Hate to channel my inner Sicario, but we lose this tie and it will be hard to not see this season as a step backwards in all directions. At least reaching the quarters again we can hope for a miracle and with injured players returning think we can end the season strongly. It's the hope that kills you...
UCL R16 PSV v Arsenal Tues 4 March 8pm
One bad season in isolation doesn't represent a trend.
Don Pacifico true but I don't think we've had enough "good"/convincing seasons either.
Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert the general trajectory has been upwards. Even in a bad season, we're still sitting 2nd and with a chance of reaching the CL QFs again. Not to mention it's really difficult to get it right every season when you're competing at the level we are.
My point is, for all that's not gone our way this season, it's not that bad.
Don Pacifico well we’ve had our biggest rival go to shit, can’t get a better opportunity/be more lucky than that.
Sicario2 - Tier 1 City could've gone to shit on match day 36 or 37 last season. That would've been a bit luckier, I reckon.
Sicario2 - Tier 1 my point is, regardless of events outside of our control, having a bad season where we perform below our level is just part of normal variance. That it happened when our nearest rival had a meltdown is frustrating but kinda irrelevant to the point I'm making.
Us limping out the champs league and stinky Spurs winning europa and thus qualifying for champs league would be hellish
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lorddulaarsenal that’s why we need to win a trophy asap.
Aston Villa have a decent chance of ending their 29 year trophy drought this season (with Emery in charge). Clubs like Bournemouth, Fulham, Palace and Brighton could also win a trophy for the first time in their histories this season. Hell, Newcastle have a fighting chance of winning something for the first time in 70 years this season too.
We need to wake up soon.
Personally, I couldn't care less about any trophy other than the EPL title and Champs League title. They are all consolation trophies to me and I'd rather always be focusing on those two competitions.
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Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert we had two consecutive mid-to-late 80s points seasons. We needed a third. How many times did Wenger have 3 consecutive 80+ points season?
Claudius the points necessary to win were generally lower. Not sure why we should compare to different eras.
samthegooner I agree. FA Cup is "our" trophy but I've seen us win it enough times. Carling Cup can fuck off and die.
samthegooner -- FA Cup is worthy, but we've had our fill for a while. So yeah, for the next decade its CL or PL, or bust for me.
Arteta and the coaches working hard to keep the mood light ahead of PSV. Probably reading too much into it, but it would suggest the coaches are aware how trying this season has been and that a little relaxation/positivity at this point is needed to keep us light ahead of PSV.
Sicario2 - Tier 1 so what? None of that changes my perception of us. Whilst it's nice to win stuff, plenty of second rate teams have won the competitions you're talking about.
I'd argue that if we start to judge our season based on the winners of those trophies, we're probably in a worse spot than we are now (and not a top tier team)!
Don Pacifico second rate teams? Such as? Yes, Man Utd were shit last year but they are not a second rate club.
Fa cup and league cup Winners last ten years:
2015- Arsenal
2016 - Man Utd
2017 - Arsenal
2018 - Chelsea
2019 - Man City
2020- Arsenal
2021- Man City
2022 - Liverpool
2023 - Man City
2024 - Man Utd
2015 - Chelsea
2016 - Man City
2017 - Man Utd
2018 - Man City
2019 - Man City
2020- Man City
2021- Man City
2022- Liverpool
2023 - Man Utd
2024 - Liverpool
Which one of these are ‘second rate clubs’?
You put your nose down on Fa cup but take this trophy away would mean we have won exactly nothing since 2004 
We haven’t won anything in 6 years, we don’t have a right to pick and choose trophies.
We have some of the most arrogant fans in the world lol.
Why the fuck am I sat here annoyed I can't find the game when Prime keeps advertising it on my firestick? Turns out its bloody Monday. FML.
QuincyAbeyie it’s still 20 teams
Like it’s always been for the last 30 years. There’s still 1140 total points in a season like there’s always been. All you’re seeing is that richer, deeper clubs are creating more high performance stability throughout a season. But that means they’re taking 5-10 points from the rest of the league in the process versus prior seasons. Point is, it’s not a given you get to 85 or 90 points. You need to invest in the squad to guarantee that mean output season after season.