Arsenal: not the time to panic by Jude
It was a devastating blow to our title challenge, no doubt. I was heartbroken. More heartbreaking was seeing my eight-year old daughter break down in tears after the final whistle was blown. We had joined the Emirates crowd in singing the “North London Forever” anthem with our usual fervent enthusiasm in the hope that Arsenal would continue their magical run. But that was not to be on Sunday.
It took quite sometime to get my distraught daughter consoled and collected. I reminded her how Arsenal have been giving us joy since the turn of the year, and that having won so many matches, it was not unusual for one to slip by us.
It was not the loss per se that was the issue, it was the approach of our lads to the game. Although losing 0-2 to Aston Villa at the Emirates at this stage of the season was quite disappointing, not putting up a fight, like it happened on Sunday, was even more shocking. We caressed the ball too much to the point of being lackadaisical sometimes; playing many passes at a spot without moving. We not only lacked our usual sharpness, we also lost our sense of competitiveness, played as if nothing was at stake and allowed Aston Villa to grow into the game and feel at home.
Anyway, like I told my daughter, it is not the end of the season. We still have six more matches to go and anything can still happen. This is football, never predictable. Who could have believed that Liverpool would lose at Anfield at this stage of the League to a Crystal Palace battling to barely keep their head above water? Indeed, anything can still happen with any of the three title contenders in their remaining matches. Nothing is cast in stone. The boys will have to put Sunday’s disappointment behind them and quickly regroup for the battles ahead. They must not allow their heads to hang low for too long or else results in the remaining matches of the season could even be more devaststing. That is the last thing they want.
We have been in this situation before, as recently as December of 2023 but we fought back and turned things around with the coming of 2024. We can do it again. The only option left for us now is to fight and fight till the end. We did not come this far to give up over one disappointment. I trust Mikel Arteta and the coaching staff to implement the necessary corrective measures before the next match.
As for the fans, we must do our part by rallying round the team and encourage them. Our lions have only been wounded and not decimated. They can fight back and regain their pride of place. But doing that will also depend partly on our reactions to such a setback as the one against Villa.
This is not the time to panic, it is the time to turn on the magic for a dramatic end of season that favours Arsenal. Yes, we can do it!
Jude Ndukwe sent this piece from Abuja, Nigeria
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
This team knows how to embarrass us, you cant even talk infront of others!
We went from controlling our own fate, back to hoping City drop points again.
The pressure and spotlight are too much for the players and manager at this point. It is difficult enough to beat a tough Villa side who are playing for CL football next year.
Unfortunately, Arteta moved Havertz to midfield, started a tootless Jesus up front, and started a defenseless Zinchenko at LB.
It was a tough match against Villa from the start, the manager’s lineup made it ever harder.
Jesus is best as an impact player, I was hoping we would start with Havertz up front. I think Zinchenko played because Arteta has had a rethink about Kwior, and Tomiyasu is still not 100%. For all of Zinchenko’s technical qualities going forward, he is an absolute liability as a defender. I love Trossard, but not out that wide. We are missing an in form Martinelli.
Never give up, but this was a big blow with only six games to go, and considering we still have the NDL and have to play Jekyll and Hyde Man Utd away.
The manager’s selection was poor. Of all the 5 games we lost this campaign, Havertz has played as 8 in 4 of them and Zincheko as left back in 4 of them.
They have played together in those positions 4 times and we scored nly once in those.
Does his staff not make this analysis?
Try Zinchenko as 8 and Havertz as 9. That’s a bettter combination.
What is Partey doing on the bench when he can form a formidable partnership with Rice and Odegarrd
City are not dropping points. They are the masters of this. They’ve never lost a clutch title race.
If we don’t beat Bayern, the season is finished.
“Clutch2??
We win Bayern on Wednesday and this Villa game will be forgotten. Win away to Wolves this weekend and we might have a glimmer of hope for the epl.
It’s looking like it’s over but it’s not yet over.
Football is crazy and Mancity might still drop points to Tottenham and Brighton.
Arteta needs to get his selection right this time starting from Wednesday.
Havertz.
Jesus. Odegaard. Saka.
Rice. Partey.
Tomiyasu. Gabriel. Saliba. White.
Raya.
Trossard, Martinelli, and Jorginho can come in second half.
Didn’t we say this 12 months ago ?
I also believe the manager forgot the cardinal principle that you don’t change a winning team unless there are strong reasons to do so. Jesus can no longer lead our striking line and Zinchenko can’t defend. I don’t know how the manager failed to realise this. Every team now know that if Zinchenko is in defence you stand a chance of beating Arsenal. Arteta should accept that Zinchenko is not a defender but a midfielder and the experiment of a converted left wing back with Zinchenko has failed! Any of Tomiyasu or Kiwior would have done better. What Arteta needs to do now is to lift up the team for Wednesday’s must win game at Allianz Arena which is a very big task.
Actually, Arteta and Arsenal would’ve won EPL if Guardiola didn’t manage an oil club in England
I bet no other managers could ever beat Guardiola in a long football competition except Klopp, because he’s so dominant and consistent
So, we have no chance because Arteta is not upto Pep and Klopp standards?
Yes that is true.
What has gadiola and man city got to do with us losing at home to villa, England and defeatist mentality, mourinho wrestled the league off him in Spain, no big club accepts such grab excuse as reason to fail.. the standard has been raised that you now need above 90% to win the league, City were awful around November and December going 6 matches without a win, yet could win the league with less than 90points..
We played City and took 4points showing they are not better than us, blame your team and management for playing bad, missing chances and losing, City is not the reason we can’t do our job same as Liverpool
Paul Merson is right. City won’t slip up now. They have depth and experience. We looked lost yesterday. We had one eye on Wednesday’s game at Bayern and that was a distraction. We looked heavy legged in the second half. That will carry to the next game. I hope I’m wrong but I don’t see us getting a good result at Bayern. Once again, our season looks to be crumbling just before the finish line..
This summer is absolutely important. They need to get the signings right and be ruthless with the clear out.
I’m tired of saying this but next season should be our season.
God!!! Arsenal wants to make me have football apathy but I just can’t stop loving the Arsenal FC.
I just have to lower my expectations and don’t get too attached so I don’t get too disappointed if we don’t get major trophies.
Sometimes I ask myself if the 2004 epl trophy is the only major trophy I will see since I started supporting Arsenal as a young supporter.
It’s looking like this season is 70% over.
Let me just cling to the 30% hope that we might beat Bayern and win the remaining 6 difficult epl games.
Let Wednesday come by fast. Let’s see how it goes.
How sad to see the above poster regard the FA CUP , which we won several times (since our Invincibles yearof2004, which he mentions as our last”major trophy”)as not a major trophy.
To me and to countless millions globally , the FA CUP remains a major trophy, despite what SJ recognises as “major”.
👍Spot on jon. Look at how many clubs and their fans would give their eye teeth to win one. Other clubs and their fans are envious of how many FA Cups Arsenal has won in its history.
Not knowing when not to lose has hunted us season after season
i think you are right, this is one result, still plenty more to come = don’t panic.
before the weekend Arsenal were 10 wins and 1 draw in the PL in 2024, we never realistically going to win all 7 remaining to make it 17 wins and 1 draw from 18 in 2024
what I trying to say is we were bound to drop points in those 18 games!
the fact we have is not the end of the world, or the PL title race
granted it makes things more difficult and probably need 5 wins and 1 draw minimum from the remaining 6 (47 points from possible 54 in 2024 is outstanding)
our problem of course is Man C have done too many times before from this position, but they too are likely to drop points too, yes even Man C
so let’s see what unfolds, but as the author says, don’t panic
How we lost
The panic is not about one result
It’s about the fact that we have seen this movie many times and gush we are talking about Manchester City in front, it could all unravel in one week if we bow out to bayern on Wednesday, one bad game could easily become 2,3 and season down, we have seen this many times
I completely agree with the writer. It’s obviously NOT over yet, especially if one considers that City will not be in premier league action this weekend, which shifts pressure on them therefore, if hopefully we win at Molineux this weekend. I don’t expect we go through on Wednesday, neither do i wish we do given what our reality currently is as a team, just like i said before the first leg, i think fans should brace up for this blessing which many will argue it’s a “dissapointment” cos we are not making it past Bayern on Wednesday. So sorry to hear about your little daughter though, i’m sure Mikel,his staff and the boys will make it up to us, by bringing the league title to the Emirates. COYG!!!
Clearly team composition issues against Villa, but suspect the intensity of our defensive press raises the risk of fatigue towards the end of the season? It has been effective, as evidenced by our defensive stats and position on the table. But hard to sustain over a long season, especially with European football in the mix. Ideally, more squad rotation.
I would have snapped your hands off if you’d told me we’d be only 2pts behind City with 6 games to go and going into the second leg of a CL QF tie all square against European giants Bayern.
That said, I do think the league is over as I can’t see City dropping points, and we may easily finish 3rd given our run-in.
We’re massive underdogs away against Bayern, so we’ll need some luck and a miracle!
If the club owner is happy with paying lots of money for no trophies then we as fans have to be determined to support Arsenal. Spending the money Arteta has been afforded must surely come with trophies. We have a manager who has failed to correct his mistakes from the previous season. His biggest downfall is favoritism. How does Zinchenko still play ahead of Kiwior and Tomiyasu? He is not good defensively. Whilst some advocate for him to be played in midfield how many balls does he lose or how many blind passes does he make every time he wanders into the midfield zone. Surely a serious manager would have correct that in any way possible.
We lost winnable games early in the season when Havertz was playing in midfield so why does the coach revert to that formula when all our midfielders are fit. Our regular players are tired yet we have quality players sitting on the bench with no game time at all. I don’t agree with the notion that we don’t have squad depth. We have quality players sitting on the bench who are lacking minutes whilst we overuse the same players. Gabriel, Rice, and Saka are out of gas yet we have Vieira, ESR, Tomiyasu and Nelson who can be used and bring in good results.
A coach is like a salesman who must bring orders to the table and not empty promises. Arteta has won only 1 trophy with a team he said was not good enough and not professional to his liking. We have a team that is very talented but unfortunately might end up with no trophies at all if the coach doesn’t improve on his shortcomings.
Which serious coach would buy Jesus and make him vice captain during the off season. What did Arteta see in Odegaard to make him captain ahead of Gabriel, Saka, and Tierney who were at the club before him.
Does Arteta have an effective plan B or C that can really work if his trusted players like Saka, Odegaard, Saliba, White, and Havertz are injured at once. With a squad of more than 25 players that must be possible but I highly doubt it’s the case with us.
If we don’t win any trophy this year it might be difficult to attract better players and also retain the ones we have. It is imperative we win one of the epl and CL for us to be a desired destination for players.
Fact of the matter is Arteta and Edu have been backed by the owners and haven’t delivered a trophy in 5 years. Runners up have no history in sport. Better to win FA cup and be number 4 than number 2 with no trophy at all.
If you don’t rotate players you will ruin your team and towards the end of the season results will be difficult to get. A player to refresh the body and mind. The pressure of playing weekly for the whole season takes a heavy toll on the body and mind. Rotating players also weakens the plans of the opponents as they maybe caught off guard with your line up.
The season is still there to salvage only if City drop points which only puts the team under more pressure. Let’s rally behind the team.
If Arteta doesn’t win something this season the good thing will be to fire him and bring in someone. 5 seasons is a lot considering how he has been supported in the market.
I coukd have written what you have wrote, along with many other knowledgeable posters on here. The only part, I now do disagree with (even though I said similar when he was made captain) is Odergaard has been a Captain by example and done better than I thought.
The sad thing is that a team needs its supporters when the going gets tough, not have the Emirates start to empty at 2-0 with 10 minutes to go.
A really bad look.
@Ozziegunner if the team continuously disappoints fans will act that way. Bad for the team confidence but also good that the owners and management must see that the fans are not happy. Fans pay a lot to watch either from home or attending matches. A lot of emotions are involved and the players and manager are paid lots of money they need to deliver.
The sad is the fact we have lost 5 games we should have collected a minimum of about 10 points. At this point we should be untouchable. Let’s not celebrate losing to Villa (twice), West Ham, etc. These are the games the coach needs to motivate his players as opposed to the big games where players are really self motivated to beat City and Liverpool.
I hope your daughter’s got over it Jude, we could do with more supporters like you & her.