Saturday proved to be another disappointing match for Arsenal and us Gooners in the Premier League.
It seems that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have lost their way in the league and are now solely focused on the Champions League.
The North Londoners have dropped four points in their last two games against Everton and now Brentford—matches they should have won.
Last week, The Gunners let a 1-0 lead slip at Goodison Park, drawing 1-1 in the end, and the same scenario unfolded last night at The Emirates against Brentford.
This is deeply frustrating. While we can’t deny that the Premier League title race is effectively over, with Liverpool virtually securing their 20th championship (now tied with Manchester United for the most top-flight titles), it certainly feels as though Arsenal have lost their focus on winning in the Premier League.
There seems to be a defeatist attitude surrounding the team in the competition at present.
It would be wonderful to focus solely on winning the Champions League, which doesn’t even feel surreal to write, but at the same time, the men in red and white from North London should be beating teams in the bottom half of the table—no excuses in the Premier League.
I was bitterly disappointed to see that, by full-time, Arsenal had once again become complacent in the league and settled for a 1-1 draw against the Bees.
If we are not careful, we could slip down the table and out of the top four or even five, and I’m sure no one would want to see that from The Gunners.
Nottingham Forest is on our heels in third place, and it is crucial that we don’t allow them to overtake us in the final six games of the season.
Admittedly, Arsenal should have won the title in the past two seasons, but based on how things have played out this campaign, I would prefer finishing second rather than third behind Forest, who were fighting relegation last season!
If we allow Forest to overtake us, it would be nothing short of shambolic!
Liam Harding
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No, but one eye is firmly at the cemetery of talents and understandably so.
Well your getting too harsh on the team. RM lost their match before the first leg with Arsenal. UCL knock out games are are distraction, if it is not, then either the manager is lying or he is not interested. With the diminished squad at his disposal he had to be cautious for this game and remember Everton are a physical side.
They gave up on the title back in January. Just saying. 🙄🤦♂️🤷♂️
They gave the title up in the first ten games. Everything since has been below standard.
Reggie, we were second in the PL after ten games and we’re second in the PL today, so I don’t understand your fixation on the ” first ten games”.
Perhaps you can elaborate?
Just as I don’t see what Dan means by saying we gave up in January, as we were also second then, as we are today.
I would suggest that certain fans gave up after ten games and in January.
Why I have no idea!!
Points difference Ken? We have just started bad and got worse as far as the prem is concerned. We have not challenged in the league this year. Us and everyone else has made it easy for Liverpool.
Simple Ken
January our manager asked for help in attack and the club did nothing
Since then we have dropped points and not challenged
Reggie, the points difference was what after ten games?
Dan, the club bid £40 million for, but villa put a ridiculous price on his head.
What neither of you have answered, is the FACT that, both after ten games and at the end of January, our position in the PL had not changed!!
Surely, if the club had “given up” we would have plummeted down the table?
Then bid for someone else
There were players on the market that could have helped
Given up on the title race not finishing in the top 4
Your making out it’s okay as long as we are 2nd
The points gap between us and Liverpool show we have given up
No, your putting words into my mouth, as I haven’t said it’s OK to finish second – your making it up because you have no answer as to why we, having “given up” in January, still find ourselves second in the PL, rather than plummeting down said PL
Your acting like money grows on trees, when you say go and buy someone else then!!
That’s not how you build a squad of players who feel wanted rather than just a stop gap until the summer.
So, please explain why we’re still second, after giving up in January?
I don’t need to answer mate because it’s my opinion
There is zero right or wrong
You think that 2nd is evidence we didn’t give up
I go by our results since January and the gap between us and Liverpool
It simply has not been good enough
Can I ask if you think we didn’t give up in January do you then blame the manager for the collapse then ?
Money doesn’t grow on trees ?
You could have loaned someone with zero obligation to buy
But surely, as your opinion is that we gave up in January, you need to be able to explain why we haven’t plummeted down the league?
Otherwise your opinion is, frankly, not worth the time to read and discuss it.
But I’ll answer your questions, because I can back up my opinion.
1. As our results since January have not seen us plummet down the league, we haven’t given up and that is such an obvious statement I wonder why your asking it.
2. What collapse?
3. Blame the manager? No, I blame the incredible injury list that saw players out for the season, months and included four of our attacking players.
I also blame some of the most awful refereeing decisions that had to be overturned as well – so no, I don’t blame Mikel and neither do I blame the owner.
3. Money on trees? As DK says below, Mikel has spent enough to plant a forest and this myth that we could have loaned someone for very little, just go back and tell me how much Liechtensteiner (hope that’s the right spelling) cost the club?
These are my opinions and if I’m questioned about them, I have the cojones to answer them.
I stopped at first paragraph as I saw the irony
Simple
Arsenal only care about being in the top 4 so left a squad good enough to finish top 4 but not won the title
We know that because …..Arsenal are not challenging for the title
Sorry Dan, I don’t understand what your trying to say at 7.53 pm.
Arteta took over a squad that finished 6th, 5th and 5th the three seasons before he took over, so what has finishing 4th got to do with Arteta?
Your asking why have we not fallen down the league if we were not trying to win the league
Believe the Koronke Family only care about being in the top 4
So they left us a good enough squad to finish top 4 but not good enough to challenge Liverpool
As I predicted when the window closed
That’s literally what has happened.
Thanks for the explanation Dan.
So what your saying is that the owners only care about top four?
So why did they stick with MA when we were finishing 8th 8th and 5th?
Of course, you still haven’t explained how, after giving up in January, we’re still in the same PL position halfway through April?
The same goes for Reggie and his opinion that we gave up after ten games.
I do believe we’ve been no lower than second for 95% of the season, maybe even higher, so how anyone can accuse the players, manager or the owner of giving up is beyond me!!
I said the club gave up and as you know Ken have always said Arteta was let down in January
Most could see we were not winning the league with that attack and the likes of me couldn’t have been proven more correct
Why did they not get rid ?
Probably because they think he was a good enough manager to get us back in top 4
They have been proven correct but they are owners are not ambitious enough for more
I hope this summer they prove me wrong
But Dan, what your saying now, is not that we gave up in January, but, in your opinion, we couldn’t win the title with “that attack” – two completely different statements.
Let’s remember shall we, that our attack was minus Saka for months, Jesus for the season, Martinelli for months and Havertz for the season.
Since Saka and Martinelli have returned, one can see the difference and, let me remind you, up until Sska’s injury, scoring goals wasn’t a problem, as we were the second highest scoring club in the PL.
No I’m saying
We could not win the league with that attack ( proven correct ) so go help them , bring players in our attack needed help
Actually forget me ….our manager said it
It’s quite clear to challenge Liverpool we needed help in January
Do you not remember me saying that at the time
Most in the sport did
Let’s be honest Arteta as acted like money grows on trees since day one ,800 odd million spent hardly anything coming the other way ,and giving himself a massive undeserved contract which puts him in the top 5 in world football for winning Fck all except an FA cup and the dark arts trophy and the most corner kicks in a season trophy.
He hasn’t built a side he’s bought one
And to boot he’s the most unlikeable manager I’ve had the pleasure to witness in my time as a football fan not just an Arsenal fan (supporter ,I know you like to differentiate the two )
Cringe excuse maker in it for himself ,not sure why some fans have such a hard – on for him .
“unlikeable”…the irony.
“cringe”…yes you do
Now I understand why you never have anything positive to say about Arteta. “He’s the most unlikable…” You don’t like the guy for whatever reason which makes it almost impossible for you to be objective about him. It’s the same with those who worship him and can’t criticize. Strong emotions whether extreme dislike or extreme liking tend to throw logic out the window.
For what it’s worth, I think Arteta is likeable and if you were to conduct a poll, you’d probably confirm that majority of the fans like him. That’s even the vibe I get from the fans at Emirates.
I think some fans expected someone like Wenger(who I adore) and struggle with the notion of a character with a different personality like Arteta. It’s okay to dislike someone, but this dislike will definitely cloud your judgement where that person is concerned.
Indeed he has bought a lot of the current players DK, but he also has the likes of Saka, Nwaneri and Skelly as part of his squad.
Since when did MA decide what he was going to get paid?
Nothing to do with the owner then?
I agree that he’s won nothing with his own squad and I think if that continues for the remainder of his contract, he will be gone in my opinion, as he will have had seven years to win something.
I’m pleased you note that I see the difference between a fan and supporter has stayed with you – logic often does that you know, just as judging managers by the same criteria does.
Oh bless ,I thought you had left JA Arsenal 18763658-8-66?
You did t get the reaction you was hoping for with the 2 fans who told you not to leave .
Oh well maybe next time on your way out you might get a 3rd .
Fingers crossed eh Hun!
5 ken, a lot lessthan now.
But that’s when you said they gave up Reggie, when they were just five points behind pool… why would they have given up?
It makes no sense, no sense whatsoever…. you want me to believe that the manager, the players and the owner said we’re five points behind pool, so let’s give up and sit back?
Yes Ken it makes sense
Basically they were told to challenge Liverpool they need to invest
They weighed it up and said but if we don’t invest do we still get CL revenue
They were told yes
And they said so we are fine with that lol
You argue like no one told you this in January and that it’s an opinion
It’s factually happened
Likes of me said title was done and now go look at table
Title race could be mathematically over this weekend and your still trying to defend this idea that we tried everything in January to be Champions
So you were at this meeting Dan and can confirm that’s what happened?. Did they discuss at this meeting that they were happy with a front line that was scoring goals with the likes of Saka, Martinelli, Jesus and Havertz, so didn’t need to invest?
After all, up to then, we were the second highest scorers in the PL.
Did you or the owner, manager and players forsee the injury crisis that occured during that
meeting you attended?
What was the reaction when it was discussed that Jesus would come back from injury, start scoring goals for the fun of it, only to suffer a season ending injury, along with Havertz?
It’s so easy to ignore what actually happened in order to say I told you so, but by ignoring the facts and blaming the owner for something no one could have forseen (even at the meeting you attended) is wrong.
I have to smile at the way you say Arteta asked for help and should have been supported, but then deride him when he asks for better refereeing, the shape of the ball, or the injuries he’s faced – but hey!! You see it your way and I see it mine.
No but I knew by end of December Saka was injured and by end of January Jesus was injured
My eyes told me Havertz was struggling with chances he was missing in Cup ties
I didn’t need to be in a meeting because our manager was asking for help
I never derdided him about the ball ?
I never derdided anyone for saying officials need to be better
I said many times officiating is poor in this country
I just don’t believe it’s corruption or just against us
I also don’t agree when Arteta ( and certain fans deflect )
For example blaming officials last year at Newcastle when I rather he focus on lack of creativity
Yes mate ……I see it that January cost us tile
You still need convincing lol.
No Ken, I do not want to get all Jon Fox on you but I never said they “gave up” I said they gave the title up. And it has got worse since then. We have dropped further behind. We lost in early rounds of the domestic cups, they gave them up. They didn’t give up. Well I hope they didn’t.
We have took the lead 1-0 8 times this season. They gave those leads up. I hope they didn’t give up. They failed to follow through. A big difference. And a big difference in reasons why we gave up the leads.
Going all Jon Fox on you, Arsenal didn’t give the title up because they never had it in the first place
I’d be grateful if you could clarify how and more to the point why they gave up (the title). If that was the case then, you’re suggesting that the players and club didn’t care or they colluded with someone which imo is nonsensical. I’ve tried to understand what you mean but I can’t find the answer
They gave up the title because at no poibt have they challenged for it. More to the point Sue. Can you tell me at what point in the season, they have challenged for it.? When was the last time we have “challenged ” for a domestic cup? We haven’t, they gave them up early.
At no point
I think it’s the terminology that’s part of the problem
As for challenging, I believe it’s been a difficult season for reasons that you must know that I hold. We differ quite markedly on the importance of the injuries facing both Liverpool and Arsenal. I’ve been surprised that you persist with saying Liverpool have suffered but their injuries have – as has often been repeated – not been as long or to their most important players. To me there is a world of difference.
What has been interesting is that Liverpool have not really added to their squad whereas Arsenal were bedding in new players – I count Timber as one of them – and both Merino and Calafiori were injured almost immediately to add to the squad woes. Liverpool had the continuity of the previous season which seems to have served them well. Lucky the big hitters kept their form and health
Throughout the course of the season fixtures sort themselves out. Liverpool had what was considered an easier start which helped set the tone Certain decisions which resulted in dismissals may have been the letter of the law, but some were at the very least, controversial. By the Autumn, the injury crisis was in full swing. I was at the Liverpool tie and Arsenal were firmly in contention and in excellent shape. We were deservedly leading and then Gabriel went off. A turning point in the match. I wouldn’t say that Arsenal weren’t competing or gave it away. They fought hard.
Liverpool have had the rub of the green until recently when they fell short in 2 domestic cups and the CL. They haven’t always looked convincing but have got away with it. That happens in a season. Quality and luck.
SHOULD Arsenal get through to the semi finals then can you, hand on your heart, say that it’s been a bad season when everything has been taken into consideration?
But we’re talking about the PL Reggie and SueP”s point about never having it to give away in the first place is certainly a Jon Fox moment and absolutely correct!!
I don’t believe our club has ever given up on anything, even when we were nowhere near competing for any domestic trophy.
Take tonight and, if we go out of the CL, will you say we gave up the title of CL holders, even though we’ve never won it?
By the way, if the above happens, will our fanbase forget the incredible first leg, where we absolutely dominated the holders of the CL?
I really hope they don’t!!
Ken if we wake up tomorrow out of the Champions League
Even you would struggle to defend that surely ?
Ken, I never said given up. I said given away because of our faltering start. And our faltering form since. We have NEVER been in a fight for the title. We have given it away to Liverpool. We have not made it hard for them. We have had a bad season so far. 3 seasons of failing to win the premier league and this one has been the worst. Lets all hope above hope Arteta can redeem himself and win the CL. Some on here regularly lower their sights and find excuses. I don’t. I said at the start of the season, along with many on here, its all set up for the League and CL. We have failed in one. This phase sh!+ is another excuse, the time was last season and it is again this. Fail amd I don’t see it ever happening. Thats the crux.
If they did give up, we have no chance.
And Sue, yes, I have lost patience, I don’t see us winning in the future under this stewardship, if we do not win it this season. It is all in place to win things again, it never has been before. Chelsea didn’t waste time on Abramovich, City didn’t waste time on The oil barons. I believe that another manager would have won the league by now with all that Arteta has at his disposal. I have said before and I want to be proven wrong. I don’t see a trophy the way we play football. If my opinion is backed up again, I am bot going to change that. I want Arteta out, if he fails again. We are wasting time and money. So win the bloody thing!!!!!!
Sorry not bot but not going to change that.
Dan, if that happens, there is no defence.
Yes they have, but just for now though.
As soon as we finish tomorrow’s QF, eyes will be back on the Prem. Not to try win it obviously, but to make sure we finish as high up the table as we can.
We have to be fully focused on Madrid right now. A lot of pundits think they can still beat us, so we need to be 100% switched on!
Given up on winning it, yes of course.
Finishing as high as possible will still be on the agenda though, since there’s a fair bit of cash for league position.
It’s always difficult for a manager to motivate players to play for the club’s bank balance though – from the player’s viewpoint, all the club will do with the money is buy better players. 👀 Just make sure of top 5 at this stage of the season.
That wasn’t meant to be a reply to your post Kia.
(I agree with what you wrote, pretty much.)
We need to focus on Real Madrid
To be honest, a 3-0 advantage against Real Madrid at Madrid is no where near an insurmountable lead. Madrid at their best can win big at home. And they are capable of being up 3-0 at half time lol
We can definitely qualify but we need to make sure that we play our best players available and that our best players play like our lives depend on it
I believe and hope that we will qualify
Why do you focus on Nottingham Forest? In case it wasn’t already obvious, the betting odds confirm that the biggest threats to Arsenal for 2nd place are 1. Newcastle, 2. Man City, 3. Forest – in that order.
We gave up in January
I would hope not. The great managers who have wons things in the past have never took their eye off anything. If they have, they have ended up empty handed. I remember in the past united being 10 points behind us in March. Fergie, never took his eye of it and hunted us down. You do not ever take your eye off anything. Thats a recipe for failure.
With all the injuries and red cards, it was impossible to mount a challenge anyway!
I am not saying mistakes haven’t been made, but it’s obvious how much of an impact our colossal injury crisis has had, plus a whopping 6 times in the league we’ve finished with a man less.
In regards to our form of late, again it’s pretty obvious. It was always going to take a while to adjust to having no strikers to select, CL spot is pretty much sorted, with a 6pt buffer to 3rd, and our only chance of a trophy is in Europe.
So it makes perfect sense to rotate in the league (especially with our injury record and yet more getting injured against Brentford), and put absolutely everything into the CL.
Along with Inter, we are the best teams in regards to defending and overall organisation, which gives us a fantastic chance.
So, we can score goals freely in the CL but not in the league? That’s because we haven’t a striker? Which arguably we haven’t had since Auba left. Our CL form has been decent so far. Our league hasn’t? But we have had the same injuries? Red cards are self inflicted and are not an excuse.
That’s easily explained. They are two completely different tournaments, and type of football.
In the league, our opponents are very familiar with how we play, and will more than often setup in low blocks against us. In Europe it’s usually far more open and attacking football, hence the space we got against Real.
Also, in cup games you can get away catching an opponent off guard, getting lucky, surviving injuries, but over the course of a 38 game league season in the toughest league in the world that isn’t sustainable. You need your best players to be successful.
It’s irrespective if the red cards were self inflicted, they were still all decisive. The fact is, that’s tough to win those games with man less, especially given how early those reds were. Secondly, only two of those cards self inflicted (Saliba, and MLS against West Ham). The others were shocking referring, with the Rice one being the most egregious given what we saw in that same game, and ever since from players committing the exact same offense, and worse than Rice prodding the ball only about 2 feet away!
And the poor runs in both domestic cups, year after year. Does a different competition mean, you can use the lack of a striker as an excuse but we score goals without one in another? I don’t think so. There is an inherent problem and that is our approach and application. Which is all wrong.
You don’t seem to understand football, and clearly are not aware of Arsenal’s cup performances this season.
We got to the semi-final of the league cup. So that is a very good cup performance, losing to the eventual winners who completely dominated the soon to be league champions in the final. We have also won the FA Cup as well.
In the other seasons, I agree with you that we should be going deeper in the domestic cup comps though.
Again, you’ve have missed the point of what I was saying. In a league format you cannot get away with problems. You’ll eventually get found out. It’s not the same in a cup competition!
E.g. You might get an easy run to a final, avoiding all top opponents. If what you are saying is true, then the likes of Wigan beating City in a cup final would NEVER happen! Porto never would have won the CL, and so on…
I am not saying everything has been perfect under Arteta, but it’s always going to be harder to win trophies when you’ve been going through a massive transition.
Now we’re out of that phase, look how close we’re getting to the biggest trophies. Two title challenges in a row, likely to finish 2nd for a 3rd consecutive year. Our first domestic semi in a while, and brilliant in the CL. And if it weren’t for the insane amount of injuries over the last few years, I have no doubt we would have won at least one league title.
“We have also won the FA Cup as well”, obviously I am referring to 2020. This year it was poor, and 100% the fault of the players
For your information, I played youth football at county level, sunday league football, managed teams, coached teams that have won at county level and refereed for 5 years. I had been involved in foitball for 55 years. Now tell me what you have done in football that makes YOU the expert you are proclaiming over me.
But you ARE showing a lack of understanding between cup competition domestically, European football and league format, because you’re saying there is no difference, whereas there is a massive difference!
I’ll give you a perfect example of this, and then you can apologize for your outburst.
A team can win a cup without ever facing a quality opponent. And/or get home fixtures all the way up until the semi final (when it then becomes a neutral venue). The luck of the draw!
In the league you have to play everyone home and away, so you HAVE to face quality opponents twice, and there is no hiding place.
So how on earth is it the same between league and cup given my example? Please try and debunk that! Cannot wait!
Don’t be an idiot and tell me I don’t understand football!!!!!! Your just showing a lack of intelligence, you always stoop too.
Since Arsenal ended the UCL in 3rd pos and knew they drew with beatable PSV, I think Arteta took EPL matches as distractions
whereby real cup winning chance lies not with EPL but UCL. The injuries esp of Havertz compelled Arteta to only focus on UCL. The mistreatment from and biases of EPL refs exacerbated the problem reaffirming the speculation that with these refs there is no chance to win the title. I know most teams suffer from refs decisions but Arsenal’s is visibly different as seen lately with a leg breaking foul on Martinelli which deserves red.
And what happened in the domestic cups? You know the ones we regularly go out early in.