Sometimes, you need luck in sport—luck you can’t control.
We really could have done without playing after Liverpool this weekend. It’s hard enough to beat the champions without the added pressure. That pressure comes from the league leaders winning at Bournemouth, meaning we have to win just to keep the gap at six points. Anything less, and the difference between the two sides could be in double digits, with the Merseyside Derby looming in midweek.
When I say we struggle to beat Man City in the league, our 1-0 win in this fixture last season was our first success in a decade. What are the chances of three points in must-win conditions if you’ve beaten a team once in your last 17 Premier League meetings?
Normally, a draw against Pep Guardiola wouldn’t be the end of the world, but you sense we can’t afford to blink before Liverpool’s game in hand. That’s what Arne Slot will be telling his players in every meeting. While he won’t say it publicly, they could wrap up the title very soon.
What frustrates me is that this isn’t a great Liverpool side, yet we’ve failed to put them under any real pressure. They’ve slipped up, but we haven’t taken advantage, meaning every week they play with the freedom of having room for error. The Dutchman would have made sure there was no complacency on Saturday, reminding his players that a win on the south coast would leave us facing the team that has dominated the league—crippled by the fear of failure.
There’s been a lot of debate this week about what certain pundits have said. But one conversation I do agree with is that every week we play on the edge—one mistake away from a crisis, one more blow from being knocked out.
Outside of the North London Derby, the atmosphere at our stadium has slipped back to the days when it didn’t take much for anxiety to grow in the stands. That’s because Gooners can sense we’re not playing at the level of champions—and certainly aren’t entertained.
Of course, our owners could have helped. Had they demanded a striker be signed at the start of the month, maybe we wouldn’t be out of the FA Cup, wouldn’t be 2-0 down in the Carabao Cup, and would be closer to Liverpool.
It would almost be cruel if they bought someone on deadline day—when it’s too late.
Long term, though, it would be massive for our development if we could build the mindset to get over the line.
History shows that under Mikel Arteta when it’s squeaky bum time, we lack the leaders to handle the occasion. We have a fantastic young team, and I do think one year it will happen for us—if we keep the group together. But we still need to prove we have the mentality to cope when the lights are brightest.
It’s matchday, yes it is!!! COYG! 🙂
Think the tittle is all over but Arsenal still need to make a statement against City and win the game regardless not sure they will can see it ending in a draw. Now Watkins looks like he’s injured that should be the end of that transfer and personally quite relieved as fail to see why would pay 60 mill for a nearly 30 year old who I still have huge doubts would score us the goals we need to win us the prem league be surprised if sign anyone now as usual with Arsenal transfer buisness they leave it to late and generally ends up in panic buying!
How can the author be that arrogant to say this is not a great Liverpool side when stats are saying otherwise. Top of CL and top of EPL?
We should be favourites to beat a dangerous City side today if the manager picks the right players for the job and in right positions
I think you want to say they are great to disguise our failings
If we had played at the levels of our last two years we would be closer
Missed opportunity
What’s your basis Dan? We were on 49 points at this stage last year and Liverpool had 51 points?
Yeah 2 points behind ?
Don’t get your point
It means we are playing at the level of last year if the difference in points is just 2. We are not closer to Liverpool because they have upped their game while we have remained constant contrary to what you have said
It was in the second half we upped our performances but that looks unlikely right now, you are right we have been similar in the first half season I think Salah is the difference between the two clubs it’s a pity we’ve had two key players out for long spells and chopping and changing at the back otherwise I think we’d be right up there
I didn’t say Liverpool have not been good
I said we have not been on the level of last season.
You pointing out we have less points now is a strange point
Yet I wouldn’t even use that as a reference point
Week after week are not playing the same style needed to go on the run it would now take
Little things like we beat Liverpool last season right so imagine us two points more., them 2 points less
That’s because last season we attacked them and won
This year we showed too much respect and sat back
Mentally, yes. But Arsenal need to vary their attack since Guardiola has been familiar with Arteta’s tactics and it could be solved by signing someone with an excellent hold-up play
@Gai, you are very right👌
That’s why I am yet to consider Arteta as a football genius, he doesn’t vary his tactics and a bit rigid with his system making him predictable by top Epl coaches. It is always difficult for him to beat PepG team because he is used to Arteta’s tactics.
Like we have mentioned all season, if Havertz is marked out who else can come from the bench?
Imo, the match today is more like a draw. I will be happy though if Arsenal wins.
I just hope Martinelli/ Nwaneri will play inverted-winger and wear their scoring boots tonight
We might need individual brilliance like Martinelli’s dribbling skills or set-pieces to score against Man City
Gripe, Complain, Moan about anything that could even remotely be perceived as negative (except luck of course) about your favorite club in a forum that has been deemed irrelevant to anything changing in the non-cyber world. Whatever floats your boat, carry on enjoying being a fan of that club without ambition, winning mentality, etc etc
Accept , spend money , make excuses
Be positive for the sake of positivity
Carry on spending one of the most expensive tickets in Europe for a failing product
Whatever floats your boat
Carry on being content with 0 titles in 21 years , O trophies in 5 years , never competing in Europe ,etc
Yes, fans accept their favorite club with all of its good and bad points without always making a concerted effort to harp on anything they consider bad and while rarely mentioning the good. All real fans of any club want their club to do better but that’s not the point. Being content or not has nothing to do with it. I could go on forever to cherry pick facts which indicate that I’m supporting a fine product. All a matter of perspective and which facts you choose to use. Choice being the key term.
It’s sport – the point of sport is to try and compete and win
If we are not trying to do that yet being asked to pay some of the most expensive tickets in the world then yes I will point that out
You make out that sometimes we do good but we only focus on the bad
It’s been two decades ?
Please cherry pick those facts because I love to hear them
Remember this is sport
Manager second highest paid in Europe , fans some of the most expensive tickets
So tell me what your content with that makes it worth not winning ?
We win today I’ll write a positive article
We win the CL I’ll write a positive article
If we finish 2nd and go out in the last 8 and I truly feel we needed a striker then I’m asked to pay what we pay
I will question it
Being positive for the sake of it doesn’t make you a better supporter and in fact the more who.tolerate it , the longer they get away with it
When it comes to Arsenal and I have a choice of being positive for the sake of it (or based on “facts”) vs. being negative for the sake of it (or based on “facts”), I gladly choose the former. If I didn’t want to tolerate whatever the club has achieved or become and the inevitable ups and downs, then I would not be a gooner.
So what ups are there that make you think we are not allowed to want more then 1 title in 21 years ?
Reminding you this is sport
Of course, we are allowed to want anything including more than 1 title in 21 years. Should we feel entitled to it, no. If we do feel entitled and it hasn’t happened, are there other reasons to be fans? If not, what are we doing here? We are allowed to want more (and we all do if we are fans) whether we are 2nd or 16th and also allowed to gripe, complain, and moan when we don’t get it and but also offer constructive criticism or praise and suggest potential ways to obtain more. Which facts we focus on is up to us.
Yeah and I’m not saying we have to win the title ( wouldn’t still be here ) but I do think our owners have a duty to do the best they can to give us a chance and they have not done that in the summer or this month
I’ll ask again , what facts outweigh fans wanting a sports team to win more then one title in 21 years when they are paying some of the most expensive tickets ?
Again not black and white as in you have to win but just try
Whatever facts don’t have to outweigh the fans desires as they have a perfect right to them. How they express their desires is also a right but also a decision to make.
What facts though ?
Gotta focus on Spud getting their …. kicked at the Gtech (I hope).
Dan, how much does Silent Stan still owe Deutsch Bank on the loan he took out to buy all the shares so he could become the sole owner of The Arsenal ?
How much does the club still owe him for buying out the bonds the club took out for the finance of building the new stadium ?
Do we have to watch how much we spend due to FFP and PSR ?
Which top clubs sell their main striker in the January transfer window ?
These are all things that have to be taken into consideration.
Given we spent very little in the summer ( net) if your telling me we have no money then we need answers .
All reports say we are not close to breaching FFP rules and the money is there .
I don’t think anyone is asking for a world class striker but better then what we have
In terms of better what we have , they have been available
No, I’m not saying we have no money, just saying the things I’ve listed have to be taken into consideration.
Ok you don’t necessarily think we should sign a world class number 9, so what other number 9 do you think we should sign then ?
Mate loads of options we could have / could still get that are better then what we have in terms of finishing
Let me stress I like Havertz and it’s not his fault
Dan, it’s their choice as to whether they buy the tickets – that has nothing whatsoever to do with winning the title, or finishing second two years running does it?
I’ll tell you what Dan, I’ll just concede they don’t exist. You win!
Oh wait, Odegaard scored. Does that count? Wait, it wasn’t perfect! Terrible, new players please. 🤦♂️
You are wasting your time Bruised Banana, Dan supports his ego first and foremost. Arsenal come a distant second. I only come on here speriodically these days due to the constant threads of negativity and moronic analysis. COYG means something to so many, often lost on quasie supporters such as Dan.
Well I support my opinion bevsuse …it’s my opinion.
Someone saying another person has an ego if they disagree with them probably mean you in fact have the ego
When the team does well Ill say it , when they are poor I will say it
As the topic is the transfer window I can’t be positive yet because we have not done anything ?
Sadly, it appears everyone on this site wastes their time with Dan unless they want to debate forever in a vacuum. He certainly stands out and I suspect in his mind that is a compliment. That’s his choice of course but he is one reason I have seriously questioned if coming to JA for what are other insightful and open minded comments and articles is worth my time. His activity certainly drives up the number of comments and he is no doubt winning the battle to keep those like you and me away from the site but I’m not sure JA’s owners and operators should be happy about it. Now, back to our winning (sorry Dan) gunners against city.
Simple answer is no!!! This season is a washout – arsenal are out of the FA cup, soon to be eliminated from the ‘comedy cup’, soon to be completely out of the title race!! The best they can hope for is securing top four status and try win the champions league (again not likely)
Can’t see us winning then again again if we had a 1st class finisher we’d beat the bejesus out of City but the chances Havertz missed in the last 4 games you just can’t do against City and he’ll miss them again
I wish our team all the best today hoping somehow someone standout to win us this match. That’s all that matters to us fans.Just a win and we are happy.
I know i don’t read on the same page with the teams management and I may be wrong coz they know better but I believe if we were able to add some quality upfront either in the summer or even in January we would have had a great season.
I have a feeling,it will be regrets at the end of the season on how we narrowly missed on silverware because we chose to be ignorant of obvious facts.
A win today will likely mask the problems we have. A search for a striker will be put on hold again as has been over seen in recent seasons
Will get something done mate even if it’s a body
They know fans won’t be happy else
I have no confidence in us winning this match without Saka.
Martinelli and Havertz wastefulness in the final third is too costly and it does show in such big matches like this.
Hopefully, they turn up today and create and bury their chances.
Room for error is the key words here. This Liv side reminds me a lot of our 22/23 teams not expected to win, started like a house on fire and created a big gap. Then used said gap as a way to reduce the pressure as they still get afford slip ups.
Who knows maybe they get some key injuries, have some bad luck, drop form like we did then the pressure is on. Can we keep up with them until then? well looking at us right now No chance in hell.
Kai,
We are going nowhere fast, please those who can influence Arteta, make him to understand that he needs a center forward. Other teams even the ones with best players, they are buying players. Why Not Arteta??? Look at the chances that Kai is kicking outside