Handbrake Off: The Athletic FC's Arsenal show Saka spares Arsenal’s blushes against Wolves
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Dec 15, 2025 Arsenal's narrow win over Wolves sparked a lively debate about their concerning performance trends. The panel highlights Bukayo Saka's creative flair despite the team's slow starts. They discuss Mikel Arteta's worries about passive play and the implications of Ben White's injury. Excitement builds with Gabriel Jesus's return, suggesting he could be a game-changer moving forward. The hosts also share their thoughts on upcoming matches and the importance of this week for training and recovery.
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Relief Over Celebration
- Arsenal's 2-1 win felt more like relief than celebration after a poor display.
- Adrian Clarke said a win despite mediocrity still matters for title credentials.
The Horseshoe Effect
- Art de Roché and Adrian highlight recurring poor first-half displays and passive play.
- They called it a tactical 'horseshoe effect' moving side-to-side without penetration.
Turn The Free Week Into Fix Time
- Use the free week for focused training to iron out recurring issues from recent games.
- Art de Roché suggested decompressing then making the rest of the week a serious tactical focus.