Arsenal 1-0 win over Shakhtar shows mental strength and is certainly not an ’embarrassment’

(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

If you read certain social media posts or listened to some YouTubers after Arsenal’s latest fixture on Tuesday night, you might have assumed we had dropped points?

I have come across the word ’embarrassment’ to describe our 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.

You don’t encounter that description too often to describe 3 points in the Champions League. Yet some Gunners seemed dispirited that this was ‘only’ the scoreline. Quite disrespectful to the opposition?

In hindsight the atmosphere at our stadium reflected that attitude, like a win was a formality and goals were a case of when and not if.

I do understand why sometimes a section of our fanbase come across as arrogant by our peers.

We do act like something that we are not.

Our players are built up like they are superior then they actually are.

A false narrative exists that this manager has achieved anything special.

We are imposters, acting like we belong at a level when we haven’t earned that right.

In reality we haven’t lifted the Prem in over two decades. Mikel Arteta has been knocked out of Europe by the likes of Villarreal, Olympiacos and Sporting Lisbon.

So, the Gunners are simply not good enough nor have we earned the right to be taking for granted any kind of win at the Head of UEFA’s table.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice of Arsenal. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

There are some encounters where the result is more important than the performance.

With two tricky away trips to follow in the CL, maximum points at the Emirates are vital if we want to finish in the top 8 of the table and avoid a playoff.

The outcome was all that mattered midweek and all that should matter. It’s unrealistic to have expected anything different.

Bournemouth was our first defeat since April so naturally confidence would have been hit.

Without Odegaard and Saka we are without our two best creative options.

So, when you are not at your maximum it takes skill to find a way to get over the line.

That actually shows great mental strength and shouldn’t be discounted.

Victory means we have 7 points out of 9 with us yet to concede a goal in the competition.

If that disappoints you, then nothing we will do in Europe will make you happy.

Be humble peeps.

 

Dan


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61 Comments

  1. A positive view on the match which I like. I agree with the importance of getting the 3 points. That’s all that matters after all.

  2. I’ve not noticed anyone saying the result was an embarrassment – I don’t doubt it has been said, but to that extent, surely every top 6 club has a section of “arrogant” fans?
    A lot of people have expressed disappointment and probably a feeling (fear?) that we’re inevitably going to fall short of winning a significant competition again. Sometimes, I find the way that is expressed to be disappointing, but not surprising.

  3. Dan it was a poor performance from most of the players, that atmosphere from the crowd was a result of players lacking fight and that’s what fans want to see, FIGHT!. Challenge for everyball, give that 100% . Yes we got the points ànd that matters, we’re the players complacent? Or ill prepared , Arteta said we will be up for the Liverpool game! Why weren’t we ready for the past two?

    1. Kenya001
      I know Arteta talked of fatigue and that is how it seemed in some respects- but to resort to the sideways tactic after about 20 minutes undermined the really positive beginning when it looked like a thrashing was on the cards for Shakhtar.
      I thought it was a very disappointing to allow what was a poor team to gain a foothold.

  4. It seems to me that whatever dross this bunch churn out game after game, there are those fans that just refuse to see or say anything negative about this team.

    I say it how it is, people are acting like this is happening in the odd game here or there, wakeup and be honest with yourselves.

    Arsenal haven’t been playing good football all season, and don’t give me that rubbish about the players that are missing.

    That happens to most teams, and the two men that should have done a better job in the summer regarding better quality cover, ie: Edu and Arteta didn’t do their job regarding transfers.

    Any team that banks on players like Jesus, Sterling, Kiwior and the like really deserve what they get.

    And lets face it, that means another trophy less season. Arteta’s been here 5 years now, if only they had shown Emery the patients they’ve shown Arteta I wonder where we would be now.

    Has anyone noticed the excellent job he’s doing at Aston Villa. (What a mistake it was sacking him.

    Still not to worry, maybe given another five years and these endless phases I keep hearing about, we might finish second a couple of more times. (Yippee!).

        1. Ola,

          Granted Arsenal have improved under his management, but most of the transfer window’s under him have been totally underwhelming for the most part.

          And I don’t care where he ranks as a manager compared to any other manager, you don’t win trophy’s because maybe you were the second best manager two seasons on the trot.

          No, I’m afraid Arsenal dropped a major clangor when they didn’t give Emery the time they’ve given Arteta.

          Have you seen the excellent job he’s doing at Aston Villa, I wonder where we would be had he been here over the past five seasons.

          No, lets just stick with Arteta and his phases, and while were at it we can give win the dog a nice stroke to. (How ironic that the Arsenal dog is called Win). Win what?

      1. Chronicle,

        It might sound like a rant to you, but this joke of a manager is slowly taking down this once great club.

        Wake up and look at the squad overall, it’s no where near good enough to maintain a challenge, and you’ll get people bleat on about the injury’s we’ve currently got.

        Well look to Edu and Arteta, they must have known the squad needed better back up. Don’t tell me that they couldn’t find better quality cover, because if that’s the case then football is in a bad way.

        Oh dear looks like I’ve had another rant. (Just keep wearing those rose tinted glasses, and refuse to see the blindingly obvious weaknesses of this once great club, that no longer wins anything).

          1. Herr Drier,

            That’s what Edu and Arteta are paid the big bucks for.

            I don’t know who was and wasn’t available, but you can’t tell me that a big club with the history that Arsenal have, can’t find better quality back up players than the likes of Jesus, Sterling, Kiwior and a few more besides.

            Come on, they just didn’t do what was needed. A lot of the fans knew and know that the squad isn’t good enough, unfortunately the ones who are paid the big bucks never received the memo.

            1. Perfect reply Derek to that often repeated ridiculous question.

              It’s tiresome when one ask why such and such players weren’t signed Arteta FC squad will come out and say no players were available or ask you to give particular names.

              Where do other clubs find them then? From Mars? Or they have cloning labs?

              Oh wait..they have better people for that job that’s why!

            2. Derek, there are a number of things to take into consideration when buying a player. Will the player fit into the system that we play ? Will buying the player keep the club in line with FFP and PSR ? Does the player have an ego/attitude problem ?

              Do you honestly think that Edu and Mikel don’t look at those things ?

              1. HD

                I haven’t a scooby about all the issues that Edu and Arteta face on a daily basis, however, there are clearly quite a few who know so much better and constantly let us know. How wonderful to have such incredible insight!

                1. Sue,

                  I’m not claiming to have incredible insight. I’m just saying that if Edu and Arteta are being paid the big bucks, then It’s down to them to do the job and produce a better squad than the current one is.

                  The least they can do for the obscene wages that they’ll be getting is earn it, is that to much to ask.

                  1. Derek,
                    None of us know the pressures to get a transfer over the line. None of us know how close the club is to offending as far as the FFP rules etc are concerned. Some transfer targets don’t want to come to the premier league and some clubs won’t budge on their price.
                    At present, you and I find precious little common ground regarding the Arsenal that is, and the Arsenal that you expect.

                    I don’t have expectations particularly. Then I can’t be too disappointed. Instead, I really do try to have a sense of what is possible. I can confirm, that I was disappointed with the match against Shakhtar, but I am able to accept that we have been unlucky so soon into the season to be shorthanded with some of the very best in the squad being injured. Not just for one game, but for several. It looks as though Califiori is due to be out for some weeks and he had settled in well to his new club so that will be a loss.

                    The record of clean sheets and wins is pretty impressive. Instead of being angry about the season stuttering, I can recall the good feeling until Bournemouth that the results had been pretty good.

                    As Allanball08 so often repeats,
                    Onwards and upwards 🙂

                2. SueP, agree, but those people never seem to take into account what goes into signing players. It like they think you can just wave a magic wand and hey presto, a player signs and fits into our way of playing straight away.

              2. Herr Drier,

                I’ll repeat my answer, that’s what there paid the big bucks for.

                And don’t tell me that Sterling fits the mold, his peak years were at Liverpool and City. His best days are well and truly behind him. But you watch, he’ll have one good game and all the Arteta loveys will come out and justify what a genius move it was by Edu and Arteta.

                You just can’t make this stuff up.

                1. Derek, so come on then, name the players who we could’ve signed who would’ve kept us in line with PSR, FFP, who would’ve fitted into our system and who didn’t have an ego/attitude problem and would be happy to be backup players ?

                  You come out with the same question, but you don’t have an answer. Strange.

                  1. Herr Drier,

                    I’m may not know thee answer, but I’m not paid the big bucks, they are. It’s as simple as that.

                    Season after season Arsenal’s transfer window is disappointing overall apart from the odd good player here or there.

                    As I keep saying they are the ones payed the big bucks, and the least they can do is earn it.

                    There basically stealing a living, if you ask me.

                    1. Derek, when a person moans about something, which you have about signings, then that person should come up with alternatives, which you consistently fail to do.

                      I would say that they are earning their “big bucks” concerning their signings, as we’re not in trouble with FFP and PSR.

        1. What you have written does not make sense. Time will tell whether this team can sustain a title challenge. However, to suggest that Arteta is taking down this club is completely ridiculous.

    1. That’s wild…is the upward trajectory (especially the last 2 years) since MA took over not evident to you?

      Funny enough, I’m picturing Emery having a similar dip in results and you having a similar rant about him in this what if scenario of yours.

      As the youth say these days, let him cook!

      1. SK,

        I agree that Arsenal have progressed in the right direction in the last two seasons, But Arteta’s now in his fifth season now, and looking at the squad it looked stronger in the previous two seasons than it does this season.

        And Edu and Arteta have a lot to do with that. Some of the back up players are just not good enough its as simple as that.

        But if your happy with mediocrity, then Arteta’s smashing it out of the park isn’t he.

    2. Derek
      I gave Arteta the benefit of the doubt for a lot longer than many who posted their opinions and have never doubted that getting Emery replaced was essential.

      That’s not to say Arteta was an immediate, roaring success. He wasn’t. If you think that only getting 4/5 points out of a possible 18 in that spring which then required a win in Baku to return to CL football was good enough from a manager who could boast coaching and winning at the highest level, then I am surprised. He lost the dressing room as far as I could see, had poor communication skills and unfortunately for him didn’t have the most supportive superior in Sanhelli

      Do you – if you are being honest with yourself – think that Emery could have turned the situation around under the circumstances I’ve described above? You have to consider the reality of the time and not what he is doing now.

      1. Sue P,

        I don’t know if Emery could have turned it around, but if the club had shown the patients with him like they have Arteta then who knows.

        We will never know now will we.

        1. Derek,
          On that basis, I don’t think there is any point anybody banging on about Emery. It didn’t work out at Arsenal. He went away, licked his wounds and learned to speak English. His long term excellent record as a manager will no doubt do wonders for Villa. If you lose the dressing room, its curtains though, wherever you are managing, imo

        2. Derek Arteta lost a dressing room too hence they broke the whole team and gave the majority of players away. After all they were the players that gave him his only trophy that Arteta lovers keep boasting about to this day, why then did Arteta force them out at all cost?

          I am in agreement with you that the club should have given Emery authority to force rotten players out as well 800 million for replacements.

          But some of us won’t just accept we were wrong about Emery, perhaps because we were not particularly nice about him when he was here.

          1. To suggest that Arteta ‘lost the dressing room” is not credible.
            The rest of your comments just don’t make sense. Emery had not demonstrated that he could make the necessary changes to transform Arsenal at the time.
            Although he is a tactically sound coach Arsenal needed more and Emery was not that man.

    3. Spot on Bro 👌, the truth must be told. I don’t hate Arteta as those that love paying lip service like to say when one states his disatisfaction with what is going on in the club. Since the new season commenced there’s this strange lack of fighting spirit in the team. If I may say, I think it stems from the failure of Edu and Mikel in securing a lethal striker during the just concluded window market and the Board were comfortable and okay because TRULY THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT INTERESTED IN WINNING TROPHIES ANYMORE, LET THEM BE BALANCING THE ACCOUNT. Oh forget about all those their deceptive boast. Arteta failed to land any notable stricker even on loan but Galatasaray landed Victor Osimhen. To Arteta Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss
      Nelson with Arsenal DNA are not good to start matches but veteran Raheem Sterling can, tell the positive impact his coming has made he is another Willian Arteta never learns I truly laugh in vernacular, as poor as Ten Hag and Man.U are they have landed 2 trophies in 2 seasons. Arsenal is paying the price of the privileges that they denied Unai Emery no matter how the the may pretend. The team is now slow paced in playing, spend so much time passing or tossing the ball in their half, they have gone back to side way passing as no one has the confidence to take on opponents through the middle in the absence of MO. The slow paced movements makes Martin Odegaard to hold on to the ball more than necessary thereby attracting much tackles on him. Edu Gasper and Mikel Arteta got it wrong during the window market and that was it. The season was already lost before it commenced. Apart from Man. City game all matches won or drawn this season have not really been convincing regardless of the point. Painfully we will keep supporting and promoting our club Arsenal not minding the fact that I know we are not going to lay hands on any trophy this season with the board, Arteta and Edu standing on their present decisions and the players apart from two or three playing with the present casual, lackadaisical and no goal motivated approach that is attracting injuries and red 🟥 cards.

      1. Okey Joseph,

        I couldn’t agree with most of your points more.

        All these loved up Arteta fans, or Arteta loveys as I like to call them.

        You couldn’t make it up.

  5. Surely there was no embarrassment, not only did we demonstrate mentality but strong character.

    We played the game with the handbrake up, if I may borrow a term from that legendary Frenchman.
    With one eye firmly on the big game coming up on Sunday, a return to winning ways in the league, would hardly surprise

  6. Wenger Era talent in the squad with Graham Era tactics. I have hoped Arteta could find a way to marry the two.

    Retain our strong defense and yet find a way to play memorizing attacking football.

    Injuries have hampered us no doubt, but we seem to be playing not to lose rather than playing to win.

    Difficult start to the year, but there is time to adapt and get back on track.

  7. ” Victory means we have 7 points out of 9 with us yet to concede a goal in the competition.

    If that disappoints you, then nothing we will do in Europe will make you happy.”

    To be fair, those that expect perfection week I’m week out will say 9 points out of 9 in Europe would make them happy

    1. SK,

      Its not the results that I’m overly bothered about, its the performances.

      To a lot of fans winning is the be all and end all, and while of course I want to see Arsenal win as many games as possible, I want to see good positive football, and if they do lose I would rather them lose trying to play progressive football rather that the slow, no tempo football that they’ve been playing for most of the season.

      For me football is more than just the winning, playing entertaining football is important to.

      1. Derek, professional sport is all about winning, not about entertaining. If people want to be entertained then the opera, a concert or the theatre is the place to be.

        1. Herr Drier,

          I believe you might have been listening to a certain Ray Houghton, he really believes that load of claptrap to.

          Outrageous comment, the money it costs to go and watch these overpaid and overpampered players, the least they can do is at least try and produce entertaining winning football.

          1. Derek, well you would be wrong then if you think Ray Houghton has anything to do with what I posted.

            I would say that one of the most boring games I’ve ever seen The Arsenal play was the FA Cup Final in ’05. We won on penalties. Were you happy with that ?

            1. Herr Drier,

              Of course I was happy with that, I don’t expect them to play good football all the time, that just doesn’t happen. (And on the day, Manchester United must have felt they had been mugged, as Arsenal did against Liverpool at the millennium stadium in the final).

              But for you to come out with the complete rubbish about go to the theatre if you want to be entertained, was a ridiculous statement to make.

              Surely fans don’t pay there money to go and watch their team stink the place out as long as they win.

              If that’s the case then as the saying goes, a fool and there money are soon parted.

              1. David, in all honesty, I haven’t seen The Arsenal “stink the place out” since we beat Bournemouth in Emery’s last season.

                Give me 38 1-0 wins all day long.

  8. A win is a win, but it wasn’t the “comeback” performance that I’m pretty sure Arsenal wanted after the (earlier) embarrassment of the Bournemouth game.

    Some fans were getting a little carried away with Arsenal’s win over a very average PSG side (who couldn’t beat PSV in Paris a couple of days ago). However, Shakhtar would make them look positively good. Standing 27th out of 36 in the CL table prior to the Arsenal game, Shakhtar hadn’t scored a goal and had only two shorts on target in their two previous matches – one a penalty that they missed! We’re not talking Real Madrid here.

    The quality of any performance must be judged by the quality of the opposition. In this case, Arsenal struggled mightily against one of the weakest sides the competition. I don’t see much point in trying to dress that up. Let’s shout about it when it’s good, but let’s not pretend when it isn’t.

  9. I found our game quite boring, but will take the 3 points all day long.

    As for the fans, much like our home game against PSG, they were quite quiet. Has the reduction in the allocation to the Ashburton Army played a part ?

    1. I thought that Arsenal was well beaten for noise against PSG, but a little better against Shakhtar although their “home grown” contingent – nobody from Ukraine was allowed to travel – certainly made themselves heard.

      Arsenal’s support at The Emirates has generally been an improvement over Highbury (but it’s not saying that much). I’ve been to the likes of Utd, Celtic, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona over the years and their home support is terrific – puts us to shame really.

  10. Forget that game we need to win the next one. Furthermore I don’t care how we beat Liverpool, it is better to win ugly than play pretty football and fail. The free flowing football will return, but in the meantime we have to win games, period. We are going through challenging times with all the injuries. Yes, we have a squad of players to cope, but injuries to key players are disruptive and there are consequences to the rhythm of the team.

  11. Spot on Bro 👌, the truth must be told. I don’t hate Arteta as those that love paying lip service like to say when one states his disatisfaction with what is going on in the club. Since the new season commenced there’s this strange lack of fighting spirit in the team. If I may say, I think it stems from the failure of Edu and Mikel in securing a lethal striker during the just concluded window market and the Board were comfortable and okay because TRULY THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT INTERESTED IN WINNING TROPHIES ANYMORE, LET THEM BE BALANCING THE ACCOUNT. Oh forget about all those their deceptive boast. Arteta failed to land any notable stricker even on loan but Galatasaray landed Victor Osimhen. To Arteta Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss
    Nelson with Arsenal DNA are not good to start matches but veteran Raheem Sterling can, tell the positive impact his coming has made he is another Willian Arteta never learns I truly laugh in vernacular, as poor as Ten Hag and Man.U are they have landed 2 trophies in 2 seasons. Arsenal is paying the price of the privileges that they denied Unai Emery no matter how the the may pretend. The team is now slow paced in playing, spend so much time passing or tossing the ball in their half, they have gone back to side way passing as no one has the confidence to take on opponents through the middle in the absence of MO. The slow paced movements makes Martin Odegaard to hold on to the ball more than necessary thereby attracting much tackles on him. Edu Gasper and Mikel Arteta got it wrong during the window market and that was it. The season was already lost before it commenced. Apart from Man. City game all matches won or drawn this season have not really been convincing regardless of the point. Painfully we will keep supporting and promoting our club Arsenal not minding the fact that I know we are not going to lay hands on any trophy this season with the board, Arteta and Edu standing on their present decisions and the players apart from two or three playing with the present casual, lackadaisical and no goal motivated approach that is attracting injuries and red 🟥 cards.

  12. It was a win. Against an awful opponent and we made bloody hard work of it. 3 points, is always the goal andcwe got it. But it was dire. Lets not try and dress up what went on.

  13. Derek….I take it you didn’t support Arsenal in the 70-71 double season then. We were winning games 1-0 playing not particularly attractive football but you know what, I loved it , because we were winning. That’s all that mattered, being able to go into work on a Monday morning knowing you had won. This I would rather lose 4-3 playing attractive football than win 1-0 I just can’t understand if you support and follow a team.

    1. Marty,

      I’m not saying that I would rather lose 4-3 and enjoy it rather that win 1-0 and perform badly. Yes that happens, but come on with the money that it costs to watch football these days, surely the least you can expect is a team playing good football with intent rather than this side ways passing that Arsenal are currently playing.

      That being the case, then you are easily pleased.

    2. Marty, I did support and go to the games in the 70s. Firstly, there wasn’t really “attractive football” much then. It was with very few exceptions, functional. And the difference between then and now, is the team was set up to play that way, it was all by design. It wasn’t a struggle to get a result or hang on to the result, it was the way we played. And contrary to what some people like to write. It wasn’t boring. It was solid. I remember at that time Steve Davis and others who won things were called boring. NO they were winners and very skilled at it too.

  14. You go to games, or watch live on TV, sweat over every ball, enjoy the good moments, celebrate a win but should never lose focus on whether or not your team are world beaters or doing amazing things. At the moment the team is badly balanced. Over the seasons Edu and Arteta have stockpiled on center halves and are disciples of “inverted” this and that. Also they appear to lack confidence in signing skilled, creative players and prefer the slower paced likes of Jorghino, Merlo or even Kai. The one success they’ve had with a forward has been Odegaard, probably a nice piece of luck for them and us fans. He arrived on loan found his comfort zone and has remained. I really hope this is just a current phase caused by injuries, red card issues and monetary loss of form but next season Arteta will be stuck with a bunch of centre halves, plus slow 29 to 30 year olds reaching the end of their potential. It’s hard to be optimistic unless there is a(other) major clear out and at least two inspired, brave signings.

  15. As for Marty’s comments. Yes, that double came from nowhere. I was the only Arsenal fan at my school at a time when everyone else supported Liverpool, Manchester United, Leeds or Chelsea. The disgust and jealousy felt by these fans was felt across the play ground for weeks. But a double, didn’t it feel good!!! However that was then. I don’t think this team is capable of going on such a run. But time will tell.

      1. Can only agree Reggie. We didn’t have a George Best, Francis Lee or Charlie Cook but we weren’t that boring either. Having been weened on watching the highlights on Match of The Day, I can never forget my disappointed when I finally got to see my first live league game in 79. Because Arsenal were playing away I went to see a second division game, QPR vs Sunderland at Loftus Road. Both teams had a number of talented, skilled players but it was all so unsophisticated,huff and puff kick and run football ending at 0-0. Even at the highest level though every team had their Norman Hunter type “leg biter”, ready to put the nancy boys in their place.We of course had Peter Storey in the double era.

        1. I will just add. There doesn’t seem to be the characters in football like those days. Everyone seems programmed now and robotic. The characters back then were interesting and gave the game colour.

  16. The simple truth is that if Man City were punished Arsenal and Liverpool would have won titles in recent times…

    1. Mario,

      That sums it up perfectly. But if City have been breaking the rules, I for one wouldn’t want to be given a title decided in a court.

      Like it or not, City won the league on the pitch, something Arsenal haven’t been able to do.

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