SHOCKING WHITE FLAG PERFORMANCE GIVES CLARITY TO WEAKNESSES – RUTHLESS PATH FORWARD NEEDED

by .

Arsenal bowed out of the running for the Top 4 race in a meek fashion.

We didn’t show up. The players were too nervous. They bottled the biggest night of their careers and I don’t think anyone left that field feeling good about what they offered up.

Newcastle were superb, we can’t deny that, they worked harder than us, and played like they were the team that had the Champions League on the line.

There can be no excuse. It wasn’t good enough. 5th will be our position this year and when all is said and done it’s about where we deserve to finish.

Mad as it sounds, it was probably best we tanked in that way. There are no doubts about where we lack quality, there are some players that Arteta will aggressively move out of the club this summer, and it is still absolutely clear where we need to add talent.

There are big shouts for our lack of movement in the January transfer window. It’s going to be hard to fight that narrative today, but I’m still calm about my view there… if you don’t think anyone can improve you, don’t just sign a body. Remember, we bid for the most expensive striker in Europe, our lack of movement was talent related, not because of ambition drain. My angst is less about what we did with our first team and more about what we missed with the squad we had.

There was a goalscorer within the ranks in Eddie. There was a capable 4th choice midfielder in Mo Elneny. Though hindsight is a wonderful thing, it’s difficult to believe William Saliba would have been a bad shout for our 3rd choice defender. Mikel Arteta’s season unravelled because he was too transactional with his squad. It’s a bug in his system. He only found ESR because of a covid outbreak. We only learned that Mo and Eddie would do a job because of injuries and shocking form. If you don’t trust players, you end up with an overburned squad, needless injuries, and squad players that don’t give a fuck.

Our season fell down because Thomas Partey, Tomiyasu, and Kieran Tierney can’t play 50 game seasons. If we’re honest, nor can Bukayo or ESR at the moment.

That still doesn’t account for the stage fright the team encountered yesterday, but we need to be very careful about calling time on the players or savaging their character. That’s lazy analysis. The likelihood is we’ll finish 1 point behind Spurs this season. 1 point isn’t the difference between shit character and elite mentality. It’s the difference between circumstances. Spurs has the best striking partnership in the league (world) and they have an average age of 29, they are both seasoned, they’ve never won a trophy, but they’ve been around long enough to understand the emotions around competing for things. Our striker hasn’t started 15 Premier League games this season, our other one stopped scoring goals.

Let’s talk about Spurs though, I will put it out there now; they are going to have a very fucking rough season next year.

  • Harry Kane and Son will never have a season without injury like this again. Look at how shite they were against Burnely when they had to manage 3 games in a week. Champions League requires you play a first-team in every game from September. Older strikers can’t deal with that. Conte’s historical record will very clearly show he doesn’t manage European competition very well.
  • Spurs don’t have massive money to spend this summer. If Conte gets Top 4, he is going to be a nightmare for Levy. There are no fuck-you-money cheques coming out of that part of North London. Remember, the worst season for Antonio at Chelsea was the one after he won the league and he made territory moves.
  • Spurs will never get the luck they had this season. 3rd top scorer… own goal? Are you fucking kidding me?

They will be lucky to get 60 points this season. They took the sugar high of Conte, it might look like they are on the rise, but I assure you, it will come crashing down.

Now let’s talk about Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta is a ruthless operator and he will exact some big moves on his squad this summer. Cedric, Tavares, Xhaka, Pepe, and Mo could very well see the exit door. There might also be a more concerted effort to look at some painful realities: Both our fullbacks are extremely injury prone and so is our centre midfield maestro. We won 6 of 7 prior to the Partey injury… we totally fucked the top 4 after.

We hit our target this season. Europe is what the club planned for. 4th was the stretch goal, then it was the SURELY goal, now we are all in pain. But I’ve said all year, our feelings don’t change the target. We haven’t failed. If you are brutally honest, Champions League football for us next season might have been damaging to a squad that isn’t ready for multiple games a week. But… back to the plan. It is Top 4 next season, then it’s a title charge. Next season, there’s no flakiness from me on targets, I want top 4. He has had enough time, and he will have had enough money to take us to where we need to go.

Now let’s talk about the summer. It will be a blockbuster one again. The job to be done has never been clearer.

We need a proper striker that can run the lines, bully defenders, create an aerial threat, and score some fucking goals. I don’t want to see Gabriel Jesus, I want to see Tammy Abrahams or someone that lives in his world.

We need a proper centre midfielder that can compete with Thomas Partey. I want someone robust, that can lead, be a final ball merchant from deep, with the ability to offer us flex in the system.

There needs to be defensive considerations. Our fullbacks are brittle. KT has only been available for 57% of our Premier League games. That’s not good enough. Tomiyasu has only played 1600 Premier League minutes. It’s not good enough. Aaron Hicky, the Scottish 19 yr old that can play left or right-back feels smart. William Saliba, who can play right-back or CB is also a gift, he has 4000 minutes of experience, he is ready.

Then add another forward that can play across the frontline like Marcus Rashford or Gabriel Jesus if he’s cheaper than £60m.

The way this season ended has been painful. Arteta hasn’t managed the squad as well as he could have. Our players haven’t been as robust as we might have hoped. Inexperience has cost us.

… but we are still the hottest project in Europe for young players.

The boys could still finish on 69 points, which is exceptional considering the start, and the fact these chaps are part of the youngest squad in the league should not go unseen. These boys, despite the disappointment, will have learned a lot about themselves, even in failure (especially). They will get better.

Arteta tends to learn from his mistakes, he will be a better manager next season, and hopefully rectify the issues that have plagued him this season. He should hire more experience into the club, he should treat squad players better, and he needs to force the club to move fast this summer.

The fans are back on board. We haven’t been this united in 20 years. It hasn’t been this much fun for a very long time.

We were competing with 2 games to go, that feels painful because it went badly, but be real… no one expected this season to be this competitive. It has been a pleasant surprise even if the end game was very sad.

When the dust settled on 5th in the league, it won’t feel glorious, but it will be regarded as progress and a decent run in the first season of a new strategy.

Next season is about finding stability, improving weaknesses, and making sure top 4 is ours, and we’re in the Champions League.

Right, that’s me done. Listen to our podcast if you are brave enough. x

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Chris

A good read below https://www.football365.com/news/europa-league-conference-frankly-brilliant-john-nicholson Now I’m not going to say it’s what I wanted (to be in the EL, of course we wanted CL). But now we are very likely to be in it again, let’s embrace it. It’s where we are and a another trophy to win. And quite frankly our European trophy haul as a club is a little embarrassing. So while it’s not totally ideal that we will be in it, I.wouldn’t want to hear any crap about it not being important. I’ll be watching the final this evening, should be a cracker, all the best… Read more »

Mr Serge

EdTheRedMay 18, 2022 13:15:28
Bloody hell, I remember when Boban was bossing their midfield.

Bloody hell I remember van basten and gullitt

Graham62

englandsbest Are you actually programmed to say daft things? You are correct though, Arteta didn’t sign Xhaka or Pepe but he has been the one involved in misusing them. He gave Xhaka a new contract and has treated Pepe like an outsider. Again you are correct, I blame Arteta for many things, including his ludicrous decision to reward Xhaka. Personally, I feel that if Xhaka had left when he wanted to leave, we’d have benefited far more. I’m also convinced that the PR machine has worked wonders when it comes to the other players feelings about Xhaka. Giving him preferential… Read more »

Graham62

Looking forward to Rangers winning the Europa tonight.
Should be a great spectacle.

EdTheREd

Mr Serge

Did Paolo Maldini play with Dutch Duo?

Mr Serge

I had a spurs fan sing me the Arteta song today my depression has hit a new high

Mr Serge

Ed yes and rijkard and ceedorf

He also played with costacurta

I think that Milan defence let in 25 Goals in 200 games they were the best
For me Baresi was the best defender I have seen guy was exceptional

Spanishdave

Nice one Graham.
A new midfield is a must with a quality CF.
Saliba back and take offers for Holding.
Notts Forest right back and sell Tierney back to Scotland.

Killroy-TM

Been saying since the end of January that the executives will be judged on the January TW, well finally Amy Lawrence from the Athletic did just that: The greatest factor in Arsenal’s top-four fade has its roots in deep conversations and big decisions made in the offices at London Colney in January. In January Arsenal tumbled out of both domestic cups, overstretched the squad, and at the same time made a hugely significant change to the player pool with their approach to the transfer window. It seemed like the obvious time to bolster and they did try. Ultimately though, Arsenal… Read more »

bennydevito

ChrisMay 18, 2022    12:59:43

“ soft spot for them since being mesmerized as a kid by that team spearheaded by Kaka particularly”

Now I feel old. The Milan team that caught my attention as a kid had George Weah and Robbie Baguio up front!

>>>>

Now I feel old! The Milan team that caught my attention had Rijkaard, Gullit and Van Basten in it.

englandsbest

Sometimes I think the anti-arteta brigade is one person, they all chant the same mantra: ‘blame Arteta for everything’. And they all come out with the same solution: ‘sack Arteta’. And they all act as if a derelict squad can be replaced overnight by a wave of a magic wand. There was no silver bullet for Arsenal, the Club needed fixing from top to bottom. And from what we’ve seen, the Club has come a considerable distance in that direction. Yes, Arteta has made mistakes – but you’d expect that from a rookie learning afoot, on the job. Young and… Read more »

Mr Serge

England’s best we won’t buy experience we will stick to the 23 year old and under resealable assets
Please to god we sell xhaka

TheLegendaryDB10

For anyone wanting to watch a stream of the EL final, it’s being streamed free on YouTube by BT Sports!

Mr Serge

Reckon we sell Gabriel for 51m to juve ?

Samesong

For anyone wanting to watch a stream of the EL final, it’s being streamed free on YouTube by BT Sports!

Looks crisp also

Mr Serge

What two crappy teams in the final and we get Chelsea

salparadisenyc

Serge

We got Chelsea with a supercharged Hazard, what a game he had. Just devastated our back four.

Mr Serge

Yeah he did and we also got athletics in a semi final just our luck

Killroy-TM

I take it that you regard Chelski as a superior team to AFC?

Mr Serge

Killroy they were that day 4 nil superior

As were Athletico

salparadisenyc

I think Iwobi scored a consolation but our ole boy Giroud and Hazard owned that night.

Mr Serge

Girouds video thanking us on the plane while he was holding the cup killed me

Ishola70

Great atmosphere in the ground for this EL final between the fans but the football on show is not living up to the occasion.

Mediocre football is being kind.

Rangers had a decent chance a few minutes back.

Killroy-TM

Yep, agree we were going into that match as underdogs.

Dissenter

“There was no silver bullet for Arsenal, the Club needed fixing from top to bottom. And from what we’ve seen, the Club has come a considerable distance in that direction. Yes, Arteta has made mistakes – but you’d expect that from a rookie learning afoot, on the job.” When will this revamping job be done? “from top to bottom” lol, what a jokester you are sir. If someone tried to paint a caricature of what an Arteta Absolutist should look like, it would fit you perfectly. The manager took over a club that finished 5th and reached the EL league… Read more »

Mk12

Food for thought. (Nothing to do with the Newcastle game)

For 50Million + have we really upgraded on David Luiz?

Mr Serge

Absolutely we have David luiz had a brain fart every 5,th game he was shocking
Good passer though and taller than Ben 😂

bacaryisgod

What a great moment for our former Academy player, Glen Kamara. Joined us in 2012 as 16 year old but couldn’t break into the squad. Two miserable loan spells at Southend and Colchester before we released him. Dundee picked him up and then Rangers paid only 50k for him.

Now he’s starting in left midfield in the Europa League final and managed by another player who didn’t quite work out for us, Giovanni Von Bronkhorst. Gives us something to root for after a miserable week with Arsenal.

Bigper

Aribos a decent player for rangers, always liked him at Brentford, not sure how he’d do in prem tho

EdTheREd

Dissenter
“It’s not like Arsenal was in the 4th division when he came on board.”

It did cross my mind that narrative is shifting steadily towards “we were Leyton Orient” territory. I mean some of them post as if they really believe that.

Mr Serge

If there is something I could take away from myself it would be the disappointment I feel for says on end after a defeat

This one is worse than all the others
Why did I have to love football ?
Ugh

Mr Serge

You know next year Newcastle will be competing with us

I don’t understand how the premier League ratified that deal when they have such bad human rights violations

Goonerboy

To be honest the way we have ended the season has been very disappointing and are clearly not the fourth best side in the EPL and probably not the fifth.
The Wenger weak psychology legacy in must win games lives on.
We are a mid table side flattering to deceive. That we are better. what other conclusion can be reached after 13 defeats in a season?
Arteta should be judged not on his haircut or what he says but on the teams performances.-based on that there are still big questions about whether the team is making enough progress.

Dissenter

This Rangers side was out together with very little money
I bet the cost of Ben White would have paid for 40-50% of their entire squad.

Dissenter

*was put together with

Ishola70

Dissenter “This Rangers side was out together with very little money I bet the cost of Ben White would have paid for 40-50% of their entire squad.” Excellent achievement if they win Europa League but where would this team finish in the EPL? This is what knock-out cup football is about. It sees at times not the best teams in the land winning a certain cup competition. This is why fans shouldn’t have seen Arteta’s FA Cup win as some kind of indicator that all was before us to conquer after that. You enjoy the win at the time but… Read more »

Ishola70

Same goes for Eintract Frankfurt as well of course who have just equalised.

Mr Serge

Rangers would be bottom 5 in the prem

Dissenter

Ishola
“Excellent achievement if they win Europa League but where would this team finish in the EPL?

Can’t believe you’re still poopooing the EL, my amigo
This gets them into the CL and those funds will give them dominance in their domestic league for years to come.

Dissenter

“Rangers would be bottom 5 in the prem”

That’s hogwash to be honest
This Rangers team is more balanced than ours
The midfield is certainly better than ours, to begin with. Aribo will walk directly into our starting 11.

Why isn’t there a premier league club in the final, given that the semis were over two legs.

Ishola70

Mr Serge “Rangers would be bottom 5 in the prem” This final hasn’t been the greatest to watch has it. Indicates two average sides if we are talkimg about the higher echelons of football. But two average sides that have had a very good cup run this season. I would probably agree that Rangers would struggle in the EPL with this current side we see but if they survived in the EPL for a certain period of time then you would feel they would get stronger over time as they are such a “big” club overall. One of the tragedies… Read more »

Dissenter

Take away Liverpool, City and maybe Chelsea from the premier league
The rest of the league isn’t that scary for this Rangers team.

Ishola70

Dissenter

Ir’s not “pooping” the Europa League.

It’s taking into consideration as said before that at times a cup winner is not always the best team in the land or even close to that.

And no this current Rangers side would not be finishing above Arsenal in a whole EPL season if they were in it.

Mr Serge

Diss are you taking the piss ? None of these players get in our team man rangers are bang average

Aribo in our first 11 lol my eyes must be deceiving me is he better than Partey or Xhaka if he is wide is he better than ESR martinelli or saka ?

You may be down on on us but don’t take the piss please

Mr Serge

Diss everyone in the top 12 smash the shite out of rangers easy

Mr Serge

DissenterMay 18, 2022 21:51:34
Take away Liverpool, City and maybe Chelsea from the premier league
The rest of the league isn’t that scary for this Rangers team.

Maybe Chelsea??? Lolololol ffs

Killroy-TM

Rangers are playing the Arsenal patented “U” shaped passing.

Ishola70

Shirley Bassey looking a bit awkward there.

Dissenter

Mr Serge You’re falling into that trap that gooners fall into Besides Saka and maybe Partey, there’s nothing in our team, that spells absolute quality. Is Arteta demonstrably better than Giovanni van Bronckhorst, to begin with? Can they get reach a European final of any type? Chelsea won the CL last season and are the current world club champions. They have the best manager, not called Pep or Klopp managing them. When they were put on sale, people with money and more expertise than you and I put up over 4 billion to buy the club so talk smack as… Read more »

into the red

Rangers would do poorly in the PL. But within a short space of time they would be a serious top ten club, because of the investment and colossal payouts to clubs. Scottish clubs get a pittance compared to even modest PL clubs.

Dissenter

Ishola
“And no this current Rangers side would not be finishing above Arsenal in a whole EPL season if they were in it.”

Never said or implied that they finish above us, this season but they could have sneaked above us in the seasons we finished 8th twice in a row.

When people throw Ranger or Celtic into the premier league mix comparison, wouldn’t that mean they have access to premier league money too

Dissenter

Premier league clubs waste so much money on stupid transfers The rest of Europe uses them as lotteries Lat season, a well managed club doesn’t spend 16 million on Lokonga because we has a young midfielder of the same age who played 30+ games for Arsenal as a 19 year old in 2018-2019. Last season, a properly managed club doesn’t donate 50 million to Brighton because we have an uber talented defensive prodigy who had earned plaudits every where he had been to. Premier league clubs have money but it hasn’t given them any dominance over European football because most… Read more »

David Smith

Interesting article in The Telegraph about a Silicon Valley algorithm Liverpool are using to predict and prevent injury. I really hope our sports science people are doing similar, as we aren’t doing anywhere near as well as Liverpool on the injury and fatigue front

Mr Serge

Diss this current rangers team would struggle granted if they are in the premier League a while they would improve due to the money we get here
They would then easily be a top 8 side right now this team though is shite

salparadisenyc

I fell asleep who won?

Dissenter

Mr Serge
‘They would then easily be a top 8 side right now this team though is shite”

Introspection is hard for you, my man
You shouldn’t use the word “shite” at any other club for a while if you’re an Arsenal fan

Dissenter

Isn’t Ramsey at Rangers
Is he crocked again over there?

Mr Serge

We are 5th not 15th we are not shite we are just not good enough for top 4 an experienced winner of s manager would easy get top 4 with this side

Mr Serge

Diss yes he is crocked he just came on for the last 3 mins

Dissenter

Mr Serge
It’s funny because you’re ridiculing the FINALISTS of a competition that I bet you’re happy that Arsenal qualified to take part in for next season

Yea, I have no problems using the word shite fort us
Four points ahead of your local rivals with three games to go
… and we bottled it.

A season where you’re going to be calling some type of success, yet we will play the same European competition that United will play after their shitty season. Ths pathetic season that they’ll want to forget.

Killroy-TM

You got to admit that the Eintracht Frankfurt fans are fantastic if not sublime.

Mr Serge

Ramsey bottled the pen

salparadisenyc

Rambo 🙄

Dissenter

Ramsey

Should have stayed crocked

Mr Serge

Just because they are in a final does not mean they are good if your eyes are not telling you they are shite I can’t help you

salparadisenyc

Rarely does that late sub on for pens pay dividends.

Mr Serge

Sal I was just saying that to my son I knew he would miss

Killroy-TM

Let’s see how can we make this an Arsenal thing 😆

Mr Serge

Killroy-TMMay 18, 2022 22:56:27
Let’s see how can we make this an Arsenal thing

I will go first Arsenal are so crap even our ex players can’t win a trophy

Killroy-TM

As a neutral with Eintracht’s 1st European trophy in 42 years they can have it.

Dissenter

Serge, “Just because they are in a final does not mean they are good if your eyes are not telling you they are shite I can’t help you’ I never said they were great and certainly don’t think Arsenal are all that either, despite all the money spent. I said the squad was assembled very cheaply at a fraction of when premier league club spend Then you jumped in with the typical premier league- is -best nonsense that Ranger will be in the bottom 5 of the prem league Of course you can’t help me, first you have to open… Read more »

Dissenter

Frankfort deserve that trophy just for the stunt they pulled off at the Bernabeu

Mr Serge

My eyes were open diss I watched the game and I have watched them in other games they are poor no stand out player

Killroy-TM

@Diss

Totally agree with that thing they pulled off in Barca, I am just blown away by their fans.

Dissenter

**Frankfort deserve that trophy just for the stunt they pulled off at the Nou camp

Chris

Rangers would be lucky to get top half in the PL.

Hard luck to Ramsey with the penalty but I hated the way he approached it. I think you have to have the technique of a truly top class player to attempt a penalty like that. 9/10 players should just put their laces through it and go for bottom corner.

The Real Vieira Lynn

Considering our glaring lack of focus when it comes to anything “shooting” related and our recent history when it comes to taking penalties, what would possess a manager to bring an ex-Arsenal player onto the pitch simply to take a crucial penalty kick…be careful Rangers fans, you might have another “Arteta” on your hands…good luck with that

Ishola70

Diss

I already said before if Rangers were in the EPL for an extended period then it would seem inevitable that they can get stronger with time in it because of the prestige and size of that club along with that extra money they would get.

Where we disagree is in you over-rating this current Rangers side because they reached a Europa League final.

Gonsterous

I don’t know why everyone keeps expecting a squad overall every summer.

For the last 5 windows I have seen peoples out list as:
Leno
Bellerin
Xhaka
El neny
Laca
Pepe
Cedric
Chambers
Guendouzi
Holding
Torreira

And guess what? These players are still contracted to the club.

Reality check: 2 first teamers coming in and 2 squad players are coming in. Nothing more

China1

When will managers learn it’s a horrible plan to bring on a player at the end of extra time just to take a penalty

Ramsey yesterday, Sancho in the euros.

Penalties are not just about taking it, it’s about being warm and ready and switched on – something which a player simply is not after being on the sidelines all game and barely even touching the ball after coming on.

An average penalty taker who has played at least 20 mins is worth far more than a decent penalty taker who has kicked a ball 3 times all day.

DivineSherlock

I suppose with our luck we might just get Man Utd / Napoli / Juve / Atletico in Europa league knockout stages.

Graham62

Two thirds of the stadium last night was made up of Rangers supporters. They were surprisingly quiet though. Nerves and heat exhaustion maybe?
Frankfurt fans were absolutely amazing!

Terraloon

Gonsterous Reality check: 2 first teamers coming in and 2 squad players are coming in. Nothing more The numbers game has been occupied my thoughts for a while now. With EL football the squad would need at least 4 more and that’s even before you factor in any departures. The whole Saliba will he won’t he is going to be a saga over the summer and other than him I am far from sure that any of those out on loan or indeed and of the youngsters really are ready for PL With the introduction of 5 subs for 22/23… Read more »

Foxy

Having 5 subs will also require a whole new level of in game management to get the most benefit and as you say a strong squad. Players could be used just to go flat out for 45 mins like in RU. Or a team could be switched from say a deep back 5 to back 4 as the game progressed.

Mr Serge

.
GonsterousMay 19, 2022 03:01:40
I don’t know why everyone keeps expecting a squad overall every summer.For the last 5 windows I have seen peoples out list as:
Leno
Bellerin
Xhaka
El neny
Laca
Pepe
Cedric
Chambers
Guendouzi
Holding
Torreira

Not correct chambers guen laca elneny are all gone or out of contract
There is a deal in place to LT Pepe has already said he is leaving

Graham62

Let’s say on Sunday Spuds lose to Norwich…..which is highly unlikely.
Arsenal’s game against Everton can be affected by the outcome of Everton’s game against CP tonight.
Lose or draw and Everton would probably need a win against Arsenal.
That would change the dynamics of the game entirely.
Everton win tonight and they’re safe.
Based on Arsenal’s last two games, could they beat Everton anyway?

Mr Serge

Graham I just can’t see spurs choking against that team
If they were playing anyone else maybe but not them sadly

Terraloon

Mr Serge

Ok he got the Chambers one wrong but other than that at this point in time I think all the others are still contracted to Arsenal

benkind

Under Arteta we’ve failed to score in 25 per cent of our games
Can we now finally kill this myth that he’s a manager who plays exciting and attacking football?

This was seen on twitter. That isn’t a good stat.

Mb

Almunia had his own way of covering the NewCastle Aftermath, if anyone’s interested.

https://londonisred.com/newcastle-the-aftermath/

shaun

I think it will take another two years for Arteta to become a competent EPL manager .that has always been my issue with him. Let’s be honest the man does not have a clue as to why his team performed the way the did at Newcastle with so much on the line and we as fans have seen this what 5 times this season along with the discipline issues that remain .clear up those two issues and I could have got the team in the top 4

logie bear

Graham – sadly I just can’t see Sp**s choking against Norwich.

But say they draw, somehow, and we beat Everton (also “somehow” at the moment!) then it has to be said their GD is worth that extra point and we would still lose out on 4th

Graham62

Does anyone on here feel that Arsenal’s way of playing is progressive dynamic football?

By the time Arsenal play 3 passes to one another, MC have played 20 and probably scored.
Liverpool would have moved the ball forward at pace in that same amount of time and also threatened.
Come on Arsenal fans, if that’s the process you genuinely want at our club then I’m afraid you need your heads seeing to.

Matt B

I thought Villa, Leicester and Brighton were supposed to finish ahead of us this season and that we’d be mired in a relegation battle — at least according to some of the posters now calling our season: a disgrace/as good as it gets under Arteta/shite/bottle-job etc.

We were never as bad as some are suggesting and I guess, not quite as good as some thought (me included).

As Chris said, we’re now in the Europa League and that’s not to be sniffed at. I think we’ll be better next season…

The Bard

MattB I think its great we avoided a relegation battle and are in the Ropey league. We should be celebrating. So much for the Club’s ambition.

Terraloon

Ok I know it’s the DM but read this

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10826515/Arsenals-Champions-League-collapse-leave-trapped-vicious-cycle-summer.html

In another article I read that Edu is talking about just 1 or2 incomings the argument the bulk of the squad rebalance has been done already

Leftside

I do get the feeling that this is as good as it will get for this club under Arteta. This season we had the luxury or shame depending of how you view things of not being in Europe. We were out of the cup competitions by January so only had the league to focus on. We could have bolstered our squad but opted against doing it which, we thought at the time and likely know now was a fateful error. That being said, had we not dropped points in very winnable games such as: Everton (A) S’oton (A) Brighton (H)… Read more »

Terraloon

Left side

That being said, had we not dropped points in very winnable games such as:Everton (A)
S’oton (A)
Brighton (H)
Newcastle (A)

The counter will always be that there were other games that could have ended up differently such as Brighton away and WHU at home

It is what it is and as I posted yesterday the squad need more numbers more quality just to stand still and there is no guarantee that there will be any improvement with the huge EL demands that will be added

Leftside

Terra “The counter will always be that there were other games that could have ended up differently such as Brighton away and WHU at home” I understand the Brighton game away as we were incredibly fortunate to come away with a point. West Ham at home was a very comfortable victory for us though. I do agree that there aren’t guarantees of improvement. We will have a stretched squad, competing on additional fronts and that always brings the risk of fatigue, injury etc. We do need to dip into the transfer market and to keep some of the players we… Read more »

Terraloon

Left side,
Yep apologies I meant Palace at home