Arsenal’s alarming streak of poor performances persisted as Liverpool handed them their third consecutive defeat this evening.
Having suffered losses against Fulham and West Ham in their preceding matches, Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard emphasised the need to make a statement by securing a victory against a Liverpool side weakened by the absence of Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo.
Although the Reds still possessed considerable quality, Arsenal knew this was a good opportunity to progress in the historic competition.
The Emirates Stadium was filled with fervent supporters, eager to witness Arsenal triumph over Liverpool.
The first half saw Arsenal outperforming the Reds and missed a host of chances, including some golden opportunities for Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka, but the scoreline remained 0-0 at halftime.
Liverpool managed to weather numerous Arsenal attacks that threatened to result in goals, ultimately seizing the lead through a late own goal by Jakub Kiwior.
The game intensified at that point, with Arsenal making determined efforts to claw back into the match but leaving themselves vulnerable defensively.
In the dying moments, Luis Diaz added a second goal for Liverpool during a counterattack, effectively terminating Arsenal’s involvement in this season’s FA Cup after their first match.
The current situation has plunged Arsenal into a crisis, leaving fans perplexed at the unanticipated defeat to a weakened Liverpool side on home turf.
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MAs horrific cup form continues….the 1 he was was 100% Emerys team! If you disagree how many of those players remain?
Again for the millionth time, it’s not Havertz fault that we signed him but when he plays, especially in midfield, we look significantly worse than last season. Mythical physical ability that some think he has, no comment. M9ney couldn’t and should’ve been used to get a DM or a striker
Nelson had a decent game considering how little game time he gets.
Saka completely off for months now, looks uninterested in the stale repetitive tactics we use
Jorginho far too slow, absolutely horrific player when we don’t have possession. Can’t tackle, can’t run, cant intercept.
Ode has been found out, as talented as he is he does the same 2-3 types of passes always and it’s getting read every time now. Maybe a real striker and swopping wings would help though
Rice left to try hold down midfield alone, can’t blame him.
Martinelli is a handful but needs actual runs into the box by someone
Ramsdale actually had a decent game, looks more secured that Raya all day long. Almost got an assist and made some decent saves. Nothing he could do about the goals
Thank goodness we have Saliba and Gabriel!!
MA……..
– no left back in the squad after spending 700mil
– tactically inept, can only copy Pep and refuses to change
– subs the wrong people almost always
– reactive subs after conceding…often
– uses huge budgets to buy his way out of poor form every window, new players start well and get worse under his “coaching”
– players played out of position often
@PJ-SA
Once again, spot on 🎯
PJ-SA, agree with most points but Martin Odegard created multiple passes for scoring opportunities, which were spurned by Arsenal’s forward players. Arsenal’s forward line cannot finish their lunch and the 65 million GBP spent on Havertz’s transfer from Chelsea and his 280k per week wages would have gone a long way to provide a quality striker.
I am still trying to work out the profile of player Arteta is looking for and the style of play. The need to play Havertz has changed the style of play from the speedy successful buildup from last season to slower play this season. Decisions like not selecting Gabriel at CB, early in the season, playing Partey at LB and the loan of Kiernan Tierney, I found unfathonable.
all this is true
We had a great first half and should have been 3-4 goals up. Havartz is great in movements but terrible on the ball. It’s not confidence or form, its his bad technical ability. It’s not going to get better. Combining his movement and technical ability, overall he is a mediocre player that the team has to carry.
4 goals up? In what planet?
The only chance we had was Odegaard’s shot on the bar and that was more a Liverpool mistake than us creating a clear cut chance. Who is going to score goals?
Havertz can shoot worse that my U12 lads and Saka is completely lost. Martinelli could not cross a ball to a teammate if his life depended on it.
Sorry mate we are not good enough.
Thank you for speaking my mind. Calling a spade a spade. We were completely shambolic that’s all deserved to lose. Same method same results.
And you say NOTHING about the rest of the players?
A ready made scapegoat for you then.
Got exactly what we deserved.
Someone said how its Artetas fault that we miss so many chances.. Well we weren’t this wasteful last season so somethings changed in the mentality or in training or wherever.
This could be a blessing. Jesus injured (what a surprise), 14 days until next match. There are no excuses to NOT get a striker now. MA is basically forced to do it.
we were wasteful last season as well. this season we had a run of 5-6 games ridiculous in their wastefulness so it shows more. but we don’t have a single “killer” in our squad.
and of course there is an excuse for not getting a striker, it depends on what is available in the market. we should not buy a mediocre player for 50m or a decent one for 100m.
Am I surprised? No. Any realist fan is aware that after spending 200M, we are worse off than last season. Am I upset with Kiwor? Not in the least. Should I meet him somewhere, I’ll give him a hug and a tin of chocolates. He saved me the misery of watching Artetatrashball (replay at Anfield). Do i trust Arteta to make meaningful signings? No, never. The Arteta Knows Best club, enjoy your icon for now, he’ll be gone in May.
My worst fears are coming true – out of the FA, next will be out of the UCL and at this rate, we’ll finish 5/6th below the Tots.
Put your hopes to rest, and have a great week Gunners. Owners, Board, Arteta and the players don’t care and have no shame,
You could sense exactly what was going to happen from the very first minute.
If this doesnt prove that we need an out and out goal scorer, then nothing will! We’re still hanging on to the goals from Saka, Martinelli and Oodegard from last year. Our style of play has become all too predicable and teams have worked out how to stop Saka and co.
We dont have a Plan B.
I appreciate FFP will hold us back a bit, but why wasnt this addressed last year when we spent 65m on Havertz??
It’s not complicated….we NEED a striker. Isn’t it obvious, ne need Ivan Toney (no not journeyman Solanki). It is so sad to see us, every game, make chances but unable to finish. A striker of quality…..Please………..
ThA great striker will not resolve the issue, Saka, Martinelli and Haverts are not goal scorers. They need to be benched and bring fresh legs who are not complacent to their horrible performance. In the 2nd half, Saka alone wastes 5 chances!!! He needs competition to improve otherwise we will be doomed. There must some improvement in every department
So, we bench Saka, Martinelli and Havertz…. now name their replacements that will take us forward… over to you.
Like I said earlier I stand by my words I will simply put. Today game was loat based on the gaffer decisions ie using right tactics when many star player are injured. Also, the players lack a fight. I see how Liverpool players at times crowded our players just to retrieve the ball back but our own player are non challant atimes.
Obviously we need a Left back, a CF and a midfielder.
Gutted to say the least. Couldn’t even be bothered to boo with the rest.
How can moving one player in the 2nd half cause more issues for us than it did in the 1st. We keep saying we are one dimensional but the only person that isn’t listening is Arteta.
Before everyone starts saying I’m negative and anti Arteta. We just lost at home in the FA Cup to a Liverpool that had to throw a team together to play. Usually known as a Skeleton squad whereas we had practically our 1st team out.
Gonna have to say it like I do every bloody season. I want him out, ideally tomorrow.
Arteta needs to leave his stubbornness is costing us dearly!
Letsspend the next 14 days in training goal scoring and finishing skills, not possession!is
Arteta OUT!!!!!
We didn’t accept Wenger’s resignation for us to go lower and then outspend everyone else in Europe just to get back to where we were under the great one.
I still feel MA may have a promising future and I feel the club needs to stick with him to fully see out his “project”. I really get where you are coming from with the rest of your comment. I was not even remotely in the AW out crowd for many reasons but I’d rather not open that “discussion” again since it’s what I consider a part of an ugly episode in our club’s past and I would rather move forward.
Just wanted to rattle some crowd BB. Agreed with what you say but oh lord he is very slow in learning from his mistakes.
I think if he has to at least reach the CL semis and challenge for the league to the last minute convincingly,.
HH, how would Unai Emery have fared, if he had been supported by the owners and Board in selling unruly players (at great loss on the whole) and a transfer expenditure of 700 million since appointment and not forced out? Emery resurrects his career by managing minnow Villeareal to the Europa League title and then returns to have Aston Villa where they are in one season back in the EPL.
OG it really pains to see what Emery is doing at Aston Villa and think what could have been. It pains even more that after Emery’s unfair dismissal the board did everything to remove players who got Emery unjust fired for a new, unproven manager.
I think with the right environment he is capable to be an elite manager in Pep’s level or even surpassing him with half the cost. And I can’t think of a perfect environment for him other than Arsenal!
Between the two the board clearly backed the wrong one.
ARSENAL IS BECOMING A MEDIOCRE TEAM.WITHOUT SIGNING AN ESTABLIDHED STRIKER AND A DEPENDABLE MILDFIELDER WHO CAN PAIR PERFECTLY WITH RICE,THE TEAM WILL LIKELY BOW OUT OF THE COMPION LEAGUE AND WILL LIKELY FINISH IN EPL NO.7 THIS SEAAON
Can’t continue to excuse Arteta from the performances on the pitch. We still don’t have a threat at striker.
1. Everyone knew Jesus isn’t a 20 goal striker and Nketiah is championship level. Can’t blame them for performing at their level, blame manager for not upgrading.
2. Havertz is a colossal waste of money. 65 million and Arteta said “I don’t know where he fits in.” That’s obvious, and quite clear Havertz is not a good fit for the PL.
Hot seat is hotting up for Arteta, simple has to take accountability for our state. Once again the checkbook is the answer as Arteta and his staff are lacking in coaching up players.
Played great football last season, the Artetaball we play this year is awful.
All on Arteta to turn it around, or serious questions will be asked. Time to bring back the standards we once had. His free pass has to end, and there must be accountability.
No more blaming and shipping out players, Arteta needs to take responsibility.
You have been blaming Arteta regularly so I presume you you are not happy that Arteta still has support amongst many fans.
Have you actually considered what it would cost to get a top level striker before coming out with these regular rants?
Evidently Havertz did not have a great game up front today but his game has actually improved with time. So no he is not a “waste of money”. It would be more reasonable to suggest that at the moment he is expensive for what he has delivered so far.
Is Arteta as lacking as you say? Our overall game was actually pretty decent today except for the finishing. This is not something you can easily coach players at the highest level. Most top managers have had to buy top level strikers to achieve success. There are a limited number of these anywhere and they come at huge cost.
Improved?
With his display in the last 3 or 4 matches?
No, I don’t think we watch the same team.
And by the way, is a 65mil player on high wage suppose to improve with time before making an impact or should be having an instant impact upon signing?
David Haverz has scored a few goals recently, yes, thats an improvement but his overall play is sluggish, lacking consistency and influences nothing. He is a 65 mil player on our top wage and he is a waste of money and team space. That money and Rayas, should have gone towards a CF, which Haverz is not and never will be. Not to win the league anyway.
Havertz has not been as decisive as he should be and there is no doubt he has not been consistent. However, it is simply untrue that he has influenced nothing.
The Raya “money” could not have gone towards getting a striker this season.
Yes it could!!!!!! Its money earmarked for the future. Both together could be used. You dont pay in one lump sum.
This is not a credible perspective. You will need to give an example of which striker we could have gone for and how we could have reached an acceptable agreement with the selling club. There are a limited number of top class strikers who would “guarantee” goals on a consistent basis and they generally come at a very high cost.
A related issue is that we needed to replace Xhaka and not unbalance the squad, in particular, in midfield.
Yes it is related because the player we mentioned who cost 65 mil and bought instead of a striker, was bought for that role. He hasn’t filled it and he isn’t a striker.
We just see things differently. I questioned and criticized both Wenger and Emery when things went wrong. I hold Arteta to the same standard.
I questioned Wenger for his lack of DM for over a decade. I questioned Emery fielding 7 defenders in numerous games.
So I will question Arteta for bringing in Havertz and SO FAR not having a goal scoring striker.
I hold them all to a standard, I put the club first, before players and managers. After all the money spent, his chosen squad, his chosen tactics, who is to blame if not Arteta?
Bring back Emery!!!
HH, what money would he require given he would be moving to a club, lower down the EPL table than Aston Villa.
We’re now going to hear the usual nonsense, MA is not good enough, when it’s blatently obvious the players have to take the blame for this one.
What we saw was yet another perfect example of our problem this season – we are not clinical. MA’s tactics had us yet again play well, dominate the ball, and create a ton of chances, and yet again, all chances were missed.
We created 4 clear cut chances to Liverpool’s 1, yet lose 0-2, with Liverpool only having 3 on target compared to our 5. As per usual our opponent is super clinical.
Our attack which scored enough to win a league title last season in any given season, until our defence faulted, just cannot score anymore. They proved they can do it, the tactics are fine as we’re still creating a ton of clear opportunities, they’re just ALL out of form at the same time unfortunately.
I pray we can get some competition in during January because we need a little boost for moral.
Your first paragraph and couldn’t bother reading the rest.
What a pathetic and feeble excuse.
With that logic any manager should never be fired until they die or resign.
Don’t feed the troll, just pity them rather….
Yet you’re the one that trolls every comment I make. Oh dear, I’ve caught you out with ease yet again!
So what’s your point? Are you suggesting that the manager should be sacked?
Jen has made some reasonable points. None of these are “pathetic” simply because you don’t agree with them or want to blame everything on the manger.
Yes
Clearly you have a screw loose HH, and don’t accept reality. If MA is such a bad manager that needs to go, please explain to me how just two league games ago we were top of the league, WITH an injury crisis since game one, meaning MA has not once played his best XI, and the fact we still create so many chances?
If the players had down tools, and our performances were terrible, then yes Id happily say sack the manager, but we’re not at that point yet. The issue is that we cannot finish, NOT that we cannot create, which would be a major issue.
Why we cannot finish and what in your opinion is the solution for it?
Jen, in no way am I trolling but I disagree with everything you have to say.
We have missed 2 key players this season. Partey and Timber and the latter we have no idea how he will adapt to the EPL. He may be a VVD or he could stink the place out like Tavares.
Regarding losing the dressing room. It is obviously clear he has built a team that follows every word he says. When he says “Jump” they jump. Now this is where the fundamental problem is. I cannot ask anymore of the players as they are performing as expected. The issue is they are performing to MAs theme which isn’t working.
Everytime after every game this season it is ‘why didn’t he do this’ or ‘why didn’t he do that’. He just doesn’t change.
This idea of control with no positive output is a painful watch and we have been well and truly sussed by reducing the wingers to half chances as our goal scoring threat is Saka, Martinelli and Odegaard. Nullify them and we can possess the ball 99% and we are not gonna score.
I keep hearing about buying a striker, but what is the point? The wingers will not cross to the center but rather cutback or try intricate one twos. Tierney was a overlapping full back that crossed to the centre and look where he is now?
It isn’t what Artetaball requires and it will never will be.
The performances compared to last season has been dreadful. We have returned to the horseshoe and I sit there waiting for the game to end. We have been lucky in most games and eventually our luck was about to run out. I can honestly say that the only times we have looked convincing was in Europe, only because the opposition are not taking the threat of us seriously.
This season is over and it is January, now it is about banter rights with the spuds.
If you are happy to accept this, then fair play. But as I pay a hell of a lot of money home and away to watch this sh!t show, I am definitely not and someone’s head has to roll.
HH
Real talk!!
And I would like you to know what a pleasure I am having watching you struggle to find any excuse which are drying up as days go by.
I am waiting for the day there is none left so I can laugh to my heart content.
I have no issue defending my position, always winning with actual facts (facts being something I know you hate), and I just crushed your immature and inaccurate point in my previous comment.
Fact: 1 win in the last 7 games
Fact: 1 goal in the last 3 games
Fact: 1 goal out of the last 61 shots
You seem to delight in winning(in your mind) arguments while Arsenal lose, but I suppose that’s what happens when you support a manager over the club. I’ll leave you to it then 🙂
“Support a manager over the club”
Said to her the same thing before. It seems I am not the only one seeing it that way.
No I’m not an AKB, who were happy to see the club crash and burn just as long as Wenger kept his job.
If you do have a problem with a manager over the club, maybe you should have words with ken1945, he is the biggest AKB.
How convenience of you to avoid my question above because it requires at least some thinking to answer it.
You are way way below Ken in football intelligence and reasoning madam. A night and day difference!
You know at least I get it when it is Sue or Jon Fox and others because their arguments have thought in them. But you, Vamos and David always jump to defense just for the sake of it.
Why do you think you have to do that? Why is it necessary? To me it looks like an obligation to the manager instead of the club.
The way you quickly jump in defense of mediocrity, bad performances and results, one will be forgiven to think you are part of paid PR team.
Just putting it out there is it time to sack Arteta l? He has been backed by the board to the hilt spent plenty and are worse off than last season on every stat are a million miles away from challenging for the prem league how much much more time and investment can Arteta have before his time is up?
He’s an absolute clown PJ-SA and wouldn’t know a FACT, unless he makes them up himself 😂
I’d call him a paper fan… yesterday’s news!!
Thank you for backing up my point PJSA about chances and goals. I didn’t know you were on my side. Cheers!
Shots……not shot on target or good shots hahahaha delusional
You’d make a very good politician, trying to twist words(unsuccessfully) and being blind to the needs of what everyone wants…
You and facts? That’s a funny joke! Thank you for a good night laugh lol!
Winning? Congratulations on your imaginary victory. Such a vivid imagination.
Stupid post from an immature poster!!
Wow, you really took me down with your child like comment containing exactly ZERO points to back yourself up, and apparently I’m the one that’s immature… right!
Correct, you are. And regularly.
Wow, you really are that immature. Zero argument haha!
Im not arguing. Just look at your posts. They are so immature and childish.
Did you read my original post, and then the childesh attacks I got, including from you?
Why don’t you call out HH, or PJSA for example, to name but a two?
So I have just proven with facts, how you contradict yourself, meaning your comments are invalid. Clearly you don’t think before you type.
I love defeating people like you. It’s so easy, because you beat yourself!
I always assumed you are English person but since you do not understand the meaning of the word fact I guess you are not.
Clearly the word fact has a different meaning to you.
Jen, you dont understand what facts are.
Whatever school you go to, get tgem to teach you the difference between fact, fiction and opinion.
Jen, all the current players have been brought in by Arteta or re-signed/contract extended by him. Arteta coaches them every training session and on match days, so how much responsibility should he be excused from?
Our biggest problem now is Saka and Arteta. Arteta not subbing a completely ineffective and non existent Saka.
Meanwhile emery has villa flying.
How on earth Saka was not replaced is beyond me.Yet Nelson who was our most dangerous forward was hauled off by a Manager who rubs salt into the wound by bringing on ESR and Trossard with only 3 minutes of the allocated 90 remaining.Our squad in terms of defenders is decidedly threadbare and our failure to defend corners has yet again cost us dearly.
Exactly what I said when I saw 24 was being subbed off. I do support Arteta but have ALWAYS had a problem w his substitutions.
And yes, when finishing is clearly our problem, why leave 2 of our best finishers in Trossard and ESR on the bench for so long? Ugh. For once, a welcome international break because I can’t watch us right now.
Are we a great team? Oh yes for sure. I wanted to know what yardstick is used to measure something like this? Last time we won a championship the fashion was long beards. Mercy. Over twenty years of failure, this it is not called a big group. Without a championship, with humiliating defeats in Europe several times, a forgotten championship, maybe a cup of Consolation. Also stingy for many years in material, transfers, and the like, with business owners for profit, without being in the mood to think much about the fans, lies and about the Economy schedule for the sake of the field, generally moves that you can’t believe in a league.And really, until last year, no one thought of such a thing….there was a flash at the end, they ate their faces off, and this year again one of the Due to a lack of in-depth material. They became European champions with championships Chelsea, and Manchester City, and we, when the finger points to the moon, look at the finger. Disappointing!!!
Arteta has shown me much of the latter days Wenger to believe he is the one to take us to the next level
Should have been a comparatively straight forward win against a very weakened Liverpool at home, but it was a total disappointment. I understand, slightly, playing a different striker, because we needed a change, but Haverz, really. Plus still persisting with inverted wingers, really. We have massive problems that are not going away. Artetas persistence playing Haverz everywhere and blind faith in a buy that is proving more bizarre, the more Arteta plays him. I didn’t understand why Trossard, probably our best finisher sat on the bench, watching this sad theatre on show. Why was ESR not played? The players that could provide quality in and around the box, sat watching. Kiwior looks far too clumsy and is an accident waiting to happen. And the Ramsdale and Raya situation has just been a disaster. How ever we dress it up, the two league games and this FA cup game have been a nightmare of watching a manager unable to sort out. A master class today from Klopp working with the bare bones and introducing youngsters, turned this game around and beat a strong looking Arsenal, by beeing a manager, and doing what was required to get a win from unfavorable circumstances, with bare bones. A lesson for our manager, who is found wanting, in difficult circumstances.
A Klopp masterclass of introducing youngsters in the second half to go all out for the win shows the gulf in class, quality and in-game tactical understanding between the two managers.
Whereas Klopp filed out the changes, Arteta stood there clueless about what do next, till 3 mins before 90.
This sums everything up.
I thought Klopp was proactive and nit once, thought he couldn’t win iteven with players out. Managers win games from difficult places and Klopp did that. He exploited us time and again with his tactics.
1 win in the last 7 games
61 shots 1 goal in the last 3 games
This team crumbling and sinking, sinking faster than the titanic.
With this type of form we’ll struggle to make Top 4.
Disgraceful both from Arteta and the players
Wow… is that actually fact… 61 shots and 1 goal?
If so I will be suggesting playing Ramsdale or Raya up front
Yes it is a fact. 61 shots in the last 3 games 1 goal!!!
You see, give these facts to the likes of David, Jen, TMJW, Jimbo and the like and they’ll come up with some daft excuse about it being the fault of previous managers.
Every single player we now have on our books, have been signed, re-signed and / or sent out on loan by MA.
It is COMPLETELY down to him and no one else.
What did he expect ESR to do with just THREE minutes of normal time left, get him out of jail with yet another last minute goal?
Some are saying we dominated pool but just couldn’t score, while going on and on and on about our “terrible injury situation”.
Pool had FIVE first team players out, we had TWO (Timbers is still an unknown quantity).
Can you imagine how Brentford must be rubbing their hands in delight?
They can go as high as they want and we would still be desperate to sign Toney, or his equivalent.
For one of the recognised top six clubs in the country, it is a disgrace that we have Nketiah as one of our main strikers, he wouldn’t get anywhere near the other five top clubs, not in a million years.
The article by “Angry Gunner” that was so villified, should see fans apologising for calling him out.
For those who say we created enough chances to have the game sown up at half time, ask yourselves why we hadn’t.
It wasn’t Saka, Martinelli, Odegaard, Havertz, Jorginho or any other player, as the chances WERE being created – we just ignored the FACT that we haven’t got a CF good enough to play in a top six squad…. and who’s fault is that?
Finally, have a look at MA’s record in the fa cup, it is WOEFULL.
MAs record in ALL cup comps is woeful.
Ange Postecoglou has won 21 trophies as a manager, since 1998 across 3 continents, including international titles with Australia at U17, U20 and senior level. Yet he gets asked by an ignorant journalist about being photographed with title winning teams. How often does Mikel Arteta get asked the same question about his one trophy and when he will win more?
Like Reggie said below, not just The FA Cup but Arteta’s cup record is more than abysmal. For a club of Arsenal’s pedigree that shouldn’t be accepted. Just like those who cant stop searching for the next motivational speaker, delusion of grandeur is when you think you’re making progress but you’re not and that’s what is happening with Arteta.
I wouldn’t agree more with your points @Ken1945 even though it was such a long read.
I said it since last season’s and even yesterday that given half of the money Arteta is wasting to Arsene or Unai, arsenal will be flying by now.
Isn’t it embarrassing to his supporters that the very poor team he claimed to have inherited Won him FA cup in his first season? How much longer and how much money MA gonna waste for this his “PROCESS” to yield results?
Sorry about the length of my comment AB, it’s just me trying to get all my frustrations out – at least you managed to plough through it and saw my points!!
Thanks.
Really sorry to see you, of all people KEN, take Angry Gooners childish rant and agree with it .
To most fair minded fans it stank of self entitlement and immature tantrum like comments. I am really sorry and above all SURPRISED that an older worldly wise non self entitled fan like you KEN should take the side of that silly boy.
I agree about our lack of a proper striker and suggest ALL Gooners would too. But that is a far cry from accepting his rant and siding with it. Sigh!
I’d pay to see it. Rams would definitely go for it while pumping up the fans, lol. If he scored I’d leave this world laughing hilariously.
Or Haverz as Goalie, hes tried him everywhere else.
A STRIKER PLEEEEEEZEE. A multitude of chances and not one in the net. Because 1 + 1 = 2….A striker please.
No point… he won’t get any service when we persist in the wingers being our most potent offense in Artetaball.
We need a new number 10.Odegard isn’t gonna carry us all season.The chances he misses,my God.
Can’t see the point in bringing on ESR and Trossard for the last couple of minutes, how are they supposed to change the game in that time. Taking Reiss off when Saka looked completely knackered what was that all about. When is ESR going to be given some decent minutes to show what he can do. He’s either fit now or he isn’t. Slowly losing faith in Arteta.
This results are so indicative of the actual state of affairs at the Arsenal as of now.
As at now quite a few things are so clear
1.The quality of our squad depth is wanting. This is an indicator of poor planning by the management.
2.Some players ought not to be on our payroll as of now because they add no value to the team e.g Cedric and Elneny. Those wages they earn should be put to better use.
3.It was wrong to sell or loan some players .Tierney,Xhaka and Balogun are a big mistake.
4.Either our academy is dead or there is a disconect between their coaches and the first team.I can’t understand how we no longer have any quality acquisition from the academy anymore.
5.Saka in out of form and he needs a rest or switching positions.
6.Havertz is not a bad player but Arsenal does not need him.We needed something totally different and he is a waste of money and space in the team
7.Its time Arteta swallowed his pride and corrects some of this mistakes as most of the problems we are in are solely his making.
Well said
Good sensible assessment.
Well said Cliff.
Well summarized. These are the observations some of us are putting since few matches after season start. But some other fans who were in delusion due to our position in top 3, they are constantly backing Arteta’s poor decisions. The bubble has burst now and we got the reality. Most of the players are regressing, team is not progressing even after spending so much that we are on the verge of breaking spending rule. Then also we are lacking players for important positions. After a loss we keep hearing some excuses only. Looks like the stubborn Arteta thinks he is too smart but in reality he is not.
Arteta will not move Arsenal further. The sooner Arsenal gits rid of him the better will be for Arsenal.
At this point I have become numb to these losses 😭. I don’t think I will ever be a coach but it may have made a difference to remove Saka and Havertz and replace them with ESR and leave Nelson on.
It changes nothing, the damage was already done before the match. Arteta has been meaning with his player’s confidence from the start of the season. His work is now paying off
I have not commented here for a long time and I’m not sure I’ll comment again anytime soon.
The problem isn’t really from the players but from the manager. I don’t know how long it will take before some people wake up from their slumber. MA is not good enough to manage arsenal. He’s inexperienced, tactically inept and technically flat footed. With the near success of last season, a good manager should have built on the team but what did MA do? He scattered the team and brought this wes upon the team.
Given half of the financial support Arteta is enjoying now, WENGER should have won EVERYTHING.
This is deliberate, why this is happening to Arsenal if really is bad luck
No need of havertz, jorginho, kiwirior, cedric
Among the tedious , predictable, torrent of doom and “woe is me” garbage written in self entitled haste and angst, I WISH TO INJECT A NOTE OF REALISM.
We actulaly played very well for most of the match , but our old long term weaknes of not possessing a natural finisher did for our chances. We played against a team not as yet fairly beaten at all this season- their one “defeat ” being a farcical and much maligned goal by Spuds.
In context, we ara still a good side but have lost our way in failing to score.
Once we DO finally get a proper striker and hopefuly jettison Nketiah and play JESUS in his rightful position, on either wing, thus resting SAKA AND MARTINELLI, we will ovecome our scoring problems.
We have work to do, anyone can see that , But to throw out the baby wirh the bathwater as so many silly posts are calling for would be plain stupid.
Fortunately, those who own the club are NOT stupid and will stand by MA, correctly too, IMO.
Unless and until a proven world class manager in the Klopp or Guardiola class becomes available this summer – and IMO there ARE NONE ANYWHERE IN THEIR CLASS – we are GOING to soldier on with MA whatever some on here think, if “think” is the right word for some of the comments I have read. Sigh!
Unfortunately, those who own the club ARE stupid to stick with MA.
I can recall Jon saying that they WERE stupid for standing by the manager who won us seven fa cups – funny old game of opinions.
Jon, you said it yourself “our old long term weakness…”
So WHY shouldn’t MA be criticised for not, after nearly five years in charge, addressing that long term weakness?
That is the REALISM that fans are asking and being critical about, along with his ridiculous substitution timing for ESR and Trossard, buying a player and then saying he doesn’t know where he’ll fit in and relegating England’s No. 2 keeper to a bench warming position.
If you want to be realistic, don’t have a go at the fans, who are NOT being self entitled, but rather, completely numb that over £700,000,000 has been spent, yet, in your own words, “our old long term weakness” has NOT been sorted.
I am amazed that you seem so ready to “soldier on” under MA who has neglected this long term weakness for nearly five years, but spat out fire and brimstone when we, according to you, never replaced Sol Campbell and called for that managers head every post from then on!!
Were those posts written in self entitled haste and angst?
“Think” about the above before castigating the fans and, once again, calling their views as garbage simply because you “think” otherwise.
Fair criticism is one thing KEN.
Childish rants that say the writer “DEMANDS” AT LEAST TWO MAJOR SILVERWARE JUST REEKS OF IMMATURE CHILDISHNESS AND TOTAL NON REALISM.
On your second paragraph Jon :
Of course it’s unrealistic, but we have fans who you purport to see as wise and sensible (such as Loose Cannon and Vamos) saying we will win both the CL and PL, despite saying earlier that we would win the fa cup as well and MA is the man to do it.
Yet no criticism or garbage type reaction from you and, at least, the author had the gumption to write an article explaining his feelings and venting his frustration…. I also think he’s OTT but it’s his opinion.
Point 1: I agree 100 %.
Ken, In truth , you once again misconstrue comments I make.
I REPLY INDIVIDUALLY TO ANY POSTER EITHER AGREEING OR NOT WITH THESPECIFIC POST THEY WRITE.
IF I SAY A CERTAIN POST IS WISE OR SENSIBLE, IT DOES NOT MEAN I think they are always wise or sensible.
I judge by the individual post and unlike many others do not have favourites, apart from you, Grandad and esp Sue P, ALLof whom I much respect in general.
But to almost all others, I see what they write and react accordingly They do not have a panacea for being wise ands sensible all the time, though a very few usually are.
If I praise someone then ,it is because ot the SPECIFIC post they make. I HAVE LISTED MY EXCEPTIONS ABOVE
John maybe we do not need a world class manager.
Look at Spurs and Brighton. Both those managers are way above Arteta. In fact I would trade him for any of those 2. Spurs in fact we players below our caliber of personnel are 1 point behind after major injuries. Where would they be now if Van De Ven and Madison were playing?
Maybe they could have been level or above Reds? The questions are there and MA has no answers . The stubbornness with rotation cost us the title last year No lessons learned. Bringing in subs with 3 minutes left is mind boggling. No Arsenal fan can really believe the manager capable of getting us back to the level Pool or City are.
Jon if that be the case then we are on for another very long spell of trophy less era like that of later years AW. The painful aspect of it is that by the time the board and Kronke group wakes to the decision of shoving MA out they will be having another huge bunch of expensive mediocre players in their hands that will be very difficult to easily off load. Though they are not going to agree to do it but this is the right time to drop MA. The board and club are paying for the mistake of not giving Emery the kind of support that they have given MA.
We are in
On the basis of yesterday’s performance, I agree with most of your assessment. We made the chances, but couldn’t score. I think the players are physically tired, but I want to highlight we do have goalscorers in the side – odegaard, Saka and martinelli are decent finishers ordinarily, as is trossard, but somehow we’ve found ourselves in a period where none of them seem able to finish a chance. This could happen with a great striker – Henry went through short periods where it wouldn’t happen for him, that’s normal, but we’re suffering because everyone is going through that at once, it seems.
I didn’t like arteta taking off Nelson, though. He was playing well, from what I saw, and it’s relatively fresh – Saka on the other hand looks burnt out. What was the point in keeping Nelson if we won’t give him a chance to help the side in times like these?
I suppose the only positive from this game was we don’t have to go to Anfield in February as it is ducking freezing up theIr to get the annual slaughtering.
I might write to the FA and ask for all Arsenal
away games north of the Midlands to be done in the summer.🤣
What an opportunity! No Salah or Van Dijk and we still managed to lose the game. We outclassed Liverpool for most of the match and but for our hopeless finishing could have been 3 up at half time. I agree that you can’t blame Arteta for the end result but he did have a huge budget in the summer and chose not to invest in a proper No.9 but to bring in Havertz who was not a proven striker. He is the manager/coach and one assumes he knows what he’s doing and must also know his job is dependant on success.
Arteta is clueless and Stubborn, Smith Rowe is far better than harverts, but his ego will not allow him to play Smith Rowe. Arteta time is up, 4 years without nothing to write home about, let him and Edu leave Arsenal for peace. Signing Harverts was the biggest scam Arteta done to Arsenal… Let him go so that other coach will come and try their best. Xhaka was Arsenal best midfielders last season but instead replace him with Slow and sluggish Kai Harverts. Anytime i see Arsenal line up if i see Kai Harverts inside I don’t watch the anymore.
Agree on Smith-Rowe. When he was getting fairly regular starts, he was showing quite an aptitude for goal, which he will never recover while he is only an occasional substitute.
Arteta is the Spanish Wenger.
Substitutions with no real thought of how to influence the game and at the 87th minute ? Seriously?
Klopp added a 17 and 18 year old that actually impacted the last few minutes. What a difference a real manager makes!!!
During Wenger time, we do play academy player in this type of game and we do fine but I can’t remember the last time we had an academy player in our teams. It seems they aren’t good enough in artetas book when the likes of Smithe Rowe or nelson hardly get games or are easily removed even when they aren’t the worst players on the pitch.
A previous engagement prevented me watching however I did get updates from family members.
Only a handful have concurred with their views with the majority gearing up ready to call for Arteta’s head.
Reports I’ve read since refer to us as wasteful in front of goal which more than suggests that plenty of opportunities were made.
Jon Fox has at least put out a rational post after what clearly has been a difficult result to swallow for us all.
That said, Arteta has to take stock on what is quickly becoming a very difficult situation for both him and the team for the remainder of the season. The January transfer window is unlikely to bear fruits unless something unexpected happens. Hopefully Arteta can turn it round but the signs are looking ominous right now
Sue, you would not believe how poor Saka was today, yet Arteta took off Nelson who was our most effective forward and caused Liverpool problems when he was on.I’m afraid our Manager’s decision making is not being influenced by the way players are performing on the pitch but by a bias which I just cannot accept as it is having a detrimental effect on results.Unfortunately he is unlikely to change and as a consequence I expect our challenge for the top to face away as it did last season.
Thank you Grandad for posting your comments.
I have shown a lot of faith in Arteta, and wonder what is going through his mind right now that the magic dust from the majority of last season is rubbing off. I am not one for getting hysterical over a bad result here and there like some do – flip flopping from liking to loathing him, but Arteta really does have a job on his hands arresting the current decline. I can only hope this coaching staff and maybe, Edu with his previous footballing experience can knock heads together.
I agree that Arteta has a job on his hands. However, it is important to note that most of the comments here are from irrational fans who have been complaining and criticising almost every day.
Saka was poor in his accuracy in front of goal, not his all-round play.
Nelson had a good game but also lacked accuracy. People are picking on Saka because it has become a theme since his efficiency dropped. When Martinelli came on he added extra bite to the attack but again we failed to take our chances.
I would suggest you watch the game yourself if you can stomach watching us lose. Don’t take the word of disgruntled fans.
Our overall game was good but once again lacked efficiency. There is no doubt we need a more efficient and consistent striker.
A rare and rational and post, full of context.
For Grandad
I could not agree with you more about Nelson and Saka debacle substitutions. Saka was really poor. I also could not work out why Gabriel did not head that cross from the left side and left it for Saka to volley.
Despite, all the gloom and doom I was pleased that MA tried to use KH as a striker (as against a DM). At least he has some purpose being there because of his height and the best chance was the misdirected header from a cross. But disappointed that he did not play Saka on the left and Nelson on the right which allows crosses into the box to aid a makeshift striker instead of the same old inverted winger system which all the teams have worked out.
The annoying thing is that I want MA to succeed because of his love for the club. He took a pay cut to come to Arsenal from Everton.
All I want is for the Kronke’s to demand accountability and ask for some clear targets rather than give him a free chequebook or the sack.
IGL, I dont agree that it was good to see Haverz as a striker because he isn’t a striker as long as he has a hole in his arse. But by playing him, i agree, that we should have played with ORTHODOX wingers.
For Reggie
We are stuck with KH and we have had this debate before. We all accept he was an incorrect purchase.
From the game I saw, the best chance was the misdirected header by KH which would have been less possible using EN, GJ or LT.
If there were more crosses with actual wingers getting to the byline, then I feel we would have scored instead of inverted wingers.
Taking Nelson off was really foolish. I thought Martinelli’s dribbling was OK but his end product was woefully inadequate. I think LT should have come on instead of Saka whose end product was worse than Martinelli’s.
He should have brought off Jorginho and put on ESR around the 60 minute mark when Liverpool started to believe more.
Tactics need a rethink. Along with it some serious shooting practice for all the forwards.
My massive problem with Haverz is he is to slow, in thinking, in controlling and in actually getting rid of the ball. Plus he hides and doesn’t influence the game at all. He hasn’t got a position. He isnt clinical and for his size, is weak as p!££. Apart from that, i rate him.
The signs are that there will be no major incomings this month; maybe just an on-loan full back.
Like you said Sue, you didn’t watch……highlights will probably make us look good
Disappointed and change faster.
I in particular was not expecting anything different as long as that boy remains a coach because for sure, he will not change and will not learn. Today’s match has once again lend credence to the fact that, rotation of players is key to good results in PL. Arteta has been carried alon all these while by luck. He depends largely on copying Pep. Give Saka a break and learn Mr. Know- it – all.
He loaned out TKand prefers Zinchenko. Sold a better and natural goal scorer and kept Nketia. He kept Harvertz on the pitch for 80 and above mins and left ESR on the bench and he supports Raya over Ramsdale.
This is just the beginning. Crystal Palace is next to teach him some football lessons. Mtchewww!
I really wonder about some decisions. Is Haverz a striker? No he has the worst percentile score throughout Europe as a striker. Is Trossard out of favour? Does Arteta know he scored a hatrick against them last year. Is Nelson a better footballer than Trossard? Why did he start over him? Why did Klopp make so many changes, to win the game before us and why did we wait so long to put subs on? One manager was proactive and it wasn’t Arteta. How many errors has Kiwior got make before he sees he is not good enough (at least not at LB) to start for Arsenal. Why do we leave so many holes in our set up gor teams to exploit?
It’s sad to see how MA must be hurting the confidence of class players like Trossard and Ramsdale by playing clearly weaker players. It is really hard mentally to stay focused and bring your A game when your good performances are not being rewarded. How long will MA continue playing his favourites, which he clearly bought for some unclear game plan, and see the prizes escape again?
Nketiah should be sold to Palace, and I would advise Roy to pay no more than £20m for him.
So in essence, we have regressed and not progressed.
Says it all really.
For all you new just Arsenal readers…. welcome to the sh!t show of Artedu ball.
I hope your constitution can handle it 😉
Where do you begin, with such an abject performance? Once again, we created numerous very presentable chances, but took none of them, and you have to ask where the next goal is coming from. Unquestionably, Martinelli should have started, and probably Smith-Rowe as well. We didn’t need Havertz, or for that matter Raya, and the money would have been better spent on a proven goalscorer, the one we apparently cannot now afford. Our decisions on who we sell or retain seem to be based on their potential sale value. We sold our best Goalkeeper, Martinez, simply because he cost us peanuts, and there was £20m pure profit on offer, but had to sell Leno anyway. After the goals Balogun scored in France last season, I was hopeful that he would be integrated into the first team squad, and given the same opportunity as has been given to Nketiah, but he was too valuable, and was sold. Poor Saka looks out of sorts and lacking in confidence, and we have effectively given Roy Hodgson’s team talk for him. Keep it tight, press hard, allow us the ball, catch us on the break and win 1 or 2-0 with 20% possession. Who is there to put the ball away, nobody, not Nketiah, who, apart from that hat-trick, has done nothing. Forget the title challenge, our main aim now will to be somehow to stay in the top four.
I was never enamoured with Arteta, but last season I really though we were going to win the league until our monumental crash. When he bought Kai Havertz I though Arteta was stupid. £65million for an ordinary player with no redeeming qualities. At the same time West Ham bought James Ward Prowse and the Spuds bought James Maddison. A Brian Rix farce for those old enough. If we are truly honest, Arteta has ****** this season up purely by his own deeds. De facto **** up. I’m starting to feel the ‘Arteta out’ arising in me again. He’s obstinate, doesn’t give the youngsters a chance (oh how I hate that) and when teams play a low block, we are the most boring, uncreative, sideways, slow team in the history of Arsenal.
That’s really saying something Sean, when you think of GG’s “boring boring Arsenal” but I totally agree with you.
I’m certain that if the opposition just waited when we kicked off, we would play a minimum of 30 sideways and backward passes, before the ball entered our opponents half!!
ken1945, please check again goals for and against in the season Arsenal won the First Division under George Graham in Season 1990-91 losing one game;
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
38 24 13 1 74 18 +56 83
74 goals in a season doesn’t demonstrate a “boring boring Arsenal”. CF Alan Smith scored 22 goals, something Arsenal can only dream of today. To be fair Arsenal had 3 players score 15 goals each last season.
OG, that wasn’t a criticism of George, I used to sing along with the 1-0 to the Arsenal with great gusto, knowing that our defence would shut up shop and win the game for us… MA has nearly got to the same level, but needs to have a proper LB and reinstate Ramsdale in my opinion.
I was never bored watching us play under Wenger either, as we had the forwards who could score.
Both scenarios are different to MA’s idea of ball possession, as the numerous sideways and backward passes achieve nothing. No pressure and our players (apart from two or three) treat the ball like a hot potato and make needless passes that produce absolutely nothing.
As you know, George was just one game away from becoming a Invincible manager himself, that so often slips under the radar.
It looks like Klopp has rebuilt the Liverpool team in one season. And for little outlay. We are still waiting!!!!!!!
Arteta has to go. The team is poorer and we risk losing good players like ESR who are not getting a fair chance. I still think Odegaard is not supposed to be our captain and he lacks the tenacity of a proper 10. There is a reason Real Madrid sold him. He is soft and doesn’t influence big games. Let Saka, Nelson and Martinelli play on their stronger foot and wip in crosses for the strikers.
Arteta must trust his bench more and give them opportunities to make an impact. No player has improved under his coaching. As soon as he has destroyed a player he then replaces him. He is just wasting money buying unwanted players like Havertz and Raya.
He chucked out Lungberg and Steve Blould who could help him so that he can have his yes boys only.
We have lost quite a number of good players as he tries to bring his own players even when it’s not necessary.
Can you name the number of good players Arteta has lost apart from Xaka maybe?!
This team will one day kill us!
I don’t often go read comments on other sites/publications but I did…..I didn’t realise we are the laughing stock of England at the moment more than ManU or Spurs by a long shot!
I don’t know where the hysteria is coming from.We played well tactically so how is this on the coach?.
And as usual selective criticism of players , not much criticism of Saka as usual.
When you buy players they may work out and they may not , this is football not an exact science. We have never played like champions this season so why would anyone think we could win it?Look at the teams that have won EPL in the past 5 years?, are we anywhere near that?
Even buying a great CF doesn’t guarantee success because it will definitely change the way we play.
Even though we have spend a lot to catch up with the best, we should be happy if we make it into the top 3.
We did relatively well tactically for the first 30-40 mins, after that not at all. Part of tactics is having a good goal scorer on the pitch, Trossard/Martinelli/ESR are all bigger goal threats than Havertz so that was a mistake
Have you read the comments? Many have criticised Saka
Obviously not all your buys/loans are going to be good, but if they aren’t don’t play them or play them off the bench…..don’t keep starting them to try and prove you were right, that’s ego driven decision making that doesn’t have the clubs best interests at heart.
The expectation, after spending even more money, is that we would not show regression. Either maintain or improve….that’s reasonable
Klopp outwitted inexperienced Arteta, simple. If Jesus was injured, why not play Nketiah?
outwitted , WTF? first half we had 13 chances, Liverpool no where to be seen. In a more balanced second half, Liverpool got the advantage after an own goal.
Since we lost there are lot of fans who are uninterested in the details.
The outcome informs the narrative. Since we lost out come the usual hysterics.
Well Arteta definitely didn’t out wit Klopp, thats for sure. Liverpool were stuck in a rut first half but Klopp did what good manager do, he sorted it out. And with his two talisman out. Playing kids.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 @OxInTheBox. I’m really laughing my head off here. We created 13 chances in the first half but 0 goal. Isn’t that embarrassing enough? This is after spending well over £700,000,000 in transfers. It still beats me when people tries defending the indefensible.
Arsenal is out of Carabo and FA cups and people are here supporting mediocre.
Agree with Simba. Odegaard needs to be replaced as captain. He appears to be a nice guy but maybee you need someone with a bit more fight in him ?
A Tony Adams type of guy!! Of the existing players Rice would be my choice mainly due to the fact that he leads by example.
They were without Salah and Van Dijk and we were at home and yet we couldnt beat them. The whole world, except Arteta, knows we urgently need a striker. The number of chances we had in the first half, we should have finished the game by that time. I hope now Arteta realises we urgently need a striker, it is still not too late to save the season.
It is definitely not too late to save the season. To combat FFP, sell Nketiah and Kiwior (We had an offer) organise the payments to match FFP. We are talking reality, de-facto reality. “We need a striker” clearly. It seems to me by saying we must develop who we have got….said by Arteta…..we have given up. Gives me a bad feeling to hear that. If we had had Ivan Toney…..we 100% would have won that game…100%.
Chelsea managed their payments for FFP spreading payments.
Chelsea also signed players to extraordinarily long-term contracts (e.g. 8 yrs) to amortize the cost over a longer period of time.
I can see the light but unfortunately for most of the comments above mine, they can’t! A whole different tone it’s gonna be when Mikel starts unleashing the goals.
Aaron Ramsdale – you may not be Arsenal’s no.1 but you are definitely this fan’s no.1
I’m not sure just having an out and out striker will benefit us. The way we play is to try and finesse the ball into the goal, that extra pass or three when the shot could’ve been taken long before. We keep trying the same thing, we’re too slow, too predictable.
If we did have an out and out striker like Toney, would we utilise his talents. Would we get the ball to him quickly enough and on multiple occasions in any one game for him to be effective? Or would be the same slow build up and always looking for that extra deft pass ? I don’t think Arteta would opt for route one football to Toney and whereby long balls to him would be utilised by others playing as a foil, feeding on his knock downs or hold up play. If we continue to adopt our current tactics, a striker such as Toney would end up being isolated or have to come looking for the game deeper. A striker who’s never in the box! A striker and a change of tactics is what we need.