Billy Carpenter
@billycarpy.bsky.social
Write about Arsenal. I also write for SCOUTED. Here's my newsletter: https://billycarpenter.substack.com/
— Rice+Bruno 🔥, best pivot in the world — Rice+Zubi 🔥, won a title — Rice+MLS 🔥, saw late-season — Bruno+MLS 🔥, you can cover any deficiencies with distances — Zubi+Bruno 🔥, same — MLS+Zubi pivot only non-ideal pairing IMO. Zubi best when free, MLS too risky deep for that
Billy Carpenter@billycarpy.bsky.social · 1h agoI like it better with a #10, but don't discount the possibility of a Bruno/Rice/Zubimendi midfield at times, either. Bruno and Zubimendi are great in the pockets.
I like it better with a #10, but don't discount the possibility of a Bruno/Rice/Zubimendi midfield at times, either. Bruno and Zubimendi are great in the pockets.
Interesting finding from this, as I got some great off-ball running data from @gradientsports.bsky.social: Every one of the top-25 players in Belgium for underlaps was either a full-back or wide-CB, except one: Tzolis.
Billy Carpenter@billycarpy.bsky.social · 2d agoAfter his debut, here's my massive deep dive on Arsenal's new left-winger: his physical profile, dribbling, movement, passing, crossing, shooting, temperament, and how his game will translate. Enjoy. ❤️ 😅
After his debut, here's my massive deep dive on Arsenal's new left-winger: his physical profile, dribbling, movement, passing, crossing, shooting, temperament, and how his game will translate. Enjoy. ❤️ 😅
Scouting Christos Tzolis
After his debut, a deep dive on Arsenal's new left-winger: his physical profile, dribbling, movement, passing, crossing, shooting, temperament, and how his game will translate
billycarpenter.substack.com
After his debut, here's my massive deep dive on Arsenal's new left-winger: his physical profile, dribbling, movement, passing, crossing, shooting, temperament, and how his game will translate. Enjoy. ❤️ 😅
Scouting Christos Tzolis
After his debut, a deep dive on Arsenal's new left-winger: his physical profile, dribbling, movement, passing, crossing, shooting, temperament, and how his game will translate
billycarpenter.substack.com
I love preseason. I really do. Where else are you gonna see a Lewis-Skelly + Fábio Vieira double pivot?
Genuinely there have only been 1-2 appearances total where he wasn’t the most threatening player
Billy Carpenter@billycarpy.bsky.social · 5mo agoDowman has strolled into cup games, the Premier League, the Champions League, and random friendlies. If you've watched, you'll know that more often than not, he's been the best player on the pitch.
We need a right-back with some tempo/midfield qualities and Arteta just watched a Spanish hybrid head in a corner while wearing the armband. It is written.
TL;DR: It's totally fine, considering everything else he'd bring.
Donczew's legs snap into action like two beaks in the soil: early birds getting their worms. While opponents swat at their alarms, eyes groggy, another late lunge at life, he has long since greeted the pre-frost morning. Ready, always ready. (I've never seen him play football)
Jacob Tanswell@jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 2w agoNew: Arsenal expected to complete the signing of Axel Donczew from Cardiff City. 16yo winger was Cardiff's youngest ever player when he made debut in October 2025. Agreement not yet signed, but close. Story @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/746...
The Garnacho and Rogers deals are SEPARATE. The only reason I didn't make it as an F1 driver is because of my HEIGHT. There is NOTHING GOING ON between my wife and her scuba instructor.
One of the bigger glow-ups of late, Ferran Torres. Look good, play good.
You will have big dreams for the type of player your club could sign at right-back. And then you will survey the actual right-back market.
I can step in to arbitrate as needed. The laughably low price you got him at was £15m. The laughably high price you now quote is £130m. The midpoint of said two laughable numbers is £72.5m. We have a deal.
Billy Carpenter@billycarpy.bsky.social · 3w agoJust saw the original fee that Villa paid for Rogers again and gasped £8m + £7m possible add-ons
Just saw the original fee that Villa paid for Rogers again and gasped £8m + £7m possible add-ons
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Tzolis in the last two seasons of the JPL Champions' Playoffs, facing Belgium's top teams: — 20 starts — 16 goals — 15 assists — (31 G+A total) I've got a lot of nuanced opinions that I'm writing up, but that's pretty wild.
Different games require different things, but everything else held constant, this is how I prefer to kill a game: a bunch of 28-year-olds passing it around in the wide areas
Billy Carpenter@billycarpy.bsky.social · 3w agoThere was plenty of "suffering," but the least-miserable I was when Arsenal were protecting a one-goal lead was with mature, technical security: — Screenshot 1: Calafiori, Havertz, Trossard come on against Brighton — Screenshot 2: Trossard, Jesus come on against Sporting
There was plenty of "suffering," but the least-miserable I was when Arsenal were protecting a one-goal lead was with mature, technical security: — Screenshot 1: Calafiori, Havertz, Trossard come on against Brighton — Screenshot 2: Trossard, Jesus come on against Sporting
What would you prefer as my next piece? A. Attacker rankings B. Full Tzolis scouting report
I don't have strong opinions on the refereeing generally, but the pre-penalty waits have been a mess. Nobody but the GK should be allowed in the box until it's ready, and from there the process should be totally predictable. And refs need to stop talking and moving.
Covered here: Arsenal won three more games than Man City, but spent ~7% less time in winning game-states. Arsenal were the best second-half team in the league by far. But scores staying close = more grinding out second halves = more difficult to rotate vital defensive cogs.
Billy Carpenter@billycarpy.bsky.social · 4w agoI've spent the last few weeks looking at the Arsenal season (and analytics from @gradientsports.bsky.social) to help inform what we do next: six strengths to fortify, five tangible ways to improve, and what it all means for the summer business. Here's my new long-read.
