Well we all knew it was going to be a tall order to go to the home of the Champions and to expect a miracle, considering that the Gunners haven’t beaten Pep Guardiola’s side home or away in the League since the Spaniard took over the helm at the Etihad.
And it didn’t take long for any optimism that Arsenal fans may have had to evaporate when we went behind after just 7 minutes.
It looks like Guardiola made just one little tweak to his tactics by swapping De Bruyne to a more forward role and leaving Haaland to be the provider. And they combined brilliantly from a superfast break with just a little touch from Haaland to De Bruyne, who curled a killer shot into Ramsdale bottom corner to give the Cityzens the lead.
The hoped for comeback from Arsenal failed to arrive and De bruyne came very close to doubling the lead after 20 mins, and the attacks kept coming thick and extremely fast from City and we were very lucky to hit the 45 minute mark still only 1-0 down. But in the 2 minutes added time, John Stones popped up at the back of the Arsenal box to head home brilliantly from a free kick. It looked like an easy offside decision but VAR struck and they proved that he was onside by a toe. The goal stood and the dejected Arsenal team traipsed back to the dressing room with a mountain to climb in the second half, especially as the gunners hadn’t even managed one shot on target in the first 45 minutes.
Not that we expected any change and sure enough within 10 minutes De Bruyne had yet again found a way past Ramsdale, and our despair was complete.
The frustration started to creep in, and of course Granit Xhaka was the first one to turn into a hothead and when he was obviously threatening to Grealish on the hour mark, Arteta immediately swapped him for Jorginho, and the tired looking Martinelli was replaced by Trossard.
It was great to see Smith-Rowe come on for the last 20 mins, and I’m glad we managed to get a consolation goal 3 mins from time, the first time we’ve scored against them in 3 meetings this season, and even more surprising is that Rob Holding scored it.
Haaland inevitably had to score to make it 4-1, but to be honest we never stood a chance against Guardiola’s juggernaut, and all we can do is hope that Arteta and Edu can have another brilliant transfer summer, and keep trying to close the gap ahead of going again next season…
I’m off to have a large drink and hopefully sleep …….
———————————————————
Watch Arteta refuse to give up on title after Man City defeat – “There are still 5 games to play, it’s not over…”
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One team plays once a week, other 3 times a week. Other team rotates, other one doesn’t.
We’re the one who doesn’t rotate unless injury forces. Relying on 11-12 players all season has cost us.
Jesus needs to be dropped for Trossard.
@Dajuhi
RealTalk. Same as last season. Jus sayin
Folks, all this talk, the team were absolute rubbish and have been for the last 4 games. It’s back to the drawing board, we need multiple replacements, we need players with balls, not boys!
This is the team all season has been top, this is a young team that will only get better with age along with the manager, this is a team that is only three behind in scoring with City, this is a team that has won the most London Derbies in a season you have no idea about football, building a team takes time, and we need multiple replacements this is absurd. Try backing the team instead of your negative attitude, supporters like you are the reason the Emirates got toxic
👍👍
You can argue about one-game-a-week all you want but this is a season we should celebrate. No one expected us to be where we are now at the start of the season. Halfway through the season, most dont believe we can hang on this long.. but here we are.
My only worry is all this negativity and the team will collapse, destroying the whole good season.. The team has given us a season to enjoy, let us at least give them our full support til the end of the season.
I’m curious.
At what point in Arteta’s tenure do we finally start to expect him to achieve more than what Conte managed in 9 months, with less investment?
Because it seems like we keep inventing more excuses to flop EVERY season?
You’re 100% right, Jesus has never been impressive. The goals he scored since coming back from enjury is pure blackmail. Apart from us missing William Saliba, Jesus has been our weakest link. I wish Arteta had noticed this earlier.
Arteta is the sole reason for our failures this season. Same style ,same players all season. To think that during the preseason games he tried 352 formation a few times . Arteta just wouldn’t change his tactics or his first choice players . Nelson and trossard and tierny keeps being overlooked .
Arteta needs to learn a lot more
League gone and it’s even more painful than last seasons failings during the run in .
110%. youll be told youre negative though
If Arteta is the sole reason for our failures, who is the reason we are currently in 1st place?
Exactly.
So, credit Arteta for the successes, but don’t blame him for the meltdowns?
Incredible.
We are losing this title because of the last 3 games. Not today’s match
We had a golden chance to win the league by losing both games to city but we ruined it.
Same tactics each match.
Odegaard was providing assists to city today. Saka nonexistent. Jesus is just useless. Don’t know why don’t we start trossard or nketiah.
👍 3 points out of 9 against lower opposition does not win premierships.
Pick ourselves up and go again. Freshen up the team. Squad management has not been the best literally same midfield and attack well in week out. We must do better. Gutted we’ve ended like this
This is not the game that most Arsenal the title. It was the last 3 games.
Man City spent too much money in the initial years of the last decade and now don’t have to spend as much. Large Investments compound fast.
Total annihilation has nothing to do with money. Dont forget we have been bank rolled. Two years on the trot, oour January window has been a failure. We spent more than many.
True Reggie, a tale of Men against boys. Not a single Arsenal player stood up or stood out. Jesus made no difference, Odegaard careless, our midfield was steamrolled.
Rinse and repeat lineup and tactics, we just looked afraid today against City.
We just fold under pressure; top 4 choke last year, bottle Sporting at home, FA Cup, it’s just lacking the mentality.
Arteta has done a good job but for me he has proved nothing except his football philosophy is flawed. Until he changes, which i have my doubts, i dont see the guille or nowse to compete with the elite.
The last 4 games have been a massive eye opener. The way we play football is undone big style when the pressure is on. If it doesn’t change and the philosophy change, we will win JS. We are back in the CL and that must not be forgotten but we will just be cannon fodder, if massive changes in the way we play and use players are not changed. Do i think they will?????
Arteta philosophy is same as Arsene Wenger. When things are bad they don’t know how to get out of it. They are their worst enemy. They will keep on doing the same thing over and over again to prove that they are right even it’s not working and a change is desperately needed. I feel that most teams are catching up with Artetas tactics.
We repeated today everything that has gone bad this last 4 games, and some.👍
@Reggie
We repeated this season, the same negligence as last season. By playing the same 11/13 players until they were run down and then expecting the bench warmers to slot in and save the day…
👍AS IT IS NY.
Like Arsene Wenger always a couple of top class players short; this year a striker, additional defensive midfielder and a centre back. Money was wasted on a future project in Viera, rather than strengthening for the here and now. One could also argue that Arsenal has equivalent (or potentially better) players in the academy for the future.
In addition Mikel Arteta hasn’t utilized his available squad to their maximum potential. White has not been played at CB, Tierney not selected at RB, when Zinchenko is a defensive liability, Trossard dropped when in form for Jesus who cant score for love or money, and Nelson and Nketiah getting limited opportunities, while players like Saka play every game.
Of concern to me has been the quality of players from the Academy, who have been allowed to leave Arsenal after limited opportunities over the years such as Serge Gnabry, Chuba Akpom, Joe Willock and possibly Folarin Balogun. Paying wages to retain such players and give them opportunities makes more sense than paying transfer fees, plus wages to bring in players, who may be hit or miss.
A load of rubbish to progress a negative narrative.
Did you anticipate that Arsenal would be in position to challenge for the PL at the the beginning of the season?
What is the evidence that Arsenal would have done better if Nelson had played more games? Or are your ideas based on a few cameo appearances?
What players could we have got that would have guaranteed a better position in the PL?
If White had played at CB who plays FB? And what impact would that have on the balance of the team and the progress we have made this season overall.
David, might be “a load of rubbish” to you, but just my opinion which I am entitled to have.
Don’t feed the troll. He’s one of three guys that just insult everyone that doesn’t share their views.
Ignore him, move on.
So, any opinion that doesn’t give Arteta all credit and no blame should be trashed?
That’s silly.
I wonder at what point fans like you finally start to hold Arteta accountable for not achieving anything significantly more than Spurs.
After another 20 years?
👍
Spot on mate
The performance tonight was bad but we didn’t loose the title because of it. Given the way we have played lately, I doubt we will we win the remaining matches anyway. The draw against pool, Hammers and Saints was where the title got away.
Well that was disappointing, so many individual errors the past four games have proved costly. No longer I our hands now. Will city bottle it!? Here is to some hoping.
There are 2 ways of looking at it
One – we didn’t show up
Two – we were up against a team who are widely regarded as the best team around both at home and in Europe and who showed why they have that accolade
Don’t be too hard on the team. City are powering forward after a slow start and Arsenal are not as good. It’s quite simple really.
What we were unable to do was win the winnable games recently and that will count against us
Sue, we didn’t lose the title tonight but it was because of the other stalemate in the other previous 3 games. My biggest fear with MA is that he doesn’t like making changes even when it’s desperately needed. Sticking to one style will not get you anywhere in this league. Even the likes of Pep have different style in the bag so that they don’t become style.
You are right Ibrahim
Sue, tonight was a circumstance of the last few games. We come under pressure and wilt. Every competition this season we have wilted when a step up was needed.
Reggie
There is no excuse for wilting at key games but there is an excuse for being inexperienced. Not being there and done it before and that includes our manager
I believe we keep this core of players together and add a bit of magic and steel we will be fighting again for the title
Old saying
out of adversity comes opportunity
Onwards and upwards
They’ve been poor against Utd at OT, against Brighton in the EFl cup, they were dire second half v City at home, and really poor against Everton. In key games all season long that frail mentality has shown up. It’s not simply a case of ‘inexperience in recent weeks’. This is not a new problem, it’s been happening for years. Arteta has shown he hasn’t managed to get handle on what is our major challenge. No matter who comes in, or who might come in, unless that issue is finally sorted, next season is going to end in tears – again.
AB, our biggest wilters were players that have done it before, Jusus, Zinchenko, Xhaka and Partey. Now i dont think it was down to the players but what they are asked to do!!!!
Alanball08
There is some truth in what you say about inexperience, good point.
However, we brought in Zinchenko and Jesus for their experience, but they never stood up or stood out. Xhaka and Partey didn’t do anything either when we had 4 experienced players who did nothing to stem the flood.
We’ve dropped off since Jesus playing instead of Trossard, and players repeated mistakes of last several weeks.
Arteta showing faith in players is supportive, but several should have dropped when we played Southampton at home.
Sting their pride to wake them up, not coddle mental mistakes and poor performances.
Reggie,
I think I saw it differently to you. ManC are a fantastic fighting outfit, who after a very slow start have come to life.
I do think that overall this season, the club has overachieved and it is no disgrace to lose to a club that has bought the best in terms of Pep and then, in terms of players. Aguero, started the revolution and KDB has been at the top of his trade now for years. Haaland is nothing short of a beast and made Holding look small physically at least.
For me, we lost the plot when in winning positions and I thought tonight, we were just up against a much better team who showed just how good they are.
ManC are showing their durability over the course of the whole season. We are still some way off that, and the rest are miles behind, currently.
Sue, its not the losing but the way we lost and it is all predictable. Tonight was shameful, the 3 games previous were always coming. We failed from a position of strlast season and we have done the same this. There is a theme developing and i dont like it.
Nor do I. I know he’s persona non gratis at Arsenal, but there’s a former manager who could be persuaded do some coaching for Arteta. I doubt very much after he finished with them there would be any more backsliding..
I saw it the same as you
Listening to the pundits today not one I heard thought City were anything other than superb and they have been building up a relentless head of steam for a while.
If Arsenal hadn’t played so well this season, City would have already been crowned as champions.
Oops
That was meant to go to someone else as you and I Marge had a different opinion
It’s not often I disagree with you Sue, but I have to here. We were absolutely dire, as we were against Southampton. The only differences were that Southampton were too poor to hold the lead, and Ramsdale had a blinder tonight. Had he not it would have been a cricket score.
Yes City are a great side, but our lot looked terrified and ponderous and allowed City to shine. Its also concerning that Arsenal have looked poor in all of our last four games going in at half time. Yet the manager has been unable to change anything. The fight back against the saints happened despite, not because of him.
A far more balanced perspective than most on here. We do not have as strong or experienced a squad as a number of other teams. Yet we have been MCs greatest challengers this season.
Errors in our other recent games have been our undoing. Those games have been the biggest disappointment
Suep
I think we weren’t allowed to show up
I am as disappointed as everyone else on here but the reality is we were out gunned and out classed by the better team on the night. No disgrace in that
A superior team riched in experience and personal
Lots of people again saying way of the mark comments. Shocking
It is for city to lose but they still got to put the points on the board . Will they do it, probably but we still sit top even for a short while
I for one live in hope and until it is mathematically impossible I cling to that hope
Well done to the manager, team and club for getting this far and I again for one love that feeling of still being in the hunt come end of April.
Normally season is dead for us as when it comes to challenging for the league by December
I look forward not back and the world is still red and white
Onwards a d upwards
Alan
There is an obvious sense of indignation that we lost but I was indignant that we threw away leads and then had to fight back against the worst placed team in the league to scrape a draw. They were absolutely winnable and the loss tonight would not have almost certainly scuppered our PL hopes. City were far better placed. I can just about understand the bottler comments but City are now coming up on the rails to use horse racing speak. They weee always going to improve
The fact that the Kroenke family have invested recently does not alter the fact that ManC have been bankrolled for years – as have Chelsea
I would add that Pepsi a superb and experienced manager at the highest level with Arteta still T the early stages and has vastly improved the whole dynamic around the club as well as our league position
This was a disappointing performance. However, there are any number of “entitled” people here who have completely lost the plot. There is a lack of perspective that is astounding and disgraceful.
Man City are one of the best teams ever in the PL. We have one of the youngest squads in the PL who were only expected to fight for 4th. The team has been gradually rebuilding over the last few years with a lot of the critics refusing to acknowledge that there had been any improvement. Many of those on this site didn’t expect us to make the CL.
MC have one of the strongest squads we have ever seen. They are able to bench the likes of De Bruyne without batting an eyelid. Foden is often an impact player. And a player like Mahrez is often a rotational player. The first team with Haaland as spearhead has been brutally effective against almost any opposition.
This was always going to be difficult game. We need to learn from this and it is clear that we need significant strengthening.
Lols David being David .
You are right, 100%.
We are building a young team, and it was never expected to be fighting for the title this season. Suddenly it is a failure not to win it?
We are on the right track, and the players we have, will get better, and with additions, we can hopefully be even better.
Quick question.
Do you honestly think this mentality is how Leicester City won the league?
Exactly. Its also an apt comparison. Leicester are acknowledged as winning the league at a point where the usual suspects were rebuilding and as such it was then or never. Leicester as a side, or even as a club had zero experience of a title race. Yet somehow they rode out the nerves and won the league. If that side could do it, with a side few would compare favourably with our current team, why can’t we?
The league is not over however unlikely it may be that we will win it.
As for the Leicester’s win, what they did was great for that club. However, comparing their season with what we are up against this season!? Well, let’s just say circumstances are different.
As usual Marge you got it in one. There are too many cliches that the professional pundits use and Joe Public latch on to. “Not having experience of a title run-in”. That’s like saying it’s impossible for teams to win a title for the first time.
“The team is very young”. Many champions have had numerous youngsters in their ranks. Without boring you again, I won’t go down memory lane with that one, but basically if you’re good enough it doesn’t matter that you are young. And what is young anyway ? We could do with some of the great young players of yesteryear. Spurs messed up that season Leicester won the title and we did the double over the Foxes very easily. Alexi Sachez (another one of my favourites) battered Leicester at their place almost singlehandedly. Sorry going on about the past now.
Well said. A few more top-class signings / improve squad depth and Arsenal will be able to compete all season.
Still not over…. But likely is….
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😋🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Wake up, its over.
I thought the subs did well considering like Nelson, Trossard, Jorginho and even Nketiah.
Ist eleven was awful. No fight.
When I saw the team sheet I wanted to hide behind the sofa. The scoreline flatters Arsenal. Should have 8 – 1.
I hope City now go on and win the treble. They are worthy of it.
No shame coming 2nd to that lot.
No there is shame coming second but the way we have done it is shameful. We collapsed like a pack of cards.
Sorry first line should read, no shame.
Yup. That teamsheet was summed up by a mate of mine with, ‘I fear the worst’. City wanted to make an example of us tonight, hence Haaland wasn’t pulled off earlier. They did.
That was as spineless a performance u’ll see all season. The bottlers are bk
Guys I am a die hard arsenal fan I knew all season along this would happen is the way of the manager .guys really now you ever see winning a league with a player like xhaka he is the reason I am not enjoying watching arsenal .we have good set of players we just need a club legend managing them to be fair MA done great job but never would take us over the line
Do you have a club legend in mind?
Adams? Vieira? Henry?
Anyone of the 3
Sadly none of them have shown any great apptitude as manager’s.
Mr arsenal
Question
If you knew this was going to happen at the start of the season
Why are you bothering 😕
Club legend like lampard at cheski
Smart comment
Legend don’t always make great managers
Our manager is doing OK for me
Still learning on the job but we are progressing
Before the World Cup we looked okay, bar the usual fiasco at OT. Since the World Cup that worrying lack of mental strength that’s been their hallmark for years slowly returned as soon as any pressure was put on them. ‘That’ is why fans still suspected this could happen. Were they wrong?
As for ‘why keep supporting the club’, jesus wept… I’ve been to Highbury watching rain sodden relegation battles (1974-76), miserable mediocrity (82-86) and eyeball peelingly dull (93-95) but guess what? If you really support a club you take the rough with the smooth.
As for the last bit, but is he? In recent weeks the team looked no different to the poor sides of recent years. The manager has made poor tactical and selection decisions, and each game has seen them playing progressively worse, not better. Maybe he needs some help?
It’s true legends don’t make good managers .but legends with always be loved by there teams and would be backed up by true fan .is MA arsenal ?
So much for players don’t have hang ups about opponents. Arsenal were full of fear from the off, as sluggish as in recent games from the off, and never looked like troubling City. In the end we got the usual drubbing, and never looked like champion contenders. Yes it’s not over mathematically, but in reality City look like champions, and we haven’t for weeks.
Time to look at strengthening the side for next season.
Marge,
Would you mind pointing to one precise success indicator you expect us to achieve by next season?
Or are we to just embrace vague hopes?
Basically aiming for nothing and hitting it every time?
They have to demonstrate, in the first game against the NW reds or City they have the mental strength to beat them. At our first test this season, Utd at OT we played poorly, showed that mental fragility once again, and were done 1-3. You could take that when Fergie was in charge, but now? If they can’t hold it together in the big tests they still won’t challenge. If they bring in a few more defenders, and a top defensive midfield player, it will then be down to their mental strength – and no more.
We cried out for a player like partey now we have him and play him with shit . Slow backward sidewards passing xhaka genius . Never ever suited the Arsenal caliber
👍👍👍👍👍👍
The players have been the one carrying this team since the beginning of the league and not as a result of Arteta’s tactical genius.
I see another Wenger in Arteta, stubborn and rigid to his ways. Great managers turn things around by switching formations to suit the available squad and the opponent but Arteta sticks to the same thing everytime and expects a different result.
How we bottled the top 4 last season was on him and losing this league is also on him.
Btw, no serious team wins a league with a Gabriel Jesus as the main striker.
Saka needed a rest before now to be fresh all season but Arteta kept playing him and this is the result, he’s been inefficient.
Zinchenko shouldn’t have been this comfortable if Arteta was rotating with Tierney and not favoring just one player.
I see Arteta as another Arsene Wenger, we might just get back to being in the champions league regularly to make up the numbers and not really compete and also not win any meaningful trophies in a long time.
The one thing I’ve been saying for weeks now.
Spot on!
@ Bright
You took the words out of my mouth.
There was no rotation at all to keep the players fresh.
Yesterday’s match was one where we needed a double pivot and flooded midfield so that one could drop back and strong full backs (KT and BW). He also needed to play Trossard instead of Odegaard so he can drift back into midfield and then clip the ball to the wingers because the space was there.
Not disappointed that we lost because they are a quality team but just the fact that we did not show any fight and desire. In fact Nelson, Nketiah, Jorginho and Trossard showed some fight last night.
The dream is not over ,anything can happen till seasons end ,but that performance was on par with Emerys pathetic attempt in the EL final .
No problem losing against the best manager and team in the league when we at-least put in some effort ,but that was awful feo
the manager down to the players
That could have ended 10-1 if not from-some goods save from Ramsdale and some crap finishing from the city forwards .
Pathetic….
Arteta and Edu got rid of all the non fighters and bought in well, non fighters. 🤣🤣
😄😅🤣
Oh jeez… 🙄
holdingioh ronaldo distefano what a performance by rob holding that goal should get him a new contract
Only Arteta thinks zinchencho is better than Tierney in the whole world.
My 8 yrs old girl knows Tierney is better than Zinny.
Zinny played against arsenal for more than 90 minutes and the coach was comfortable with it.
I am not surprise for Xhaka, he will always go missing in big games.
I thought Jesus and Zinchenko were awful tonight and wilted. Was that why we bought them?
Am happy some fans on JA are vindicated. There is no way you can win premiership with same players and same tactics all through the season. It’s not just possible. Some days back after the draw with Saints, I suggested Arteta should start Trossard, Tierney, Nketia and Nelson and Jesus, Saka, Zinchenko and Martinelli starting from the bench when the City’s defense would have been worn out. Instead, Arteta played the same players and City Mercenaries rendered them ineffective all through the game. Well, title is gone. It’s not late to learn from mistakes of this season.
Next season is CL. Edu and Arteta, if you like get us feather weights as midfielders. Get us also, a striker who will struggle in front of goals. By this time next season God willing, we shall gather on this platform and lick our wounds. All because of one man.
I spent an absolute fortune for today and have a further 30 pounds to Stockport to the most shittiest hotel you can think off. Didn’t think about food…. ffs.
The fans turned up, we sang throughout and supported. Shame the team didn’t!
That is the worst I have seen us play since Newcastle last year.
I give the spuds their due… they got refunded for their last game. I don’t think we will be?
I think you should get compensation as well🤣🤣🤣
@ N B
I really feel for you. I am distraught without spending a penny.
But hats off to you and foreverinourshadows for going and supporting the team.
I could hear your singing above the noise of the Ethihad. Just shows you showed fight and desire unlike our team. Only the subs showed desire (Trossard, Nelson, Nketiah and Jorginho).
Am glad we scored and it was the much maligned Holding who got no protection from the midfield or from the full backs tucking in.
Their play was through the middle and not on the flanks. I am more than convinced we would have done better with KT and BW and with a double pivot of Partey and Jorginho with Trossard instead of Odegaard which many have been stating for days before (not just me).
My heart is broken big time. 4points ahead of us if city win their 2 outstanding matches. The league is gone tbh.
Squad depth is what we need to work on as a club to achieve meaningful competitiveness and real title challenge. We need quality players in every department, at the moment we only have 11 best players. Among the 11 who can slot into the Manchester City first line up? Were actually demanding too much from the young players. Any way it has been a good year for us.
Woeful performance! City should have got at least 8 if it wasn’t for Ramsdale.
Was indeed. But the argument that it was lost over the last three games is wrong. They haven’t turned up in too many key games this season. The defeat at Everton was the key moment. A dire performance and poor result that allowed City to close what was then a hefty gap.
The team has been much improved this season, we’ve been fortunate that Chelsea have been out of it, and the NW reds are rebuilding. As such we’ve overachieved to some extent, but who cares when you finish top four? Unfortunately that old problem of a fragile mentality under pressure has not been resolved and stands square in the way of renewed success.
👍
Arteta should never have let Martinez go…….Ramsdale is not good enough. He is inconsistent. We need a better goalie and a big centre forward. However no one gave this arsenal team to make top four….. we have qualified for cl at least. Now let’s build onto this team. Congratulations for a good season.
So let me get this right John .. if Martinez (spaghetti fingers ) had been playing the result would have been different ?🫠🫠
Ramsdale just had a phenomenal game! He was literally the only Arsenal player to turn up, has had a fantastic season, yet he’s the one you blame?
Your timing is shocking considering the game he just had.
👍spot on, totally unfair, Ramsdale was arguable Arsenal’s best player.
I thought Ramsdale stopped the score from being a cricket score tonight but i still think Martinez was let go, when he shouldn’t have. He should have been no1 he had earned it. But Ramsdale shouldn’t be faulted for tonight.
Ramsdales young, and been criticised for being headstrong. He can be, and that’s cost us. Other than that though he’s our best keeper in years. He was the difference between us being beaten and absolutely belted tonight. With proper coaching he can only get better.
You are talking utternonsenseJohn. Haaland could have easily bagged a hatrick if not for Ramsdale. Felt Ramsdale may have done better for the opening goal of City’s,,, but then, he was let down by poor defending in the lead up to each goal. Your goalkeeper is usually only as good as what’s in front of him. Tonight Ramsdale was left exposed too many times
We were beaten by the better team tonight, a team that were able to select from a full squad.
We had Saliba, Tomi and Elneny unavailable.
Without The Arsenal, the PL would have been over months ago, as no other club have been able to stay with them.
This game shouldn’t have been crucial, but the previous three games (3 points from 9) made it so.
Blame is being laid at the manager and the players, but until the last four games, we were the best club in the PL and MA was being awarded MOTM on a regular monthly basis – as were our players (Saka, Ramsdale as examples) and our summer and winter signings were lauded for their excellence.
The Emirates became the great home stadium we have waited for since moving from the wonderful days at Highbury and some fans were predicting the title was ours.
We had managers from liverpool and united claiming we were lucky with our injuries, such was their panic and the media were complaining about MA’s tactics on the sidelines as we carried on heading the strongest league in europe.
It was forgotten by all the above where we started the season from and what our realistic ambitions were – top four and, maybe, a cup.
As a supporter, I have just a couple of moans regarding our best season since last finishing second (if that’s what will happen).
1. MA’s use of his squad, both substitutes and the timing of introducing said subs.
2. The, seemingly, ostracising of individual players, while playing other players out of position.
I never thought that we would have the kind of season that has unfolded and we can still win the PL, the only club that can realistically say that, apart of course from city.
Finally, no one is more disappointed than I am about the result, but I kept my feet firmly on the ground and am looking forward to ensuring city know they STILL have to look at our results.
What a great season in the PL we have had….still a long way to catch city, but we have made tremendous strides in doing that.
A question Ken. If utd finish 3rd (or 4th) win the carabao cup and lose (they could win it) the FA cup. Which team has progressed the most this season, Arsenal or Man utd?
Man Utd. We’ve won nothing, looked frail mentally in every key game bar two, the managers tactics have unravelled at a key juncture, and we’re likely to finish second in a season when three of the regular silverware winners have not been involved. Key transfers have had a stopgap feel and the squads lack of strength in depth has been cruelly exposed. Not to mention the managers inability to sort out the teams issues under pressure. Utd by contrast have bought well, and could, with their record against City, end up with two trophies.
People saying ‘we only lost to City because they’re so good’ sounds like the Torys using one of their poxy excuses for their latest omnishambles. We were crap. End of
As for next season, well, let’s see this one out first. If Lampards still in charge at Chelsea we should get something out of that. But Newcastle? If we play like that Spurs fans may well end up returning the favour.
Not really bothered about other teams Reggie, but I do know that we are the only club that has challenged city throughout this campaign…. no sign of that from the other “big clubs” and I see no reason why, with the continued backing from the Kronkies, why we can’t carry on.
I remember so clearly fans on JA bemoaning the fact that, even though we won the fa cup, the loss of CL football was more important and I agree with that.
I had my real doubts about MA, but we have made tremendous strides this season and I always give credit where it’s due.
Other clubs haven’t challenged because they’re in transition. Chelsea and the NW reds are going through key personnel changes, and Newcastle aren’t quite there yet. However, the diverging paths of the two clubs may be demonstrated at St James park next week. As such this ‘was’ our big chance. Will Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea given their record of consistent challenging for honours give us a better chance?
I don’t agree for a second that being in the cl is more important than winning silverware. Frankly I’d rather we hadn’t been for all those seasons when being hammered in the knock outs, often by embarrassing scores, became the norm. Who remembers more than a handful of those games? Yet no-one forgets winning a trophy. I dont miss or particularly enjoy European games. Been there for too many miserable shut outs by Eastern European sides, and chess matches against overtly defensive Italian and Spanish sides thanks. It’s purely for the money.
As for Arteta, hes done a good job this season, but hes been dealt a good hand. Even then the team has wilted too often in pressure games. Unless he sorts that issue there is no reason for over optimism for next season.
Just how many times have we been “hammered” in the knockout stages of the CL, during the nigh on two decades we participated, by embarrassing scores that became the norm?
Of course it’s for the money, we’re going to make more by qualifying for the CL than we did winning the fa cup and that will enable us to attract and, thereby, sign better players.
3-6 to Barcelona, 1-5 to Barcelona, lost 0-4 to Milan in Milan, and while we put in a terrific performance second leg, the first leg mauling meant it was over. Then of course Bayern thumped us 3-1 at home, and again a great second leg was never enough after that. After that, luckily for only one season (thanks Spurs!) we suffered the biggest aggregate defeat in Champions League History, 2-10 to Bayern. We also of course failed to progress beyond round of 16 for our last seven seasons.
There is no guarantee we will attract anyone of note simply because of CL cash. Wheres the evidence we would? We certainly didn’t during our last stint in the competition, indeed we were losing top players to the likes of City. Not to mention, as FIFA have as good as admitted, there isnt exactly a ton of top players around at the moment. That means we have to compete with Real, Barca, Bayern, City, Utd, PSG and Liverpool for the sort of players we need. Not only that but the NW reds are still hoovering up players even when they’re, on paper, not doing as well as we are. If it comes down to it, and we’re being honest, if Liverpool and ourselves are after the same player, being in the CL shitshow makes no difference. Liverpool would still win. As Newcastle have found, just having the dosh is not enough any more.
The money makes no difference?!
How many players did we miss out on because of money offered by City, Chelsea, Liverpool and United?
Not only because of the transfer fees, but also the player and his agents personal demands?
We’ve just seen this happen with Mudryk and it goes back to Ronaldo and united – money talks and always will.
CL. We have played, I believe, over 190 games in the CL and you have cited 8 games,to back up your claim that embarrassing scores became the norm.
From the 2009-10 season, here are our knockout results, both home and away.
Barca 2-2 and 1-4 = 3-6
Barca 2-1 and 1-3 = 3-4
Milan 0-4 and 3-0 =3-4
Bayern 1-3 and 2-0 =3-3
Monaco 1-3 and 2-0 =3-3
Barca 0-2 and 1-3 = 1-5
Bayern 1-5 and 1-5) 2-10
Take away the agreed “hammering” by BM by 10-2 and,maybe, the Barca 1-5 and your claim that embarrassing scores became the norm holds no water whatsoever.
Of course we failed to win the CL, but one final, two semi finals and the first English club to beat Real Madrid at their ground did see some great results and, I believe, we are the second English club with regards to having played the most games and played the most continues seasons in the CL.
Utterly pointless post. If you get beaten 4-0 that’s a hammering. If you get beaten 1-3 at home that’s a hammering. Regardless of the second leg score, which were rendered irrelevant as a result of those hammering. You may have enjoyed scraping into the top four as the limit of our ambitions only to crash out at the first, at times moderate, opponent
but for me, you’re welcome to it.
If you read the post I said the money makes no difference when other clubs are seen as more attractive regardless of our spending power. The players you quoted merely serves to prove my point.
As for most continuous seasons in the CL, that became a millstone as we started to consistently fall before the later stages year in year out, looked poor even if we did go out without being tonked, and where are all the fabulous signings the masses of cash provided?
If, as you claim the money makes such a massive difference in pulling power, why did it not provide a team that could challenge for the league or make real progress in the CL?
The answer? Because other clubs are still seen as more attractive due to domestic success, consistently reaching the later stages of the CL and umpteen seasons of qualification changed that not one jot.
All you’re doing is looking for a fight because other posters disagree with you. Good luck with that.
I wish i could agree ken but i have an issue with the way we play and can’t sustain it when it means something. I don’t k ow between us and utd who has improved the most but utd have got back in the CL and won a trophy or maybe two. I will predict utd wont get hammered when they play city.
But they got hammered 7-0 by liverpool Reggie!!!
They also didn’t play city in the 3rd round of the fa cup either.
I’m not saying everything is rosy, but come on, did you really think we would be the only club challenging city for the PL?
I know for certain that I didn’t.
Utd did indeed get beaten 7-0 by Liverpool. I would agree totally that they aren’t a good side and have relied heavily on VAR and their name to get CL football and win silverware. They were also ‘cough’ lucky in their cup draws. But the sad fact remains, they will finish the season, possibly with two trophies while we will have none.
There is no such thing as a moral victory in football. We can argue, with justice we’ve been the better side, and we should finish above them. But they can push on from genuine success, while we are left saying, ‘well we did much better than expected’ – but have nothing to show for it.
Unless, of course, we win the PL.
They did jen you are right but having the ability to win something seems to be back at utd. Two Finals and CL qualification is back competing when the chips are down. I still predict they will give city a better game in the final. They will fight.
Sorry Ken not jen😂
Fair point…
But I have an issue with where we threw the cup competitions to concentrate on the PL.
If we didn’t, then regurgitating the same team would result in a blow out?
Trossard is our form player. Jesus has started 5 and we won 1.
So how the feck is Jesus starting?
Tonight he (and a lot of players) were non entities.
This is a reminiscent of last season. Last 10 games and we are fecked, but last game at Ashburton we are heyday Brazil.
Sorry, but I’m not glossing over another season of non tangible achievement.
We sacrificed this season (cups) for the premiership. Tonight adding to the last 3 games shows we are miles off.
Spot on. Mindless optimism is fine, but when you go completely ott as he did, let’s reign it in eh?
NB, we got knocked out of the fa cup by city, so we hardly “threw” a 1-0 defeat did we?
I’m not glossing over anything, but I’m also not putting on a undercoat in order to hide our PL progression.
Judging the PL season on the last four games makes no sense, as we would be in a relegation position and city would be top!!
Non tangible achievement?
I’m sure, like me, you will be loving the CL anthem ringing around The Emirates once again and, remember the PL isn’t decided yet!!
Marge, your mindless negativity is also OTT but we all have our opinions and I was standing on the Highbury terraces in 1952, so also have seen the good, the bad and the ugly, especially when we finished 8th, 8th and 5th under MA.
Nothing mindless about my negativity. Its what happens when you suffer from clinical depression – and you’re a fourth generation Arsenal fan. 😉
Nothing wrong with optimism either, but the line between optimism and sheer bloody minded refusal to face facts is a thin one.
Let’s finish this season, see if Arteta can turn things around to finish second, then debate on progress. If it goes the way I hope it doesnt, but suspect it will, based on past experience, we’ll see if the future is rosy or not.
Funny that you see my point of view as “sheer bloody minded refusal to face facts” but can’t see your “sheer bloody minded refusal to face facts” and see that we have challenged city all the way, improved our results against the top clubs, have become the top London club, result wise and still have the opportunity to win the PL – one of only two!!
As you say, let’s wait and see what happens.
I never said we haven’t improved. Or not had a good season. However, that was more than helped by other clubs that normally challenge not doing so. We haven’t challenged City all the way – for most of the season they chased us.
Our record against the top sides this season? The first signs of our fragile mentality a 1-3 defeat to a poor utd side early on. A total collapse leading to a 1-3 defeat at home to City. Two good, but contraversial wins over average utd and liverpool sides. Followed by a disastrous and season defining collapse against a poor Liverpool that saw us cling to a draw, and the usual thumping by City. Doesnt look quite so impressive when you look at it impassively.
London derbies aren’t worth including as proof of good bad or indifferent. Just ask Spurs.
Our title bid is shot. Period.
On the last point we agree.
It’s remarkable that, according to you, it’s nothing to do with the way that we’ve been playing, but rather, the incompetence of every other club.
When we have beaten liverpool and united, they were controversial wins, but you totally forget to mention the disallowed goal by Martinelli, that was proven to be a var error, when we lost to united and what was controversial about our win at the Emirates against Liverpool?
City scores two goals in the last eight minutes to beat us 3-1, but we were their equal in that game as Pep openly admitted.
As chelsea and the spuds finished above us last season and Brentford beat us in the opening game of that season, your dismissal of our improvement against the London clubs is quite baffling!!
In fact, if we don’t lose to chelsea in our upcoming home game, it will mean that we are Invincible against every other London club in a season.
I do believe that has never happened to any other London club, but I’m not 100% sure.
I really hope that you can get some satisfaction supporting The Arsenal by the end of the season, but I somehow doubt it.
For Marge
I hope I did not misunderstand that you suffer from clinical depression.
I do not know if it offers any solace to you at all if you do. Many of us are well above 50 and have some health issue or other. For me it is a back condition and hernia.
Venting frustrations is one of the best ways around some of the issues we face daily.
One of them was when I saw the article about bringing Saliba back to play through the pain barrier when he has back issues possibly more serious than mine.
I would like to think of JA as a family where debating is passionate and non-insulting and that is why I am a frequent contributor despite the fact that I disagree vehemently at times.
The Boo boys are out in force today. So was glad to stop and listen to a reasonable comment. Well said Ken
Thanks my friend, anyone would think we are in a relegation battle 😂😂😂
👍Ken.
Ken, you are spot on.
For Ken1945
You are right about persepctive.
But the 2 points that you have made eloquently:-
“1. MA’s use of his squad, both substitutes and the timing of introducing said subs.
2. The, seemingly, ostracising of individual players, while playing other players out of position.”
They are the main reason for many of the fans having a problem in the last few matches.
Last night’s match was all about defensive solidity (i.e. Partey who is off form and Holding who is limited at the top level but who does his best). So many on here have been shouting from the rooftops without using capital letters.
Their attacks were through the middle. It needed a double pivot and an intelligent midfielder who can drop in to midfield and play clipped balls to the wingers where there was space like Trossard and strong full backs like KT and BW who could have tucked in.
My disappointment was that there more fight and desire shown by the subs (Jorginho, Nketiah, Nelson and Trossard).
Very disappointed by the lack of fight and desire of the starting 11 than the result. In fact as soon as I saw the team sheet I wanted to hide behind the sofa and peek at the screen.
First 11 is becoming too comfortable. They should know that their place is not guaranteed. That would bring a better mentality IMO.
But you are right about Perspective.
IGL, Like previous games, i felt Arteta did nothing and nothing different to sort out our glaring deficiencies. As we keep saying, if you do the same things dont be surprised if you get the same results.
@ Reggie
We think similarly.
Wasn’t it Einstein or someone else who stated: “Doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results is called Insanity”.
But gents, doing the same thing over and over again, has seen us lead the PL nigh on all season!!
The loss of Saliba has been such a big factor, along with Tomi.
I agree that the treatment of Trossard and Tierney is very puzzling, but MA sees it differently and, if we are backing him, then we have to do it 100%.
Ken
We will have to agree to disagree on this one.
My view is that the lack of rotation is a major issue. It was clear that they were tiring.
Ist 11 is getting too complacent.
Saliba and Tomi are an issue but eventually tactics is the issue.
Another issue is that we could not get the mobile Caiceido in Jan who in my view would have allowed us to rest Partey when we needed a single pivot and used with Partey as a double pivot. Even then, we had Jorginho (4th choice) but still is better at forming the double pivot and he was fresh and at least showed something when he came on instead of picking Xhaka who was venturing forward when he needed to help Partey to protect the back 4 and a roaming Zinchenko rather than a tuck in Tierney who would have prevented IMO at least 1 if not 2 of the goals conceded.
Ken but i am no Einstein but the way we play was always going to be our downfall when the heat is on and it is proving so.
MA should have a rethink about his style of play especially at the back, today Holdin was a mis match for Halaaland, he should try a back 3 with Gabriel, White and Tierney. we where too flat at the back and the midfield was always forced to come back to defend and made so many errors. we really miss Salliba next season we need to get a world class defender to compliment Salliba next season
AdPat,
I have tried several times to reply to Allanball08 and it won’t load
Any chance that it is sitting somewhere?
This is what happens when you get cast offs from City and Chelsea. Zinchenko, Xhaka, Odegaard, Ramsdale are just not good enough. Apart from the second goal the other 3 were very soft. Squad upgrade has been very poor. Buying Kiwior and Jorginho when we need a young quality central midfielder was bad business. Xhaka and Odegaard never show up in big games. Had we shown faith in Willock he could be playing ahead of Xhaka. Arteta has been unfair to some players. How does Tierney sit on the ben⁴ch? He must be our captain not the timid Odegaard. I don’t think that Arteta will win the league for us. Both Nketiah and Jesus are not good enough to win us the league. How did we release Lacazette for free. Surely his experience could have been handy during the run in.
So any player that is signed from another club, is a cast off?
Now I know why united signed van persie and chelsea signed Fabregas – thanks for enlightening me 🤔🤔😂😂
Did I say that? I am saying Zinchenko Jesus and Jorginho are cast offs. That’s my opinion and not yours.
And you are correct. Chelsea fans think we’re the gift that keeps on giving for the crap buys we’ve made from them.
Well, it seems the jokes on them then!! Remind me what they’ve done with the money we’ve handed over and how they must be loving it, having gazumped us for Mudryk and I hear Aubameyang is tearing up trees as well!!
By the way, Simba, when does a transfer not register as a cast off from the selling club in your eyes?
Abemeyang v Willian, Luiz, Chech, Diarra and Benayon. Oh yeah, Chelsea are just kicking themselves over us offloading him vs that shower.
Anyway. Thanks Ken for the lively debate. Let’s hope further down the line we’re discussing our next piece of silverware rather than dwelling on the errors of the recent past!
Marge, it certainly hasnt helped Chelsea!
The dream is NOT over
Anything can happen
Just concentrate on winning our remaining matches and hope City slip up somewhere down the line
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
The mentality is still an issue, years and years it is a weak point. Arteta brought in Zinchenko and Jesus to correct that, and they made no difference.
Sorry but some players need to be dropped for next game.
In form Trossard starts for Jesus, Tierney starts a LB, and ESR for Odegaard. Saka should be on a short leash as he has been dire last 4 games. Likely tired, but Arteta won’t rotate.
Trossard can play anywhere along the front 3, and can’t believe Vieira gets chances before ESR.
Arteta has done well, but he needs a bit more of Pep’s ruthlessness and less of Wenger’s coddling players.
A disappointing loss to City, no doubt, but let’s be fair in our overall assessment of the season.
In short, we have overachieved by qualifying for Europe next year.
At the start of the season we knew we had a decent starting eleven but were likely to struggle if key players got injured. No surprise here, the injury to Saliba was devastating.
Many other lessons to be learned, including the way we managed the squad from game to game.
Exactly RFrancis, as I said above.
A well put post
Our squad is far thinner than City’s and missing a couple of key players has not helped the cause.
Maybe on the night Arteta thought the players he has generally trusted the most would come good again. Perhaps starting the in form Trossard may have been more beneficial as well as ringing the changes sooner.
I know that Arteta is no longer the rookie but he is still very much on his learning curve through his managerial journey and looks to me as though he has the ability to get better.
Look how long it took City to build on the billions that were invested
Well a bunch of bottlers showing our true level, merely top 4 team
Arteta looks foolish now sacrificing cup competitions for a 2nd place finish at best.
I guess choking this time of year in becoming the norm.
I think Arteta sacrificed nothing. We were simply beaten by teams with better tactics on the day.
Dont know whether the cycle of this team has come to an end or has just began. If it has began, what does it mean?
Maybe it’s time to chop the dead wood and bring in enforcement in most areas, but it may also be hard with Newcastle growing in stature with the financial muscle. But, if it has ended, what does it mean?
Maybe chopping off the coach for a much experienced one?
Both decisions project that arsenal indeed missed the time of their life to win the league.
It has been a while since I last posted comment on this platform.
Hmm… I Neva for once this season boasted or even say we were gonna win the league after what I saw arteta did last season.
My only consolation is we will be in Europe competition next season.
Arteta cost us the league and I have my reasons which are:
1. Using only the same eleven players all season. What is he thinking those guys ain’t supermen.
2. Not getting a target man in the mould of osimhen or any other striker.
3. No flexible formation and different tactics when facing opposition.
4. Not benching players when they drop in form. And having no faith in players on the bench.
5. Not promoting and using players from the academy like Wenger use to do nor giving any of them opportunity.
After 3 seasons, am having doubt if arteta is still the man for the job. Neville will be happy his prediction against arsenal not winning the league is Coming true.
I don’t mind a change of guard and having the Brighton coach come in and taking over this team from Mikel.
Even if it was obvious we would loose, I still feel very bad,
Epl requires muscle, stamina,speed and skill,
Look at Man city’s defence, 3 out of 4 are like wrestlers, midfield to attack filled with stamina and speed,
Ive said it many times Odegaard, xhaka are lovely players but can’t give us this , Gabriel Maghales was just not incontrol.
Hopefully we sign lion’s in the summer.
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have done well to do as well as they have this season, given that Manchester City have unlimited resources, financial fair play regulations can be breached with impunity and they can afford to have more than two great players in every position up the the maximum squad number.
One can only be resigned to future winners of the EPL always coming from State owned franchises, because the current regulations should be dispensed with, because they are joke as far as enforcement is concerned.
It is virtually impossible to have an emotional attachment to football, as it has become just financially doped entertainment
Depressing assessment but it looks likely your prediction is true
SueP, my concern is that Arsenal may have difficulty keeping its young developing players to mature to reach the team’s full potential. The cheque books will be out.
State owned teams like Manchester City and Newcastle United have virtually unlimited resources, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are highly resourced and will be unlikely to repeat their poor seasons, as will Spurs even if they lose Kane (offset by the transfer fee. Aston Villa appear to have been turned around by Unai Emery and have very wealthy owners looking to support him.
Hopefully Arsenal can finish this season with a bang. Next season will be extremely difficult, particularly with Arsenal’s added commitments in Europe. However one has to live in hope, notwithstanding the changing financial environment, as an Arsenal supporter of 62 years.
OG,, I’ve just been told that money isn’t an influence like it used to be!!!!
You and I must be living in a different universe to other fans wouldn’t you say?
We are the worst title challenging side I have ever seen. No fight at all and just played like cowards. The Liverpool and Chelsea side that challenged for top trophies in recent times showed up when it mattered. We need tremendous investments to make us really competitive and convincing. We rode our luck this season. We might not have it this way next season with Newcastle and Liverpool fixing their problems.
An absolute debacle. No fight, no belief, no balls. Players hiding behind there own shadows cowering like stray dogs. Arsenal just sat back and allowed De Bruyne and company dictate and dominate from the first whistle. There was no urgency whatsoever, no drive and no imagination. I couldn’t get over how much time Ederson had on the ball and no pressure was put on him,,, he could have done summersalts over the ball and still have time on the ball. Why weren’t wholesale changes made at half time??? You wouldn’t think Arsenal are top of the English Premier League wanting to be Champions. There was no desire whatsoever. Mikel Arteta has to break this cycle of having his favourites. He reminds me of the school teacher that has his pets sitting in the front row of the classroom. Has anyone yet worked out why Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey have been stinking out the whole place for the entire month of APRIL??? It’s starting to look obvious now. The month of APRIL is RAMADAN,,,,,,, meaning Xhaka and Partey are not allowed to eat or take in any fluids whatsoever between Dawn and Sunrise(Muslim belief). Arteta will need to change his entire attitude if Arsenal are to attract good players in the summer. No player will want to come to Arsenal knowing Mikel Arteta shows favouritism towards certain players. I really hate to think how Arsenal will fare in next seasons European Champions League. I can see Arteta being stubborn and not rotating players. I can also see Arsenal getting knocked out in the early stages and back playing Thursday night Europa League football. Instead of Arsenal supporters at the Emirates Stadium singing that morbid HYM they sing before a match,, maybe singing Freddie Mercury’s cover version of “GREAT PRETENDER” maybe more appropriate,,,, just a food of thought for this month of APRIL
The title was ours to win . What a difference four games make. When all is said and done, it has been a bottle job from management to players on the field. Please don’t delude yourselves that it came down to inexperience. As mentioned above, Partey, Xhaka, Trossard, Odegaard, Zhivchenko and co were no less inexperienced than the City players. I would like to believe that Arsenal are much better than this but like PJ I also have my reservations. Certain Manager’s picks have been hard to dislodge thus providing limited opportunities to experiment. Also, can we trust those who gave us such a deflated January transfer window to make better calls next time. It’s going to be a make or break 23 -24 season.
I have taken time to watch the match and am not impressed with the entire team. Apart from the usual mistakes from the coach, our players played them with so much respect. All their goals were very cheap. On another day, Ramsdale would have saved some if not all of them. For three weeks running, I have been asking about the team’s psychologist. The need to psyche up our players is highly needed. Our team is fast wearing the tag of a “Bottler” led by the chief Bottler, Arteta.
The dream was over long before we went to the Etihad. Two draws at the London Stadium and at home ensured that. If we had the cushion of those four points lost, we would have seen a better performance yesterday with the players knowing that winning the league would not depend on the outcome of the game.
But when success became dependent on beating City at their home, then you have something else coming.
No team in the league could have survived the City team I saw yesterday. And the scary thing is that this may not be about to change soon with the club having an intelligent coach and a bottomless pocket
A realistic view imo
You’re wrong,,,, Brentford would not have folded or capitulated the way Arsenal did this morning. Arsenal showed no heart, no desire, no character whatsoever. They made Manchester City look good. That performance was gutless, lame, and pathetic. More so than the match against Newcastle United last season. It was nothing short of disgusting. There are no excuses whatsoever. People can’t keep protecting these players with the ” too young and inexperienced label excuse”. That tag is wearing thin. If that’s the case, they have a hide to be on, and demanding such high wages
So where is Brentford?😅😅😅
Obviously your football insight and knowledge is very limited🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
I missed watching this game on live TV because of work commitments and I didn’t want a darkening mood to spoil my teaching, so I only tuned in five hours later to check on the score. To be honest my reaction on seeing the result was flat because my gut feeling had told me we were either going to be in for a glorious day of heroics or a wobble job. Anyway, I usually tune in to the Guardian and BBC football to look at the player ratings because those given by our fans myself included are biased towards our particular favourites. The Guardian gave their lowest score, 3 out of 10 to Partey ( frustrated), Martinellii (Clumsy), Xhaka ( a non factor) and Odegaard (anonymous). They are the Gaurdian’s pundit’s comments not mine. These are four of the players Arsenal really needed to show up today. The result pretty much sums the rest up
@Joe.S ,,, You didn’t miss a thing. It was a no show. The score line could have easily blown out to much more than 4-1. No heart, no no self pride of wearing the badge, no urgency, no balls. As soon as the whistle was blown at the start, the players hid behind their own shadows. People cannot keep using the excuse of, “young inexperienced players “. That tag is now wearing a little thin. The majority of this squad are international players. If they can’t stand the heat,,, get outta the kitchen for Gods sake. Don’t think people have noticed, but since the month of APRIL, Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey have been half the shadows of themselves. It coincides with the month of RAMADAN. It’s Muslim belief. They are on a no fluids and food from dawn to sunset. But in saying that, our players didn’t want to be at the races this morning. I certainly won’t buy into the other excuse that the players were intimidated by Manchester City’s home crowd. Bloody hell, I’ve played professional football at a high standard. This Arsenal team have a serious mind over matter problem when the pressure is on
@PJ
The manager is to blame for yesterday’s debacle for pampering some and not choosing others.
Last night’s match was all about defensive solidity (i.e. Partey who is off form and Holding who is limited at the top level but who does his best). So many on here have been shouting from the rooftops without using capital letters.
Their attacks were through the middle. It needed a double pivot and an intelligent midfielder who can drop in to midfield and play clipped balls to the wingers where there was space like Trossard and strong full backs like KT and BW who could have tucked in.
My disappointment was that there more fight and desire shown by the subs (Jorginho, Nketiah, Nelson and Trossard).
Anyone can loose a match but not showing any ‘Cojones’ as Troy Deeney said many years ago about us is unaccpetable.
Well, we took a right old fisting last night, but, on the plus side it was ONLY 4-1, and I thought Nelson & Eddie looked pretty sharp, especially Nelson, so perhaps they’ll get some starts in the remaining games as second spot looks secure, and there’s always the hope that City makes a slip or two😂
Still hoping for city to bottle it. Just hoping.
Nah, City won’t bottle anything, but with the extra load of going on three fronts, they still might lose focus and slip.
They’re not bottlers.
Some terrific comments from fans who may disagree on many aspects of our season, but have the well being of our great Club at heart.We have improved a lot but City showed us how high the bar is if we are to become Champions..A few new signings are needed for sure, and hopefully our young Manager and his support team will have learned. Important lessons in terms of tactics,systems and ,very importantly, the need for rotation to prevent burn out in certain players.
👍
Arteta and company should be judged by the 38th game.
If he and the team crater the last 5 games, Mikel should be relieved of his duties on the spot!
Not going to rehash what has been mentioned before but Pheonix hit the nail on the head!
Arteta did not even try to change a damn thing and left Holding in and Trossard out for starts, wtf did everyone think was going to happen.
See everyone on the final day.
Question marks now if Saliba and Saka even sign da thing.
AFC still soft as a cream puff when the heat gets turned up!
Damn……………….