No team has a divine right to lift any trophy. Contrary to what even some of our own fanbase think, most Gooners are quite a loyal and patient bunch. It will be at least 22 years since Arsenal were Champions, yet some have the audacity to call us entitled. In reality, like all supporters, we just want to see the club we love try and be the best version of themselves.
Off the pitch we have done that this summer. It may have come too late but no one can say the Kroenke family have not invested in at least this transfer window. Defensively we are one of the best in the country and have a young squad who will only get better. There is a lot to like about this version of the Gunners, but at the end of last season there were question marks over our manager.
You shouldn’t take for granted how hard it is to go to Anfield and restrict them and at times control the game. You have to tactically be a good coach to be able to do that. Yet in Mikel Arteta’s bid to fix us defensively, has he gone too far the other way? Is he overthinking things? Micro-managing the likes of Martinelli?
Going into the summer, there was pressure on the Spaniard to be able to look in the mirror and recognise his mistakes. That’s not easy to do and not all can do that. The 43-year-old’s legacy at the Emirates will be decided if he can put his ego to one side and realise he has made what was once one of the most entertaining teams to watch, boring. Success and failure will be decided on if our boss is too stubborn to tweak his ethos.
A cautious approach at Anfield
Sunday was the perfect illustration of those principles. It seems really harsh to be too critical when at the home of the Champions the match was drifting to a 0-0 draw which would have meant a credible away point and a healthy seven on the board. After all, the game was decided by a moment of magic that would not happen every week.
That is if your point of view is in isolation. For those looking at the bigger picture, it has happened too many times now. Jamie Carragher has said he was worried that Liverpool were becoming too open, wanting to start with too many attacking players and could become Kevin Keegan’s version of Newcastle in the 90s. Well, the Sky pundit can relax because no one would ever call this fixture too open.
Forget attacking players, no one was taking any risks in midfield and at times players were moving at a pace where you could have been mistaken for thinking this was a pre-season friendly. Because it is only the third game of the campaign, I assumed with 20 minutes to go both teams might settle for honours even and not dare take any risks to lose. Yet that appeared to be the mindset from the very first second.
In reality Arne Slot out-thought Mikel Arteta, leading his rival into a false sense of security. What do you do when the Champions are letting you have all the ball in the first half and barely touching the ball in your penalty area? Do you go for the throat? Do you gamble? Do you take the initiative? Or do you too start acting content with a stalemate?
Where is the bravery?
People misunderstand the term bravery in football. Courage is not just tackling your opponent, throwing your body in the way or heading the ball away. It is who demands the ball, who is not afraid to play a risky pass, who takes the responsibility, who runs at that man.
Whatever you think of Gary Neville and Roy Keane on the Stick To Football podcast, they are two winners. They explained at Man United they won so many games late on because the dressing room had the personalities where they would prefer to risk losing for the reward of a win than ever settle for a draw.
It would not be accurate to say our squad lack those characters because you have to assume they are being instructed to play this way. Bizarrely in the final third yesterday, the two best teams in the country seemed more scared to take a risk in the final third yet were both comfortable to pass the ball sideways between their keeper and defenders. That is happening throughout the sport right now and it is going to end up costing a team a cup final.
With Arsenal realising Liverpool had little ambition, we resisted ourselves and suddenly it became a game of chess. It played into Slot’s hands because the Dutchman knew the law of averages would mean a spell where the Reds had momentum which would lift the Kop. He could then rely on a moment of magic to win a game without playing well.
We only rolled the dice when we were forced to, bringing on a 15-year-old in the 88th minute who gave the ball away because he is 15. Why is he ahead of Trossard and Nwaneri in the pecking order? Where was the kitchen sink?
It is not a disgrace if Arteta is a good manager but not great. There is no shame if he is not the man to get us over the line. You could say Arsenal stood still, let the moment pass them by, scared to make that next step. How long have we been saying that?
Dan Smith
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I’m an Arsenal fan. We are too entitled. As are probably five other fan sets every year. And here comes the second guessing. Already. Not as interesting a take as you think. A wonder goal takes a point and the fingers turn to fists on keyboards
22 years without a title
As much as I want to see Dowman play, that was a ridiculous call to throw him on away at Anfield while losing. That is too much pressure on a kid. He needs a lot of home appearances against already beaten relegation fodder before being relied on to flame a game against one of the top teams. .
Give Dowman a break Mary; he was only on for a few minutes, hardly enough time to break him.
It is very hard to go to Anfield and get a result. BUT we controlled the game for a lot of it. Too defensive set up for me but we controlled it. But Liverpool were very average today and were very edgy. We changed tactics and it didn’t work, we lost any control and our substitutions were too late. Things are not working STILL. Our attack is blunt. Our build up is slow. We have very poor delivery and we have a shiny new striker, who may as well not be there. It is about the defeat, it always is but the defeat on its own was to be expected in normal circumstances. BUT it was the manner of the defeat and the negative way we approached the game. Our left side in attack is shocking. Many faults from last year are still there. Arteta can not sovle them. I have never thought Arteta was capable of winning the league and I still see nothing that changes my mind. We are not any better with a better squad. In fact, I think in some aspects we have got worse. Our attempts at goal last season was shocking and we have not improved that. Arteta can set a team up to defend but we are not geared up to attack. We are looking stale and we have only played 3 games.
Scared? Or not upto it?
Come end of the season
Arteta OUT
Glasner IN
Can lead us to Glory
And if he doesnt?
Pertinent question.
Won’t happen
Arteta Job is safe if he gets top 4
His tactics require a Giroud 2.0, but unfortunately Sesko preferred to join Man United
Admin, the comment sections of the articles are very slow to load on desktop web-browser
Of course you’ll always look for excuses for Arteta. This time it’s because we don’t have Giroud2.0, is it ridiculous?
How many times was the ball crossed into the box or a long pass over the Liverpool defense played throughout the game?
Did you see what Iraola led Bournemouth did to spurs the other day?
Arteta is simply not brave enough to win the league and he’ll never win it this way.
*not
If we had someone like Giroud, we could’ve increased our scoring chance in set-pieces
Arsenal didn’t make many long crosses at Anfield, because they didn’t have a towering CF to reach those long passes
Why should we have to rely on set-pieces?
I don’t understand. We had someone like Eze on the bench and it was obvious there was zero creativity from the blast of the whistle.
Why does Arteta have to torture the players and the fans unnecessarily?
And @gai I know at least one two coaches that would’ve beaten Liverpool with this squad yesterday.
Let’s just accept the fact. Arteta is not good enough for Arsenal going forward. He has done his best taking us from where we were to where we are and I acknowledge that. However, he obviously has reached his ceiling.
As I said, we could’ve made more long crosses if we had a towering CF
It’s too early to judge Arteta this season and we’ve never won at Anfield since 2012
Give Eze 6 months with Mikel, and trust me he will be the next deadwood. Eze is an EPL player, what was he doing on the bench till the 70th minute? Writing bed time stories for Mik’s kids? What has Rice become? Where is Martinelli and Odegard today and their creativity? Mikel needs help, needs an attack minded coach, but Heinz was a defender, Jonas is a set piece guy and Mikel was a pedestrian player during his playing days, so how will the flair and attack flourish? If this continues another barren season with over 1 billion of talent ready to written off to few dime in on the horizon. Wake up and smell the coffee folks! And this is not a knee jerk reaction.
This is such a knee jerk reaction and there is no coffee to smell. That is a 1 in 20 strike that went in and you feel like we were out played? Merino and Martinellie gave us the goals last time out for the 2 – 2. I am an Arsenal fan and do not feel entitled.
Muroro,
That was a 1 in 20 strike you say. Am I the only one who thinks Raya should have saved it. Firstly the ball was in the center from the free kick, and Raya had a clear sight of the ball. For me he was to slow with his feet to get to the ball, but he had time to do it none the less.
If 1 billion investment cannot get us goal, so what went wrong – tactics or players or both? Eze won the FA and the Shield recently, most are full internationals, so now you know where the finger points to.
With this defensive style of play expect 1-0,0-0 or 0-1s in the future. With this mentality, the EPL is gone from our sight. It’s Pool vs Chelsea. Finito!
I second that i don’t think we can win the league with Arteta. I would love him to prove me wrong but i just have this gut feeling it won’t happen, so much for buying all these shiny new players and leaving them on the bench to watch players like Martinelli, who are woefully out of form.
God bless you brother. May you continue to grow in more wisdom.
It’s good to be able to know how to analyze football as a fan regardless of sentiments.
Pls know this : not all manager can win you trophies
Some are good for a rebuild and maintain each seasons level of a position to say good job done
Let me help you understand
During the kick of of our rebuild process , Even though City outgrown zinchenko and Jesus … They were at least good enough to kick start a rebuild at Arsenal for the first 2-seasons which they hit the ground running as a very good signing and they help Arteta settle other players with the way Arteta wants to play the Pep way but in the 3rd year , Arsenal suddenly realized they have outgrown Jesus and Zinchenko and they started another rebuild.
The same thing with a coach or manager
Chelsea in the early 2000, Claudio Renieri rebuilt Chelsea and they started finishing 2nd like 3-seasons in a row then Abrahimovich sacked Ranieiri and Brought in Mourinho how had just won it all including Champions League with one intention
Break the Dominance of United(Ferguson) and Arsenal (Wenger) and Won the League
Mourinho came in and not only break the Dominance, He won it Back to Back
Same thing happened in Italy
Morati met with him , hired him then ask him , telle precisely what you need to win the league and Champions League… Mourinho gave a precise request and they got it all done for him and he won it all
Same thing happened in Spain
Barcelona wasn’t winning champions League but Rijkard was doing a good job in the league and here comes Pep
Pep laid it down for Lapota what he needs and he won it all with Barca
Madrid hated that Dominance despite all there efforts buying every Galactico and after many coaches failed … They went for Mourinho,
He got to Madrid , Ended the Pep and Barca Dominance with a Record point and won the League.
Arteta is like Claudio Renieri , good for a rebuild but he has reached his ceiling … To get to that finish line
You need a Conte , a Mourinho , a Tuchel , A Luiz Enrique.
Don’t be surprised that Moresqa will likely win the league with Chelsea than Arteta.
Arne slot came in and did it under Arteta nose
Even Pep with a bad season almost pip Arsenal to finishing 2nd place and Arsenal had to fight to finish 2nd as though it’s a trophy
Arsenal lost th league to City with just 4-points and 2-points respectively
But Arne slot came from nowhere and won the league with a good convincing margin.
Arsenal should be on the look out already for Arteta convincing replacement with one Agenda when contracting the coach
Win the League now
We do not need to wait till players Like Saliba jump the sheep , wasting the best of the prime playing for nothing because come end of this season , Arsenal won’t still win the league with Arteta and Saliba won’t sign a new contract
Arteta still Believe he will win the Martineli
He will cpntinue to play Odegaard despite knowing he’s dropped form… Even Pep benched Debruyne almost a season when he dropped form and relied on foden a whole season and then sam foden dropped from the following season and he dropped him to the bench, welcoming Debruyn back with a captain armband
Arteta is not cut out for that decision.
How is jesus still @Arsenal?
Martineli with his bad form , despite d fact we bought him for just €6m … A bid of €100m bid from Saudi came in and we didn’t sell when Rodrigo is there for less amount
How is Havertz earning £325k per week still at Arsenal and we watched players like Isaak joined Liverpool for same weekly wage or less per week
For me, we kinda replaced players that left rather than a new signing or squd additions/Number
Pertey-Jorginho-kiwior-Tomiyasu-Row
Zubi -Norgard-Inacpie-Mosquera-Eze
Unfortunately, this season will waste without trophy again
Why not use the system that fits the current striker we have? Do you mean that Arsenal bought a wrong striker?
Are you playing the clean or outrightly mocking the club. Did Arsenal won any Epl with both AW and your Giroud 2.0?
Are you playing the clawn or outrightly mocking the club. Did Arsenal won any Epl with both AW and your Giroud 2.0?
ReplyHighlig
Did win 3 FA Cups with us though
And a WC , CL , Seria A and Europa League and French title so wouldn’t undestimaite how good he was
So, as per you and Mikel, Sesko is the only player in the world – a Giroud2.0 clone? If Sesko did not want us, either look out for another similar player or Mik should have resigned as he cannot set up the team to win without the one and only Sesko,
What a shame, a 139 year old club cannot win the EPL because a 21 year old unproven player chose not to play for us. Stop the excuses!
Reply to GAI’s post above
It’s too early to judge Arteta this season and we’ve never won at Anfield since 2012
Another excuse.
In 2012 era we did not spend in excess of 1 billion.
So Mik should be sacked as his two predecessors were sacked.
Next excuse?
Kroenke would likely sack Arteta if he doesn’t win a major trophy this season
No he wont mate
That’s completely irrelevant. We either have a team that’s good enough or not, and this team is good enough. Liverpool were there for the taking, and we could have taken them, if not for Arteta’s caution.
Actually it’s not irrelevant. Certainly, you need to be good enough to win. However, vague comments such as “there for the taking” are quite silly to use as a criticism. These kind of comments are meaningless without providing additional substance.
Yes, of course🙄.
No you are wrong we had more than five years to come to this conclusion
We haven’t had these “shiny new players” for more than five years though have we?
Why not wait until the end of the season before taking the shine of these players?!
@Gai if his tactics requires a very tall CF in the mould of Giroud and he doesnt have it then, he should have adapted his tactics in preseason. The Liverpool I watched yesterday are quite beatable..
There is no excuse for failure in Arteta’s case. He played 3 DM yesterday without any creative players. And leaving Nwaneri and EZE on the bench. Why signed Nwaneri and EZE?
Imo, Arteta should keep his tactics at simple and let the players play with freedom. Liverpool have conceded 2 goals against Bouthmout at same Anfield and 4 overall this season.
I want to give a special applaud to Mosquera who did well against Liverpool.
@gai
Are you suggesting Gyokeres is the problem????
If we had someone like Giroud, we would’ve won more aerial duels in the front-line, increased our scoring chance in set-pieces and been able to make more long crosses
What a load of tosh.
Hes actually spot on tbf. Unless we change the entire system Gyokores wont be effective. Unless we spearhead the whole attack through him he wont be effect. Sesko, Osinhem,Woltenmade and Isak would have been far more beneficial. Even more diminutive strikers that can dribble and pass well would be more effective like Cunha or Pedro. Arteta has been screwed by Betra on this one. Havertz will be our number one cf when he returns.
That isn’t what he is saying though?
@Gai pls check your facts and stats. Sesko didnt score admirable headers in terms of numbers when in Germany. It’s only Victor Osimehin that has the best stats when it comes to headers at the moment.
When we had Giroud Wenger couldn’t win Epl. Let’s not make excuse for Arteta.
How tall was that Russian, who sored four goals at Anfield?
I was very optimistic about this season and strongly believed we could finally end our winless streak at anfield after this unbelievable transfer window
but after this defeat am starting to have some doubts even though I know it’s still very early.
Thought Liverpool was there for the taking, especially in the first half.
Should have brought on Odegaard and Eze to start 2nd half while we had the game.
Unfortunately, we set up not to lose, and Arteta was Reactive not active.
Liverpool claws back into the game in 2nd half and finds a way, while we lack that mentality.
In spite of the depth available we setup to draw, Thought Eze and Odegaard could have split time in that position instead of Merino.
Very silly bringing up “mentality”. This was a tight game between two of the best teams in the PL and Liverpool which was won by a great free kick.
Very little between the two teams.
🙄
2nd again though David.
Wow, zero creativity in midfield, 3 DM set up not to lose, no bravery to go for the win.
Arteta was not going for 3 points ge set up for a draw.
Have you ever questioned or criticized Arteta, even once? Or is he spot on everything and let down by players, the refs, and VAR?
You blast anyone criticizing Arteta, yet I don’t recall you questioning him. If I’m wrong I apologize.
Games like this lacking that edge, that mentality to dig out a result, is why we finish 2nd. That falls on the manager. We lost this from the setup and tactics, subs too late after Liverpool turned the tide in the 2nd half.
Arteta is reactive instead of active. The team plays safe, risk averse, and obsessed with possession yet lacking purpose or edge.
No you are right Arteta according to David is God and nothing he does is wrong. Its everyone and everything else that is.
You are a disgrace. I have never made any such assertions. Why would you bring God into these discussions?
I don’t think he literally means he’s God lol
Sorry, I meant god like🥴
Get your facts right Reggie, how dare you!! 😎
The thing is that I don’t criticise unnecessarily and I don’t engage in negative rhetoric based solely on outcomes.
It’s very easy to come out with “mentality” but it means nothing. In the last few years Arsenal have rarely lost to other top teams so some of the anti-Arteta agenda is uncalled for.
I also don’t believe in strawman arguments. Have you ever seen me blame the referees or VAR for losses?
Arsenal played a cautious game but actually so did Liverpool. This has been an approach that Slot actually adopted quite a few times last season. It was an effective approach because he had a number of players that could be decisive in a moment, particularly Salah.
As for Arsenal’s approach, the system was set up with 2 8s and a 6. Merino is not a DM, Rice is not a DM. The approach was conservative but I really don’t get the vitriol for the setup in an early away PL game against one of the more dangerous teams in world football.
There are various reasons Arsenal have not won major trophies but putting it down to lacking mentality or the setup is unnecessarily reductive.
I didn’t like our tactics today, but I am especially curious about Martinelli starting. He’s looked wretched all summer. He was wretched all last year. A moment in today’s sums him.up perfectly. We’ve got a break going, Gyokeres has space off his marker’s back shoulder. Instead of playing the simple through ball, Martinelli dribbles right into a cul de sac and turns it over out of bounds for a goal kick. We didn’t even get a corner out of that. Play it through to Gyokeres and we are up 1-0. But that’s Martinelli. That’s also why he should have started on the bench. We get that goal, Artetas tactics work, even if I didn’t agree with them
Yes,
5 of 6 years too conservative.
People can’t tell?
pool get Guehi and Isak.
Lose to Newcastle and $h*tY, 9 poinst behind before the end of September, the party is almost over.
Give Mikel, MBappe, Kane and Salah, we will still return with empty hands. He cannot get the best out of Saka and Martinelli. He ran Saka to the ground, Odegard, Rice and Martinelli have faded,
Gyoks and Eze – next
Most of the game was boring and agree with Durand that Liverpool were there for the taking. Should have started with Eze, this guy knows the Premier League inside out and definitely would not be overawed by Liverpool. Also thought the two £100m + players (Rice and Wirtz) had mediocre games. Just hope Saliba’s injury isn’t serious🙏
The SAS motto of “Who Dares Wins” should be appropriate toArsenal this season, after finishing second for the past 3 seasons. After spending nearly £1 billion over 5 years, this was the “best” starting 11, Arteta could field at Anfield. Judging on admittedly a small sample of 2 EPL games, Arteta is not showing much ability in knowing how to use a centre forward of the calibre of Gyokeres. Gyokeres is being starved of supply with Martinelli, inparticular, appearing to not know how to play him in.
The starting 11 at Anfield was negative and defensive. I feel sorry for those who travelled up by train or car to watch that rubbish!
Rubbish comments are usual. This was a tight game against one of the best teams in the world. Many of these Arsenal players are also new to each other and it will take same time for the team to function optimally.
You have also conveniently kept out the fact that Arsenal had a number of of key players out with injury.
Yet in our predictions very few said Liverpool would win so were not too concerned my injuries
🙄
David, Jesus would not have played, Haverz would not have played, Norgard would not have played, White would not have played. Only Saka would have played. And why have we spent 300 mil this summer on players, if we can not rely on our squad. Why spend all that money (and the near total of £1billion) if we can not perform, if we have a few injuries. You always have an excuse but not an answer. It was not the lack of players yesterday but the lack of ambition and tactics.
David, apparently individual opinions are not appreciated and now derided on Just Arsenal.
How can Arsenal provide service to Gyokeres with such a defensive set up in midfield with 3 DM’s.
Some of us, who have followed the Arsenal for 60 plus years, have experienced great players and top notch managers, who were winners. George Graham went to Anfield knowing he had to win to snatch the title and what result did the Arsenal achieve?
I agree with most of the views expressed on here except that I don’t agree that is all doom and gloom after this game. I would take it as a good lesson to Arteta that you it is a contradiction to have such a good team and still be overcautious! This would be the time to show the difference but he failed to read the barometer. The purpose of bringing in new players was to ensure that we would no longer be intimidated by any team and would play to our strength. So, the question is: why were we timid? Arteta has not realised that he now has a team which has the capacity to win games at any venue provided they are well motivated. His tactics have got to change. It can’t be the same old story. Our team is balanced enough to control games and finish off opponents. Let him begin to unleash our full potential. The mentality of if you can’t win don’t lose should only apply when your opponent is stronger than you. Liverpool was not stronger than us it was just our mentality that was weak. Hence, Arteta needs to change this mindset and go with a winning mentality. He should only apply caution when he detects that something might be amiss.
Arsenal were cautious but this should not be surprising away at Liverpool. Liverpool are already one of the strongest teams Arsenal are going to be up against this season.
Whatever one may say of Liverpool’s vulnerabilities they’ve been lethal in attack.
You’ve also got to realise that several of Arsenal’s players are new to the squad and have played only a handful of games.
I personally enjoyed the game especially the first half perhaps because I wasn’t expecting us to win, but I wasn’t expecting us to draw lose either. Starting merino wasnt a good idea and martinelli should be relegated to the bench permanently, all the martinelli fan boys can make excuses for him all day but the truth is that he is below average.
Its just 3 games and I believe we will come good.
Arteta is too arrogant to admit mistakes and evolve, just like Wenger before him. He’s basically Wenger’s disciple with all the same shortcomings.
There’s absolutely no sane reason why Merino should have started this match interested of Eze, except only that Merino is his signing and Eze is Berta’s.
He is also too cowardly to drop Raya after all the unnecessary drama that he created by signing him.
Mark my word, Raya will be the difference between us winning and not winning a title. He has this one amazing party trick that is making quick reaction saves and makes everyone go wow. But that only hides the fact that he’s just an average shot stopper and regularly gets basic stuff wrong.
I can’t judge Arteta and the team, full of new players, after an away game against Liverpool. Never easy going to Anfield, but a lot harder when several of the best players is missing. Slot is a boring and cynical manager, he loves the counter attack. His team is lethal if you make the smallest mistake, and not much to do about a free kick like that. Think we had a decent game after all, controlled most part of it and showed that our squad is better this season. Still think we need a proper left winger today, lets hope.
We seriously have the worst and most delusional fanbase. The negativity in other posts as well shows how pathetic some are!
Coming into this game, Arsenal were on a 22 game unbeaten run against the top 6, which is an insane achievement in itself. A run which is even more unbelievable when you consider the amount of key players missing during that period, and yet another key player injured early on in this game.
So clearly, Arteta knows what he’s doing from a tactical perspective.
Then we have this game. Away to the champions, 4 key players already missing, and then you lose Saliba straight away. Yet more disruption! Arteta went for a solid cautious approach, which made sense with Merino starting, knowing he could throw on the attacking options late on. And this approach was working. We were the better team first half, Liverpool were the better team second half, but it never looked like anyone would score.
Bar a wonder goal, it had a draw written all over it, until that wonder goal came!
Then as per usual, the clown fans emerge from the midst of defeat slagging off Arteta like he’s clueless. Lets ignore that 22 game run, lets ignore we were away to the champions at a ground we always struggle at, lets ignore an injury crisis, and lets ignore there was nothing in this game.
There’s no disgrace losing at Anfield in a super tight game, and with tons injuries, yet some act like it’s the worst result ever! Drama queens!
Firstly, your are saying we had 4 key players missing, therefore the conclusion is that “clearly” Arteta knows what he’s doing. Maybe it’s clear in your head, but you did not explain how you jumped to that conclusion.
Secondly, again it if nowhere you jump to the conclusion that starting Merino makes sense without explaining why. And then claim that it worked. Well if it did in fact work then we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
And thirdly, it was most certainly not a “wonder goal”, but rather an amateur mistake from our goalkeeper.
10 man Newcastle had Liverpool sweating bullets last week and they barely won with an actual wonder goal. This week they just controlled the game and capitalised on a mistake against a clueless Arsenal, exactly like how we won against a clueless United on matchweek 1.
United went into a meltdown after that match, but somehow we’re not entitled to be concerned?
Have you considered that maybe your standards are low and you’re just used to the mediocrity?
Raya was not at fault for the goal. It was a perfect free kick.
Jax,
We’ll have to disagree on this one, Raya had a good sight of that ball all the way, and quicker foot movement and he would and should have saved it. Look again.
Only a very tall and quick goalkeeper would have any chance of saving that kick.
Right, yes, both of those qualities Raya does possess, yet he did not make the save because he made a mistake with his positioning. For a keeper that cost $30 million he sure does make a lot of these mistakes.
There are plenty of other keepers that are tall and quick and would have costed far less. I’ll give you an example.
3 years ago when we signed Raya from relegation battling Brentford, Brice Samba was nominated for Ballon D’or and finished 2nd with RC Lens. He would have costed half what we paid for Raya.
Do you compare Liverpool away and home. Factually Liverpool didn’t have any control of the game at all the first 25 minutes against Newcastle. With a proper striker on the pitch Newcastle should have scored at least a few goals against them before Liverpool got their lucky first goal.
Excellent post Lucy’78
Or whatever his name really is?
This entire post is a knee jerk reaction. The match was keenly contested and TBH a freekick goal from 30 yards out is no indicator that we set up badly. I was surprised to see merino start, but the reason for his start soon became apparent in how he helped locked down the Liverpool midfield. I had a problem with the substitutions which I thought should have come earlier. And I also would have sent Nwaneri on instead of Dowman given the very physical nature of the game. However even in Man City’s title winning seasons, they often lost at Anfield so I won’t read much meaning into that. I’m glad Odengard is back. Our lack of thrust in the first half highlighted his importance to our game. Only thing keeping Martinelli in the team is his incredible workrate, but I foresee him starting on the bench for the foreseeable future if Eze does even half of that.
Knee jerk?😂😂😂
Lets ignore the 1 billion is talent investment
Lets ignore we have the 3rd highest paid manager.
Lets ignore wining trophies
Lets ignore losing
Lets ignore players declining
Lets enjoy the boring football.
We had one shot on target which says it all
The big decision was putting Merino in for Odegaard as it changed the nature of our midfield. Merino had an excellent game and surely did what Arteta wanted in terms of controlling the game but Nwaneri would have been the like for like option and had played there often in pre-season.
Saka was replaced with Madueke who actually did a decent job, although we needed Rice to switch over and take corners from the right hand side.. Not only was he poor at them but somehow his corners from the left hand side bot worse too. We lost one of out most potent weapons in a tight game where they could have made all the difference.
The overall play in that match was not so different to the one at Old Trafford but there we were the ones to nab a set piece goal
He’s like bloody boring Mourinho in disguise but without his acumen. I can hear the ‘boring,boring Arsenal’ chant coming back again.
I think the cautious approach maybe because of the injury to saliba. Mosquera did well but he is a new cb this season playing at Anfield for the first time. If it was Saliba at the back, perhaps Arteta would go all out attack on second half
Arteta is a fool for the line up and bringing on super max that late make him a clown so he wants him to win penalty for him right?
I cant believe arteta hasn’t changed playing cower.
He really let us all down, we are arsenal, we should be attacking from start, instead he kept our ammunitions on seat.
I will start hoping for his sack if he ever come up with such filty line up and more importantly martinelli should be released ASAP if they can’t find any suitor, he’s an anchor he’s been slowing us down and now he’s shutting us down
I think you got your answer.
Losing at Anfield is no disgrace, it is the manner in which you lose. If you lose trying to win, that’s one thing but to lose without ever trying to win is very disappointing.
Arteta has become overly cautious and negative and these ultra conservative tactics completely ruin every game as a spectacle.
Arsenal used to play attacking football. For decades under Wenger, whether we were winning or not, we played. Arteta got his fingers burnt the first time we finished 2nd under him and he has been getting progressively more cautious each subsequent season.
Last year we finished closer in points to his first season when we came 8th than we did the first season we finished as runner-up. That should tell you everything you need to know.
Arsenal had the majority of their attacking players on the bench and people wonder why we lost the game.
On top of that Martinelli played yet again despite once again he offers very little in that position.
I felt bad for Gyokeres who had no service whatsoever.
All of this is down to the manager who surely has only this season to win anything – this spending and falling the wrong side of “very small margins” is simply not sustainable..
You have some people on here criticizing those that are slating Arteta. And as early in the season as it is, to see the negative football that we’re still playing under this man, needs to be called out.
We’re constantly led to believe that we’ve got all these good players and that their ready to produce. That’s as maybe, but one thing that’s not taken in to consideration in all this is Arteta.
His teams constant slow sideways football is suffocating the players creativity. And until Arteta lets go of this negative play, this team is going nowhere fast.
Now I know it’s only three games in, but I’m going to call Arteta out in game 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, and so on if we keep playing this way.
The owner’s have backed this man to the hilt this summer, and it’s time that Arteta gives these players the chance to show us what we’re led to believe they can do.
Yes we’ve got some injury’s, but the squad is bigger now, so don’t go there just yet people.
Nicely put, Derek 👍
Just seen on the BBC Website that Ten Haag has been sacked after just two games in charge of Leverkusen.
Seems that they’ve got higher and stricter standards than we do. 😂🤣👍
So boring to watch Artetas conservative style.
He should have played Nwanieri or Eze instead of Merino, since Odegaard didn’t start. But more importantly, LET GO OF THE HANDBRAKE.
Gyokeres gets NO passes, central midfielders makes 0 runs into the box, and the controlling passive style is just soul-crushing to see.
Seems Arteta is more focused on not conceding, then scoring. Also, where’s the value for money for our supporters who’s paid to see them play?
I want Arteta out, and Fabregas in, as manager. Fabregas would inject Wengers philosophies with one touch soccer, freedom to play for technical players, and direct style.
Brilliant analysis. I doubt whether Mikel will win us the EPL.
Lots of injuries and many new players. Three games played and some pathetic fans have already started to complain, it’s ridiculous 🔴⚪️