Hold Fast, Arsenal Fans. 

Better Times Are Coming, I promise, writes Gooner Fanzine print writer Henry Waddon

It’s been a bit of a rough time recently, hasn’t it?

Let’s be honest, coming into the 2024-25 season, we hoped we’d be in a better position at this stage.

More points, a higher position in the table, a fitter squad and a… happier vibe.

But now, somehow heading into yet another international break, things are looking up for us, I promise.

Even if it doesn’t feel like it just yet. 

In the depths of the Sunday evening scaries, ears still ringing with a Neville-induced tinnitus, I decided to dig out and polish up some definite reasons to be cheerful (RTBC).

I warn you, though, I can’t promise all of them stay that far south of optimism’s border with delusion. 

RTBC #1: Martin F*****g Odegaard 

Even the most infuriating, Arteta-out, football-illiterate voyeur would have to admit that, if you were to draw a graph of Arsenal’s trajectory this season, the plateaus, dip and notable down-turns can be traced back to Martin Odegaard’s injury in early September.

It’s been a hard slog without him, and I do strongly feel that critique regarding Arsenal’s lack of final-third incisiveness, a drop-off in our in-game courage, and a sense of tactical apathy/aimlessness must only exist in the context of acknowledging our captain’s (very felt) absence.

As one of the staunchest and most enthusiastic members of the Martin Odegaard Fan Club, I could tangibly feel a sixty-three-day weight being hauled off my worn-out shoulders at the sight of our skipper leading our press, barking instructions, and gesticulating encouragement at players and fans alike.

He’s a game changer; his delightful looped ball put Gabi Martinelli clean through for a hope-lifting, limbs-inducing goal, and it was his pass that found William Saliba in acres of space on the left of Chelsea’s box in the dying embers of the game (goodness me, just thinking about that moment again is inducing the kind of heartbreak that is usually reserved for break-ups and the prospect of it being dark outside at 430pm for the next four months).

We look a different side with Martin Odegaard in our starting eleven, and, God, I hope he stays right there as we push to be a better, more recognisable Arsenal from now until May. 

RTBC #2: The Fixture List 

Now, I want to be incredibly tentative with this one… but we’ve had an incredibly difficult start to the season.

And putting the Bournemouth and Newcastle clangers to one side… am I being an ignorant, fingers-in-my-ears denialist to say that… we haven’t truthfully done all that badly?

Especially given the context that our squad has been stripped to its bare bones for most of said run?

We’ve played Villa (A), City Away (A), Liverpool (H), Chelsea (A), Spurs (A) and Brighton (H) without holding a single L.

And maybe, come May, we’ll point to these games and say “Champions win those kinds of fixtures”.

But do we have the foundation, and hopefully now a pending momentum, to remain in touch with the title charge?

Perhaps I shouldn’t comment; I completely understand if you’re reading this and find my posthumous spin laughable.

In either case, it’s undeniable that Arsenal have to go and put a big string of wins together, and soon.

But looking at the strength of Sunday’s eleven (God-willing it stays that way), and perusing the games ahead of us… why can’t we do exactly that? 

RTBC #3: Silverware A Realistic Goal 

Now, if you’re still reading, I might be on the cusp of hammering the final nail into this article’s coffin.

Many of you will be (at best) unmoved and (at worst) dejected at what I’m about to say. 

But Arsenal are in an excellent position to push on and win domestic silverware in the form of the League Cup (if we want to).

In a reversal of our league fortunes, the Carabao draw has been incredibly kind to us thus far.

We’ve progressed through to the quarter final stage without having to exit first gear, all-the-while offering invaluable first-team minutes to the likes of Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly (who have seized said opportunity with both hands).

We now have a home quarter-final against Crystal Palace lined up, and injury-Gods/fixture congestion/all-round footballing fate allowing, we are unquestionably as good as any team left in the competition. 

What’s more, we’re doing more than fine in the Champions League, too.

We musn’t allow any complacency to creep in, and need to collate a good set of results in our remaining ties, but this squad is becoming increasingly familiar with daunting, demanding, difficult European nights; we’ve played away legs against three twenty-first-century European champions in the last eight months alone.

The mark of our club will only be tested in the deeper stages of the competition, but I for one feel excited rather than forlorn at that prospect, even with our current fortunes. 

Although it feels like all possible forces are dragging us backwards, Arsenal Football Club continue to take big and necessary strides forward under Mikel Arteta.

And though it induces all kinds of palpitations, self-doubt, incredulousness and despair on an almost bi-weekly basis, I can’t wait to watch this Arsenal team play football from now until May and beyond. 

Go well, Gunners.