Dismal performance, win aside

I?m afraid I have even less confidence after that that we?ll win anything

And I?m not sure I understand how Arteta has allowed it to get to this

Ah well, should be an interesting summer :-)

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Originally Posted by WES

I?m afraid I have even less confidence after that that we?ll win anything

And I?m not sure I understand how Arteta has allowed it to get to this

Ah well, should be an interesting summer :-)

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Welcome to the club, Wes. It isnt fun in here :-(

Sorry, I have to say it.... was no better or worse than the vast majority of our performances over the least two seasons.

Boring as ****. Clueless when confronted with a plan they weren't expecting

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Originally Posted by Peter

Welcome to the club, Wes. It isnt fun in here :-(

Sorry, I have to say it.... was no better or worse than the vast majority of our performances over the least two seasons.

Boring as ****. Clueless when confronted with a plan they weren't expecting

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With reference to our last two games, we lose that game with Kepa in goal

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Originally Posted by WES

With reference to our last two games, we lose that game with Kepa in goal

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100 percent, W.

Daveed won us that :bow:

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Originally Posted by IUFG

100 percent, W.

Daveed won us that :bow:

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Yep. Spot on.

We made our errors in the right areas today. I'd rather we stop making them but you cant have everything:-)

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Originally Posted by WES

I?m afraid I have even less confidence after that that we?ll win anything

And I?m not sure I understand how Arteta has allowed it to get to this

Ah well, should be an interesting summer :-)

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:shrug: Decent away performance against a side that haven't lost at home since August. Having Raya back was more important than Rice, imo.

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Originally Posted by Peter

Yep. Spot on.

We made our errors in the right areas today. I'd rather we stop making them but you cant have everything:-)

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A win is a win when you?re playing that poorly. We just have to hope it inspires confidence going into the next game.
If we can get Saka and Timber back to some kind of fitness the odds will improve.
Never thought I?d say we?re missing Merino but his contributions were the difference in a lot of games, even though I never saw him as a 90 minute player.
Trossard really has crashed and burned this season. Arteta needs to think more about rotating Martinelli with Jesus along that flank as the lesser of two evils.
COYG

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Originally Posted by 7sisters

A win is a win when you?re playing that poorly. We just have to hope it inspires confidence going into the next game.
If we can get Saka and Timber back to some kind of fitness the odds will improve.
Never thought I?d say we?re missing Merino but his contributions were the difference in a lot of games, even though I never saw him as a 90 minute player.
Trossard really has crashed and burned this season. Arteta needs to think more about rotating Martinelli with Jesus along that flank as the lesser of two evils.
COYG

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We just need to beat Bournemouth. However it happens. Whatever it takes.

Merino is a big miss. His ability to actually perform to a reasonable standard in a number of roles has been invaluable in the last two seasons.

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Originally Posted by 7sisters

A win is a win when you?re playing that poorly. We just have to hope it inspires confidence going into the next game.
If we can get Saka and Timber back to some kind of fitness the odds will improve.
Never thought I?d say we?re missing Merino but his contributions were the difference in a lot of games, even though I never saw him as a 90 minute player.
Trossard really has crashed and burned this season. Arteta needs to think more about rotating Martinelli with Jesus along that flank as the lesser of two evils.
COYG

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Was it playing badly though? I mean, I guess it depends on your benchmark for good and bad. It certainly wasn't free flowing, attacking football with the handbrake off. But if you think Arteta is going to play like that, with this team, at this stage of the season in a game like that, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. I have no doubt that if Arteta wanted to go out all guns blazing, he could set the team up like that. It is a choice, and one based upon data and statistics that guides him to approaching games like this, or most games now at the moment, in a controlled manner with low risk. The more attacking you play, the more the risk increases and the more you fall into the hands of lady luck on the result.

If you think we're going to go to Maine Road in a few weeks and play ANY different to last night, you're dreaming. 0-0 all the way with the potential to nick a win. It's how he has approached all of the big games ALL season and it's how he is approaching basically every game now due to the importance at this stage.

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Originally Posted by IUFG

100 percent, W.

Daveed won us that :bow:

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I've been saying since Jan he's our player of the season. I actually felt guilty for it - it was when I read an interview with Dec saying he's up for the ballon d'or and I thought "But he's not even the best player at Arsenal, Daveeeed is."

Seems now others are coming 'round to my opinion.

And in the spirit of Rich apologising to Vik, can I apologise to Kepa. I wanted you to start the final as I thought you'd deserved it. I was wrong. **** off back to Chelsea you ****. I'd rather have Alex Manninger or a 66 year old John Lukic for his third stretch. Why oh why oh why didn't we get Sir Chez? Loved him.

Everything finally went wrong for us when we got rid of Sir Chez for that Cech twunt.

We have been playing this way pretty much consistently all of 2026 you all realise this right?

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Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult

I've been saying since Jan he's our player of the season. I actually felt guilty for it - it was when I read an interview with Dec saying he's up for the ballon d'or and I thought "But he's not even the best player at Arsenal, Daveeeed is."

Seems now others are coming 'round to my opinion.

And in the spirit of Rich apologising to Vik, can I apologise to Kepa. I wanted you to start the final as I thought you'd deserved it. I was wrong. **** off back to Chelsea you ****. I'd rather have Alex Manninger or a 66 year old John Lukic for his third stretch. Why oh why oh why didn't we get Sir Chez? Loved him.

Everything finally went wrong for us when we got rid of Sir Chez for that Cech twunt.

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But for Raya's thumb, we would have lost 1-0 last night. That late save from the scuffle follow up.

We were quite fortunate last night. Didn't deserve to win.

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Originally Posted by Peter

But for Raya's thumb, we would have lost 1-0 last night. That late save from the scuffle follow up.

We were quite fortunate last night. Didn't deserve to win.

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Gyokeres should never have been offside for the Zubimendi goal

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Originally Posted by PSRB

Gyokeres should never have been offside for the Zubimendi goal

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Agreed, and i think it was quite embarrassing that the linesman didnt give it. He was miles offside :-)

I knew immediately and couldn't believe the flag didnt go up.

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Originally Posted by Peter

Agreed, and i think it was quite embarrassing that the linesman didnt give it. He was miles offside :-)

I knew immediately and couldn't believe the flag didnt go up.

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I was a bit surprised they didn't have a look at the Havertz goal, it looked mighty close.

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Originally Posted by PSRB

I was a bit surprised they didn't have a look at the Havertz goal, it looked mighty close.

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They did. He was definitely onside. His leading arm made it look closer than it was.

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Originally Posted by Maravilloso Marvo

Was it playing badly though? I mean, I guess it depends on your benchmark for good and bad. It certainly wasn't free flowing, attacking football with the handbrake off. But if you think Arteta is going to play like that, with this team, at this stage of the season in a game like that, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. I have no doubt that if Arteta wanted to go out all guns blazing, he could set the team up like that. It is a choice, and one based upon data and statistics that guides him to approaching games like this, or most games now at the moment, in a controlled manner with low risk. The more attacking you play, the more the risk increases and the more you fall into the hands of lady luck on the result.

If you think we're going to go to Maine Road in a few weeks and play ANY different to last night, you're dreaming. 0-0 all the way with the potential to nick a win. It's how he has approached all of the big games ALL season and it's how he is approaching basically every game now due to the importance at this stage.

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That?s my problem with Arteta. He?s gone from fairly free flowing, quick on the break football to this pedestrian sludge in the space of two seasons, and with the added bonus of some expensive reinforcements.
Fully expect him to continue in this manner until the end of the season. He couldn?t change too much now, even if he wanted to. 3pts v Bournemouth gives us a 12pt cushion before City go to Chelsea on Sunday. Anything less than a win there should see us home and dry.
Not quite the victory procession run in of Champions past but we?ll all take winning ugly, as opposed to implosion.
As an aside. There was an abundance of unforced errors in that Madrid v Bryan game last night so I?m not completely giving up on big ears just yet either :-)

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Originally Posted by 7sisters

That?s my problem with Arteta. He?s gone from fairly free flowing, quick on the break football to this pedestrian sludge in the space of two seasons, and with the added bonus of some expensive reinforcements.
Fully expect him to continue in this manner until the end of the season. He couldn?t change too much now, even if he wanted to. 3pts v Bournemouth gives us a 12pt cushion before City go to Chelsea on Sunday. Anything less than a win there should see us home and dry.
Not quite the victory procession run in of Champions past but we?ll all take winning ugly, as opposed to implosion.
As an aside. There was an abundance of unforced errors in that Madrid v Bryan game last night so I?m not completely giving up on big ears just yet either :-)

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I watched the highlights. That game was a ****ing mess!

I expect it from Real but was surprised at Bayern. I still dont think we'd stand a chance against them.

To expose defensive weaknesses you have to get at them. Liverpool have been a defensive disaster this season but in two games against them we barely managed a meaningful shot on target.

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Originally Posted by Peter

I watched the highlights. That game was a ****ing mess!

I expect it from Real but was surprised at Bayern. I still dont think we'd stand a chance against them.

To expose defensive weaknesses you have to get at them. Liverpool have been a defensive disaster this season but in two games against them we barely managed a meaningful shot on target.

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If we come up against Bayern, RM or Barcelona playing the way we are currently it will be embarrassing.

I don't even want to think about what's going to happen at the Etihad. Pep must be licking his lips.

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Originally Posted by Maravilloso Marvo

Was it playing badly though? I mean, I guess it depends on your benchmark for good and bad. It certainly wasn't free flowing, attacking football with the handbrake off. But if you think Arteta is going to play like that, with this team, at this stage of the season in a game like that, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. I have no doubt that if Arteta wanted to go out all guns blazing, he could set the team up like that. It is a choice, and one based upon data and statistics that guides him to approaching games like this, or most games now at the moment, in a controlled manner with low risk. The more attacking you play, the more the risk increases and the more you fall into the hands of lady luck on the result.

If you think we're going to go to Maine Road in a few weeks and play ANY different to last night, you're dreaming. 0-0 all the way with the potential to nick a win. It's how he has approached all of the big games ALL season and it's how he is approaching basically every game now due to the importance at this stage.

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I fully agree. Think we played really well and unlucky not to be 2-0. They have won every game at home in the CL this season and have also won their last 17 there in all competitions.

Wd MA imho.

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Originally Posted by Sir C

If we come up against Bayern, RM or Barcelona playing the way we are currently it will be embarrassing.

I don't even want to think about what's going to happen at the Etihad. Pep must be licking his lips.

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Ah well if you want us to play those at their own game then there is a simple solution. If we can get special dispensation to buy Doue, Alvarez etc now then great.

If not then we have to work with what we?ve got - which is limited.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 7sisters

That?s my problem with Arteta. He?s gone from fairly free flowing, quick on the break football to this pedestrian sludge in the space of two seasons, and with the added bonus of some expensive reinforcements.
Fully expect him to continue in this manner until the end of the season. He couldn?t change too much now, even if he wanted to. 3pts v Bournemouth gives us a 12pt cushion before City go to Chelsea on Sunday. Anything less than a win there should see us home and dry.
Not quite the victory procession run in of Champions past but we?ll all take winning ugly, as opposed to implosion.
As an aside. There was an abundance of unforced errors in that Madrid v Bryan game last night so I?m not completely giving up on big ears just yet either :-)

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That?d because opposition teams afforded us huge amounts of space. Now they do not and we don?t have the technical quality in those tight spaces.

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Originally Posted by Rich

That?d because opposition teams afforded us huge amounts of space. Now they do not and we don?t have the technical quality in those tight spaces.

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It?s a combination of factors, R. Zubimendi isn?t anywhere near as effective as an inform Partey. Odegaard?s way off the pace but this could be injuries. Arteta has yet to workout how to get the best from Eze and Saka, normally a Houdini of a player in tight spaces, just hasn?t turned up in the second half of the season, again, probably as a result of injuries.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 7sisters

That?s my problem with Arteta. He?s gone from fairly free flowing, quick on the break football to this pedestrian sludge in the space of two seasons, and with the added bonus of some expensive reinforcements.
Fully expect him to continue in this manner until the end of the season. He couldn?t change too much now, even if he wanted to. 3pts v Bournemouth gives us a 12pt cushion before City go to Chelsea on Sunday. Anything less than a win there should see us home and dry.
Not quite the victory procession run in of Champions past but we?ll all take winning ugly, as opposed to implosion.
As an aside. There was an abundance of unforced errors in that Madrid v Bryan game last night so I?m not completely giving up on big ears just yet either :-)

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But that is exactly the point. He had a go at winning the title playing free flowing attacking football and came unstuck. Whether that was injuries or whatever else is down to how you see it. But he has gone away, predicted how football will evolve and has come back with this approach. If he wins the league or the CL this season, then his approach will be vindicated.

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Originally Posted by PSRB

Gyokeres should never have been offside for the Zubimendi goal

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Very unusual, for him, as he's very rarely caught. I love that about him; it's because he's spent most of his career playing for rubbish teams where you don't get too many chances.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 7sisters

That?s my problem with Arteta. He?s gone from fairly free flowing, quick on the break football to this pedestrian sludge in the space of two seasons, and with the added bonus of some expensive reinforcements.
Fully expect him to continue in this manner until the end of the season. He couldn?t change too much now, even if he wanted to. 3pts v Bournemouth gives us a 12pt cushion before City go to Chelsea on Sunday. Anything less than a win there should see us home and dry.
Not quite the victory procession run in of Champions past but we?ll all take winning ugly, as opposed to implosion.
As an aside. There was an abundance of unforced errors in that Madrid v Bryan game last night so I?m not completely giving up on big ears just yet either :-)

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:-\ Remember the Anfield '89 run in.

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Originally Posted by Maravilloso Marvo

Was it playing badly though? I mean, I guess it depends on your benchmark for good and bad. It certainly wasn't free flowing, attacking football with the handbrake off. But if you think Arteta is going to play like that, with this team, at this stage of the season in a game like that, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. I have no doubt that if Arteta wanted to go out all guns blazing, he could set the team up like that. It is a choice, and one based upon data and statistics that guides him to approaching games like this, or most games now at the moment, in a controlled manner with low risk. The more attacking you play, the more the risk increases and the more you fall into the hands of lady luck on the result.

If you think we're going to go to Maine Road in a few weeks and play ANY different to last night, you're dreaming. 0-0 all the way with the potential to nick a win. It's how he has approached all of the big games ALL season and it's how he is approaching basically every game now due to the importance at this stage.

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Well that was the first game in the CL this year that we have been that conservative. Munich, Atl Madrid and the rest of our CL games we played with a lot more adventure.

Watching PSG last, specifically their 2nd goal. I found myself thinking not how brilliant K-man is (he is) but whether any of our attacking players would have made that run, and if they had would the player on the ball have played that pass.

The answer to both questions is no, sadly. And it has nothing to do with tactics or team selection. Neither of those stops that run from being made or that ball from being played.

It has to do with mentality. And mentality is Arteta's responsibility.