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New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Arsenal 2025-26 Premier League season preview: Can second place turn into silverware?
Another Premier League season is upon us. Manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta have been busy in the transfer window, but could more incomings be on the way? Who has impressed during pre-season? Are there any lingering concerns from the back-end of last term? And can they turn second place into silverware? Here, Art de Roche looks ahead to the new season. To win, simple as that. After three successive second-place finishes in the Premier League and one Champions League semi-final, Arsenal have impressed without converting their dominance into trophies. This year will hinge on whether they can get over the line. This has been Arsenal's busiest window since the summer of 2021, when they signed six players under the age of 23 — Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga. They helped Arsenal return to European football. This year, Arsenal had already made six signings before returning from their pre-season tour. Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera arrived mostly as squad options, while Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres are seen as the ceiling-raisers for the new season. With other areas prioritised, the left wing was always likely to be addressed later in the window. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard's pre-season performances, and Reiss Nelson being in talks with Fulham, make the desire for a new addition on that side more pronounced. Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, in whom Arsenal retain an interest, would feel like an antidote to what has come before him, but there has not been any movement. Advertisement Arteta trialled his new midfield three of Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Zubimendi in Arsenal's final pre-season game, a 3-0 win against Athletic Club. They impressed and looked to function in a smoother way than previous setups, which is encouraging. Zubimendi has provided fresh impetus. His first 45-minute cameo was impressive due to the number forward passes he made, even in moments when a backwards step seemed more likely. Close behind the signing from Real Sociedad is is 15-year-old Max Dowman. The England Under-17 international has not started any pre-season matches, but his cameos off the bench cannot be ignored. Against senior pros, he has replicated actions that he often produced in youth football, with his run before winning a penalty against Newcastle United very similar to one that ended in a penalty against Manchester United Under-18s in February. Arteta and Arsenal will need to manage his integration into the first team carefully. Gyokeres is the man of the moment for Arsenal, with the centre-forward's shirt sales breaking club records for a new signing. Arsenal were offering free printing for Gyokeres shirts, but the anticipation for a new striker in north London has been growing for years and is very real. Since Arteta took charge in December 2019, the Sweden international is just the second player, after Gabriel Jesus, who has been bought to play up front. Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard have featured there, but they were primarily signed to play in midfield and out wide. Securing Gyokeres, the top scorer in Europe's top 10 leagues over the past two seasons (68 goals in 66 Primeira Liga games), felt like a necessary statement from Arsenal heading into this season. Fans have already got a taste of his signature celebration after his first goal against Athletic, and his Premier League debut against Manchester United feels like the most highly anticipated of any Arsenal signing for a long time. Injuries. After last season, ensuring key players are fit for the entire campaign is a must. That has been reflected in the volume of players signed, but also the management of Jurrien Timber and Gabriel during pre-season. Both defenders underwent procedures on their respective ankle and hamstring injuries at the end of the season and have required time before returning to action last week. Advertisement Jakub Kiwior proved to be a valuable deputy at the end of last season, and Riccardo Calafiori has shown promise. But after an injury-laden season, Arteta has stressed the importance of availability. Before the first game of pre-season, Arteta said: 'It's like shaking the tree again. New faces bring new excitement and new energy.' Given the number of signings made by the time they returned to London from Asia, that excitement has transferred over to the fanbase in a natural way. Arteta has referred to trees, and a particular one at the training ground, before. He will hope that the roots that have been set over the last few years will flourish come next spring. Ninety per cent. I could have gone for 100, but nothing can ever be guaranteed in football. Considering the time and effort that has been put into building this squad, it is hard to see a world where Arteta does not see out the season. If he does not win a major trophy, that is when things could get interesting, with his contract running until 2027. Gyokeres gets more assists than people expect. He has registered at least 10 in all competitions in each of his last three seasons, so, as long as he has support runners, he could be just as useful as a provider in Arsenal's new attack. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
New York Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Noni Madueke's potential Arsenal transfer has sparked debate. Which team will benefit more?
Noni Madueke's possible move to Arsenal from Chelsea has already divided one fanbase. On Wednesday, purported Arsenal fans got the hashtag #NoToMadueke trending on social media. A petition was then launched on Thursday against his arrival at the Emirates Stadium. As The Athletic reported on Wednesday, the two clubs are now in talks, with Arsenal and the winger agreeing personal terms. Advertisement Social media often lacks the nuance of reality, and there will be positives and negatives to Madueke's move from the perspective of both clubs. So The Athletic asked our Arsenal expert Art de Roche and our Chelsea expert Liam Twomey to have a conversation about his mooted move. Below, they discuss whether or not the move makes sense for each side, why the response online has been so vociferous, and which team the transfer will work better for. Liam Twomey: From a squad-balance perspective, yes. Pedro Neto has firmly established himself at the top of Enzo Maresca's wing pecking order with his Club World Cup performances, and the Portugal international prefers to operate from the right flank. Cole Palmer has been deployed on that side for stretches of games in the United States in tweaked versions of Chelsea's system. That is before we even consider that Palmeiras prodigy Estevao arrives at Cobham this summer, and is likely to split his game time between attacking midfield and right wing. Tyrique George can operate on either flank, and Joao Pedro was recruited in part for his ability to play in any of Maresca's attacking positions. Kendry Paez is with (though not part of) the Club World Cup squad. Fast-forward 12 months, and Chelsea will also welcome Geovany Quenda, another dynamic young left-footed winger, from Sporting CP. Maresca has plenty of alternatives to Madueke on the right, and the signing of Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund lessens the need for him on the left. Madueke is also emerging as one of Chelsea's best opportunities to raise significant sale funds in this transfer window, and the importance of selling as well as buying was underlined by the terms of the negotiated settlement entered into with UEFA this month after being found in breach of the governing body's financial rules. Art de Roche: Madueke would provide Arsenal with much-needed depth in wide areas. Mikel Arteta's reliance on Bukayo Saka on the right wing was highlighted as far back as the 2020-21 season, so having an option who could allow him to be rested would be welcome. Madueke's ability to play on the left could also help Arsenal, but that may come down to whether Arteta is comfortable playing a left-footer on that side. He did use Gabriel Martinelli, a right-footer, on the right at times last season, but that was only when Saka and Ethan Nwaneri were injured. Advertisement De Roche: There will be a few factors behind this. One of the most important is likely the timing in comparison to other deals. Madueke could become Arsenal's first attacking signing of the summer, which fans would not have envisaged at the start of the window. Had this come about after the arrival of a striker and another winger/attacking midfielder, there would naturally be a different mood among the fanbase. Another key factor is that this is yet another Chelsea player. Most players who have traded Stamford Bridge for the Emirates have not set the world alight. The more this trend continues, the more tiresome it becomes. The cost of signing a player from Chelsea also makes it a baffling move to some when other clubs find young, exciting talent abroad more frequently than Arsenal for less. Due to the politics of new signings, Arsenal have also seen former Chelsea players take minutes that were previously given to fan favourites, which leaves a sour taste. Arsenal fans online seemed to be in unison against this potential signing, but there has since been a swell of support for Madueke. The hashtags on either side of this debate appeared to be light-hearted social media talk at first, but the creation of a petition against Madueke signing is going over the top. That being said, the negative sentiments would not be present in stadiums. For example, Aaron Ramsdale's arrival in 2021 was similarly divisive. Most fans on social media were against the signing, and were vocal about it. On Ramsdale's debut, away against West Bromwich Albion, he was applauded by the travelling support as he came out to warm up pre-match. That is very rare, but you could tell it was a gesture that was appreciated and helped him settle on the pitch. Advertisement Twomey: Madueke's departure would likely prompt a range of reactions. He is a polarising figure who has had a rollercoaster career at Chelsea, featuring the nadir of very publicly trying to take a penalty away from Palmer against Everton in April 2024 and the peak of a brilliant 14-minute hat-trick against Wolves at Molineux last September. Many supporters appreciate a player whose first instinct is always to run at his full-back, particularly within the context of the frustrations some fans feel watching the slow, patient possession Maresca demands. To others, Madueke can be deeply frustrating with his decision-making in the final third, occasionally giving the impression of being out for himself. Very few would disagree that he has real talent, and that is where the concern lies. Consistency has eluded Madueke, but his best flashes are tantalising; does he have another level to reach? At 23, it remains very possible that he does and if Chelsea decide to sell him now, he will not lack motivation to demonstrate it to them at every opportunity. Twomey: The success of Chelsea's recruitment model depends just as much on their ability to sell profitably as it does on buying intelligently. Every player who is not absolutely integral to the team Maresca is building has a price, and Madueke has never managed to make himself indispensable at Stamford Bridge. If you are confident he never will, cashing in now and using those funds to make other bets on potential in that position makes sense within the broader Clearlake strategy. Whether it be Estevao, Paez or Quenda, Chelsea already have an abundance of exciting young talent that needs room to grow into the first-team squad in the next two years. But it is easy to see a world in which Chelsea and Arsenal could win from this deal. Madueke is a good Premier League winger who, at the very least, could lighten the onerous minutes load on Saka and maybe even work alongside him, depending on how Arteta decides to align things. Advertisement It is also possible that Chelsea could regret letting Madueke go — especially to a Premier League rival — but as long as they get the price they want, that outcome feels unlikely. De Roche: It feels like a deal that suits Chelsea more than Arsenal. They signed Madueke two years ago for £28.5million ($39m at current rates) from PSV and look set to make a decent profit. From their perspective, it is a positive example of how their approach to business works. For Arsenal fans, his relative youth is a silver lining. The winger scored 11 goals and assisted five in all competitions last season, so there is a body of work on which to develop. That does feel like more of a punt than a guarantee, however, with Madueke's time at Chelsea littered with glimpses of quality instead of consistent performances.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Zibanejad, Nylander, Markström, Andersson Disappointed After Swedish Semifinal Loss To USA
Was Arsenal's Win Over Barcelona The Biggest Champions League Upset Ever? | Full Time Review On this week's Full Time Review, The Athletic's Art de Roche and Laia Cervello join the podcast to discuss how Arsenal stunned Barcelona to win the 2024-25 UEFA Women's Champions League. Was it the biggest upset in a final the competition has ever seen? How did Arsenal honor their rich history while creating a new legacy? Who were the key players and top performers? And, what was behind Barcelona's collapse in Lisbon? 20:44 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beever-Jones on her hat-trick for England at Wembley
Was Arsenal's Win Over Barcelona The Biggest Champions League Upset Ever? | Full Time Review On this week's Full Time Review, The Athletic's Art de Roche and Laia Cervello join the podcast to discuss how Arsenal stunned Barcelona to win the 2024-25 UEFA Women's Champions League. Was it the biggest upset in a final the competition has ever seen? How did Arsenal honor their rich history while creating a new legacy? Who were the key players and top performers? And, what was behind Barcelona's collapse in Lisbon? 20:44 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Morales serious about title run after quick finish of Gilbert Burns
Was Arsenal's Win Over Barcelona The Biggest Champions League Upset Ever? | Full Time Review On this week's Full Time Review, The Athletic's Art de Roche and Laia Cervello join the podcast to discuss how Arsenal stunned Barcelona to win the 2024-25 UEFA Women's Champions League. Was it the biggest upset in a final the competition has ever seen? How did Arsenal honor their rich history while creating a new legacy? Who were the key players and top performers? And, what was behind Barcelona's collapse in Lisbon? 20:44 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
