Don Pacifico Can't help but feel this is reflective of the fanbase's impatience at the moment
We're suffering from anxiety with Saka out and having regularly struggled to score. It's quite hard watching Jesus and Martinelli start together as we've learnt from experience they often don't deliver the end product.
That said, people are very apt to slag off a returning Calafiori, or Ødegaard having an off day. ..
Burnwinter That said, people are very apt to slag off a returning Calafiori, or Ødegaard having an off day. ..
Yeah, I think it's more this that I'm referring to. Merino also seemed to fall within that bracket too. For players who are either new or generally proven performers (and coming back from injuries), it seems hasty to be quite so dismissive. Sounds like a lot of the squad also had had the bug that kept Havertz out of the game (plus Ode probably suffering from being a new father).
Overall, I think we can cut most players a lot more slack than they're getting at the moment.
If we can pull out a win against Brighton it will have been a tidy festive season to make up for the painful points dropped in December. Let's see.
Drawing with Everton was disgusting and the bad taste has lingered
Burnwinter we are already on a really good run of form. We just had our best December ever in terms of total number of wins recorded. Team has a tough schedule and is delivering
Overall anxiety means folks can’t just enjoy their football moment. Even if we were first in the league, a draw would be met with a groan that we aren’t good enough.
Claudius I think we roughly agree, with the exception that I clearly recall us missing out on the title by two points last season, so I'm not keen to hold up a finger to the breeze and declare "well actually, a home draw to an Everton side that averages less than a point per game can be considered good in the overall context and upward trajectory of our aggregate expected major trophies per decade" 
Burnwinter lol. To ease your nerves, go to the 2003-04 end of season table. And then look at all the teams we drew with that season. We had 12 draws. They weren’t all against United, Chelsea etc.
For all the slack Calariofi and Merino get I think our left side balance and cohesion looked a lot better with them in there.
That’s uneducated flack for ya
This was a great win make no mistake about it. We played well despite Odegaard still being out of sorts (and clearly nursing a cold on top of that).
Don Pacifico stay on it. It's annoying to see people (who should know better) melt down preemptively, unnecessarily, at the slightest set back. Keep the faith. Let Arsenal and Arteta cook.
Tbh, the margins in this League are very slim. We were inches from going 0-2 behind and most likely dropping points. It turned out to be a great win in the end, but we were hardly convincing all the way upto our first goal. It's hardly surprising people were annoyed at Odegaard playing as bad as he's ever played for us, Jesus and co refusing to shoot and Raya looking like he's making his senior debut.
Understandable. However, there's context to everything this season (including our actions or inactions in the past summer transfer window). Odegaard was playing poorly, but I view him like Saka. Even if they're playing bad I give them the benefit of doubt, and hope others can pick up the slack. They've earned it. Now we have learned he was probably sick just prior to the game.
What I look for in tricky fixtures such as this, is effort and a good overall team performance. We e have had a rough first half of the season and the team will need all the positive encouragement they can get for the push to come this year if we are to be in title contention come May. I choose to believe in and support the team (and manager) we have, as is. They've earned it.
Gazza M I don't agree. I think there were signs here that a few things are changing. The midfield are pushing on and attacking more. There has been a noticeable uptick in shots and box breaking play from the midfielders since Sakas injury IMO. Its a smallish tweak but I think its making a difference in how much threat we offer.
Burnwinter Mbeumo's near post strike was both clever and well executed, so it's a goal. I'd be interested to see the post shot / goal frame analysis on it.
It was also really poor from Calafiori and Raya. Unusual from the latter, somewhat understandable from the former who hasn't really had a chance to put a run together and settle in the team/league.
Didn't get to see the game, win is clearly good but consistency is what this Arsenal team have struggled with so need to see can we demonstrate a run of games getting results because too often we've stuttered.
