Sam Dean
@samjdean.bsky.social
📤 6947
📥 244
📝 498
Football reporter for the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph.
Injury update from Mikel Arteta 🇫🇷William Saliba: "A matter of days" 🇧🇪Leandro Trossard: "A matter of days" 🇩🇪Kai Havertz: "A matter of weeks" 🇧🇷Gabriel: "A matter of weeks"
1 day ago
4
27
8
The disconnect between the
#THFC
players and fans leaves Thomas Frank in a delicate, dangerous position. He is walking the trickiest of tightropes. With Daniel Levy gone, Frank must avoid becoming the new lightning rod.
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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Thomas Frank must not become the new lightning rod for Spurs fans
Without Daniel Levy, head coach is exposed and walking fine line between backing players and avoiding war with supporters
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/12/02/thomas-frank-cannot-become-new-lightning-rod-for-spurs/
1 day ago
1
2
0
Arteta on Trossard’s fitness: "With Leo there is another test today. It didn’t look like much. There is a potential chance [he could be available]."
#AFC
5 days ago
0
18
1
Interesting that Arsenal have produced their best two performances of the season (in my opinion) with Mikel Merino up front. He brings the best out of the attacking players around him. Such a smart player.
7 days ago
4
54
1
Fun fact: Bayern's starting lineup at the Emirates tonight contains as many London-born players as Munich-born.
7 days ago
0
25
5
Luis Munoz, a 13-year-old attacking midfielder in the Arsenal academy, has just become the youngest player in the history of the Uefa Youth League. He’s come onto the pitch as a 86th minute substitute for
#AFC
against Bayern Munich. Born December 2011.
7 days ago
6
51
18
Arsenal are closely monitoring Spanish midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza and are weighing up a potential move for the 20-year-old.
#AFC
face intense competition from other European giants if they decide to formalise their interest.
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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Arsenal tracking Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza
Spanish midfielder, who has a £17.5m release clause, is viewed as someone who can be developed for the future
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/11/25/arsenal-transfer-news-rodrigo-mendoza-elche-arteta-midfield/
8 days ago
4
15
10
Arsenal goal involvements in all competitions: 10 - Trossard 8 - Eze, Rice 6 - Saka, Gyokeres 5 - Martinelli, Merino, Timber, Gabriel
10 days ago
1
102
11
Teams at the Emirates:
#AFC
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Merino, Trossard
#THFC
Vicario; Spence, Danso, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Kudus, Palhinha, Bentancur, Odobert; Richarlison
10 days ago
0
8
2
On the streets of Morocco, thousands of dogs are being brutally killed. Shot, poisoned, starved, beaten and burned. Animal rights groups say the massacre is a gruesome clean-up operation ahead of the World Cup/AFCON. Morocco denies that. Special report:
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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Morocco is killing thousands of dogs because of the World Cup
Awareness and anger are growing both internationally and within country, threatening to overshadow football’s most prestigious event
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/11/12/morocco-killing-thousands-dogs-2030-world-cup-2030/
21 days ago
2
8
1
Mikel Merino's success as an emergency striker says a lot about his quality as a footballer, but probably says even more about his character. There's a reason he was promoted to Arsenal's leadership group this season.
29 days ago
2
50
1
Arteta on Dowman: "The first ball he gets, he takes people on. He starts to dribble and gets a foul. That is personality, that is courage. You cannot teach that—you either have it or you don’t. It doesn’t matter what his passport says, you throw him in and he is able to adapt."
29 days ago
0
33
3
Arsenal have now gone 776 minutes without conceding in any competition. The last player to score against them was Newcastle's Nick Woltemade in September.
29 days ago
0
64
18
Here’s Arsenal’s lineup in Prague: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Nwaneri, Norgaard, Rice; Saka, Merino, Trossard
#AFC
29 days ago
0
6
0
Arteta on the Palace Cup game being played on 23 December: “Hopefully then they will move our Premier League match. I am sure they will change the Premier League date as well.”
#AFC
30 days ago
0
6
0
Mikel Arteta, speaking in Prague, says Viktor Gyokeres is definitely not available for tomorrow night. “We need to do some more tests and scans to understand the extent of the injury.”
#AFC
30 days ago
1
7
0
Arteta: "Gyokeres was feeling a little of niggle, muscular. Zubi asked to be subbed, so we have to wait."
#AFC
about 1 month ago
0
23
15
Seven consecutive clean sheets for Arsenal, who have not conceded a goal in 686 minutes of action. In three of their last four Premier League games, they have not even allowed a single shot on target. They are ridiculously solid right now.
about 1 month ago
0
39
3
Attacking stats at half-time.
about 1 month ago
0
18
4
This has surely been the best half of football that Vikor Gyokeres has played for Arsenal, and probably by some distance? Holding it up, switching play, finding through balls.
about 1 month ago
7
82
7
The Arsenal fans at Burnley are celebrating every corner like it's a goal. I suspect they're finding this "Set Piece FC" thing even more enjoyable now that rival fans keep complaining about it.
about 1 month ago
3
29
1
Here’s the
#AFC
team at Turf Moor. Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
about 1 month ago
0
12
2
Since he started taking corners and free-kicks, Declan Rice has been the best set-piece taker in Europe. Renowned dead-ball specialists aren't even close to matching his output. Here's how he does it & how
#AFC's
happy accident became a crucial weapon
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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Declan Rice is the Premier League’s best set-piece taker
Arsenal midfielder has been twice as effective from set-pieces as any other footballer in England’s top flight over past two years
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/10/31/how-declan-rice-became-premier-leagues-best-set-piece-taker/
about 1 month ago
2
12
0
Moments after Max Dowman sends Diego Gomez to Tottenham with a lovely drop of the shoulder, Gomez clatters into Dowman with a painful late foul. I suspect those two events might have been linked.
about 1 month ago
0
12
0
Arsenal's bench tonight is... seriously, seriously strong. Is it the best bench in their history? Genuine question. Raya, Gabriel, Timber, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Trossard, Saka, Gyokeres
about 1 month ago
1
17
0
Dowman becomes the youngest player to start a match in Arsenal's history.
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 month ago
2
123
8
Max Dowman and Andre Harriman-Annous start for
#AFC
against Brighton tonight. Kepa; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Nwaneri, Norgaard, Merino; Dowman, Harriman-Annous, Eze
about 1 month ago
1
10
4
Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley are on course to win a combined 160 points in the Premier League this season. Last year, the three promoted teams won a combined 59 points. It's a huge shift.
about 1 month ago
2
28
1
Seven consecutive wins for Arsenal. Five consecutive clean sheets. Three goals conceded all season. It's all looking quite serious.
about 1 month ago
2
96
7
Almost 30 minutes played at the Emirates, where Arsenal have had most of the ball but none of the shots. Palace are closing down all of Arsenal's usual avenues of attack, and then countering with menace. It's getting a bit edgy already.
about 1 month ago
0
9
0
Here’s a fun fact: Arsenal are the most left-footed team in Europe’s major leagues. This is not by chance — it’s a deliberate recruitment strategy. You might even call it an obsession for Arteta. Piece here on why it matters and how
#AFC
have done it
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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The reasons Arsenal became obsessed with left-footers
Mikel Arteta is fastidious about having lefties in defence while the club’s young attacking talents also share the trait
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/10/25/arsenal-left-footed-mikel-arteta-saka-odegaard-dowman/
about 1 month ago
0
12
1
Teams at the Emirates:
#AFC
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
#CPFC
Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Pino
about 1 month ago
0
6
0
Arsenal have now won seven matches in a row against Spanish opposition. No team has ever done that before in the Champions League.
about 1 month ago
5
180
33
Arsenal haven't unpicked the Atletico defence. They have smashed it to pieces. Better in every department: bigger, stronger, faster, smarter. Monstrous second-half performance.
about 1 month ago
1
67
4
Declan Rice's set-piece delivery is absurdly good/consistent. So much whip on that one.
about 1 month ago
0
29
0
Martin Zubimendi is so much more dynamic and aggressive than I thought he would be when he joined the club. He has adapted ridiculously well to probably the most complicated/demanding position in Arteta's system.
about 1 month ago
0
36
0
Here’s the
#AFC
lineup for tonight’s game against Atletico Madrid. Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
about 1 month ago
2
5
1
The leading defensive coach in Europe will be on the touchline at the Emirates tonight. Hint: it's not Diego Simeone. Arsenal have the best defensive record in Europe's major leagues since 2023. This season, they have become even stronger. Here's how:
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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Arsenal’s defence so good they are on course to equal Chelsea’s record
William Saliba and Gabriel’s partnership the cornerstone of a unit that has conceded just three goals in 11 games in all competitions
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/10/21/arsenal-defence-match-chelsea-record-goals-conceded-arteta/
about 1 month ago
2
30
2
Is Arsenal now the Josh Kroenke show? Not quite. Stan remains the ultimate boss. But there is no doubt that Josh's influence is growing. The dynamics are shifting at
#AFC
, a club that has been further "Kroenke-fied", and Josh is more powerful than ever.
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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Josh Kroenke: The man with Arsenal’s future in his hands
Former college basketball player and Walmart heir is the public face of club’s ownership with the board recently ‘Kroenke-fied’
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/10/16/josh-kroenke-arsenal-future-kse-ownership-stan-arteta/
about 2 months ago
0
4
0
Antoine Semenyo: probably the best all-round attacking force in the Premier League this season? Here's how he reached this point in his career (after quitting football at 15) and why his "blockbuster" two-footedness is such a formidable weapon.
#AFCB
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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How Antoine Semenyo became the Premier League’s most devastating player
Bournemouth winger has fought his way to the top after multiple academy rejections and loan spells at Bath City and Newport County
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/10/11/antoine-semenyo-bournemouth-premier-league-hottest-player/
about 2 months ago
1
2
0
Always good to hear from Jack Wilshere and he was as engaging as ever at his Luton Town unveiling today. He said this is a "new Jack Wilshere, a different Jack Wilshere" — and revealed a nice piece of advice from Mikel Arteta: jump and swim
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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The ‘new Jack Wilshere’ is determined to finally fulfil his potential as Luton manager
Former England midfielder, who is taking on his first full-time managerial role, will have experienced coach Chris Powell alongside him
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/10/13/jack-wilshere-luton-town-manager-arsenal-arteta-bloomfield/
about 2 months ago
0
7
0
Curious to see Sir Jim Ratcliffe backing Ruben Amorim by citing the early struggles of Mikel Arteta. It feels like a terrible comparison. In terms of playing style, tactics and "philosophy" in the first year, Amorim has basically taken the exact opposite approach to Arteta.
about 2 months ago
5
33
1
Arsenal built the Emirates Stadium for a future that never materialised. Just as they committed to the new arena, football's financial landscape mutated. It left them lagging behind. Now the game is changing again — and they need a better Emirates.
#AFC
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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The Emirates must be revamped to secure Arsenal’s future
North London club built stadium just as matchday income became less important and now the football landscape has changed again
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/10/07/arsenal-emirates-stadium-gamble-future-finance-kroenkes/
about 2 months ago
1
7
1
Ten games, three goals and a growing divide in the fanbase. It has been a curious start for Viktor Gyokeres at
#AFC
. His performance metrics have declined massively from last season (stats in piece), but how much does that matter? Analysis here
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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Arsenal fans are split on Viktor Gyokeres and here is why
Summer signing without a goal in six games but his movement and industry have been praised by Mikel Arteta and Bukayo Saka
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/10/06/viktor-gyokeres-arsenal-fan-split-goal-drought-stats/
about 2 months ago
8
2
4
Deal done. Viktor Gyokeres joins
#AFC
for £55m + £9m. Here's the story of an extraordinary saga: Berta’s strategy, Sesko interest, Keir Starmer’s plea, blackmail accusations, strike threats, broken pacts, army captains & Vogue covers
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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Strike threats, father’s tears and Keir Starmer’s plea: Inside Viktor Gyokeres’ £64m Arsenal move
Mikel Arteta finally has his striker but there were other options and negotiations with Sporting CP proved slow and tense
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/07/26/inside-viktor-gyokeres-arsenal-transfer-strikes-tears-sesko/
4 months ago
0
31
3
Arsenal came into the summer with plans to spend big on a centre-back. They wanted Dean Huijsen & showed strong interest in Marc Guehi. Here's why they pivoted towards the cheaper Cristhian Mosquera (initial £13m) instead. A hugely exciting talent.
#AFC
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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Why Arsenal ended up with Cristhian Mosquera after eyeing Marc Guehi and Dean Huijsen
Described ‘as the most precocious centre-back in Valencia’s history’, the 21-year-old is perfectly suited to north London club
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/07/24/arsenal-cristhian-mosquera-centre-back-spain-valencia/
4 months ago
0
18
1
Spurs are working on a move to sign João Palhinha from Bayern Munich. My understanding is that Arsenal also showed strong interest in Palhinha & explored a possible deal earlier this summer, before going for Christian Norgaard.
#AFC
#THFC
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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Tottenham plot Joao Palhinha move as LAFC bid for Son Heung-min
South Korean forward is contractually obliged to play in pre-season friendly in Seoul next month but could then depart after decade at club
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/07/24/tottenham-plot-joao-palhinha-move-son-heung-min-depart/
4 months ago
0
1
1
Hugo Ekitike is quick and gangly, scores goals in all sorts of different ways & can play in lots of different areas of the pitch. There are many similarities between him and Alexander Isak.
#LFC
will hope he can now follow a similar trajectory to Isak.
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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Liverpool hope Hugo Ekitike can be the next Alexander Isak – or even better
There are uncanny similarities between the two forwards but new Anfield arrival will need to brush up on his finishing
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/07/23/liverpool-sign-hugo-ekitike-next-alexander-isak-transfers/
4 months ago
3
1
3
Max Dowman has now played for Arsenal. He is only 15, but it feels like his debut has been a long time coming. Big read here on why there is so much excitement, his records/achievements at youth level & what the
#AFC
staff and players make of his talent.
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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A year from his GCSEs, 15-year-old Max Dowman is Arsenal’s star in the making
Mikel Arteta may have made a raft of summer signings but there is no holding back the teenage prodigy that has the whole club excited
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/07/23/15-year-old-max-dowman-arsenal-next-superstar/
4 months ago
0
25
1
Number of players signed for £50m+ by the so-called 'big six' clubs: 4 - Spurs 5 - Liverpool 7 - Arsenal 15 - United 15 - City 18 - Chelsea
4 months ago
2
31
4
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