Arsenal is one of the most improved clubs in Europe this season, thanks to the performance of some of their players.
The Gunners have spent the majority of the term at the top of the league table and could remain there for long if they stay in form.
Two men driving their success this season are Gabriel Martinelli and Granit Xhaka.
The Daily Mail released the list of the most improved players in the EPL this season and they featured on it.
On Xhaka, they wrote:
© Just Arsenal
The Guantanamo Bay detention center isn’t anyone’s idea of an assisted living facility. But the controversial prison that former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld declared in 2002 would hold “the worst of the worst” terrorism suspects has been open for so long that many inmates are now elderly people with health problems. Today, the Biden administration finally released the oldest prisoner, a 75-year-old Pakistani man, Saifullah Paracha, and returned him to Pakistan. Paracha, once a wealthy businessman who lived in New York City, had been at the Cuban base since 2003, when the US government “captured” him in Thailand. He was never charged with a crime.
According to the Associated Press, Paracha suffers from diabetes and heart problems, among other ailments, and is in such poor health that the government says he is “not a continuing threat” to the US. It’s not clear that Paracha was ever a threat to the US. His son Uzair Paracha, then 23, was convicted in the US in 2005 of providing material support for terrorism, in a prosecution based on the same witnesses who provided the basis for holding his father in Cuba. In 2020, a federal judge threw out those witness statements in his case, largely because the government had withheld exculpatory material about them from Uzair’s lawyers, and Uzair was returned to Pakistan.
Saifullah Paracha at the Guantanamo Bay detention center.
Counsel to Saifullah Paracha / AP
Those witnesses, also held at Guantanamo, included people the CIA tortured and waterboarded, notably Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the man the government accuses of masterminding the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. After nearly 20 years in US custody, first in a secret prison, then at Guantanamo, KSM will finally stand trial for his alleged role in 9/11 early next month. (He’s not as old as Paracha, but at 57, KSM has reached the age of AARP membership eligibility.)
© Just Arsenal
Robin van Persie is a fan of Arsenal target Cody Gakpo and the former Gunner has revealed why he admires his fellow Dutchman.
Gakpo has been in fine form in the last two seasons and nearly left PSV at the start of this campaign.
However, he remained at the club and continues to deliver top-notch performances under Ruud van Nistelrooy.
He was close to joining Leeds United in the summer, but he could now join a bigger club like the Gunners.
For Arsenal fans who do not know what the winger brings to a team, an impressed Van Persie has listed them.
© Just Arsenal
Arsenal has been handed a transfer blow as Real Madrid is now looking to keep Marco Asensio.
The attacker has been a key target for Mikel Arteta’s side recently as they seek to improve their team further.
A move for Asensio seems sensible, especially because they could sign him as a free agent next summer.
The Spaniard had originally struggled to reach an agreement over a new deal with Madrid and seemed to be heading towards the exit door.
He has also not been getting enough playing time at the club, which should make him leave.
© Just Arsenal
Arsenal sent Pablo Mari on loan to Monza at the start of this season because he had fallen out of favour at the Emirates.
The defender was one of our best players when Mikel Arteta became the club’s manager.
However, over time, others have moved ahead of him on the pecking order at the Emirates.
The defender had to leave to keep playing and he is enjoying playing time at the Serie A club.
He was recently a victim of a stabbing incident in Italy, but a report by R7 journalist Cosme Rimoli revealed clubs in Brazil have been monitoring him.
© Just Arsenal
Paul Merson has predicted a return to winning ways for Arsenal when they face Nottingham Forest this weekend.
The last time Arsenal won a competitive game was their lucky 1-0 victory over Leeds United.
They have since drawn to Southampton and lost at PSV; it is a worrying run of form from Mikel Arteta’s men.
Their next game is against a Forest side that seems to have found form and beat Liverpool 1-0 in their last match.
They will look to pile more misery on Arsenal in this game and it promises to be a hard day at the office for the North Londoners.
© Just Arsenal
Football agent Rob Segal has revealed Mikel Arteta is likely to ask for reinforcements in the next transfer window.
The Spaniard is overseeing one of the most successful periods at Arsenal since Arsene Wenger left the club.
They top the league standings ahead of Manchester City and are doing well in the Europa League.
Arsenal started this term hopeful of making the top four of the Premier League, but they could finish it with the league title now.
However, they have faltered in their last two matches and it seems the current squad might not be strong enough to help them achieve their goals.
© Just Arsenal
Chris Sutton has predicted an Arsenal win when they face Nottingham Forest in the league this weekend, but he warns them about Forest’s strong defence.
The newly-promoted Premier League side has found some stability in recent games and stunned Liverpool with a 1-0 win in their last league game.
They will hope to continue their fine form when they face an Arsenal side that has no wins from their last two matches.
Mikel Arteta’s team is facing a minor crisis of confidence and they could struggle to get back to winning ways here.
Sutton acknowledges that Forest is now strong at the back, but he expects Arsenal to win.
© Just Arsenal
It would be somewhat hyperbolic to say the wheels have come off, but there has been a noticable dip in performance lately, not so much in our ability on the ball, but our ability to maintain that level throughout the match, as was the case over the first part of the season.
———————————-
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
Watch Arteta’s unhappy press conference after PSV defeat…
Please enjoy, watch and subscribe to JustArsenalVids
© Just Arsenal
WSL club to stop wearing white shorts next season due to period concerns By Michelle
BBC Sport have reported that Women´s Super League club Manchester City Women will stop wearing white shorts next season due to period concerns, following a statement released by the club.
This is to help players “feel more comfortable”. The WSL club said the decision was made to create an environment for players to “perform at their highest level”
Man City currently wear white shorts but now follow West Brom, Stoke and Scottish side Livingston in changing kit colour.
A joint statement from Manchester City and kit manufacturer Puma said the move away from white shorts in home, away and third kits from the 2023-24 season was made as a result of player feedback.
© Just Arsenal
