I asked the question throughout the season; would we have the mentality to cope with the title run in? by Dan Smith
The majority of the same players who couldn’t cope with the pressure of a top 4 race in the last campaign, who were crippled by the fear of failure, how would they 12 months later suddenly be able to handle ‘squeaky bum time’?
Man City have a dressing room of leaders who know how to get over the line, while we have one of the youngest squads in the division.
Against West Ham and Liverpool, we were victims of our own success, the game being too easy for us.
Southampton was different, with talent individually and collectively both lacking composures.
Ramsdale, Gabriel and Partey are three names who have been labelled as being one of the best in their positions. It’s often been said that April and May separates the good from the great. They are not yet great.
Partey’s gone missing in recent games, Ramsdale is making mistakes and Gabriel continues to make too many errors to be considered world class.
Being over emotional is an accusation made by pundits and Odegaard had to tell Zinchenko to calm down.
The biggest concern though is the scoreline was 2-1 after 20 minutes, more than enough time to rescue things against opponents bottom of the table.
Yet the Gunners played in a manner and tempo like there was seconds left of the entire game. The match was so stretched it was like an NBA contest.
Every time the Saints crossed the halfway line, we were panicking to get the ball back, rushing our passes.
Gooners picked up on the nerves as did the visitors, who looked like scoring every time they counter attacked.
Forget Wednesday, if Arsenal plays with that kind of frantic composure in their final 6 fixtures, they can forget the championship.
I actually thought in the second half we refound our focus and played our own game, with more patience and trying less to force things.
Obviously their third goal was the sucker punch.
Maybe in midweek we will be more comfortable as underdogs?
A win would inject confidence back into us.
Yet if mentally Southampton was too big a hurdle, then playing the Champions might be simply too big a step?
Repeat that first half at the Etihad we will get our annual heavy beating.
So, I’ll ask again, do we have the mentality to cope with the title run in?
Dan
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Our current position in the league , the fewest losses and our come from behind wins have demonstrated the mentality of this team. If we don’t win the league, can’t it be that a another team is just better than us? At the start of the season, City were odds on favourite to win the League, Arsenal were good odds to finish 4th. The mentality of this team has been proven, our squad depth however is not on the level as City’s. If we win the league or come second I would consider that a remarkable achievement.
City being a better team doesn’t explain our performance last night ?
Actually, winning mentality to become champion is still below standard in this squad. Arsenal have been on top of the table for complete eight months, to accomplish their mission in the final ninth month has turnout to be difficult task. All shan’t be well if we lose the title just a meter to reach the ending point.
But now problem is that City doesn’t have to beat us on Wednesday so they can avoid taking risk and opening up their defence…
Now we will have to take the risk to beat City which will open up our defence for City to punish us..
We have to win all the remaining fixtures to win the League, which includes City, Newcastle, Chelsea and Brighton. I don’t see City dropping points. We beat City and lose to Newcastle or Brighton then it will be the same end result.
City has to play Brighton who are in form, and Brentford away who have already beaten City. Ake is injured, City today play Sheffield Utd will play hard and then they play us, anything could happen
City smell blood, we dont.
A man of few words Reggie and I agree 💯. I thought this year would be different and whilst we haven’t yet folded like a pack of cards, the signs are ominous
Sue, i never saw us winning the league but i didn’t expect us to be losing it against teams like West ham and Southampton, like we did. That is so poor.
Its obvious that you have to add more fish on your diet
City do have to beat us, a draw or loss is no good to them, it is better to have the points than the games in hand. It isn’t over til the fat lady sings
A draw is great gor them!
For
I still think a draw at City would be a good result, then wait to see if they slip up the odd game before we do
I didn’t and don’t think we have the set up to win the league. Our football does not stand up when the pressure is on. We this season have fallen like a pack of cards in every competition against teams we should have beaten, no excuse. Southampton, last night were a shining example of a really poor team, made to look good because we couldn’t cope. We can not carry on playing the type of football we do and win something. Plus our use or lack of use of certain players is really poor. We are too rigid in our set up and play and have no variation we just change players and carry on. At the moment we have the pefect set up to get our best players on the field and play 3 center backs but we have rigidly stuck to on formation and the same style. I dont get this Viera love in by the manager or the ostracisatiin of ESR. Jesus since he has come back, has changed the whole dynamic of our play and we are not playing the same as before, before he came back. Why Trossard has suddenly become a sub, is beyond me.
The City game will determine whether we have progressed or not. If they set up right, are flexible on adversity, and they show a mentality that’s been lacking in key games for years, then yes, they might just do it. If they play the way they did against utd at ot, city at home, everton, Brighton in the efl cup and sporting, and the last three games, it’ll be the usual drubbing. Why the list? Because a lot of fans seem to have convinced themselves the last three games are down to the run in, not a symptom of a deeper issue. The squad is too thin in the same areas it’s been too thin in for a decade. The mentality when faced with a tough fixture is still too frail. A summer of clever transfers and maybe we will have more flexibility during games and after injuries. If we dont do that, well….
Arsenal have obviously not got the mentality to win a marathon like EPL yet
But maybe they can be lucky in a knockout competition like UCL next season, if they have a GK who’s excellent in penalty situations. Ramsdale is obviously not good in those situations, but maybe Turner can do a better job
OT: Pochettino seems to be heading to Chelsea. Hopefully he will only manage the team next season, so we could deal with Lampard in May
I was at the game last night, and the team was nervous, we were slow, Arteta picking Vieria for Xhaka’s role was wrong, and Jorginho would have sufficed. White, Saka and Odegaard were not doing much, Partey was playing way too deep. There were two fights where I was standing and it reminded me of the toxic time we had towards the end of Wenger’s time. The game against City is now a must-win, we can’t draw when City has two games in hand. This is football, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. We have been superb this season, this is the youngest team ever that could win the PL, and Arteta is the youngest manager ever, it is a lot to ask for, but our next two games are the ones that will determine if we are good enough to win it. City, then Newcastle away….Game on
Why not Trossard?
@feios
I do not think it is a must win. It is still a must not loose game. Here I would take a draw as I am reasonably confident that Man City won’t win each game.
I think it needs to be a 3 – 5 – 2
3: Holding, Gabriel, Tierney
5: White, Jorginho/ESR, Odegaard/Trossard, Partey, Zhinchenko
2: Saka, Martinelli
Then use the subs of Jesus or Nketiah to change the game dynamics.
Maybe a draw after outplaying them would be the game that gives us the confidence to go on a winning run.
Arsenal as a team has always had bad months. So best to write off Apr and hop we win everything in May.
That is the way I am trying to console myself and keep the faith although no doubt others will call me deluded.
We have not the mentality to win the title and am sick of hearing we see such a young team, must have been competing since they were 7, they are all well paid professionals, give me a break guys.
Viera should be nowhere near this team he is absolutely dreadful, and while zinny is an asset on attack he is a woeful defender, if playing him then need to play tierney also as he is not a full back. Switching off from games for rest of season, too painful to watch this capitulation
Some people seems unable to differentiate between young and inexperienced.are we saying that Saka,MØ,White,Saliba,Jesus, Zinchenko,Xhaka, Jorginho,Partey,Trossard,KT….are inexperienced??
Man City is not going to win all their remaining matches. That’s for sure.
They wont have too!!!!!!
But by that logic are we going to win all our games
I have been positive all season still have some hope if we do something magical vs City but its been clear last 2 seasons we dont have the mentality to survive in squeaky bum time. Its the reason along with playing a rotated team that we have not done well in any knockout competition.
This is a young team that is taking in the experience of a title fight for the 1st time. What we do have is the talent to put games to bed to avoid the pressure. Far too many misses in front and catastrophic mistakes at the back.
Excellent analysis.Short and clear.