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.

          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.

            So if we beat them we play Real Madrid? I don't know man

              Sicario2 - Tier 1 cmon mate, you've not read what I said.

              I didn't say no top tier teams have won the cups. And I also didn't turn my nose up at a trophy.

              I responded to your post suggesting not winning a trophy was a disaster because Bournemouth could win the FA Cup. Let's also not forget that Portsmouth and Wigan have won the Cup. These teams winning the FA Cup and us not winning it has no bearing on how I perceive our club.

                Am so disillusioned I might not even watch this. Have something on at the same time and am making zero effort to reschedule that so I can watch the game. I usually try but can't be fucked this time.

                Good opportunity to get back on an even keel, this.

                PSV are 3/1, draw 5/2, Arsenal 21/20.

                After a relatively restful fortnight in terms of fixtures, a 2+ goal victory would combine a morale boost with a bit of extra breathing time while we wait on our injured absentees, especially Martinelli and Saka, to filter back into the reckoning.

                We have been rubbish without forwards, but if those two are healthy and we're lucky enough to still be in this thing, we'll be far better able to imagine going further. Both players might be getting back to fitness by around the QFs.

                Qwiss I am attending the awards ceremony tonight. They are handing out an 80 points trophy, the field tilt shield, and deep completions award.

                  Could be an anti-football fest against Atletico anyway if we even make it.

                  HomeSteak doesn’t matter. We all play our part. Anyway let’s beat PSV first. Things in football can change very quickly.

                    Merino up front. Joy 🥲

                    Can't believe we're still playing Merino up front, Trossard and Odegaard are in the worst form their careers here and we're completely reliant on Nwaneri. How quickly times change FFS.

                    Trash, as expected. He should just try Sterling at 9. He can't do shit out wide anymore but at least he can sniff out a goal.

                    • naz replied to this.

                      When's White starting? Switch it up

                      I need a Rice masterpiece to get me back on his side.

                      Incredibly underwhelming season by him due to Euro fatigue and forcing him into a rigid role as an 8. Would love a long range goal, but those seem (oddly) easier for him from the right channel.

                      A goal still feels impossible unless they commit some catastrophic error. If we can get out of here with 0-0 then you never know at home. Any situation where we need a couple of goals in the 2nd leg would look fatal.

                        Decent team apart from the obvious issue at CF. We can still do this though. Let's fucking go!

                        I have the real vs Atletico match side by side and the difference in quality on the attack is night and day. The speed is 2x too

                        Did Odegaard kick the ground there or what happened?

                          Rice scores but he looked off

                          We have started quite well

                          Rice goal chalked off. Keep shooting

                          They hit the bar with pretty much their 1st attack. Lucky escape