Press conference questions + A trophy in December

Morning all.

It’s fairly continuous in the meanwhile, and Mikel Arteta will maintain a press convention this morning forward of our third successive London derby within the Premier League on Wednesday night time. This time it’s Brentford who come to go to, and there’ll clearly be loads to speak about after the 1-1 draw in opposition to Chelsea.

Now that the mud has settled a little bit bit, it’ll be fascinating to listen to if he expands in any respect on the type of sport it was. As I wrote yesterday, and spoke about on the Arsecast Further, I believe this was a really intentionally aggressive strategy from Chelsea, and I believe on a few events it crossed the road. I famous the absence of each Gabriel and William Saliba maybe taking part in an element in how far they pushed it, and I assumed James’ description of them as ‘Arsenal’s bouncers’ on the podcast was spot on.

That stated, regardless of their finest efforts, Chelsea couldn’t rattle the replacements. We noticed how a lot Piero Hincapie relishes the bodily battle and the defensive features of the sport. Not least when he obtained within the face of Pedro Neto after making a problem on the Chelsea winger in our field. And who was there to drag him away, and inform him to get his thoughts again on the sport and to give attention to defending the nook he’d simply conceded? Cristhian Mosquera. I assumed that confirmed a powerful degree of maturity from the 21 yr outdated, and the duo – whereas inexperienced when it comes to taking part in collectively – managed the sport and their bookings very nicely.

I’m positive Arteta might be requested about Saliba’s harm which stored him out of Sunday, so we’ll have to attend and see what the information is there. I believe, ideally, the supervisor would at all times need considered one of his two important males out there, however at the very least now he has actually stable trying choices at his disposal. Let’s keeper fingers crossed for our Massive Willy.

I’m additionally curious to see how he’ll speak about doable rotation for this one. It’s not likely about seeing Brentford as an easy-touch so you possibly can shuffle your pack with out worrying, however we’ve performed three actually tough and intense video games in per week, and on Saturday we now have an early kick-off in opposition to a hard-running Aston Villa group. We’ve got this huge squad at our disposal, and to provide ourselves the perfect probabilities of successful video games we have to use it. So, let’s see what he says about that, and the way a lot we will glean from his solutions about what we’d anticipate in that regard. As ever, we’ll deliver you the tales and extra over on Arseblog Information.

Which leads me to final night time the place James and Tim had been in attendance for Arseblog on the FSA (Soccer Supporters Affiliation) Awards 2025, and I’m pleased to report that we gained Fan Media of the Yr (Fran Merida of the Yr). Initially, because of all of you who took the time to vote, it’s vastly appreciated, and it meant that we got here out on high in a really spectacular subject of nominees. So, congrats to Various Wales, Not the High 20, The Anfield Wrap, The Sq. Ball, and our pal Dan at HLTCO for his or her nominations. All of them produce incredible work with spectacular dedication, so to win it in opposition to such stiff competitors makes it further particular.

I additionally should take a second to thank all of the group right here at Arseblog. I’m actually fortunate to do what I do, however that I get to do with nice folks makes it much more rewarding. I do know they know I like and admire them, nevertheless it doesn’t damage to say it out loud each from time to time!

The schedule being what it’s meant I couldn’t attend final night time. I needed to, however there was a post-Chelsea Arsecast Further required, and an episode of The 30 over on Patreon, and right this moment we’ll have a preview podcast for our sport in opposition to Brentford too. There simply don’t appear to be sufficient hours within the day anymore. However that I couldn’t go is as first world an issue as you can ever have. The very lucky job I’ve is to try to make the perfect content material – with actual, precise folks! – about this soccer membership as doable, and that’s not one thing I ever take with no consideration. Precedence numero uno, and all that.

In the end, lots of this comes right down to you, the readers and the listeners. All the pieces we do on Arseblog is supported by you. We don’t have any advertisements on our web sites or our apps, to make sure that – with out eager to sound too wanky about it – the content material is king. It’s not obscured by something, it’s not influenced by clicks as a result of we don’t generate income that manner, and ensures editorial independence always.

We’ve been very lucky to have your continued assist on Patreon which permits us to function on this manner, and it’s additionally allowed us to make an actual distinction in the actual world too. Since 2022, Arseblog has donated €210,000 to good causes native and worldwide – you’ll find the breakdown of that right here. Each April we give 100% of our Patreon income that month to charities, and that’s a dedication we intend to take care of within the years to return. It barely scratches the floor of what’s wanted on the planet we dwell in, nevertheless it does assist, and possibly too it’d encourage different companies to observe swimsuit.

All of which is to say, thanks once more for permitting us to do what we do. To deliver you blogs and information and podcasts and protection of Arsenal Males and Ladies and every part else you’ll find on Arseblog. It’s a privilege to have the ability to do it, and we admire being a part of your Arsenal expertise a lot due to how vital is. Hopefully, that is the primary trophy elevate of the season.

❤️

ps – Meant to additionally report that Declan Rice and Alessia Russo gained the awards for finest gamers, so we’re in fairly esteemed firm in that sense too! Congrats to them.