It would be disingenuous to Man City’s attack to say Arsenal have levelled up based on 45 minutes of football.
Since the Carabao Cup Final, it feels like Pep Guardiola’s front four have saved their best form for the run-in. Cherki is doing kickie-uppies while our dressing room has appeared crippled by a fear of failure.
That was until this weekend.
There have been fears that after surgery last season due to a hamstring tear, Saka may have lost his most lethal weapon, his pace, which has not helped our new striker this season.
Many Gooners have defended Gyokeres for not being as prolific as he was in Portugal. Those who have played in that position often say you should not worry about failing to convert chances, but rather when chances are not frequent. The 27-year-old can argue that his teammates do not always play to his strengths, but he also has to take responsibility that he could still offer more in terms of holding up the ball, working the channels and keeping defenders busy.
Signs of growth in attack
His personal turning point seemed to be scoring the goals that have taken his country to the World Cup.
The only positive to Saka’s fitness issues is that it has forced a young man, who has played a lot for his age, to physically and mentally rest from the sport. Success and failure can be decided by those small details.
His understanding with our Swede should only improve. In his first few months in North London, games were passing Gyokeres by, almost as if he did not believe he belonged at this level.
Yet when you hear him being interviewed, he is as laid back as Eze, which is reassuring.
Saka and Gyokeres deliver when it matters
It has been said by many pundits that when it comes to naming your best eleven of the year, no Gunners would be included in the front line, unlike at the back.
There is more than one way to win games, but you cannot keep expecting to grind out narrow wins. You need someone to step up, take you by the hand and guide you through adversity.
That is exactly what Saka and Gyokeres did against Fulham.
Dan Smith
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…
An impressive 40 wins already this season, a record. In fact more wins than number of games United have played. Yet it could all end in catastrophe unless we win the last 4 or 5. BRUTAL
We wouldn’t have to win all remaining EPL games if Man City slipped
Thats the worst mentality to have and look where it brought us when we were leading by 9 points. We must win all our remaining PL games!
I agree.
We should focus on winning all 3 matches.
We shouldn’t even think about not winning each match and relying on City to mess up.
We have 3 games remaining
City have 5 games remaining
So the odds are slightly in our favour
We should focus on winning each match
All 3 opponents (West Ham, Burnley and CP) are in the bottom half of the draw. So it is doable.
West Ham will be a tough one, not just because it’s an away match but also they are fighting Spurs to avoid relegation, so we have to assume that they are going to bring it.
Beating all 3 teams won’t be easy but we have the squad to do it
Welp, after today, not any more, technically!
Though yeah – realistically, yeah… if we drew with say West Ham, City would no doubt go and score 7 goals on the last matchday :/
When GOALS are more important than POINTS.
Gyokeres and Saka were impressive against Fulham, but poor against Atletico Madrid
Let’s wait and see whether they have become consistent or not, when the Spanish giant visit us
Gyokeres’ hold-up play has obviously improved a lot, but he’s still largely unwilling to engage in aerial duels
Arsenal should replace Havertz with a CF or false nine who can compete with Gyokeres
Give credit where it is due, the coaching team led my Mikel. The way Saka passed Anderson, that was brilliant, that is a classic training ground drill.
Atleti, hope you folks are watching, be prepared for a humiliation
What credit exactly? Youre an arteta fan more than an arsenal fan
The identity of our attack is built around Saka and when he plays well, we play well. I don’t think he’s been back to his physical best since last year and that has affected his performances. Maybe he’s finally back to his best.
On Gyokeres , yes his teammates have not always played to his strengths but he’s also not always making himself available in the right areas. I feel like he’s improved in his positioning and anticipation. His movement has improved.
Early in the season, there are times Saka made that same cross and Gyokeres was not there to tap it in like he did for his first goal.It’s not just about the others playing to his strengths but also him playing to the strengths of the players around him- that is what good strikers do.
Having said that, Fulham were quite passive and maybe that made us look better than we actually are.Our next two games will give us a better picture because Atletico and West Ham won’t be that passive.
Basically Gyokeres and our attackers struggled due to the initial adaptation phase which is quite common. Made worse by the fact he had no preseason and was forced to play all matches with Havertz and Jesus injured.
Spot on Ackshay
I really hope the attack has clicked, massive improvement in the Fulham game more Gyo with the runs and hold up play. Our star boy has been at his best and hopefully that performance kickstarts a good brun.
A large part of our misfiring attack is our missing midfield. Zubi is always backwards. MLS broke through the lines in midfield freeing up more space and adding pace to our attacks. Plus better ball control from Saka & Trossard
Interestingly, a casual check from Google will tell you that Zubimendi has played the most line-breaking passes of all Arsenal players this season. Zubi has not been at his best in 2026 but to blame him for our misfiring attack is absurd.
Our best attacking performances this season (Villa at home, Tottenham twice and Atletico Madrid in the league phase) all happened with Zubimendi in midfield, so is he really the problem?
Onyango.
Zubimendi is as good as any and better than most playmakers in the Premier League. He’s obviously tiring from an arduous (for him) season and would have benefited from being rested at certain points.
Yes, he is. When he arrived, he was playing so well and that was why we were dominating games, but after his mistake against MU which led to the equalizer he started playing much side ways and back ward passes. If you doubt me , take time and watch those games again.
Spot on konstantin, Zubi has been the problem, our midfield has been non-existent skelly made all the difference. I have been saying it, Zubi hides , he doesn’t want to receive the ball for fear of mistakes. But with skelly our midfield was great and it helped to improve our attack.
Absolute rubbish. He doesn’t hide, he makes himself available for an easy pass and then passes the ball easily, normally the way he is facing a teammate.
Nah, it’s simply not true that our recent struggles have all been down to Zubi’s exhaustion or “fear of making mistakes”.
There have been several issues for the team to manage out there in the real world. Now that we’re in the final stretch, you’re starting to see the handbrake come off again, but there will still be cagey phases in games.
Amen to that, only a blind man can’t see the obvious that…
I really don’t want to sound negative, but Fulham were really poor.
With that said, we still had to get the job done. Maybe we needed that kind of performance to push on.
Fingers crossed! Last night’s result has made next Sunday even bigger now – a must win for both teams. Imagine sitting among the hammers fans (which is what I’ll be doing 😳) We’d better turn up
Take care Sue and let’s hope OUR bubble won’t burst!!
The atmosphere in the ground will be one of pure anxiety from both sets of fans.
Mind you, if Everton do us a favour today, who knows what might happen?
Have a great time!!
Thanks Ken 👍 Have to get in first – not long ago there was talk about having to prove you’re a West Ham fan to stop Arsenal fans getting in 🤣
Come on you Toffees!!!
Sue,
With it now being squeaky bum time, lets hope you’re bum isn’t blowing bubbles on Sunday. 😂🤣👍
😱
🤣🤣🤣 Brilliant Derek! 🤣🤣🤣
Michael Oliver will ref today’s important match between Everton and City. He reffed when Arsenal’s title hope hit a deck by Bournemouth at Emirates. This season City couldn’t win under Oliver’s watch (2 draws v West Ham and Chelsea; lost v Villa).
How strange that Mr Oliver gets to referee yet another city130 match!!
It will be interesting to see how this game is played out, but, as the wise old Oracle says, it evens itself out over a season 🤔
Ken1945,
Keep him under the microscope. I was also bemused as you were by the appointment. I hope the law firm Hill Dickinson give their own verdict tonight before that lethargic panel that oversees those 130 charges.
Well, he made sure city scores in the 8th minute with only 6 added on.
Yep. Figures!
Say it isn’t so. I hope Tarkowski among others can play on egg shells.
I believe he has also got back together with the lady he left prior to joining us , maybe everything is now falling into place for him .
She’s once again devoted to the wealthy man. I wish him luck off the pitch as well as on, he may ultimately need it.
BB, that’s cruel (but true).
Sometimes. It does seem a little suspect though.
Bruised Banana,
You mean that Gyokeres is scoring off the field as well as on it.😂🤣👍
Derek, I guess it’s all or nothing, lol.
Personally, I would give Myles Lewis Skelly a 9 out of 10, he add energy and dynamism to the game.
Though he seems young and brave, the kid never put a foot wrong, those rash challenges he made playing at left back seems to have gone from his game, he won all his duel.
Zubimendi late entry seems to have benefit from the kid, it is going to be interesting going forward as Nogaard may have slipped further done the pecking order
I keep saying 84 points, will win the big ears jug
I hope Arsenal finish with 85 pts which is the 2nd highest in a decade after the 89 pts gained in 23/24 season.
Lady Luck was half on our side today, and fully in some previous games (along with Owen Goal, ahem).
85pts would, believe it or not, be the second-lowest winning EPL points total in easily a decade. It really speaks to our need to reinforce our attack.
Who cares about the points tally so long as the title has been won? Wenger in 1997/98 won the title with 78 points. We’re not in one of the Farmers’ League. Everyone beats everyone in EPL.
Saka and Gyokeres looked better connected on Saturday, but one half doesn’t make a season. Lets hope they’ve saved their best for these coming games. 👍
OT. What a great game it was 32 years ago tonight. Without the suspended Ian Wright and injured John Jensen we beat Parma 1-0 to win our 2nd European Trophy.
Herr Drier,
I remember that game to, Alan Smith scored a banger of a goal.
But WOW! that Parma team. What players they had.
Derek, that was some team they had. Their front 3 were Brolin, Asprilla and Zola. Nerve wracking early in the game when I think it was Brolin hitting a post, but we battled through it.
I might be wrong but I think we were the 1st English club to play against an Italian club after the 5 year ban.
Herr Drier,
Nerve racking you say, I’ve only just recovered.😂👍
Derek, it was brilliant. Final whistle all you could hear was us singing 🎵Are you watching Tottenham, are you watching Tottenham🎵.
I was slightly inebriated that night.
With our performance against Fulham, let us see if Mikel would start the same players against Atletico on Tuesday.
With the performance of our players against Fulham, I have no doubt that some improvement has taken place. Using the starting eleven against Fulham for Atletico on Tuesday may help a lot.
With a win tonight Everton leapfrog both Chelsea & Fulham and put them only 2 pts off a European League spot. David Moyes deserves a European competition a step up from the Conference that he won with West Ham.
With a win tonight Everton leapfrog both Chelsea & Fulham and put them only 2 pts off a European League spot.
David Moyes deserves a European competition (befitting of their new stadium) a step up from the Conference that Moyes won with West Ham.
3 wins away from the title.
I honestly thought tonight would be a big win for City. Thank you Everton
I had feeling it would be Everton, it seems to be the unexpected fixtures. They still have Bournemouth away now too. But I guess we dont even bother looking at their schedule anymore it’s all on us to win out the rest of the this now. Let’s do it Sue! !
Woohoo!! Yes let’s! 22 years RSH and we’re now 3 games away…. imagine the need for medication over the next 3 weeks in Arsenal households 🤣🤣
and massive pressure now when City play Brentford
went from having to win to go top to now having to win to stay in it
Was great to see City looking rattled. Needed that momentum shift too.
And Brentford are no schmucks. They are playing for Europa League places!
How quickly things change, Dan city were nervy all game! How lovely watching fans leaving early after the 3rd Everton goal.
Wow what a turnaround, Dan. One I didn’t see coming if I’m honest!
Everton had the 3points wrapped, where did the 2 extra minutes come from.!!! What a result , it’s in our hands now
I’m starting to think not
We just need to keep our heads, Kenya and do our thing. It’s so close… I’m excited and nervous as hell 🤣🤣🤣
Fingers crossed Sue, we cross the line, 22yrs is a loong time. I don’t think I have a normal heart rate Sue!
Too long, Kenya! None of us do 🤣🤣🤣
Those extra 2 minutes came from Michael Oliver’s back pocket (haha).
Regardless, it’s a good result for us yes. Gives us a tiny bit of breathing room! Still really need to win all these remaining games though, City are capable of scoring a lot of goals.
This title race is going right down to the wire.
Who else but the Arsenal hater Michael Oliver could let the game continue 2 minutes beyond the far too many extra minutes of 6 minutes. That point could be decisive. The away game against West Ham will be a nail-biting game for both teams. It will be the most difficult of the three remaining games. Had Man C not got the one point tonight, I would be sure that the championship will go to Arsenal. But with a 5-point difference, it must however not be missed for Arsenal. It must not be difficult for Arteta to set up the team for the remaining games.
How about we let westham win and celebrate them going down!!!!! Small club mentality.
This is silly. Some of you need to get a grip and stop this nonsense. Or perhaps get some help to rid you of unnecessary paranoia.
Haha. Yeah some people get fully paranoid about ref bias. I don’t take it too seriously myself but it’s fun to play along.
Bkf nothing wrong in questioning where the xtra 2minutes came from.
are you not asking because your bias though ?
No. He’s asking because it’s a legitimate question Dan.
As I said to you earlier, it will be interesting to see what games Mr Oliver gets to referee for the remainder of the season and who referees the WHU game.
but I did answer
if you break it down the added time makes sense
that’s all factual.
there is zero issue here
it’s now become agenda where your just trying to find things
6 mins of added time
on 91 mins double sub
game restarts 91.45 ( so approx 45 seconds to add on )
Everton player needs treatment 95.13 seconds and is subbed game restarts 95.50 ( so another 30 seconds to add on )
so should be approx another 1 min 15 seconds to add on
so we should at least play 97.15 seconds
City score 96.50 which to me would make sense based on there still being more time left
by time they celebrate and kick off add another 35 seconds
whistle went 97.59 so makes lots of sense
Brentford might even get something at Etihad before Arsenal play.
Brilliant idea Hass. Guardiola even stated post match that his team again may struggle with the physicality and directness of Brentford who like Everton eye Europa League.
The biggest problem in our team is Zubimendi….remove him and we have an attacking team….Arteta knows this, he’s already exploring the market for a real CM ( probably a B2B one) to pair him with Rice. He made a mistake transfering the king of backpassing and finally realising it.Time for Zubi to go back to tapas and flamenco-he belongs there…
Not that simple antonio. We don’t need another Rice but more of a Nwaneri type player who looks to move the ball quickly and is not afraid to make mistakes. Lewis Skelley is fine and deserves the opportunities to grow in that position. For all my criticism, I also believe that Zubamendi can make a positive contribution provided Arteta can get the balance right and play to Zubamendi’s strengths.
Why so much fear over the West ham game? We are the title pretenders with so much to prove. They will be shell shocked having probably believed that they had done enough to save their season. As much as I dislike Spurs it’s becoming clear that De Zerbi has been their best choice to stop the rot. A present from heaven for them with his getting fired at the right time. He was my first choice as a possible replacement for Arteta but now I will have to wish him the worst when we once again catch up with the Spuds next season.
It was fantastic to see City drop two points last night. Now it’s firmly back in our hands, an opportunity that we must take.
We’ve had many opportunity’s this season, and haven’t taken them. Now must be the time for it to happen. How many opportunity’s do we want.
Just a word on some poster’s questioning the ref’s added time. I have to say that I think that Everton’s first goal was a bit fortunate, when the pass was first played, Barry was definitely in an offside position. Now I know he got on the end of a bad back pass and slotted it in.
And I know that the rules say that it was a different phase and that he wasn’t gaining an advantage, but to me that’s absolute rubbish. Had he not been where he was in the first phase, he wouldn’t have been in the position to take advantage of Guehi’s mistake in the second phase.
That said, I’ve not got any sympathy for City 115/130 or whatever it is. It’s just me putting out there that a decision did go against them to, just saying.