WHAT EXACTLY IS MIKEL ARTETA’S "FUN BOAT" AND WHY SHOULD FANS JOIN NOW?
Mikel Arteta calls on Arsenal fans to join the "fun boat" as Saliba and Timber are ruled out of the Kairat Almaty showdown.
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Mikel Arteta says he called his players together after the loss to Manchester United to calm things down. He’s also urging Arsenal fans to “jump on the fun boat” instead of stressing out after that tough defeat.
Losing 3-2 to United at the Emirates definitely hurt Arsenal’s title hopes. They’ve only managed two points from their last three games, which isn’t great. Still, they’re four points clear at the top of the league. Now, they’re gearing up to face Kairat Almaty at home in the Champions League, trying to keep their perfect run in Europe. They’re also on track in the Carabao Cup and still fighting in the FA Cup.
Arteta’s pretty upbeat about how his team responded after the United loss. He said, “We took a minute on Monday to cool off, think things through, and ask ourselves two questions: How do we feel, and how do we want to spend the next four months?”
He called the meeting “encouraging and beautiful” because what came out of it was simple: they’ve earned the right to be in this spot, fighting on all fronts. For the next four months, Arteta wants everyone—players, staff, and fans—to play and live with enjoyment, courage, and real belief they can win.
“This is our mindset and where we’re putting our energy,” he said. “I hope everyone connected to Arsenal, especially the fans, jumps on board. We deserve to enjoy this.”
Arteta made it clear this kind of meeting isn’t new—they do it every few weeks, win or lose. “It’s important to see things as they really are, not just how they look. Sometimes you’ve got to zoom in; sometimes you need the big picture. I told the players how good they are and how lucky we are to work with them, and to make sure we enjoy every moment because it’s our time.”
Arsenal haven’t won the league in 22 years, and they’ve finished second three years in a row. So, yeah, that history is weighing on some fans’ minds. Some even booed at the final whistle against United. Arteta gets it, but he says the past is there to teach, not to hold you back.
“That’s why I want everyone to get on board,” he said. “This is going to be fun. The excitement and belief you need to chase a dream—that’s how we’re going to do this. We’re giving everything.”
For the game against Kairat, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino are suspended, and injuries will keep Jurriën Timber and William Saliba out, too.
WHY GYOKERES BELIEVES SALIBA AND GABRIEL ARE FOOTBALL'S BEST CENTER-BACK DUO
Viktor Gyokeres praises Arsenal's Saliba and Gabriel as the best defensive duo before the Champions League semi-final vs Atletico.
Viktor Gyokeres doesn’t hide how lucky he feels training with Gabriel and William Saliba. For him, this is as good as it gets for a centre-back pairing. “Honestly, I don’t think you can find better centre-backs than what we have,” he said. “Training against them, playing with them, I'm blessed, really.”
David Raya’s about to snatch another Golden Glove, thanks in no small part to the guys right in front of him. Seventeen clean sheets in the Premier League don’t come easy, and it’s Gabriel and Saliba who keep things solid at the back. They’ve become one of the best partnerships you’ll see anywhere, and Arsenal’s banking on them to help push for just their second Champions League final ever.
Next up, Arsenal face Atletico Madrid at home on Tuesday night, the second leg of the semi-final, after drawing 1-1 in Spain last week.
Gyokeres is hitting his stride, too. After his two goals against Fulham on Saturday, he’s up to 21 for the season. The Swede’s different since the new year rolled in. 14 of those goals came in 2026, and you can tell he’s getting more comfortable in an Arsenal shirt with every match. “You get to know everyone, you settle into life, and the routines – just everything – about changing clubs,” he said. “The more you play together, game after game, the easier it gets.”
There’s something else: Gyokeres has scored his last 27 penalties, including the one that buried Fulham. That coolness from the spot might come in handy if things are still locked after 120 minutes on Tuesday. So, what goes through his head when lining up for a penalty? “Don’t try to think too much. Just put it in the back of the net,” Gyokeres said. That’s pretty much it.
When someone asked if Arsenal had spent extra time practising penalties ahead of the big game, Gyokeres just smiled and said, “No comment.”
TITLE RACE MATH: WHY ARSENAL’S SIX-POINT LEAD CHANGES THE PRESSURE ON MAN CITY
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal rediscovered their flowing football in a dominant win over Fulham, putting immense pressure on Manchester City.
Arsenal finally looked like themselves again, brushing past Fulham with the kind of confident, flowing football they showed earlier in the season, not the sluggish stuff fans have sat through lately.
Right from kickoff, they flew at Fulham and pretty much had the game wrapped up in the first half. That win nudges them six points ahead of Man City, though City has two games in hand. With just three matches left, every point feels golden. City heads to Everton on Monday for the first of those crucial fixtures.
This wasn’t just a win; it was a real confidence boost. Perfect timing, too, with the Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid just around the corner. You could see Arsenal were sharp right from the start. No signs of tired legs after that trip to Madrid. Myles Lewis-Skelly looked thrilled to finally get a start, and Trossard wasted no time getting involved, nearly scoring early on.
It didn’t take long for Arsenal to get the opener. Less than 10 minutes in, Saka, who wore the armband, danced past Jimenez (who slipped) and squared the ball for Gyokeres. An easy tap-in, his twentieth goal of the season. Not a bad haul for his debut year, especially considering how much criticism he’s taken.
Funny enough, the goal came at almost the same time as last week’s against Newcastle. But this time, Arsenal wanted to avoid the nerve-shredding finish they had then. They looked determined to put Fulham away early.
Fulham hardly touched the ball in that first half. Lukic picked up a yellow for hacking down Eze; it summed up Fulham’s frustration. They’ve never found much luck at Arsenal, and today continued that streak. Their fans barely had moments to cheer.
Leno spilt a cross at one point but managed to block Gyokeres’ follow-up. Saka blasted the rebound wide with the goal gaping, then Trossard floated a beauty to Calafiori at the back post, but the header was ruled out for offside.
Arsenal’s attacking play finally paid off again. Eze slipped a perfect ball through to Gyokeres, who held it up and teed up Saka, bursting into the box and finishing low into the corner.
Their confidence kept growing. Calafiori, charging forward again, set up Eze for a shot that bent just wide. Arsenal didn’t want the half to end, and with good reason. Just before the whistle, Trossard whipped in a great cross, and Gyokeres headed home for his second. Arsenal went into halftime cruising.
Arteta could actually afford to give Saka a rest, taking him off at the break to save his legs for Tuesday. Rice also got a breather soon after.
Fulham did show a little more bite after halftime. Jimenez hit one just over, and Castagne twice came close from a corner and then with a quick shot after the ball dropped to him at the edge of the box.
Arsenal could’ve pushed for more goals to boost their goal difference, but they opted to see the game out sensibly. Still, they nearly made it four when Calafiori’s header bounced off Leno’s head and onto the bar.
And then there was Max Dowman, who went on a mazy run from halfway; weaving through defenders, if that shot had found the net, people would be talking about it for years.
In the end, it was just the performance Arsenal needed: sharp, confident, and a reminder of what they’re capable of.
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