Challenging Next 8: Page 3 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Challenging Next 8

awooga83

We had some great things go in our favour over the last few seasons as well, late winners, great set piece returns and keeping the main players fit but there is always going to be harder times and you have to be able to have enough resilience to deal with that. So far we've had pretty bad blips for a number of games where we struggle to get out of it and this looks like another occasion for that. Even before the Newcastle result we've been struggling as a team offensively and not been anywhere near our defensive level the last season.

SimplyThePest

awooga83 I agree, man. We've put a lot into it over the past two years. It wouldn't surprise me to see us drop off a bit this year - injuries, refereeing, tactics, motivation, squad balance, etc. all playing a role.

Qwiss

Burnwinter Not in any way a given Ødegaard would have an extended absence

The thing is it just happens to be Odegaard. It could have been Saka, Havertz, Saliba, Rice, Partey. All would leave us somewhat struggling to fill the gap. As @Coombs said you need more quality in the first XI to cover a big player getting injured, not more depth.

Claudius

Qwiss we have a high quality first eleven. the better a player is, the harder he is to replace when he is injured. see issues with Rodri now at City who are otherwise stacked. in an ideal world we would've had someone like Wirtz on the team, but absent that, I don't see who covers Odegaard adequately - not even any of the guys who left in the summer.

QuincyAbeyie

Claudius we should be able to field a starting XI without Ødegaard that can attack properly. That's it.

Coombs

Claudius doing hard things is the job.

Qwiss

Claudius we have a high quality first eleven. the better a player is, the harder he is to replace when he is injured. see issues with Rodri now at City who are otherwise stacked.

They're missing Rodri and KDB, thats 2/3 of their first choice midfield. And they are still 5 points ahead of us.

Gurgen

They have 30 top class players though, we don't.

Claudius

Gurgen the fact that they proactively rested Foden for the first 4 weeks of the season should tell you everything you need to know. Imagine us trying that with Saka or Odegaard

Qwiss

Gurgen They have 30 top class players though

They do not.

Clrnc

Clrnc Lost the first 2 already which is within my expectations. We are lucky Amorim is leaving Sporting before we play them but will still be a very tough match there.

Unlucky there he's going to United before we play them though.

I can't see us winning Chelsea, we will do well not to lose. 5 wins might also be a bit too much, I think we will have around 3 to 4 wins from the next 6 matches.

Clrnc

Clrnc Absolutely what I expected so no complains. Hard to see us winning trophies with this team though

Claudius

We will beat Chelsea

Qwiss

Claudius if we don't we're going to be in a battle for top 4, not the title.

Gurgen

Qwiss I disagree and I think we tend to underrate their players.

Panda

Qwiss Yep with Tott, Villa and Chelsea.

Qwiss

Gurgen so Scott Carson is a top class player then?

Sicario2 - Tier 1

After these hard run of games we got a good chance to go on a run starting with Forrest at home after the international break.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

Clrnc what’s most disappointing as a fan is the psychological trauma we go through. 2 times runners up (which was tough enough) and just as you feel we can into a season to win it we crumble and see teams we were miles ahead of (ie Chelsea who we finished 26 points ahead of last year) go above us.

What must the players be thinking?

I also think in history will we simply be known as the ‘nearly men’? Will Arteta be known as the nearly man as it’s looking inevitable. We are not getting any of the margins this season and it looks like Mikel’s destiny is one of close but no cigar.

Next season FC.

awooga83

Considering how awful city have been the fact we are only 2 points ahead of them is pretty damning.

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