It definitely looked as though he sort of 'caressed' the granite after releasing the handle....almost imperceptible, and with no effect on the stone. Probably always been doing it, but the Swedish lad...
Heh, funny, that's what I texted my dad, partly almost word for word "regardless, you can't touch the granite after releasing the rock and he seems to do exactly that. The swedes do have a point"
If you don't know what I'm on about, I'm sure the match comms will make a stink about it. You can't touch the granite after the rock leaves your hand but on his delivery he does a kind of finger poke...
It definitely looked as though he sort of 'caressed' the granite after releasing the handle....almost imperceptible, and with no effect on the stone. Probably always been doing it, but the Swedish lad had a point....rooles is rooles!
Tbh, I just switched the lights off and my mind went into a tumbledryer through all thoughts and ideas. Don’t want to demean it by going into detail here, but it was dreamlike and a swirl. Lasted abou...
Do you have to be in a good place mentally for shrooms?
Alysa Liu from "O-Town" California wins women's free skate!
Of course db....mixed emotions I'm sure. My mother was Scottish so when it comes to rugby or sport in general, I have a soft spot for Caledonia
I hope team GB get another medal, my Swiss brethren have already done really well on the slopes. PS: Don't mention the Calcutta Cup SG. LOL
just watch out for Marc Kennedy and his pokey finger. 😅
If you don't know what I'm on about, I'm sure the match comms will make a stink about it. You can't touch the granite after the rock leaves your hand but on his delivery he does a kind of finger poke near it. I don't know what he's up to with that or if he's even actually touching the rock (my brother thinks he's not) but it's so pointless. It wouldn't affect the rock at all so why do it? My theory is it's a quirk of his delivery style, like a superstition thing, but it sure got the Swedes' knickers in a twist... and Marc made a complete dick of himself in response.
This makes me both happy and sad. LOL.
Of course db....mixed emotions I'm sure. My mother was Scottish so when it comes to rugby or sport in general, I have a soft spot for Caledonia
Should be a cracker! Will be close....
just watch out for Marc Kennedy and his pokey finger. 😅
whew!! see you in the final SG
Should be a cracker! Will be close....
whew!! see you in the final SG
GB (Scotland!) through to the Gold medal match in the curling, last stone of the match by Switzerland couldn't get it done. Well done
well done. condolences Swiss.
[check scores...]
oh dear god, the Canadian men in our other proud sport, in the other semifinal blew a lead in the last end and have gone to extra ends. if they blow it too... 😬😂
GB (Scotland!) through to the Gold medal match in the curling, last stone of the match by Switzerland couldn't get it done. Well done
This makes me both happy and sad. LOL.
GB (Scotland!) through to the Gold medal match in the curling, last stone of the match by Switzerland couldn't get it done. Well done
for Canada that's a huge deal. to lose it in that manner, throwing it away so late, the entire country will feel like we did yesterday.
I was going to say it sounded somewhat familiar. Better luck next time, eh?
for Canada that's a huge deal. to lose it in that manner, throwing it away so late, the entire country will feel like we did yesterday.
never mind, it's all over, congrats US
uh oh... Canadian women's hockey team.... They had it! they freaking had it! It appears they had the lead but coughed up a goal in the dying minutes as the Americans pulled the goalie for the extra attacker. To extra time then....
At the office so not sure I'll be able to watch it but...
Yeah I like Underworld ... They've a relatively new track called Denver Luna which is good. More old school from them, I really like Rez
Love that too. Listening to it now and all of a sudden my mood has changed. Music is very powerful.
High praise. It's certainly up there. I think there are quite a few of this genre I enjoy from time to time. Underworld is a band I find myself going back to, throw in some Can krautrock or Tangerine ...
Yeah I like Underworld ... They've a relatively new track called Denver Luna which is good. More old school from them, I really like Rez
Best trance track ever made imo
High praise. It's certainly up there. I think there are quite a few of this genre I enjoy from time to time. Underworld is a band I find myself going back to, throw in some Can krautrock or Tangerine Dream for more a more mellow trance.
This. I don't even need the psilocybin with theses beats! The sound takes me right (flash)back.
Best trance track ever made imo
Tbh, I just switched the lights off and my mind went into a tumbledryer through all thoughts and ideas. Don’t want to demean it by going into detail here, but it was dreamlike and a swirl. Lasted abou...
Brilliant. The world could do with a giant micro dose.
This. I don't even need the psilocybin with theses beats! The sound takes me right (flash)back.
Tbh, I just switched the lights off and my mind went into a tumbledryer through all thoughts and ideas. Don’t want to demean it by going into detail here, but it was dreamlike and a swirl. Lasted abou...
Sounds great... 3-4 hours very manageable too, unlike roaming the plains of Salisbury and the 24 hour benders of yore!
So do you get any "visuals" or is it just the happy, giddy buzz, like the giggles with some N₂O inhalation?
Tbh, I just switched the lights off and my mind went into a tumbledryer through all thoughts and ideas. Don’t want to demean it by going into detail here, but it was dreamlike and a swirl. Lasted about 3 to 4 hours, meditating every so often, but like it was working through me, unknotting stuck patterns of thought, bringing up old memories and reminders, that kinda thing. A bit woozy visuals but nothing major, but purposely avoided phones and light to get right into the dreamworld scenario and just went with it.
Like all powerful substances, dose, set and setting of supreme importance, the difference between heaven and hell.
Like all powerful substances, dose, set and setting of supreme importance, the difference between heaven and hell.
Wise words from the Shaman of the Arses.
Hehe. I think my prior experiences—in my youth I hasten to add— is somewhat different. Several hundred stewing in a pot of tea meant some very intense acid like trips for a few days with Planet Gong l...
Like all powerful substances, dose, set and setting of supreme importance, the difference between heaven and hell.
Oh man, grind them into powder and microdose em, does you good!
So do you get any "visuals" or is it just the happy, giddy buzz, like the giggles with some N₂O inhalation?
I wish the players could all do some shrooms, it’s hardly a physical enhancement but it would definitely clear the stress and allow them to play without feae. Fuck creatine, shroooooms!
Hahaha!
I wish the players could all do some shrooms, it’s hardly a physical enhancement but it would definitely clear the stress and allow them to play without feae. Fuck creatine, shroooooms!
Hehe. I think my prior experiences—in my youth I hasten to add— is somewhat different. Several hundred stewing in a pot of tea meant some very intense acid like trips for a few days with Planet Gong levels of hallucinations. Not exactly what I think Arsenal would currently benefit from.
I have some dehydrated Mexican mushrooms that my son left here when he moved out about six years ago. I may partake in a couple if we win the title, for right now they are staying in the jar!
Oh man, grind them into powder and microdose em, does you good!
I have some dehydrated Mexican mushrooms that my son left here when he moved out about six years ago. I may partake in a couple if we win the title, for right now they are staying in the jar!
I wish the players could all do some shrooms, it’s hardly a physical enhancement but it would definitely clear the stress and allow them to play without feae. Fuck creatine, shroooooms!
Drastic times called for drastic measures. 1g of mushroom choc, all is well, whatever happens it's ok. Love this club. That is all...
I have some dehydrated Mexican mushrooms that my son left here when he moved out about six years ago. I may partake in a couple if we win the title, for right now they are staying in the jar!
Damn it man fucking give me some of that
Just had the one, it’s gone now! Was gonna save it, but I think my timing was right. Took the edge off the pain and them some! Surprisingly strong and very inspirationa!
All good 🍄🍫
Drastic times called for drastic measures. 1g of mushroom choc, all is well, whatever happens it's ok. Love this club. That is all...
Heh!
Drastic times called for drastic measures. 1g of mushroom choc, all is well, whatever happens it's ok. Love this club. That is all...
Damn it man fucking give me some of that
Drastic times called for drastic measures. 1g of mushroom choc, all is well, whatever happens it's ok. Love this club. That is all...
My first thought was, what a horrible combination, then I understood 😵💫😂🌠
Drastic times called for drastic measures. 1g of mushroom choc, all is well, whatever happens it's ok. Love this club. That is all...
Is that worth watching?
Better than house of the dragon? Lost interest in that after a bit...
Yes pretty good. Although it’s only 5 or 6 episodes in.
Anything to take your mind off Arsenal I guess.
Is that worth watching?
Better than house of the dragon? Lost interest in that after a bit...
Much better than house of the dragon or the last season of GoT in my opinion.
The new Game of Thrones spinoff is really good. Although nothing can rectify the abomination that was season 8.
Is that worth watching?
Better than house of the dragon? Lost interest in that after a bit...
even if it was Bard who looked more like he could be Legolas' dad. 😏
Haha aye
And the fact that Orlando Bloom is older than Lee Pace
Rings of Power make the hobbit movies look like masterpieces
The new Game of Thrones spinoff is really good. Although nothing can rectify the abomination that was season 8.
Yeah Blanchett as Galadriel was perfect.
Although the films weren't that great, Lee Pace who played Thranduil in the hobbit movies was also excellent.
even if it was Bard who looked more like he could be Legolas' dad. 😏
For me it took some time to warm to some of the casting, particularly Elrond and Galadriel (Morfydd Clark just seems so... tiny), until I finally had to accept that no actress on the planet could poss...
Yeah Blanchett as Galadriel was perfect.
Although the films weren't that great, Lee Pace who played Thranduil in the hobbit movies was also excellent.
Rings of Power make the hobbit movies look like masterpieces
For me it took some time to warm to some of the casting, particularly Elrond and Galadriel (Morfydd Clark just seems so... tiny), until I finally had to accept that no actress on the planet could poss...
went googling for curiosity...
Morfydd Clark is under 5'4
Elijah Wood is 5'6
😂 absurd!
If a woman had put me through the amount of mental/emotional anguish that Arsenal FC has put me through over the years I would be in prison for murder!
My god it is bad, though.
Yeah I just pretend it doesn't exist.
A touchline ban for Arteta could actually be beneficial.
He's a Catholic, I think, so giving that up for Lent would be something he should definitely consider.
i still believe
its still about teamwork and balance which we have in abundance
now if arteta could just sit down
A touchline ban for Arteta could actually be beneficial.
Leslie Nielsen getting the second slap in kills me every time
Hysterical, then nun gets in a couple of pops too. Classic.
Quadruple still on, hang in there.
My god it is bad, though.
Leslie Nielsen getting the second slap in kills me every time
For me it took some time to warm to some of the casting, particularly Elrond and Galadriel (Morfydd Clark just seems so... tiny), until I finally had to accept that no actress on the planet could possibly match Cate Blanchett's exquisite Galadriel or how close she was to what my imagination had originally conjured reading the books.
"Arteta and the Orc Disciples"
Not a LOTR spin off I'm interested in watching. Probably still better than Rings of Power though
I love Rings of Power.
Something that crossed my mind this evening is do the midfield trust the forwards to be able to score and do the forwards trust in each other? There seems to be a growing gap in confidence in others amongst the players and that is hurting us.
Re the discussion in the pod, I'd be very happy with the CL or PL - either would be historic. FA Cup is a nice-to-have, but if that's all we have at the end of this season, we should thank the manager...
yes they would be very useful in midfield in front of back four
Re the discussion in the pod, I'd be very happy with the CL or PL - either would be historic. FA Cup is a nice-to-have, but if that's all we have at the end of this season, we should thank the manager for his service and move on.
I'm convinced Arteta's refusal to use Norgaard (and White) is the biggest reason we're getting so close to potentially throwing away the title. If we do end up blowing it I'll consider that a key fac...
A backup number 6 who is as good as any we’ve had in that “backup” slot in recent years, one who we bought because he has experience in grinding out solid results in this league…
Veering between anger, resignation, despair, detachment.
Some sort of football fan bardo.
A recurrent nightmare. An anti-1989.
Maybe this is payback for those Faustian pacts I made that balmy night of 26th May.
How much money to we have to spend and how shit does the league have to be for us to get over the line?
Or does it have a Sisyphean quality ? Does the rock never reach the top? This season it feels different, this season it feels different, this season it feels different... an infinitum..
Raymond Poulidor, the popular, talented French cyclist, whose career coincided with Merckx and Anquetil and was named the Eternal Second.
Can't help imagining a ghost Arsenal team of Aubameyang , Guendouzi, Martinez, Heaven and Smith Rowe smashing a desperate Wolves team to pieces having taken the lead after 5 minutes. Their torsos clad in red and white their legs just bare bones.
Seems surreal that I should be feeling this way when we are top of the league but City overtaking us to me seems almost inevitable now.
Feel like I am stuck in some kind of purgatory, a dark, flickering hell hole , a venal sham- ruled over by Vinai Venkatesham , Ivan Gazidis, a tanned Edu grilling undetermined flesh , Tim Lewis is shackled in the corner, Kia Joorabchian laughs continuously while Sheik Mansour eats 115 raw chicken hearts, and Pep with a devil's tail and Stanic glint in his eye manages to juggle 115 of those viscous white spit balls he can produce to order on the tips of a forked tongue...
Pray for Sunday.
I'm convinced Arteta's refusal to use Norgaard (and White) is the biggest reason we're getting so close to potentially throwing away the title. If we do end up blowing it I'll consider that a key fac...
Maybe he wouldn’t have been so tired if he didn’t play against Portsmouth/Wigan
Arguably we have the best ever selection of players who can play centre back
Gabriel
Saliba
Calafiori
White
Timber
Hincapie
Mosquera
Yet he can’t give Gabriel or Saliba a break
Not clicking on that. Only YouTube I've checked out today was Charles Watts. I'll see what Clive on Arsenal Vision Podcast says later.
I'm not sure even Clive's soothing baritone can sooth the savage beast this day.
You’ve covered everything I wanted to say. The only thing missing was Saka. We’ve just made him the highest paid player and people will say it’s the injury and he is short (permanently?) of a yard of ...
" they’ll start playing well again when they’re six points behind City. "
Like the women, were mediocre until the title was effectively gone, then all of a sudden they're taking down both the 6-time title holders and the new run-away league leaders.
Not clicking on that. Only YouTube I've checked out today was Charles Watts. I'll see what Clive on Arsenal Vision Podcast says later.
Arteta can't help reverting to the players he sees as being able to carry out his specific instructions. He doesn't trust the others fully. He talks about joy and courage and enjoying the moment but h...
"Arteta and the Orc Disciples"
Not a LOTR spin off I'm interested in watching. Probably still better than Rings of Power though
Norgaard has been really good whenever he got a chance, too. Not just positionally (which one expects) but even a number of good, incisive forwards passes and actual goal assists. Definitely unfathoma...
I'm convinced Arteta's refusal to use Norgaard (and White) is the biggest reason we're getting so close to potentially throwing away the title. If we do end up blowing it I'll consider that a key factor.
2-nil up against relegation fodder with your #6 obviously tiring, is there ever going to be a better time use your #6 back-up? bloody hell!! ah crap, now I'm just getting angry 😂
Last season lack of depth killed us and the summer business suggested Arteta finally learned the lesson of the importance of depth but now it's pretty clear he hasn't.
We HAVE depth now and yet som...
Arteta can't help reverting to the players he sees as being able to carry out his specific instructions. He doesn't trust the others fully. He talks about joy and courage and enjoying the moment but how can players do that when they have a hundred instructions as t where to be what passes to make what passes not to make. None of us know exactly how much freedom he gives them, but you can see they don't play with freedom and as DB10 and many, many others have said, they sure as hell don't ping it around with confidence. That to me is the most infuriating aspect and one that too many of the online Arteta cultists refuse to see, obsessed as they all are by his zonal/phase of play tactics. They all symbolise what has been lost in the game and they all think this is the future. I really hate to say it because I want Arsenal to win regardless, but this kind of nerdy football is ugly in every respect and it would be a bad advert for the beautiful game if we won like that. We have players who can do more, but can Arteta and his Orc disciples relinquish this obsession with control?
We’ve said the same thing for the last few seasons, the unwillingness to rotate at all is definitely one of Arteta’s worst traits
We are starting to see burn out of players who’ve played more or less...
Last season lack of depth killed us and the summer business suggested Arteta finally learned the lesson of the importance of depth but now it's pretty clear he hasn't.
We HAVE depth now and yet somehow Zubi, Timber, Rice and Martinelli all looked like they're running on fumes... and the first two literally have like-for-like replacements who have hardly been used at all.
incidentally, Blogs has always been good at picking appropriate blog images but has he ever chosen a more poignant one than today?
"Not for the first time this season, we conceded very soon after scoring"
"yet another late goal conceded"
Our two Achilles heels this season and we cut both yesterday.
i still believe
its still about teamwork and balance which we have in abundance
now if arteta could just sit down
He won't though. He's like one of those car dealership wavy pencils. Fucking annoying. I don't think our stuttering is physical, I think it is mental.
If we had strength in depth our manager would pick them not run players into the ground .
Highly debatable if we have strength in depth, I’d argue with the money spent and the amount of internationals in the squad there is more than enough to allow rotation in games v lesser teams
i still believe
its still about teamwork and balance which we have in abundance
now if arteta could just sit down
I agree with this. At the start of the season we were all excited about our strength in depth, rotating some of these players in and out to keep them all fresh and strong to compete on all four fronts...
If we had strength in depth our manager would pick them not run players into the ground .
Well said, Swiss. One of my bugbears about this team is the lack of instinct in making passes and other relatively simple actions. The ball has to be stopped, body position adjusted and then the ball ...
Unfortunately, it has been a problem for some time, Masif. I watch other "lesser teams" zipping it about like they know what they're doing with pace, verev (perfect description) and accuracy. We lack all three. I often think we look more like a group of individuals, a pick-up game rather than a cohesive team going for the title.
Arsenal have melted your brain mate, was the Japs who done pearl harbour
It was the classic motivational line from Bluto (John Belushi) in National Lampoon's Animal House, before your time Kleinie.
Aye with a rope round our necks
That's not the best way to asphixi-wank
The team and theb fans are bereft of confidence at the moment. Hopefully a resounding win at Spurs will lift things a bit. What was that thing Wenger said about confidence going up the stairs, but dow...
Aye with a rope round our necks
Arse Bottle
Well in Class. Well blogged Blogs. I think we all had a shit night. Kudos to you for the energy and reliability to do your job, unlike Arsenal last night at Molineux. What a cluterfuck-sh...
Well said, Swiss. One of my bugbears about this team is the lack of instinct in making passes and other relatively simple actions. The ball has to be stopped, body position adjusted and then the ball is sent to wherever it's going. All too laboured and lacking in verve.
The team and theb fans are bereft of confidence at the moment. Hopefully a resounding win at Spurs will lift things a bit. What was that thing Wenger said about confidence going up the stairs, but down in an elevator? Well ours looks like it's been thrown off the roof.
I agree with this. At the start of the season we were all excited about our strength in depth, rotating some of these players in and out to keep them all fresh and strong to compete on all four fronts...
We’ve said the same thing for the last few seasons, the unwillingness to rotate at all is definitely one of Arteta’s worst traits
We are starting to see burn out of players who’ve played more or less every single game, it’s the same as previous years
And when I say rotate, I don’t mean leave them on the bench and give them a 30 min run out, I mean give them a complete rest
Inter away, Wigan Home, Portsmouth away all games which could have been used to facilitate a break
not an animal house fan eh?
Aye I didn't get the reference there, my brain is melted too
Arsenal have melted your brain mate, was the Japs who done pearl harbour
not an animal house fan eh?
we really didnt need to incentivize the tots
"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!".
Arsenal have melted your brain mate, was the Japs who done pearl harbour
Arse!
Well in class!
sigh... well, that one finally broke my spirit. At a time when every point is crucial, to blow a 2 goal lead and drop points against one of the worst sides the league has ever seen and at the same time give title impetus** to the ¢115eh scumbags... YTD I've gone from confident to hopeful to... what's the word for "I'll be amazed if we pull it off from here"? umm, dubious?
sigh... I guess I'll go read the blog now... and back arse with tissue in hand... sigh... 😭 😂 🤷
**yes yes, I know, we're in a unique position where we both technically have the impetus but their cart was given a January tune-up, has momentum and is rolling along whereas ours has a flat tire.
I am an optimistic person, but that game yesterday completely sliced my optimism in half. There are no easy away days, however, that game really shouldn't have been in the balance at all. We look like...
I agree with this. At the start of the season we were all excited about our strength in depth, rotating some of these players in and out to keep them all fresh and strong to compete on all four fronts - but Arteta seems to have viewed some of these players as simply a "break in case of emergency" members of the squad. As a fan base, we seem to universally agree that Norgaard and White have been criminally underused. I'm not any sort of coach or fitness guru.. but even I can see that Timber and Zubimendi look utterly burned out. I saw an interview with Arteta recently and he spoke about dealing with problems and bad runs of form etc. He essentially said that he tries to resist the urge to make wholesale changes because he needs to remember that whatever he's doing right now, got us to the top of the league in the first place. I saw his logic, but I do think he's taking that to the extreme.. too scared to change anything / enough.
I'm lucky enough to have many interests completely removed from football, so I can step away from all this - but even I feel existentially drained by Arsenal this season. I really feel for fans whose life revolves around football. I know there are plenty jokes about "bottling".. but I never really thought we'd win the league in any of the past few seasons. This year, I did start to genuinely believe we might do something. Maybe we've fucked the league, but who knows, could still win a different treble lol...?...
Least we’ve got each other
Indeed. Misery shared etc., etc.
I didn’t watch the game what with it being 4am here. Was in a mood all day after I saw the score. Blogs really nailed it with the blog - I try not to let football get me down but Arsenal are a fucking frustrating team to love and support!
the problem i see was hincappe was calling for more support in front of him all game
ironic that he scored the second on an overlap\Arteta needs to be more pragmatic when up by two
trying to rest players is admirable but there is no rest for the wicked
and yes im not sure of this Gyorko experiment we need someone like Giroud
"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!".
Same. It is completely irrational yet understandable. The "train wreck in slow-motion" expression has never felt more apropos.
Least we’ve got each other
I just don’t know what to think anymore
Same. It is completely irrational yet understandable. The "train wreck in slow-motion" expression has never felt more apropos.
sure the want it bad... sometimes that blinds you to what others are doing around you
im sure raya has some remorse this am
one worldy goal and a little panic thats all ...with someshit luck
dont lose your head over it
He'd have to resign and walk away. No way he'd be fired by the club.
I just don’t know what to think anymore
Can I have some of what you're smoking?
The only certainty is that it won’t be Arteta next season unless he delivers the league
He'd have to resign and walk away. No way he'd be fired by the club.
The only certainty is that it won’t be Arteta next season unless he delivers the league
I think the thing is, we could go and get a great result Sunday but that still doesn’t resolve the issues that we’ve seen so far in 2026 and the fact it is just repeating itself yet again
We didn’t lose the league last year by drawing at City, we lost it by losing games at Fulham and against West Ham, the same things which have seen us drop points in Jan v Forest and last night v Wolves
These are the things that will cost us yet again
Arse Bottle
Well in Class. Well blogged Blogs. I think we all had a shit night. Kudos to you for the energy and reliability to do your job, unlike Arsenal last night at Molineux. What a cluterfuck-shitshow combo that was.
Unless there is an emphatic, winning performance against that lot up the road on Sunday, this season is toast. I just can't see us reaching the promised land in any of the four competitions that we are still currently in.
My frustration at last night's completely inept debacle is obviously universally shared by millions of Arsenal fans, but I really think that the constant bed shitting when the team has to step up is all on MA8. Was it complacency? Or is it the lack of confidence and mental fortitude? We looked utterly clueless and were pegged back by the worst team in the league. I don't begrudge Wolves at all, they wanted to compete and were quicker to the challenge as we faffed about the entire game after we scored an early goal. The team line up should have had the quality to keep the ball, hit them on the break and to close out the game.
Maybe the barcodes can do us a favour on Saturday, as their dicks will be up after their CL win last night, but I am not counting on it. 115ty smell blood and they are at home.
A win at their place is a must to restore any glimmer of hope, in my humble opinion. Drop another turd in the bowl on Sunday and this will get very ugly.
Onto the Arsecast. Already some spicy comments on Spotify
But the reality is that Semenyo is dynamic and Premier League ready (and an Arsenal fan) and Guehi is also seasoned and has instantly improved their defence. There's no way around it, January signings...
Do you think Semenyo would be scoring for Arsenal like he has been for City?
Btw he is another player who needs space to operate. He is very poor in tight spaces. I fail to see how he'd shine for Arsenal.
I am an optimistic person, but that game yesterday completely sliced my optimism in half. There are no easy away days, however, that game really shouldn't have been in the balance at all. We look like...
Arteta should not have done what others did and blamed poor opposition for our great performance against Wigan. Eze and Nørgaard both deserved to keep their place and Ben White really should have started. I don't know if it would have made much difference, as the rot runs deep, these jitters when we get close to sealing the deal. It's like a stay of execution now. Still five points clear, by tonight it could be 2 points and still some big games to play with no idea what kind of Arsenal we will see. There is no clear front four.
I think Gyökeres has to start over Jesus who offers no heft. But if you use Gyökeres you have to get balls to him quickly. Arteta should be screaming at Madueke to get early balls in, or Saka for that matter. IN his Number 10 role it was all about him, he didn't link up wit anyone.
Eze has to start and whether Trossard or Martinelli on the left the same goes for them, early balls into Gyökeres, watch his runs, play to his runs, because he's making them all the time.
And the middle two, whoever they are, FFS vertical, direct, whatever the fuck you wanna call it, PLAY THE FUCKING BALL AHEAD TO FEET!!!
Sorry, but they should be screaming it. Tired of horseshoe fanning about gutless cautious football.
Do we want this title or not?
Same old storey, there aren't enough goals in this team. City are, have, and will, easily outscore us.
Which makes me wonder, why was Saka given that juicy new contract at this point in the season.
But... it's "not the same City of old", so there's nothing to worry about apparently. This kind of delusion is what gets us in trouble as a fanbase and a club. Hubris to the max!
I am an optimistic person, but that game yesterday completely sliced my optimism in half. There are no easy away days, however, that game really shouldn't have been in the balance at all. We look like a shell of the team we were to start the year. Good performances are few and far between. The team, as a whole, look completely shell shocked from winning positions in the league.
We have this deep squad, but we never use any of the options. The manager is picking favorites again. Rice, Zubi, and Timber should not have finished that game. Especially when we have White and Norgaard on the bench. We changed the attackers, while they didn't lay well, didn't have to run so much. The whole midfield looked horrible after the first 30 minutes of the game. Just an ugly ugly game.
Hoping they can find a way, but looking very bleak today (really for a while) in the league. We lost our cushion and we can't drop any more points.
Nah, you're barking up the wrong tree as others have pointed out. This is not the issue, and we were certainly not in a position to splash out again on that scale.
Perhaps Ethan should have been ret...
But the reality is that Semenyo is dynamic and Premier League ready (and an Arsenal fan) and Guehi is also seasoned and has instantly improved their defence. There's no way around it, January signings can invigorate a team and we were lacking originality up front. Instead we sent away one of our mavericks, got a injury to one of our most effective "attackers" in Merino and it's same old, same old, we've seen this film reel at Arsenal again and again. How can all the main people who make the decisions not have the awareness of the "feel" of a season to not anticipated and prepare for this. We look clueless in attack right now and that more than anything invites pressure onto our defence.
Same old storey, there aren't enough goals in this team. City are, have, and will, easily outscore us.
Which makes me wonder, why was Saka given that juicy new contract at this point in the season.
Same old story, always cheating!
Same old storey, there aren't enough goals in this team. City are, have, and will, easily outscore us.
Which makes me wonder, why was Saka given that juicy new contract at this point in the season.
Hard agree. Norgaard has been criminally underused this year. I think the only reason is Arteta’s excessive keenness on Zubi. I also don’t understand why the wingers get subs for the sake of minutes (...
Norgaard / Zubi in PL this season: 32 mins vs 2270 mins - ridiculous IMHO
(According to Reddit)
Horses for courses . Players are not robots .As well Nordgaard used to playing winter , rain conditions in Denmark and premier League.
Zubi never played in rainy , windy , near freezing temperatures b...
Hard agree. Norgaard has been criminally underused this year. I think the only reason is Arteta’s excessive keenness on Zubi. I also don’t understand why the wingers get subs for the sake of minutes (be fitter) when 6 has to be an exhausting position to play in our team and one lapse in concentration can and has (this season) cost us games.
Why doesnt the team believe in itself.
Do they actually believed the hype that if we score our defense will see us through.
You cant coast along in this league. Our rock bottom came against utd. We shd have corrected our attitude after that game.
I just cant see how we get our game back. Too many absentees, tiredness, no leaders and key players like saka has lost a yard of space.
I can place the exact time but there was a point in the second half, even before they scored their first goal, when the opposition suddenly realised that there was something to get from the game. It w...
Not can……can’t
I can place the exact time but there was a point in the second half, even before they scored their first goal, when the opposition suddenly realised that there was something to get from the game. It was literally Wolves scenting blood
We miss Merino. His utility is only becoming apparent now that he's injured. Very smart footballer who knitted the team together and brought the best out in others. His height and presence also useful in attacking and defending set pieces.
115 made two useful purchases in January, we didn't. I'm afraid that's going to be the difference in the end of this campaign. Fuck them and their oil money
Nah, you're barking up the wrong tree as others have pointed out. This is not the issue, and we were certainly not in a position to splash out again on that scale.
Perhaps Ethan should have been retained. He's not afraid to shoot given half a chance, so this is the sort of game where he could have had a chance.
They're giving Guehi who is highly competent but by no means world class, £300k a week. They operate on a different level.
It's unfair what they're allowed to get away with but so much of this season was in our own hands. We sadly and pathetically cracked under pressure
115 made two useful purchases in January, we didn't. I'm afraid that's going to be the difference in the end of this campaign. Fuck them and their oil money
They're giving Guehi who is highly competent but by no means world class, £300k a week. They operate on a different level.
im off
Still feel angry.
Hope everyone will feel a bit better.
It's says a lot about our devotion to the club - maybe not all positive about our priorities.
I've always said that marriages and relationships can change. Religious beliefs can change, but support ...
It's the hope that kills us
115 made two useful purchases in January, we didn't. I'm afraid that's going to be the difference in the end of this campaign. Fuck them and their oil money
To be fair, we couldn't afford to do that. Hincapie on loan (with an option/ obligation to buy) speaks volumes. City just buy two very good players - one if them an Arsenal fan!!
115 made two useful purchases in January, we didn't. I'm afraid that's going to be the difference in the end of this campaign. Fuck them and their oil money
at least we know there can't really be any excuses if MA fails to win anything this season. I never bought the excuses before, injuries etc. Objectively he has turned Arsenal around, so we can't complain about that
Neglected far too much work today, agonising over these red and white fuckers. See ya
It's says a lot about our devotion to the club - maybe not all positive about our priorities.
I've always said that marriages and relationships can change. Religious beliefs can change, but support for your team is lifelong. It brings a heavy emotional toll with too few highs for the vast majority of fans......but let's face it, we wouldn't change if we could.
Di Matteo would like a word
😉
"System football" has its limits. Players can't improvise and react to how the match is evolving. Where's the autonomy? Arteta should take a leaf out of Sleegers's book and involve the players in comi...
agree with this
The Spurs game will show us everything we need. If they can't get themselves up for that then it's curtains.
I don't think the Spurs game will be a problem. NLD, at home, with a new manager, they won't just sit there in a low block.
I think maybe we can afford to drop 2-3 points if we lose at Etihad. If we don't lose there, we can drop 5-6 points and still win the league.
But I fear Tots and Chelski games.
Chelsea will stifle, waste time and foul.
They will lean into the anxiety of the fans and players.
The CL would be amazing though. Would be hard to get rid of a manager after he wins us our first CL. Perhaps he'd leave himself though
Di Matteo would like a word
Neglected far too much work today, agonising over these red and white fuckers. See ya
Hahaha! Same here.
I think maybe we can afford to drop 2-3 points if we lose at Etihad. If we don't lose there, we can drop 5-6 points and still win the league.
But I fear Tots and Chelski games.
I fear every game now. I actually think the big games we can handle. We shit ourselves when we get complacent against weak teams. If we can’t beat Wolves with a 2-0 lead, what hope?
Let’s see what City do tonight…
The Spurs game will show us everything we need. If they can't get themselves up for that then it's curtains.
I think maybe we can afford to drop 2-3 points if we lose at Etihad. If we don't lose there, we can drop 5-6 points and still win the league.
But I fear Tots and Chelski games.
Neglected far too much work today, agonising over these red and white fuckers. See ya
Our pace of passing even when keeping the ball is slow. We are very risk averse and will take multiple touches to decide whom to pass to. The opponent has all the time in the world get back into posit...
You look at City when the CBs are passing the ball among themselves or to the keeper. They always haven extra man and are hard to pin. The ball invariably ends up in midfield. When we pass the ball between CBs/Raya, pitch gets squeezed and players get into low block trying to keep the ball in our own defensive third.
For the second time this season I had a sleepless night and avoided social media and purposefully dud not look for analysis pieces. I know what I saw, albeit from the TV, but that was sufficient. I know how I felt during the match and I know I felt a little concerned to see our forward line with speed but little a ility for ball retention (although Trossard's later introduction rendered thar concern unneccessary).
In short, I felt angry and very frustrated. I've learned that expressing views in this mood, however seemingly righteous, is rarely a good idea [winces at recollection of offloading to a director who was lying - that didn't end up well!!]
Unfortunately, today I feel the same. I'm 'comforted', if that's the right word, by seeing I'm not the only one. I read the blog and the posts.
I just can't understand the lack of rotation. Is it better than previous years? Yes, but it doesn't reflect the size of the squad.
I can't understand the drop in form of so many players at the same time. I'm sure it's connected to rotation but there's more to it.
And I can't understand our disjointed attack and the use of defenders so far up the field.
Then I read an article about Guardiola and real uses that some of the references also apply to Arteta:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/artic…Gyökeres often makes the runs, shows for the ball in the centre and they don’t pass direct when there’s space to pass. That’s all on Zubimendi and Rice not trusting themselves. If Vik miscontrols that...
The reality is that 9 out of 10 times, Gyokeres cannot be relied upon to hold up the ball. He is not good enough.
I mean the passes are strange/short. Got nothing against backwards passes. You look at city/pool and their backwards passes are crisp and take pressure off. Ours invite opposition and seem nervous (es...
Our pace of passing even when keeping the ball is slow. We are very risk averse and will take multiple touches to decide whom to pass to. The opponent has all the time in the world get back into position.
The entire goal of tiki taka is to move the ball around thus dragging the opponents out of position and then find gaps in the opposition to take advantage of.
I mean the passes are strange/short. Got nothing against backwards passes. You look at city/pool and their backwards passes are crisp and take pressure off. Ours invite opposition and seem nervous (es...
We take forever to go forward, every backwards pass invites more pressure.
It's about predictability. Players can't split a defence if they can predict what your gonna do and your teams style of play . That's not all on zubi. But the other players and the coaches following ...
Gyökeres often makes the runs, shows for the ball in the centre and they don’t pass direct when there’s space to pass. That’s all on Zubimendi and Rice not trusting themselves. If Vik miscontrols that’s on him. But you have to make the pass and they repeatedly refuse to.
Exactly. Saliba and Raya are the two main culprits for transmitting clear and obvious panic where previously there was none. If he is that desperate to "have something in the pocket at the end of the ...
My honest take is the defence is very overburdened at this stage of having to constantly compensate for the inability of our attackers and midfielders to take their chances and finish the game. Constantly playing the margins game against mediocre and poor opponents means we shit the bed on the first occasion the opponent tries something daring.
Our attackers/midfielders barring a couple are simply not technical enough to control possession and keep the ball and move the opponent in different directions.
Signs of this 'panic' have been there. The way our backline passes ball among itself even when lightly pressed have been an eyesore for last 2 seasons.
I mean the passes are strange/short. Got nothing against backwards passes. You look at city/pool and their backwards passes are crisp and take pressure off. Ours invite opposition and seem nervous (esp if Raya is involved).
Wonder why Arteta has not been able to coach it in them to play keep ball in our own half.
It's about predictability. Players can't split a defence if they can predict what your gonna do and your teams style of play . That's not all on zubi. But the other players and the coaches following ...
A point I conceded in my original post. I did say it may well be as much about the lack of movement in front of him and much as anything else.
Signs of this 'panic' have been there. The way our backline passes ball among itself even when lightly pressed have been an eyesore for last 2 seasons.
6 to be exact.
Linked the play beautifully too in many games this season.
No point trying to pin it on Zubimendi being sub par this season … got about as much chance of that being true as the former...
I'm not pinning anything on him, I listed four big summer signings and said I have been unimpressed by all of them. But we can agree to disagree, that's fine.
Saliba is part of this shit show. He's been off it for ages. He needs to hold this as much as the rest of them.
Exactly. Saliba and Raya are the two main culprits for transmitting clear and obvious panic where previously there was none. If he is that desperate to "have something in the pocket at the end of the season" then go out and get it, don't throw it away through your desperation.
Arsenal play like a team that is fearful of making a mistake, to the point where they end up making that mistake. Its 100% on the manager. Too much of "Controlla" does that to the team.
Have to agree...and it's really hard to win a title playing like that. Anxiety levels through the fucking roof
2022-23 was a unique season - we were never expected to be the favorites and injuries to Saliba and some others derailed the season. Kind of bottled the season but we did very well to even be in that ...
I also totally agree with this summary. But this year, if we blow it, that's undeniable bottling.
Arsenal play like a team that is fearful of making a mistake, to the point where they end up making that mistake. Its 100% on the manager. Too much of "Controlla" does that to the team.
At the start of the season Rice was playing much more attacking football. Making driving runs, taking shots on and generally moving the team forward. He has regressed, maybe not as much as everyone el...
I think his regression is that he has played like that for 95 minutes of every game across virtually all comps, and now he is running mainly on fumes and instinct. He's still invariably our best player despite it all, but the lack of support from everyone alongside and in front of him is terrifying to behold.
Oh he's scored a couple of bangers for sure. But he was billed as the player who would make us play forward, line splitting passes and all. Where are they?
It's about predictability. Players can't split a defence if they can predict what your gonna do and your teams style of play . That's not all on zubi. But the other players and the coaches following the Arteta ball blue print . No risk , reward
Arteta doesn't transmit calm though with his touchline antics
Honestly, I see what the tweeter sees though. I see him telling them to put it on the deck and pass the fucker about. Heinze going mental about it too. They are not being told to panic and hoof and miscontrol it out of play like a factory worker with his shoes on the wrong foot. But that's what we are increasingly seeing. How can so many of the good players just become total mongs at the same time. That was the difference I saw yesterday, our reliable players suddenly playing like I would now at 50yo had I been out there. Timber, wtf happened there mate?
Sometimes I have seen Ben White capable of such things but he barely plays/can barely play. Timber though......
White RB
Timber lb
Better for saka on rw.
Why does he always seem annoyed after we've dropped points? He's part of the team, isn't he? Hasn't exactly been pulling up trees lately, has he?
Needs a haircut and passing the ball a hell of a lot...
He was seething and shaking his bonce around the 70m mark to be fair. I thought he was an archetypal vulgar English oaf when we signed him, but if anything I think he's too nice. When he called that Slovakian manager a bald cunt and to sit down, then when he kicked Simons (?) up in the air vs the spuds for no reason, in a game we were winning easily, these were good brave Ingerlunder moments. I want more of that, grabbing one of the waifs, Odegaard or Eze or Martinelli by their shirt collar and screaming spitle and rage into their face. "STOP FUCKING ABOUT YOU CUNT; PASS IT FORWARD AND PASS IT WELL".
Oh he's scored a couple of bangers for sure. But he was billed as the player who would make us play forward, line splitting passes and all. Where are they?
Are their any player in the premier league playing defense splitting passes? Who , cole palmer once this season , fodan for about four matches then faded away .
No kdb gone . It's a different style of football , to 1990s, who are you thinking of ?
Oh he's scored a couple of bangers for sure. But he was billed as the player who would make us play forward, line splitting passes and all. Where are they?
6 to be exact.
Linked the play beautifully too in many games this season.
No point trying to pin it on Zubimendi being sub par this season … got about as much chance of that being true as the former Prince Andrew being found innocent. Nice to see he’s been arrested on his birthday.
He has made some mistakes too. Gave away the free kick vs Liverpool away which led to Szoboszlai's amazing winner. Definitely responsible for both of Utd's goals against us (poor pass for the 1st, bac...
2-3 mistakes? Clutching at straws here.
I switched the telly off at minute 83 because I couldn't stand it. What a load of shite. Trossard was so far off it he might've been on the moon.
And what's with the constant hoofing of the ball up t...
I was in a Zoom meeting which ended just in time for me to find a stream and catch the last 15-20 minutes. I didn't recognise Arsenal. One criticism has been that we keep possession but don't do anything with it. At 2-1 up, that would have done. Last night, we couldn't string five passes together.
We get accused of being bottlers without any understanding of what that means. Bottle is Cockney rhyming slang, bottle and glass=arse. Believe me, I was brought up in Bethnal Green. Dropping your bottle/bottling it refers to sudden defecation due to fear or panic. In previous seasons, even this season when we've dropped points, I would say that this was not what happened. Bad finishing, days when the ball just wouldn't go in the net, a worldie by the opposition, but never panic or giving up. Last night was different. That last 15 minutes was pure panic, culminating in Gabriel and Raya going for the same ball, when it should have been a routine clearance for Gabi or a routine take for Raya. But that was probably inevitable when you're playing Hot Bottle instead of Football.
Was just looking at the quality of the cross Trent Alexander Arnold 1-2 weeks back. Then I look back to our team and wonder, do we even have a player who can put quality crosses/passes like that from...
Sometimes I have seen Ben White capable of such things but he barely plays/can barely play. Timber though......
Was just looking at the quality of the cross Trent Alexander Arnold 1-2 weeks back. Then I look back to our team and wonder, do we even have a player who can put quality crosses/passes like that from...
Most teams don't have someone that good.
Trent is basically the best at that since Beckham
Was just looking at the quality of the cross Trent Alexander Arnold 1-2 weeks back. Then I look back to our team and wonder, do we even have a player who can put quality crosses/passes like that from deep?
He has made some mistakes too. Gave away the free kick vs Liverpool away which led to Szoboszlai's amazing winner. Definitely responsible for both of Utd's goals against us (poor pass for the 1st, bac...
Free kick against Liverpool was harsh. Barely a foul, but it's the sort of shit decision we seem to get time and time again.
The CL would be amazing though. Would be hard to get rid of a manager after he wins us our first CL. Perhaps he'd leave himself though
I would love to win any of the cups. But that wasn't the question.
6 goals, 3 assists as a defensive midfielder. Not too shabby when you consider how poor our attackers have been these last months.
Plenty of games where he has been excellent. He’s been a standout pl...
Oh he's scored a couple of bangers for sure. But he was billed as the player who would make us play forward, line splitting passes and all. Where are they?
Nope, PL or he goes. Anyone can get lucky in a knockout cup competition.
I wouldn't turn my nose up at any of the domestic cups as we haven't won a thing in the last 5 years but yes, it now has to be the PL or CL.
6 goals, 3 assists as a defensive midfielder. Not too shabby when you consider how poor our attackers have been these last months.
Plenty of games where he has been excellent. He’s been a standout pl...
He has made some mistakes too. Gave away the free kick vs Liverpool away which led to Szoboszlai's amazing winner. Definitely responsible for both of Utd's goals against us (poor pass for the 1st, backed away for the 2nd). He is good player but does not progress the ball forward significantly. I was thinking he would be the next Xabi Alonso/Busquets but that is not the case at all.
We don't have a top quality passer in the team who can unlock attacks consistently. Maybe Eze/Ode at times...
Nope, PL or he goes. Anyone can get lucky in a knockout cup competition.
The CL would be amazing though. Would be hard to get rid of a manager after he wins us our first CL. Perhaps he'd leave himself though
Everyone is watching really closely. He needs to impact the game going forward somehow. It was apparently one of his strong points, but he's not doing it. And I'm not talking g just last night I'm tal...
6 goals, 3 assists as a defensive midfielder. Not too shabby when you consider how poor our attackers have been these last months.
Plenty of games where he has been excellent. He’s been a standout player for us along with Rice and Raya.
What does that mean? We're talking abut analysing football players of a team we support. We don't need to direct that to each other just because we disagree. How many times do I have to remind people?
Clearly Buckagh is just a superior fan
If you’d watched more closely… it was clear what he was doing. He was taking out two Wolves midfielders so the 8s could collect from the back. It was very very tactical. He was clearly doing what Arte...
Everyone is watching really closely. He needs to impact the game going forward somehow. It was apparently one of his strong points, but he's not doing it. And I'm not talking g just last night I'm talking about the whole season. Where's the incisive passing?
Why is he getting involved with that big lump of a centre forward on the half way line and giving away free-kicks? Just mark him properly and make him play it backwards. It's part of the panic. Gabrie...
That bit in the first half when he had a handful of the lads shirt? Was so reckless. Then from the following free kick he's tussling with a Wolves player for the ball and again has a handful of the players shirt. Really bad decision making from him all of last night.
I switched the telly off at minute 83 because I couldn't stand it. What a load of shite. Trossard was so far off it he might've been on the moon.
And what's with the constant hoofing of the ball up the pitch, giving them possession. It was an absolute panic shit-show. Martinelli can't hold up the ball, so why just punt it to him for 15 minutes non stop?!
You're in the lead. Keep possession and take your time.
It was absolutely horrible to watch and Arteta has to take the blame for continuing to field out of form players and his inability to instil a sense of calm in his players by changing the instructions. Norgaard should've been brought on since so many teams just play through Zubi being left in isolation.
Fucking pissed off at this tactical dogshitshow.
Xabi Alonso might annoy them more.
Please no, another idealogue with his three at the back shite.
Genuinely interested if anyone thinks Arteta should stay if he doesn't win the league this season?
For me the only thing would save him would be somehow winning the CL
Nope, PL or he goes. Anyone can get lucky in a knockout cup competition.
Saliba is part of this shit show. He's been off it for ages. He needs to hold this as much as the rest of them.
Why is he getting involved with that big lump of a centre forward on the half way line and giving away free-kicks? Just mark him properly and make him play it backwards. It's part of the panic. Gabriel used to be so rash too, he stopped that, but it's coming back. They need to take a hard look at themselves.
Agree with this. To me he's best when delivering forward balls in dangerous areas. But still there were moments when a direct ball into feet was on and he decided to pass back. That's on him.
It’s also on Arteta telling everyone to keep ball and calm down.
Honestly, sometimes he just needs to let the players figure things out.
I actually think he's doing ok, just surrounded by people not putting the same effort in. Zubimendi is a player I really don't like as much as others. Just weak, physically and mentally. Maybe he need...
Yep, I don't see it with him either.
If you’d watched more closely… it was clear what he was doing. He was taking out two Wolves midfielders so the 8s could collect from the back. It was very very tactical. He was clearly doing what Arte...
Agree with this. To me he's best when delivering forward balls in dangerous areas. But still there were moments when a direct ball into feet was on and he decided to pass back. That's on him.
Anything less than a win vs Spurs regardless of the City and Villa results this weekend will be a disaster. If that happens, we are all set for a toxic game against Chelsea at the Grove.
I think it is terrible that that it has come to this but our performances over the last few games has led to this. Had we done better vs Wolves, Brentford and Forest and had our football been better, draws against Spurs/Chelsea/City would still have been manageable and still not impacted the our league position.
We are now in a Sink or Swim/Do or Die situation.
"Zubimendi is a player I really don't like as much as others. Just weak, physically and mentally. Maybe he needs a break,"
Not as weak physically or mentally as some on here
What does that mean? We're talking abut analysing football players of a team we support. We don't need to direct that to each other just because we disagree. How many times do I have to remind people?
Flat-track bully! Sorry, people cream over his passing range and his goals. He's clearly a skilful player, but look how many times he's been the weak spot in a game. Yesterday, against the bottom team...
If you’d watched more closely… it was clear what he was doing. He was taking out two Wolves midfielders so the 8s could collect from the back. It was very very tactical. He was clearly doing what Arteta had instructed.
Arteta got this wrong though.
Zubimendi is best when collecting the ball and moving it on.
Second half the tactics changed slightly but not enough.
I think Saka can do it there, he's hardly played the position of course, but his dribbling ability alone from a central position gives us more of a threat. Plus, do you see Odegaard having the instin...
I don't think he's that graceful of a dribbler. He puts it through legs, or turns and shields. He has some good moves and definitely has power in his shot and desire. But you need more subtlety and flow and I don't think he has that.
But, then, I thought Eze had that and his performance last night was again well below what anyone should expect. It does look like he's hiding. I'm sure he doesn't feel that, I'm sure he wants to do well, but he's not on the front foot, he's not taking charge. He's far too meek and that does not serve him or the team.
Yeah, Zubimendi has been one of our standout players all season.
Flat-track bully! Sorry, people cream over his passing range and his goals. He's clearly a skilful player, but look how many times he's been the weak spot in a game. Yesterday, against the bottom team, as others have said he did not play a forward ball. He didn't direct anyone to make space. He didn't take charge. To me that's weak and I found it hugely frustrating watching him and not for the first time.
You’ve covered everything I wanted to say. The only thing missing was Saka. We’ve just made him the highest paid player and people will say it’s the injury and he is short (permanently?) of a yard of ...
I think Saka can do it there, he's hardly played the position of course, but his dribbling ability alone from a central position gives us more of a threat. Plus, do you see Odegaard having the instinct to be in the box to score like that? No chance. Problem is, I want Saka to play there and on the wing instead of Madueke! 😭
"Zubimendi is a player I really don't like as much as others. Just weak, physically and mentally. Maybe he needs a break,"
Not as weak physically or mentally as some on here
Yeah, Zubimendi has been one of our standout players all season.
My gut feeling is that if he doesn't win one of the big ones, he'll walk.
Agree. As I said yesterday, I have the feeling he will join City if Pep leaves.
One good thing is we have got Berta making the decisions and not Edu.
"Zubimendi is a player I really don't like as much as others. Just weak, physically and mentally. Maybe he needs a break,"
Not as weak physically or mentally as some on here
It would be nice to have a shirt with an ethical sponsor on it, or just none at all. I might consider buying one again if that happened.
Aye not really serious about Klopp. He'd never take the job anyway
Luis Enrique is the one. Think he might be interested in it too
Enrique's got his guardian angel daughter looking out for him. But most importantly, he's not averse to an attacking style of play
Anything less than a win vs Spurs regardless of the City and Villa results this weekend will be a disaster. If that happens, we are all set for a toxic game against Chelsea at the Grove.
Klopp has got serious PL burnout. I think it's a case of 'never again' for him
Luis Enrique please
Aye not really serious about Klopp. He'd never take the job anyway
Luis Enrique is the one. Think he might be interested in it too
If we don't do it this year, next guy has to be someone who has got it over the line before
Get Klopp, would annoy the scousers 😂
Klopp has got serious PL burnout. I think it's a case of 'never again' for him
Luis Enrique please
Heard he started a ruckus after the game too...sounds a bit performative
Admittedly, that Mosquera tried to finger him at our place, so perhaps Jesus resented the offer of yet another public prostate check!
Blogs, did you manage to fall asleep when you went to bed? I was awake for a good hour before passing out then waking up stupidly early.
If we don't do it this year, next guy has to be someone who has got it over the line before
Get Klopp, would annoy the scousers 😂
Xabi Alonso might annoy them more.
Jesus through on goal then doing what he does best, followed by them going up our end to score their equaliser. Fucking sums him up.
Heard he started a ruckus after the game too...sounds a bit performative
This just ain't gonna happen. He hasn't worked for years to reach this moment to then completely switch up his MO.
Arsenal either grind to the title or fall over in a heap.
He just has a habit of overthinking things. It’s not as if we’ve looked terrible this season…we haven’t. The first part of the season our football was entertaining and fast passing. Then it just stopped up. He started to overthink and overcomplicate and mess around with the starting 11 too much.
Losing Merino and Havertz (again)hasn’t helped. Both very versatile players that are unlike anyone else in our squad.
This just ain't gonna happen. He hasn't worked for years to reach this moment to then completely switch up his MO.
Arsenal either grind to the title or fall over in a heap.
Exactly.
This leopard will never change his spots.
If we don't do it this year, next guy has to be someone who has got it over the line before
Get Klopp, would annoy the scousers 😂
Jesus through on goal then doing what he does best, followed by them going up our end to score their equaliser. Fucking sums him up.
Then the players really need to realize this and start playing for him again.
And at the same time, hopefully Arteta will throw caution to the wind now and allow them a bit more ‘tactical freedom’ …i...
This just ain't gonna happen. He hasn't worked for years to reach this moment to then completely switch up his MO.
Arsenal either grind to the title or fall over in a heap.
For his own sanity it's probably the right choice.
What is his contract situation?
1 more year, I think
My gut feeling is that if he doesn't win one of the big ones, he'll walk.
Then the players really need to realize this and start playing for him again.
And at the same time, hopefully Arteta will throw caution to the wind now and allow them a bit more ‘tactical freedom’ …if that’s what it’s called.
My gut feeling is that if he doesn't win one of the big ones, he'll walk.
Yeah he's been in the role a long time. I wouldn't be surprised if he walked even if he won one of the big ones. It's an exhausting role.
My gut feeling is that if he doesn't win one of the big ones, he'll walk.
For his own sanity it's probably the right choice.
What is his contract situation?
Genuinely interested if anyone thinks Arteta should stay if he doesn't win the league this season?
For me the only thing would save him would be somehow winning the CL
My gut feeling is that if he doesn't win one of the big ones, he'll walk.
Genuinely interested if anyone thinks Arteta should stay if he doesn't win the league this season?
For me the only thing would save him would be somehow winning the CL
I’m sure Gabriel was suffering from his earlier head knock too. It was quite a wack.
Duty of care lies with the club and the game in general, needs to be tighter rules governing concussion.
Again, I don't think it was a move, per se. He got hit in the head, he wasn't thinking straight
Fair enough. I take that.
Need the concussion protocol to be enforced by an independent doctor. In Rugby League they take no chances and the off field independent doctor has ultimate say.
Yes they are well paid for their job ...
I’m sure Gabriel was suffering from his earlier head knock too. It was quite a wack.
Agree absolutely. He wasn’t faking - it was a cynical shoulder into his cheekbone - but he sat down twice and should have been looked at by VaR. Apparently they can’t award a second yellow if ref miss...
Again, I don't think it was a move, per se. He got hit in the head, he wasn't thinking straight
I think he just took a very hard blow to the head and wasn't right – I don't think he was faking
Need the concussion protocol to be enforced by an independent doctor. In Rugby League they take no chances and the off field independent doctor has ultimate say.
Yes they are well paid for their job but they are after all flesh and blood and we see more ex players showing signs of brain injuries.
I think he just took a very hard blow to the head and wasn't right – I don't think he was faking
Agree absolutely. He wasn’t faking - it was a cynical shoulder into his cheekbone - but he sat down twice and should have been looked at by VaR. Apparently they can’t award a second yellow if ref missed it.
But the second time Trossard went down, he could have gone off the pitch. It just didn’t help us. It riled the fans and players. Wrong move.
It’ll change when there’s nothing left to play for, no pressure/expectations. It’s then the team really start to play well in the latter part of the season
Unfortunately I think that is exactly what will happen, we have all seen it before.
I hate to say it, but I honestly think we lack some players with a dare I say nastiness to them. The team seems to be moulded in the image of Captain Meek Odegaard.
In other news can we please dump Emirates off of the stadium and shirts? Everywhere you look across European football Emirates is in your face.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpqw74d8…UN says Sudan atrocities are 'hallmarks of genocide'.
Yemen as well is another country that they have helped along with Saudi and other regional powers to turn into a horrific place to live for the civilians.
It was a second yellow or red. Doesn’t matter. But him making a massive meal of it in he final minutes did us no favors at all. The opposite in fact. Wolves got their tails up and we lost our concentr...
I think he just took a very hard blow to the head and wasn't right – I don't think he was faking
Disagree re, Trossard incident disagree. Ffs even commentary Andy Townsend who was hoping for wolves to get a point to help his old team villa. Said he thought Buero challenge on trossard was on the ...
It was a second yellow or red. Doesn’t matter. But him making a massive meal of it in he final minutes did us no favors at all. The opposite in fact. Wolves got their tails up and we lost our concentration defensively.
He could have gone off the pitch to get treatment.
We have been so bad for so long now and I have been waiting for some sort of reaction, which hasn't come. I really cant see it coming now. We are going into games with the exact same approach. Nothing...
It’ll change when there’s nothing left to play for, no pressure/expectations. It’s then the team really start to play well in the latter part of the season
2022-23 was a unique season - we were never expected to be the favorites and injuries to Saliba and some others derailed the season. Kind of bottled the season but we did very well to even be in that ...
2022-23 was unexpected and we had injuries, but we dropped points where we should have won. We were in the lead and that is a bottle job. People hated that I used the word then, but losing from a winning position is letting the pressure get to you. Same the season after, losing by 1 point but that Villa game we should have won. No excuses. We bottled that as well, as good as we were we were in the lead.
Denying that as so many did excused the team and excused Arteta. We are now where we are with that same mentality now it's ingrained in us. To free it we have to speak openly. Maybe there's ma chance we expunge it, but we can't do it if we're in denial and belittling those who speak honestly about what they are seeing.
I can't get over we let a silky young homegrown attacking talent like Nwaneri go out on loan while two-left-feet Madueke is on the wing. That's down to Arteta. He doesn't appreciate what Nwaneri and E...
Agree.
Tweet from Sam Dean last night "Arteta has spent much of the past five minutes urging his players to calm down and keep the ball. They keep punting it back to Wolves instead. Arteta's head is in his h...
Urging his players to calm down??? Calm down from what? They were too calm the entire game… no urgency whatsoever. He should have been telling them to pass the ball quicker and preferably to a teammate.
2022-23 was a unique season - we were never expected to be the favorites and injuries to Saliba and some others derailed the season. Kind of bottled the season but we did very well to even be in that ...
Yes this makes sense.
Only caveat . Arteta picking playing Holding over kivor. That season . Could gave been a difference maker.
Mate, Saliba's already thinking of somewhere else. It hurts because we have some world class defenders, but Arteta just seems to find ways to put needless pressure on them. Timber looks lost these pas...
Saliba is part of this shit show. He's been off it for ages. He needs to hold this as much as the rest of them.
I mean that it wasn't a title race as Liverpool just exploded that season and had dropped 2 points or something by March 2020. It was basically done by February.
The other times when it was a lot clo...
Fair enough.
We could have done that this season if we had been bolder in our set up and play, not necessarily 99 points but given how poor others have been we could have almost wrapped it up if we weren't so timid.
I can't get over we let a silky young homegrown attacking talent like Nwaneri go out on loan while two-left-feet Madueke is on the wing. That's down to Arteta. He doesn't appreciate what Nwaneri and Eze possess. He's sent one away and clipped the wings of the other.
Gabriel looked a bit concussed yesterday after the head knock and I was quite surprised he didn’t come off.
He also looked too emotional.
I would have passed that armband to Declan in yesterday’s game...
Disagree re, Trossard incident disagree. Ffs even commentary Andy Townsend who was hoping for wolves to get a point to help his old team villa. Said he thought Buero challenge on trossard was on the line of red. Definitely a second yellow
I'm seeing Tim Stillman's online blaming the "bottlers" take on 17-year-old keyboard warriors, denying we ever bottled it in the past and only now recognising that maybe we are bottling it now. It's t...
2022-23 was a unique season - we were never expected to be the favorites and injuries to Saliba and some others derailed the season. Kind of bottled the season but we did very well to even be in that position in the 1st place.
2023-24 - amazing run in the 2nd half of the season. Fell 1 point short.
2024-2025 - too many injuries and suspensions and Liverpool ran away with the league.
2025-2026 - This would be a proper bottle job given that we spent so much money and strengthened the squad depth, have been in the lead for a good 3-4 months and are now losing it.
I kinda agree with Tim's opinion but can also see how it comes across to other fans.
2019-20 he won it with 99 points.
Very different character to Arteta, very much an attacking and easy on the eye approach, he was similar to Wenger in the mindset of you score 3 we will score 4.
If w...
I mean that it wasn't a title race as Liverpool just exploded that season and had dropped 2 points or something by March 2020. It was basically done by February.
The other times when it was a lot closer he lost out to Guardiola.
I actually think he's doing ok, just surrounded by people not putting the same effort in. Zubimendi is a player I really don't like as much as others. Just weak, physically and mentally. Maybe he need...
At the start of the season Rice was playing much more attacking football. Making driving runs, taking shots on and generally moving the team forward. He has regressed, maybe not as much as everyone else, but he has regressed. There have been games recently where you forget he is on the pitch.
Tweet from Sam Dean last night "Arteta has spent much of the past five minutes urging his players to calm down and keep the ball. They keep punting it back to Wolves instead. Arteta's head is in his h...
Arteta doesn't transmit calm though with his touchline antics
2019-20 he won it with 99 points.
Very different character to Arteta, very much an attacking and easy on the eye approach, he was similar to Wenger in the mindset of you score 3 we will score 4.
If w...
This
Even Klopp couldn't win a title race against that bald cunt
2019-20 he won it with 99 points.
Very different character to Arteta, very much an attacking and easy on the eye approach, he was similar to Wenger in the mindset of you score 3 we will score 4.
If we played that way and finished runners up you would more than likely accept it as a part of watching exciting football. But we are atrocious when teams do not let us play the way we want, and why should they.
I have settled on the true source of blame for this. It's Jesus (Christ). We've never had so many ardent godly types in a single squad, I suspect they are reverting to their faith and letting God "dec...
Heh! Good point. Oh we bottled the league? God wants me to learn the value of losing, I place my faith in God's hands, he's teaching me about loss! Yeah, there's a danger of that kind of passive thinking with faith.
Tweet from Sam Dean last night "Arteta has spent much of the past five minutes urging his players to calm down and keep the ball. They keep punting it back to Wolves instead. Arteta's head is in his hands. Heinze is waving his arms around in annoyance." This was somewhere around the 75 min mark.
Rice needs to look at himself. He has not been performing anywhere near his levels recently either.
I actually think he's doing ok, just surrounded by people not putting the same effort in. Zubimendi is a player I really don't like as much as others. Just weak, physically and mentally. Maybe he needs a break, but all those sideways and backwards passes are driving me crazy!
I have settled on the true source of blame for this. It's Jesus (Christ). We've never had so many ardent godly types in a single squad, I suspect they are reverting to their faith and letting God "decide" the best path for them.
"If God wants me to sprint across there and close down the cross, he will insert that energy into my tired legs. I can't be arsed, personally."
This all started when Wenger said "I will take 2nd for the next 20 years"
He fucking spoke it into existence
I'm seeing Tim Stillman's online blaming the "bottlers" take on 17-year-old keyboard warriors, denying we ever bottled it in the past and only now recognising that maybe we are bottling it now. It's this kind of denialism that is symptomatic of so many Arsenal influencers and particularly Arteta cultists online. They all seem quiet at the moment. Not putting Tim in that bracket, but he definitely has a blind spot to Arsenal's recent past.
Rice needs to look at himself. He has not been performing anywhere near his levels recently either.
This! You echo my post below.
This is a weird take. If creative player after creative player is shunned in this project, maybe the problem isn't with creative players?
Even Mesut would put in the hard yards, and look at the shit he copped for being a "creative luxury". But he delivered real numbers in attack. A player collapsing into himself like a slinky because he can't just ghost about looking for a "moment" in the most robust league in the world needs to take a look at himself.
I think Declan Rice will not renew his deal if we don't win something major this season. He looked very annoyed at his team mates yesterday.
Rice needs to look at himself. He has not been performing anywhere near his levels recently either.
I think Declan Rice will not renew his deal if we don't win something major this season. He looked very annoyed at his team mates yesterday.
Why does he always seem annoyed after we've dropped points? He's part of the team, isn't he? Hasn't exactly been pulling up trees lately, has he?
Needs a haircut and passing the ball a hell of a lot quicker than he's been doing.
I think Declan Rice will not renew his deal if we don't win something major this season. He looked very annoyed at his team mates yesterday.
Mate, Saliba's already thinking of somewhere else. It hurts because we have some world class defenders, but Arteta just seems to find ways to put needless pressure on them. Timber looks lost these past few games. If Ben White is fit he has to start now.
This all started when Wenger said "I will take 2nd for the next 20 years"
He fucking spoke it into existence
I think Declan Rice will not renew his deal if we don't win something major this season. He looked very annoyed at his team mates yesterday.
All this best team in Europe shite...
Part of the godforsaken need for "narrative". Didn't help that our more excitable and hyperbolic fans jumped on the bandwagon.
Modern football coverage is, like so much of the fucking online experience, the absolute pits.
Norgaard is a proven PL captain capable of providing forward passes. The fact that he's not even trusted for a cameo in the PL against the likes of Wolves is mind-numbing bollocks
Or any PL games really.
It's Rice Zubi until they fall apart
Norgaard is a proven PL captain capable of providing forward passes. The fact that he's not even trusted for a cameo in the PL against the likes of Wolves is mind-numbing bollocks
All this best team in Europe shite...
We're too static in attack. Not calling for a Cesc-Hleb-Rosicky style pass and move, but standing around like statues on Easter Island won't cut it when it comes to creating and taking chances.
Get the feelers out for Luis Enrique
He's my pick as well.
Megamind control freak Teta is not it
Even Klopp couldn't win a title race against that bald cunt
This season is totally on us. If you can’t beat Wolves after being 2-0 up, what can you say.
Get the feelers out for Luis Enrique
Even Klopp couldn't win a title race against that bald cunt
We have been so bad for so long now and I have been waiting for some sort of reaction, which hasn't come. I really cant see it coming now. We are going into games with the exact same approach. Nothing changes if nothing changes and Arteta is clearly not for changing. When not one single attacking player is in any sort of form, the issue is obvious for all to see.
Norgaard has been really good whenever he got a chance, too. Not just positionally (which one expects) but even a number of good, incisive forwards passes and actual goal assists. Definitely unfathoma...
Horses for courses . Players are not robots .As well Nordgaard used to playing winter , rain conditions in Denmark and premier League.
Zubi never played in rainy , windy , near freezing temperatures before in Spain. He is not a robot .
Over played I posted this last night but again. According to transfer market . com.
He has close to played as many games thus season as he did all of last season including nations league in the summer for spain. Give him a rest. Zubi last season 36 League , total 48 including Spain for the season . He has play 38 matches for Arsenal plus Spain matches already.
Arteta says standards dipped second half . But when players are being over played and tired.
Also Timber , Rice , Hincy.
Nomi didn't look tired at all. Gykores can always play 90 minutes. Watch the players looking leggy No pre planned subs.
Mls , mosquera, and noordgaard all internationals on the bench unused. Am
Not being anti Spanish, just horses for courses
The more we play with the intent not to concede, the more it happens anyway..
PL leaders who play scared and don't have a functioning attack will cease to be PL leaders in no time.
We struggled to a home win and lost a 2-goal lead away against the worst Wolves team in PL histo...
Ultimately this, we are not a risk taking team. When given an option we choose caution rather than bravery.
Don't worry we're 11pts clear,
don't worry we're 9pts clear,
don't worry we're 6pts clear,
don't worry we're 4pts clear,
don't worry we're still on top of the table,
don't worry we can still catch the...
PL leaders who play scared and don't have a functioning attack will cease to be PL leaders in no time.
We struggled to a home win and lost a 2-goal lead away against the worst Wolves team in PL history.
Simply not acceptable
Don't worry we're 11pts clear,
don't worry we're 9pts clear,
don't worry we're 6pts clear,
don't worry we're 4pts clear,
don't worry we're still on top of the table,
don't worry we can still catch the...
This is key. There were excuses for Liverpool, Man Utd even Brentford. The signs were there all matches we should have won. Now there’s no hiding. It’s a crisis. Can Arteta fix it?
Can Ben White play 2 games in succession or are his legs gone? Arteta's unwillingness to use him is a problem. Norgaard's lack of mins in the Premier League has been shocking. Zubimendi has not been o...
This latest snatching a draw from the jaws of victory might finally snap the manager into action. He's been inflexible for too long. If he's finally going to try MLS in midfield, he could have given him a few cameos here and there in games where we were leading comfortably or against weaker opposition.
White to take much needed minutes out of Timber.
Noorgard, Noorgard, Noorgard... what a fucking shit show of mismanagement. Zubi is off the pace, and understandably so. Noorgard could have played against Leeds and Sunderland when the games were done.
That's the time to finally give the ex-Brentford captain a go to see if his leadership skills and defensive awareness can help steady the ship.
Personally, I’ve said I’d rather see Rice at the base and Eze-Havertz either side. I like Nørgaard at least he has the right attitude. But Arteta looks for control. Zubimendi is the archetypal Arteta player, caution first.
Can Ben White play 2 games in succession or are his legs gone? Arteta's unwillingness to use him is a problem. Norgaard's lack of mins in the Premier League has been shocking. Zubimendi has not been offering anything significant in the last few games. Arteta's unwillingness to trust MLS .....
The thing is, many of us don’t like the style of play. If we win the league none of us will care (at least officially!) but fail to win and you haven’t even got the pretty football of Wenger 2008-2018...
It's joyless. It doesn't feel like watching a table topping team and a team who won all of their CL games and is in a cup final.
That sounds incredibly entitled and probably is to some degree but how often do we come away from Arsenal games nowadays reliving a magical moment of football?
It's an attritional watch at best.
That second half performance was rancid. Too many of our players become "crabby", both in attitude and execution. Timber and Zubi in particular, closely followed by Rice, Jesus, Martinelli and Noni.
I think we panicked in the second half. But like you say I could not believe how we played in the first half. Wolves saw how we could not create one good chance and decided to give it a go.
We have z...
Madueke is so average. Timber had had some poor games and Ben White needs to give him a rest. We need Havertz back, he’s the only one who can knit this together.
A fellow Gooner whom I follow on Bsky said this a week back "If you want to win this title, there must come games where the desire to win is greater than the desire to not lose.
We just don't throw enough at these games. Oh maybe you'll lose one every now and then, but one win remains better than two draws."
I think we panicked in the second half. But like you say I could not believe how we played in the first half. Wolves saw how we could not create one good chance and decided to give it a go.
We have z...
That's the time to finally give the ex-Brentford captain a go to see if his leadership skills and defensive awareness can help steady the ship.
I listened to Gunnerblog's take after the game and must say that I completely disagree with him. Even if fear is a factor right now, this team has been playing horrid football for months. The performa...
I think we panicked in the second half. But like you say I could not believe how we played in the first half. Wolves saw how we could not create one good chance and decided to give it a go.
We have zero attacks through the middle and that is on Rice and Zubi.
Don't worry we're 11pts clear,
don't worry we're 9pts clear,
don't worry we're 6pts clear,
don't worry we're 4pts clear,
don't worry we're still on top of the table,
don't worry we can still catch the...
👍🏻
I've never really agreed with the opinion that Mikel *has* to win something or face the sack. I think there are too many fine margins in sport to insist that it's either win or bust. I also see the hu...
The thing is, many of us don’t like the style of play. If we win the league none of us will care (at least officially!) but fail to win and you haven’t even got the pretty football of Wenger 2008-2018. I really, really dislike how we play in midfield to attack. It’s ugly and it’s partly the players none of whom are world class, but mainly on the manager who chose them and implements this zonal possession (sorry “dominance”) style that, when it’s not functioning just collapses. If Wolves can collapse it, anyone can.
I thank Arteta very much for steadying the ship (post Unai). He's helped us get back to being title challengers but this has got to be the last chance.
No more "next year", no more excuses, no more hiding place. Does the owner have it in him to swing the axe for failure to deliver the PL title?
On the plus side it was only 6 added minutes because any longer than that and we would probably have lost the game
Sadly, this could well have been the case, so fragile are we.
Agree. I’d say he’s got to show a good old effort between now and end of season to change it up.
Ha, yeah. Maybe go full Wenger and start trying to win games 4-3 instead of our early season, rock solid, clean sheet wins.
It's not looking good bruv..... think the season is done. I would love to be wrong but the performance last night was always coming. We were shocking against Wolves at home in the 1st half of the season and we never looked convincing last night despite being 2-0 up. 2 wins in last 7 games is mid table form if not bottom half ....
No matter whether we somehow manage to win the title or not, we need to get rid of a few players this summer... if we are ruthless, we will let go of Gyokeres, Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli, Trossard and a few others. Buy actual quality players there.
Arteta has been incredible for us during his tenure and helped rebuild us from the shitshow we were in 2019, but if he cannot take us over the line now and win either the PL/CL, I think both he and the club have to take a call on whether to continue this partnership.
We deserve our reputation as bottlers because we have done nothing to disprove this.
Arse. Well in class.
Morning all.
Pretty much agree with everything in the blog. Every time we take the lead in a game we surrender the initiative. Just go into our shell and stop attacking. That's ...
You’ve covered everything I wanted to say. The only thing missing was Saka. We’ve just made him the highest paid player and people will say it’s the injury and he is short (permanently?) of a yard of pace, but it’s his playing style too. I said last night he doesn’t have the guile to play No 10. He’s dynamic, he get the ball in advanced areas and he’s got one thing on his mind. But he’s not aware of others in the way a top
Playmaker is. Like so many in the front, it’s about singular moves, holding on to the ball too long, no passing moves. We had that once with Ben White, Ødegaard and Saka but it’s all vanished. You keep fannying about you invite even the weakest teams to have a go. I don’t know if it’s the manager or the quality of player but I’m sick of the excuses. I’m so disappointed in Eze. Coaching or not there’s no urgency to his play, he seems blissfully unaware how ineffective he is, with his 5 yard lay-offs. So much is Arteta, but players can take responsibility and this lot seem lost.
Just watch, they’ll start playing well again when they’re six points behind City. This shit has to change!
I'm similar. I wouldn't start throwing names around nor calling for sackings. Ultimately, we're all annoyed because we were in a fantastic position which we now seem to be squandering.. but it was Art...
I think the fix could have been a stronger number 2… someone to help Arteta ‘see’ when things need shaking up. Because he obviously has too much on him to see it himself.
He was the one who helped Guardiola to ‘see’.
The question is, is Arteta one to listen to a stronger number 2?
On the plus side it was only 6 added minutes because any longer than that and we would probably have lost the game
That's the thing, he doesn't learn. He's too rigid and stuck in his ways. The buck stops with him. You'd think that after 3 consecutive 2nd places he'd change for the better but the patterns and outco...
Agree. I’d say he’s got to show a good old effort between now and end of season to change it up.
I've never really agreed with the opinion that Mikel *has* to win something or face the sack. I think there are too many fine margins in sport to insist that it's either win or bust. I also see the hu...
Fans would be a lot more forgiving and supportive of his future role if they came away from games feeling entertained.
However the quality of football and technical level this team shows is terrible. It's among the worst, if not the worst I can remember for a team challenging for the title in England.
No trophies and low quality entertainment will prove to be fatal.
There’s still time to turn it around for Arteta.
He just needs to show he can learn and learn fast.
I wouldn’t necessarily start throwing names of replacements around just yet but something needs to...
I'm similar. I wouldn't start throwing names around nor calling for sackings. Ultimately, we're all annoyed because we were in a fantastic position which we now seem to be squandering.. but it was Arteta and the coaches who put us in that position in the first place. There's obviously something not right, the mental state of the squad for example, but I'm not entirely sure what the fix is
There’s still time to turn it around for Arteta.
He just needs to show he can learn and learn fast.
I wouldn’t necessarily start throwing names of replacements around just yet but something needs to...
That's the thing, he doesn't learn. He's too rigid and stuck in his ways. The buck stops with him. You'd think that after 3 consecutive 2nd places he'd change for the better but the patterns and outcomes remain the same. We choke during crunch time.
"System football" has its limits. Players can't improvise and react to how the match is evolving. Where's the autonomy? Arteta should take a leaf out of Sleegers's book and involve the players in coming up with means to hurt and nullify the opposition.
I don't think Raya had to come for that ball, just let Gabby head it away. Raya has been a really good signing, but in February he has suddenly started to flap, to come for balls that are too far from...
The offside where Martinelli was literally looking across the entire Wolves back four and still didn’t get himself onside… honestly, for all his nice moments he has some absolute shocking ones and yesterday everyone could see he was having an absolute nightmare after about 20-30mins out there and was allowed to continue for 95!
There is so much that can be said about Arsenal this season. I've long felt that we were getting away with it, but last night night things came home to roost. We're so passive in games, never taking control and dictating the play. The Liverpool home game set my alarm bells off. 2nd half they dominated us, a team that has been poor all season and we couldn't rise to it.
We can have no complaints if we don't win, there is no major injury crisis, we can put out a strong 11 every week.
The time for talking is over, its time to put up or shut up.
Arse
Well in Class
Fucking bottlers are going to fucking choke for the fourth season in a row.
This season really doesn't feel different.
I've never really agreed with the opinion that Mikel *has* to win something or face the sack. I think there are too many fine margins in sport to insist that it's either win or bust. I also see the hu...
There’s still time to turn it around for Arteta.
He just needs to show he can learn and learn fast.
I wouldn’t necessarily start throwing names of replacements around just yet but something needs to change and change quickly.
11 games to go, 58 points. Need to win at least 8 of them and get something out of two of the other three, the game at Citeh really is a 6 pointer now, so say 84 points . Which going by the table would probably be enough. However given that shit show last night, and last week, can you see that really happening.
Historically under MA the side has this tendency to go ahead in games and then stop playing. And then start playing again when the opposition equalize. I could just about take squandering a two goal against a mid-table outfit up for the game but not against that shower.
I've never really agreed with the opinion that Mikel *has* to win something or face the sack. I think there are too many fine margins in sport to insist that it's either win or bust. I also see the huge improvement he has brought to this club.. the players, the atmosphere, the belief.. I really think he's done wonders for Arsenal. But (and I hate I'm using that conjunction now) is there a point when we think he has taken us as far as he can? Lifting us from 8th to serious contenders.. do we need someone else to push us from 2nd to 1st? Is there anyone that can even guarantee that? I genuinely don't know. I'm curious what other people think. It's all a sad and confusing situation.
I don't think Raya had to come for that ball, just let Gabby head it away. Raya has been a really good signing, but in February he has suddenly started to flap, to come for balls that are too far from...
The ball is on the 6 yard line though! Every keeper would come for that and settle things down in the 94th minute. 100% Gabriel at fault not Raya.
The ball is on the 6 years line though! Every keeper would come for that and settle things down in the 94th minute. 100% Gabriel at fault not Raya.
Nah Pep also gives very little room for innovation. It is all training ground drills that translate to the pitch. He just happens to have inherited a much higher level of technical attacker than Artet...
You may be right, but he did have technically quality players at his disposal. We largely don't - or, they don't survive Arteta's system.
I don't think Raya had to come for that ball, just let Gabby head it away. Raya has been a really good signing, but in February he has suddenly started to flap, to come for balls that are too far from goal and with a mass of bodies in the way. Saliba looks equally prone to panic, all of a sudden. Timber, Rice, Zubi just look knackered. Trossard, Odegaard and Saka I have no answer, all have just become very poor compared to their top level and it's not from overplaying. Martinelli, Madueke, Gyökeres, Jesus are average players and yesterday gave largely average performances. Marinelli is the most Gattuso player ever, i.e. sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe shit. Very little in between. Eze is just soft as shite, and cowardly. All because he has gone 15 years as a professional footballer not being told there is more to football than "moments" (how many? could they at least become semi-common?). The rest of them are out injured half the time, except for a Norgaard or MLS that never get to play anyway.
As for Arteta, I can buy that he is telling them to sit on a lead and control the game, perhaps. He says he is not, so why's that? I don't really give a fuck what he is telling them, when technically the entire team shits the bed like the second half yesterday. How can they collectively lose the ability to trap a ball, pass a ball in a straight line, stay onside etc.? These are things my girls have largely managed, the eldest is 13, the youngest is not yet 8.
The obvious question is whether this is just rising levels of panic and nerves at being close to winning. I don't see how this comes from Arteta, he was no shrinking violet, no mentally soft petal. He made up for not quite being a top talent, through discipline, mental strength, working hard, technical security, doing the basics well. I don't see his fingerprints on a technically woeful performance like last night.
100% this was two points dropped and a shocking 2nd half performance. Donnarumma saves that 1st goal unfortunately for Raya but we shouldn’t compare ourselves to Money FC they do what they want.
Sayi...
Having a bigger margin helps the confidence and makes you more likely to win. Now we are nervous and pressurized. If Villa win their game, they’re only 5 points behind us too.
So it’s not going to go down to the last game against City. We are completely bottling the premierleague, massive downward spiral right now.
Btw, Pep also killed creative players—I can think of Graelish for example. But he also gives room for creative ones, such as Silva and KDB.
Arteta has never developed such players.
Pep wins
I don't think I watched a team last night who surrendered the initiative. But what I did watch for a team who is top of the league is a very poor level of all round technical quality.
A complete inab...
This. This!
We don't have technically gifted players. This is the truth. This team is built around physicality, not technicality. This is why we've been passing the ball to wide areas as our main attacking tool for now three consecutive years.
Btw, Pep also killed creative players—I can think of Graelish for example. But he also gives room for creative ones, such as Silva and KDB.
Arteta has never developed such players.
Nah Pep also gives very little room for innovation. It is all training ground drills that translate to the pitch. He just happens to have inherited a much higher level of technical attacker than Arteta ever bought.
Btw, Pep also killed creative players—I can think of Graelish for example. But he also gives room for creative ones, such as Silva and KDB.
Arteta has never developed such players.
We used to have a player like Zinny who could pass between the lines. I think only MLS can do that today, but he is not playing.
If Arteta doesn't turn this around quickly he should go by the end of ...
He's not winning anything 😭
I'm going to get it off my chest- sorry for the burst of frustrated mental dysentry:
Actually, it may not be the hope that kills us, it may be the bantz.
Arteta is he a cross between Wenger and Guardiola? Perhaps he's David Moyes.
The Gyokeres experiment is over. The next step is to send him up to St Helens in a cab and see if he can fulfil his true vocation as the first Swedish rugby league forward.
Zubi is not physically imposing enough for games like that. He should close players down on the edge of the box quicker.
Raya looks more and more nervous every game.
At the same time Rice is looking more and more tortured. Might be the first prem. league player to play with a bandage round his head having cut his own ear off.
We are not a serious team. Trossard and Martinelli loosing the ball time and time again trying to take on 3 players when we needed to keep it.
Arteta's energy is bad for the team- the calm /nervousness. The mania/ self-control. It's a difficult, contradictory vibe which seems to be transmitting itself to the players' performance.
We need a captain. It needs to be Rice in actual name.
The summer transfer business was very patchy. Despite all the cant about the best squad etc.
Not one of Gyok, Eze, Madueke may really " make it."
This prem. is a shit off.
A squad doesn't have great depth because its signed loads of expensive players. It has great depth when it has lots of good, hungry players.
The fact that we still own Fabio Vieira doesn't make us a stronger club. He was just a very bad buy- we may have added to that list.
We are still, still, still, still 3 players short. We tried to sign those players in the summer but it doesn't look like we managed it. It's been the case for 2 decades.
Is Arteta making a point by not playing Eze? On second thoughts is Arteta making a point by playing Gyokeres?
The players who have carried this team- Rice, Timber, Big Gabby are looking exhausted and we have not started the business end of the season yet.
Shame Saka and Ode our "difference makers" are having such mediocre seasons.
Gabriel Jesus is a clown.
If we don't do it this season -when the disgraceful Visit Rwanda deal ends we should look for a colab. with Pampers or Andrex.
Out.
I don't think I watched a team last night who surrendered the initiative. But what I did watch for a team who is top of the league is a very poor level of all round technical quality.
A complete inability to pass and move, an inability to retain possession at all in the second half, easily giving the ball away under pressure, in the first half a team completely void of guile and invention. Our only idea was get it wide and maybe attempt an aimless cross.
How many of these players are two footed? How many are good in tight spaces under pressure? How many can turn on a sixpence?
This is a team built with out of possession attributes in mind and let's not get started on his choices at full back.
You can be very successful with a low tempo approach but you need to have an astonishingly high level of technical ability which our manager has completely disregarded.
I mean if Eze is that fucking soft in his mid-20s because he has to do more than swan around the pitch looking for a hero moment like at Palace, and can't stomach developing his game like 100% of the ...
This is a weird take. If creative player after creative player is shunned in this project, maybe the problem isn't with creative players?
100% this was two points dropped and a shocking 2nd half performance. Donnarumma saves that 1st goal unfortunately for Raya but we shouldn’t compare ourselves to Money FC they do what they want.
Saying that this season hinges on the games we have coming up against Sp*urs and Che. We always had to win them and they are not going to be easy. 2 points ahead or 4 doesn’t matter if we don’t beat them lot. The only thing we would have was a bigger margin to the team chasing us. Still over 10 games to play and it was way to early to call it in Jan-Feb that we were going to win the title.
Ultimately the games against City will in my opinion decide the league (cup and league). We have to do what City did at Pool and go and win at the Etihad. Otherwise it will be down to City’s form and the table at the end of 38 games will tell the truth
For me, if Gabriel bothers to scan he knows Raya is coming. Not only that, Raya clearly shouts. It’s a simple catch rather than Gabriel heading out to the opposition again.
Gabriel looked a bit concussed yesterday after the head knock and I was quite surprised he didn’t come off.
He also looked too emotional.
I would have passed that armband to Declan in yesterday’s game...
In two minds about whose ball it was. Gabi has an easy header without Raya and Raya has an easy catch without Gabi. Raya also has a recent track record of trying to reach over players and then dropping the ball.
If there’s doubt then just put your fists through it and get it away.
We stopped doing the thing that we have been so good at up to recently and that’s defensive solidity. I don’t know if it’s fatigue or panic but a side that earlier in the season would just have shut u...
Yes, If Norgaard had come on then it probably would have made for a stiffer defence. You could have then switched both full backs for White and Calafiori too and got them overlapping. There's more than one way to switch up your attack than subbing forward players.
It felt like a collective shit show and a bit of the blame probably lies with Arteta, and I know this is with hindsight but team set up and selection didn’t work and the unforced substitutions weren’t great
Gabriel looked a bit concussed yesterday after the head knock and I was quite surprised he didn’t come off.
He also looked too emotional.
I would have passed that armband to Declan in yesterday’s game.
For me, that ball was Raya’s all day long.
His reaction to both goals was too emotional.
Yes, Hincapie and maybe Zubimendi should have closed down Bueno but Gabriel should be reading that beforehand and screaming at them to get tighter.
Gabriel was visibly flustered after and perhaps tried too hard hence the mix up at the end. I’d be livid with my center back there and yet it was Gabriel screaming at Raya. Not a good look.
But the game was lost by Arteta’s lack of in game management. And that is where he has failed over and over again. He just doesn't seem to see the most obvious things. How did Martinelli complete 90mins and how was Gyokeres not hauled off at half time?
White for Timber also.
Did not see the point of bringing on Trossard in that game. Norgaard to shore up the midfield would have been better.
Also Trossard making a massive meal of things just riled up the wolves supporters and gave them the added time advantage. It was all so frustrating.
Well summed up blogs, as always
We stopped doing the thing that we have been so good at up to recently and that’s defensive solidity. I don’t know if it’s fatigue or panic but a side that earlier in the season would just have shut up shop at 2-0 suddenly looked incapable of doing the most basic of things. Not closing wide men down, unable to find accurate passes out of the back, wild clearances ….i think it was Timber near the end running out of the back with the ball and whacking it away while trying to find Nelli when more composure would have kept the ball.
As for substitutions bringing on Norgaard just past the hour mark would probably have given the stability that was clearly needed in midfield and would probably have protected the back four
but I do believe our tendency to focus on possession and defence is backfiring at the squeaky bum stage of the season
that's the first time we conceded a 2 goal lead for over a year or something - so I don't agree that we've been this bad all season
I mean if Eze is that fucking soft in his mid-20s because he has to do more than swan around the pitch looking for a hero moment like at Palace, and can't stomach developing his game like 100% of the ...
It seems desperately unfair and outmoded until we have to rely on one of those swans to win a trophy. Like, e.g., the only major trophy the manager currently has. The player's feelings will be fine. My eyes are bleeding.
well in class
I also didn't sleep too well - bastards
it's like we're doomed to experience the Newcastle bottling it season over and over into eternity
We used to have a player like Zinny who could pass between the lines. I think only MLS can do that today, but he is not playing.
If Arteta doesn't turn this around quickly he should go by the end of ...
Pass to who though? Who are they going to pass between the lines to? No one in the final third moves!!!
Arse. Well in class.
Morning all.
Pretty much agree with everything in the blog. Every time we take the lead in a game we surrender the initiative. Just go into our shell and stop attacking. That's ...
We used to have a player like Zinny who could pass between the lines. I think only MLS can do that today, but he is not playing.
If Arteta doesn't turn this around quickly he should go by the end of the season. Even if he wins the CL in my opinion. Losing the PL from our position would be a crime.
I listened to Gunnerblog's take after the game and must say that I completely disagree with him. Even if fear is a factor right now, this team has been playing horrid football for months. The performances have been below par for a long time, and our wins have pretty much been on the back of scrappy goals and good to solid defending.
And I do appreciate the good defending and set piece proficiency, and tactical awareness of players and all that—but at the end of the day the team is not performing. The games are not fun to watch. We cannot pass the ball for the life of us.
Just to put some context here… both Zubimendi and Rice had 83% pass accuracy and both tried some risky passes forward too.
When you have Martinelli winning 3/14 of his ground duels (21%) and Gyokeres not even registering a single ground duel (0%) there is absolutely zero point blaming the two players with the highest passing accuracy for us yesterday. They were not the issue!!
Arteta is blind.
Pussing down with snow here too. Going to make it a tough day out on the slopes. If I was with the lads rather than the family I think it would probably be a pub day.
Arse. Well in class.
Morning all.
Pretty much agree with everything in the blog. Every time we take the lead in a game we surrender the initiative. Just go into our shell and stop attacking. That's on the manager, no player whose team has just taken the lead just stops doing what they were doing. And players who are playing attacking football and are on top of their opposition don't feel tired either. It's fucking infuriating. Play the game in the opposition half and keep them under pressure, that's what City do.
Moving on to some players in particular, just take a look at our four big signings from the summer. Zubimendi doesn't play forward passes. Caution instilled by the manager or a function of a lack of movement in front of him? Probably a bit of both. I was expecting line breaking passes from him and I'm struggling to remember one. Eze, plays well against Wigan (and Spurs), but does zero when he comes on against one of the worst teams in Premier League history. Drifts around an plays five yards backwards and sideways passes. Madueke, insists on beating his man three times before shooting or crossing. It helps no-one and his general decision making is poor. Which leads on to Gyokeres. Couldn't trap a bag of cement. But saying that, if I was him watching Madueke fucking about on the wing instead of crossing the ball I'd have thumped the cunt by now. Is Arteta's system stifling them or are they just not up to the task of playing at the sharp end of the Premier League?
It's just a fucking shambles at the moment and I am fast moving towards the camp of if Arteta doesn't win the league this year he should go. And that's regardless of winning any of the three knockout competitions we are still in.
At what point do we need to have a conversation about Rice and Zubimendi? The way we seem to relinquish control in these games after working so hard to score is happening too often. It may be old-fash...
Disagree totally with this.
Second half they both worked hard.
There was literally nothing to do with the ball ahead of them. It was awful from everyone in the final third. Martinelli lost every pass he was given.
What's the point of having this depth if he doesn't trust the likes of Noorgard for such games? Injuries happen, as we know all too well, so you need them to be ready to hit the ground running at some...
Norgaard has been really good whenever he got a chance, too. Not just positionally (which one expects) but even a number of good, incisive forwards passes and actual goal assists. Definitely unfathomable that he is not being trusted, he was the captain of Brentford FFS, not a reserve at Queen Of The South.
At what point do we need to have a conversation about Rice and Zubimendi? The way we seem to relinquish control in these games after working so hard to score is happening too often. It may be old-fashioned to think this way but surely our midfield generals should be setting the tempo and helping us gain a foothold when passes start going astray and heads start dropping?
In-game management severely lacking, wrong starting 11, poor second half tactics. Arteta.
He was shaken. If he doesn’t learn from this, there’s no hope.
Martinelli and Gyokeres should have come off at half time. Martinelli lost 90% of the balls he was given… maybe more. He can’t control the ball in the rain it seems. Gyokeres dissolved in the rain… he literally was an aspirin dropped in water.
Arteta was the only one not to ‘see’ that these changes were needed. We had no grasp of the game because we were playing with 2 players less. Then Timber had a nightmare on top of it.
The goal was Gabriel’s fault in my opinion. Simple catch for Raya and he called for it too. It’s on Gabriel… he lost his head.
Questionable selections and tactics - he fucked up. Wedded to his favourites yet "punished" Eze for one oversight, leading to him losing his confidence and becoming cautious. Compare his treatment to ...
I mean if Eze is that fucking soft in his mid-20s because he has to do more than swan around the pitch looking for a hero moment like at Palace, and can't stomach developing his game like 100% of the top teams insist their players do in 2026, then fuck him. He has been an absolute coward every time I have seen him since, and if his feelings are hurt because he was told to track back better then get rid.
Arse. Well in bruceclass.
Pathetic second half.
Over and out.
I could only see the second half due to playing old man sports, but holy shitballs. That second half was as bad as I can remember ANY Arsenal team ever playing. The number of short, simple passes played wide of the mark. The number of easy balls down the line knocked straight out of play. Nobody willing to pass the ball forwards, and if they did, the received (if he didn't shank it out of play off his knee) immediately stroking it back. Raya, Saliba, known for composure and calm, continuing their sudden panic-strewn decisions.
Honestly, why name names. That was a collective collapse. A mental breakdown that left the limbs incapable of performing basic tasks drilled into them for 20+ years each.
Fucking panic stations ahoy.
10 out of 10 for brevity, aggression and lack of waffle (hmmm, waffles).
What's the point of having this depth if he doesn't trust the likes of Noorgard for such games? Injuries happen, as we know all too well, so you need them to be ready to hit the ground running at some point. Surely that cannot be lost on Arteta and his coaching staff? Is anyone there to offer a counterpoint which might make him think twice about some of his decisions? Ferguson's assistants helped him become a successful manager that way.
There’s something in Arteta’s approach that means we’ve had at least one patch like this every season he’s been in charge. We shouldn’t be surprised at this point.
I still struggle with the reluctance to rotate for games like this (especially in the first part of the season but also last night given our form - it felt like one for Nørgaard and Eze to me).
Don't worry we're 11pts clear,
don't worry we're 9pts clear,
don't worry we're 6pts clear,
don't worry we're 4pts clear,
don't worry we're still on top of the table,
don't worry we can still catch them,
don't worry next season is our season..😢
Questionable selections and tactics - he fucked up. Wedded to his favourites yet "punished" Eze for one oversight, leading to him losing his confidence and becoming cautious. Compare his treatment to that of Zubi post Tottenham and Man U fuck-ups.
Starting to feel like a rerun of 23/24
I don't know how I'll get any work done today after barely sleeping.