Arsenal’s PATH To Glory…

追加: 2026-05-15

[00:00:00]Well, as completely predicted, the fallout from the David Ryer incident, the V incident has completely taken over all football conversation this weekend.

[00:00:10]And so, I thought I'd let the dust settle. I thought I'd just let everything sort of be talked about. The arguments will happen. The rage will go on. Most pundits and sensible people in media have come to the conclusion that not only did Arsenal get the correct decision that day, but actually Arsenal haven't done anything remotely similar to grabbing and impeding and holding an arm from catching a ball as it came into the box. The closest thing was William Celiba against Bayindia and I don't even think they are particularly comparable.

[00:00:40]So, everyone did their thing on the internet. It was like I said completely comparable. I've done my podcast and otherwise I've sat quite quietly when it comes to the Gooniverse content. But actually, as these days have gone by and everyone's been talking about everything, I've stopped and just settled on the idea, not the idea, the reality, the truth. Arsenal are three games away from history.

[00:01:03]Like history, you know, that would be true if we were talking about just winning the Premier League or just winning the Champions League. And and those two, if we won either one, would be those two outcomes would be, excuse me, the the greatest season of Premier League or the greatest season of football I've ever seen as an Arsenal fan.

[00:01:22]We're on the cusp of potentially both.

[00:01:25]We're on the cusp of doing something Arsenal Football Club have never done before. Now, I'm not seeing these next two Premier League games as easy, and we know we're not favorites in that Champions League final against PSG, but my word, it just illustrates how close we are to something really special. So, in this video, I wanted to go through the state of play. What do we need to know about these next two and a half weeks? What's important? What's our path to glory? What do we need to pay attention to? What matters? What are the finer details that are going to play a part here and there? How could Arsenal be champions? When could they be champions? All of that. So, I want to break this down and we'll go through, like I said, the state of play in the Premier League. 36 games played for Arsenal on 79 points. Man City with an extra game to play. Three of them in fact, 35 games played, 74 points on the board. Now, it all starts tonight when they face Crystal Palace. But if you are watching this the day after, please do stick around because there's actually plenty I want to go into on the assumption that Man City do beat Crystal Palace. But I just want to go through the really kind of key games. So upcoming games to pay attention to.

[00:02:29]City host Palace tonight as I just mentioned. Really interesting game. And then Paris FC host PSG on the weekend.

[00:02:35]More on why that's important in a little bit. Man City then host Ch. They don't host Chelsea, it's at Wembley, but Man City face Chelsea at Wembley in the FA Cup final this Saturday. Arsenal two days later then host Burnley at the Emirates Stadium on a Monday night before Man City travel to Bournemouth on the Tuesday night only 3 days after they play that FA Cup final. Then Palace obviously host Arsenal and Man City host Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season on 24th of May with PSG versus Arsenal in the Champions League final only 6 days later in Budapest. So said I just wanted to talk about that Paris FC game versus PSG game in a little bit of detail. Now, at the time of recording, PSG have pretty much got the title wrapped up. There's two games to go. They're six points ahead of second place, but their goal difference is so much sign is significantly better.

[00:03:23]So, they're not going to lose both games. And even if they did, they're not going to lose by margin that cost them the title. So, PSG, in my opinion, have that wrapped up. Could be very interesting to see therefore how, you know, it's it's a derby. I I'm no I'm complete casual in my understanding of the rivalry between PSG and Paris FC, but they've got a derby on the final day. the league's kind of wrapped up. Do they rotate and rest in some way? PSG, we've seen these sort of stats doing the rounds about the minutes managed for certain players throughout the season, how it compares to other players in the Premier League, for example. I think Pep Guardiola even mentioned that Erling Harlem might have played 2,000 more minutes this season than Usman Dembele.

[00:03:59]Um, fact check that, but I'm pretty sure that's what he said. And I'm really interested to see whether PSG go full strength for that or whether they rotate. There's going to be a temp a temptation to do both. the league's wrapped up, rotate, keep everyone really fresh for the game in two weeks, but that's the crucial thing. It's in two weeks. So, actually, do they probably want to get them on the pitch because then there's a twoe break. I I I'm really interested to see how they're going to play that out. While I've paid no attention to PSG in their league campaign this season, that 11 I think will be really interesting. And I think for anyone watching the game, keep an eye on the intensity. keep an eye on how they played this game because it' be very hard for the PSG players to go full throttle into everything when you know that there's a game a massive game one of the biggest I mean they did play the Champions League final a year ago one of the biggest of their careers only two weeks away having said that though like how do you not play with momentum and a bit of rhythm when you have such a big break because like I showed you with those fixtures from when PSG play Paris Arsenal host Burnley and then we go to Palace that that's two competitive really important games sandwiched in between. Now you could say that therefore that sorry sandwich in between the final PSG game and the Chelsea final. Now you could say that's not a good thing. You could say, you know, I'd rather have the rest. I'd rather have the time off. I'd rather have the time to prepare. But momentum is a big thing in football. So let me know how you read that situation, but I think it's an interesting one to keep an eye on to. So then we go into the permutations. Then we go into what does this mean for the Premier League title race in terms of particular games and how they could happen. Now, I'm going to be really honest with you. I actually was struggling to make complete sense of how everything would line up in terms of if Man City drop points to Palace, if this happens, if that happens. And I don't know why I was finding it so hard. May maybe it's the jet lag after my travel back from Australia. Maybe I don't know, maybe all of you saw it far more simply than I did. And I think when it comes down to it, essentially, if Man City don't beat Palace, Arsenal can win the title by beating Burnley. Now, that all felt a bit soon to me. I thought I Is that really how it lines up, but I think we should probably illustrate it just so we can really understand how and why this is the case. So, let's just remind you again. 36 games played, 79 points for Arsenal, 35 games played for City, 74 points for Man City. That means that the potential total tally for Arsenal is 85 points. If we win our main two points uh two games, that's an extra six points on the board, 85 in total. Man City, they could add an extra nine points takes them to 83. So when we are accumulating the potential points and understanding how it could be won, Arsenal at some point need to hit a points tally that is higher than the potential total that Man City can get to. I know some of you are going to think I'm massively over complicating it, and I understand, but I was actually struggling to completely understand it for a second, and hopefully this clears it up. Let's show you this graphic.

[00:06:54]We've got the Premier League games and the potential points accumulation as we go through them. So, if Manchester City lose to Crystal Palace, they will remain on 74 points, meaning that their potential total tally is 80. If Man City draw to Palace, they go on 75 points, meaning that their potential total tally is 81. If they beat Palace, of course, they'll go to 77 points, meaning that their potential tally or potential total tally is 83 at the end of the season. So then if we go to gamew week 37, if Arsenal beat Burnley and go to 82 points, that total points there, as in just 82 points from adding three against Burnley because they're on 79 now, will overtake Man City's potential total of 80 and their potential total of 81. 82 being higher than them means you're champions on Monday night. So, if City don't, and I hadn't really internalized this, I think they beat Palace if I'm honest. But if they don't, Arsenal will be champions if they beat Burnley on Monday night. I didn't I didn't quite realize how close it was. I didn't realize like how in our grasp it was, but I think they're going to beat Palace. So, Ars beating Burnley means our potential total is 85. Again, it remains 85 as it was before. If Arsenal lose to Burnley, then our potential total is 82. Meaning that if City draw to Palace, their potential total is 81.

[00:08:23]Our potential total is 82. We'd still have another game where it's in our control. But if they beat Palace, their potential total is 83. Our potential total would be 82, which means we've relinquished control. Losing to Burnley would be an absolute disaster. And quite frankly, drawing to them would be two. A little bit more on that in a second. Vel draw to Burnley. they go to 80 points, the potential total of 83. And then at gameweek 37, if Bournem withdraw to Man City, that takes their potential total to 81 with a current tally of 78, meaning that they would make Arsenal champions if they were to beat Burnley because Arsenal beating Burnley puts us on 82 with Man City's potential total if they draw up Bournemouth, but beat Palace 2 being at 81 points. Have I Have I explained that well enough? I hope I have. Maybe I've actually just complicated it. Maybe simply saying that the City need to win both and if Arsel beat Burnley and City don't win either of the other two then we'll be champions. Maybe that's a much easier way of saying it. But I actually really wanted to illustrate the journey, the path, the understanding for it. So I mentioned that if Arsenal don't beat Burnley, it's an absolute disaster. I mean losing we understand why it would be drawing. We do play a Crystal Palace side on Sunday the 24th who have an eye on the Conference League, but I do think that well I think there's two angles to this. Firstly, I still think they'll want to be competitive. I think some players will be playing for a place in that final and it's their final game at Surus Park and Oliver Glazen's a professional. He takes everything super seriously and I just don't see a world in which they actually massively rotate. Now, what's an interesting dynamic to this is I think there's a report during the rounds that Crystal Palace get an extra£10 million from the EZA deal if Arsenal win the title, but I don't see them simply just rolling over and saying, "Actually, we'd rather have the 10 million here, have your title." Could I see a Crystal Palace with their foot off the gas a little bit? Maybe. Could I see a Crystal Palace side with players not wanting to fully commit to challenges? Maybe. But then you have to take into account the Arsenal nerves. You have to take into account the fact that we're playing against a side who are very good at home. I know they haven't been at their very best this season, but generally it's a difficult place to go, Sus Park, and we need to overcome them and try and get a win. And maybe if we don't beat Burnley and it's a draw, we'd have to get a couple goals in doing that. And I just don't see that happening. So the reason not beating Burnley would be an absolute disaster even though it becomes a straight shootout for goals where Man City will be facing Aston Villa on the final day. And I do think Aston Villa might well have something to really play for. They could be Europa League champions in which case they won't really care about finishing fifth or seventh or what. I don't think they can go as low as seventh, but you get my point. I don't think they'll be too bothered about that or even catching Liverpool in fourth. But I do think if well if they don't win that final then suddenly they need to be competitive against Man City. But let's say they are on the beach and suddenly becomes a shootout for goals. I think Man City are going to put a load of goals past Aston Villa. So even drawing against Burnley, yes we'd be level on points, yes we'd be facing a palace with not a lot to play for in that particular game. I don't see us accumulating the goals. So when all is said and done, that dou goal against Everton in the 97th minute has meant that we absolutely can't afford a draw anywhere cuz I actually think City will outscore us between now and the end of the season unless they drop points. I think if they win the games, they'll do it outscoring us. or let me rephrase. If Arsenal drop points and we are on the same points tally projections, I actually think they'll accumulate more goals than us.

[00:11:56]Therefore, I really really think it's about beating Burnley. We shouldn't even really be entertaining the thought of not beating them. But I'm just just trying to look at every permutation, every angle. We have to beat Burnley for me and we have to go into that Palace game on the weekend. Just if we can beat Burnley convincingly, you know, if we can make it a three, a four or a five, then there's actually a world in which maybe having just predicted that City might outscore us, maybe we might get the job done in that game. But ultimately, when all is said and done, just win your games. Just just win your games and you'll be champions. And it comes down to that. So, sorry if some of you are watching this video feeling like I've majorly over complicated it. Sorry if a lot of you are watching it thinking, James, this is really a lot simpler than you put it. I just wanted to look at every potential path to glory and understanding what needs to be done.

[00:12:44]To sum it up, City have to beat Palace and they have to beat Bournemouth because if we beat Burnley and they don't win one of those games, we'll be champions. And if we don't beat Burnley, it will be a little bit of a disaster because I think the goal difference goes massively in City's favor from that point as well. But if we beat Burnley convincingly, then a draw on the weekend against Palace might just be enough because we might have accumulated the goals in that game.

[00:13:07]Simple. Now, the final thing I want to touch on is the players coming back to help potentially. Jurian Timber has not been ruled out of playing some part in this season. Hand of Arsenal has said that he is working to be back and they have not ruled him out for the season.

[00:13:20]Ben White has been. My heart goes out to him. Hope he's all right. I cover that in more detail on Goverse News. ML Marino could make a return. That could be a big one, too. clutch player who gets big moments. He's trying to make it back for the World Cup. I think if he is fit, he will make it to the World Cup because he's played a big part for Spain, but will he play another part for Arsenal this season? That would be interesting. You know, even if we can bring him on in a Champions League final, he could play a big part. And then Rodri, now we're Arsenal fans.

[00:13:45]We're only caring about Arsenal, but Rodri being a miss for Man City, I think, has shown at times. We've been a little bit vulnerable against Brenford, though, winning 3-0. And of course, they conceded three goals at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in the 3-3 draw against Everton. Rodri's return could spell a little bit and Pep Guardiola has said that he's feeling better and that you know after training they were going to make an assessment on him being back for Palace tonight. But I think him returning will give them an air of calm solidity. It just adds a massive massive part of their spine back. So I expect City to actually win their games between now and the end of the season. I actually think they'll beat Bournemouth too because I think Rodri will just about make that difference and make sure they get over the line in those games.

[00:14:23]So Arsenal once again win your games but imagine that they beat Palace. Imagine we beat Burnley and there's all eyes on Bournemouth and Donia's last game at home as a Bournemouth manager as they chase Champions League football as they chase Aston Villa as well. It's going to be fascinating to see whether you know they leave it all out there and do us a bit of a favor. So loads there to go into. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below people. What do you think's going to happen? How would you like it to happen? We'd all like Arsenal to win it at home, wouldn't we? But let's see. Now, everyone, just to let you know, I won't actually be available to do a match reaction for the Burnley game. I can only apologize. Shoy will be though. Shoy is available to get content out on Gooniverse News. And I will, yeah, I will, you know, try get something out for the uh well, for if if things go well, I I'll try and get a piece of content out. I'll actually be away in Kenya. Apologies, but just to let you know that you won't get a Go Universe news reaction from me unless I am able to. I'm just not 100% sure I will be able to. Um, so apologies for that. But of course, you will be hearing from me. You will be getting content, you know, around it all as much as possible and Shereoy will be keeping everything uh covered on Go Universe News 2 in terms of the news. So yeah, look out for that. Big big thank you everyone. Hope you've enjoyed this video. Hope I haven't over complicated.

[00:15:48]If I have, forgive me. Um, I I'm hoping that there's some people out there who didn't find it as simple to follow just looking at the numbers. Um, because I I struggled, but maybe this has helped it make a little bit more sense. Big thanks. Subscribe to the channel and I'll see you very soon.