If you came here expecting TRUST THE PROCESS propaganda, you’d be absolutely correct.
The Mikel Arteta fan club just had its servers crash after a masterclass under pressure.
We downed Racist FC. No, we smashed them. It was an absolutely brutal takedown. Majestic under any circumstances, more so because of the context of the scuzzy team, and the moment in our season that felt do or die.
The big worry is we’d see a return of players we’ve not been happy with.
Auba didn’t start. Was he the leaker? Did we have another Ozil situation brewing? Was this because of the authoritarian management of a novice manager reported in the French press?
No. Turns out flu was actually malaria. Yikes. That’s not good. If I remember correctly, Kolo Toure took quite a while to fully recover from the disease way back when. Wishing Auba all the best though. Sounds like he was doing captain duties from his sick bed, that was great to hear.
The ‘you are a terrible person for having an opinion’ police dishing out ethics lessons on Twitter need to pipe down. The club told us he had flu. He’s been playing poorly all season. He’s had discipline issues. If you’re above making a comment on that, fine, but please, don’t lecture people for working with the information they had.
Back to the game.
Things blew up pretty quick after 10 minutes. ESR tapped in the second ball after Saka hit the post, VAR cancelled it out, you immediately wondered if that was going to be our night.
It was not. No one felt sorry of themselves. We powered on, sticking to the plan, creating chances, and most importantly this time… taking them.
Nico scored a superb goal, breaking the offside trap by inches, then holding off shooting until 3 players had dropped to the floor before rifling into the next.
Bukayo Saka had another crack cutting in from the right, instead of gong for the far post, he caught the keeper off guard with a stunning low near post shot. Beautiful angles.
Lacazette made amends for his sins last week. He buried a penalty with his usual coolness. His second goal was outrageous footwork that blinded 2 defenders, his drag back perfectly executed in tandem with a clean striker.
Bob Holding and Pablo Mari kept things incredibly tidy for the game.
Thomas Partey pulled midfield strings again whilst also offering up a masterclass in shielding our backline.
Granit Xhaka, left back to the gods, dropped another good game.
We qualified. But in style. Performances matter, that was a performance.
So what do we have to say about that?
Playing your best players is usually the best option. Arteta didn’t start Martinelli, but I don’t think you could argue with anyone he had in the starting 11. Smith Rowe was absolutely explosive, he is the absolute real deal and I can’t believe we’ve landed him at the same time as Saka. His running is exceptional, his off-ball movement is so modern and difficult to track, he’s decisive and so alert. This kid will be a 15 goal a season player when it all clicks for him. You also couldn’t argue the inclusion of Pepe. He was brilliant again. He’s confident, increasingly decisive in big moments, and he finally looks like he’s enjoying himself. His goal was a thing of beauty, shades of Kanu, exactly what we were hoping we bought.
It’s becoming hard to deny that Lacazette is the better forward for this system. Auba is great if you want to build your game around feeding him chances. For me, Lacazette connecting 3-4 players with his quick passing and deft movement feels really promising. Our forward line in the last 2 games has looked devastating and incredibly dynamic. Now everyone is finding the Midas touch, it’d be tough to break the flow up. Interesting that Eddie is picking up minutes now, clearly to get him into shape with Auba out for a while. Shame it’s not Balogun, sounds like he’s going to leave Arsenal this summer, what a shame. Final point on our attack, we’re doing this without Tierney, Auba, or Odegaard.
Defensively, we were very strong again. Pablo Mari and Rob Holding dropped clean sheet number two. Do I like that? Yes I do. Can we move away from the idea David Luiz needs to be the future of our central defence? Isn’t it time to move on from a once elite player that will never give you reliability? Bring Saliba into the fold next season and age down our backline. It’s time.
Let’s also talk about Arteta. He had not showered himself in glory over the last month. He invited the doubters back in with familiar mistakes. It looked like the team was floating away from him. Made worse by the leaks. But here we are again, watching him do the business in a competition he needs to win. His tactics were spot on in both legs, the personnel not so much. Last night, we banged, every player worked for that win, there were no passengers. He needs to remember this. When his back is against the wall, who does he turn to? The hungry players that want it. I love that the players are reacting well to his systems and that his systems are starting to work better for the players. Arsenal, collectively, are becoming a more intelligent team. We just need to do it on a run of games. Pockets of form do not qualify you for the Champions League.
It’s also worth talking about the leaks. Someone went to L’quipe and complained about the same things that went into The Sun before the Sheffield United game. Authoritarian management, unhappy senior players, and Thomas Partey not being played correctly. 2 games, 2 leaks, 2 wins. The leaks aren’t coming from players we should care about. There’s no manager coming into to work with this lot that wouldn’t make the older player change their games. As for authoritarian, again, what is the counterpoint? Build out a creche like Wenger did? Cave to senior demands like Unai Emery? This phase of Arsenal cannot be a negotiation with players that aren’t doing it.
The path we’re on is the right one if Arteta learns his lessons, fast. Stick with the players that want to be at the new Arsenal. Give chances to young players with high ceilings. Develop senior players who want to learn. Keep improving how we do things week in, week out.
The next round of the Europa is against Unai Emery. We must destroy Villareal. There’s no other outcome that is acceptable. A see a lot of people crying about how classy he was. It needs to stop, this is a guy brought in by a super agent, late to the process, who landed the job without speaking English. He literally did a deal with the devil, and when Raul let him go kicking and screaming, a skint Arsenal paid him out in a lump sum instead of putting him on gardening leave like every other club would have.
This cut back merchant needs to feel the full force of the new Arsenal. Arteta needs to make a statement in both legs. We need make sure we see a bang-bang performance because I honestly cannot deal with the Emery fan club any longer. The weirdest fetish on the internet.
A final against Manchester United will be very tough, but in a one-off, you’d have to fancy our chances.
But first… we need to exact a lesson on Villareal. Last time we were in a semi against them we made a Champions League final. Time for us to make another European Cup Final and actually win one this time.
Onwards. Podcast on Sunday. See you in the comments. #ArtetaFanClub
Fucking cheats
Disgusting
No complaints about the penalty but LOL at that one being onside and saka being off
It always happens when Poulsen is the ref
The guy anticipating a trip from Gabriel and fell BUT Gabriel pulled his foot.back very quickly
Fucking corrupt guy hiding behind the VaR
That set of var decisions is scandalous
We have lost more points to VAR than any team this season.
Still 30 min to punish fulham
Make some changes ffa
Arteta doing his best to fuck this game up.
Samesong – could be yet another record for the generational one – he Is getting quite a collection of “first ever” defeats.
Useroz, Fulham are playing for their lives on the top flight. We haven’t had anything to play for since getting enough points to avoid relegation in February time.
Offside using same ridiculous criteria as before and was sent a pen
Rules are disgracing football
It’s cheating VAR and the softest pen ever
Same same same way to play against arsenal. Give them the ball, they are mostly useless, fool them with possession and let them offer you your chance to kill them by themselves
No way. Fuck me that was ridiculous. Saka gets chopped down for blatant penalty, not given..their was absolutely the bare minimum of touched. Var should of seen that he was going down almost before he even got near him. Fucking horrendous decision
Wasn’t
Oh look we are upping the pace. What kind of motivation are these guys given before kickoff.
CVNTS
Dissenter, go to your own blog. You enjoy goading Arsenal fans way too much.
Pepe and partey please
Moray I can understand fulham being desperate and doing the antics but the refs and Var are supposed to see with open eyes and mind
A serious coach will be chopping off elnenhy now but you just arteta won’t do anything meaningful now till it’s almost too late
Be honest, would Arsenal have been given that Fulham penalty?
Gabriel is an accident waiting to happen.
There was no need for him to even try and win the ball. And yes he caught the Fulham player
Pepe should be on now
Samesong – could be yet another record for the generational one – he Is getting quite a collection of “first ever” defeats.
I’m still sticking to 3-1 but yeah every possibility.
When are we going to put all this bullshit politics behind us and focus on the real problems facing the world today. VAR!!!!!! Is the worlds biggest issue still ruining the greatest game on earth. The game is utterly fucking ruined with VAR. the fact I have to find out who the VAR official is before a game to find out which moron is gonna mess the day up, is unreal. There is nothing beautiful about football anymore and if people don’t say enough is enough this will only get worse.
MF remains a disconnect. Partey coming on 77″?
That cunt Stewart Atwell,another wanker ref on Var.How the f*** k was that not offside or a dive after.Scandalous.If you’re judging the same distance that we were denied for the goal.It exactly the same.f*** no criminal.
BTW not just partey. Pepe too.
Persistent fouling Arsenal player’s cards should be coming out.
Btw the worst decision was the free kick given against martinelli for what definitely was not a foul and he was clear and through on goal.
Shouldn’t have rested Mari.
Gabriel is a useless defender, easily get ruffled
Of course VAR rules in THEIR favour.
If it wasn’t for VAR we would have had this buried.
Having said that, we lack so much depth of quality when we need our best and top players to see off relegation fodder like Fulham.
I’m sorry I honestly think it wasn’t a penalty and I saw very very little contact. Ridiculous ffs
Martinelli has done fuck all for me today, against a shit poor team as well. I think this proves why he was not started for a long period this season. I couldn’t give a fuck how mich fire he has on in training …
Yes I think we will win 2-1 but it would be our first ever home loss to Fulham ever not just at the Emirates. Going back to 1904. He’s not just generational he is epochal.
Why not Xhaka on the freekicks? he’s got a bullet of a left foot.
Where’s intensity
China1
Patience. It is not 82 minutes yet. Saka should have taken that kick. Laca cannot get a lift. Every time, but our sauceful moron dies not know
Pass ceballos ffs
We have only three games of consequence this season
April 26th
May 6th
May 26th
The best is fluff
Just hope no key player gets a season ending injury
I full expect us to beat Fulham
Can’t believe we need Partey to beat Fulham.
Arteta going break another record I suppose. Fulham have never won in the last 29 meetings against arsenal.
When’s the fraud gonna leave? Or are we still blaming emery for this shit show.
Only thing funnier than watching this amateur Artita fvcking up over and over again
Is the dumass Donnie on his millionth moniker changing his tune every hour. Arteta out for him now I guess. Watch this space.
This is turgid
Partey and pepe on for elneny and bellerin
Bellerin what a shit thou art
Oh…. so close for bellerin. But he should hit target with a free header from 6 yards!!!!
Bellerin was captain? Jesus, no wonder this team is going down the drain. No leadership whatsoever.
Lacazette done
Laca hammy in trouble. Shit.
Hamstring
Arteta loves breaking all the bad records this season . First time Fulham wins at the emirates I believe
Lacazette injured!!
AFC
‘ Shouldn’t have rested Mari‘
Criticising Arteta’s selection.
Oh the irony
That’s why we need Balogun on bench.
Eddie for laca
Martinelli needs to work on his decision making.
Oh fuck… great now Laca is injured.. this season… I swear is just one thing after another.
Shit. No Laca for a while.
Why would Mari be tired anyway ? !
Should have used martinelli up top. Arteta clueless as usual.
Emery is shit that said
Arteta is the one they said,
The generational talent they said
Bunch of fvcking nincompoops
No Peckobill – first time ever away to Arsenal.
That’s gutting about Lacazette, that’s probably going to be at least a couple of weeks out. So typical of our luck, he is in such good form.
Shit. Cleared on the line
Shit
How did he not score that
That’s why you play Martinelli through the middle.
Holding is an idiot
People have been suggesting that things will be ok without PEA and Lacazette well you will get your chance
Martinelli has created so many chances today. Incredible we haven’t scored yet.
Terraloon
We are also saying arsenal are better without arteta, wonder when we’ll get that chance?
With Pepe in, and a positive passer Partey, see Martinelli now.
Told you’ll Arteta intention was to see Martinelli fail so he never needs to bring him in again
We’re a really static team.
It’s very frustrating watching us this season so many lows
It’s like fuxking subbuteo.
Pepe should go for the byline by default and mix it.. don’t stand and wriggle.
Auba should be back by next Thursday
I’ll hurt more from Laca’s hammies giving out than losing today
C’mon Arsenal
Pepe and martinelli are just too alike, you don’t play ball to their feet and expect something nice to happen
On replay across goal, pepe had a poor connection with the header…
Pedro, gonna take any responsibility whatsoever you loser? For backing another loser? For driving a bandwagon carrying another bunch of losers?
If we have Mari and Holding in defense, Partey in midfield and Saka and ESR combining with Laca in attack, we can win a lot of games but Arteta can’t stop being a smart arse always chopping and changing. Wenger teams always used to go on a winning streak of a dozen games or more at least once every season by sticking with the same 11. Arteta and VAR have cost us a lot of points. We should have competed for top 4 given how inconsistent every team has been in the league except City.
Gon.
Yep they say that with good reason
Graham
Jesus it gets worse , arteta currently holding some of the most terrible record . He’s generationally shite
Arteta is a curse
As soon they scored I knew it would be 10 men behind the ball we won’t break them down
Difficult last 15 minutes
No Peckobill it’s worse than that and this is more than one generation – we first played Fulham in 1904 I think when we were still Woolwich Arsenal.
Not only are we losing this. We’ve lost Laca for goodness knows how long!
Was I wrong in hearing the commentators saying this is first time Arsenal have lost 9 hone games in a season since 1920’s? If that’s the case, can all of arteta’s supporters please explain to this ‘ clown’ why he deserves not to be sacked tonight.
On an unrelated note, this game had 5 players of Nigerian origin on the pitch.
Honestly this is embarrassing losing to this motley crap
Pepe needs to run up top why jogging in own half
Any coach that plays ceba and elhneny combo is a stupid coach
Azed, a Nigerian thou art?
Nketiah demonstrating why he has no future at Arsenal
Today’s been the game from hell that we really didn’t need. Lacazette injured. Probably another defeat. VAR shafting us.
What does the last 10 minutes hold in store? Come on Arsenal.
TYAG
Trust the process now cmon . All these awful records arteta is breaking is all part of the process to becoming better lol . The guy is a fucking charlatan
TR7
Weren’t you one of Arteta’s biggest fanboys.
‘Trust me’ you said or some crap of that manner