MANCHESTER CITY SMASHING UP TEAMS IN THE CUP: MORE PLEASE

by .

Gooooood morning my darlings; how are you doing today?

So the story that is lighting up the internet is Ethan Nwaneri is attracting interest from other clubs in the Premier League and he’s going to exit Arsenal. There’s a whole load of bluster online about it, the rumour is his dad might be the one driving the exit, some are saying it’s the player. At the end of the day, I’m not sure it really matters, he hasn’t signed a deal and it would not shock anyone to hear that rich clubs are waving cash money his way.

So what to think?

Firstly, this is part of the process I’m afraid. Young kids are going to look at our young starting 11 and see that the path to a glorious future in our first team is going to be very hard to achieve. The golden generation we’re tying down is there for at least 5 years. There is no fast way into our starting 11. At best, we’ll see three more kids come through. So what does this mean? Expect those kids you all love to leave for places where they’ll get minutes.

My issue with this Ethan story is that the two clubs interested in his services are two clubs that aren’t exactly the best when it comes to giving young players their chance. What is the point of moving to Chelsea? They’ve shown no vision when it comes to transfers, the kids in their actual academy are horrified at the new owners, and they’ve spent huge money on very young players. It’s Arsenal, but shit. Manchester City? Who wakes up in the morning and says, yeah, leaving for a better life in City’s starting 11 is what I’ll do!

If your dad is driving you to take the big pennies now, he is either being very short-sighted, or he doesn’t believe in your talent so he’s cashing in early… because no one who wants to develop their kids sends them to those two clubs over Arsenal.

If you’re going to leave Arsenal, head to Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Monaco, Lens or Reims. Go for teenage minutes over dollars every day of the week.

Still, what can you do? He’s 15 years old. There have been plenty of them over the years we’ve purred over only to see them amount to nothing (Luke Freeman, Fran Merida, Arturo Lupoli, Jack Jebb). It’s very odd that he’s trying to exit Arsenal now, but that’s life, and we’ll have to deal with it. Good luck to the boy, I hope he makes a good decision.

Manchester City absolutely pummelled Leipzig for the second time in two years. They beat them 7-0. It was a bad look for Bundesliga. Arsenal fans are worried, don’t be, this is what we wanted. They’ll get a massive boost heading into the FA Cup game against Burnley this weekend and they’ll probably do the same again to Vincent Kompany’s boys. This is what we need from City. Cup success, leading to fatigue, which moves the management team toward prioritization issues.

You think it was coincidence that they could only score one goal against an awful Palace… then miraculously found the energy for 7 goals in the Champions League? I do not. If we can do the job against Vieira’s boys this weekend, it’ll start to feel hard for Manchester City, and that will affect how they spend their energy credits.

I also think that spanking two weak teams before the international break might give them a false sense of security as to where they are as a team heading into that Liverpool game they have right after the break.

Mikel Arteta has been innovating around the away day experience this season. He has been bringing trinkets to away days to make oppo dressing rooms feel more like The Emirates. Zinchenko shared a picture of the famous Clockend clock in the dressing room against Fulham. Was this the key ingredient for the win? You’ll never know. But if you do enough small things right, they can add up to big things. I love that Mikel is always trying out new ideas. That’s a man that is keyed into the project and his team. It would seem that his players love it as well.

The Sporting game this Thursday is an interesting one. I don’t think there’s any way around it, Arteta wants to win the Europa, and he’ll go all out for it. We’re a better side, we’ll have big players back, they have some key suspensions,  and The Emirates is a fucking fortress.

Our best bet, as fans, is to hope that Arteta uses it to get some minutes into the legs of players like ESR and Gabriel Jesus.  I’d also really love to see him rest Bukayo Saka, especially as we have an international break coming up, and he’ll likely get games in that.

We also have to be real about overplaying these guys… this is good for them. They’ll have to do the same next season in CL, then every season after that, because we’re trying to get to the very top of world football and big clubs have big players that always stay fit. Though it is worth noting we’ll have more players for next seasons run. Declan or Caicedo would make me feel a lot better about Thursday if we had them.

Ok, that was nice to get out the system. I’m hopefully going to be in a better blog groove these next few weeks now work is starting to settle down. Just don’t ask where I was this weekend because I’d have to tell you I was in Austin for SXSW to watch the eMLS player I signed win the eMLS Cup at his first attempt. eSports is awesome and my respect for what they do every day has gone through the roof. My guy trains for 10 hours a day. It really is impressive stuff. Just don’t tell my dad that this kid won 20k, because he definitely told my brother and me growing up that we’d never make money out of computer games.

Ok, get on the damn podcast you beautiful people! x

182 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Chris

Eddie out a few more weeks apparently, not season ending.

MidwestGun

Really bad timing for Eddie on his injury, though, for his career. .. Was just about to cement a first option backup role.. with spot starting potential.

Now emergence of Trossard in conjunction with Marti and Jesus coming back , Balogun tearing it up on loan. Eddie might be hard pressed to get much time next season if at all. Will have to earn his spot back. Not that he can’t do it.. but going to be much harder. Striker position is very much … what have you done for me lately.

Northbanker

Eddie could be bait for buying Declan Rice

China1

That’s cool just another customer

And yeah having an offline scene makes a big difference. When my brother and I first got into FG there was nothing in Bristol so we managed to find a person here or there and networked it a lot and built it up from scratch until I’m the end there were regular sessions and tournaments in Bristol and south wales with 80+ attendees. Was great fun.

China1

I’m not proposing we sell Eddie but yeah I do suppose if the club decides balogun is the bigger prospect then Eddie would make a big makeweight in negotiations for any prem players like rice or otherwise. I’d expect most teams to value him at 30+m in England One nice change is that in years gone by we always had to sell below market rate because everyone knew we were desperate to offload players who were themselves varying degrees of damaged goods, whether due to bad attitude, lack of quality, ridiculous wages etc. but with our current squad we don’t… Read more »

Samuel

When and how did Eddie get injure anyway? Last time I saw him was vs Everton, he came on as a sub, got an assist and finished the game on the pitch I think.

Aaron

Looking at highlights, maybe when he assisted on the 4th goal, Everton player slid in and Eddie maybe rolled his left ankle.

China1

Oh what’s that deliciously salty flavor I’m tasting? Oh could that be the tears wept by the messiah ETH?

He’s moaning that arsenal basically always have a full strength team and that’s an advantage for us.

Yeah Jesus has been fit all along and we benched him after the World Cup because we don’t like his haircut. If ETH wants his players available he might want to tell Casemiro to stop crunching people. Just an idea ☺️

China1

This is all part of the weird new narrative pushed recently about arsenal being lucky

We’re lucky that our squad is all fit (it rarely is)

We’re lucky when we win difficult game despite having outplayed the opposition

We’re lucky we’re so good lol

China1

Here’s a fun stat

For the premier league this season, arsenal have 4 players in the top 10 for goal contributions (goals + assists)

Saka tops the list
Ode
Martinelli
Trossard all there

Jesus and xhaka are not a huge way down the list. Outside chance of Jesus making top 15 if he blows up in the last part of the season but we’ll see

China1

Not surprisingly arsenal have the second highest number of players who have scored and /or assisted on the PL this season (17 different players in total). We totally share the goals around so I expected this

Surprisingly the only team with more is Chelsea with 18 lol. I guess with their chopping and changing it makes some sense.

Dark Hei

Eddie has played himself into the market, along with Balogun.

Edu won’t need to make those cold calls this summer I think.

Nigel Tufnel

Ten Hag is a whiney little bitch. Worst part is that he doesn’t even know what he’s talking about. Jesus, Partey, Zinchenko all missed significant time, now Eddie.

He’s also the dick who said he’d figured out how to beat Arsenal this season.
Maybe it’s the innovative counter attack strategy he devised that no one else has ever employed in this league. Bald arsehole.

China1

Too much truth Nigel but you don’t give him enough credit

He did work out how to beat us. It involved Refs disallowing a legit Martinelli goal so obviously legal they’d have to apologize for it later

The strategy was genius!

Samuel

Maybe. Eddie was still running and joined in the celebration as well I remember. Hopefully he makes a miracle recovery like Trossard did within a week of being injured.

ETH needs to focus on his own club and their competition. They are not in our league.

dSidstathopoulos

KDB and Mahrez are in their 30’s, Pep has done a good job at reducing the burden of how much they contribute to the team.

Klopp is expriencing teething problems with Gakpo, Nunez. Theres a chance of them clicking next season like it has for Martinelli.

1970 Gooner

‘Remember that wanker Harry Harris & his headline in the back of the Mirror” You don’t have a prayer Arsenal”……what a c** t.😂😂🥱The rest is History,as they say’

PositivePete

I remember it well – I hope there is no excuse for that kind of headline this season. Not sure my nerves could stand another nail-biter, amazing as it was!

Pierre

I wouldn’t worry about Eddie , Arteta himself said Eddie was playing with a “niggle” which probably accounts for his slight drop in form , the injury was exacerbated by a challenge on the ankle in the closing stages of the Everton game. Arteta’s comment prior to the leicester game “Explaining why Nketiah dropped to the bench, Arteta said: ‘Well we’ve got three games in a very short period. We need everyone fresh. ‘Eddie has been carrying a little thing in the last few games too and Leandro [Trossard] has been doing really well.’ Asked if he is concerned about… Read more »

FB

Topside Northbank, Serge, 1970 Gooner and Positive Pete Noticed all your comments last few days. That’s quite a few of us who were Northbankers back in ’89. I was a ST Northbanker myself, but never went to away games so had no credits to apply for Anfield tickets. I think allocation was 2 or 3 ,000. You all talked about those last two home games against Wimbledon and Derby. Those results stretched our hopes to the limit!!! Watched the game on TV with other ST friends, then headed over to Highbury. What a night. Great story from Topside about his… Read more »

Josip Skoblar

Did you see Camavinga yesterday? The lad is pure class.

Drake

Pierre

In fairness to those who criticise Eddie, it isn’t always easy to see whet he brings to the team unless you are there, rather than watching via TV or stream. He works really hard for the team. Yes, he’s not perfect, but his all-round game continues to improve.
If he does nothing else this season, he stepped up after Jesus’s injury. He didn’t let the side down, and I’m grateful for that.

Josip Skoblar

Same as you FB. I started going to Highbury in the late 70s. Great atmosphere back then.

China1

We’ve already had enough nail biters recently with Villa and Bournemouth. More games like Fulham pretty fucking please.

Show up. Blast palace away in the first half. Calmly see out the second half. Am I being greedy? Is it too much to ask? Don’t fancy a 98th minute winner again any time soon unless we have a FAT gap over city at the time which as of now we do not

Nastradamus

Hi guys, yesterday I saw a post where people asked Chat GPT about Arteta’s plan from phase 3 to phase 5, so I decided to ask Chat GPT about the whole 5 phase of the plan out of curiosity and the answer I got is somewhat …… accurate? Here is the answer for anyone who are interested. Mikel Arteta, the current manager of Arsenal FC, has implemented a strategic plan that consists of five phases to rebuild and improve the team’s performance. These phases are as follows: Phase One: Culture Reset – The first phase of Arteta’s plan was to… Read more »

FB

Josip

There were also some pretty bleak years !!!!

But, we were rewarded eh

My first win was the ’79 Cup Final, but on tv and then had to wait for George and the Luton and Liverpool Wembley games for my own first cup wins in person

Josip Skoblar

FB
My first game was in 1976. We won 2-0 against Stoke City. I was a kid. Yes, there were bleak years and some boring football too. 😉 But I liked our old stadium.

FB

Josip

Back of the old North Bank was pretty grim 🙂

The Highbury East Stand and Marble Hall was special

FB

Josip

I narrowly beat you to the first game, so we’re likely same age

A lifetime of memories, and friends I have made through following AFC and kept all these years.

Nice talking

1970 Gooner

FB – great memories. Good times and bad. Got to have the bad to fully appreciate the good!

My first game at Highbury was a 2-0 defeat to the Scousers, Emlyn Hughes and all! 72 or 73, so long ago now I can’t remember!

AFC Forever

Drake “In fairness to those who criticise Eddie, it isn’t always easy to see whet he brings to the team unless you are there, rather than watching via TV or stream. He works really hard for the team. Yes, he’s not perfect, but his all-round game continues to improve. If he does nothing else this season, he stepped up after Jesus’s injury. He didn’t let the side down, and I’m grateful for that.” This is a great comments. I’ve made the same point myself. At the ground you can see everything and that includes all the movement and off the… Read more »

Pierre

1970 gooner I started going in the early/mid 60’s when we pretty average , walking with my Dad and grandad to the ground who lives just off Liverpool road , i remember being passed down to the front at the clock end and watching through the railings. My first memories was a 3-3 draw with west ham 63/64 season , an FA cup tie with liverpool , 6th round i think 1963, joe baker and ron yeats sent off after a punch up, and home to leeds when gary sprake gave bobby gould a right hook , plus a 4-0… Read more »

raptora

FB, the poster who shared about Anfield 89 was Tony. Lovely story indeed. It’s great reading about how the deep love for Arsenal has etched the lives of so many people along the years. It keeps happening. It’s never-ending. Hopefully we’ll have lived through another incredible story in a couple of months time. One for the ages. Just like the ones many of the folks in here have.

raptora

Topside and the lads holidays along with LFC fans also a great read. Thanks for sharing.

1970 Gooner

Pierre – I was just a bit too young to catch any of the 60s – probably just as well! You mention Joe Baker – older Arsenal mates of mine always rated him. My first season was 70/71 – not a bad one to kick off with, but I was still too young really to fully appreciate it. By the time I was actually going to matches it had all started to unravel. I have an old photo of Geordie Armstrong taking a corner at the Clock End from my first game. I soon migrated to the North Bank after… Read more »

AFC Forever

Pierre You are older than me…!! You also have a far better memory. You might like this story because you will know who I’m talking about: I started going end of the 1960’s with my Grandad and Dad. I have a varied recollection because I was only young. My earliest good memories are the 70/71 season when we must have gone to every home game. I have vivid memories of the open top bus going around Highbury Corner roundabout and heading up Upper Street to the Town Hall. In those days the double was a proper achievement. We used to… Read more »

Markymark

The bar at the top of the north bank was a little bit special wasn’t it. I was just to young to get in there but remember the beer or was it piss streams flowing down the terrace

G

Fb.. similar pattern.. first cup final on tv 1978 v Ipswich then the unforgettable 1979.. first live was 1987 v Liverpool (Charlie Nicholas)
Had a ticket for 1989 Anfield and turned it down because thought we had no chance.. mate of mine then went on his own….gutted

1970 Gooner

AFC Forever

Nice story – Geordie was some player.
As you say, it wasn’t unusual, back in the day, to actually bump in to Arsenal players – it didn’t happen very often for me, though I do remember quick words with Bob McNab and Supermac!

Logie Bear

Great memories this morning. My first clear memory is the 1972 cup final on TV with Mick Jones breaking his arm and Allan Clarke scoring the winner against Geoff Barnett in our goal. Cried in my tea the year after as I seem to recall Jeff Blockley costing us the semi-final vs Sunderland. Barren years in the mid 70s, the three Cup finals at the end of the decade unforgettable (esp the “5 minute final” win against the Mancs in’79) First game in person was actually Paul Davis’ debut away against the Spuds which we won 2-1. In the stands… Read more »

Logie Bear

And I was also at those two last home games against Wimbledon and Derby! I can clearly recall bemoaning the fact we’d need to go up there and win 4-0 because of the GD situation – one of the other North Bankers overheard and pointed out we’d “only” need to win 2-0 as that would count against the Scousers GD as well. Suddenly it seemed a bit more likely somehow.

Such good times…! Hopefully many more to come.
Good fun reading the comments today

G

Met Paul Davis.. lovely bloke

Remember listening on the radio playing Juve away with Paul vassan scoring the only goal (sadly committed suicide later)

psuedo warrior

Lucky? Arsenal are playing the best football in the League. There have been losses but I can’t recall a single game where I’ve felt we deserved the loss. People may point to City at the Emirates and United away but not for me. We were not bested over 90 minutes and missed Partey massively on both occasions. Its incredible the job Mikel Arteta has done here. To have the youngest team in the league go head-to-head against a billion pound backed Guardiola team. Our team’s pressing patterns. Our team’s quick and precise transition from defense to attack. The variation in… Read more »

AFC Forever

G

“Remember listening on the radio playing Juve away with Paul vassan scoring the only goal (sadly committed suicide later)”

Absolutely tragic story. Good looking lad, world at his feet and then injury ruined it all. Ended up a heroin addict and nearly died from stab wounds after a drug deal went wrong. Convicted of various muggings and thefts before dying of an overdose. Very sad.

1970 Gooner

G and Logie Bear

Me and a mate were listening to that Juventus away match on the radio too – first English team to win there, if I remember correctly.

Useroz


Show up. Blast palace away in the first half. Calmly see out the second half. Am I being greedy? Is it too much to ask? Don’t fancy a 98th minute winner again any time soon unless we have a FAT gap over city…

Watched about an hour of yesterday’s Palace game.
Judging by the level they performed we should be able to blow them away inside 1H … unless Patrick managed to get ’em deliver one of those game of the season!

Positive pete

How Highbury ever got called the library is a mystery to me.Early & late 70s the place was a bear pit & I mean loud & intimidating.Some opposition players used to get a right slating.I remember Frank McAvennie ( West Ham) & Collymore( Forest) getting slaughtered regularly.Incidentally,they both Hate us to this day.Early 80s was quiet ish but picked up bigtime with the arrival of Gorgeous George mid 80s

psuedo warrior

If anything we’ve rarely got the rub of green from VAR. Or refereeing in general. Whether you want to call that ‘Unlucky’ or ‘Corruption’ is up to you

We have got 2 penalties awarded so far. 17th in the PL !

City have 6 and that includes a 90th minute penalty against Fulham in a game City won 2-1. And a 80th minute penalty against Palace in a game City won 1-0.

We have conceded 6 penalties so far. 6th in the PL.

AFC Forever

1970 Gooner

“though I do remember quick words with Bob McNab and Supermac!”

What a player Supermac was. Remember that Superstars program where he ran the 100m in a ridiculous time under 11 seconds? Same show where Kevin Keegan was injured racing a bike around a track like an idiot. Those were the days, World class sportsmen competing against each other in a mini olympics something you will never see today. We were lucky to have enjoyed all that before money took over.

China1

‘Got to have the bad to fully appreciate the good!’ This is very very true in life irrespective of how frustrating the bad can be It’s why I’ve never envied Bayern fans, juve or PSG fans, Barca/Madrid or whilst fergie was there Utd fans – now city fans Because those teams which just bring it home every single season – who honestly cares? How happy do you feel as a PSG fan when you win the league? Honestly? How nervous do you feel as a Bayern fan right now? What’s the worst that could happen if Dortmund win the league… Read more »

1970 Gooner

AFC Forever

Aye, we have been really lucky over the years, with Arsenal delivering a trophy or two in every single decade. As for Supermac – I remember being super excited when he signed for Arsenal – some strange amount with lots of 3s wasn’t it. A 5-3 game against Newcastle comes to mind, with a MacDonald hat-trick. Happy days, with more to come this season – fingers firmly crossed.

China1

And taking it back to my esports days, I actually have fonder memories of some of my highest profile defeats than I do of some of my tournament wins Taking a match off one of the top 5 players in the world before he came back to win 2-1 in the set and knock me out is a more enjoyable memory than most of my actual tournament wins where I was levels above the competition and strolled it It’s all about that journey and adversity that makes competition and sport so enjoyable. And the bad times and bad results do… Read more »

China1

Like I dare anyone here to say winning the league this year wouldn’t be at least as big a deal as the invincibles

The dry years. The selling of star players. Wengers slow decline. The falling apart of the club as an elite entity. The Emery period. Donutball. If we win the league this year it’s gonna be sweeter than anything I tell you. Sweeter than ANYTHING!!!

Markymark

The library bit came along with the mid to end days of Wenger.
During 87’ league cup semis Highbury and White Hart Lane were equally loud. Everton semi final 1988 was massively loud.
The reduction in Highbury capacity and spilt of the Northbank might have had something to do with
Personally the Emirates up to Arteta period I felt was a beige atmosphere. Anfield and Old Trafford can be the same.
The younger singing set at Emirates have really kicked on the atmosphere in what is not a great acoustic stadium

Markymark

China 1 – winning the league this year would be absolutely immense. Without a City pressing us . This season would almost be a cakewalk, City of course turn it very much from being a cakewalk.
I’m actually very hopeful going into 23-24. Liverpool have problems in their defence whoever they buy upfront. I do wonder if Pepe will part ways with City and I feel that Chelsea have so much to unscramble. UTD over reliant on two players
We can hope and pray for this season. I’m not thinking this is Arsenal’s one and only chance

jwl

Markymark – I am canadian who knew nothing about soccer when I arrived in london summer of ’95. I worked at a gooner pub and our regulars were complaining about highbury library even then. I think atmosphere changed when football went from having standing sections to all seating policy, the working class were shut out and pearl clutching middle classes were only ones who could afford to attend. The ashburton army crew are making great effort to bring life back to Arsenal matches, long may it continue.

AFC Forever

China1 If Arsenal win the league it will be up there as one of our greatest achievements. It wasn’t long ago this blog was full of people slaughtering Arteta and every signing he made. The likes of Odegaard, Ben White, Ramsdale all disrespected. They were going nuts when we got rid of Guendouzi and Aubameyang and we were told the ‘process’ didn’t exist. Even the media picked up on this. There were cries we were overcoaching players, how we needed to dump Arteta for Conte and even Mourinho. was touted by some. Arteta kept his cool, Arsenal stuck to the… Read more »

Rich

Liverpool problems are that they’ve turned one season of instability into potentially two. They’re trying to rebuild their attack…. Klopp should do that, there’s enough talent there, and he’s an incredible coach. Teams are currently playing through Liverpool’s press far too easily, breaking up the Salah, Firmino, Mane trio was always likely to be painful. But they’re conducting that process at the same time as they have instability in midfield with too many ageing players, so they have older midfielders like Milner, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Ox… All at the end stage. But they don’t have mid-experienced midfielders to bridge the… Read more »

1970 Gooner

China1 Markymark AFC Forever

I couldn’t agree more. The Arsenal transformation we have witnessed is nothing short of a minor miracle, even if we are pipped to the title by those cheating Mancs. Win it, and this season will go down as one of the all time greats.

Useroz

Ben White not in Southgate’s 25 person squad

1970 Gooner

Useroz

That’s good for Arsenal (sad for Ben White). How a cart-horse like Dier gets the England nod sums Southgate up for me.

TT

Honestly I dont think Ben White gives a fuck if he is not in the England squad.

China1

AFC I was one of the ones who ran out of patience with Arteta he came in. did great to win the cup. then I felt we regressed. there was a lot I didn’t like (Willian, Donutball, handling of Saliba , bottling top 4, a lot of things frankly) but what can you say this season? what can we possibly criticise this season? the jump has been stratospheric. and everyone’s made it at the same time. tactics are better. players are playing better. team spirit and mentality is better. substitutions are smarter. results are better. the football is more fun.… Read more »

Un

User Oz

Southgate is a donkey faced wanker
Can’t wait til he’s gone

China1

all the negativity of yesteryear has washed away this season

I’ve been banging the Xhaka out drum with 10 posts a day since he first joined us.

aside from occasionally complimenting his contributions this year I’ve not even mentioned him. he’s gone from 10 angry posts a day saying what a liability he is etc to a good, valued player. wtf is going on. it’s twilight zone stuff

Un

Rich
Really enjoying your comments lately.

Topside Northbank

Ben White not in the England squad obviously good news for us, doubt he wants to be away from home again sat on the bench anyway.

If you base the decision on footballing reasons it makes no sense whatsoever, had a very good season. I guess whatever happened at the WC with the coaching staff if true under this manager he won’t be getting a call up anytime soon.

England/Southgate must have an abundance of riches at RB and CB that many can’t see…..me included.

Un

China
Always said xakha was a good player. He was hung out to dry by the systems he was playing in. Scholes, pirlo, xabi. They’d all have been badly exposed under latter wenger or emery.

AFC Forever

China1 Edu’s comments, which I posted earlier, make it clear they see us as only half way through the process. This is more than they expected. It’s obvious to me that the owners are fully behind the club and who knows where we could end up. Champions League football did nothing to help Spurs push on because they have limited appeal but for a huge heritage club like us it’s a really big deal. Whatever happens next, the future is looking very bright. When you hear Ten Hag & Gary Neville squealing like pigs, you know how scared they are… Read more »

dSidstathopoulos

It hard to blame Southgate, the best English CF is over hyped Harry Kane.

Rich

China Deconstructing what wasn’t working in a difficult market…. Then trying to construct something new…. Was always going to be a process, and not an event. That process is an ongoing one, which will require us to operate perpetually within 5 year cycles…… If we look after the medium to longer term, then our immediate future will eventually take care of itself. We didn’t get to this season by accident, but rather by design…. By steadily implementing a strategic plan across a specific timeframe. Being patient, not panicking, and recognising there’ll be teething problems along route…. That we might have… Read more »

Un

Rich

They wasted over £110m on Oxlade Chamberlain and Keita too. When you think that we have Partey, Lakonga, xakha Jorginho and Elneny for £120m odd. In hindsight they’d probably have wished they spent it more wisely.

Un

Sid

We were the best team at the World Cup and he blew it. Displaying your western penis envy again

AFC Forever

Gareth Southgate is a dinosaur who is wasting the best talent for a generation. People forget he relegated Middlesbrough who had some decent players. Englands record is poor, he’s living off getting to the Euro Final where England were beaten by an average Italian side that failed to qualify for the World Cup..!! We can only beat who we are supposed to beat, against decent opposition we look slow and ponderous. He’s a terrible coach. But I’m not keen on International football, give me the Premier League or the Champions League every day of the week.

jwl

White is not likely to be picked again for England team once he got himself banished from squad in world cup, unless new manager comes in and is willing to give everyone a clean slate. So not at all surprising that he not named for this international break.

dSidstathopoulos

But UK males have came up short at number 82

Un

Sid

It’s not just our penises you envy though is it? Such insecurity. Get yourself a therapist boyo

AFC Forever

Rich “Being patient, not panicking, and recognising there’ll be teething problems along route…. That we might have to go backwards to go forwards…. Or accept a few sideways steps along route to get our destination.Some of us recognised that…. Some didn’t.” To be fair to those that didn’t buy into the process I can understand why. Fans were frustrated and desperate because Arsenals decline was far worse than anyone first thought. Perhaps those of us who knew how bad it was took a different view, knowing this wan’t about some ‘guaranteed winner’ coming in to scatter a few magic beans.… Read more »

dSidstathopoulos

The Egyptians can give it to her harder

Rich

Un Unfortunately It’s unlikely Liverpool’s issues are unfixable… Nunez + Gakpo look like really good players.. They’ve been unlucky with Diaz’s injuries, who looked a really promising player. They’ve got some really talented young midfielders, Elliott in particular could develop into a really top player. It’s more poor strategic planning that’s got them to this point, being reactive instead of proactive in refreshing their midfield. They’ve got Henderson contracted until 2025… Fabinho 2026… Thiago 2024…. Those are mistakes they’ve either got to buy their way out of by paying them to leave….. or they’re stuck with their wages, and their… Read more »

dSidstathopoulos

New post

Zomber

It is so good to see that flair and energy from Jesus. After 15 minutes we grew.into the game. It is safe to say that the referees are not Arsenal fans. I do hope Saliba will be ok for the weekend, White cannot play in two positions at once