Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours 25/26

emergingstar · 24-02-2026 10:03AM

That was a great win, and with the week off hopefully things start turning for us and we get back into form

Getting Havertz back fit is going to be crucial if were going to win things i feek

Necro · 24-02-2026 12:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124260821#Comment_124260821

Unfortunately, all sets of fans have that sort of nasty element. Some of the stuff our lot were roaring at Wigan supporters (even at 4-0) was pathetic.

We will never truly understand the tribal nature of football from here in Ireland. It is genuinely a religion to them over there.

That's not excusing either that Spurs fan, or our own. But that's how it is over there with a certain subsect of football 'fans'.

Royale with Cheese · 24-02-2026 12:16PM

I once went to a West Ham vs Villa game (don't ask why) sitting/standing in the villa end, right at the side of the section near the West Ham fans. The villa fans near me spent the entire match shouting/roaring at the West Ham fans, not sure they had that much interest in the actual football. I think villa scored a last minute equaliser and the immediate reaction of the fans around me was to turn to the West Ham fans and shout fúcking wanker etc. at them instead of actually celebrate their goal.

So much anger, I didn't really get it but think every club is going to have fans like that.

CatInABox · 24-02-2026 12:56PM

I remember walking down Holloway Road before a Spurs game, and having to walk around a fairly large crowd of Arsenal fans. I'd no idea what they were all standing around for, so looked into the middle.

They were all spread out in a circle surrounding a pub, which had a police van parked across the front, so close that only one person could enter or leave the pub at a time, and even then they'd have to turn side ways and shuffle along.

It was full of Spurs fans, and every once in a while one of them would shuffle out to shout abuse and gesticulate, while the Arsenal fans looked on.

It was one of those moments that kinda shock me, it's certainly stayed with me all these years. I couldn't understand it at all, why stand around? Why wait and look at this pub, in the vain hope that the Police would disappear and suddenly you could throw hands? It was and remains bizarre to me. I could slag off Spurs fans, and expect to get a slagging back (they've been pretty quiet this year), but never in a million years would I start something over a football team, no matter what someone says to me.

DvB · 24-02-2026 01:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124261581#Comment_124261581

Its not an English thing, its a football thing. Have seen it in leagues all over the world. No country has a monopoly on angry, ugly as sin, d*ckheads.

djan · 24-02-2026 02:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124261554#Comment_124261554

Really is vile stuff at times thrown about under the guise of "football passion", go to a LoI game and it's the same. Just a bunch of low IQ dopes with little to nothing going in in their life so do this to give themselves a purpose and feel big.

G1032 · 24-02-2026 05:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124257943#Comment_124257943

What the media are not doing is being impartial wrt Gyok. The narrative I've been seeing/hearing, even in recent weeks, is that both Sesko and Gyokeres have been hugely disappointing flops, not worth the transfer fee etc etc etc but that Ekitike has been almost nothing short of a revelation. Somehow Ekitike's 10 goals are better than Gyok's.

Arghus · 24-02-2026 05:26PM

I'm not going to get too bullish about Gyokeres just yet.

He had his best game for Arsenal the last day, but he won't get much easier assignments then that Spurs back line.

He wasn't in the game at all four days before that against Wolves and there's been many games this season where he's barely had a kick.

I want to see the goalscoring and involvement in the game maintained before I fully believe he's a quality player.

TheRona · 24-02-2026 05:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124262418#Comment_124262418

In fairness, Ekitike has performed well from the start, and really has looked the part. He hasn't been scoring of late, and Gyok and Sesko have started to score a few.

Given the choice, I'd still go for Ekitike.

Girly Gal · 24-02-2026 05:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124262418#Comment_124262418

Tbf I've seen lots of Arsenal fans slate Gyokeres on here. I think fans and media in general are impatient and don't allow players time to settle at a club, so if they are not immediately banging in the goals they get labelled a flop. I think the main difference between Gyokeres and Ekitike, is that Gyokeres has been playing for the best team in the league, whereas Ekitike is playing for an out of form Liverpool all season, and has been one of the few bright sparks for Liverpool this season. Also, it's Wirtz and Isak who have gotten the flop treatment for Liverpool from the media, while Ekitike has had an easier time, mainly because no one in the league had really heard or knew much about him before he signed for Liverpool, so expectations weren't that high for him, despite the fee.

ronjo · 24-02-2026 06:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124262444#Comment_124262444

I agree with all of this.

Ekitike slid seemlessly enough into Liverpools first team so all the focus went to the other (even) more expensive players.

Kind of like Zubimendi for us.

wassie · 25-02-2026 05:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124261743#Comment_124261743

Remember Tyrones All-Ireland win in 2021….Pure class….

😁

Sheep breeder · 25-02-2026 08:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124262444#Comment_124262444

It’s amazing the amount of fans that watch a game don’t actually see the simple things that a player does for the team, for me Gyokeres has being playing well for the team occupying the two centre backs and moving the defence around, a target for to play the ball up to out of defenders, pressing from the front and chasing defenders. Watch what Jesus does no pressing, throwing himself down looking for free kicks, moaning at ref and not helping the team. Gyokeres problem is that Mikel doesn’t want to play quick ball forward all about possession and defending a lead. Totally different than the way Arsene winning teams played attacking forwards and at pace and killing the game off.

ronjo · 26-02-2026 02:26PM

Just got ticket confirmed for Everton game in 2 weeks !!! Get the **** in !

OmegaGene · 26-02-2026 06:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124266895#Comment_124266895

congrats

Be careful booking any flights ect for that game as it’s subject to change

ronjo · 26-02-2026 07:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124267670#Comment_124267670

Cheers. Yeah its looking like moving to Saturday. Be a long day if we kick off at 8pm after City kicking off at 12.30

ronjo · 27-02-2026 12:18PM

Get the **** in……. Leverkeusen then sporting/bode if we get through

Royale with Cheese · 27-02-2026 12:23PM

Don't think that could really have gone any better? Would definitely have wanted to avoid the bigger English clubs.

x PyRo · 27-02-2026 12:30PM

What an outstanding draw!

ronjo · 27-02-2026 12:36PM

hopefully City can beat Real

Necro · 27-02-2026 12:43PM

Good draw that but can't take anything for granted. Leverkusen and indeed Sporting/Bodo are all capable of beating us even if they don't have the pedigree of the bigger named clubs. Just get the job done, early preferably.

CiaranW · 27-02-2026 12:57PM

I'd fancy us to get to the final.

I'd only worry over Barca as their attack is devestating but their defense is a travesty!

What a draw! Delighted with that.

ronjo · 27-02-2026 01:33PM

Stupidly had a look on Twitter……. Oh my God, there is some meltdown over Arsenal getting a nice draw !

Arghus · 27-02-2026 01:41PM

Happy to have avoided mainly City - we're playing them enough - PSG, Liverpool, Bayern, Real... But, yes, as Necro said, there's quality on Arsenal's side of the draw too, so you take nothing for granted.

Deeper Blue · 27-02-2026 05:23PM

Would've rathered Chelsea on our side in place of Barca, think we have their number over two legs. Aside from that it's the draw we all wanted, let's be honest. Imagine if we were in Bayern's slot

Nothing won on paper though obviously

Royale with Cheese · 27-02-2026 05:39PM

Nah Liam Rosenior would have walked Arsenal off a cliff over two legs, the genius.

~Rebel~ · 27-02-2026 05:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124269407#Comment_124269407

era twitter's always in meltdown over everything. A perennial state of hysteria.

Great draw for Arsenal anyway - even the semi against (most likely) Barca, could see the physicality of Arsenal just battering them down.

Deeper Blue · 27-02-2026 10:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124270117#Comment_124270117

The way Chelsea destroyed them would give me quite a bit of hope

Arghus · 28-02-2026 08:00PM

Leeds were all over City for the first half hour, but didn't take their chances and they look pretty leggy now going into the final twenty.

Azatadine · 28-02-2026 08:26PM

Pressure on for tomorrow now again.

Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours 25/26

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