Three Instant Changes That Arsene Wenger Should Make After The International Break
There are no prizes for guessing that Arsenal have had a shocking start to their new Premier League campaign on more than just a single accord, be it losing two out of their three opening games, failing to have done good business in the transfer window, or showing positive intent for the future. Things went horribly far ahead, as Arsene Wenger was about to leave the club over personal reasons.
The fans were, are and will be angered for a while at least until the transfer wounds start filling up when the Gunners win some big games and show amazing results, unlike the 4-0 cold-thrashing that the Merceyside Reds served last.
While the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Lemar couldn’t see their future at the Emirates, Wenger wouldn’t have let Alexis Sanchez leave the club so easily either.
According to reports, most sources suggest that Sanchez only stayed at Arsenal because the club were not able to pull off a deadline day deal for Thomas Lemar despite months of Wenger’s stand of not selling the Chilean star.
Moreover, Lemar had his price as proven when Arsenal finally made the Monaco an offer they couldn’t refuse: £92million, nearly twice the club record fee they paid for Alexandre Lacazette this summer. Maybe if Arsenal’s final mega-offer or probably even an offer around £70m had come a month earlier, chances are that Lemar would have been an Arsenal player by now. The timing of events is what exposed the Gunners’ ineptitude as far as buying/selling players is concerned.
Three Instant Changes To Be Made After The International Break:
Showdown Talks With Flop Players
In a bid to save their season after just three games, Arsene Wenger must set out to have showdown talks with all the flops of the season so far, as soon as the players return from their international duties.
Efforts need to be put in to avert the crisis, in the face of results like the 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool or the 1-0 defeat at Stoke. Luckily enough, the first game of the season was narrowly saved by Olivier Giroud.
The Gunners are in a self-imposed chaos kind-of-a-situation and the only way out is for Wenger to sit his troops down and have a clearing-the-air conversation so that their season doesn’t become a total sham.
He must gather the composure to have the talks later this week before Arsenal face Bournemouth on Saturday and bring up all the issues on the agenda, including the angered fan-base due to the poor transfer window, top players wanting to quit the club and Wenger’s personal hassles with the Premier League.
Make The Team Believe In The Management
A lot has happened in the ranks of the Gunners in the last month or so…
“From Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s departure to Anfield shortly after Arsenal’s 4-0 defeat from Liverpool to Alexis Sanchez not being allowed to leave the club despte his frowing desire to move to Manchester City.
From not being able to sign a replacement, to a disastrous start to the PL season losing to Stoke City and Liverpool subsequently, to handling a crisis-like situation with the fans hating the club’s decisions and slogans like “Wenger OUT” taking its toll.
From Wenger literally almost about to leave the club over personal reasons, to Shkodran Mustafi’s season-long loan switch to Inter Milan falling out, to Mesut Ozil yet to sign a new contract even after having it available for months, and of course to getting rejected by Lemar on deadline day, a £90m move declined to stay at Monaco…”
Arsenal have seen it all under the heat of the sun.
Now, desiring for a top-four Premier League and a Champions League spot, the team needs to rebuild their focus and start believing in Arsene Wenger’s dream project for Arsenal. The only man the Gunners have ever had is Wenger and it is his rightful duty to get them out of the anti-supporters’ mess that they presently are in.
Big Players Need To Be Leaders
It is time for the big players to take full responsibility of the results, going in to the fixtures they have lined up. Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Granit Xhaka, Nacho Monreal with the newly acquired Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolasinac. All these players starting each game for the Gunners, need to maximise the potential of winning games and lead the club in the right direction. Jack Wilshere is up and ready to be reckoned with as well.
Otherwise, it is only a matter of time before Wenger sets the tone right and gets back to winning ways in the Premiership, ready to bat eyelids in Europe.
Arsenal Dragon
Arsenal Star Katie McCabe Attracting NWSL Interest as Contract Expires This Summer With High Impact Player Rule Making Move Financially Viable
Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe is being closely monitored by National Women’s Soccer League clubs ahead of a pivotal summer for Arsenal. Several NWSL sides have shown ongoing interest for the past 18 months, fully aware that McCabe’s Arsenal deal expires at the end of the season.
The situation places McCabe at an important crossroads in her career. Having tasted Champions League triumph last summer, she wants to compete at the top level and that ambition will inevitably shape any decision she makes. Arsenal face losing one of their most recognizable figures unless they act quickly.
Ten Arsenal Stars Out of Contract
McCabe is not the only high profile name at Arsenal approaching the end of her current deal. The club has a staggering number of senior players out of contract this summer including Stina Blackstenius, Kim Little, Leah Williamson, Caitlin Foord, Beth Mead, Laia Codina, Steph Catley, Victoria Pelova and Manuela Zinsberger.
This list is frankly ridiculous for a club of Arsenal’s stature. Several of these players form the core of the team and have played key roles in recent domestic and European success. Decisions made by the club and by the players themselves will shape the direction of the squad moving forward, and Arsenal cannot afford to lose multiple stars simultaneously.
High Impact Player Rule Changes Game
The introduction of the NWSL High Impact Player rule in July is already influencing how clubs view potential signings from Europe. The rule allows NWSL clubs to exceed the league’s salary cap by up to $1 million for high impact players, making moves for European stars like McCabe financially viable.
For now, McCabe remains focused on finishing the season strongly with Arsenal. Whether her future lies in north London or across the Atlantic will be one of the biggest stories to watch as summer approaches.
Also read: What Is The NWSL High Impact Player Rule and Who Could Be The First To Benefit From It?
Arsenal captain Leah Williamson has been announced as a National Year of Reading ambassador following the official launch of the 2026 campaign at Emirates Stadium.
The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson unveiled the Go All In initiative on January 13, positioning reading as a gateway to enhancing passions across all walks of life.
Williamson joined a stellar lineup of ambassadors including author Julia Donaldson, illustrator Axel Scheffler, poet Jackie Kay, and several other prominent figures from literature and public life. The event marked a significant moment for literacy promotion in the country, with the campaign centred on the message that reading can deepen enjoyment of whatever people already love.
A Message From the Pitch
Speaking at the launch, Williamson drew parallels between football and reading. She said the National Year of Reading represents a chance to fully commit to personal passions through literature in all its forms. The Arsenal skipper encouraged people to seize the opportunity by picking up books, listening to audiobooks, or diving into articles related to their interests. Her involvement underscores how sports figures can champion reading beyond their professional domains.
Resetting Reading Culture
Joanna Prior, chief executive of Pan Macmillan and chair of The National Literacy Trust, described the launch as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform how Britain views books.
The ambition extends beyond traditional reading spaces, aiming to make literature accessible in communities, schools, and even on football pitches. Prior emphasized stripping away pressure and stigma around reading, making it relevant and enjoyable rather than obligatory.
The campaign represents a coordinated national effort to boost literacy rates and foster a genuine love of reading across all demographics and age groups throughout 2026.
Also read: Jodie Taylor Appointed Arsenal Women’s First Ever Technical Director
Arsenal Women host Manchester United on Saturday in a crucial six pointer for Champions League qualification. The Gunners sit just one point above United in the WSL table and victory at Emirates Stadium would give them a strong buffer, while defeat leaves them playing catch up in the race for Europe.
The match marks Arsenal’s return from the winter break following a busy week that saw Renee Slegers sign a new contract and Jodie Taylor promoted to Technical Director. However, the immediate focus is on securing three points against Marc Skinner’s side in what promises to be a tense encounter.
Kick-off: 12:30 GMT, Saturday, January 11, 2026
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
TV: Sky Sports (UK)
Cooney Cross Absent For Personal Reasons
Arsenal will be without Kyra Cooney Cross who has returned to Australia for personal reasons. Daphne van Domselaar is not quite ready to return from a quad injury while Chloe Kelly remains out with a knee problem. Jenna Nighswonger will not be in the matchday squad as she negotiates a loan move.
New signing Smilla Holmberg from Hammarby will be in the squad alongside recalled goalkeeper Naomi Williams. Manu Zinsberger and Katie Reid are out with ACL injuries. The absence of Cooney Cross means Mariona will likely drop into the deeper midfield role she has occupied for much of the last year.
United Strengthened in January
Manchester United have been busy in the transfer window, adding full back Hanna Lundkvist from San Diego Wave and centre forward Lea Schuller from Bayern Munich. Skinner was dealt a poor hand over the summer with a very small squad handling Champions League qualifiers and the group phase.
Predicted Lineup:
Arsenal (4-3-3): Borbe; Fox, Williamson, Catley, McCabe; Little, Mariona, Maanum; Mead, Russo, Smith
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Tullis Joyce; Lundkvist, Le Tissier, Janssen, Sandberg; Miyazawa, Zigiotti; Park, Malard, Awujo; Schuller
Also read: Arsenal Women disable social media comments after sexist backlash to new signing
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