1-0 to Arsenal never sounded so good!

The Cannon Fires: Calafiori Opens Arsenal's 100th Top-Flight Season with Old Trafford Smash-and-Grab

They said it couldn't be done. They said Arsenal can't win ugly. They said Old Trafford is a graveyard for Gunners' ambitions. Well, tell that to Riccardo Calafiori, who planted his forehead into Declan Rice's devilish corner and sending Arsenal home with three points—and Manchester United back to their usual existential crisis.

A Goal So Close, Even Bayindir Could Smell It

Let's be honest: you don't need a YouTube compilation to appreciate this one. Rice swung in the sort of inswinger that goalkeepers have nightmares about. United's new No.2, Altay Bayindir, decided to flap like a pigeon on Market Street, and Calafiori did the rest—heading home from a range so intimate he probably got a whiff of the netting.

That makes it 15 set-piece goals in the last two seasons for Arsenal. Not bad for a side that was once mocked for being more fragile than a wine glass in a dishwasher.

United Threaten, Arsenal Dig In

Credit where it's due: United didn't roll over. Patrick Dorgu hit the post, Matheus Cunha tried to turn into peak Ronaldo, and Bryan Mbeumo had a header clawed out by David Raya—who clearly didn't read the script about shaky Arsenal keepers.

But for all their huffing and puffing, United couldn't blow down William Saliba. The French wall stood tall, producing a last-ditch tackle on Cunha in injury time that will be replayed in north London pubs all week.

Arteta's Pragmatic Grit

Mikel Arteta knows this wasn't a champagne performance. His post-match analysis was basically: "We didn't play that well, but we still won. That's the point, isn't it?" And he's right. For once, Arsenal looked like the seasoned street fighters rather than the naïve artists.

Viktor Gyökeres, making his Premier League bow, didn't get much service—though perhaps he did ruffle a few feathers. Noni Madueke had his cameo, and Kai Havertz came on to do, well, Kai Havertz things. But the real story was Arsenal's ability to absorb pressure and still leave with the spoils.

Calafiori's Aura

Arteta waxed lyrical about Calafiori afterwards, calling him a player who "changes the energy in the room." That's a polite way of saying: "He's got more presence than most of United's back four combined." 

100 Years, 1 Win, No Problem

This wasn't just any victory—it was the perfect start to Arsenal's 100th consecutive season in the top flight. A century of consistency marked not by champagne football, but by a gritty 1-0 win in Manchester. If you want to win titles, those are the days that matter more than the 5-0 strolls at home.

What's Next

Leeds at home next weekend, then Anfield. A soft pillow followed by a barbed-wire mattress. But if Arsenal can grind out results like this, they may finally have the resilience to go the distance.

Mean Murray Doesn’t Mince His Words

Glenn Murray on Gyokeres – Because Nothing Says "Expert Opinion" Like 13 Premier League Goals in a Season Once

So, Glenn Murray's had his say on Viktor Gyokeres. The verdict? "Didn't see him as a £64 million striker. He was… all right."

Well, thanks for that, Glenn. This is coming from a man who didn't play in the Premier League until he was 28, spent most of his career bouncing between the Championship and League One, and still somehow thinks he's the oracle on top-tier striking talent.

Let's get the receipts out, shall we?

Premier League stats:

• Glenn Murray: 148 games, 37 goals, 1 season in double figures (2018/19 with Brighton – 13 goals, the high-water mark of his career).
• Viktor Gyokeres: 0 Premier League games… but 97 goals in 102 games at Sporting Lisbon, 2 consecutive league titles, 2 golden boots, 1 domestic cup.

Yes, Gyokeres hasn't yet kicked a ball in the Prem in Arsenal colours—but when it comes to pedigree, he's arriving off the back of numbers Murray couldn't even dream of.

Let's also remember: Murray was a late bloomer. He wasn't banging in goals at 22; he was working his way up from Barrow, Carlisle, Stockport and Brighton's League One days. Fair play to him for grinding his way to the top, but let's not pretend he was exactly Didier Drogba out there.

And here's the irony—Gyokeres is also a late developer. He was "all right" when he arrived at Brighton, which, funnily enough, is exactly what you'd have said about Glenn Murray in his early twenties. The difference? Gyokeres exploded into a world-class finisher in Portugal, while Murray's big break was being slightly less immobile than expected for Brighton in a relegation scrap.

Mikel Arteta sees Gyokeres's Brighton bench-warming days as the making of him. Murray sees them as proof he'll flop. Maybe that's because Murray knows better than most how hard it is to go from "all right" to "actually good" in the Premier League—and maybe he's not entirely sure Gyokeres can outdo his own rags-to-OK story.

But here's the thing: Gyokeres doesn't need to be "all right." He needs to be lethal. And if he starts rattling them in against the big boys, Glenn Murray's opinion will be worth about as much as his FA Cup winner's medal.

Spoiler: he doesn't have one.

Trossard Must Stay!

Trossard Temptation: Villa Try Again to Lure Belgian Away from the Emirates

Here we go again. Aston Villa are back at Arsenal's door, wearing their best sales smile and holding a cheque book, asking politely if they can whisk Leandro Trossard away from north London. According to FootballTransfers, talks between the two clubs kicked off on Tuesday, with Villa keen to test Mikel Arteta's resolve — which, given the summer's events, is probably somewhere between "medium rare" and "well done."

The twist? This isn't Villa's first attempt to chat up Trossard. They tried their luck in January when Arsenal were busy negotiating a new deal for him. Back then, the Gunners were all "hands off, we're confident he's signing." Fast forward eight months, and that confidence has turned into a polite cough and a long stare at the unsigned contract still gathering dust on the desk.

The player himself has been told about Villa's interest, and in true modern football style, the club are leaving the decision entirely up to him — because nothing says "team unity" like letting your winger decide whether to swap Champions League nights for a weekend in Birmingham.

Money, Motivation & a Queue Forming

Villa aren't the only ones eyeing the Belgian. Brentford have also stuck their hand up, possibly preparing for life without Yoane Wissa, who's reportedly angling for a move to Newcastle. Arsenal's valuation? Around £18 million. With Jacob Ramsey set for a big-money departure to the Toon and Leon Bailey attracting suitors, Villa could easily afford it.

But here's the snag — Arteta actually wants to keep Trossard. The player's open to staying too, but only if he gets more than the occasional cameo. Unfortunately, Arsenal's summer recruitment drive has made regular starts about as likely as VAR apologising for a mistake.

A Window Watch Worth the Popcorn

So, we've got a player not rushing to sign a new deal, two Premier League clubs ready to pounce, and a manager who might secretly want to keep him but can't promise minutes. The final weeks of the window could turn into a soap opera, and not one of those polite BBC dramas either — this feels more EastEnders, complete with surprise exits and last-minute twists.

If Trossard does go, expect the official line to be "the player wanted a new challenge." The unofficial one? "We thought we'd get more than £18 million, but we'll take it."

And if he stays? Well, then Arsenal fans will be left hoping that the Belgian's main contribution this season is more than just coming off the bench to score the odd pretty goal… right before Villa call again in January.

Would I let him go? No way. Lots of people are saying Arsenal can't afford to splurge crazy money on an over-30-year-old, who is probably looking at this contract as his last big one. After being stung by how Ozil and Aubamayeng performed once signing lucrative deals, Arsenal can be forgiven for being cautious. I would be too.

However, Trossard is an essential ingredient in a title-winning squad. He offers the X-Factor, when coming on from the bench and is versatile enough to perform in more than one position. He knows the Arsenal set up better than a possible incoming player would.

Maybe there are some that would let Trossard go to finance an Eze deal. Personally, I wouldn't. Eze is a risk. He may not enjoy being a small fish in a big pond. Trossard is reasonably settled at Arsenal, so I'd let him see out his contract if he won't sign what's on the table. This guy is exceptional, and that's why Villa and Bayern Munich want him and all the more reason why Arsenal can't let him go.

Former Skipper Backs Declan For Armband

Tony Adams Drops the Rice Bomb: Odegaard Out, Declan In?

It wouldn't be a proper Arsenal summer without a club legend strolling in, loosening his tie, and lobbing a grenade into the dressing room. This time, it's Tony Adams — our captain of captains, four-time league winner, and part-time havoc merchant — telling Mikel Arteta to rip the armband straight off Martin Odegaard and slap it onto Declan Rice's bicep instead.

Adams didn't so much suggest it as announce it like a coup. He reckons Arsenal can forget about winning the Premier League with Odegaard as skipper — and if anyone's earned the right to say that, it's the bloke who used to win league titles while fighting off Manchester United and his own inner demons at the same time.

"The call is to make Declan Rice the captain," boomed Adams, in what I can only assume was his "stop mucking about" voice. "Declan is my kind of captain, and it might free Odegaard up to play with a bit more freedom."

That's the polite version. The less polite version was basically: Odegaard's not the man to take Arsenal over the line, Declan is, and Arteta needs to get his big-boy manager trousers on.

Arteta vs. Adams: Whose Reflection?

In a moment that would have made a therapy session awkward, Adams was asked if Rice reflects Arteta. His reply?

"I think he's better than Arteta."

Ouch! Somewhere in north London, Mikel's just spat out his matcha latte.

Adams doubled down by pointing out that title-winning managers — think Klopp, think Ferguson — lead by example, pick leaders who mirror their own mentality, and become winners. Translation: it's time for Arteta to stop being a "nearly man" and start building a team that doesn't wilt the moment Pep Guardiola breathes in its direction.

Durability, Leadership… and Playing Every Game

Adams isn't just hyping Rice's leadership qualities — he's going old-school. His captain has to play every game, drag the rest along by sheer presence, and "lay the foundations" for a title-winning team.

Declan Rice? Absolutely.

Martin Odegaard? Not so much, according to Tony.

"Declan Rice can do that, Odegaard can't. Come on Arteta, make him captain."

In Adams' world, that's not a debate — that's an instruction.

Loose Cannon Verdict

Do I agree with Tony? Not entirely. Odegaard's been classy, influential, and has that Scandinavian cool that stops him going full Roy Keane on people. But there's a point here: Declan Rice feels like the blood-and-thunder leader who might just drag Arsenal across the line in a title race where "almost" doesn't cut it.

Arteta's got a big decision on his hands — stick with the smooth operator or give the job to the midfield general who could shout a hurricane into changing direction.

The question really is do captains make much difference in the modern game? I'm not sure they do. Odegaard is a quiet captain, but then so was Bobby Moore, England's World Cup winning captain. Like Odegaard, he led by example and oozed class.

So what would I do? If I felt Odegaard felt burdened by the captaincy, then and only then would I remove the weight of the armband from his shoulders (or should I say arm). 

Back in the day, it was often about fire in the belly, and that's why Adams was an effective captain. His latest outburst just shows that he's got a one-dimensional view on what makes a good leader. The truth is Arteta is a great one. Anyone who saw inside the dressing room when Amazon filmed their documentary would know Arteta is one of a kind. He's a unique personality and I have complete faith in his ability to make Arsenal successful...and that includes choosing the right captain!

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Gyo & Gunners Will Be Outgunned Say Experts’

Fowler Tips Chelsea's Pedro to Outscore Arsenal's Gyökeres – and We're Supposed to Take That Seriously?

Well, Arsenal's new Swedish bulldozer Viktor Gyökeres hasn't even laced up his boots for us yet, and already the punditry brigade is predicting he'll be outgunned by Chelsea's Joao Pedro.

This latest nugget of wisdom comes from Robbie Fowler on talkSPORT. Asked who would bag more goals this season – Pedro at Chelsea, Gyökeres at Arsenal, or Benjamin Sesko at Manchester United – Fowler all but ignored Sesko and instead backed Pedro to nick it. Why?

"I think it'll be Pedro," Fowler said, in the tone of a man who's just picked his horse because it has the nicest name. "I know Gyökeres is coming in but he's unproven… there might be a little too much pressure on him because everyone wants him to score goals. It's similar to Nunez at Liverpool."

Right. Because Darwin Nunez is definitely the comparison you want to make when trying to reassure Arsenal fans.

Now, let's just pause and remember: Pedro has been in England for years, clocked up 89 Premier League games, and… never broken the 10-goal barrier in a single top-flight season. But yes, apparently that's the benchmark Gyökeres will fail to hit.

Ally McCoist, at least, injected some sense into proceedings, tipping Gyökeres to come out on top simply because, in his words, "he'll probably get more chances in that Arsenal team than certainly Sesko will at United, and potentially where Joao Pedro might at Chelsea." Translation: Arsenal create more chances than Chelsea, so our striker might actually, you know, score more goals.

Meanwhile, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have already pencilled in another season without Arsenal winning the league. No surprise there – pundits love a safe bet.

So here we are: Gyökeres hasn't kicked a competitive ball for us, but the chatterati are already setting the bar somewhere between Darwin Nunez and "less than Joao Pedro." The Swede could do us all a favour by ignoring every word of it, smashing 20+, and leaving Fowler looking like he's been drinking whatever Chelsea's recruitment department have been sipping all summer.