Make no mistake, Arsenal were absolutely sensational against Fulham. That is a team that has been flying since promotion, they’ve downed big names, they have weapons Arsenal don’t like dealing with.
Arsenal nullified them all.
Our centre backs were imperious.
Our attackers were clinical.
Our creators stepped up to the plate.
The passing was outrageously fast all game. No one shied away from the moment. Everyone pressed and did their bit of the win.
Trossard really was the star, he bagged three assists and made a real statement about how you can do big things without spending £100m. He is a good player, he has at least 3 years left at the top, we have an absolute bargain of a player.
Martinelli has also filled in really well with Eddie out injured. He was a menace today. Shades of Luis Suarez. What I like about him is he really looks like he’s enjoying his game at the moment. Imagine where he’ll be at 25 years old? There is no ceiling with this boy.
Saliba and Gabriel are pure winners. They complement each other like Sol and Toure… or Vidic and Ferdinand. They are aggressive, they have elite levels of power, and they love defending. Watching Gabriel celebrate an 88th-minute tackle is exactly the sort of vibe I love to see. Those two were beastly today, limiting Mitrovic to very little.
Overall though, just look at the control. Look at the beauty of our football. Think back to when you last felt this way about Arsenal? We are outrageously good to look at. A long way from those dark days when people said Arteta didn’t like to play attacking football because he was a boring footballer.
‘If he can’t do it with Mustafi and Ceballos, what makes you think he can do it at all?’
The biggest takeaway for me is the age of the squad. We have kids taking a run at the big boys of the Premier League. There’s a long way to go, things can go wrong in a flash, but however this season shapes up, no one can call this group anything outside total heroes. They should not be doing what they are doing and it is incredible to see them say, ‘fuck it, we’re as good as City.’
Something you need to be paying attention to: City fixtures.
They will likely beat Leipzig and Burnley this week. That takes them to the QF and SF of two cups. Those games have to go somewhere. That’ll mean they have 4 weeks of 3-games-a-week football and that will take a toll. What we really need to hope for is they get an emotional semi against United. Remember when we had one of those and lost the treble in 1999?
The more success City has in the cups, the harder it’ll be for them to maintain focus in the league.
Remember, only one thing really matters to Pep G: The Champions League. If they look like they could do something there, there’s no doubt in my mind he’ll shift focus consciously or unconsciously.
Ok, get on the podcast.
Rich let’s sell anyone over 27 just in case we lose money on them, anyone saying we should sell the best DM in Europe is in need of a rest in a dark room
Watching the City game, I find myself wanting Leipzig to win. Appreciate City would have less games if that happens but my heart seemingly is ruling my head.
Hmm Leipzig win could create a terrible morale crash
City look like they’ll win mind.
Rich wanted to get rid of Jesus after 3 months.. too, because of some sort of weird statistical analysis and age thing too. I was like can we let the dude finish at least one season with us before we start campaigning to sell him.
Le Grove is home to some interesting characters that’s for sure.
Haaland had already had like 3 golden chances not taken.
Var Handball.. is a 50/50 crapshoot. unless it’s Arsenal trying to get a decision then it’s never a handball.
@mid there’s no way that a pen for city utter BS…the defender had no idea…VAR is joke
Soft as fuck.
Lol that angle of reply…it never hit his arm..
Replay…
Rich won’t be content until we are fielding under 9’s. You’d think he was due a portion of any prospective transfer fees.
Game over
Just kidding, I’m a fan of his, even if I disagree with that particular perspective.
Goona that’s the problem … there is no consistency on it.. Game over now.. I’d say.
Does VAR see all of the angles of the replay before asking the ref?…that last angle shown by sky clearly showed the ball missing the arm!
Lol that’s a red for the keeper…
”Rich wanted to get rid of Jesus after 3 months.. too, because of some sort of weird statistical analysis and age thing too. I was like can we let the dude finish at least one season with us before we start campaigning to sell him.”
Funny how that one didn’t quite make the infamous ‘told you so’ list, eh!
As David Brent once said ‘they won’t remember’.
Homer ref
Jamie
No denial though eh, you little weasel
Da Fuck was that? Ederson took the dude out and got nothing for it. Some bizarre refereeing.
Grealish yellow for simulation surely?
The ref is watching a different game to everyone else
I’d be willing to bet on Sid’s oversized gonads that if you polled Gooners on who has been our top 3 players this season that >90% would tell you two of those are Partey and Jesus.
And our self-proclaimed resident Nostradamus who is supposedly never wrong wants or at least wanted them to be sold on for replacements… ok then.
You lost me after reading ‘Sid’s oversized gonads…..’ too much in more ways than one!
WE As you very well know…, that’s simply not true. Last summer I wanted 3 players before they were linked…. Jesus, Zinchenko, Tielemans. My point about Jesus was that I don’t think his style is sustainable past 29-30…. His game is based on dynamism, and initiating a lot of contact… His style will take its toll…. So we either need to make a decision at 27-28…. Or accept that he’ll walk for free. The price you can receive for a player, isn’t just linked to the value of the player, it’s linked to the size of the contract. Only 10-12… Read more »
No way we sell Partey …just because we have to manage his fitness. He is the key to our whole system.
Anyhow… Pep must have had Haaland on a raw meat and Red Bull diet this week. Never seen him so aggressive. Pep must have been like.. this is why we got you for a billion dollars so start winning some CL matches for us.
Well Jesus is already 26 in a couple of weeks so we have to make a decision on him before he even plays for us for 2 full seasons? That’s crazy he signed a 5 year deal. I think we are good. Not even worried slightly about it to be honest.
MidWestGun That’s the problem, we have been managing his fitness, at no point of his Arsenal career has he been close to being overplayed. Partey has played just 77 minutes in the FA Cup, 76 minutes in the League Cup at Arsenal…… The most he’s played in a single domestic cup game for Arsenal is 45 minutes. In 19 potential Europa League games…. He’s played just 650 minutes out of a potential 1,710 available. So we’ve kept him fresh for the PL, which I’m fine with….. But then of 9,000 potential minutes in the PL that he could have played….… Read more »
That handball may have grazed the hair on the defenders arm.
Then that Ederson disaster collision was somehow not a foul?
It must be nice to be able to throw money around England and Europe.
Of course I want them to win today to stay busy… but I feel exactly the same as Bob N16. My instincts make me wish for their failure..
I don’t agree Partey’s injuries have screwed us… last season … or even the one before. even had he been out the entirety of last season we didn’t have the pieces in place (No Saliba and No Zinchenko to support him) and he himself said he hadn’t settled into what Arteta wanted from him. Now that he has and is performing at his peak you don’t then sell him. I’d say if we win the league this season he will get an extension is my guess. Because the fee we would get for him wouldn’t offset the value he gives… Read more »
Is anyone watching Patino’s blackpool mauling QPR?.he has two assist already
Nigel, would it be unfair to suggest that just maybe this ref has a few Mancunian relatives?
Flat track bullies. Not as convincing against Crystal Palace last week.
Rich
If you use this seasons stats then I believe it will be a much better result.But I guess that won’t help your argument so you won’t
Andy I think someone in his family will be receiving a gold Rolex.
I think they said the referee is from Slovenia. or some such.. haha He isn’t very good though.. not that it mattered in the end. Leipzig is a bit shit.
I’ve had a tenner on 6-6….early says LOL
Yawn…. City “the favourites” until they meet any one of Real Madrid, Bayern, Chelsea, Liverpool, bloody Spuds. Some of my fondest memories. Imagine getting knocked out by Spuds! And that delicious 3 goal capitulation against Real in stoppage time
I hope City go all the way in the CL and then lose the final. I hope they are fully engrossed in this competition.
This scoreline is going to give city lots of confidence
Good thing they don’t play again until after the international break, when we are 8 points ahead of them.
6 or 7 goal romp, then they’ll need a penalty to beat a lower midtable premier league team.
Left – I think it’s fair to say Pep is obsessed with winning the CL again.. so I think they will be all about that and Haaland too. Will be interesting to see who they draw.
But yeah I don’t want to see them win it either with all their financial rule breach charges. would be very distasteful.
I can just see Rich digging that sell-Partey trench deeper and deeper with a miniature garden spade
Northbanker
The season ends in May…. If I’d used last seasons stats up until the end of March they’d have looked good.
But it was his absence brought April + May that screwed us…
But that wouldn’t help your argument… So I can understand why you’d want me to produce stats that suit your narrative, and not mine.
I don’t know why but I always forget Mkhitaryan plays for Inter still.
Rich Look, there’s some grey area in here. I am not completely disagreeing and I understand your theory re the players physically winding down in their 30s. Ask yourself this though, when was the last time that we had a world class and dominant CDM? 18 years ago, his name was Vieira. That’s how long it has been, incredible dereliction of duties on Wenger’s part for so long but that is what transpired post 2005. It’s not as easy as just saying we sell Partey, recoup a fee and replace him. There is nobody around currently who ticks all of… Read more »
City 6-0 Leipzig
We used to be good at beating teams like this under prime Wenger.
I’d love it if Arteta could achieve this kind of scoreline sometimes. Scorelines likes this strike fear into oppositions.
It’s amazing that Italian football will have 3 clubs in the champion’s league quarter finals, one more that the premier league
I mean all of our best players are 25 and under save for Partey. None of them barring Jesus and Zinchenko have been involved in a title race and with respect to the latter, he was more of a role player than a protagonist in City’s title campaigns.
Partey may not have won the league at Atleti but he was involved in title races as well as being successful in Cups.
Leipzig are shite, disgraceful to get pumped 6-0 in a CL knockout match.
Has Haaland really scored 5? Lol, one more and he holds the single game CL record over Messi and the mighty Luiz Adriano.
Yep.. he has Eagle.. he looked ramped up today like he was on some sort of super soldier drugs. Most aggressive I’ve seen Haaland this season and quickness too. Was first to every loose ball and running past defenders. Do they do drug testing? hahaha
Porto vs woodwork
I think we’re going in all guns blazing on Thursday night. No one is getting rested, we need to kill the tie quickly instead of letting it go on for 60, 70 minutes. Those last 20, 10 high pressure minutes are when the injuries pile up. Garnacho this weekend is an example.
Inter just about surviving.. clearing the ball off the line at least 2 or 3 times. and 2 or 3 keeper saves. Porto hitting the bar too in the last 5 mins.
Rich – touche 😂
WE If we can sign Rice, I think he’ll surprise you, market opportunities this good don’t come along very often. Kante in 2016 was one that got away, I really Caicedo, I suspect we’ll regret this one as well if we let him slip. Our stock as a club is high, and that’s when we need to refresh…. Last summer we couldn’t compete with Chelsea, Liverpool, United…. For the first time in a while this summer we potentially can. That’s why I want us to inject some fresh energy into our midfield…. Not forcing change for change sake… But specifically… Read more »
I’m with Midwest, Leipzig were terrible. As for their goalkeeper he must have had 4 assists! Funniest thing for me were the two decisions that even Stevie Wonder wouldn’t have given. How on earth is that handball? He had his back to play and the ball barely touched his arm, if at all, absolute joke. Ederson took out one of their players and the Leipzig lad got booked….! If that wasn’t bad enough they asked ex referee Peter ‘Walnut’ Walton for his views and to everybody’s amusement he tried his best to agree with the referee….! I have no idea… Read more »
Rich Have you ever heard of the saying “preaching to the converted ” … I’m sure you have, what i don’t get is why you have to keep repeating that we need to recruit from a position of strength, as I am sure at least 90% ( probably more) of posters will agree with you.. You have gone into serious waffle mode and you also need to get off repeat mode as we all get it. What 90% (probably more) disagree with is the selling of Partey anytime soon, just accept that your opinion on Partey differs from just about… Read more »
We have an absolute gem of a player in Partey playing for Arsenal. I don’t know why we are talking about replacing him. We need a good back up for him for sure but as long as Partey is fit and ready to play, he should always start for us. Rice and Caicedo are no match for him. Casemiro is the only DM who is on the same level, nobody else is.
Rich is really some thing else, Does Arteta listen to us when he is deciding what to do next ? Rich don’t you get tired, you have not changed one person’s opinion on here, let it go the Partey thing, we are having unexpected fantastic time lets all enjoy this wonderful time, it is not like we have not suffered enough and torn each other apart in recent awful period of our beloved Arsenal.
I don’t even understand why we need to talk about transfers in the mid of a season and especially when we are top of the league and in with a genuine chance to win the title.
The only reason a teenager who has barely kicked a ball at senior level moves to a club that spends 0.6 billion pounds in 6 months is if they’re an absolute tool who thinks they are going to start games ahead of 100m pound players Sorry to be mean, but it’s that simple. It would be Hutchinson all over again. Pointless waste of time. But who knows these are just rumors for now. Maybe the boy and his family are smarter than taking him out of the academy of the best team in England so that he can rot in… Read more »
Like seriously if you’re in the arsenal academy and thinking chances will be too limited with players ahead of you, any smart player would be looking at clubs like Brighton and Dortmund and thinking that might be where I get given the minutes I will need
But if you’re looking at Chelsea and thinking they’re going to give you a route to the first team in the near term then you have to be totally blind
China
It’s so obvious, it’s bonkers. Cognitive dissonance at its worst. It would be such a shame as he does look seriously special. I’m far more impressed by him than Hutchison.
Yeah that’s recent.
If we were to ever meet i hope its a warm day because that pic of you in the pink dress is a very good look. Hope you still have it…
Vintage gun
Hahahahahaha
You lil sweet heart.
Think that was meant for tinder or hinge eh sunshine?
1-10 how hot is she? Or he? Or they 🤦🏻♂️