Arsenal
Phil Jones: Arsenal’s adaptability makes them favourites for 2025/26 Premier League
Phil Jones believes Arsenal’s adaptability under Arteta makes them favourites to win 2025/26. strongly
Phil Jones has made a clear case for Arsenal as the team to beat in 2025/26, arguing that Mikel Arteta’s squad combines tactical variety with the physical tools to sustain a title bid. Arteta has faced criticism for a perceived reliance on set-pieces, free kicks and throw-ins, but Jones says that is only one element of what makes the side strong.
“I enjoy it,” Jones said of modern football in his first appearance as a regular voice on a new weekly show. He expanded on the point in a longer interview, praising the return of different facets of the game and Arsenal’s capacity to handle them.
“I look at football now and I think I’m glad that throw-ins are back in. I’m glad that deep free kicks and duels are back in the game and it’s not a game of chess all the time because that’s what we loved, we grew up watching and loved so much and, you know, it makes it so competitive now in games.
“I think the best thing you can say about Arsenal at the minute is is that they’re suitable and adaptable to any situation in game. So if they need to get ugly, they can get ugly. If they need to play their way through the thirds, they can play their way through. If they need to play on transition, they can do that.
“They can play any team at any time for any sort of strategy they want to play. And I think that’s the biggest compliment I can pay Arsenal. And that’s why, for me, they will win the league this year. I think this is the year they win it.”
Jones spoke from experience. The former Manchester United and England defender was a key squad player in United’s 2012–13 Premier League title triumph and rose through the ranks at Blackburn Rovers before joining United. He made 229 appearances for the Red Devils across 12 years.
Reflecting on his own career and the demands on modern defenders, Jones warned about the athletic profile required of young players. “When I got into Blackburn’s first team, I thought I was good enough technically,” he reflected. “I thought I was good enough, but I was nowhere near sort of the athleticism that some of these players … the strength that some of these players now are coming into the team with, I didn’t have that.
“I think to myself now, if I was coming through in this day and age … yes, I think I would have had a good career still, but I’m not sure if I’d have played at that top, top level. I’m not trying to do myself a disservice.
“I think the the strength of these boys coming through now is incredible, at 16, 17 years old, and you have to have that as a defender. You have to be quick now. You don’t really get away with being slow or not being able to play high up the pitch. Teams like to play on the halfway line. If you haven’t got the capability of sprinting back 30, 40 yards, you’ve got a problem.”
Arsenal
Arteta clarifies Saka absence as Madueke steps into Cup spotlight
Arteta: Saka had a warm-up niggle; Madueke responded when called, with Chelsea tie on Tuesday. Read.
Mikel Arteta confirmed that Bukayo Saka was withdrawn from the squad for Saturday’s win over Leeds United after picking up “a little niggle” in the warm-up. The injury was the only notable setback on a positive day for Arsenal ahead of the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
“He wasn’t comfortable to start the game, so immediately we made a decision to make that change and bring Noni in,” Arteta said, explaining the decision to replace Saka before kick-off.
Squad depth on the right flank was a specific objective for the club during the summer transfer window. Arteta has been open about his intention to assemble multiple high-quality options in every position, and securing a reliable deputy for Saka was part of that plan.
Arsenal agreed a package worth as much as £52 million ($71.4 million) to sign Madueke from Chelsea, and circumstances provided an early opportunity when Saka was sidelined earlier in the season. While the headline goal-and-assist figures have not matched expectations, Madueke has “undoubtedly passed the eye test this season,” contributing when called upon.
Arteta praised the new arrival for his attitude and preparation. “The way he prepares, the way he’s waiting for opportunity, I think he paid off today because he really impacted the team,” the manager said, highlighting Madueke’s readiness to fill the role.
On the collective task, Arteta added: “We talked before the game, it’s going to be a long game, we’re going to have to navigate through different moments in the game, and we’re going to need everybody fulfilling the role that they have on the day, and I think the players executed that incredibly well.”
Madueke is the leading candidate to occupy the right wing when Arsenal face his former club on Tuesday, though Arteta’s squad contains several possible options for the position.
Arsenal
Clinical Arsenal Cruise to 4-0 at Leeds as Madueke Seizes Late Call-Up
Arsenal recovered from the United loss with a 4-0 victory at Leeds, Zubimendi opened scoring today.
Arsenal responded to last week’s defeat to Manchester United with a 4-0 win away at Leeds United. The Gunners controlled the match from the outset, Martín Zubimendi opening the scoring with a smart header before a corner from Noni Madueke produced an own goal shortly after. Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Jesus both netted in the final 20 minutes to make the scoreline emphatic.
Noni Madueke, thrown into the starting lineup moments before kick-off, made an immediate impact. His cross created Zubimendi’s opener and his corner caused the own goal by Karl Darlow. That decisive delivery underlined why Mikel Arteta sought to add the former Chelsea man to his squad.
At the back Gabriel led a physical performance, notably handling Dominic Calvert-Lewin with authority and topping the successful duels for Arsenal. Declan Rice kept the midfield ticking with a steady stream of passes and defensive work. Martín Zubimendi shielded the defence and recycled possession efficiently, earning the match’s highest rating.
Bukayo Saka had been set to start but an injury in the warm-up forced him out of contention, leaving Arsenal to await clarity on the severity of his problem. Madueke’s display further complicates selection decisions on the right flank.
Key player notes and ratings from the match: Martín Zubimendi 8.2, Gabriel Jesus 7.6, Gabriel 7.5, Noni Madueke 7.5, Declan Rice 7.6. Substitutions included Gabriel Martinelli (61′ for Madueke), Martin Ødegaard (61′ for Kai Havertz), Riccardo Calafiori (76′ for Piero Hincapié), Gabriel Jesus (76′ for Viktor Gyökeres) and Eberechi Eze (81′ for Leandro Trossard). Unused subs were Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera and Christian Nørgaard.
Match statistics underlined Arsenal’s control: possession 51% to 49%, expected goals 2.39 to 0.15, total shots 14 to 3 and shots on target 8 to 1. Arsenal created seven big chances to Leeds’s nil and both sides finished with 79% passing accuracy.
Arsenal
Arsenal make late switch as Bukayo Saka withdraws ahead of Leeds tie
Saka withdrew from Arsenal’s starting XI at Elland Road after he “felt something” in the warm-up…
Arsenal, the Premier League leaders, were forced into a last-minute change to their starting line-up on Saturday when Bukayo Saka withdrew before the match at Elland Road.
Saka had travelled to Leeds and was given the nod on the right wing, with plans for him to wear the captain’s armband and resume his usual role on Arteta’s right wing. Those plans changed in the pre-match moments when the winger registered an issue while warming up.
The club confirmed Saka “felt something” while preparing for the game at Elland Road. The team did not disclose any further specifics about the problem, but it was sufficient for the England international to be deemed unavailable for selection.
The absence arrived at short notice and produced a late alteration to the XI, with Saka replaced in the team sheet just minutes before the final whistle. Arsenal made the call after the issue presented itself during the warm-up, and the club determined the player could not take part.
That decision removed an influential figure from the side for a fixture in which Arsenal arrived as league leaders. The club offered no further detail on the nature of the injury, only that the matter prevented Saka from featuring on Saturday afternoon.
The late withdrawal underlines how quickly pre-match circumstances can force tactical and personnel changes. Arsenal moved to adjust their selection immediately after the issue emerged during preparations at Elland Road, leaving supporters and staff to await further updates on the player’s condition.
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