All season long, the narrative has been the same. Man City have a manager and a core group of players who know how to deal with the pressure that comes in April/May. Arsenal have a reputation for going missing when it’s squeaky bum time.
The reality is that for a while now, the Gunners have been playing with fear.
Yet after being held by a team with 10 points and just 1 league win all season long, even the most toxic positive section of our fanbase will now struggle to not feel they are not seeing the same movie where they know the ending.
It’s only because of the law of averages that many assumed the story couldn’t possibly end the same way again.
Change in Man City confidence
With 10 minutes to go at Anfield, in Bernardo Silva’s own words, City were probably out of contention to be champions. As I predicted, the nature of that win over Liverpool was going to do one thing for their confidence. A few days later, not only were they handling the weight of expectation, but doing so with a smile on their face. When’s the last time in the league you could say the same about us?
Do you really watch us and say that’s the best side in England?
Time to worry
I was told Man City had a mountain to climb to catch us. They have not played in the Prem since, yet now know if they win every fixture remaining, the Premiership returns to Manchester.
Some will say, ‘But we have a 5-point lead,’ the same who say, ‘Oh, but we have a 7-point lead.’ Then it will be, ‘But we have a 3-point lead.’ Then it will be, ‘We only have to get a result at the Etihad …’ before the yearly tradition of … well, at least we competed.
We have seen this drama before, and after last night there is no point pretending any more ….
It’s time to worry that it’s happening again.
Dan Smith
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Arsenal once again gave away their 3rd life line of being 6 to 9 nine ahead due to bad play and unable to handle pressure! Same old story.
They were embarrassing and bad yesterday apart from Saka and Rice. What were they thinking of giving away a 2-0 lead to a team bottom of the league with a goal difference of -32!! Gyokeres and Eze as usual were very poor. What a waste of money! Martinelli was not much better either. Jesus was bad and a disgrace at the end of the match. Showed he could not cope with a loss – well don’t lose then!!!! These 4 need to go at the end of the season. They have let everyone down the most and really not an asset to the club. Also why was Noorgaard not subbed in at the last 20mins for Zubimendi to keep the back door locked which he is so good at? Proved that last week at the FA Cup.
Am sorry but not only were the players to blame for last night loss but so was Arteta and his coaching team. They all got it wrong again! making Arsenal a laughing stock as well as the same old boring predictable Arsenal – the bottlers!
We didn’t lose Laura…
I would say Saka was bang average, just like he has been all season. Money was on his mind and now he has it he is not all that bothered.
If Arsenal finish empty handed once again I expect the manager to walk as well as Berta.
doubt they do though as long as the cash comes in…
Same goes to saliba. After signing new contract, he wasn’t was where he’s before
That is all they do isn’t it? Crumble under pressure and ultimately achieve nothing. I hold no hope of anything this season under THAT manager and that team.
Time for Mikel to go. Can take Eze, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokores, Jesus and Odegaard with him. I would also question how much Betra inputted into the summer business so we can get rid of him as well.
Was going to mention Berta also ..
Everyone was creaming in their Y-fronts because he came in and spent 300 million ,I would say 200 million of that as been a complete failure .
Who ever sanctioned Gyokores/Madueke should be executed outside the emirates. Eze I was behind but it has been an utter disaster signing. I had my doubts with Betra when he spunked 118 million on Joao Felix but you thought he might have learned his lesson buying players from Portugal.
Madueke was so obvious. I’m no scout but he’s done exactly what he’s done at Chelsea which is huff/puff with zero actual end product. Maybe he checked some statistical box Arsenal like, but ina team that already struggled to score goals spending 50mill on another attacker that has a poor goal record was madness. Gyokeres, I never watched too much before he came here, but there’s a reason teams stick with top 5 leagues for crucial players. How his horrendous touch got ignored by our scouts have no clue.
You were behind one decision so you should be pay the say way too
🤣hang ’em high.
Oh come on Dan… Seriously Berta? The guy convinced the Kroenkes to spend the money and everyone was pretty happy with the squad we built.
Gyok had 100 goals in 2 seasons, Eze was great for Palace. Madueke was average for Chelsea, but we have a history of signing Chelsea rejects before Berta. Is that on him as well or Mikel?
I’m ready to give a new manager a chance. The sooner, the better.
Dan Kit
Can you explain with facts how Berta’s signings have been a failure
😂
And no I can not
Given the way arsenal play what striker would have done better? Genuine question, it’s artetas possession based tactics that have effected the impact these players have had
100% and people need to understand tactics.
Woltenmade, Sesko, Osinhem, Thuram, Mateta, Isak, Ekitike and DCL. For the target man. I also feel Pedro, Mbuemo, Cunha, Alvarez would offer more because they dont have the technical abiltity of a league one player even though they lack the physicality
You listed a lot of target men for a team that never crosses the ball in open play. You saw an immediate difference in gyok when havertz was back. If we signed ekitike there’s no guarantee he’d succeed with this style and we’d be saying we should have went for sesko gyokeres etc
Gyok offers nothing. At least be able to control a ball. Giroud at his worst still held up play constantly for us even if he never has amazing goal tallies either. Raise your standards for some of these players. Gyokeres does not belong in this league
RHS with the home run. I did see a difference in our play with Havertz but thats because the big German is a special player and Gyokores level is kairat almaty so no suprise he played well.
😂
To be clear I agree gyokeres isnt the player we should have signed. I actually thaught cunha was the best choice or mateta. Pl proven whe we needed it, though that’s no guarantee either look at eze. The true flop of the summer
This is a wakening moment for all of us and it is surely painful. But I would not go as far as asking for Berta’s head or labeling many players who were top of the Europe as flops. The praises for Berta was all over the place when he wrapped up summer for us. Admittedly, I did not cheer for Madueke joining us, that money would have been spent on Kudus in my mind.
I think this is 100% on MA. For someone receiving so much support, we simply do NOT have an established offense. Gyokeres was the best scorer of Europe, Eze made any manager crazy, Zubi was a rumored Real Madrid target, the current shape of our attack has repeatedly proved that MA wanted things like this. We demonstrably have the best defense lineup yet offense was left to serendipity.
I think this season is determined to be like sailing in a storm, and we don’t know where luck would take us. There is still a sliver of hope, as a fan of this club for 30+ years, I am gonna hold on to that hope until the end. But MA has to face the consequences after this season.
That narrative that you have put in the first line, is made up recently by you, it has never been mentioned. The narrative has been our squad, our investment and our experience of the 3 previous seasons was we we/are overwhelming favorites. If your narrative was correct why did the bookmakers have us overwhelming favourites. I never heard anyone say City were a danger when they drew with Sunderland, drew with Brighton and lost to Utd in consecutive fixtures, just a few weeks ago. Who was saying they had the squad to deal with pressure then.Its not a narrative but a fact, we have the most expensive squad assembled in the prem. So straight away, your first line is wrong. The fact is and it has alays been my narrative that Arteta way of going about playing football is not robust enough to win the prem. That so far has not been a narrative but a fact. And could also still be a fact at the end of the season. Arteta still can not win the league with the best squad in the league. I will say this and its my opinion. Arteta would not win the league with the City squad but Pep would with ours.
A nice, eloquent way of saying that he is simply not good enough to win the league. And you are absolutely right.
disagree
the question mark for along time over this team is can they mentally cope with pressure
you said Man City had a mountain to climb
They did, that was a fact. They drew twice and lost in 3 games, in January?
no you said it after they beat Liverpool
you said Man City have a mountain to climb
I’ll show you if you want
And the ? Mark over this team, is down to Arteta, not City or Pep. City or Pep had nothing to do with failure to see out a game we were 2-0 up in against the leagues bottom club, the lowest scorers and us the best defence with only 30 minutes to go. The pressure wasn’t on with 30 minutes to go and City were not affecting us at that point.
disagree
the greats get over the line
So City got over the line against Utd better than us?
what do you mean mate ?
They didn’t get over that line, jus 3 weeks ago?
no dude I mean get over the line as in the title race
so that’s why it’s called the run in
All season we are been leading pretty much but can we now get over the line or will we fall at the last hurdle ?
the great teams get over the line
If we can do it , the rest will be easier
🙏 Absolutely Bro.
A great disappointment. and a heartbreaking one for that matter . The question is, how long are we going to continue like this . We played the same pattern 24/7 ., all year round . Arsenal does not know when to roast or slaughter opponents but just romancing opponents all day . where is the bChampions character ? lacking and Not available This is sad . We cant. continue this way
It will continue until there is accountability; simple as that.
That moment will define our season; it is either the moment we started to collapse yet again, or the moment we man up and handle business.
Embarrassing watching us sit back against those wolves and hoof it up the pitch, whether clearing it out or Raya just failing at long kicks.
They should feel embarrassed choking to the worst PL team of all time, letting them score 2 goals while we fumble around the pitch unable to string 2 passes together.
Odegaard has done nothing this year, so he should be a bench player and rarely start.
I have no idea what Raya was thinking, Gabriel was clearly positioned to head the ball away.
At worst Raya should call for it loudly so Gabriel can get out of the way.
Raya did neither, and he has a brain fart in him likely to go off at any time. Quite a few GK would be in the running for Golden Gloves with Saliba and Gabriel in front.
If that was the last time I saw Jesus play as striker I would shout for joy. He did his typical nothing; run around, no goals, and his best chance he dribbled himself out of a shot, not kidding.
We’ve seen similar movies in the last two decades, but I believe we can still win EPL as long as Haaland stays in the infirmary
Arteta made some bad decisions, but Berta and Arsenal actually shot him in the foot by signing a technically-deficient penalty taker from Portuguese league who’s rarely able to win aerial duels for us and a luxurious CAM who can’t unlock EPL defenses with through balls
Berta knew Woltemade and Aghehowa were available after Sesko’s problem, yet he still signed a smaller CF whose 35% of his goals were penalties in Portugal last season. And Arsenal chose to re-sign Eze with a lot of money, despite having a plethora of attacking midfielders and needing a better inverted LW
Having said that, Arteta should be replaced if he can’t win EPL or UCL with a one-billion-pound squad, despite Berta’s wrong signings and expensive mistakes
he won’t be
If Kroenke wanted to keep Arteta for next season, the American would’ve extended the gaffer’s expiring contract to 2028
Arteta’s contract will expire in 2027, so a rich club could easily poach him in the upcoming summer
Raya is an excellent shot stopper, but his failure to stay on his line when faced with long range shots has cost us dear.By my calculations we have conceded at least 6 goals from over 20 yards this season, and fortunately for us and Raya we have lost only one of the matches involved, to Man Utd.The Wolves equaliser last night was simply a joke with Raya and Gabriel being equally culpable imo.I can appreciate the frustrations of fans after our poor overall performance yesterday,but to slate the Manager, when the individual errors of 2 players, cost us 2 points, is over the top.Fuelled by the non stop comments of pundits , many of whom should know better,the influence of football Managers is overstated to a degree which beggars beliefPlayers win trophies for their Clubs, guided by Managerial teams who’s importance can probably be measured at best at 30%.Players largely determine how successful a Club is and the main influence of Managerial skills and success, stems from their ability to recruit players who can cover all the bases and turn in consistently, high quality performances.Rice and Timber are imo the best examples of quality recruitment at Arsenal but ,unfortunately others have fallen short of expectation.Of course Managers play a huge role in the Club in terms of tactical nous, and generating team spirit and camaraderie but, at the end of the day,its the players on the pitch who fans look to turn dreams into reality..
Well said Grandad
I agree about Raya, but Raya was Arteta’s choice
Kepa, who’s a bigger GK and more experienced, is ready to replace Raya, but Arteta seems reluctant to trust Kepa for EPL games
Well said Grandad. However, my take is not really on the equalising goal but on overall game. If we had roasted them without playing with a hand break, that late goal would have been insignificant.
On Raya, though good but can’t he be benched to have some rest so that Balaga who is more experienced in PL to play? Raya has cost us some goals his notorious abandoning his goal area, the same reason why Ramsdale was rejected.
the Koronke Family won’t sack him
He might choose to leave but they will be happy with the job hes doing
GAI are you serious? Which of Artetas sides has played great attacking football? For 6 years we’ve largely been very difficult to watch. I can hardly blame anyone whose come in the last 12 months for something that’s repeating 6 years… It’s only agent Mik. I’m starting to wonder if he’s playing for City honestly. Help his mate Pep out.
Remember when Arsenal beat Real Madrid home and away by 5-1 aggregate last season? Or when we trashed Spuds by 4-1 this season
Imagine if Berta signed Aghehowa and Lookman last summer
Just to add to what GA said the second title fight against city. We where electric that second half of the season and we where derailed by one bad result against villa
Gotanidea, i disagree with you on the players. A good coach with right football mentality will win epl with this team. The problem is the coach who never learn from mistakes. All he need do is to instill in them the killer instinct, always bold to attack rather defend and ofcourse, play the right players and forget about all these favouritism. As a coach, he should be dynamic in his approach. Is it any wonder that Arteta finds it difficult to win every good coach in PL ? He is too predictable. Why would you buy a player only to keep him on the bench? When the said player becomes rusty, you throw him to the pitch just to rubbish him? Pep will win the epl with this team with maximum points. You can take it to the banks.
Im finding a pattern of Raya fumbling crosses and getting beaten from 25 yards. How is that every random PL player is able to come up with ”worldie” curlers against Raya? He has excellent reflexes but hes too short to claim those.
Gyökeres was non existent as usual.
Someone should keep count on how many clear cut chances Martinelli has missed this season in the PL.
But overall I think this squad is capable of better. I think its just the manager who installs fear and crumbling onto the players.
I don’t think Raya is too short but he strays way too far off his line.
Yes, if City win all their remaining games the Premier League (not Premiership, unless they play in Scotland😊) returns to Manchester, but conversely if we win all our remaining games the Premier League returns to London. Of course it’s impossible for both teams to win their remaining games. Both teams will really now be on tenterhooks and it’s now squeaky bum big time.
We overly relied heavily on set piece goals and our solid defense….set piece goals should be on top of a functional attack and not a substitute for it!
Once the set piece goals slowed down and our defense wasn’t as solid we were therefore left to rely on actually having a functional attack….which in many games we simply do not
On top of this our midfield is essentially 1 guy, Rice. Ode or whoever plays CAM simply do not perform the function of a CAM. At the same time Rice has been covering heavily for Zubimendi, a player that cracks under the slightest of pressure but for some reason is hailed as signing of the season. Not having a proper screen in front of the back 4 has resulted in our regression big time when the pressure is on
Maybe our attack would be much better if the midfield was actually working properly
The signs of these cracks have been around since Oct/Nov already but when mentioned on this forum by certain members then we were told “it doesn’t matter as long as we are winning”. Some fans knew it simply couldn’t last, other fans chose to completely ignore the issues while telling others that they are just negative.
Finally our manager decides to play extremely negative football when we are up a goal and rarely shifts from playing his favourites regardless of form
I stand by what I said 2-3 years ago, MA has done very well to stabilize the club but his reluctance to change what isn’t working will always be his downfall.
All that being said I doubt very much MA will be replaced if we fail to win EPL or UCL as he is doing well “financially” for the club. When he leaves I’m sure it will be of his own choice
Well PJ-SA he’d only be embarrassing himself by staying after bottling another title but he does have a gigantic ego so he probably would hang about and sign a new contract
PJ, if he fails again, I do mot think he can stay. He has to look at himself and see, he is wasting money and time at Arsenal..And the longer he goes on losing the title, the worse it looks. He can not be that vain? Can he?
He alone would be denying Arsenal any glory.
I don’t think it’s vanity and nor do many fall on their swords. Considering the swell of discontent that marred Wenger’s final couple of seasons, or a fighter whose corner doesn’t know when to throw in the towel, there is a belief that failure can be turned into success.
What happened with Wenger has no bearing. Wenger won the league and more. His problem was he couldn’t/ wouldn’t see, he had had his time and was unable to bring anything new. Maybe that is the same comparison. Arteta can not bring anything new, but he hasn’t won the league? I still hope he does but if he doesn’t. For me his job is untenable.
Reggie
I think that is what I was trying to say. Badly of course. It’s not about comparing the track record, but the inability to know when to walk away
How long do you give him? 8 years? 10, 15, 20? If he isn’t good enough, he isn’t good enough. At some point you run out of excuses. I have had to listen to refereeing conspiracies, injuries, lack of investment, bad luck and lack of quality players as an excuse. None of them can be used this year. We have changed, assistants, coaches, goalkeeping coaches, directors of football, general managers and spending on players. The only constant is Arteta.
I don’t understand why you’re homing on me and misinterpreting what I’m saying. I’m not giving him carte blanche to stay for years nor am I currently making any excuses. The point I clearly failed to get across is that, Arteta – a bit like Wenger- may not realise when it’s time to go of his own accord which is what my original reply to you was all about. I just said I didn’t put it down to vanity but a desire to keep trying. I just think there is a difference between those two situations
Sorry Sue, I wasn’t trying to home in on you, i am just saying what I think.
No problem
I think you’re absolutely right and this is what I was saying last year – thing is he did manage to get us into this strong position so, like you said, it all depends if he can bring the title this year – otherwise he really has had his chance and it’s time to give someone else a go
What I will say in his favour is that he has transformed the club – I think the mentality is far better now and the intent to win the title is absolutely real (I don’t think it was there for many years before he joined – the mentality of the club declined under Wenger and it became all about making the champions League places). If he does go at the end of this season, he’ll leave us in a far better place than it was than when he joined.
100%.
he hasn’t transformed the club
A billion pounds would do that I believe.
Exactly!
Unlimited spending .
3rd highest paid manager in world football ,absolute joke .
Hasn’t earned his stripes one bit ,been given everything .
Nothing more than a cheap knockoff of Jose M .
Exactly!
Unlimited spending .
3rd highest paid manager in world football ,absolute joke .
Hasn’t earned his wages one bit ,been given everything .
Nothing more than a cheap knockoff of Jose M .
Very true – but even so, not just anyone can turn change trajectory of travel like that.
Reggie,
You forgot the throw in coach. 😂
A really really poor display from us last night
From the manager right down to every player on the pitch, it was a substandard performance with very little to take out any positives from the match.
If we continue in the same manner from now to end we wont win anything but I do expect us to pull our socks up and and no better way then the NLD
We are all bitterly disappointed, frustrated, annoyed but let’s not dwell on the game and move on to the next as we will all go stir crazy
As I always say
Onwards and upwards and we certainly need some upwards for this coming sunday
Most of the players you think are bad at Arsenal aren’t bad players. Arteta is just a bad coach, hence why no player improves under him.
A player who scores 90+ goals doesn’t forget how to score a goal. Martinelli is useless, but go watch Martinelli under Emery.
Every single Chelsea reject was requested by Arteta.
Saka may be finished, and you have to thank Arteta for that.
Eze is a confident player, and Arteta has snatched the confidence of Eze, Nwaneri, and Skelly.
Timber has been bad for 3 games, but Arteta has his favorites, I guess.
I can go on and on, but here is the truth: the coach was learning on the job and sacrificing players’ careers. He lacks the mentality, and it shows on the team.
So a quick recap: the manager believes in nepotism, he lacks proper game management, he lacks the ability to manage big personalities as well as give players confidence, the manager doesn’t have a Plan B, and he is worse than a cheque-book manager while still being the second highest paid coach in the world while still being the most supported.
I think that it already happened unfortunately. We have been on the edge for some time and any EPL match has been awful. The new signings have not worked at all (they have either been poor or they never see the light of day), our existing players are either not good or just having brain farts and the tactics employed by Arteta are awful to watch.
Spurs will likely have their game of the season with a new manager and we will be second.
Considering where we stand I can say that this is the worst watching spell for me in some years. That is hard to believe considering we are still theoretically in everything. It is so dispiriting…
I really fear meeting City in a cup competition or the league, despite their flaws I think they take us apart.
We probably have one more good round in Europe but then we will be exposed there – the longer we avoid an English team the better.
I don’t know what the answer is and I still hope that we turn around but I really doubt it.
We aren’t actually in any worse position then a few weeks ago when we had a 2 point.Both Man city and Arsenal have had a run of drawing games and a loss to Man U.However for me what stands out is the lack of effort and the relentless passing of the ball sideways and back.They are so boring to watch.We get the occasional good game when they do play well,Leeds and Sunderland,but normally they return to their default setting of playing awful.They certainly don’t come across as playing like Premier league Champions.Honestly if we don’t win it this year when are we ever going to win it?
Arteta must go. The London fans should start a protest immediately after we drop points on Sunday against Tottenham because we are most definitely not winning that match.
SJ
do you mean chelsea, spud, wh, Fulham fans or true arsenal fans who wouldn’t entertain your crazy suggestion.
I would hate to be in trenches with you
When the bullets are flying around and you are raising the white flag
Each to there own but for me it’s still in our own hands and I would rather be in our place rather then chasing down the leaders.
Onwards and upwards
I don’t want to hear that “it’s still in our hands”
No, it is not in our hands anymore!!! 😡
We are only 2 points ahead and we still have to go to the Etihad.
It is highly impossible for them to win 10 games and draw at the Etihad.
You should be logical and realistic and not be expecting a miracle to happen.
All the Arsenal fans in London should begin an Arteta Out protest once they drop points to Tottenham on Sunday.
He is not the right one to help this team cross over the line.
Its still in our hands… there said it again
Unfortunately I totally disagree with everything you have have written.
There is no logic behind your comments
All London based arsenal fans.
What the arsenal fans outside London don’t have a say
We have to go to city and they need to win. We can afford a draw
You are banking on city winning all there games?
You are remembering the past city team and not the present
They will drop points just like us
No true supporter on here said we would win all our remainder fixtures.
There will be twists and turns and here we are with twists and turns
As I said b4. Hate to be in the trenches with you
Di the maths
‘Still in our hands “
Stop saying that, you would hate to be in the trenches with me!!
I’m not a coward.
Don’t mistake me being a realist for cowardice.
I’m not the one playing the ball and the people playing the ball have filled me with no confidence by struggling to beat the worst team in the league home and away.
I will see what you will say on Sunday night after we have dropped points against Tottenham.
I’m sure deep down you have no confidence in Arsenal dropping less points than City to win the league.
Apologies
Was ment in jest so please don’t take offence
I have every confidence we will turn over the spuds at there own ground
And rule north London twice over this season and drop less points then city
I wasn’t one of group of people say the league was already won weekes back. I said it was going to be close but it are a good side but the y are not a great side
Pep is a great manager managing a good side so I believe we have every chance of seeing them off
Onwards and upwards
Whisper
Its in our own hands
Onwards and upwards
It’s alright, Alanball. Thank you.
Deep down in my heart, I want your confident prediction to come through and we win the league.
I’m just tired of what this club has done to me over the years and I don’t want to take them serious any longer.
I hope they win as much games as possible and end up with the trophy come May.
I’ll just have to sit back and watch from now.
SJ,
At this moment in time it’s in both Arsenal and City’s hands.
It’s unlikely that both will go unbeaten in the league for the rest of the season, but if you pushed me, I’d say City might.
Derek
I am happy to push you
City will not go on and win all there remaining games
Alanball08,
I’m quite happy for you to push me, and I hope you’re right. 👍
Actually Alanball08,
Looking at my post I said unbeaten not win every game. 😂👍
problem is they might not have too
I will put my money on Arsenal dropping more points in this remaining games than City.
Actually it isn’t in city115 hands.
Even if they beat us, they will still be two points behind and if we win all our remaining games, they can’t catch us – that can only change if we lose another game or draw three and they don’t drop any points.
Of course, that could change after the spud and chav games, but, as of now, the PL title is still ours to lose isn’t it?
no Ken it’s in both hands
if Man City win all their games they are Champions
Ken1945,
You forget, that should City beat Newcastle on Saturday, they will be 2 points behind us having played the same amount of games.
Then should they win the rest of their games which includes us, no matter what we do they win the league by a point.
As unlikely as that may be, it’s currently in both Arsenal and City’s hands. 👍
I fear for Sunday’s game. IF City win they’re 2 points behind, before we play the Spuds – who will REALLY be up for this game (especially now).
Disregarding “New (interim) Manager Bounce” and all that, we need to win – or else i can see City overtaking us in March.
I believe we can still lift this trophy. It is just a matter of time
I want Arteta to stay as long as time
(lol)
Matthias guessing your a fan of temu Jose then 😂
Gabriel is at fault for the dropped point,i have never really trusted him,too emotional&always make one or more mistakes every game(guess no one sees it as he’s always covered by other defenders and our ball playing keeper).Raya was going to easily catch the ball until he blocked our own keeper with his desperate headed clearance.I believe the time is right to sell him while he can still fetch good money.
WOW!!!!!
yeah wow, though Gabriel was positioned to handle the ball, that is until Raya crashed into his back. Raya never called for the ball, Gabriel never responded, it was Raya panicking and yet another brain fart.
Arteta is only partly responsible for that embarrassing display; he selected them, substuted them, and decided the tactics. Arteta didn’t muff the catch like Raya, didn’t dribble himself out of a shot like Jesus, etc….
I do blame Arteta for constantly selecting them in spite of poor form; he has his favorites. Why Jesus is still getting chances to prove how sub par he is surprises me. Reminds me of Willian, when Arteta refused to bench him in spite of 1 goal and 1 assist all season.
Until there are actual real consequences, I expect more of the same; poor performances, starters in bad form, and more double-down on Arteta-ball and playing not to lose.
I agree with you
Not player came out of it with any credibility
One thing not mentioned on here was the ref
I thought he was poor
His decision making was poor imo
Gave us free kicks when we didn’t deserve
Gave them free kicks when they deserve
On consistency was his inconsistency
Thought trossard should have had a foul at the end b4 he went off
Just to be clear it wasn’t the ref poor performance that we dropped 2 points at the death
It was our own doing
Yes the mixup between those players directly led to the second goal.
How, though, is Arteta to blame for regularly selecting Gabriel and Raya, both of whom have been widely regarded as amongst the best in Europe?
Is Arteta now not supposed to play GJ when his only other available striker, Gyokeres, has not been consistently effective? The situation with Willian merited some criticism at the time but that is quite different from what is happening with GJ.
The only player who it can really be argued deserves more playing time is probably Nørgaard.
No striker has been successful for us under Arteta! Let’s not mention “consistency” and Jesus together unless we are talking about injuries.
Trossard was more successful as a 9 than Jesus! Rather see Martinelli play as a striker, rather see Saka as a false 9; anything except more inept performances from Jesus.
He scored his 2 goals, now its 8 or 9 matches with nothing, you know the usual he has put up since he joined us.
Watching him dribble down a blind alley yet again, and actually dribbled himself out of any shot opportunity! Head down, no awareness, absolute joke.
Can’t really see how anyone can defend that lot and the slop they served up to the fans. Even Arteta did not come out with his usual reasons; he admitted they were deserving of the criticism and all the bullets aimed their way.
So you want to put Martinelli in as a striker. Then who do you play on the wings?
And what do you do with GJ? Completely bench him?
I hope you also know that Arsenal have injuries in the squad which limits the options available.
Emery played Martinelli as an 18 yr old striker, and Martinelli put up good numbers as a part-timer; 10 goals and 4 assists if my memory serves correctly.
Also, we have been leading the league without Jesus as striker, and doing quite well. I don’t see us hurt by leaving him out. Havertz will be returning soon, and Trossard on the wings; actually Trossard has probably been our best attacking winger this year.
22 players and still some complain about injuries. Mosquera is more than capable as he has shown, but why continue playing Saliba and Gabriel when they are seeing a dip in form?
Raya has been shaky last couple matches, Kepa can’t even get a look?
Zubimendi again struggles against a physical opponent, yet Norgaard can’t seem to get a run of starts.
The excuses I hear are feeble, and even with switching players it is still the same tired, predictable tactics we see; rinse and repeat.
Lastly, embarrassing to see us go into a shell against the weakest PL team in league history. Couldn’t string passes together, Raya hoofing the ball upfield only to give it away, and our decision-making in 2nd half was dreadful.
Arteta isn’t at fault for their poor play, but let’s see if he makes changes in the lineup or changes tactics; he can control those aspects.
We need a Manger who has won leagues before,.how can Arteta install a winning mentality into the players when he has zero experience of winning a league ?
Does his inexperience create problems for the players as they can hardly look to him and think “this guys won it all , he knows his stuff”
He has had a billion pounds over 6 years yet we’re playing worse then under George Graham who actually won more in less time.
George Graham installed a winning mentality at The Arsenal when he had zero experience of winning a League Title.
I saw Lee Gunner on you tube slaughtering Calafiori for the goal. Why I don’t know, he did all he could to keep it out. The blame like the late Sunderland equalizer lays at the feet of Raya I’m afraid.
It does Derek.
Stayed away all this while, waiting for the “I told you so” moment and it has arrived.
Promised to stay away from comments and arguments, until this season proves different from the previous ones. But here we are once again…..
The “moment” that you’ve waited so patiently for hasn’t really arrived, has it! Unless you have some sort of future knowledge of our results and league placings.
Last night was terrible, but that does not mean it’s Man City’s. They can drop points too.
The good thing is that this season’s Arsenal knows how to recover , unlike in the past
It is indeed time to worry. It’s not just one game. The despicable Spuds will smell blood. City back on the up, while we’re on the slide. Our attack lacks big match winners. Gyokeres not at PL level. Martinelli is Martinelli. Saka doesn’t seem quite the same since injuries. Ditto Odergaard. Eze seems lost in our “system”. Havertz been injured ever since Arteta said he was freak who never gets injured. Madueke been decent in my view, given lack of time in playing squad, but not game-changing. Jesus inconsistent, when not injured. Trossard been only solid performer – until very recently. Mentality and tactics aside, which are rightly questioned, it’s not an attacking line up which screams title winning. Not even remotely close to having a Ageuro, Salah, Haarland etc.
No, it’s time for the team to buckle up. Ideally, the team should also be supported effectively by fans rather than the quite silly meltdowns that show up whenever there are setbacks.
I’m not a meltdown fan, telling it how I see it. We have been deteriorating for a while, which just culminated in a dire performance against one of the worst PL teams of all time. Think fans entitled to worry.
We are winning the quad!
Said no one ever.
Meltdown of epic proportions coming our way the last 12+ games and the quad.
It did not have to be this way.
fans did ask why we couldn’t and that Arteta will win more then Mr Wenger and Pep is scared because he’s been surpassed
So why shouldn’t someone ask the question about the quadruple? You seem quite intent on repeating occasional comments that you seem to have an issue with. How many people have actually said Arsenal will win a quadruple?
Most of these quotes are lone voices that you seem set to ridicule simply because they don’t follow the herds of negativity that are so prevalent online.
because it’s an arrogant and an unlikable quality
better to be humble
and I said asked not said
quite a few asked
and I’ll go deeper
you want to know why in a weeks time the Emirates will be quiet if it’s 0-0…. a culture
fans thinking players / managers are better than they are instead of just waiting for something to be achieved
These were comments made by a handful of people, some weeks and months ago. Yet you repeat them here as if they are things being said everyday.
Why would it have been arrogant to ask whether Arsenal could win the quadruple when the team were doing well? It may well be unlikely but to call such dreams arrogance is unnecessarily pretentious. What you are doing by trying to ridicule exuberant fans is unlikable.
already gave you the definition of arrogance
the quality of having an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or abilities.
and if you look back most in the comments argued they could rather then they won’t
they won’t lol
😂
Stay ‘humble’ Dan, you wear it well. Let the rest of us ‘arrogant’ fools dream on.
if someone says Pep is scared of Arteta because he’s been surpassed is that someone dreaming or being arrogant ?
what about tactically has surpassed Mr Wenger ?
What about will easily win more then Mr Wenger
what about there are only 2 teams in the CL that can stop us
What about we can win every game
what about the constant disregard for the Carabo Cup
what about Skelley being the next Ashley Cole
What about Halland won’t be able to get a shot on target against our defence
what about Arsenal being called a juggernaut
what about comparisons with the Invincibles
I could go on and on …..
it’s arrogance
Dan, yes, you do go “on and on….”
I can imagine what it must be like being near you at a game, with the fans singing “…best team in the world” and you going “stay humble, stay humble”🤣
For the record…I’m on the side of the ones bigging up Arsenal.
but your not lol not deep down
your stick up for those who are arrogant and when they are proved wrong you will say ……winning trophies isn’t everything
You’re talking generally, not about me personally (I hope), as I’ve never said that, but I do support those ‘arrogant’ ones over the ‘humbles’ any day of the week.
yeah it’s opinions rather be humble then arrogant
arrogance is okay if you back it up
aka Henry was arrogant but backed it up
I agree. It’s just repetitive
Dan
This forever being humble is part of the problem and hoping/believing/wishing for the quadruple is not arrogance. Perhaps a little less humility and more va va voom behind the team might translate on to the players.
disagree Sue
arrogance is
the quality of having an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or abilities.
there is no way anyone watches this team and says ‘ why can’t we do what no team in England has ever done ‘ without knowing the answer
Dan
I’ve a serious question for you.
Is it arrogant to say we won’t win the CL? Because to me it isn’t humble either – it comes across as more of a statement of fact- in the same way that one or two people believe we will win the quadruple. Just how my thought process works.
no because I can make a constructive argument why that’s simply not where we are at
can I ask you a question
if I got an E in every maths exam I ever did but said to the rest of the class I will be the one to get an A star and don’t listen to anyone who points out the reality is that not arrogant ?
Ok
Assuming you get an E grade because you have never shown any aptitude for the subject and then saying you’ll get an A comes across as an arrogant attitude. (Unless you have been to a tutor)
If you had been a B+/A- student (you can’t say that Arsenal aren’t in that category at present) then it’s at least reasonable to espouse the view that you will get an A grade. It’s not completely fanciful then to put forward the belief that Arsenal will win the CL.
Rightly or wrongly, you seem to adopt a glass half empty frame of mind and use the fact that we haven’t won the CL in our history so it stands to reason that we won’t this time around.
in their development they are no where near ready to talk about being Champions of Europe
it’s been two decades since Champions of your own country
prove you can handle that pressure first
Your analogies are inappropriate. Arsenal have reached the latter stages of the CL in the last two seasons and competed for the PL for several seasons in what is now one of the strongest leagues in the world. Comparing Arsenal to a grade E student trying to gain an A grade is ridiculous. To call fans arrogant for simply hoping that their team will do very well in what had become a promising season demonstrates unnecessary self-righteousness.
when did I say don’t hope ?
you can hope for lots of things In life but you got to be realistic
if your a team and manager who every season choke when the pressure is on your not going to magically one season win all 4
bet you any money you want mate
Dan
At some point another outsider will do “a Leicester “. An underdog will win the CL. You often mention betting so I imagine you have studied the odds and have weighed it up. I’m thrilled to be on IGL’s coat tails in the predictor and totally amazed by being there. With a total number of points on offer each match day being 30 and I range between 4 and 9 most of the time (and my scores are better than yours at the moment) then there is only a small chance that you can be certain that Arsenal are incapable of winning the CL this season.
then do the bet lol
How does betting prove anything? It’s unlikely that anyone would win the quadruple. However, that does not mean fans can’t dream. It doesn’t make them arrogant.
didn’t say they can’t dream
it won’t happen though and if you agree what’s the issue ?
Dan
1. I assume you thought Arsene Wenger was arrogant when he said that his squad could / would go unbeaten in the PL, as no other club had done it?
2. As we all know, he was correct, so what is the difference between Arsene thinking and saying the improbable and a couple of fans thinking and saying the improbable?
3. Of course, I haven’t seen or heard Mikel Arteta saying we would win anything – so was AW arrogant, while MA is being humble?
Three questions for you to answer.
Dan, so they can dream about winning the CL or quad, but if they say it or ask about it in an Arsenal forum, that’s arrogance? I don’t get it mate.
If I buy the lottery every week and dream about winning it, which everyone knows won’t happen, does saying my dream out loud make me arrogant while keeping the thought to myself makes it ok?
David,
I’m sorry but I have to laugh at you’re use of the word ridicule. Something you constantly do when you don’t agree with a poster, which seems to be most of the time.
equally guys if Arsenal win all 4 then I’ll hold hands up
The problem here I believe is each player! None of them should be playing like they are teenagers in the U21s squad still gaining experience. They are all earning big money! Last night at least 70% of the players did not play well and you know why – they were smarting over Saka being the highest player at Arsenal. Saka has earn’t it. You want the same money – show everyone you deserve it. Gabriel, Saliba, Raya and Rice play their hearts out every time. Why? Because they love their club and are true Arsenal players.
Who, may I ask, told you that the players were “smarting over Saka being the highest player at Arsenal” ?
AND I would like to add to those players that do not perform to the standard we expect – we the fan/supporter do not pay peanuts to watch you, we pay a lot of money so do us the courtesy of playing well!
Come on it’s not rocket science. You tell me why then they played liked players from League 2!!!! or even the Conference League.
Actually they played even worse in the home game against Wolves and Saka hadn’t had his grotesque pay rise then, so why are you making things up?
Let’s just accept it was a terrible performance and move on?
So Laura you just made an assumption about the players “smarting” over the wage increase given to Saka.
I said before that I gave up on Arteta when he failed to win the league a few years ago, the 22/23 season nobody expected us to challenge after finishing 5th the year before so I was willing to give him another go at it, if he can’t win the league this year then I can’t see how things get any better for him, he’s spent millions and still we see the same old patterns emerging towards the seasons end, his football is dross to watch and for me I’d like to see someone else brought in the summer if it’s another trophyless season, I don’t care about qualifying for the champions league every season, it’s trophies that define a football club, a new manager would surely be good enough to get this team in the top 4 as well as play a style of football that gives us a better chance of winning the league or champions league.
Well, thankfully, the decisions are not up to you. For a club to remain competitive at the highest level they need to be in the CL.
Just needs a quick fix this Sunday, and you’ll all be back on board praising Arteta to the high heavens.
You just know you will.🙄.
other games I’m worried about
pressure only going to increase
we need City to slip up before us
Good results breeds confidence and consistency of tactics and attitude will get them there. Talent is not in question. If the manager can’t do that then he needs to move on. It’s Arsenal not Arteta.Sorry.
We are just not ruthless enough or have mental toughness to be winners at the moment , whether that is down to Arteta or the players attitude I don’t know. Take the Wigan game, 4 up after half an hour against a weaker team should have gone on and scored 8 or 9 just like City did a few weeks ago. I read on here someone saying they were glad we eased up because they didn’t want to see Wigan humiliated or we did it to save energy. What a load of crap, firstly Wigan wouldn’t want anyone to patronise them like that and secondly we are supposed to have 2 players for every position and I am sure athletes are capable of playing 2 games a week anyway. We have to change our mindset and attitude when playing games especially against the so called lower teams.
Agreed, Marty. I thought it was going to be double figures against Wigan, but no, the players had other ideas. Why ease off? Just go for the jugular!
As for that comment how pathetic is that? Whoever it was would fit in the team nicely with that mindset 🙄
Marty, re playing 2 games per week; Arteta himself once said that professional footballers should be capable of 70 games per season.
My opinion of the game at Molineux was that the dreadful conditions dragged us down to their level, and they took advantage of it. This weather is forecast to continue, so we need to adapt soon or be out of all completions.
Arteta has been negative mostly with his approach in the EPL and it was about time we paid the price, but the players too need to sort themselves out. Silly mistakes, and failing to manage and see out some game situations. I mean how do you fail as a team chasing the tittle to manage a 2-goal lead against bottom of the table team?
But still with all the talk of Arsenal crumbling, City still need to put a nearly-perfect run and they haven’t shown that capability this season or last season. City’s reputation alone won’t win the tittle, they are yet to show they’re ready to step-up.
Is happening again. Very simple!
Don’t worry, we will win against Tottenham £@#%
For sure, it will happen again except the team especially, if Arteta for once, learnt his lesson and be pragmatic. Away from that Dan, i can feel the loud silence of Arteta foot soldiers since the show of shame at Wolves. Just as you would say, ” nothing is won yet”.
EPL 11 games to go:-
Win 9
Draw 2 ( Brighton & MC)
On other hand MC: 12 EPL games to go
Win 7
Draw 5 ( Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea, Aston Villa)
Total : 26 points
Arsenal: 29 points
Arsenal to win EPL 4-5 points ahead.
I did re wages because honestly I cannot think of any other reason(s) for such poor performances lately from professional well paid footballers. Every tabloid, BBC Sport and Sky commentators and MOTD have constantly said that Arsenal have the best team in the Premier League!!
You tell me why they can’t beat a team bottom of the table with a minus 36 goal difference!
The prevailing conditions dragged Arsenal down to Wolves’ level, and they took advantage of it. Just my opinion, but I couldn’t see how any decent football could be played in those circumstances.
Hi. Am sorry but for me that is a poor excuse. If that is the case, then let us not go to USA for the World Cup as the weather out there in June can reach up to 20 degrees. They will fry and dehydrate! Professional footballers should be able to play in all conditions and we all know if conditions get too bad the game is either abandoned or stopped for assessment.
Agree, footballers can play in any conditions, and the Molineux pitch was playable, but that torrential driving rain turning to snow was a great leveler.
TBH, I can’t think of any teams that wouldn’t be able to play in 20 degrees. We get it here in the UK during the season very often. The temperatures in Qatar during the last World Cup were in the 30s, although air conditioning kept pitch temperatures down, which I expect to happen in the USA & Mexico stadiums.
leveller (before someone picks me up on my spelling)
For me weather is no excuse for poor performance. If it was that bad why didn’t they ask the Ref for stoppage.
Sorry I meant 30 😂
Probably because they’re not making excuses and blaming the conditions as being a leveller, I am.
Just read that Odegaard and Havertz looking good for the Spud game. 🤞🤞 Might do Gyok a well of good to sit it out on the bench for the next couple of games! I don’t think Eze is too happy about Saka having been slotted into his No. 10 position, more so when Saka scored! On the other hand could we witness another Eze miracle against the Spuds this Sunday if he is put back in there?!!
Laura,
Having read a couple of you’re post’s, you seem determined to paint a picture that the conflict in the squad regards certain players.
Firstly it was, they’re not happy with the wages Saka is now on. And then you say the Eze is not happy with Saka for being played in his no:10 role.
What’s the deal here?.🤷♂️