Sam Blitz

Sky Sports Football Journalist | [email protected] | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇫🇷 🇮🇹

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Plenty of positives for Arsenal there. Most notably Declan Rice.

Mikel Arteta said he’s no longer a lighthouse and that proves it.

Bayern averaged 5.8 goals per game at home this season so far and Arsenal don’t lose there. And still unbeaten in league phase since 2024. #afc

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Feels like a big moment for Eberechi Eze. Many questioned if he could do the left wing role but he showed a moment, on a big stage, where he belonged.

Arsenal’s game plan of Konsa man-to-man vs Kane nearly worked, bar one moment. Pretty much the better team at the Allianz. #afc

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Piero Hincapie has returned to Arsenal training after his 'warm-down' ankle injury.

He is currently doing some individual work out on the grass as part of Arsenal's open training session ahead of the Bayern Munich game. #afc

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Arsenal playing like champions. Not at their best, not the best team to watch, but get it done. Third game in a row where a sub has scored off the bench.

18 league wins by a one-goal margin since the start of last season, two more than any team in Europe’s major leagues. #afc

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Magic Madueke moment again a week later.

Say what you want about his consistency and output, but he constantly takes players on and makes things happen, epitomised by that goal. #afc

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Impressed by Noni Madueke at left wing. Top for chances created for Arsenal this afternoon, and completed five out of his six crosses.

He was the only Arsenal attacker on the pitch to complete at least one cross.

After being left out by England, that's a boost for him. #afc

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Now six consecutive games in the Premier League and Champions League without an Arsenal goal in the first half. #afc

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Excluding the Carabao Cup, a fifth straight game where Arsenal have failed to score in the first half. #afc

[Dan Long @DanLong__]

My colleague @SamBIitz spoke to Mamadou Sangare earlier this week - and the midfielder has BIG ambitions...

"Why can't we also reach the top four, or the top two? Why can't we cause a real surprise?" 💭

#BrentfordFC

https://t.co/vOO8jza9mQ

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

EXCL: Sat down for a chat with Brentford’s Mamadou Sangare this week.

Big clubs wanted him this summer - but he reveals how one presentation by Brentford convinced him.

For him, Europe isn’t enough. “Why can’t we get top four, top two?” #BrentfordFC

https://t.co/9zDLd3xuxj

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Arsenal put in a proper performance after half-time.

Between minutes 46 and 64, Lille just had one touch in the Arsenal HALF. Twenty minutes of pure pressure, that seven-minute onslaught was coming.

Nine straight Champions League games without conceding from open play for #afc.

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Second game in a row where Arsenal score before a response-searching triple substitution.

Second game in a row where one of those triple subs finds the net.

Second Half FC? Yes. But best subs bench in the world? Right now, definitely. #afc

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Excluding the Carabao Cup, a fifth straight game where Arsenal have failed to score in the first half. #afc

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard benched seems like the right call.

Both looked below par on Saturday against Leeds having played a lot over the international break.

Intrigued to see Mikel Merino in the Martin Odegaard role as a starter, having had so much joy as a sub. #afc

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

One of the so-called criticisms of Declan Rice has been sideways and backwards passes.

This season, there a bit more bite from him from open play.

A deeper position contributes to this data, but his forward passing numbers are up too. #afc

More here: https://t.co/qpXjvrypop

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

No Martin Zubimendi or Piero Hincapie in Arsenal open training this afternoon after both appeared to suffer knocks in the warm-down after Leeds game. #afc

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

"You are not a lighthouse anymore," said Mikel Arteta to Declan Rice. So what is the Arsenal midfielder now?

How Rice's passing game has gone through the roof. Much more active in the final third + number of backwards passes down by 50 per cent. #afc

https://t.co/qpXjvrypop

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Impressed by Noni Madueke at left wing. Top for chances created for Arsenal this afternoon, and completed five out of his six crosses.

He was the only Arsenal attacker on the pitch to complete at least one cross.

After being left out by England, that's a boost for him. #afc

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Leeds the better team in that first half. Less possession but more chances and threat.

Saka and Odegaard poor on the ball. Madueke frustrating at times - but has created the two big chances for Havertz.

Konsa and White have won 13 out of the 17 duels between them. #afc

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Arsenal warming up in shape, with Madueke on the left. #afc

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Worth remembering that Noni Madueke started the 5-0 win over Leeds last season on the left wing.

Also was Arsenal's best player in the 4-0 away win at Elland Road when he replaced Bukayo Saka in the warm-up. #afc

[Sam Blitz @SamBIitz]

Glorious sunshine for the Premier League’s return.

Arsenal vs Leeds. Potentially tricky one for the champions given the Whites’ start to the season.

Was Brighton just a blip? We’ll find out today…

Here with @ZinnyBoswell on the blog: https://t.co/q6tweYJ53h #afc