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On Wednesday, the 2025/26 Premier League fixtures were released, setting up a challenging start to the season for Arsenal.
Before facing 2024/25 title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool within their first six league matches, the Gunners will begin their campaign with a trip to Old Trafford.
A Manchester United vs Arsenal clash is always a highly anticipated fixture, but Gooners may not be looking forward to this one given the frustration of their last visit.
United’s approach left fans frustrated
That previous meeting, a Premier League matchday 28 fixture at Old Trafford, left Arsenal supporters exasperated. Despite not facing a recognised striker, United never attempted to go toe-to-toe with the Gunners.
Perhaps knowing they would struggle, United opted for a compact low block and launched counter-attacks to disrupt Arsenal’s rhythm. While their plan worked, resulting in a 1-1 draw courtesy of a Bruno Fernandes goal and a Declan Rice equaliser, it was not a game many fans enjoyed.
Rúben Amorim’s tactics received heavy criticism after the match. Many questioned whether his cautious approach aligned with the traditions of Manchester United or if it exposed tactical limitations.
Amorim defended himself at the time, saying via the Man United website:
“When you coach Manchester United, you cannot play this way too often. The idea is to win the game. You imagine one way to win in this context. I know it’s frustrating for the fans. Sometimes, we have to do things that are not popular. It’s also about the opponent. We try to pick the best moments to press high and had some instances of winning the ball. In the future, we won’t play like this, but we just wanted to win. I think our fans understood the moment.”
Time for United to show more ambition?
While Arsenal fans are unlikely to be concerned about United’s tactical plan, they will be hoping Amorim and his team have the courage to play a more open and attacking game.
Supporters want matchday one to produce an electrifying contest between two of England’s most historic rivals, with the hope that Arsenal can start the season on the front foot.
Regardless of which side you support, the question remains, will we finally get a performance worthy of this iconic fixture?
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
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Intriguing reunion on table for Steelers with trade deadline nearing
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team that is looking to solidify itself as a competitor in the AFC for the 2025 season, and the franchise should be looking to make some moves around the trade deadline. The organization already brought in safety Kyle Dugger from the New England Patriots, and he made an immediate impact in a win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The Steelers could use some help on the offensive side of the ball as well, but more additions could be made to shore up the defense as well. There is some positional uncertainty at safety for the Steelers as well as a bunch of injuries. The position has changed a ton throughout the season, and the Steelers could certainly use some more depth in the area. Unfortunately, Minkah Fitzpatrick would only be an option if he were to be cut as Pittsburgh cannot trade for him within two years of trading him away. However, his former running mate, Damontae Kazee, is a potential option for the Steelers after he was released by the Cleveland Browns on Monday. Kazee is a veteran with a good amount of experience, and he could certainly sign with Pittsburgh if the front office wants him to return to the black and gold. However, there are other safety-needy teams throughout the league as well. The coaching staff in the Steel City understands and appreciates familiar voices on the roster, and Kazee could provide decent depth while also being familiar with the defense and everyone in the building. Juan Thornhill and Chuck Clark have been other contributors at safety for the Steelers in 2025, but there is a real chance that Kazee might be a better option than either of those players. Both Thornhill and Clark have seemed to be at the center of communication issues in the secondary, and whenever there is an obvious coverage bust, Clark seems to always be one of the players closest to it. Kazee signed with the Browns during the 2025 offseason, and he had only played in four games through the first nine weeks of the season. He had been on the field for just 11 defensive snaps, as he seemed to be more of a special teamer in Cleveland. Despite the reduced role in 2025, he could provide some value to Pittsburgh, even if he is just signed to the practice squad. The fan base in Pittsburgh might not have always loved Kazee, but he played a lot of football for the Steelers throughout the three seasons he spent with the team. At the very least, he provides depth for Pittsburgh at a position of need, and he wouldn't be expensive to sign. This is the type of signing the Steelers would make, and it completely makes sense to do so. Pittsburgh Steelers have found a successful safety combination Ahead of Pittsburgh's game on Sunday against the Colts, it was announced that cornerback Jalen Ramsey would be playing exclusively free safety. He had been playing some safety throughout the year depending on what the opposing offense was doing, but on Sunday, he did not leave the position. It was Ramsey and Dugger leading the way in the defensive backfield, and the duo had a pretty good day. It will be interesting to see if that is something the Steelers continue to use in the coming weeks, but it probably should be since it was so effective against the best offense in the NFL.
Three offseason trade targets for Blue Jays to add an impact bat
The Toronto Blue Jays and their fans are fresh off the most heartbreaking loss in franchise history. Putting the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers on the brink of elimination with two cracks to win the World Series at home, only to lose two nail-biters that each came down to the final out. It’s going to take a long time to get over it, if that’s even possible to do. However, they'll have to turn the page rather quickly because in just three days, the negotiating window for free agents expires, and all are free to sign wherever they so choose. Toronto will be busy in an attempt to retain the likes of star shortstop Bo Bichette and starting pitchers Shane Bieber, Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer. At the same time, the front office must be active in improving its roster from the outside, whether that’s via free agency or trade. While there are some intriguing names for the Blue Jays to target on the open market, given their needs, heading down the trade route could make the most sense. Here are three ideal trade targets for the Toronto Blue Jays to add an impactful left-handed bat to their lineup for 2025-26 and beyond: Oneil Cruz | Pittsburgh Pirates Cruz’s name popped up in trade rumors ahead of the deadline in August, and it’s fair to wonder if he still could be available if Pittsburgh gets the right offer. The 27-year-old has all of the tools to be one of the best hitters in baseball, standing at 6-foot-7, 240 pounds with extreme power and bat speed. His numbers last season (20 HRs, 61 RBI), while solid, didn't reflect his talent, but it's understandable given the lack of protection around him on the Pirates. In Toronto, Cruz could slot in behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bichette, immediately becoming the most dangerous left-handed hitter in a right-heavy lineup. Matt Wallner | Minnesota Twins The 39th overall pick back in 2019 may not publicly be on the trade block, but after its sell-off at the deadline, it doesn’t feel like anyone is untouchable in Minnesota. Like Cruz, Wallner, at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, has big-time power, and the Blue Jays saw that firsthand when he crushed three HRs and six RBI during their three-game series in Toronto in late August. He does have some swing and miss in his bat (.231 career average), but with how often the top of the Blue Jays lineup gets on base, all it takes is one swing for Wallner to put up a crooked number on the scoreboard. Jarren Duran | Boston Red Sox The 2024 All-Star Game MVP has been in constant trade discussions for over a year now, and it feels inevitable that he gets dealt out of Boston this winter. Duran had more of an up-and-down 2025 campaign, though he's displayed the ability to drive in runs (84 RBI) and has power with even more untapped potential. Combine that with his speed and athleticism, and you can see why so many teams would love to acquire him. Trading within the division is never easy, but the 29-year-old would be a perfect fit in the middle of Toronto's lineup, so it's something they should absolutely look into.
Brad Marchand Reportedly Refused Trade to Different Team Before Joining Panthers
** Author’s Note: We’re working to get verification and footage of the comments from Marchand. This report comes from multiple social accounts that claim they heard the remarks firsthand. According to a report by @j_vmess on social media, former Boston Bruins captain and now Florida Panthers veteran star Brad Marchand shared a surprising story during Pantherfest this weekend. Apparently, he confirmed that he was nearly traded at the NHL trade deadline to a different team. He refused that trade, which led him to joining the Florida Panthers. Revealing that the Bruins moved him to a different NHL club, Marchand said he told the team he would not accept a trade there and would refuse to report if dealt. Ultimately, the Bruins pivoted and traded Marchand to Florida. Marchand went on to win a Stanley Cup with the team and re-sign there this past offseason as a free agent. @flatcatsandrats added to the report, noting that according to Marchand, the deal came together just before the deadline closed. “I got traded to another team about an hour before the deadline,” Marchand is said to have told fans. “When they called me, I said no — I wasn’t going.” Marchand didn’t specify which team had acquired his rights; the assumption is that the Los Angeles Kings had expressed serious interest. Marchand has reportedly noted in previous interviews that he wasn’t interested in playing for the Kings or on the West Coast. So too, back in June, Elliotte Friedman wrote that the Kings thought they had a trade for Marchand completed. At the time of Friedman’s article, Marchand was weighing his free agency options, Friedman explained: “Florida is first up, obviously, with the advantage of already being a perfect fit and good state taxes. If he doesn’t stay, Toronto and Utah are expected to be among the serious pursuers. Utah has indicated it is not crazy about term, Toronto could prefer to stretch it out, but, watching him in the final, who wouldn’t want him? Los Angeles (who had a deal with Boston, only to find out Marchand wanted Florida), New Jersey, Washington, etc., etc., he can fit anywhere.” “This was the only team I was coming to,” suggested another person who cited Marchand’s comments this weekend. It was common knowledge that teams were interested in Marchand at the deadline, but knowing that a trade had been finalized and that Marchand was the one who squashed it is an added wrinkle.
Blockbuster trade for superstar pass rusher would be Bills' final Infinity Stone
If the Buffalo Bills' win over the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs proved anything, it was that now is the time for the Bills to take a big swing. Entering Sunday’s matchup, many expected the Bills to get blown out by the Chiefs and sink right back into the pit of despair with nine weeks remaining in the regular season. Instead, Buffalo came through with a convincing win, which has placed them right back into the Super Bowl discussion. And one more significant addition could help them earn their first ever Lombardi Trophy. Infinity Stone With things once again trending in the right direction, perhaps more so than they have all season, the perfect moment to make a blockbuster trade has presented itself to General Manager Brandon Beane. Like a group of Avengers in search of the final Infinity Stone, the Bills need just one more missing piece to push themselves over the edge: Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported on Monday that the Bengals’ asking price remains high for Hendrickson, with a potential move requiring at least a first-round pick. And while Beane and company are always reluctant to part with top-end draft picks, there has never been a more opportune time for the Bills to do so than entering Week 10 of the 2025 campaign. Injuries have piled up along the defensive line, with the most recent of which being a season-ending Achilles injury sustained by Michael Hoecht. With the Bills’ pass rush now in need of a boost similar to that which Hoecht provided through seven quarters, Hendrickson would be just that as Buffalo continues its pursuit of a world championship. What would Bills be getting? Hendrickson is a four-time Pro Bowler and was honored as an All-Pro first-team selection for the first time a season ago, when he finished second in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year. Through seven games this season, Hendrickson has totaled four sacks, three tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits while delivering an impressive pressure rate of 13.6% while playing for one of the worst defenses in the league. While he hasn’t experienced the same level of production that he did during back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024, the 30-year-old pass rusher has plenty left in the tank and would change the dynamic of Buffalo’s defensive line. Missing a piece On Sunday against the Chiefs, the Bills finished the game with 15 quarterback hits, providing the blueprint on how to impact Patrick Mahomes, who finished with the worst completion percentage of his career (44%) during the Kansas City defeat. Hoecht had helped bring the team’s rush unit to another level in his brief time since returning from a six-game suspension for PEDs, and now the reality that the Bills will be without him the rest of the year calls into question whether this group can keep things rolling. If the Bills offered the house for Hendrickson and were able to land the big fish, those questions would dissipate rapidly. It may take a first-round pick and then some, but Hendrickson is a player worth remortgaging your house for. And the Bills should do just that to acquire the Cincinnati superstar. It would take a bundle of draft picks, including at least one first-rounder, but this is a move the Bills should strongly consider before Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline. Let's talk turkey It would cost the Bills $8 million in cap space to acquire Hendrickson, per Spotrac, which is something they don't have at the moment. Buffalo carries just under $2 million of cap space entering Week 10. But as has proven before, there are always ways to work around the cap if a team finds something worthy of doing so. And Hendrickson is worth it. — Sign up for OnSI’s Free Buffalo Bills Newsletter —
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