Sam Dean
@samjdean.bsky.social
Football reporter for the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph.
Arsenal were a long way from their fluid best but that was another fabulous defensive performance by Declan Rice in midfield. He won possession 10 times, the most of any player on the pitch. He also had the most touches (114) and accurate passes (87). #AFC
December 20, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Arsenal were a long way from their fluid best but that was another fabulous defensive performance by Declan Rice in midfield. He won possession 10 times, the most of any player on the pitch. He also had the most touches (114) and accurate passes (87). #AFC
Viktor Gyokeres continues to divide opinion among #AFC fans but one thing cannot be denied: he is good at penalties. Since the summer of 2023 (when he joined Sporting) he has scored 19 out of 19 penalties he has taken in league football.
December 20, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Viktor Gyokeres continues to divide opinion among #AFC fans but one thing cannot be denied: he is good at penalties. Since the summer of 2023 (when he joined Sporting) he has scored 19 out of 19 penalties he has taken in league football.
Arsenal's bench tonight: one goalkeeper, one left-back, four midfielders, two wingers and a striker.
December 20, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Arsenal's bench tonight: one goalkeeper, one left-back, four midfielders, two wingers and a striker.
Here's a good pre-match stat (courtesy of Opta): of the 10 goals Arsenal have conceded in the Premier League this season, four have been scored in the final 10 minutes.
December 20, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Here's a good pre-match stat (courtesy of Opta): of the 10 goals Arsenal have conceded in the Premier League this season, four have been scored in the final 10 minutes.
Everyone could see the anger of Arsenal's players at full-time on Saturday, despite victory. Senior figures including Odegaard & Rice expressed their frustrations in the dressing room, too. Collective agreement that #AFC fell way short of usual standards.
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Arsenal players express frustrations in dressing-room talks after late Wolves win
Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard among members of Mikel Arteta’s side angry with standard of performance against Premier League’s bottom club
www.telegraph.co.uk
December 15, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Everyone could see the anger of Arsenal's players at full-time on Saturday, despite victory. Senior figures including Odegaard & Rice expressed their frustrations in the dressing room, too. Collective agreement that #AFC fell way short of usual standards.
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Ben White had not started back-to-back games all season before December. This match against Wolves was his fourth start since December 3rd. That's a big and sudden increase in workload.
December 13, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Ben White had not started back-to-back games all season before December. This match against Wolves was his fourth start since December 3rd. That's a big and sudden increase in workload.
Last night was evidence of the huge stylistic differences between Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus.
This season, Gyokeres averages around 26 touches per game for #AFC. In his Arsenal career, Jesus averages more than 50 touches per game.
This season, Gyokeres averages around 26 touches per game for #AFC. In his Arsenal career, Jesus averages more than 50 touches per game.
December 11, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Last night was evidence of the huge stylistic differences between Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus.
This season, Gyokeres averages around 26 touches per game for #AFC. In his Arsenal career, Jesus averages more than 50 touches per game.
This season, Gyokeres averages around 26 touches per game for #AFC. In his Arsenal career, Jesus averages more than 50 touches per game.
Gabriel Jesus out there, popping the ball about like he's playing against Leicester in August 2022. The fluidity of the movement, the combinations with the wingers, the hold-up play. Obviously the scoreline helps but it's lovely stuff.
December 10, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Gabriel Jesus out there, popping the ball about like he's playing against Leicester in August 2022. The fluidity of the movement, the combinations with the wingers, the hold-up play. Obviously the scoreline helps but it's lovely stuff.
Noni Madueke has scored the most difficult and most straightforward goals of his career on the same night. He's enjoying himself here.
December 10, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Noni Madueke has scored the most difficult and most straightforward goals of his career on the same night. He's enjoying himself here.
Arsenal had a worryingly wobbly spell towards the end of that first half but I don't think it was because of the unfamiliar defensive lineup. They were so loose in possession higher up the pitch, where the ball simply wasn't sticking. It all became too bitty and transitional.
December 10, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Arsenal had a worryingly wobbly spell towards the end of that first half but I don't think it was because of the unfamiliar defensive lineup. They were so loose in possession higher up the pitch, where the ball simply wasn't sticking. It all became too bitty and transitional.
Nice work by the travelling #AFC fans in Bruges. They're signing a version of Last Christmas but this year, to save them from tears, they're giving their hearts to Zubimendi.
December 10, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Nice work by the travelling #AFC fans in Bruges. They're signing a version of Last Christmas but this year, to save them from tears, they're giving their hearts to Zubimendi.
Here’s the #AFC team to face Club Brugge.
Raya; White, Norgaard, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Merino; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Subs: Kepa, Setford, Saka, Jesus, Eze, Nwaneri, Calafiori, Copley, Nichols, Salmon
Raya; White, Norgaard, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Merino; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Subs: Kepa, Setford, Saka, Jesus, Eze, Nwaneri, Calafiori, Copley, Nichols, Salmon
December 10, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Here’s the #AFC team to face Club Brugge.
Raya; White, Norgaard, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Merino; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Subs: Kepa, Setford, Saka, Jesus, Eze, Nwaneri, Calafiori, Copley, Nichols, Salmon
Raya; White, Norgaard, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Merino; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Subs: Kepa, Setford, Saka, Jesus, Eze, Nwaneri, Calafiori, Copley, Nichols, Salmon
Arteta on injuries: "Let’s see [on Rice]. We have another training session in the afternoon. Every hour is going to be important. Mosquera [ankle] is the one that is more complicated, we have another test today. Saliba and Trossard are a matter of days." #AFC
December 5, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Arteta on injuries: "Let’s see [on Rice]. We have another training session in the afternoon. Every hour is going to be important. Mosquera [ankle] is the one that is more complicated, we have another test today. Saliba and Trossard are a matter of days." #AFC
Eight consecutive home wins for Arsenal (two goals conceded). Now 18 matches unbeaten in all competitions. That's the power of their deep squad: this run would never have been possible with these injuries last season.
December 3, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Eight consecutive home wins for Arsenal (two goals conceded). Now 18 matches unbeaten in all competitions. That's the power of their deep squad: this run would never have been possible with these injuries last season.
Another goal and assist for Mikel Merino. Since moving to centre-forward a month ago, he has scored four and assisted three. And Arsenal have produced their best attacking football with him up front (admittedly not in second half tonight). Merino is the man right now. The nine.
December 3, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Another goal and assist for Mikel Merino. Since moving to centre-forward a month ago, he has scored four and assisted three. And Arsenal have produced their best attacking football with him up front (admittedly not in second half tonight). Merino is the man right now. The nine.
Cristhian Mosquera off injured. Yet another example of Arsenal suffering injuries in positional clusters. They were missing three strikers and now they're missing three centre-backs.
December 3, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Cristhian Mosquera off injured. Yet another example of Arsenal suffering injuries in positional clusters. They were missing three strikers and now they're missing three centre-backs.
Left-back Riccardo Calafiori there, backheeling the ball to right-back Ben White in the Brentford penalty area.
December 3, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Left-back Riccardo Calafiori there, backheeling the ball to right-back Ben White in the Brentford penalty area.
Noni Madueke and Ben White have started this game brilliantly. I have a theory that, for all Jurrien Timber's obvious brilliance, there is something about White (movement? intelligence?) that brings out the best of the right winger. I think we're seeing that already tonight.
December 3, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Noni Madueke and Ben White have started this game brilliantly. I have a theory that, for all Jurrien Timber's obvious brilliance, there is something about White (movement? intelligence?) that brings out the best of the right winger. I think we're seeing that already tonight.
Teams at the Emirates
#AFC Raya; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Merino, Martinelli
#BrentfordFC Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Pinnock, Van den Berg, Henry; Janelt, Yarmoliuk, Jensen; Ouattara, Schade
#AFC Raya; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Merino, Martinelli
#BrentfordFC Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Pinnock, Van den Berg, Henry; Janelt, Yarmoliuk, Jensen; Ouattara, Schade
December 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Teams at the Emirates
#AFC Raya; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Merino, Martinelli
#BrentfordFC Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Pinnock, Van den Berg, Henry; Janelt, Yarmoliuk, Jensen; Ouattara, Schade
#AFC Raya; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Merino, Martinelli
#BrentfordFC Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Pinnock, Van den Berg, Henry; Janelt, Yarmoliuk, Jensen; Ouattara, Schade
Injury update from Mikel Arteta
🇫🇷William Saliba: "A matter of days"
🇧🇪Leandro Trossard: "A matter of days"
🇩🇪Kai Havertz: "A matter of weeks"
🇧🇷Gabriel: "A matter of weeks"
🇫🇷William Saliba: "A matter of days"
🇧🇪Leandro Trossard: "A matter of days"
🇩🇪Kai Havertz: "A matter of weeks"
🇧🇷Gabriel: "A matter of weeks"
December 2, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Injury update from Mikel Arteta
🇫🇷William Saliba: "A matter of days"
🇧🇪Leandro Trossard: "A matter of days"
🇩🇪Kai Havertz: "A matter of weeks"
🇧🇷Gabriel: "A matter of weeks"
🇫🇷William Saliba: "A matter of days"
🇧🇪Leandro Trossard: "A matter of days"
🇩🇪Kai Havertz: "A matter of weeks"
🇧🇷Gabriel: "A matter of weeks"
The disconnect between the #THFC players and fans leaves Thomas Frank in a delicate, dangerous position. He is walking the trickiest of tightropes. With Daniel Levy gone, Frank must avoid becoming the new lightning rod.
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Thomas Frank must not become the new lightning rod for Spurs fans
Without Daniel Levy, head coach is exposed and walking fine line between backing players and avoiding war with supporters
www.telegraph.co.uk
December 2, 2025 at 9:12 AM
The disconnect between the #THFC players and fans leaves Thomas Frank in a delicate, dangerous position. He is walking the trickiest of tightropes. With Daniel Levy gone, Frank must avoid becoming the new lightning rod.
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Arteta on Trossard’s fitness: "With Leo there is another test today. It didn’t look like much. There is a potential chance [he could be available]." #AFC
November 28, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Arteta on Trossard’s fitness: "With Leo there is another test today. It didn’t look like much. There is a potential chance [he could be available]." #AFC