Good morning!
Isn’t it fascinating how much brighter things feel when we’re scoring goals? I’m talking about the world of football, of course. The rest of the world? Well, that still needs quite a bit of work. But there’s perhaps something to be gleaned here about evaluating teams and players.
Leading up to the PSV match, some folks might have believed that our issue is a lack of goal scorers. Their solution? Head out and recruit some, which realistically, we can only do during the summer transfer window (or January, but let’s avoid that can of worms). There’s some validity to this viewpoint.
Right now, we’re missing four of our usual goal scorers. Their impact varies—some are more adept, or at least more reliable, than others. When they’re not on the pitch, it’s hard not to notice the void they leave behind. You start envisioning how those gaps could be filled, and naturally, it looks like it might cost a small fortune.
I reckon the frustration from the past weeks stems from more than just the absence of those players. It’s compounded by the perception that our current squad could be performing better in attack. Losing players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz (our top scorer), and Gabriel Jesus undeniably weakens our firepower. That’s a given.
However, it isn’t too much to expect more from the likes of Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, and Leandro Trossard, is it? That’s why our struggles against West Ham were particularly annoying. They have the talent to deliver better stats than we’ve seen this season. Sure, it’s tougher right now, but that’s football. In difficult times, you look to your seasoned players and leaders to rise to the occasion. It’s not a question of effort or desire on their part, but they just haven’t hit the numbers one might anticipate—even when we had some of our key forwards available.
On Tuesday night, though, when all three played, we managed a huge result. A 7-1 scoreline is a tad unusual, let’s admit, but we absolutely deserved that win. I was particularly pleased for Odegaard, who’s been under scrutiny recently. Critiquing player performances is part of football, especially when you captivate a club like Arsenal. Still, some critiques went overboard, and as I pointed out last week, there are underlying factors—not excuses—for his dip in form.
I found it astonishing to learn that this game marked the first time Odegaard had three goal contributions in one match for Arsenal:
“Martin Ødegaard had a hand in three goals in a single game for the first time as an #Arsenal player (2 goals, 1 assist), with tonight his 182nd appearance for the club.” — Harvey Downes (@harveydownes92.bsky.social) March 4, 2025
I was convinced he’d done something similar during his loan with West Ham in a 3-3 draw, but who am I to question stats experts? Nevertheless, Odegaard’s post-game comments showed he’s well aware of his need to improve in terms of end-product:
“Every player in my position wants to influence the game with goals and assists, and it’s something I haven’t been good enough at this season. But two goals and one assist tonight is a good step.”
It was heartening to see him smiling after the match, and ideally, this boosts his confidence to maintain consistency until the end of the season. Players often go through such dry patches, and sometimes it takes a performance like this to get back into the groove. Hopefully, this will be the start of more to come in the upcoming weeks.
Elsewhere, there’s been some news on ticket prices for next season. As someone who doesn’t hold a season ticket, just a general membership, I don’t feel entirely comfortable weighing in, so I’ll defer to the Arsenal Supporter’s Trust:
The AST made it clear to the club, as did other AAB members, that we advocated for season and matchday ticket prices to remain unchanged in line with the national FSA campaign, Stop Exploiting Loyalty. Arsenal’s revenue has climbed through broadcasts and commercial ventures, with ticket sales also rising due to an expanded fixture list and increased categorization. The club recently recorded an increase in total revenue from £467m to £616m for the 23/24 season. Hence, it’s frustrating that ticket prices are rising above inflation at 3.7%, hitting 5% for lower tier holders and 3% for those in upper tiers, with similar increases for Club Level. While we recognize the rising costs in football—especially wages and agent fees—we believe Arsenal and other Premier League clubs should strive to manage these financial pressures better rather than passing them onto fans. The AST plans to focus on emphasizing the importance of cost control in football. We like to think of football clubs as more than just enterprises—aspects of them certainly are—but they’re ultimately swayed by fundamental economic principles like supply and demand. Right now, with demand so high, it permits a price increase. It stings, especially when everything else is pinching our wallets. You don’t expect much better from utility companies, but it hits harder when it’s your football club doing it.
For some extra reading today, Tim’s column explores the issue of left-backs and Mikel Arteta. It’s a bit of a running joke with all the options we have, perhaps more than any club in history, but there’s a strategic thought process behind it.
Also, the 7-1 Arsecast Extra is out, in case you haven’t listened yet. Have a great day and see you tomorrow for more insights.
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