Time for some home truths

[redgunamo]

Largely agreed. The football HAS to improve now. We spend the sort of sums needed to find quality players and if we cant find them then I'd take serious issue with those responsible for doing so.

We got over the line in the Premier League. Now we need to play like champions- dominate games, find different ways to create, put the rubbish sides to bed every week.

And for the big games, we need to develop a defensive approach that doesnt completely obliterate our own threat on the break. The way we played at City is closer to the template we need, even though we lost that game.

We're champions. The football is fine.

[redgunamo]

The euphoria of winning the title has been shot down by yesterday's performance. On paper everything is a great achievement this season. Two finals and the league... But I have not enjoyed this season one bit. The football has been terrible to watch and I don't think I can handle watching another season of toothless dross. Saka can f*cking do one as far as I'm concerned. Highest paid player at the club and has a season like that. Unforgivable.

Good news is we'd have made a pretty penny from this season so time to heavily invest in the squad (again). A striker who can actually trap a ball would be nice.

lol. We are champions. If, as a supporter, you cannot enjoy and appreciate that then what are you even doing!

[Peter]

Yes, but it's the idea that we won't do that, that the manager is somehow against it ...

To be expected from rival's supporters but, come on!

In football you have to improve just to stand still. Arteta will want more and better and he will want it now.

Next season starts tomorrow

[Sir C]

Our attack is that of a mid table side. It?s something of a miracle that we lifted the title, and in the end, by a healthy margin.
I?m going to put Saka?s dive in form down to injury and rehab. Still not convinced about Gyok.
Trossard?s done as an attacking force, despite his defensive work rate. Martinelli looks unable to go up a level.
I?m not overly convinced about Eze or Odegaard supplying service to the frontline either but on balance, Arteta will no doubt persevere.
It?ll be an interesting window because we won?t retain the title unless we pose more of a goal threat

I'm a huge admirer of Arteta. I love his intelligence, the way he represents the club, how he rebuilt the squad with no regard for big egos and prioritised getting the support back on board.

His style of football sucks balls. Whether that is down to him or simply a reflection of the way tactics have evolved, I'm unsure; but I generally don't enjoy watching us play and I hope that changes next season.

But the greater point is one of individual quality. We have a Seaman in Raya. We have a Campbell in Gabriel (not to mention a Beckenbauer in Saliba!) We have a Vieira in Rice. But we have no Bergkamp, no Henry and no Pires to light things up.

[John Bunnell]

lol. We are champions. If, as a supporter, you cannot enjoy and appreciate that then what are you even doing!

The football we play, is really really ****. That's the end of it. And it's not sustainable.

[Peter]

I'm a huge admirer of Arteta. I love his intelligence, the way he represents the club, how he rebuilt the squad with no regard for big egos and prioritised getting the support back on board.

His style of football sucks balls. Whether that is down to him or simply a reflection of the way tactics have evolved, I'm unsure; but I generally don't enjoy watching us play and I hope that changes next season.

But the greater point is one of individual quality. We have a Seaman in Raya. We have a Campbell in Gabriel (not to mention a Beckenbauer in Saliba!) We have a Vieira in Rice. But we have no Bergkamp, no Henry and no Pires to light things up.

Like the world is awash with Bergkamps.....

Point taken, but that is a pretty high bar you are setting.

[7sisters]

Like the world is awash with Bergkamps.....

Point taken, but that is a pretty high bar you are setting.

He?s right though. I?m not sure anyone will ever fill the shoe?s of our genius, Dutch master but we must do better in the way we string passes together from midfield to the front.
We have a Rolls Royce engine purring away inside a Subaru as it were. Effective but with few admiring glances. We need panache and flair, a Cazorla type to pull the strings and an Etikite style CF. There?s also a lot of media talk of Roger?s but I?ve not really seen enough of him.

[Peter]

He?s right though. I?m not sure anyone will ever fill the shoe?s of our genius, Dutch master but we must do better in the way we string passes together from midfield to the front.
We have a Rolls Royce engine purring away inside a Subaru as it were. Effective but with few admiring glances. We need panache and flair, a Cazorla type to pull the strings and an Etikite style CF. There?s also a lot of media talk of Roger?s but I?ve not really seen enough of him.

I wonder if we just aren't very good at buying forwards. It isnt as if we haven't spent enough on them.

Or does our tactical approach make our defenders look better than they are and our forwards worse?

[redgunamo]

The football we play, is really really ****. That's the end of it. And it's not sustainable.

The end of it is the title, I think you'll find

And since when was football supposed to be sustainable!

[redgunamo]

I wonder if we just aren't very good at buying forwards. It isnt as if we haven't spent enough on them.

Or does our tactical approach make our defenders look better than they are and our forwards worse?

I think our forwards look very nice, especially with those gold medal-things around their necks