in a row, Arsenal have played some of the most exciting football in the league, yet still fallen short. What they have lacked is not flair but the ability to grind out results.
Last season, Arsenal lost the same number of games (4) as Liverpool, who went on to win the league. The difference was that Liverpool found ways to win tight games.
United may have played well in the opener, but come the end of the season, that performance will not count for much. The only statistic that matters is Arsenal taking all three points.
If the Gunners can continue to pick up results when not at their best, it could be the long-missing trait that finally gets them over the line. With the win, Arsenal are now 22 games unbeaten against the traditional big six, with 13 wins and nine draws.
Do you think Wrighty’s got a point Gooners?
Daniel O
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Plz any update on havertz and jesus injury, can’t wait to see them and eze balling🕺🕺🥳
I’ve read nothing recently about Havertz – the last I saw was a suggestion of six months out, but a post yesterday referred to three months.
As for Jesus, who knows? Given his history, I think it’s not really a question of when he’ll return but how long it will be before he’s out injured again.
January for Jesus, although I did read that he’s doing some training..
The legend is right, I can’t understand it myself, but I won’t lose a minute sleep on it.
My money is on one thing this campaign, I can see a few teams on the receiving ends of some heavy drubbing, but our new recruit needs to get their feet wet.
We have a hitman in Gyoks, he needs proper service from the middle of the park. Attacking left CAM was a weak spot since Xhaka left, now it has been addressed by Berta. We will be spanking someone really bad soon, sure it’s going to be Pool on 31st Aug. Zubs with Eze and Odegard, Martenelli Gyoks and Saka, it will just click if the slow build up ends. Our defense is top notch. We have very good players on the bench – Nogard, Trossad, Noni, Rice, White/Timber, Skelly, Merino. Thank you Berta for making things happen.
We have been treated to some classic with Pools over the years, this could very well be another in the making.
A keep saying Eze is the answer to Florians Wirtz at Liverpool, and although the Merseyside club some time can look frightening going forward there is a big hole in their defense, hope we play them before they plug it.
Forget about the game in Manchester it was slow but a win is a win, we shall play tomorrow with the handbrake out the window.
Yes Berta is rooting up trees at Arsenal, when we need Saha we went and signed Pepe, but the Italian can make no Mistake with Eze.
I didn’t enjoy watching the game, but in the end, all I cared about was claiming those points because it can be a very difficult place to win at.
I remember quite a few hard to watch 1-0 wins during the double year 1970-71 but you know what it was great going into work knowing we had WON. I’d rather a hard earned maybe fortuitous 1-0 win than an exciting 4-3 defeat.
Of course Wrighty has a point and it’s quite right to call out the unnecessary negativity about the first game of the season.
Before the season started we had the unedifying spectacle of a former player denigrating the manager and the club captain, followed by so-called fans supporting such poor comments.
Then, after a battling win with a creditable performance by said captain, we had absurd and excessive criticism by people who find it difficult to say anything positive about the club that they claim to support.
Arsenal actually won this game against a tough opponent. Goodness knows what would have happened if Arsenal had drawn or lost it.
I think, as I’ve said in other posts, that it’s perfectly OK for fans to both welcome the win, the three points, but at the same time say that the performance wasn’t good. It’s not either/or.
As others have mentioned a trip down memory lane, I was at almost all the games of the “Invincibles” team. They turned in some pretty ropey performances here and there over that season and were frankly lucky – on more than one occasion – to finish the game unbeaten. That said, I and the rest of the fans watching those games were obviously happy the points had been gained, but we were still honest enough to admit Arsenal’s performance simply wasn’t good. It was the case then; it was the case against Utd last Sunday.
The last thing we want, or need, is for some fans here – who may, or may not, be of the “armchair” variety, to question the support of those who do say what they feel.
Bertie,
Well said my friend, I agree with every word. Seems like you can’t be negative in any way these days.
I mean even a three pin plug has an earth, along with a positive and a negative. 🤣😂👍