• The Arsenal

  • Official: Mikel Arteta is the new Arsenal manager.

MistaT Yikes. I don't know why we don't attack with our 5 high up again in the zones like we did in 22-23.

      The fact that we're behind Liverpool and Chelsea again is depressing.

      This feels like the season Leicester won the League. Massive missed opportunity.

        est let's see where it goes. don't know why people are erecting tombstones and reading elegies a week into December.

          You know well where this goes. This is not the first time we're watching this movie. Half a season is not a small sample size. We haven't been good enough.

          Clrnc -- don't love the whatsaboutism in this.

          We didn't lose yesterday because Partey played at right back, or because Calafiori didn't play. We lost because our attack is disjointed and overly reliant on set pieces.

              MistaT We didn't lose yesterday because Partey played at right back, or because Calafiori didn't play. We lost because our attack is disjointed and overly reliant on set pieces.

              Our build up play relies heavily around our full backs so when we have makeshift solutions on both sides this will effect our build up.

                MistaT it definitely has an effect. Saka was ineffectual which is in part because Parteys not a good right back so it makes life easier on their left back. Jorginho was pretty poor so having Partey in midfield helps us there. All these things add to us getting forward more quickly and feeding the forwards in better positions.

                Also I'm not convinced we concede that goal with Calafiori at left back.

                  I thought they're was an interesting discussion in the Arsecast yesterday which essentially was because we have been so effective at set pieces did that have any impact on how we attack. In essence we get to the wing and how much are doing everything to get the ball into dangerous positions more centrally versus winning the corner by just putting a cross in. I think there may be merit in that because certainly when I look at Martinelli he doesn't really look like a player cutting in with real intent and too often gets to the by line plays a not great ball almost accepting it's getting blocked out for the corner

                  4 days later

                  We are currently on course to finish around 71 points. Way below what is required for top 4.

                    Clrnc not sure that stat matters while we're 3rd tbh.

                      Clrnc that's a massive regression and for me raises questions about whether we are going/at as a club right now

                        We will have a talk, but only 2026 may.

                        I've been thinking a lot about the fact that in five years Arteta has only brought in five forward players: Willian, Jesus, Trossard, Havertz and Sterling.

                          Despite that in 2024 no other PL team has scored as many goals as us.

                          that's somewhat skewed by the post-dubai purple patch we had. if you go beyond 2024 to encapsulate sep-dec 2023, those numbers drop alot. in fact we played very constipated football at the start of 23/24 as well.

                          what I've noticed is that most of the big strides we've made under arteta were on the back of a wave of fresh energy - new faces and tactical tweaks.

                          22/23 - saliba and ramsdales defensive impact, zincehnkos inverted play, xhaka playing as a dynamic 8, jesus playing with a point to prove

                          23/24 - jorginho playing 6 and rice at 8, havertz moving to 9, trossards hyper efficiency

                          24/25 - same tactical set-up as previous season , none of the signings making an impact of note, and no exciting storylines aside from maybe nwaneri. as a result the team look stale and short on ideas

                          we need an injection of major freshness. tetball needs a new car smell every season or it stagnates quickly. at the moment I'm of the opinion of 1-2 key forward signings will do it, but I haven't ruled out that the freshness may have to be injected at the top