that’s very nice…
Don’t worry Ron, nothing like the German NT losing another game to set you off and you can join in.
I expect them not making the WC next year… so I am not going to be disappointed.
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Take a bird’s eye perspective, and the State of The Arsenal is pretty great.
-With Saliba news (and expected Saka news), the core of this team is all signed through 2028 at a minimum. Dowman is really the only contract left to do and all indications are that he is committed.
-From an age profile our squad is exactly where you want to be for the next 2-3 years. The only truly important player older than 27 is David Raya. We’ve got arguably the two brightest English attacking talents in the team playing regularly and one of them could be an absolute worldie.
-We’ve played a brutal schedule (after Sunday arguably 4 of the toughest 8 fixtures in the first six matches) but are leading the league in XG differential despite getting virtually nothing from Saka, Odegaard, and Havertz…our three most important players going forward over the last couple years.
-We’re off to a good start in the CL and should have every expectation of finishing in the top 8, getting a bye into the R16, and then being one of the 5-6 top favorites at that point.
-We’ve got the best depth in the league and better positioned than any other side to endure what promises to be another grueling season with way too many fixtures.
A lot of the gloomy narratives would be different if a Szoboszlai worldie from 35 yards hadn’t hit off the post and found the back of the net. We’re playing very well, even if stylistically its not to the taste of some fans, and we’re really well positioned for this season and the next 2-3 after that.
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I agree, we’ve played all our games with a forward line that has consisted of mostly new signings like Gyokeres, Madueke and Eze, who’ve got to get used to playing for us, as well as Zubimendi and Mosquera, who have both looked good.
Liverpool spent more than us but it’s not as if all their new players are looking that great either and although they’ve won all their games, most have been by scraping a late goal.
If at the end of the season we’re way behind Liverpool and Man City and are playing boring, predictable football, then Arteta will deserve some criticism, especially after assembling one of the best squads in Europe but with so with so many new signings it might take a while for them to settle in.
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We are good. Not the best (yet) but we are damn good.
Don’t know where all these negativity came from…
The negativity comes from the fact that the last few seasons regardless of the oppositions we’ve rued dropped points. It’s not knee jerk of most fans (there extremes) to be pissed off knowing we can’t really afford to be dropping points already. That and the actual football isn’t fun to watch in the slightest.
Generally the outlook is positive, it’s the performance side of things people have issues with.
Largely agree with everything. Clubs obviously in an amazing position but something has to be done about our chance creation and the awful predictability of our attack.
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Well, one thing you cannot deny is how elite the men in charge are at keeping our top players.
Saliba extension is a massive statement, more so than when Saka extends, because Saliba isnt a Hale End talent.
So, Saliba doesn’t think our manager is as bad as you described.
Well on this occasion I can say, fortunately, yeh, he doesnt think that.
I agree but I think its mainly a pretty simple story of not having several of our best players available and the attackers we’re playing instead, while great depth, are still all learning to play together and in this system.
If we get Saka, Odegaard, and eventually Havertz back and the team is still struggling to create chances in November I will be worried.
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Wasn’t this already the case last season even with everyone fit? The system is shocking, regardless of who played.
Those three started only nine league matches together last year so I don’t think we have much of a “when everyone is fit” sample to go on there. But we clearly needed more options and quality in attack - which is why we got Eze, Madueke, and Gyokeres - but right now we’ve been muddling through since we added them but have been without Saka/Odegaard/Havertz.
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Since I have been one of the more negatives ones lately I’ll say my small piece.
I complain about the football because (Apart from the eyesore of watching it) it’s a glaring issue and it’s been longer than a couple of matches. Almost the entirety of last season was like this and it’s just not improving. Also I never said a word during pre-season because that shit don’t matter. I was going to start when the season started and it’s crap and it’s not improving.
I’m aware there’s a counter argument that goes along the lines of ‘If we play like this and win trophies, who cares’ and you’re absolutely correct who cares. Except 1) Last season playing like this was very costly and got us nowhere (I know there was other factors at play) and 2) It’s already been costly this season. (Liverpool and Man City) It was VERY close to both of those games being losses and that would of been a crap spot to be in. Man United was decided by a set piece + shit goalkeeping.
Just to pre-empt any gotchas. I’m not asking for Arteta’s sacking. I’m not a fan of sacking coaches who are overall doing well in sports. I can criticise what I think sucks, so that I do.
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The problem with how we play and I’ve said it before, is the fact it’s largely still pretty effective in the end and results are the most important. Whether it’s a set piece, lucky bounce or a bit of skill from nowhere..we end up winning the majority of games purely because we do have a much higher quality squad.
What I dont get is why we seemingly want to be a possession hungry team playing horseshoe ball but then sign 6ft2 players for our midfield who think tiki taka is a type of curry.
The squad is built for prime sit and counter ball but the tactics don’t match. Pick one or the other and stop trying to be both.
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I agree with the sentiment that the football so far this season hasnt been what we were expecting, but I think you have to look at the fact that alot of new players have come in, I believe we’re trying to play differently but that doesnt happen in 5 games.
When we start speeding up the play, going a little more direct and using Gyokeres the style and goals will start to come.
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13/18 is an excellent return from the first six games we’ve faced.
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Yes. Now, time to make hay with a kinder fixture run.
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United A
Liverpool A
City H
Newcastle A
7 points
Not too bad.
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