Sam Dean

🌷Springtime Eze🌷 In the last four seasons, Eze has averaged 0.5 goals per game in March/April/May. In autumn and winter, he’s on 0.19 goals per game. He basically becomes twice the player during run-ins. Weird? Definitely. Exciting for Arsenal? Very. telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/…

Arteta on Eze: “I think he is building a better chemistry, a better understanding. We are starting to understand him much better.” #AFC

Arteta on Rice: "He was immense. Him and the whole team. The soul of the team, the passion they show in every action is remarkable. Doing it every three days is so difficult." #AFC

Might I politely suggest that the quality of Arsenal's goals tonight is a decent response to those who accuse them of playing ugly football? Two outstanding moments of individual quality.

The Emirates Stadium gives a standing ovation to David Raya after a spectacular save. Not for the first time this season. His highlights reel over the last two campaigns is a joke.

Maybe I should add Declan Rice to this... that's another brilliant goal.

@AFCAFCDK does the quality of the moment not count towards the quality of the goal? 🤔

@SamJDean Eze better goal, Dowman better moment

Fierce debate in the press room at the Emirates. Which goal was better?

Springtime Eberechi Eze is some player.

Five saves in 30 minutes by Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blaswich. He's having an outstanding night so far. Not sure how long he can keep this up, though...

Here’s the #AFC team to play Bayer Leverkusen. White and Trossard both start. Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres

Max Dowman: first spotted at the age of four. Broke records at 13, 14, 15 and now 16. A thrilling talent, a fabulous dribbler and a player who is fully trusted by his team-mates. Here’s how a GCSE student became Mikel Arteta’s wildcard in the title race: telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/…

Bottle? For Arsenal the key is bottling this feeling, this electricity of youth and the sense of adventure that Max Dowman brought to the Emirates Stadium. Report from a wild night: telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/…

Arteta on what he said to Dowman before the substitution: "Go and do your thing. Win us the game."

Arteta: "It was one of the best moments we have lived together at the Emirates. I had a gut feeling that it was a moment for him [Dowman]. He just plays so naturally. What he delivered was incredible." #AFC

So much to admire about that Dowman goal. I love that he got to this position and clearly didn’t even think about passing or shooting. Just dribbles past him like a 16-year-old kid who has been dribbling past opponents all his life.

That is one of the great Emirates moments.

Eighteen minutes to go and Arsenal need a moment. Arteta turns to Dowman.

Calafiori preventing a goal with a scorpion kick is the exact sort of thing Calafiori would do. Can't take your eyes off this guy

If Noni Madueke does start on the left wing today, as looks likely from the #AFC lineup, it will be his first start in that position since the 5-0 win against Leeds in August.