Notes on Arsenal 2-1 Leeds: Pressuronomics

Arsenal's young players created and invited pressure during a nervy win over Leeds.

Arteta’s Got Some Nerve

Mikel Arteta's got a lot of nerve and absolutely no shame. It's a dangerous combination for Arsenal football club. The manager who has taken the club out of Europe and is set to preside over the two lowest domestic league finishes since 1995 is already demanding more money for transfers. It's apparently finally dawned on…

Cushy Fixtures Offer Arteta Another False Dawn

Mikel Arteta doesn't deserve a reprieve, but he's going to get one. Arteta's miserable tenure as Arsenal manager will surely be prolonged thanks to a cushy run of fixtures that should ensure a healthy helping of false hope at the end of this mediocre season. The soft run begins in earnest with Sunday's trip to…

Benfica Return is Arteta’s Crossroads

Mikel Arteta has reached his crossroads as Arsenal manager. It's Thursday's second leg against Benfica in the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League. Winning will mean progress to the next round, but it would also allow Arteta to keep alive the idea he's making progress. Failure to go through will make progress a tough…

Notes on Arsenal 4-2 Leeds: Brave Arteta Revives Aubameyang

Mikel Arteta found his bravery and picked an Arsenal starting XI designed to get Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back on track. The club's best finisher responded scored a hat-trick to spark Sunday's 4-2 win over Leeds. There was no mystery to why Aubameyang flourished. The opposition helped, with Leeds among the most generous defences in the Premier…

Leeds the Perfect Opponents for Arsenal’s Odegaard-Smith Rowe Double Act

Thomas Partey's injured, Arsenal need points. It's the perfect combination and opportunity for Mikel Arteta to be brave and pair Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe together in midfield. Form and injuries aren't the only reasons for fitting two numbers 10s into the team. If Arteta needs further motivation, he only needs consider Sunday's opponents,…

Arteta’s Squad Excuse is Worn Out after Leeds Leapfrog

Arsenal are 11th in the Premier League after 23 games. 11th. The idea that a weak squad somehow excuses Mikel Arteta from blame is so thin you can see through it in certain light. There's no excuse after Leeds United leapfrogged Arsenal in the table on Monday night. Leeds beat Crystal Palace 2-0 to move…

Notes on Leeds 0-0 Arsenal: Arteta’s Living on Luck

Mikel Arteta, you're a lucky pup. In fact, you can, and must, choose my numbers the next time I play EuroMillions. Arteta watched Arsenal fail to score from open play in a fifth-straight Premier League game, but still escape with a point. Sunday's 0-0 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road was the fourth game…