I mean Arteta has been backed significantly and while last season was a great run it didn't deliver us a title when things were running for us and it might end up being the high water mark. The summer was a really bad one, we bought two players who may have added depth but they did not improve the team. At the same we gambled too much on martinelli, havertz and Jesus being enough in the front line. These were decisions made by Arteta and he got them badly wrong. I think that should lead to an assessment at the end of the season but I recognise maybe lots of people aren't there.

But next season has to be the final straw. We look very good but falling into the same old problems Arsenal have faced since our last title. Most opposition fans recognise we are good but we'll never win it's just not in us and psychologically that will sleep into the team. I worry about PSV it would be typical arsenal collapse to go out meekly at this point.

Keep the boat floating until Saka and Martinelli are back

this season is completely forgettable. we've been turgid before and after the injuries.

0-0...huh...who could've seen that coming?

Guess I'm glad I had to miss it. Anything of interest happen?

    Stating the obvious but without goals you can’t win games and points so we’re now likely to end up in a situation where a CL place becomes a battle to hold onto with 0-0 looking like best case scenario for the foreseeable future. Although if the extra money earned won’t be spent on addressing the weakness in the team again, is there even much point in making it?

    Admit I switched it off in disgust when Sterling was brought on. Genuinely what was the point? This season's "thanks for your interest in our affairs."

      invisibleman18 the assumption here is that the 4 teams below us will punish us. I’d happily take that bet.

        Watched the first half. Wife wanted to watch something on tv. Didn't feel invested enough to either argue for control of the tv or go upstairs to watch it. Had a more pleasant evening as a result.

        I'm just sickened by all this now. There's no reason to accept this. The warning signs that were there last season had turned into giant flashing klaxons by January.

        Arteta still gets the benefit of the doubt with me because of what he has done, but even his stated desire for someone to come in January wears thin because it's his poor squad building that put us in that position.

        March will be a more enjoyable month with only two games.

          Claudius to be honest, I've become increasingly dissolutoned and bored by football. I'd rather spend my leisure time doing other things these days.

              Daz I'd rather spend my leisure time doing other things these days.

              Is that just when we're out of a title race or all the time? 😆

              • Daz replied to this.

                  BloodOnTheTracks

                  There's no justification for not taking the Watkins deal. The only way the club can come away from that January window with any credibility is if they land Isak (which they won't) which would then have justified keeping the powder dry. Keeping it dry for Sesko is just not good enough.

                      RocktheCasbah I'm no true believer when it comes to Arteta but suggestions of sacking him this summer are mental.

                      Its getting to crunch time next season though. If goes another season with no trophies I think the pressure will mount. A big exit would add to it. We are so close but we need to do whats necessary to get over the line and stop self sabotaging.

                        daredevil There's no justification for not taking the Watkins deal. The only way the club can come away from that January window with any credibility is if they land Isak (which they won't) which would then have justified keeping the powder dry. Keeping it dry for Sesko is just not good enough.

                        I think it is absolutely correct to say that it is a fuck up that the team did not secure additional attacking resources in the last two seasons.
                        However, in an individual situation like Watkins, I think it is very harsh to say "there is no justification for not taking the deal", given that allegedly we found out about the potential for the deal while the Dhuran deal was ongoing, and within 48 hours of being alerted of Watkins' potential availability, Dhuran had been sold. Villa were most likely hedging to ensure that they had a fallback in case Dhuran didn't happen.

                        The biggest fuck up has been Sterling. Because not only has he been crap, he has stalled our ability to get other players.

                            Claudius

                            You could be right, it's hard to say conclusively without knowing what went down,

                            Sterling as a loan signing at the end of the summer has been truly disastrous. He's way worse than anyone could have imagined. He's worse than Willian and Luiz which takes some doing.