Ode To Joy @ Geordieland? & Stayliba!

ODE TO JOY (AND RISK)

Mikel Arteta has declared that Martin Ødegaard might start against Newcastle this weekend. The catch? He's trained for precisely two days after missing three games with that pesky shoulder injury.

In other words, we're rolling the dice on our captain's ligaments again — because why not gamble at St James' Park, where Arsenal performances are never laced with drama, controversy, or dodgy refereeing?

ARTETA'S CRYSTAL BALL

"Martin can do two days and still play at the highest level," Arteta told the press. 

Arteta's faith in Ødegaard's "natural gifts" is touching. Less touching is the thought of him taking another clattering from Joelinton and being out until Christmas. But hey, managers love to roll out the "super-gifted" line before crossing their fingers behind their back.

FLASHBACKS TO THE EMIRATES

Arteta couldn't resist revisiting our last brush with Newcastle:

• First minutes? Hated them.
• Other bits? Liked them.
• Goals conceded? Didn't like them.

A tactical masterclass in the language of IKEA flatpack instructions. Essentially: "play well, don't concede, maybe win." Inspirational stuff.

THE STAKES AT ST JAMES'

Newcastle away has historically been a graveyard for Arsenal swagger. Loud crowd, aggressive pressing, refs who confuse "letting the game flow" with "ignoring GBH." If Ødegaard does start, we'll need him dictating tempo like the world's calmest Norwegian metronome.

The risk is obvious: if he's half-fit, we're in trouble. If he's fully fit, Newcastle are in trouble. And if he's 75% fit? Well, that's the sweet spot where Arsenal usually live.

THE FINAL WORD

Arteta's banking on his captain's class. Two days of training might not sound like much, but when you're Martin Ødegaard, apparently it's all you need.

Now all that's left is to see if his shoulder holds up longer than Arsenal's first ten minutes at St James' Park usually do.

SALIBA SIGNS, WORLD BREATHES

William Saliba has gone and done it. A five-year deal with Arsenal, rejecting the siren songs of Barcelona and Madrid to stick with us. The Frenchman — probably the best defender alive — has decided his peak belongs not to Catalonia or Castile, but to north London.

And let's be clear: players only do this if they believe. Not in Arteta's TED Talks, not in the glossy brochures Edu's waving around, but in the project itself. Careers are short; trophies are forever. If Saliba thinks he's lifting silverware in red and white, then he's not the only one banking on it.

Madrid wanted him to "do a Trent" to Arsenal. Instead, he swerved the siren call and said: nah, I'm good. That's dedication, that's confidence, and — most importantly — that's a reminder that Arsenal now sit at the top table of football's dinner party.

FROM ICE COLD TO RED HOT

Remember: Arteta didn't fancy him. Left him on loan, left him out of the picture. Saliba forced the door down, didn't just knock politely. The history books won't mention the snubs, but they'll show the turnaround. Credit to Arteta for polishing him into a monster, but make no mistake — the Frenchman wrote his own story.

THE CAST IS LOCKED IN

Saliba was the final nail in the box were creating to put all of the trophies in. The spine of the squad is locked into the long-term. We are, as the youth say, "cooking."

Now it's simple: no excuses. The project has all its protagonists signed up. The only thing left on the to-do list is to go and lift the big pots.

REF-WATCH: HERE WE GO AGAIN

Meanwhile, Jared Gillett is back on VAR duty this weekend. Yes, the Liverpool fan. Yes, the one with Arsenal history. He's now been parachuted into 66% of our games this season, despite once being told he couldn't officiate us because of… being a Liverpool fan.

This isn't conspiracy, it's just bad admin. PGMOL apparently can't afford a randomiser. For £20, RefGPT could be hired to ensure we're not staring at the same faces every week. Instead, we're left with Groundhog Day officiating from an organisation that answers to precisely no one.

THE FINAL WORD

Squad stability? Secured. Saliba? Signed. 

Now all that's missing is the silverware.