TambourineMan Not with the referees fucking us over we won't. Already dropped 4 points because of the refs corruption and it's been only 5 games. League's tough as it is, but this is too much.

Sicario2 - Tier 1 like what the invincibles did. We had so many unfair decisions those days they just be like fuck it we gonna score and destroy teams and not let Referees be a factor.

Sicario2 - Tier 1 The Rice one we definitely got fucked over. Yesterday less so.

How? Trossard's was never a sending off. Had he booked Doku, maybe we'd have a case. But if you don't give a yellow for the first "delay" you especially can't give a second yellow for Trossard's. That's blatant corruption.

Sicario2 - Tier 1 Anyway, we should try and be in a position where ref fuck ups dont fuck us. For example had we scored a second in the 1st half when we dominated v Brighton then we mitigate any corruption.

That's like saying we should be good enough to win every game 3-0, so the refs can't fuck us over. That's some fantasy land stuff and it's not going to happen.

The refs need to be held accountable and the corruption needs to stop.

I agree est, question is: how do you achieve this?

What a long way we have travelled in such a short time. I was thinking in the post match aftermath yesterday, it was only April '23 (less than 18 months y'all) we conceded a 6" minute goal to KDB & Manchester City and they went on to hammer us. Yesterday, we concede in eight minutes and a similar scenario raises its head. Not a bit of it from these players.

Regardless of refereeing decisions we don't agree with, I think we all wanted to see a performance from Arsenal yesterday and see a team who could compete with City on an equal footing, and I think we got that in spades.

I think, whatever their players said in post match, the way they reacted to us at full time tells us they know we're here to stay now. Guardiola knows it too - I thought he spoke in quite an admiring way about us.

flobaba You call this bullshit out every time it happens. You name the people doing it. Apply pressure any way possible.

The honest answer is- you probably can't achieve it. Ergo it'd be a miracle for us to win the league under these circumstances.

est

We won the league against Fergie's United when we all thought he owned the refs.

daredevil In those days you could win the League with 78, 79, 80, 83 points. These days the margins are a lot smaller. You need at least 90 to compete with these doped fucks and even that might not be enough. Every time we get fucked over by the refs has therefore a much bigger impact on our overall chances. Not to mention that you can't be at your best every game and we're bound to drop points we deserve to drop as well.

They are used to us not showing up, twatting us then ruffling our hair afterwards and saying unlucky lads.

JazzG They're embarrassing themselves.

RocktheCasbah I think, whatever their players said in post match, the way they reacted to us at full time tells us they know we're here to stay now.

Yes. The amount they've talked is an embarrassment for them, as it was last season. They know we're coming.

We are coming. We are far from the finished article as we are yet to properly address our attack.

Arteta will have us reach the very top.

Can see his vision - astonishingly physical yet technical defence and midfield creating a base for press hungry talented forwards.

They are clearly rattled. I can imagine that looking down the gauntlet of that defense for 45+ minutes after being able to break down any defense in the past few years and not getting a sniff at goal other than pot shots from center backs that were lucky to stay in the bottom 40 rows would be soul crushing. I kept thinking that there may not be any team in the world right now that could've done what we did yesterday - maybe peak Atletico in the mid-2010s or that devilish Chelsea squad from 04/05 but not many others. The difference with those teams to me is the physicality this team possesses, especially in the midfield and defense. Looking across that backline yesterday, all of those guys were monsters. Timber doesn't have the height of the rest of the group but he's so stocky and tough to move.

I also love how none of our players have played into the media circus after the game. Let City whine and cry while they are busy getting focused for the next game. As pissed as I was at the refereeing, it's nice to see that the team pretty much kept its cool throughout and didn't take the bait like we have in the past. They really are becoming mentality monsters and it starts at the top.

samthegooner I also love how none of our players have played into the media circus after the game.

I've got a strong feeling this was discussed within the group in the past—perhaps after Rodri's comments last season—and it's now considered off limits. We have the greater discipline and unity all told.