How good were the "you're fudgeing shark" chants coming though loudly on TV?
Arsenal 2023/24
Wow. Well done toffees. Spurs will play title deciders now
Us and City now.
Would kill for Brighton to take all three points tomorrow.
Would kill for Brighton to take all three points tomorrow.
massive result for the league, everton did us a massive favour.
Boo. The seagulls had a chance to do something quite funny there. But instead they got smashed.
That's what happens at this time of the season with midtable teams who have nothing to play for. No desire or intensity when the result doesn't matter. It's teams still fighting for survival or Europe that will be tough.
Brighton are either quality and can beat anyone on their day. Or they're total arse.
Seems like Spurs or West Ham are the best hope for City dropping points.
Seems like Spurs or West Ham are the best hope for City dropping points.
Need woody to score a couple for forest this weekend, ensure their survival and help the gunners
Brighton are either quality and can beat anyone on their day. Or they're total arse.
Seems like Spurs or West Ham are the best hope for City dropping points.
Seems like Spurs or West Ham are the best hope for City dropping points.
Spurs will decide the title.
Huge game today. As an aside, I’m getting Auba vibes from how Salah is ending the season. Always felt they should have moved on with a decent fee last summer, instead his legacy is on the line and it’ll be a messy exit - unless the new manager can do something. I suspect Liverpool will struggle next season with a new manager and a squad that will need refreshing in his image.
Wow. What a half of football.
3-2 in the end, started off and it looked more like another 5-0 win in the making.
2 glorious chances missed so far by wood unfortunately
We gifted them their two goals. Should have been a lot more comfortable but the reality is they barely threw a punch.
Three games to go.
Three games to go.
Wow. With the nix game on I completely forgot about this mornings game.
Awesome first half. Wish we could have followed it up in the second. But never mind, still a simple 3 points away 😀
Awesome first half. Wish we could have followed it up in the second. But never mind, still a simple 3 points away 😀
Did enough, 3-2, win is a win! Still nee City to drop points somewhere. Liverpool are done!
I already feel dirty doing this but I will be 100% behind Spurs when they play City in a couple weeks.
Unashamedly Ange ball till I die (for 90 minutes).
Unashamedly Ange ball till I die (for 90 minutes).
Re watching the highlights, it seems that Raya is all at sea quite a bit ay. he seems to make odd decisions to go or stay at different times.
That pass back to Raya was unnecessarily difficult but he had plenty of time to bring the ball under better control. Or just put his laces through it. Neither of our keepers are the real deal. I mean, super talented but with glaring weaknesses but in different areas.
This one will come down to the wire. That slump in form at the end of last year could be very costly.
This one will come down to the wire. That slump in form at the end of last year could be very costly.
Just need Rodri to get a hamstring strain or something, he's the key to them getting a wobble at the end. Full focus on Bournemouth now, they looked good on the weekend at home and have caused us problems before. One game at a time here eh.
Lovely little tidbit from Football365's "16 Conclusions" piece;
"It wouldn’t be too outrageous to say that first half was close to the best of Spurs currently against the worst of Arsenal, with the outcome still being a 3-0 lead for the visitors. Doesn’t matter how unlikely that scoreline might have been or how deceptive a reflection of the half’s events; it’s impossibly hard now to believe it’s only a couple of years ago that Spurs were crushing Arsenal 3-0 here to take charge of the top-four race and see just how big the gap between them now is. It’s almost gone without mention that this was St Totteringham’s Day with five matches still to play."
"It wouldn’t be too outrageous to say that first half was close to the best of Spurs currently against the worst of Arsenal, with the outcome still being a 3-0 lead for the visitors. Doesn’t matter how unlikely that scoreline might have been or how deceptive a reflection of the half’s events; it’s impossibly hard now to believe it’s only a couple of years ago that Spurs were crushing Arsenal 3-0 here to take charge of the top-four race and see just how big the gap between them now is. It’s almost gone without mention that this was St Totteringham’s Day with five matches still to play."
Great win. All over them. Got away with a 50:50 in our penalty and their goal denied, don't give a shark.
Trossards now scored 15 goals and has 2 assists. Mudryk has 5 goals and 2 assists, albeit without the chance to play in Europe.
Fudge me did we get away with one there. Our recruitment really has become top notch, massively helped by having a settled squad and playing system.
Trossards now scored 15 goals and has 2 assists. Mudryk has 5 goals and 2 assists, albeit without the chance to play in Europe.
Fudge me did we get away with one there. Our recruitment really has become top notch, massively helped by having a settled squad and playing system.
How good is that Voulez-Vous pumping out at the end of the game? Certified banger.
Hoping to wake up to Wolves having nicked something.
Two games to go.
Hoping to wake up to Wolves having nicked something.
Two games to go.
Big result and at least we're not folding like last season. All we can do is win our games and keep pressure on their's.
Can't shake the sinking feeling that all that's happening now is prolonging the inevitable but at least we're making them have to win it. Seems a little surreal to be top with 2 games to go yet winning it feels impossible from here.
Can't shake the sinking feeling that all that's happening now is prolonging the inevitable but at least we're making them have to win it. Seems a little surreal to be top with 2 games to go yet winning it feels impossible from here.
It’s rough as a Nix and Arsenal fan being so close to winning both leagues but being in the same situation where it’s out of our hands.
Edit: Just had a chance to see the highlights. Rice's run in the 98th minute before his goal was all class. I can't talk highly enough about the guy.
We definitely got rub of the green. I'd have given their goal any day, and Havertz was clearly looking for contact dragging his foot like that for the penalty. Still, you take what you get. Still top of the table.
Edit: Just had a chance to see the highlights. Rice's run in the 98th minute before his goal was all class. I can't talk highly enough about the guy.
We definitely got rub of the green. I'd have given their goal any day, and Havertz was clearly looking for contact dragging his foot like that for the penalty. Still, you take what you get. Still top of the table.
Rice easily the best signing made this season, well worth the 100m price tag.
Havertz' peno was a bit of a rort, he goes down way too easily, but we'll take it obviously.
I reckon the biggest rub of the green in that game was Christie getting away without a red though, shocker decision for me
I reckon the biggest rub of the green in that game was Christie getting away without a red though, shocker decision for me
It’s tough seeing Manchester city steamrolling teams and not looking like slowing down at all with only three games to go. Arsenal can only do what they can do. Spurs are looking a bit hopeless but hopefully they pull something out of the bag against city.
Havertz going down in the box was a clear pen - sure a little soft but there was contact and the ref would have called a foul anywhere - not that it mattered anyway, we owned them! I think the only hope we have of winning the league is to keep winning - we have 2 games to go, Man U and Everton, both winnable but not easy. If Tottenham can manage a draw against City we take the league at the last weekend.
There’s even a chance a draw mightn’t be enough. The ball is in our court in terms of goal difference but our lead has been cut into. We are up by six but City can get that in a single game.
Of course if they were to draw a game that leaves only two games to work on their goal difference. We’re going to have to put the foot down in the last two games to not only win but win well.
Of course if they were to draw a game that leaves only two games to work on their goal difference. We’re going to have to put the foot down in the last two games to not only win but win well.
GD should be fine I reckon.
City must draw for it to come into play, leaving them two games for increasing theirs. Obviously we must win our two games for it to come into play as well, so at the absolute minimum we are up by 8, so City have to win both games by 4 on average, and hope we only win our two games by one each.
Yes it's possible for them to catch us, but I think it'll be fine. I also suspect we will absolutely slap Everton on the final day at home, when we have everything to play for and they have nothing.
City must draw for it to come into play, leaving them two games for increasing theirs. Obviously we must win our two games for it to come into play as well, so at the absolute minimum we are up by 8, so City have to win both games by 4 on average, and hope we only win our two games by one each.
Yes it's possible for them to catch us, but I think it'll be fine. I also suspect we will absolutely slap Everton on the final day at home, when we have everything to play for and they have nothing.
We have form for battering Everton at home on the final day!
Speaking of batterings, I just caught the end of Crystal Palace whallopping United 4-0. Fernandes was injured (apparently the first time in his career). Casemiro and Evans were centre backs. They were a mess. Arsenal need to be on-form to capitalise on this next Monday.
If we can't beat this United team we deserve fudge all out of the season anyway.
On paper we'd be favourites but traditionally we always struggle there and have only won there twice in the last 20 years. It's always one of the games I dread the most.
I think it might be all for nothing TBH. Given Spurs & West Ham got battered this weekend, and Fulham haven’t got much to play for anymore I just can’t see which of those teams nicks a point off City.
I fear the same, all we can do is win our games I guess.
89 points would be a very good result for the season, and an improvement on last year. More significantly, our squad looks better, our team is stronger. We are well primed to continue challenging, and being a top team in this league. The squad has a young profile too. This period reminds me a little of Wenger 1999-2001. We went runner-up three seasons in a row before finally cracking it. Liverpool did something similar about 5 years ago. Hopefully it doesn't fall apart and the squad break up before we can win it, and again, the priority has to be locking in Arteta long term.
Agree with Ajc, no matter how much of a rabble they look, Old Trafford is always a sh*tter of a fixture for us. We've given up points there to the worst United teams in recent seasons. Lets hope we can go there and do the business this time. This sounds weird but I always fear it more at night, a daytime kick off seems more winnable, don't ask me why!
Some thoughts on players and roles for next season;
- When we signed Rice I dreamed about a powerful, dominant midfield two of Rice and Partey, but Partey has been injured most of the season. Jorginho stepped up and played well for a period, and things were clicking for a while with Rice as a pivot and Odegaard/Havertz in front of him earlier in the season, but I love the look of the Partey/Rice combo recently, when Partey has been fully fit again. Will be interesting to see how we approach the midfield next season.
- Not sure about the use of Havertz moving forward. I liked the plan of having him replace Xhaka in the advanced left-sided midfielder role, and he started playing really well there after bedding in, but now he's gone to another level as a false 9. We have talked about a big game striker up top and that looks like the obvious area for an upgrade for next season, but I feel like we're a better team with Havertz there, and would be inclined to cement that role for him and start off with it next season.
- Interesting that after all the hype, and the good start, we've ended up with Zinchenko and Jesus basically in the same position they were in at Man City - not locked in starters for their positions, but making our squad look very strong.
- On that, I think Tomiyasu has been massively underrated throughout his Arsenal career. Whenever he's been fit for a stretch, he's forced his way into the starting eleven, whether it be right or left back. Over the last couple of months he's justifiably pushed out Zinchenko and Kiwior, both of whom have been pretty good in that role. I think Tomiyasu is quality and am very keen to keep him round. I suspect that Arteta has Timber earmarked as the left back for us moving forward, so I would probably let Kiwior go if we aren't viewing him as a capable CB, and keep Zinchenko for LB, and Tomiyasu to cover RB and LB.
- Might be the end for Nketiah. He's always put in a good shift and I love the guy, but he's not going to be a big time striker for us. If Havertz keeps this role and we still have Jesus on the books, I'm not sure we even need to go shopping for one either. Perhaps get a young gun prospect to replace Nketiah.
- I would probably try and keep Jorginho and Smith-Rowe. Smith-Rowe has had seriously bad luck but when fit, he still looks like a real player. If we retain Havertz in the false 9 role then there is more opportunity for Smith-Rowe in that left-sided midfield role too. If we aren't looking for a new midfielder then I'd re-sign Jorginho to cover for another season.
If Arteta had opinions anywhere near similar then where does that actually leave us for signing priorities? I would venture perhaps a centre back, if White stays as a RB permanently, and Kiwior is not trusted as a CB. We've been lucky this season with Gabriel and Saliba staying fit all year.
Whisper it, but could we be in for a big GK signing for the third year running??? I suspect Ramsdale will go, he's good enough to be starting at a big team elsewhere. And despite some good performances and a golden gloves award, I suspect Arteta wanted more from Raya i.e. less errors. I wouldn't be surprised to see us sell Ramsdale and bring in another good keeper to fight with Raya.
Then lastly maybe a right winger. Need some competition and back-up for Saka. With Trossard playing the house down and Martinelli being desperately unlucky because of it, we are covered on the left. We also have Smith-Rowe who can play that role, and Nelson will probably be on our bench forever as well.
89 points would be a very good result for the season, and an improvement on last year. More significantly, our squad looks better, our team is stronger. We are well primed to continue challenging, and being a top team in this league. The squad has a young profile too. This period reminds me a little of Wenger 1999-2001. We went runner-up three seasons in a row before finally cracking it. Liverpool did something similar about 5 years ago. Hopefully it doesn't fall apart and the squad break up before we can win it, and again, the priority has to be locking in Arteta long term.
Agree with Ajc, no matter how much of a rabble they look, Old Trafford is always a sh*tter of a fixture for us. We've given up points there to the worst United teams in recent seasons. Lets hope we can go there and do the business this time. This sounds weird but I always fear it more at night, a daytime kick off seems more winnable, don't ask me why!
Some thoughts on players and roles for next season;
- When we signed Rice I dreamed about a powerful, dominant midfield two of Rice and Partey, but Partey has been injured most of the season. Jorginho stepped up and played well for a period, and things were clicking for a while with Rice as a pivot and Odegaard/Havertz in front of him earlier in the season, but I love the look of the Partey/Rice combo recently, when Partey has been fully fit again. Will be interesting to see how we approach the midfield next season.
- Not sure about the use of Havertz moving forward. I liked the plan of having him replace Xhaka in the advanced left-sided midfielder role, and he started playing really well there after bedding in, but now he's gone to another level as a false 9. We have talked about a big game striker up top and that looks like the obvious area for an upgrade for next season, but I feel like we're a better team with Havertz there, and would be inclined to cement that role for him and start off with it next season.
- Interesting that after all the hype, and the good start, we've ended up with Zinchenko and Jesus basically in the same position they were in at Man City - not locked in starters for their positions, but making our squad look very strong.
- On that, I think Tomiyasu has been massively underrated throughout his Arsenal career. Whenever he's been fit for a stretch, he's forced his way into the starting eleven, whether it be right or left back. Over the last couple of months he's justifiably pushed out Zinchenko and Kiwior, both of whom have been pretty good in that role. I think Tomiyasu is quality and am very keen to keep him round. I suspect that Arteta has Timber earmarked as the left back for us moving forward, so I would probably let Kiwior go if we aren't viewing him as a capable CB, and keep Zinchenko for LB, and Tomiyasu to cover RB and LB.
- Might be the end for Nketiah. He's always put in a good shift and I love the guy, but he's not going to be a big time striker for us. If Havertz keeps this role and we still have Jesus on the books, I'm not sure we even need to go shopping for one either. Perhaps get a young gun prospect to replace Nketiah.
- I would probably try and keep Jorginho and Smith-Rowe. Smith-Rowe has had seriously bad luck but when fit, he still looks like a real player. If we retain Havertz in the false 9 role then there is more opportunity for Smith-Rowe in that left-sided midfield role too. If we aren't looking for a new midfielder then I'd re-sign Jorginho to cover for another season.
If Arteta had opinions anywhere near similar then where does that actually leave us for signing priorities? I would venture perhaps a centre back, if White stays as a RB permanently, and Kiwior is not trusted as a CB. We've been lucky this season with Gabriel and Saliba staying fit all year.
Whisper it, but could we be in for a big GK signing for the third year running??? I suspect Ramsdale will go, he's good enough to be starting at a big team elsewhere. And despite some good performances and a golden gloves award, I suspect Arteta wanted more from Raya i.e. less errors. I wouldn't be surprised to see us sell Ramsdale and bring in another good keeper to fight with Raya.
Then lastly maybe a right winger. Need some competition and back-up for Saka. With Trossard playing the house down and Martinelli being desperately unlucky because of it, we are covered on the left. We also have Smith-Rowe who can play that role, and Nelson will probably be on our bench forever as well.