Aditya Iyer
@gooneraadi.bsky.social
Arsenal Mind | Banter Soul | Turning Matchday into Stories
📝 https://substack.com/@gooneradi
📝 https://substack.com/@gooneradi
Martinelli to make amends for his miss from last season. That’s the script.
January 3, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Martinelli to make amends for his miss from last season. That’s the script.
Unai Emery wasn’t feeling cold today at FT to shake hands with the opposition manager?
January 3, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Unai Emery wasn’t feeling cold today at FT to shake hands with the opposition manager?
Beating Unai Emery’s Aston Villa was more than just 3 points.
OVERCOMING THE KRYPTONITE
Some wins feel good.
gooneradi.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Beating Unai Emery’s Aston Villa was more than just 3 points.
This year and especially this season, I chose to write about Arsenal consistently. What began as a passion project has quietly become therapeutic. If you love Arsenal and believe football is more than just a game, you might enjoy this.
Link to my Substack 👇
🔗 substack.com/@gooneradi
Link to my Substack 👇
🔗 substack.com/@gooneradi
December 31, 2025 at 7:04 PM
This year and especially this season, I chose to write about Arsenal consistently. What began as a passion project has quietly become therapeutic. If you love Arsenal and believe football is more than just a game, you might enjoy this.
Link to my Substack 👇
🔗 substack.com/@gooneradi
Link to my Substack 👇
🔗 substack.com/@gooneradi
Reposted by Aditya Iyer
Not being able to finish our chances is entering concerning territory, but I can’t help but think that somebody is going to get battered when we find our finishing boots.
December 23, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Not being able to finish our chances is entering concerning territory, but I can’t help but think that somebody is going to get battered when we find our finishing boots.
All that pre-match meltdown from the Arsenal fanbase only for Arsenal to go and SMASH Aston Villa.
December 30, 2025 at 10:00 PM
All that pre-match meltdown from the Arsenal fanbase only for Arsenal to go and SMASH Aston Villa.
Aston Villa (h) cost us the title in 23/24. We can talk about our slow start and December slump, but this was the game where Unai put a dagger to our title aspirations. He’s already got one over Arteta this season, so we have to win at all costs today.
December 30, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Aston Villa (h) cost us the title in 23/24. We can talk about our slow start and December slump, but this was the game where Unai put a dagger to our title aspirations. He’s already got one over Arteta this season, so we have to win at all costs today.
Reading the Brighton game beyond scoreline.
DOING IT THE HARD WAY
There are mainly two ways to read Arsenal right now.
gooneradi.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reading the Brighton game beyond scoreline.
Amidst our attacking frustrations against Brighton, I low-key enjoyed Hincapié’s cameo at LB. He surely gets the nod at LB for our game against Villa, and this way we don’t need to rush back Calafiori.
December 28, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Amidst our attacking frustrations against Brighton, I low-key enjoyed Hincapié’s cameo at LB. He surely gets the nod at LB for our game against Villa, and this way we don’t need to rush back Calafiori.
I thought Ødegaard was our best player today, but it really baffles me how he still ends up dividing opinions. Also curious if the opinions differ based on match-going fans versus television viewers?
December 27, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I thought Ødegaard was our best player today, but it really baffles me how he still ends up dividing opinions. Also curious if the opinions differ based on match-going fans versus television viewers?
It’s high time David Raya is mentioned in the elite goalkeeper bracket. Considering how poor our attack has been, that save is directly the difference between Arsenal currently sitting top of the table versus second.
December 27, 2025 at 5:49 PM
It’s high time David Raya is mentioned in the elite goalkeeper bracket. Considering how poor our attack has been, that save is directly the difference between Arsenal currently sitting top of the table versus second.
Arteta’s squad management could be better, but squad usage also stems from game state, and players are not making it easy by not finishing games sooner so that we have that safety net. The only thing Arteta could have done better was making a double sub of Jesus and Martinelli.
December 27, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Arteta’s squad management could be better, but squad usage also stems from game state, and players are not making it easy by not finishing games sooner so that we have that safety net. The only thing Arteta could have done better was making a double sub of Jesus and Martinelli.
I felt that Martinelli and Jesus should have been a double sub. That 10-minute period when we took off Gyökeres gave Brighton full control, and we lacked any runners to get behind their defence. Arteta corrected it, but it could have been costly.
December 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I felt that Martinelli and Jesus should have been a double sub. That 10-minute period when we took off Gyökeres gave Brighton full control, and we lacked any runners to get behind their defence. Arteta corrected it, but it could have been costly.
An own goal from a corner is going to boil a lot of the rival fanbase.
December 27, 2025 at 4:18 PM
An own goal from a corner is going to boil a lot of the rival fanbase.
Our decision-making in the final third consistently ends up being the wrong choice. That’s the sole reason why we haven’t been able to put this game to bed. Brighton shouldn’t still be in this game, but again Arsenal are giving them hope.
December 27, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Our decision-making in the final third consistently ends up being the wrong choice. That’s the sole reason why we haven’t been able to put this game to bed. Brighton shouldn’t still be in this game, but again Arsenal are giving them hope.
What I want to see against Brighton is a strong, fast start and putting the game to bed by half-time. Far too many games in recent weeks Arsenal have given the opposition a chance to feel they can get something from the game.
December 26, 2025 at 4:05 PM
What I want to see against Brighton is a strong, fast start and putting the game to bed by half-time. Far too many games in recent weeks Arsenal have given the opposition a chance to feel they can get something from the game.
Not being able to finish our chances is entering concerning territory, but I can’t help but think that somebody is going to get battered when we find our finishing boots.
December 23, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Not being able to finish our chances is entering concerning territory, but I can’t help but think that somebody is going to get battered when we find our finishing boots.
In our last two games at the Emirates, five goals have been scored, and they have all been scored by our opponents, yet it’s Arsenal who have ended up winning both games.
December 23, 2025 at 10:39 PM
In our last two games at the Emirates, five goals have been scored, and they have all been scored by our opponents, yet it’s Arsenal who have ended up winning both games.
Finishing has let us down, but otherwise it’s been a super-refreshing watch. We need to get the job done in the second half.
December 23, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Finishing has let us down, but otherwise it’s been a super-refreshing watch. We need to get the job done in the second half.
Loving this Nørgaard intercepting every single piece of play from Palace cameo.
Nørgaard quietly excellent 👌🏼
December 23, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Loving this Nørgaard intercepting every single piece of play from Palace cameo.
Martinelli dropping defenders on their ankles and delivering pinpoint crosses with his head up — I think that’s the Gabby Jesus effect.
December 23, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Martinelli dropping defenders on their ankles and delivering pinpoint crosses with his head up — I think that’s the Gabby Jesus effect.
Top at Christmas with a different kind of belief.
LEARNING TO STAY
We are in the winter stretch of the season, and I don’t know if it’s just me, but every game, no matter the opponent, feels bigger than it should.
gooneradi.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Top at Christmas with a different kind of belief.
Feels good to be on the other side of these 50-50 penalty decisions. I thought the Saliba tackle was surely going to be given.
December 20, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Feels good to be on the other side of these 50-50 penalty decisions. I thought the Saliba tackle was surely going to be given.
Did enough to win the game, but the performance was nowhere near enough if we’re going to go the distance. Today, though, was all about getting those three points, especially after City had taken the lead momentarily at the top of the table.
December 20, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Did enough to win the game, but the performance was nowhere near enough if we’re going to go the distance. Today, though, was all about getting those three points, especially after City had taken the lead momentarily at the top of the table.
Ødegaard overhitting and mistiming passes has been a worry in this half. He seems to be dropping too deep when he can stay high in the pockets. That is slowing down our build-up, but Ødegaard and Zubi still look like they are finding their rhythm.
December 20, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Ødegaard overhitting and mistiming passes has been a worry in this half. He seems to be dropping too deep when he can stay high in the pockets. That is slowing down our build-up, but Ødegaard and Zubi still look like they are finding their rhythm.