Arsenal’s elimination from the Carabao Cup last night means we only have a top-four spot to fight for this season.
With no European football coming into the campaign and an early failure in the FA Cup, the team is now set to enjoy more days off as they feature in only league matches.
Arsenal now faces playing just two games in the whole of February, as pointed out by The Sun.
After our next game is against Burnley, we then wait until the 10th of February before we play another match.
This is because there is an international break and the FA Cup fourth round is also played between our next two games.
We would face Wolves next before having a long break because the clash with Chelsea on February 12th is set to be postponed as the Blues play in the Club World Cup.
Brentford would be our next opponent on the 19th of February, but the game against Liverpool slated for the 26th of next month will also be cancelled because the Reds have reached the Carabao Cup final.
We then return to action on the 5th of March against Watford.
These long breaks between our next few matches should serve as an advantage to us, considering that we would be well-rested.
That doesn’t mean breaking back inside the top four would be easy. But it is achievable if our players give their best each time they step onto the field.
Arteta discusses Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool, our lack of players and our red card record
If we use this space to get Arteta Out it will be the best thing that ever happens to our club, because we are not going to win any match this year if he’s still there, so many teams have studied us and made some adjustments
Mark my words Burley will expose his weakness
So what if Burnley don’t expose his weakness? What happens then?
Enough time also to bed in any January signings.
I feel optimistic about our top-four chances.
We need another extended good run like we had before all the interruptions occasioned by the AFCON, Covid and all that
Let’s kick-start with Burnley on Sunday
COYG!!!
Don’t fret, many are happy with a 6th place finish. “Progress” they call it, turning a blind eye to the managers fired for finishing 6th then 5th.
Their “Deadwood” will be the excuse for 8th place finishes, yet ignore those managers got better results from that deadwood.
Durand
Were you saying that over Xmas?
Following football is a case of ups and downs, hence I don’t get hysterical by a loss. I’m pragmatic enough to realise that there is only one certainty in life
Two certainties, death and taxes,, ha..
Football is a case of ups and downs I agree, but there should be more ups than downs for a club of Arsenal’s stature.
As far as the last game we were outclassed again by Liverpool and Klopp. Tomi clearly not 100% and neither ESR by the looks. Odegaard just coming off Covid, so I didn’t expect a repeat of the first leg.
Now there are only PL matches, so preparation should not be an issue, something they are able to control.
Transfers take 3 parties to agree, so not as simple as some think. Fee is one thing, how it is to be paid and over how long is another. Agents just add more wrinkles with their demands.
January is tougher than the Summer for transfers, so factor that in as well.
Fighting for 4th is a real possibility now, we can’t afford another season out of European football.
It’s time everyone stepped things up. Players, Arteta, Edu, and ownership. We need a midfielder and striker still, even before AFCON and injuries, sickness, red cards, etc….
Interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out.
Can’t say fairer than that
Fair enough guys- we are all entitled to an opinion.
(ADMIN COMMENT – Consider this a warning Phil. Do it again and you are going under moderation)
This person has put out comments that should require him to be censured or banned from this site.
His comments have no place on a respectable forum and they need to be removed.
The administrators need to take note. Misogyny and any other forms of discrimination should not be tolerated.
Agreed
Durand
Top6 is vital not only for the club but for Arteta who would be very unlikely to keep his job without it. I do also think that top4 is also up for grabs. I definitely agree with you about Tomi and ESR. Covid will continue to disrupt preparations for all teams. No longer testing positive doesn’t mean they are 100% as fatigue lingers.
All to play for.
I don’t think the same excuses repeated will fly anymore. All the players brought in and money spent.
Mari and AMN sent on loan, but could have played a game or 2 if players out for Covid.
Only prepare for PL matches, so no reason for limp uninspired performances. They should be rested, fit, sharp, and ready to produce.
👍
We wont have a better chance than this season to get top 4 but i have grave doubts.
One of the excuses put forward for our defeat last night, was that the players were not match fit…. so there we have it, the excuses are ready to trot out once again if we lose.
It seems that just having the PL 6th placing to play for is seen as a positive!!!
We will play more games than 2 in February.
Cancelled games.
I find it acutely disappointing in this day and age that a woman should be subjected to misogynistic remarks made by a fellow poster who all too frequently resorts to bullying tendencies to get his points across.
My opinions are mine to hold and mine to express and women have fought for many years to be treated equally and unfortunately, we clearly have some way to go.
SueP
I’m really sorry you’ve been exposed to these totally inappropriate comments and surprised they have been allowed to remain posted..
You are one of my favourite posters on this site and if I’m just scrolling through the comments section I’ll always stop at yours.
Stay strong.
In my view it is the duty of all of us to call out the inappropriate comments and request the administrators of the site to address it.
No one should be required to “stay strong” although I understand you are trying to give support and I commend you for this.
Thanks go to James, Voyageur and David for their solidarity. I noticed that Phil’s regrettable and wholly uncalled for thread has been removed by Admin.
Hopefully SueP, he has disappeared along with his sexist bullying comments.
Look it is our best chance to get 4th or even 3rd but it depends on one person. Everyone is looking at the wrong person in Arteta, it’s Edu we should be looking at. We cannot get top 4 or compete with the biggest teams without at top class striker and a midfield that has been light on numbers as it is. We have needed a defensive mid, Box to box midfield players for years even since Wenger. We have a decent holder but no back up. Xhaka has to be kept around because we haven’t/cannot sign/signed his replacement instead signing the backup we need in Sambi. It’s the David Luiz scenario keeping a player who has some useful traits but also can implode at any time.
That’s not entirely Arteta’s fault he might have kept Xhaka and Luiz around but only because a suitable experienced (before the usual Saliba comments) replacement wasn’t sorted by Edu. Arteta doesn’t deal with transfers like Wenger did, he hands over his list and says to Edu get these boys in. Over the last 2 windows Edu has set 2 worrying trends of leaving things to the last minute with transfers and targeting alot of Brazilian players.
How long have we been linked with players like Guamaries, Rodriguez and the like. Zakira is on his last six months of his contract forget waiting to get him for free and when everyone will want him stump up the cash now and get him in.
Vlahovic???? Why are we still pushing when he doesn’t want to come. Offer 20-30m to Brentford for Ivan Toney, I really like the lad quick strong good in the air just like Vlahovic but there’s one difference Toney’s doing it it the best league in the world and Vlahovic is doing it in a joke of a league. Look at Lukaku 110m he was ripping it up in Serie A 47 goals in 72 games, Premier League 15 games 5 goals. We have players on our doorstep getting Toney and Bissouma, Rice or Kalvin Phillips will probable cost the same as Vlahovic and Guamaries.
Just get it done and soon
Was rude, I was sorry to read it regardless of opinion differences.
I do not want Arteta out but 6th is not enough in my opinion. Especially after 2.5 years and more than decent spending.
It may be a slight progress but it is not enough especially with no Europe and with the cup results (EFL we have done nothing special, FA knocked out by a non-premier league club with due respect to them).
Plus in my opinion Arteta struggles to find potential if players and their best use and not just the young ones.
He may be good as a players coach because some young players progressed well with him even if people would argue it is their talent. He seems to be a details-oriented person who cause no troubles in press conference (which is positive, no one wants the press as his enemy) but the big picture of things does not seem right with him imo
First and foremost, the language and arrogance used by a certain member on this group against SueP is regrettable and highly offensive. He should be given the strictest of warnings to mind his language or else should be banned from further posts if he does not have decency in his dictionary. That said, I agree with James above in that we have so many good players in the PL itself, instead of going for big names unwilling to come, who can make a real difference to the side and would jump at coming to Arsenal. Ivan Toni, Kalvin Phillips and Bissouma are examples who would come to Arsenal willingly and would make a huge difference to our performances. arsenal must sign them asap because time is running out this January and we need to have strength and depth in the team to have a marked improvement in the remainder of the season to make it to the top 4.
Agreed mate look what Liverpool had in Jota for 35 million. The players are there and love to play for the Arsenal
If Arsenal keep to the same timeline that I suspect they had before the season started then I don’t expect any signings this window that will make a big difference. Maybe Arthur on loan and bet on a top six place finish.
That would be disappointing because we are in the conversation for CL football. A couple of savvy signings could make the difference. I like the three you’ve named although Bissouma’s legal problems probably put him out of the conversation. Winjaldem wouldn’t be a bad option as he’s proven in the PL and won’t mortgage the long term plan, just accelerate it.
Agreed, there’s still time I think the club have their primary targets and that’s fine but they shouldn’t linger too long on them especially the Vlahovic situ. I would prefer Wijnaldum over Melo just because he’s proven prem and Melo has failed already at 2 big clubs. Ok 2 clubs that’s have changed managers multiple times but still.
We need a striker and ideally 2 midfielders just to give us the best chance