Well lovely Arsenal people, after six very long years, we are back in a final. We went into the game defending a one goal lead and Chelsea delivered one of the worst performances you will see from a team needing a result, giving Arsenal the win they needed to reach the Carabao Cup Final. That was quite the tactical approach from Rosenior, wait 70 minutes and then hope substitutions magically turn the game.
But I want to bring some perspective. Arsenal have been guilty of the same thing. This match reminded me of the Europa League semi final against Villarreal, when we went into the second leg needing a response and produced absolutely nothing in attack. We have delivered criminal performances like the one Chelsea produced here.
Even recently, we have squandered opportunities to open a bigger gap at the top of the table. My concern remains that at times we do not look willing to throw the kitchen sink at games. In some matches, it feels like we are doing the bare minimum required to get the result.
Winning versus watching
We live in an era where everything is min maxed, and football is no exception. Gary Neville suggesting Arsenal were the team that needed to attack more was utterly shocking analysis, though sadly not unexpected from the mainstream media these days. Where I will partly agree is that the brand of football is not always great to watch.
That game was a tough watch. So were Liverpool, Forest, United and even Leeds before we scored from a corner. Growing up loving Arsenal for silky players, attacking football and being branded the little Barcelona during their era of dominance, I have to admit this version of Arsenal football is not my cup of tea.
That said, if this is what it takes to win a league title, so be it. I am starving for success. I will take it any way it comes.
Why trophies matter now
This is why the Carabao Cup means so much to me. Not only have I never seen Arsenal win it, but this squad is simply too good not to have trophies to its name. Trophies are what separate good teams from great ones. Winning is a habit that needs to be built.
I hope we can edge past City and lift this trophy, because it could open the floodgates for more success to follow.
I also want to highlight two players who stood out for me in an otherwise uneventful game. Gabriel Martinelli showed the right attitude. He was one of the few who did not look like he was saving himself for something bigger. Right now, I think he deserves to start ahead of Trossard.
The other was Hincapie. Left back has been a revolving door this season, and consistent runs are rare, but he was excellent.
Finally, Havertz holding up the Arsenal badge was shameless and I absolutely loved it. He won the Champions League at Chelsea, scoring the winner and cementing himself in their folklore, yet he rubs it in every time we play them. After watching so many players leave Arsenal for bigger and better things over the years, it felt incredible to be the club on the rise, mocking Chelsea along the way.
What matters more to you right now, the style of football or simply winning at all costs?
Mitov
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Of course, winning at all cost.
The end justifies the means.
Maybe after we win the EPL and UCL at least once then we can try to revert back to tiki taka.
Sunderland H
Brentford A
Wigan H (FA)
Wolves A
Spurs A
Our next 5 matches. Just keep on focusing, match at a time.
So it wasn’t the tactics, the players and the manager that won Arsenal the game then, it was Chelsea’s tactics, their players and their manager that lost them the game? OK 🤔
We all miss the attacking, fluid football of yesteryear under Arsene Wenger, but wasn’t it you who wanted him out Konstantin Mitov?
I remember you writing on the day nearly 60,000 Gooners gave him a resounding thank you for all he had achieved at the club and you wrote words to the effect of “At last I can breathe again, he’s gone and good riddance!!”
Just a couple of days ago, you were at it again, demanding Arteta leave the club and, suddenly, it’s all changed because we’re in a final and you want a trophy, no matter how we play!!
Let’s remember how many cups Arsene delivered in those years and yet you still wanted him gone.
So, then, ask yourself this :
Am I a trophy hunting fan with no patience, along with a sense of self entitlement because it’s The Arsenal – or do I actually support the club through thick and thin?
Keane’s description of a prawn sandwich brigade fan comes to mind and what satisfaction you get out of rubbishing the club at every opportunity is beyond me…. but perhaps I’m too old for this world of wanting it all now, whatever the cost?!
One point I can agree with you on, is the two players you mentioned, especially Martinelli, who has been the brunt of some incredible analysis by our own fans.
Hincapie, when fit, is more than cap at LB and I look forward to seeing him and Califiori (also when fit) battling it out for the LB position.
ken1945
Honestly Ken, we have a lot of fans who aren’t sure what they want
In 2018, they wanted Wenger gone despite all he had done for the club
In 2019, they wanted Emery gone despite him taking us to a European final after 13 years
Now, they despise Arteta despite making us a force again, something that we weren’t since 2006. That is 20 years. They demand he wins trophies at all costs, as if it is a guarantee. Remember Arteta is in his first managerial job and has been facing some of the best managers of all time in Pep and Klopp. These are two guys who would not be satisfied with 96 points which was never seen before
I appreciate what Arteta has done. And I know he will the greatest Arsenal coach ever, because am confident in him winning more than league titles and a Champions League trophy
And by the way, if Arteta were to leave us and join Man City and Man United, these same fans would call him a traitor. Lol 😂😂😂😂
😂😂
He will struggle to win more then Mr Wenger
Let’s win a title first before we jump the gun
1 Cup Winners Cup.
3 EPL.
7 FA CUP.
7 Community Shield.
All in 22 years for Arsene Wenger.
Arteta has 1 FA Cup and 2 Community Shield in 6 years.
It’s possible for Arteta to win more trophies in Arsenal than Wenger, but it will be extremely difficult for him to do it in 22 years, that is if he even stays that long with Arsenal.
Never won the Cup Winners Cup.
Yes, that’s true HD. Thank you.
It was George Graham that won it in 1994.
You’re welcome SJ. Copenhagen in ’94 was a joyous trip. That Parma team had some excellent players, Brolin, Asprillia and Zola to name just 3. It was the first time an English team had played an Italian team in a game since the horrific scenes in Brussels in 1985 iirc. Arsenal and Parma fans drank together on the day of the game, really good atmosphere, much different to Copenhagen in 2000 when we lost to the Turks in the Final of the UEFA Cup.
Wow. What a beautiful experience you had that.
Hopefully we can get to witness more of such beautiful experiences with our team winning a lot.
🤞that we win the CL, as that is one trophy that has eluded us despite all the years we have competed in it.
By the way, Copenhagen in ’94 made up for losing the Cup Winners Cup Final in Brussels in 1980. That Heysel Stadium was decrepit in 1980.
GG special.
I remember that game as well. I saw it on TV. We were battered by Parma and we got one single strike on goal by Alan Smith. And what a goal that was. While Seaman made save after save.
Another GG special.
I also remember beating Liverpool in a league cup final with Charlie Nicholas coming to the fray after having a poor season following a spectacular season previously in Celtic.
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People only remember the MT goal at Anfield without remembering the building blocks to success.
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That is why I think the Carabao cup is very important for us to get over the line even if it means penalties.
IDG, great days. Iirc Seaman had a rib injury and had to have injections before the game and at halftime.
The Littlewoods Cup Final in ’87 was another great day out. It was the 1st time that Ian Rush scored for Liverpool in a game that they ended up losing.
Anfield ’89 was a game that i couldn’t go to, as I had a lot of money to pay out on the Saturday for our family holiday. Watched the game on the telly, then down to my local to celebrate.
Imo all Cup Finals are important, because as you say, a win will get us over the line and hopefully on to bigger trophies.
I remember the 89 League win at Liverpool. I was in hospital at the time after having an operation.
I watched it in a ward with some other’s. And the funny thing was when Thomas scored the late winner, a patient across from me jumped up in celebration forgetting about his bad foot and landed straight on it. I know I shouldn’t have laughed, but I did.
Thankfully the patient laughed to, in between his grimacing. 😂🤣👍
3 EPL.
7 FA CUP.
7 Community Shield.
17 cups in 22 years for Arsene Wenger.
Arteta has 1 FA Cup and 2 Community Shield in 6 years so far.
It’s possible for Arteta to win more trophies in Arsenal than Wenger, but it will be extremely difficult for him to do it in 22 years, that is if he even stays that long with Arsenal.
It’s highly unlikely
Yes, I agree. He has not started well to achieve that.
And I believe he might leave Arsenal after 10 years because of his high salary that he is already on, so 4 years to go for him to win as much as he can.
I agree 100% Freddy a great post! 👍👍
Bit of a contradiction mate ?
If you believe our manager is so good that he will be our greatest ever coach, win more then one title and a CL ( which is your right of course to believe that ) then why are you so worried with your peers simply saying he has to at least win a Prem to be considered great ?
If you think that will happen more then once what is the issue ?
So now signing yourself as Mitov rather than Konstantin you thought it would throw us off, well as soon as I started reading I knew it was you! No respect for our tactics but just saying the opposition got there’s wrong. I agree it’s not pretty some of the time but the end justifies the means, though opposition fans, pundits and media alike will likely have a field day if we win the league, just as you will !
22/2023 and 23/24 Arsenal under Arteta played some attacking exciting football mostly and there was nothing to show for in the end and all this was due to some naivety and lack of experience. But this time around Arteta and the team are playing with more emphasis on tactical discipline, high pressing, structured build-up and set pieces. Yes the football is not nice to watch, but I think it will bring much needed trophies in the end.
This 100%
2022/23 we played champagne football, we started games like a house on fire and it was very entertaining to watch our games. End result : nada, history won’t remember that season that team.
2023/24 we went on a 2nd half of the season tear probably the best in our league history, whooped teams, emptied stadium at half time. again end result: nada.
So i don’t care if we finish the season winning the rest of our games 1-0 with gyokeres scoring off his butt as long as we win the title.
Hear, Hear!!!
Looking at the last 6 years, he has gone from an aspiring coach, learning the stuff on the job that he couldn’t have learned from Guardiola because he was just Pep’s water boy to becoming the manager this season who can possibly be the success that inspired me to believe in him in the first place.
By no means plain sailing and I did worry that the pressure on him to turn the ship round quickly would bring about an early order of the boot. Perhaps the board believed/ realised that to bring sustainable top4 positions wasn’t an overnight fix. Kroenke clearly felt the club was heading in the right direction and that’s why the investment was forthcoming as the further statement of intent showed in the summer
Konstantin, it’s such a shame that you can’t recognise the revival and accept that we can’t always have what we want exactly when we want it. No mention of the real juggernaut – City- who pretty much swept all before them for 4 title wins. Klopp, another managerial legend got a win and Slot got his with Klopp’s men helped by an injury riddled season for Arsenal.
What is clear to me as an oldie is there is scant consideration to circumstances. Maybe I was greedy and self absorbed in my younger years as well but I find it a sad reflection now
Also Sue, I think we’re all slow realising that the whole Premier League has changed in the last couple of years. Teams have become more structured and defensive. We come up against so many low blocks now. But English teams are typically looking more exciting in Champions League where it’s more open – including us.
👍
Great post SueP 👍
Konstantin,
Ken had already highlighted the only good thing above your write up, therefore, I don’t need to repeat the point. I would like to add another one – the fact that your article got us talking. Apart from these two reasons, it was a bad narration.
The premiership is becoming ever more difficult to win now. Any team can beat any team, no respect at all. We’ve got to dig down for the result anyhow possible. Who is playing a better brand of football than Arsenal this season? Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, or Man United? Or, is it Aston Villa/Tottenham?
We are now a more disciplined team – a brand of football that delivers the 2nd highest goal (in the Premiership) with 3 goals behind Man City; the highest goal in UEFA champions league; and the least goals conceded in both the Premiership and Europe cannot be so glaringly faulted as presented by you.
We should be proud of what we have done so far this season and hope that we end it with trophies including the premiership and UEFA. Other trophies will be gladly celebrated!
100%, Sue!
I doubt even if we had Carlo Ancelotti as coach we could have won the league in those years, it’s extremely difficult and everything has to click at once.
1998/89 1 nil to the Arsenal
1990/1991 2 nil to the Arsenal
Champions by winning first and entertaining second.
Alan Smith would walk into today’s team
I’ll add that what I mean by that is – even though Ancelotti is a far more experienced and celebrated coach, and probably a tactical genius, given the same issues with injuries, opposition strength etc, I have no idea if he would have struggled or been comfortable getting over those final lines too. He also loses games sometimes. Come at me, Gooners!
@Bergkampfwagen
First off. Ancelotti would have managed his team much better. Rotating when needed, not overplaying certain players, while utilising his team to their best ability. He’s known for that.
Rotation is ideal – if you have good players to rotate with. We’re seeing much more of that this season, tbf.
I’m not saying Arteta is a better manager by any means. But you can only work with what you’ve got.
Hear, hear
We want Arteta to rotate more often and as we can see he’s obliged this season. I know we are only humans & our emotions tend to get the better of us whenever we lose a game, however, comments like, “as long as Arteta remains our coach we can never win a trophy” saddens me a whole lot.
Fascinating isn’t it. Pep was lauded for his ability to rotate and people conveniently ignored the fact that he had the best squad in the PL. When Pep no longer had such a decisive advantage and his influence waned it was claimed that performances dropped because he no longer had the same drive as before.
However, look at what MC have been doing recently. When Pep has a problem in defence his backers just nip over to CP and get their best defender. MC already have some exciting wide players but when Pep says it’s not good enough, ok here’s Semenyo.
How many have argued that Pep should have done better rotation with what he had? What would have happened to MC if they hadn’t brought in some new players during the last transfer window?
Can’t yet compare what Artea has done to what Pep has done lol
But was he?