Billy Carpenter
@billycarpy.bsky.social
⚽️ writing and analysis, usually in the form of giant Arsenal long-reads. I also write for SCOUTED. Here's my newsletter:
https://billycarpenter.substack.com/
https://billycarpenter.substack.com/
Diabolical subs.
October 30, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Diabolical subs.
Arsenal needed a quicker trigger.
October 26, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Arsenal needed a quicker trigger.
I've been experimenting with one-pagers to condense my longer scouting reports into key insights for coaches. Basically: how to set a player up for success.
Here’s a draft for Piero Hincapié, whose time is near.
Here’s a draft for Piero Hincapié, whose time is near.
October 25, 2025 at 1:38 PM
I've been experimenting with one-pagers to condense my longer scouting reports into key insights for coaches. Basically: how to set a player up for success.
Here’s a draft for Piero Hincapié, whose time is near.
Here’s a draft for Piero Hincapié, whose time is near.
"Set Piece FC"?
You haven't even seen our final form.
You haven't even seen our final form.
October 22, 2025 at 2:39 PM
"Set Piece FC"?
You haven't even seen our final form.
You haven't even seen our final form.
Marginal gains.
October 21, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Marginal gains.
“Zubimendi will give Arsenal a calm, controlled presence in the midfield.”
Zubimendi with Arsenal:
Zubimendi with Arsenal:
October 1, 2025 at 9:15 PM
“Zubimendi will give Arsenal a calm, controlled presence in the midfield.”
Zubimendi with Arsenal:
Zubimendi with Arsenal:
Gabriel, one second before scoring
September 29, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Gabriel, one second before scoring
Eze’s vibe on the pitch has been interesting. No happy-to-be-here niceties. All business.
September 26, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Eze’s vibe on the pitch has been interesting. No happy-to-be-here niceties. All business.
How to develop a unicorn: lots of minutes (hard but not impossible ones), calibrated to skill level, gradually ramping up
September 25, 2025 at 12:44 PM
How to develop a unicorn: lots of minutes (hard but not impossible ones), calibrated to skill level, gradually ramping up
Zinchenko watching Saliba’s third league appearance
September 25, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Zinchenko watching Saliba’s third league appearance
A good proxy for talent is how much they make their own teammates do this gesture
September 23, 2025 at 5:59 PM
A good proxy for talent is how much they make their own teammates do this gesture
You'll never believe what happened next.
September 23, 2025 at 4:09 PM
You'll never believe what happened next.
...only after this replay angle did I see how heavy the deflection was.
We always go in with preconceived notions, and they may even be true.
But something I often write down to myself: whatever you're looking for in a football match, you will find. Interrogate your own motivations.
We always go in with preconceived notions, and they may even be true.
But something I often write down to myself: whatever you're looking for in a football match, you will find. Interrogate your own motivations.
September 22, 2025 at 9:31 PM
...only after this replay angle did I see how heavy the deflection was.
We always go in with preconceived notions, and they may even be true.
But something I often write down to myself: whatever you're looking for in a football match, you will find. Interrogate your own motivations.
We always go in with preconceived notions, and they may even be true.
But something I often write down to myself: whatever you're looking for in a football match, you will find. Interrogate your own motivations.
An example of how confirmation bias works.
I've been concerned that Gyökeres doesn't snap to balls quickly enough in contested situations, and was fuming after this Trossard cross came in and he was caught flat-footed. Awkward, awkward.
(1/2)
I've been concerned that Gyökeres doesn't snap to balls quickly enough in contested situations, and was fuming after this Trossard cross came in and he was caught flat-footed. Awkward, awkward.
(1/2)
September 22, 2025 at 9:31 PM
An example of how confirmation bias works.
I've been concerned that Gyökeres doesn't snap to balls quickly enough in contested situations, and was fuming after this Trossard cross came in and he was caught flat-footed. Awkward, awkward.
(1/2)
I've been concerned that Gyökeres doesn't snap to balls quickly enough in contested situations, and was fuming after this Trossard cross came in and he was caught flat-footed. Awkward, awkward.
(1/2)
Possible "twin-10" aggressive look in final third, if needed:
— 2-3 counter-pressing shape, and recovery pace, is about as good as humans can create, keeping things pinned
— which means the front-five can be whatever you want
4-1-4-1 diamond pressing/block
— 2-3 counter-pressing shape, and recovery pace, is about as good as humans can create, keeping things pinned
— which means the front-five can be whatever you want
4-1-4-1 diamond pressing/block
September 20, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Possible "twin-10" aggressive look in final third, if needed:
— 2-3 counter-pressing shape, and recovery pace, is about as good as humans can create, keeping things pinned
— which means the front-five can be whatever you want
4-1-4-1 diamond pressing/block
— 2-3 counter-pressing shape, and recovery pace, is about as good as humans can create, keeping things pinned
— which means the front-five can be whatever you want
4-1-4-1 diamond pressing/block
Hincapié v Messi
September 20, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Hincapié v Messi
With the important caveats that:
— Hincapié was mostly a wide back-three CB, which gives him easier touches while facing play. But also an LB/LWB.
— he was in the Bundesliga
...here’s a comparison to other Arsenal full-backs.
— Hincapié was mostly a wide back-three CB, which gives him easier touches while facing play. But also an LB/LWB.
— he was in the Bundesliga
...here’s a comparison to other Arsenal full-backs.
September 20, 2025 at 10:32 AM
With the important caveats that:
— Hincapié was mostly a wide back-three CB, which gives him easier touches while facing play. But also an LB/LWB.
— he was in the Bundesliga
...here’s a comparison to other Arsenal full-backs.
— Hincapié was mostly a wide back-three CB, which gives him easier touches while facing play. But also an LB/LWB.
— he was in the Bundesliga
...here’s a comparison to other Arsenal full-backs.
"I love Eze, I'm just not sure I want him receiving in wide areas."
September 15, 2025 at 6:24 PM
"I love Eze, I'm just not sure I want him receiving in wide areas."