“Why argue with an Arsenal fan when you can just wait?” We waited. We won. We are champions of England - and we are just one game away from being crowned champions of Europe. Read my piece on what Arsenal means to me here: https://t.co/J6cg388mRH
"External critics formed a caricature they choose not to see beyond. Arteta is not a manager they care to try to understand."
But he has got Arsenal, and Arsenal have got him.
Free to read - the roots of Arteta's passion for his club.
https://t.co/13X0KhEvzu via @NYTimes
Arsenal are bottlers” is one of the laziest narratives in modern football ,and it doesn’t survive contact with reality.
2022/23: Youngest team in the title race. No one expected a challenge. They finished on 84 points and accelerated the project by years. That’s overachievement, not bottling.
2023/24: Took arguably the best club side on the planet to the final day. Won 16 of their last 18 league games. Finished on 89 points. That’s title-winning form in most seasons. Losing narrowly to a machine isn’t collapse, it’s elite competition.
2024/25: Decimated by injuries across key positions. Defensive rotations disrupted, midfield balance constantly shifting. Still competitive. That’s resilience.
2025/26: Seven points clear. Composed. Structured. Mature. Strong defensively. Managing games better than ever.
This isn’t a team that crumbles. It’s a team that has grown year on year, from promising to contenders to dominant.
The only reason the “bottling” tag exists is because Arsenal dared to compete earlier than expected, and people froze that moment in time.
Progression isn’t bottling. Pushing greatness to the brink isn’t bottling. Building sustainably at the top level isn’t bottling.
It’s called evolution.
And when the trophy comes, the narrative disappears overnight.
There’s a weird agenda around Arsenal right now.
“Boring.”
“Only set-pieces.”
“Bottlers.”
“No winning culture.”
Let’s talk facts:
Went away to Brighton.
Took three massive points.
Stayed ahead in the title race.
Increased their lead
Was it a classic? No.
Did it need to be? Also no.
Title races aren’t won on vibes. They’re won on results.
We’ve seen champion teams grind out ugly away wins for years. When they do it, it’s “mentality.” When Arsenal do it, it’s “boring.”
Three points. Away from home. Under pressure.
That’s not bottling.
That’s growing up.
That’s getting closer to the title
People think money has ruined football but the sight of a rapist dictator standing next to a corrupt football official in front of a big gold trophy at a competition bankrolled by Saudi Arabia reminds me the game still belongs to us.
Six years away from the Champions League
Second season in a row in the competition that defines the biggest teams and careers, and reaching semis
If you don't see #Arsenal's progression is because you don't want to
Seven regulars return, 4/5 new starters and back to be one of the best teams in Europe
That's what I see @m8arteta is doing with his team
Arsenal players wrong to surround the ref but...1) they were complaining about a wrong decision that then got overturned; & 2) FA has to be consistent & charge every team whose players surround the ref. Refs deserve respect. Players deserve consistency and correct decisions. #AFC
Let’s just charge Arsenal for the vast majority of the football world reacting in the same way to a red card.
Let’s put that on the club, its fans and its manager.
What we won’t do is look at our own referee organisational culture and external perception
Let’s triple down
In the 14 months since Man City were charged with 115 separate violations, Everton & Nottingham Forest have between them faced 3 charges, 3 independent commission hearings, one appeal board hearing and been docked a combined total of 12 points
✍️ @ben_rumsby#TelegraphFootball