Topic: Arsenal

[Lycan]

How did Arteta's audition for City job go?

It wasn't great, to be honest. A timid/cagey display from his side.

[Crosby Nick]

It wasn't great, to be honest. A timid/cagey display from his side.

Maybe that’s what Master demanded?

[The North Bank]

I think a few things were going round Artetas head. Priority is obviously the league in the position we are in so I don't think he's gutted to be out the cup. I also think Arteta wanted to avoid the first choice team potentially getting outplayed and scarring us for the league game in a couple of weeks.
That seemed to filter down to the players who didn't seem to stick or twist at times. Thought they competed vs City quite well but didn't really go at it with full intensity or belief.

The game at The Emirates will be a different game altogether. I think we might still have a bit of a complex at the toughest of grounds still, like the Etihad, Anfield and Old Trafford, but think we fancy our chances vs anyone at The Emirates.

I was more impressed with us than city yesterday, they picked a team to send a message , everything was timid including their atmosphere, it was played at pre season pace. Now we’ve had a look at them closely I think our players will be pleased with what they saw. No matter how far ahead we are in the league people will keep saying city are favourites, so it was important for our players to go there and see that even with a makeshift team and playing half arsed we might have beaten them.
I see us beating them at home in the league , I think Haaland outside the box is a liability , reminded me of Benteke yesterday in the second half when we brought on a proper defender. De Bruynes legs are definitely going, still capable of brilliance but can he be the heart beat of a team that can win 15 in a row I have big doubts. If we beat them in the home game and I make us favourites, that’s the title over. If we go 11 ahead they’re not coming back. We are in a great position, much better than what most people realise to be honest.

[Barneylfc∗]

I was more impressed with us than city yesterday, they picked a team to send a message , everything was timid including their atmosphere, it was played at pre season pace. Now we’ve had a look at them closely I think our players will be pleased with what they saw. No matter how far ahead we are in the league people will keep saying city are favourites, so it was important for our players to go there and see that even with a makeshift team and playing half arsed we might have beaten them.
I see us beating them at home in the league , I think Haaland outside the box is a liability , reminded me of Benteke yesterday in the second half when we brought on a proper defender. De Bruynes legs are definitely going, still capable of brilliance but can he be the heart beat of a team that can win 15 in a row I have big doubts. If we beat them in the home game and I make us favourites, that’s the title over. If we go 11 ahead they’re not coming back. We are in a great position, much better than what most people realise to be honest.

It'll be one of the biggest bottle jobs in the history of football if you don't win it from here.

[Crosby Nick]

I think most people have you down as favourites and are saying you’d have to blow it not to win it from here?

How long until you play them? Could the gap come down between now and then?

Was out with an Arsena fan last night (and Brentford ST holder). He was worrying about 5 games - City x 2, is and Newcastle away and Chelsea (at home?). But his view was, two draws against City, or at least one win, and you should go on and win it.

[deano2727]

I think most people have you down as favourites and are saying you’d have to blow it not to win it from here?

How long until you play them? Could the gap come down between now and then?

Was out with an Arsena fan last night (and Brentford ST holder). He was worrying about 5 games - City x 2, is and Newcastle away and Chelsea (at home?). But his view was, two draws against City, or at least one win, and you should go on and win it.

While theoritically they can lose to City, it's likely they can't. I reckon you'd struggle to find an Arsenal fan who wouldn't take 2 draws. It would likely be enough if they don't shit the bed. If City get into of those runs of form we've seen them get into almost every season, I think Arsenal will be in for a rude awakening. It looks good now, but in two gameweeks it can change, and before you know it they've won 10 on the trot. It's definitely not the City team that we had some of the greatest battles with in English football history, if not world football - but they have talent and experience in galore. Still has the bones there of what was/are,if we're being painfully honest, the greatest premier league side of all time (still no CL mind, tw*ts). Fair play to Arsenal, they are on course for one of those seasons. I think it will be decided in the early 90s this year though.

Anfield away, despite our troubles, is another game that won't be a banker for them. Particularly since we should be full strengthish by then. Same applies to City too.

Long, long way to go. Shame we aren't there, but it's nice to see Arsenal challenging again after so long being happy winning the FA cup every other year. Don't think many of us, including Arsenal fans could have predicted they would take this kind of leap so soon.

[Barneylfc∗]

While theoritically they can lose to City, it's likely they can't. I reckon you'd struggle to find an Arsenal fan who wouldn't take 2 draws. It would likely be enough if they don't shit the bed. If City get into of those runs of form we've seen them get into almost every season, I think Arsenal will be in for a rude awakening. It looks good now, but in two gameweeks it can change, and before you know it they've won 10 on the trot. It's definitely not the City team that we had some of the greatest battles with in English football history, if not world football - but they have talent and experience in galore. Still has the bones there of what was/are,if we're being painfully honest, the greatest premier league side of all time (still no CL mind, tw*ts). Fair play to Arsenal, they are on course for one of those seasons. I think it will be decided in the early 90s this year though.

Anfield away, despite our troubles, is another game that won't be a banker for them. Particularly since we should be full strengthish by then. Same applies to City too.

Long, long way to go. Shame we aren't there, but it's nice to see Arsenal challenging again after so long being happy winning the FA cup every other year. Don't think many of us, including Arsenal fans could have predicted they would take this kind of leap so soon.

No chance. Not even in the conversation. You can't consider a cheat to be the best.

[El Lobo]

That was almost like a win for these last night. Abu Dhabi barely laid a glove on them, very comfortable even when Partey went off and would have gone through if it wasn’t for a freak goal from Ake and Arteta clearly having bigger fish to fry. That was Abu Dhabi at full strength and they were rubbish again, like Barney says if Arsenal weren’t to win the title from here it’d now eclipse Keegan as the greatest PL bottle job of all time. Bookies have already paid out on it and rightly so

[1892tillforever]

That was almost like a win for these last night. Abu Dhabi barely laid a glove on them, very comfortable even when Partey went off and would have gone through if it wasn’t for a freak goal from Ake and Arteta clearly having bigger fish to fry. That was Abu Dhabi at full strength and they were rubbish again, like Barney says if Arsenal weren’t to win the title from here it’d now eclipse Keegan as the greatest PL bottle job of all time. Bookies have already paid out on it and rightly so

Madness that is. They are 5 clear with a game in hand with basically half a season left! Arsenal have a LOT of work to do because titles generally aren't won easily, especially for teams and managers experiencing the pressure for the first time. This isn't the oil cheats of the last few years but they still have enough about them to capitalise on any Arsenal mistakes. It is a long way from being over IMO.

[Bergersrightwingviews]

City will spark these in the league. I expect Arsenal to do what they always do and drop off after a promising start. Should be a shoo in for CL football though which is massive for them.

[The G in Gerrard]

It wasn't great, to be honest. A timid/cagey display from his side.

He's peaked. Downhill from now on.

[Pistolero]

Wisely keeping their powder dry till the league meetings....good on them

[Barneylfc∗]

Madness that is. They are 5 clear with a game in hand with basically half a season left! Arsenal have a LOT of work to do because titles generally aren't won easily, especially for teams and managers experiencing the pressure for the first time. This isn't the oil cheats of the last few years but they still have enough about them to capitalise on any Arsenal mistakes. It is a long way from being over IMO.

Paddy Power paid out on us to win the league after we beat Abu Dhabi in the Charity Shield 

[The North Bank]

While theoritically they can lose to City, it's likely they can't. I reckon you'd struggle to find an Arsenal fan who wouldn't take 2 draws. It would likely be enough if they don't shit the bed. If City get into of those runs of form we've seen them get into almost every season, I think Arsenal will be in for a rude awakening. It looks good now, but in two gameweeks it can change, and before you know it they've won 10 on the trot. It's definitely not the City team that we had some of the greatest battles with in English football history, if not world football - but they have talent and experience in galore. Still has the bones there of what was/are,if we're being painfully honest, the greatest premier league side of all time (still no CL mind, tw*ts). Fair play to Arsenal, they are on course for one of those seasons. I think it will be decided in the early 90s this year though.

Anfield away, despite our troubles, is another game that won't be a banker for them. Particularly since we should be full strengthish by then. Same applies to City too.

Long, long way to go. Shame we aren't there, but it's nice to see Arsenal challenging again after so long being happy winning the FA cup every other year. Don't think many of us, including Arsenal fans could have predicted they would take this kind of leap so soon.

Would definitely take 2 draws.... I think even 1 draw and a defeat keeps us favorites, city have it all to do they need to keep winning.

[bornandbRED]

Just over half the way into the season. There’s a long, long way to go yet. The run in doesn’t start for another 10 games.

[Bobinhood]

I'd be happy for L'Arse to win it over City any day of the week, at least its a real team with some real history that likes to play football and entertain and do it within the spirit of the ffp, so its no contest at all.

Having said that , Arteta does my head in. He was a pretty classy player albiet for a shit team but Pep seems to have beat all that out of him and hes just a complaining micro managing sideshow bob now. Pretty sure his players dont listen to a word he says while the games on, you'd never be able to play and listen at the same time.

[Bullet500]

That was almost like a win for these last night. Abu Dhabi barely laid a glove on them, very comfortable even when Partey went off and would have gone through if it wasn’t for a freak goal from Ake and Arteta clearly having bigger fish to fry. That was Abu Dhabi at full strength and they were rubbish again, like Barney says if Arsenal weren’t to win the title from here it’d now eclipse Keegan as the greatest PL bottle job of all time. Bookies have already paid out on it and rightly so

[deano2727]

No chance. Not even in the conversation. You can't consider a cheat to be the best.

Unfortunately this isn't cycling or something. it's a team game, with a team assembled with dodgy funds. Ultimately, history won't care - only us fans who were bettered by the smallest of margins...twice...

Unfair as it is, it's how it is. Amazing team, and 1% better than us at our primes, but nowhere near as impressive as us considering what you said. But alas, unless something happens like happened in Italy and they get stripped titles - they trumped us in the league record books in our recent rivalrly.

[The North Bank]

Unfortunately this isn't cycling or something. it's a team game, with a team assembled with dodgy funds. Ultimately, history won't care - only us fans who were bettered by the smallest of margins...twice...

Unfair as it is, it's how it is. Amazing team, and 1% better than us at our primes, but nowhere near as impressive as us considering what you said. But alas, unless something happens like happened in Italy and they get stripped titles - they trumped us in the league record books in our recent rivalrly.

Still couldn’t go a whole season unbeaten.

[deano2727]

Still couldn’t go a whole season unbeaten.

Or win a Champions League. 

[The North Bank]

Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Liverpool's days of dominance English football alongside Manchester City may be over amid his side's difficult start to the Premier League season.

“It will be absolutely difficult because of the quality of the teams, the money around and the quality of the coaches which has improved a lot as well.

“Arsenal are a sensational team. Mikel had time pretty much with just a little bit of European football in the last few years and he is doing an outstanding job.

“They will not go away easily and say ‘we had a year, thank you very much. United is in a really good moment, whatever happens there they will not stop investing and improving.


Jeez I hope Lobo doesnt read this, especially the bolded bit.

[El Lobo]

Sorry mate just been away on an Arsenal forum desperately appealing and begging for their approval, for some reason.

He’s right of course, it won’t be easy. But as ever, we’ll be here for you

[redgriffin73]

Sorry mate just been away on an Arsenal forum desperately appealing and begging for their approval, for some reason.

[The North Bank]

Sorry mate just been away on an Arsenal forum desperately appealing and begging for their approval, for some reason.

He’s right of course, it won’t be easy. But as ever, we’ll be here for you

I think you can make it anywhere, just need to believe in yourself a bit more.

[Terry de Niro]

Sorry mate just been away on an Arsenal forum desperately appealing and begging for their approval, for some reason.

He’s right of course, it won’t be easy. But as ever, we’ll be here for you

[Ghost Town]

Sorry mate just been away on an Arsenal forum desperately appealing and begging for their approval, for some reason.

This is the stuff I come here for

[Barneylfc∗]

Unfortunately this isn't cycling or something. it's a team game, with a team assembled with dodgy funds. Ultimately, history won't care - only us fans who were bettered by the smallest of margins...twice...

Unfair as it is, it's how it is. Amazing team, and 1% better than us at our primes, but nowhere near as impressive as us considering what you said. But alas, unless something happens like happened in Italy and they get stripped titles - they trumped us in the league record books in our recent rivalrly.

If you want to glorify cheating that's entirely up to you. I choose not to.
There's literally nothing that club has done in the last 15 years that deserves any kind of recognition whatsoever.
We fell short of winning the league against them a few times, but put us up against any non doped club in the history of football and we come out on top every time.

[G Richards]

Still couldn’t go a whole season unbeaten.

That was an excellent Arsenal achievement.

The points haul would have finished a very creditable third, behind us and City, in recent seasons.

[G Richards]

If you want to glorify cheating that's entirely up to you. I choose not to.
There's literally nothing that club has done in the last 15 years that deserves any kind of recognition whatsoever.
We fell short of winning the league against them a few times, but put us up against any non doped club in the history of football and we come out on top every time.

Well said.

There’s nothing that Man City have achieved that has any merit.

[deano2727]

If you want to glorify cheating that's entirely up to you. I choose not to.
There's literally nothing that club has done in the last 15 years that deserves any kind of recognition whatsoever.
We fell short of winning the league against them a few times, but put us up against any non doped club in the history of football and we come out on top every time.

Agreed on everything. Sadly history remembers the victors (unless they are punished like Juve for example). We all know what happened. We all know that Klopp's Liverpool team is greater than anything done by City... But as sad as it is, it won't be remembered as fondly in 50 years because we got narrowly beat by an oil state. I hate it, but what to do. As a soon to be 30 year old, I'm just happy to put a lifetime of "almost" (and plenty of "not even close" moments) and gloating Mancs behind me. The Klopp years are beautiful - I think the older heads on here will agree and put it up there with the glory of the 70s and early 80s. Whatever happens next is a bonus.

We're privileged enough to follow a club who even when the chips are down, can still pull off something special. The last few years have taken it out of me (all of us... City fans too), but I know there is so much more magic to come.

[Bullet500]

That was an excellent Arsenal achievement.

The points haul would have finished a very creditable third, behind us and City, in recent seasons.

"The league ____ tougher ____."

[Tonyh8su]

Sorry mate just been away on an Arsenal forum desperately appealing and begging for their approval, for some reason.

He’s right of course, it won’t be easy. But as ever, we’ll be here for you

Bravo.

[tonysleft]

If they had got Caicedo and Mudryk this window title would be over. Jorginho isnt an impressive signing

[newterp]

If they had got Caicedo and Mudryk this window title would be over. Jorginho isnt an impressive signing

Certainly more impressive than, say, Arthur Melo.

[Crosby Nick]

Do we have to shit on our own (lack of) business in every thread? Some of us come in here for some respite.

[rossipersempre]

Some of us come in here for some respite.

"Crosby Nick is a voyeur. He likes to watch."

[The North Bank]

If they had got Caicedo and Mudryk this window title would be over. Jorginho isnt an impressive signing

Don’t think we can afford both. I probably would’ve gone for Caciedo if I had to choose between the two, especially with Trossard on board.

[ScottishGoon]

If they had got Caicedo and Mudryk this window title would be over. Jorginho isnt an impressive signing

I don't think anyone is expected to sit up and say wow, Jorginho is an impressive signing. He is what he is, short term cover to cover Elneny's injury with a player Arteta has historically liked.

We clearly want to make at least 1 big Centre Midfield signing. The 3 we bid on / are most linked with are Zubimendi, Caicedo and Rice. They were likely earmarked as a summer signing, but we've tried to get 1 in early. All proved too difficult for different reasons this window.

I'd imagine we'll try for at least 1 of them in the summer. We could have just waited until then and done nothing, but with injuries we are painfully short in midfield, so we've made a short term signing of a highly experienced Premier League player that helps fill that gap.

You should know about that. Is Weghorst a particularly impressive signing? Don't think so but he'll do a job until you get someone better in. Sabitzer i think is a good player though.

[Red-Soldier]

I don't think anyone is expected to sit up and say wow, Jorginho is an impressive signing. He is what he is, short term cover to cover Elneny's injury with a player Arteta has historically liked.

We clearly want to make at least 1 big Centre Midfield signing. The 3 we bid on / are most linked with are Zubimendi, Caicedo and Rice. They were likely earmarked as a summer signing, but we've tried to get 1 in early. All proved too difficult for different reasons this window.

I'd imagine we'll try for at least 1 of them in the summer. We could have just waited until then and done nothing, but with injuries we are painfully short in midfield, so we've made a short term signing of a highly experienced Premier League player that helps fill that gap.

You should know about that. Is Weghorst a particularly impressive signing? Don't think so but he'll do a job until you get someone better in. Sabitzer i think is a good player though.

Sounds familiar that...........

[ScottishGoon]

Sounds familiar that...........

Your sort of damned if you do and damned if you don't as well mind you, look at the reaction from a lot of the fanbase over this deal.

Think people are a bit too hung up about profiles of players as well, seen several comments saying Caicedo is nothing like Jorginho for instance. Jesus is nothing like Vlahovic either, you can tweak / adjust tactics to help fit if needed.