Sam Dean

How ‘incredible’ Gyokeres produced his most complete Arsenal performance Double against Spurs was supplemented by striker’s best all-round performance for the club

Before yesterday's trip to Spurs, Viktor Gyokeres averaged 24 touches and seven successful passes per game in the Premier League. Against Spurs, he had 42 touches and completed 18 passes. Enormous improvements in his all-round game. #AFC
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Massive day for Viktor Gyokeres. His best match in an Arsenal shirt, by a mile. The quality of the strikes, the timing of his first goal, the magnitude of the occasion. Eight goals in his last 12 matches in all competitions.

Five goals in two north London derbies in one season, after literally snubbing Spurs to join Arsenal. Eze has struggled for much of this campaign but he will forever have a place in the hearts of the #AFC fans. Even if he is rubbish for the next three years, he'll still be loved

In 2026 alone, Arsenal have conceded four goals in the Premier League as a result of silly mistakes.

- Gabriel v Bournemouth (Evanilson)
- Zubimendi v United (Mbeumo)
- Gabriel/Raya v Wolves (Edozie)
- Rice v Spurs (Kolo Muani)

Here's a statistic that won't come as a surprise to anyone who has watched Arsenal in recent weeks: the two outfielders who have played the most minutes this season are Martin Zubimendi and Jurrien Timber. #AFC

Arteta: "This is nothing to do with attitude and desire, it is completely the opposite. What could have gone wrong, it went wrong. But it happened, it happened for a reason. We need to react to that."

Arteta: "We have to blame ourselves. There are very basic things and very simple things that we did really wrong." #AFC

Arsenal had 49% of possession and one shot on target in that second half. They played 163 accurate passes compared to 180 from Wolves.

Arsenal's worst performance of the season, for me. By some distance. They allowed themselves to be dragged down to the same level as one of the worst teams in Premier League history.

Horrific defending by Arsenal after a dreadful second-half performance. The lack of intensity, the absence of ideas, the way they were coasting around the pitch. They deserve to draw this.

Arteta has spent much of the past five minutes urging his players to calm down and keep the ball. They keep punting it back to Wolves instead. Arteta's head is in his hands. Heinze is waving his arms around in annoyance.

Bukayo Saka has not gone down the tunnel after his substitution. He's on the bench. Which would suggest he's not in need of immediate treatment.

Stat from Opta: Hincapie is Arsenal's 15th different goalscorer in the Premier League this season. Only Brighton (16) have had more.

Hincapie has his first goal for Arsenal and it's a classy finish, from a lovely pass by Gabriel. That should be that.

Real lack of intensity in Arsenal's attacking play for much of this first half. Looks like they are going through the motions a bit. Wouldn't be surprised if Arteta has a few stern words at the break.

Here’s the #AFC team. Saka starts at 10.

Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Saka, Martinelli; Gyokeres

That was a deeply concerning response by Arsenal to the Brentford equaliser. They looked totally short of ideas and energy in the last 20 minutes. Not once did they work the ball to Saka in a dangerous position. Brentford took this game into places Arsenal did not want to go.

Michael Kayode's long throw is an unbelievable weapon. Arsenal struggled with it in the first half, too.

That is a sensational header by Noni Madueke. He's falling back when he makes contact with the ball. Generates huge power with it.

A few examples already of Arsenal players complaining/gesturing angrily at each other. Arteta, a big body language enthusiast, won't like that at all.

The better news: Arsenal have won nine and drawn one of the 10 matches Cristhian Mosquera has started in all competitions.

Stat from Opta: since William Saliba first came into the Arsenal team, they have a win percentage of 68.6% when he plays in the Premier League. When he does not play, that drops to 44.4% #AFC

Teams news. No Saliba for Arsenal. Saka and Odegaard on bench.

#AFC Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres

#BrentfordFC Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Van den Berg, Henry; Yarmoliuk, Janelt; Ouattara, Jensen, Lewis-Potter; Thiago

So is Martin Odegaard.

Bukayo Saka is with the #AFC squad at Brentford.

The story behind Brentford’s top-four charge Club are within touching distance of Champions League qualification despite summer of high-profile departures. This is how they have done it

In one summer, Brentford lost their head coach, captain, best player and 20-goal striker. But rather than falling apart (as many predicted) they have actually become better. Piece on how they have done it, including the story behind the Igor Thiago deal

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Do you find Arsenal boring? Blame their opponents Mikel Arteta’s side have been accused of playing dull football but the data suggests their Premier League rivals are the problem

Do you find Arsenal boring? Blame their opponents. #AFC matches are terrific entertainment when they play against teams who dare to open up (Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, for example). In the league, it is the opposition's fear that kills the spectacle.
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Another superb performance from Arsenal's midfield pairing of Rice and Zubimendi. Rice had the most touches and passes, and regained possession eight times (the most of any player on the pitch).

Viktor Gyokeres has scored six goals in his last eight appearances in all competitions. It's all falling into place for him.

Five of Viktor Gyokeres' seven Premier League goals have come against the promoted sides (three v Leeds, one v Burnley and now one v Sunderland)