Nick Wright

Took the eldest to AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Arsenal U21s. A good night for Emerson Nwaneri with a goal and an assist but James Scanlon the best player on the pitch. life Ibrahim made a difference from the bench. Liked Elijah Upson’s first half - with his dad watching on.

Column is on the one-v-one brilliance of Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha, who makes more dribbles than Jeremy Doku and has the highest dribble success % in the league since start of last season. Plus: the numbers showing Luka Vuskovic's importance to Brighton #lfc #bhafc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Arsenal's Premier League win rate drops from 64 per cent to 53 per cent when Bukayo Saka doesn't start. A look here at how they might cope without him. Noni Madueke's 'volume' or wildcard Max Dowman? #afc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Have Arsenal's set-pieces stopped working? Not exactly. In Between the Lines, a look at what's changed and why the set-piece goals will likely return soon - even if not quite to last year's level. Plus, the evidence of open-play improvement this season. #afc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Expected goal difference per game, six games into the season. Arsenal top by a chunky margin. They won the title with an average of 0.97 per game last season. #afc

Enjoying watching Aston Villa's Johan Manzambi. Market-adjusted transfer valuations had him as one of best-value signings of the summer. He's showing why. Also in column: Vitaly Janelt's outstanding defensive work and Fulham's performances. #avfc #brentfordfc #ffc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Piece on Bukayo Saka. His form has come under scrutiny this season but @gradientsports.bsky.social have him as the best-performing player in the Premier League in terms of execution and the underlying data shows he is more of a goal threat than ever. #afc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Can Mikel Arteta turn champions into serial winners? His new contract gives him the chance to become only the fifth manager to win multiple Premier League titles. Piece on the challenge of going up another level. #afc www.skysports.com/football/new...

As football gets faster, scanning becomes more important. I had a go on the virtual reality tech designed to train it. Martin Odegaard asked for 120% speed. I was happy on 80%. Why scanning matters, how it can be honed and whether VR can really replicate the game. www.skysports.com/football/new...

Brighton won possession in the final third nine times in that game. It's the most by any side against Arsenal either this season or last season. Arsenal never got to grips with their intensity. #afc

Martin Odegaard 🤝 Right half space Eighty-one passes in the final third!

Ezri Konsa has attempted 106 passes as an Arsenal player and only misplaced two of them. Another extremely assured performance from him tonight. #afc

Arsenal have really got the old band back together on that right-hand side. #afc

Chelsea had some threatening moments but it's another pretty remarkable defensive display from Arsenal. No Saliba, no Timber, and yet able to limit Chelsea, with *that* front three, to shots worth only 0.35 xG. #afc

No blockbuster signing but maybe Arsenal can level up their attack without one. On the importance of having Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard fit and the final-third fluidity giving their opponents new problems. #afc www.skysports.com/football/new...

First time Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz have started three consecutive Premier League games together since December 2024. #afc

A gravel pitch, a Marbella holiday, Jurgen Klinsmann-style PlayStation celebrations, the best view in football, and the origin story of Mikel Arteta's 'non-negotiables'. Inside the tiny Basque club that made three Premier League managers. www.skysports.com/football/new...

An attacker short but Arsenal still in a league of their own defensively. Since start of last season, they've allowed under 0.50 expected goals in 20 out of 40 Premier League games. Amazing record. Chelsea and Morgan Rogers the next test: www.skysports.com/football/new... #afc

A day with Antiguoko, the club that made Mikel Arteta, Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso. Arteta’s best mate, Iraola's coaching cousin, gravel pitches, Marbella holidays, and an unbeatable Gipuzkoan youth team. Loved doing this one. #afc #lfc #cfc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Really liked what Bruno Guimaraes and Mikel Merino gave Arsenal in possession last night. Of the 29 passes attempted between them, only two were misplaced and nearly half were directed forwards. Control and incision. #afc

The Radar is back! And we're talking about set-pieces again. Sorry. Man Utd's issues defending corners, plus the data on how Ethan Ampadu's long throw became a weapon for Leeds ahead of his duel with Michael Kayode on Sunday. #mufc #lufc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Graham Potter interview. Rebuilding with Sweden after Chelsea + West Ham woe, living a World Cup dream, plus verdicts on Gyokeres and Isak. Says Sweden's play-off win over Poland was best night of his career. How did he celebrate? “Got f***ing pissed!” www.skysports.com/football/new...

From 'we care, do you?' to title glory, long read with Josh Kroenke. Buying William Saliba on Per Mertesacker’s recommendation, laying out championship rings to Andrea Berta, hilarious advice from Sir Chips Keswick, building an Arsenal dynasty + loads more. #afc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Good morning, Arsenal fans. Piece here on how Mikel Arteta’s total transformation of the club ended the 22-year wait. A triumph of coaching and leadership, a squad built to go the distance, defensive brilliance, and a winning mentality nurtured by the manager. #afc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Bukayo Saka back to his best? It has a lot to do with the guy behind him. Jurrien Timber excellent but Ben White's understanding with Saka is unique. “I’m there to help him get into positions where he can do what he’s so good at.” Stats here show the difference. www.skysports.com/football/new...

Arsenal plan sales this summer despite UEFA prize money topping £120m. Club intend to strengthen but signings will need to be offset by outgoings. Sustainability a priority. Aiming for more even balance sheet after £257m net spend last year. Full story below. #afc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Arsenal have played more games than any other side in Europe's top-five leagues this season. Number 57 was another slog. Piece from Madrid on the warrior spirit being shown in their battle against fatigue. #afc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Luis Enrique says he dreams of having 20 players who can play everywhere. PSG and Bayern are defined by positional fluidity. So is versatility football’s new superpower? My piece, including insight from the versatility GOAT, Javier Zanetti. www.skysports.com/football/new...

What chance for Arsenal if it‘s to be a goal difference shoot-out for the title with Man City? Some stats on the two attacks and a look at a few reasons for optimism for Arsenal. #afc www.skysports.com/football/new...

What's behind Arsenal's recent issues in attack? There are tactical and mentality questions but it's technical too. Column looks at how Mikel Arteta can change it and why Kai Havertz could help against Man City. #afc www.skysports.com/football/new...

An audience with Kai Havertz in Leverkusen. He was honest and insightful on his injury problems and his “new hunger” after overcoming the “worst pain” of his career. Big occasion for him tonight against his former club. #afc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Column is on Eberechi Eze. Devastating against Spurs in November, peripheral since. Why has he struggled and how can Arsenal unlock him? Touch locations, availability between the lines, striker combinations, off-ball work and best position covered. #afc www.skysports.com/football/new...

One of Kai Havertz or Mikel Merino has scored in each of Arsenal's last four wins against Brentford. This really is their kind of game. Big blow to lose both against such a physical opponent. Interested to see how Arsenal get on but it's a test. #afc

Switching the emphasis to inswinging deliveries and the "meat wall" in action. Piece here on how Liverpool have transformed their threat from corners after Virgil van Dijk scored their third corner goal in four Premier League games. #lfc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Arsenal are the first team in Europe's top-five leagues to reach 20 clean sheets in all competitions this season. That's 20 clean sheets in 38 games. Absurdly good side out of possession. #afc

Senne Lammens doesn’t get talked about much but that’s usually a good sign in his position. Radar column is on his impact for Man Utd and the benefits of having a “boring” goalkeeper. #mufc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Which Premier League teams are most and least effective against low blocks? Found it interesting to look at data on this. Aston Villa come out well. Arsenal, Liverpool find it much tougher. www.skysports.com/football/new...

Column is on Arsenal's striker puzzle. Did Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyokeres give Mikel Arteta a selection headache against Inter Milan? Or did they actually make it quite simple for him? Plus, why Kai Havertz's return can't come soon enough. #afc www.skysports.com/football/new...

A Manchester derby flavour to the column this week. How Semenyo is already adding variety to Man City's front line + why attack might be best form of defence for Carrick... with Fernandes back at No 10? #mcfc #mufc www.skysports.com/football/new...

What’s behind the rise of set-piece goals in the Premier League? Why are Arsenal excelling and Liverpool struggling? Are Leeds the best long throwers? Inswinging deliveries vs outswingers, corner locations + more. A deep dive with our data editor Adam Smith. www.skysports.com/football/new...

Eventful half for Madueke. Always a threat but think first 15 minutes a good illustration of why he hasn’t had many minutes lately. Biggest challenge for any wide forward coming into Arsenal is matching the consistency of Saka, Martinelli and Trossard’s defensive application. #afc

Arsenal have named nine different defensive combinations in the last 10 Premier League games, having only named three in the first 10. And yet they’ve picked up points at almost exactly the same rate. Shows value of depth. Now Marc Guehi linked too... #afc

Must remember to post here more. Here's a column on the significance of Martin Odegaard's return to form for Arsenal. Putting up some strong numbers this season despite injury issues. #afc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Column on Liverpool's continued issues against teams going direct. Struggling to adapt to the increase in long passes but last season was the outlier, not this one. Robin Roefs, Sunderland, second balls, and why Leeds are another awkward opponent. #lfc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Piece on Piero Hincapie, the defensive "beast" who "broke the GPS" with his physical performance at boyhood club Independiente del Valle. Will he become an Arsenal starter? "He will take a place," says his former coach. "You will see." www.skysports.com/football/new...

Piece on Andre Harriman-Annous after a(nother) great night for Arsenal's Hale End academy. • Earning Mikel Arteta's trust in training • Change of position that sped up his progress • Signing pro deal despite other clubs' interest www.skysports.com/football/new...

Fascinating to interview Fabian Hurzeler yesterday. • How to beat Man Utd • Breaking down back fives • Why he puts players over system • Dealing with long balls • Playing with courage • Tough love with Carlos Baleba #bhafc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Arsenal have only allowed 5.32 expected goals against in their first 10 games of the season despite going to Man Utd, Liverpool and Newcastle and playing Man City at home. One open-play goal conceded. Seven clean sheets. Seriously impressive. #afc

In The Radar column this week: • Salah’s struggle without Trent • Arsenal’s absurd defensive stats • Potter’s exit and Nuno’s impact #lfc #afc #whufc www.skysports.com/football/new...

Timing players tying their shoelaces, revolutionising training, promoting a raft of academy players, banning directors from the dressing room. As Jose Mourinho returns to Benfica, the story of the "explosive" 11-game spell in 2000 that put him on road to greatness. www.skysports.com/football/new...