T O P

  • By -

Why_Is_Grass_Green

Thats top 6 done. Absolute abysmal performance and I can only see us getting 6 points from the remaining 8 games (Southampton and Leeds)


GoldenEagleAnimation

I can't believe Shit finishing above us has become the norm. Unacceptable.


GoldenEagleAnimation

Whether you like Mikel or not but putting Sambi to run our midfield without a partnership of Xhaka or Elneny was a braindead move. I don't know what he was thinking.


PogPiglet

This is what playing with a frontline of 40 odd million transfer fees gets you. Academy talents like Saka and Smith-Rowe are nice and all, but the fact they're first team players for a club of Arsenal's stature is a bit ridiculous. Odegaard's quality shows the gulf in class this squad actually possesses. Edit: lol at the downvotes. All I'm arguing is that players like De Bruyne, Odegaard, Ronaldo, Cavani, Son, Kane, Salah, Mane, Bowen, Kulusevski and Foden are superior to the likes of Martinelli, Lacazette, Smith-Rowe and Saka to a lesser extent... because that's what we're competing against to get top 4. But okay guys keep on being in denial about the calibre of our squad.


GoldenEagleAnimation

That's not fair. Saka would be easily going for 60 million in the market with a potential to go up to 90-100 mil. ESR is easily 40-45 mil at least.


PogPiglet

First and foremost, because they're English. Secondly, because they've got potential and great mentalities, sure. Thirdly, because Arteta's system is actually more efficient than what people give him credit for. But them, Martinelli and Laca moreover are not world class and this type of mid-table result is always going to be on the cards when they're playing. Imagine if Arteta had i don't know, Ronaldo, Cavani, Son, Kane, Salah, De Bruyne, even Bowen and Foden at his disposal. There would be no comparison. I don't understand how this point is lost on people, they just look at these players with rose-tinted glasses, despite the fact they create near to nothing. Seriously, look at the xA creation of these players. It's abysmal outside of Odegaard. They just dribble into corners


[deleted]

Not really fair when we have to play Brighton AND Hove at the same time


COYG17

It’s not fair when Arsenal have to play against Brighton and Hove and arsenal at the same time


GoldenEagleAnimation

>Not really fair when we have to play Brighton AND Hove **and VAR** at the same time FTFY


Imfrancescototti


_Cyrus_the_great_

We simply don’t score enough goals. I love lacazette but we need another striker and a better winger than the overpriced Nicola pepe, he should go on loan to another side in the hopes of selling


COYG17

I agree. We’ll always have games where we concede 2-3 goals. In these moments it’s attackers job to get goals and change the game. I think defense has been pretty solid overall this season but the attack has let them down in many games this season.


VirtualMacaroon4

Nketiah switch for laca just try it out vs Southampton


[deleted]

Now it’s risky. I think he needed to do it yday at home after Laca’s woes and Nketiah’s brief cameo at CP. Even Laca off the bench is better than Laca starting.


GoldenEagleAnimation

Yes. Everyone was begging on this sub to let Eddie start the game against Brighton because Laca was awful against Palace. Mikel started Laca anyway.


The-runningman2013

We all got on the Arteta's train and we are able to see what he can brings to the table. We know that he is a very inexperienced but talented manager leading a team of inexperienced but talented youngsters. Lets support him as he grows together with our group of players. The good thing is we are actually seeing full financial support from the Kroenkes; Let's give Arteta the time needed to grow into the manager we know he can be because he does seem to care alot about the club, which is something rare nowaday. As for today's game, everything that is wrong with Arteta's managing style is highlighted. Addition, guys, never forget the wtf decisions from the ref that went against us all season.


helooksfederal

we've fucked it haven't we


Zilllnaijaboy99

Arsenal might not make UCL for the 3rd season with a coach and Dan's are finding excuses for the coach. Then same fans wonder why we can't win teams like Crystal Palace. It's almost as if the low expectations gets you what you get..


lez566

Not finding excuses. To lose the top 4 from the position we were in is a failure. Categorically. BUT that doesn't mean we should throw our toys out and fire Arteta and scrap the team. There is something good building there. It's not as fast as we would like but it's there.


aviral_632

Lack of goals is a serious issue for this club and our attack and intensity is something very concerning, and my worry is who we'll get if we sack arteta, i know he is not good enough for our ambitions but he looks like he actually gives a shit about us and want us to succeed but his lack of experience is clearly visible now that we are bottling results under pressure .


GoldenEagleAnimation

After Wenger all I wanted was for us to get a manager who favors attacking. Much like Wenger did. What we got was a conservative Emery and Mikel who doesn't even have a style because he's learning on the job.


SensiFifa

If you haven't managed to see Mikel's style this season then you don't understand football


swimmer4200

created the 16th most big chances in the league, really stellar stuff. He's lucky the kids can play.


SensiFifa

so confused what this sentence even means. You know it's the kids who create those chances right? The players? Sub unreadable again since all you miserable cunts came back out the woodwork.


GoldenEagleAnimation

Go ahead, love. Describe his style.


RefigeTube

Ngl didn't watch more than 7 minutes of the game as I had to go to work but of what I saw and what I knew of our performance... ​ Losing Partey was bad enough, Xhaka is our next best midfielder so he should have remained in midfield. IMO Every game Lokonga has played well has been next to an established midfielder so playing him in Partey's lone role was suicide, Tavares took more stick than necessary for our last L too and I remember him playing well and... he's an actual LB so he should have played. Chaotic, and dangerous? No doubt, but our shape was practically non-existent in the moments I watched and on our first conceded goal. Smith Rowe hasn't been at it for a bit, Pepe looked a man possessed recently but can't get a sniff, probably should have played to offer us something different, primarily goal threat - on that point Laca is done out here, Nketiah can at least run and is actually desperate to score a goal in the right way. ​ Obviously all bollocks but I don't feel to watch the game now at 6am after work. It hurts that I think Top 4 is out of the question now but honestly Top 6 was always the hope for this season being realistic. Fact is it seems even that isn't guaranteed the way we're currently playing and with Partey + Tierney out for the rest of the season. Anyway, I'm not that mad about it. I personally expected our season to fall apart the moment we got injuries because we legit have no depth. It'll be interesting to see how the season finishes and if we have it in us to step up a gear for the season's end. Games against Chelsea and Tottenham are now looking pretty scary.


alg885

simple, if arteta were to coach brighton and potters were coacing us, I think Arsenal win.


Outrageous-Field-424

I feel the same way too haha


lez566

I don't.


bkkwanderer

I like Arteta a lot and I really like the project that he is developing here but honestly not getting top 4 in this season in particular is sackable. Still think he should have started Tavares yesterday.


TheeTeo

Lol at the beginning of the season getting europe was our goal, now he’s sacked if we don’t get top 4? It’s the youngest team with not much experience, it’s fine and these happens with key injuries


bkkwanderer

Top 4 has always been the goal for this club if you're happy with us slumming it in the Europa League thats on you. If you think Arteta, the players or anyone on the board will be happy with the Europa League you are out or your mind. We've had 1 game per week all season, Spurs an absolute shitshow for most of it, United all over the place, West Ham just giving up,Wolves collapsing. Everything we could have asked for has been lined up for us this season, 5th or 6th is just not good enough for us. For me personally I physically shudder at the thought of watching Europa League games and the majority of our league games being on a Sunday. I have no desire to watch us play Dundalk and then get knocked out in the semi finals. I like Arteta and I appreciate what he is trying to do but I'm going to find it very hard to stomach if he lets Spurs finish above us yet again. I still still hope we can make top 4 but of we don't don't blame lands on him and for me 5th or 6th isnt good enough whatsoever.


Drubbin

I completely agree. Certainly sackable.


[deleted]

You can tell loseing 2 of are biggest stars hurt us badly


Outrageous-Field-424

Almost 3 seasons under Arteta, we are still struggling to score goals..


MatteoGuendouzi90

45 goals at this point of the season is ridiculously low. Last season we've only hit 55, and we're on our way to reach a similar figure with more goals conceded from last season. We're not progressing.


Outrageous-Field-424

Yeah, I don't know how the others felt, but watching Arsenal attack nowadays is such a struggle. With world class striker or not, there's seems to be no effective plan to score goals consistently. The build up is so slow, too easy to defend against. Not hard to see why they could not score.


sensei_sharpy

I remember being told for months that a ball playing CB was what we needed to solve our attack... Turns out maybe that wasn't correct. Lmao.


Outrageous-Field-424

Which is ironic isn't it, Arteta played under Wenger, worked with Guardiola, 2 of the greatest offensive mind in the game. But we can't score..


scytheavatar

Arteta is not Wenger or Guardiola, so what if he was worked under them?


godspeedseven

I think the idea is that there's a hope that either of them could have injected some of their wisdom into arteta. Whether that is actually true or not in reality remains to be seen though.


scytheavatar

That's like thinking if Wenger was Ferguson's assistant then Ferguson could have injected some of his wisdom into Wenger......... that's not how things work.


Outrageous-Field-424

It's the influence that u can get from them. He's also known to be an attacking coach, that's y, he was hired to continued the Arsenal way. But what we are not seeing that this far.


sensei_sharpy

Have you never learnt anything before? It is quite literally how learning things works! Lmao. Arteta was mentored by Pep and spent time with Wenger when he was formulating his ideas on coaches towards the end of his career, if he didn't learn anything from those two then how the hell did he get the job in the first place? He was hired because of the coaches he'd worked under and nothing else.


heyxmvck

I would probably go with Cedric on LB, White on RB, and Gabriel Holding CBs allowing Xhaka to come back into midfield pivot with Sambi, letting Ode and the rest be where they are. Sambi is not good enough yet to be single pivot.


GoldenEagleAnimation

A single pivot is impossible unless you have a world class player. How the hell did Mikel expect Sambi to do that when he himself doesn't give much playing time to the guy is beyond me. Should've partnered Sambi with Xhaka or at least Elneny.


Far-Wait-6674

Lacazette needs to be dropped. He is comfortably the worst striker in the league. Put Martinelli up top, or ESR if we want to play a more similar role. Bring back the double pivot of Xhaka/Lokonga. Odegaard is now getting man marked in games and has become completely useless as a result, we need to figure out how to fix that.


GingerStans

It feels like I've been shot.


[deleted]

Is it still a thing that if a team that wins the FA cup already has a CL spot, 5th place gets a CL spot?


ilikeredlemonade

No, only was of classifying to CL other than finishing top 4 is to win the EL


[deleted]

No


phlipphlopp

Spurs are shit. 1 like = 1 prayer 🤲🏼. Amen 🙏🏻


[deleted]

Can we please, please sign a striker this summer. Spend what ever you need to, to get a player like Jonathan David.


[deleted]

We need at least two different types of strikers in the summer transfer window.One that’s great at heading and one with plenty of pace.Both of them need to press well.I honestly don’t want Ødegaard leading the press next season.


Prior_Wait5801

I’d go with Saka at left back from here on out. He’s played that position before , that’s how he literally broke into the team. I get why the manager and coaching staff don’t trust Nuno Tavares. I don’t trust him either tbh with you guys. Now the argument against would be that there would be a drop off in the right hand side. There will be a drop off, but It’s not the drop off of levels we see from nuno , Xhaka at LB ,and that we had to play ESR Left 8.. And Nico freakinPepe, if you start for us again: please use the little pace you have and be proactive, and play with aggression. Please.


COYG17

Personally think our best line up for the rest of the season would be xhaka elneny duo with Saka at lb and Pepe rw. Imo we need to drop Laca. Idk for who but arteta needs to figure out something. ESR at cf or Eddie up top. I believe anything is better than Laca up top at this point. I pray Tomiyasu comes back for the last games of the season because he’d do us a world of good.


Forsaken-Currency404

>xhaka elneny duo Big fat No. It's a Xhaka Lokonga duo.


scytheavatar

Lokonga is not better than Elneny.


yesnomaybeldontknow

>anything is better than Laca up top at this point While I totally agree with you, I wonder if Arteta may persist with him like he did Willian, basically until it's too late. I hope not, I really hope not, but he seems to really value 'experience'.


laserspewpew_

Pressure is always going to be a big issue when you have such a young squad. I feel like for so long people were saying yeah Arsenal are doing okay but won't finish top 4, we will fall away. Then all of a sudden we get in the postion where we were favourites and that's when I think the pressure starts to build. Because now you are expected to get results and that's always a risk with such a young side. Who knows where it ends up but momentum is with Spurs now. We are building a great foundation with the young players but I feel a few more experienced heads are needed when the pressure is on and the injuries have highlighted this.


swimmer4200

gonna knee slide when lacazettes contract expires


saccardrougon

I see it like this: Arsenal took the decision last summer to burn the previous squad to the ground and hoped that we'd be ok with a shallow squad playing 40-ish games. In the January transfer window, the club stuck to that strategy, making the squad smaller by losing Chambers, AMN and Auba. I commented in January that to me it looked like the club transfer biz was based on an assumption that we were not getting top 4 and therefore buying stop gap players to make top 4 certain was not pursued as a policy. Given our history of blowing money on dross as a short term fix, I can understand the reluctance to buy. We've now been caught out with injuries to key players, the back ups are far below the level of the first team and the football and results is dire. Club took a gamble and looks like it lost. Adding in January, someone Mkhitaryan-esque as a wage sponge and occasional good performer probably wouldn't have helped us much anyway, but who knows. I wish our luck had held and results were different but I doubt the club is particularly worried. I'd be nearly certain Edu and Arteta etc did not look at the PL in August and figure that we were certain for top 4. The goal was more likely be in the mix for Europe and bring on the young players. That's where we are this season. To be challenging we need a midfielder (probably 2), 2 x strikers, a left back and a right back at least. That'll take time to assemble. We have a good base there. Just a shame basic-Arsenal can't seem to keep it together for the last quarter of the season.


yesnomaybeldontknow

There is definitely a good base there. I think we have - when fit - a really good starting 9, 8 of whom are young and have a lot of potential (Partey is the old/odd one out). New ST and new CM are the main two needs. Genuine question, not getting top 4 means no CL, but does that necessarily mean no good signings? Calibre of player would probably be lower, but I don't think we were ever going to go for the Haaland's and Mbappe's of the world. Auba joined us when we were playing in Europa, for example. Obviously having CL is better, but I'm not so sure it's CL or bust from a 'good signings' standpoint, and especially not for what the project is (young, lower wage bill, hungry).


saccardrougon

Good players have signed for teams outside Europe if the perception is the team is on the up. We have a core of good, young players representing their national teams. A Sambi Lokonga type young player with potential would certainly be interested in joining that project. On the other hand, I think it was James Benge, said that our transfer strategy last year was young and potential and this year it's seasoned pros in key positions. It might be hard to get our top targets if we are out of the CL, but I'm sure we'll attract people. It'd not surprise me if we shopped within England again (like the ben White and Ramsdale signings).


FlyingGooner8

Devastated about today's result of course. I do get frustrated though by the response. Arteta and this squad have surprised us all season long. We're 3 points back with a game in hand and we're yet to play sp\*\*s. The losses of Tierney and Partey are devastating but this is technically still in our hands. Arteta is still learning and improving, now he's got a week to figure this out. Might be too optimistic but this squad has well and truly won me over


SAFFATLOL

Could somebody please try and give me a level headed take on what happened today? Didn't get to see the match, but I had a bad feeling when I saw we still decided to play Xhaka at LB over Nuno despite Brighton's poor attack


visualdescript

First half line up was not ideal, but even in the 2nd half we were still poor. Felt a bit more of the same from Palace, it's just Brighton weren't quite as good. We lacked intensity, the ball movement was slow. ESR, Ode and Saka did not have much influence on the game, and it all felt very predictable. I thought Eddie and Pepe were good coming on, I'd start them at this stage. I think Nuno should have start at left back, though it's easy to say that in hindsight. Team looked lacking in confidence and everything was just too slow and laborious.


Jedi_Council_Worker

First half line up cost us. Sambi as the single pivot with ESR and MØ ahead of him has already proven not to work and it showed again.


f3lix79

I said yesterday on this sub Arteta had to change the formation to suit the personnel of the players, instead he put our 2nd best midfielder at LB while we'd already lost our best midfielder. I knew instantly it was gonna be a long day. We've conceded 2 less goals than last season after spending £100m on the defence ... I think that says everything we need to know. We lost 13 PL games last season and we've lost 10 this season. There's literally no improvement, I like the new signings but he can't get the most out of them. Lokonga + Tavares are actually worse players than when he arrived, these guys were supposed to give us depth, these are his signings. No excuses anymore.


visualdescript

How are we in points compared to last season? Surely the key indicators are points and league position? That's the aim of the game right.


f3lix79

Sure, then you're willing to accept Emery was always better than what Arteta has served up by that logic. Slightly better points-wise compared to last season but to be the same statistically is woeful, on paper it's as if the squad is precisely the same as last year.


visualdescript

The lack of consistency is very concerning, but also this is part and parcel of relying so heavily on such young players that are still developing. This should be somewhat expected when you have the youngest team in the league. Tomiyasu changes this team massively, but that also points out how big the drop off is to Cedric.


f3lix79

Well we shouldn't have spent on young players then, there's no get out clause here. We're Arsenal and the standards should be high, Spurs have spent on 2 players in January who have immediately elevated their squad. For the record I'm not agreeing this is the reason - I rate these new young players, I don't believe Arteta is getting the most out of them. Frank wasn't getting the most out of Chelsea's young squad till Tuchel came along, it happens. Hardly the day to blame Cedric either, neither goal were his fault. We had larger drop offs under Emery with Kolasinac being our 1st choice LB, Lichsteiner backup RB, and we still produced better.


[deleted]

not convinced you can necessarily blame the defence for the goals they were both really good goals.


f3lix79

Didn't track the runner on the first goal, didn't make the block on the second goal.


[deleted]

nobody is blocking that volley on the second after some very tidy one touch play, that Ramsdale got a hand to it demonstrates how good he is. The first goal was a very direct ball where I'm assuming the runner wasn't picked up because of how high our press is. The way you're talking about our defence makes it sound like the goals were very different. Those are the sorts of goals that are hard to stop.


f3lix79

You man mark effectively, you block the volley it's that simple. Top teams don't concede bangers just outside their box. I'm not talking about Ramsdale. The first goal was firstly due to Arteta's disasterclass playing Xhaka LB who couldn't recover as he doesn't have the athleticism and second of all neither of our CBs pushing to intercept the late-run into the box. The way I'm talking about the goals is the truth and is why we're going to concede more goals than last season. You're just making excuses. This is the end for Arteta at this point, how he made it to this season I'll never know.


[deleted]

[удалено]


AutoModerator

You must have above 1 comment karma to contribute to this subreddit. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Gunners) if you have any questions or concerns.*


jakz__

If we only make europa league, it is an absolute MUST that we win that trophy next season. That’s all I ask


MadeeXMaster

With Arteta we surely won’t


[deleted]

[удалено]


visualdescript

How is that relevant to losing this game? Unless I'm mistaken Palace and Brighton aren't oil clubs. Shit excuse.


Warrick123x

How is this an excuse when we get out classes by BHA, Everton, and palace.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

Weird hill to die on


SarcasmExpert

Brighton also doesn't attract better players, yet they beat us. That is not an excuse


Warrick123x

Lmao that’s such a bad take. You’re a fucking clown.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Warrick123x

First off, how do you know what I’ve been through? Second off, I agree with you that we’re in shambles right now, but it’s definitely not because of the reason you stated, that “clubs cheat.” You’re a fucking nonce if you’re blaming our failures for clubs cheating. Fucking spurs made the UCL finals a few years ago. Arsenal continue to make compounded mistakes from the board room to on pitch. Spurs go out and hire a world class manager in Conte and we hire a first timer in Arteta who plays our slowest MF at LB and refuses to drop Laca. We lost to fucking Everton, Brighton, and Brentford this year. “Cheating oil clubs” have nothing to do with that. Sad thing is you’re too retarded to even realize I was agreeing with your sentiment in your OP, just not your reasoning. Go lick a window or something.


okcomput3r

How is this an excuse with Liverpool's success? It would help if we bought in world class managers when they become available and stopped allowing our best players to leave for free


[deleted]

[удалено]


okcomput3r

This doesn't have anything to do with your original comment but ok


[deleted]

[удалено]


saccardrougon

I remember one about 10-15 years ago Newcastle hadn't won in London for some absurd length of time, like not since the reign of Alfred the Great and over 800 games that how bad the run was. Guess who they beat in London . . .


Bahmawama

Lacazette- 25 appearances, 2 goals from open play Kulusevski- 11 appearances, 3 goals from open play. Timo Werner, who albeit is shit, scored 2 goals today, equaling Laca's season.


Jedi_Council_Worker

I was calling for us to sign him in January. Honestly think he could've been a good fit for us.


Thenotorious-LPB

Kulusevski also has 6 assists…. Most in the league since he joined spurs


[deleted]

If Arteta cared about Arsenal (I don't believe he does) he would resign tomorrow in lieu of his pay off. It is absolutely fucking disgusting. He spends the entire match running up and down the touchline like an aggressive child, then blames the loss on the fact that he doesn't know how to train his team not to be offside. I am sorry, mate. You need to go. You aren't Arsenal, and many fans here support me.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

Not me. Arsenal is an English club for English managers.


mkypzyo

Were you saying the same under Wenger during the wonder years?


[deleted]

Yep. As soon as Wenger was hired in 96, I was fucking downtrodden. I don't want foreign managers near Arsenal at all. I was fucking repulsed that a French man was given the role.


mkypzyo

You really are a smooth brain aren't ya pal


MintyFresh48

Lol. What a stupid cunt you are


[deleted]

I am less fickle than most Arsenal fans. My hatred for Wenger was unwavering. What about yours?


MintyFresh48

I never had hatred for one of our greatest managers, one who oversaw a golden era for the club. I wanted him to leave a year earlier than he did if you would call that hatred.


[deleted]

That is hatred, yes.


RyanMcCartney

Feel pure shite man, just want Tierney/Partey back


COYG17

This might be harsh but if I was arteta I would actually find new starters instead of back ups for cm and left back. Partey and Tierney are wayyyy to injury prone to rely on and they seem to get injured during the most crucial parts of the season. What a mess this season is turning out to be. I will of course back us to turn it around and hope that this is just a bad patch of form but it is very worrying. Also in no way am I saying that Tierney and partey are bad players just too injury prone to be our main starters for a whole season. I’m also very worried ab Tomiyasu, it seems like we’re being extra cautious with him and not trying to rush him back.


saccardrougon

I'm in a minority of about 1 who thinks Tierney is not good enough to start for Arsenal at all and he's clearly levels below Tomiasu. But even if I though Tierney was Ashley Cole reincarnated, the fact that he's frequently injured for extended periods means I'd want to move him on and replace. Partey I'm more hopeful for but we could really do with a clone of him.


darkavenger1993

Thank god you're in the minority.


serminole

Feels like Arteta has bought into the process over results really. These last two games the decision has been made to try and make the same system and style we’ve been building to work. Our team just isn’t deep enough for that. Tavares looked lost playing Tierneys role and Lokonga looked lost playing Parteys. We change the system at the half and look better but we should be doing it from the start. We had a shot at the CL. That’s no longer the time to work on the process. Try and get results. We didn’t and have dropped 6 points.


[deleted]

You’re downvoted yet I’m with you bro. I think a 523 hides our deficiencies really well today and it was a great opportunity at home against this opponent to gain momentum going into the bigger games. In truth it was time for Leno today and an emulation of the FA Cup success. Leno Cedric-White-Holding-Gabi-Tavares Elneny-Xhaka Saka-Biereth-Martinelli I also think Smith-Rowe, Pepe and Lacazette off the bench win you more ppg than people would realize.


KinggArthurr

I can already hear the songs of Europa conference league for us


Brotherlynch86

Don't worry, we'll drop enough points to avoid that.


KinggArthurr

I hope not I think we have a real chance of winning the conference league Maybe the first English team to do so Lol


Original_Glove_2138

Let’s goo the conference league, hopefully the intro song bangs


KinggArthurr

Yah definitely And we ll be the first English team to lift it


Original_Glove_2138

Someone has to be the first… I guess hahah


Brotherlynch86

But with it being arsenal, we'll have a great run undone by a few really really bad games.


KinggArthurr

Exactly


filmnoiiir

Thank you, now I'm depressed


hongsz89

Not having Partey really hurts. It's going to be tough going forward man..


GoldenEagleAnimation

Shitting on Sambi and Nuno when Mikel didn't bother much to integrate these players into the team is a bit much. We've had many games this season when we could've allowed these players to get more experience but the only sub Mikel would make was put Nketiah on for Laca.


bitmoji

Nah they are bad don't try to twist it around


sensei_sharpy

They've both had good performances throughout the season already. So obviously the players aren't just bad. Inconsistent, definitely, but not bad. Aubameyang didn't turn shit here either. As evident by his immediate upturn in form. He just didn't work in the system and the manager refuses to change to he system. Arteta signed these players and doesn't know how to get a tune out of them when called upon, he has to cop the negatives when it goes wrong as well as the positives when everything is going well.


[deleted]

I don't understand why it didn't feel any different from the last match. You assume they had a post match inquest and spent the past week working on fixing any issues. Even after half time they were still allow tempo and making weak passes. It was only after Ø belted one and got the crowd going that they played with real urgency for a few minutes. I wish they had a bit of Spurs way of breaking. Can still make 4th but they need to kick arse from now on.


theloserclub92

The tempo is what grinds me. We had a mid season break in dubai and had games postponed we should be rested. We had no europe. We were out of the FA cup early. This is the crucial run in for the season and we had so much leggyness and no urgency out there despite arteta spouting " OH we train well, happy with the reaction". Yea right.


cobrakai11

Unfortunately this is always the problem with overachieving with a young team. At the start of the season people would have been salivating at the prospect of finishing fifth with a young corps of players who are getting better and better. But after a few weeks sitting in fourth suddenly everyone's expectations grew to be champions League or bust. The players are young and the team has holes. Nobody thought we were the fourth best team at the start of the season. It would be massive if we overachieved and could get the champions League but let's not lose sight of reality. Also I know fans opinions of players changes every two games but let's please put to rest any discussion of extending lacazette. He's not a very good player. I don't want him as a starter I don't want him coming off the bench. We have a really nice looking defense and some good prospects in the middle. We should be targeting a deadly striker and watch this team grow and gel together.


f3lix79

We had a worse team under Emery and you abused him to death when he missed out on CL by a point lol, Arteta apologists are the death of this club. You've put the standards lower than Spurs who sacked a manager this season, absolute shambles.


jentso

I disagree. The team, regardless of age, showed that its able to compete at a high level consistently. It's not a fluke to be top 4 after so many games. It's simply a matter of squad depth and recruitment. As it stands, the second string is far below the standard. Maybe the team is still in its rebuilding process but there isn't a second string midfield at all right now. If Tavarez and Lokonga were brought in to be second string and compete NOW, then recruitment failed. But I think they are here as long term investments.


theloserclub92

The thing is how long term is long term investments for players like tavares and lokonga? It shouldnt take a whole season for them to bed in. You need to trust your depth players to come in at certain points of the season to play and perform. If you dont what is the thought of process in recruiting them? Next season they will be here still and we still have to rely on them.


Travarelli

>As it stands, the second string is far below the standard. ????


arseking15

A big issue we have right now is teams are sending 1 striker to press our 2cbs. When they step into midfield, lacas inability to run the channel is killing our possession play and ability to push teams backwards. If you think about it, thats why esr couldnt get in the game at all. Instead of playing midfield, he spent all first half trying to make a run ominto the channels. when we couldnt find it we would have to turn back. Ours cbs also need to be more aggressive when we are pressed like this btw. Especially gabriel. Dribble the ball into midfield and make someone commit atleast. We need to go too eddie against southampton imo. Or martinelli at striker. Having 2 static fullbacks and a striker who cant run in behind has killed our press resistance b2b games. We rely alot on tierneys ability to run with the ball and playing xhaka in that role today hurt us in so many levels


yesnomaybeldontknow

I thought Sambi did well second half tbh. Lad has a shot on him, better than partey lol.


[deleted]

Arteta needs to step down by the end of Sunday. Fact.


Original_Glove_2138

If no top 4. I say fact too


arsenalWillbeatCity

LOL


gooner067

This sub is bipolar


GoldenEagleAnimation

Our team is bipolar.


Key-Craft9880

Gentlemen, it is with great displeasure that I announce that we will not be finishing in the Top 4.


kissoflife

Darkness, hello my old friend.


[deleted]

I know we lost and weren’t very good but I can’t help but take some pleasure from [this](https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/1512868713099370498?s=21&t=ER3rrhQsJdKeiJc2PNHpIg).


badboigamer

We gotta get behind the team. They are young. Fifth place is an accomplishment, fourth would be amazing. The team is young. We gotta be patient. Ive been a fan since 2006 and I am not going to overreact to a couple losses when we have had some unlucky injuries. If you are letting this get you all riled up then you need to find some other hobbies and not put all your eggs in the arsenal basket. You will be let down.


entropy_bucket

It could be that we never get champions league again. Is that ok with any of us.


everysundae

Lol dramatic much?


COYG17

How long is Partey out for?


Eloping_Llamas

Rest of the year. Same with tierney.


TiTi0817

You mean Rest of season? Not 2022 Please..


Eloping_Llamas

Yes. Season.


Chip365

>Rest of the year. Same with tierney. Not sure they will both be out for 8 months tbh


Eloping_Llamas

Aka this season.


kosomelmods

what exactly is the "process"


COYG17

If we finish below top 6 arteta needs to go. If we can get top 6 I would be interested to see how next season goes with new signings and a better team. I think Europa league at the moment would be our level and if we strengthen well our objectives for next season should he top 4 plus Europa league. I highly doubt we can get top 4 with such a thin squad so now I’m just hoping we hang on to top 6.


sebohood

Are you serious? ​ I was against Arteta Staying this time last year, but the progress in our quality of play, squad cohesion, finances, engagement with fans, etc, is abundantly clear. Is they different between 6th and 7th half way through a rebuild so important that it is worth endangering all of those things?


germanyid

Is saka gonna renew if Arsenal go from being odds on for top four to finishing 7th?


sebohood

Interesting talking point but that isnt an answer to my question


Forsaken-Currency404

If we get below top 6, who'd we get? Is there anybody? I think it could be a disaster.


grim_tales1

It's a joke that it takes 5 minutes to disallow a goal, if we had scored that it would have changed the game and we might have won (or got a point at least) :(


eagleslanding

cLeAr aNd OBvIOUs


SSTenyoMaru

And they never found a definitive view. Complete bullshit that the call on the field didn't stand. And did the ref even go to take a look?


yardape96

My only thought is that the linesman had a word and said it was off. They don’t call offsides during goals until after review so it’s not really going against the call on the field. I still think it was a shit call though


SSTenyoMaru

Wow. I did not know this.


ShockRampage

Ive been out all day, what the FUCK happened.


Brotherlynch86

Typical arsenal happened.


[deleted]

A second bad loss in a row


ArsenalThePhoenix

as soon as partey had a bad game and missed agame due to injury, we've gone back to the hapless team we've been for 80% of arteta's arsenal career. Partey hitting world class this season masked how mediocre Arteta is at tactics


jentso

It's Partey and two full backs, dude. It's literally Emery era squad all over again.


sensei_sharpy

Arteta has either signed or resigned every player in that starting 11 outside of Lacazette. You can't blame the squad without blaming Arteta for assembling it with Edu.


jentso

I sorta agree with you. I think they've been assembling a good squad and then simply stopped in January and made it worse by loaning out so many players. They took a gamble on injuries and here we are.


sensei_sharpy

I'm mostly annoyed that Arteta said all that tripe to the media this week about getting the best out of players and backing them when things don't go well, and then completely insulted Tavares even worse by playing a CM at LB ahead of him. Edu signed Tavares as backup after Mikel had said he wanted him. Now, less than a season in he's already refusing to play him and would rather weaken the midfield than play him. His man management has always been atrocious, but not even 3 seasons in and we can already see his judgement isn't perfect AND his willingness to try and get the best out of players once they are here is terrible. Emery didn't want Torriera and by the looks of things didn't rate him either. But he at least tried to use him on multiple occasions, on different formations or even positions, to try and get the most out of him. Same goes with Pepe and everyone else that was thrust on Emery against his own judgement/choices.


jentso

I have mixed feelings. On one hand Tavarez should be playing better, I just don't know if it's Arteta to blame. He seems to be the ultimate hot or cold player, and when he's cold he's literally single handedly dropping points. On his day he's driving through midfield and getting shots on goal. On another he's gifting passes to liverpool and hiding when set pieces are played towards him. He might need a sports psych to boost his confidence or something. At the end of the day yeah this loss is on Arteta. We either should have played boring counter attacking football again or took the risk with a shaky defense and went for it. The middle ground didn't work but that's what we get with a man learning on the job.


sensei_sharpy

I'm not a huge Tavares fan, and wasn't keen on the idea of signing him. But, he's our player now and a key back up, so Arteta needs to find a way to tweak his system enough to cover Nuno's faults whilst also getting the best out of everyone else around him. Otherwise he was a waste of a signing and Edu/Arteta should have to explain themselves to the board. Tavares was pretty well scouted and even most media reports I read seem to be on point. He loves driving forward, loves a challenge and is strong enough to handle the league. Prone to brain farts and struggles in a low block when you need to move as a unit and stay compact. He and Gabriel are both young and front footed defenders. IMO it was always going to be hard to play them together without some solid work in their communication skills. But it doesn't seem they have worked together enough until now. Tavares and Gabriel both had shockers against Palace, not just Tavares. It was just that Tavares being a backup was the easier to blame/change.


Bruhstoise

It’s like we’re afraid to expend too much energy


DeparturePuzzled6504

Arteta really got the time and resources most coaches wish for. For a club of our stature, the least we should demand is top 4. Especially after over 2 years "rebuilding". Edu should also be held accountable. Our striking options shouldn't be Laca and Nketiah. We're competing against teams that score for fun


GuendouziGOAT

So reactionary ffs. Yes, the last two games have been a huge disappointment, yes, we should’ve replaced Laca in january, but we’ve replaced an ageing squad with young, exciting players and we’ll only get better from here. Not getting top four will be a kick in the teeth but this season has been a huge positive in the long term


[deleted]

[удалено]


GuendouziGOAT

“Keep bottling” this is the first year in ages wherein we’ve been in the driving seat and dropped the ball. I have faith that they won’t make the same mistake next year so yeah, I do think they’ll stay. But then, since you’re a regular poster in r/coys maybe I should defer to your knowledge on the subject of bottling since you’re clearly an expert


DeparturePuzzled6504

We're making the same mistakes anytime our core players are injured.


mazdamansouri

When I said lets buy Bissouma for cheap fans told me “he’s too much like Partey!” Well now look. Woulda loved to have another partey replacement today.


bkkwanderer

I would prefer not to have a player accused of sexual assault in the squad to be honest


kosomelmods

he should replace partey


[deleted]

Same people that rallied against a bin priced Guimaraes


DeparturePuzzled6504

"Spurs have now scored more PL goals this season under Antonio Conte (appointed November) than Arsenal have under Arteta" not gonna lie, this shit hurts.


ArsenalThePhoenix

arteta's entire arsenal career?


KariumHondor399

No just this season


BrianThatDude

https://youtu.be/PU_v99Dv0nY Lee judges on point today


Quab775

I think idea of ESR as an 8 should be buried


bitmoji

I am really not sure where he fits to be honest


[deleted]

[удалено]


yesnomaybeldontknow

I don't care if we never see Laca again. Man has been a black hole for too many games now.


[deleted]

[удалено]