Sunday, January 12, 2025

Report: Arsenal 1 – 1 Manchester United (Arsenal Lose 3-5 On Penalties)

Result: Arsenal 1 – 1 Manchester United (3-5 after penalties)
Competition: FA Cup
Date: 12 January 2025
Venue: Emirates Stadium

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Merino, Odegaard, Martinelli, Havertz, Jesus

Subs: Neto, Zinchenko, Tierney, Kiwior, Rice, Partey, Sterling, Trossard, Butler-Oyedeji


Arsenal laboured to a 1-1 result against Manchester United at home in the FA Cup, losing 3-5 on penalties.

A poor and slow paced first half was followed by a more eventful second.

Bruno Fernandes scored early on but United’s Dalot received a second yellow soon after which led to Gabriel scoring an equaliser almost immediately. Arsenal couldn’t take their chances and missed a penalty to allow the game to go into extra time.

Their performances in the extra 30 were even more ponderous and the Arsenal bowed out of the FA Cup with Havertz’s attempt saved to cap off a poor night for the German forward.

First Half

The one word that encapsulated the first half – patience. Arsenal’s slower approach throughout the first 45 meant that they didn’t give away many chances to United but the Gunners also found it hard to create chances against an organised away team who opted to close passing angles rather than press aggressively.

The patience of viewers on both sides were also tested to great lengths with a match lacking in the blood and thunder of the Vieira v Keane days.

Much of the invention came from Odegaard in this team that lacked his incision nor the pace of the game to destabilise the united defence.

The best chances for the night was laid on for Martinelli who cut in dangerously from the left. The first was called for offside on the 18th minute. The second, on 35 minutes, was the result of a lovely through ball from Odegaard which should have been smashed in with his first touch. The Brazilian took a touch and was closed down by Maguire which saw the chance deflected.

The half ended with the troubling sight of Jesus being stretchered off for Sterling, in what looked like an innocuous trip on Fernandes, possible twinging a muscle when landing awkwardly. The only consolation was the sight of a furious Fernandes who got yellow carded for berating the referee for not giving him an obvious foul outside the penalty box.

Second Half

The Gunners upped the tempo and urgency of their game to take the lead but unfortunately, it was United that caught them on the break with the first goal of the game.

Gabriel headed away a high ball close to the half way line but it rebounded off Garnacho. The Brazilian slipped while turning to face the winger leaving Saliba in a 2v1 situation. Garnacho pulled the ball back for an onrushing Fernandes who curled the ball towards the far post to make it 0-1 United.

Arsenal had to take the game to the away side and almost equalised within minutes through Havertz. A cross pinballed in the opposition box but the German shot wide despite striking from near the 6 yard box.

Lady Luck shone down on the team when Dalot was a second yellow and it was advantage Arsenal, numerically. We made it count with the resulting set piece (what else?). Play restarted with Jorginho passing the ball down the left for Martinelli. His whipped crossed got pushed out by Bayindir and it was Gabriel who redeemed himself with an improvised half volley to make it 1-1 to Arsenal.

Raheem Sterling seemed to have realised that he was a serial Premier League winner and a player of talent as he started taking on a depleted United backline all by himself. One of those runs led to a pass to Havertz who looked to have fallen too easily in the box to an outstreched Maguire arm. The referee still waved for a penalty but Odegaard couldn’t convert the chance as Bayindir guessed the direction of the attempt to keep the score level.

United remained defiant to Arsenal’s chances as a floated cross from Rice at the far post was expertly saved by Bayindir off the line on 76 minutes.

Arsenal just couldn’t finish with Havertz again culpable for a miss from close range. Rice had a good attempt from the inside left parried away by Bayindir but it was another one of those games where the lack of sharpness in the box cost Arsenal a further 30 minutes of extra time on tired legs.

Extra Time and Penalties

Arsenal laboured again to create chances with the only fruitful attempt saved off the line by De Ligt in the first half. United may have defended stoutly but Arsenal were sadly lost for ideas throughout the 30 minutes despite being a player up.

The game went to penalties but it wasn’t to be. Every player scored except for Havertz, who’s had a poor night in front of goal, to send Arsenal crashing out.

While Arsenal had the better chances, the performances were left wanting.

Last season, the team had the Dubai trip to re-energise and add some verve to their performances. This year, Arsenal look like they could use another jolt but fans can’t seem to see where this extra boost will come from.

Without a break or a new addition to ease the creative and striking burden, Arteta will have his work cut out for him to raise the performances of the team again.

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karl g

It’s painful to see how timid this team has become. There was a brief period after United scored when we took the initiative, but were soon passing around the back without urgency again.

Even when players come back from injury, the approach is all wrong. Why did Arteta have to let go of how we played in 22/23? Dull, dull, dull.

TotsOfJack

Anyone who thinks a striker will fix this teams safety first approach to football isn’t paying attention.
I’ll always be grateful to Arteta for making us competitive again but if you were ever in doubt of who his biggest influence was between Pep, Wenger and David Moyes, you’ve got your answer now.

Nico

Wholeheartedly agree. It’s the first time in a while I’ve watched them over listening to games on the radio. It is a painful to watch a team of skillful and inventive players be hamstrung by a pedestrian style of play that slows us down. I agree a striker won’t solve all our issues however, we need someone who can finish all the chances created today. But we also need to review what our style and of play is and either accept we are set pieces specialists and sign players for that who can play at slower pace and work toward… Read more »

JuiceJ

The only positive from this is that we are out, less games considering our mounting injury list. We gotta go show up for the Carabao second leg and end it then focus on the EPL and UCL, that should be manageable. We do need a body upfront though, GJ seems to be out long term. We are too thin upfront. and lack ideas

Thierry Bergkamp (non negotiable)

Losing to Utd is never a positive

karl g

United are so far out of it, the rivalry is lost on me now.

Limpar2

Focus to do what ? To make up the numbers? That is all we do isn’t it ?

Billymac1967

Arteta is a very conservative coach who has benefited from having a couple of supremely talented players – Saka and Odegaard – in his team who can break the mould. Without Saka, this is an incredibly one-dimensional team.

GoonerJust

Havertz Havertz Havertz. Him with that mental blocking once again, a complete stinker squandering 3 golden opportunities in 2 consecutive games now. Learn that striker-esque finish from big Gaby! And why on earth was he given the responsibility to take the pen? That was pressure pen, not pitty pen! The coach made horrendous mistake.

Mentalista

He’s gone full post-ramadan Chamakh

GoonerJust

Chamakh, Chu Young and the greatest striker of all time would scored a brace tonight!

Ash

Hard luck, sometimes the ball just wont go in the goal.

Daveod

When you play harvertz upfront sometimes does start to become most times

Hlebs socks

nah he’s rubbish

FMT

Please don’t mention coach here. Odegard lost a pen didn’t he?

Chessneck

I hate that Zaza style penalty, what is it good for?

Limpar2

The manager is ALWAYS responsible just like managers everywhere. When will it resonate with people on here ? Oh you can’t blame the coach – yes you fucking can. It’s his job to take responsibility!

Rich

Nonsense. He coached a team which created plenty of chances today.

karl g

Odegaard hasn’t been confident in front of this season. For a player of his talent, I’d have him practicing shooting an hour a day solid.

djourou's nutmeg

“but did you see how hard he tried? he wore his socks off!!”

JuiceJ

I will say it again Martinelli should be our 9, I watched the game in dismay at how static we were in attack, and got shown up by United just before the end of regulation time. one man down 2 of their players were sprinting into our box disrupting our defensive line almost getting a chance except the ball was played behind their attackers. Look at us in attack, defenders are marking no one, zero movement to cause havoc. Martinelli runs in behind offers a different dimension and is super quick to give even the best of defenders pause for… Read more »

Mexida

Martinelli who has been poor for two seasons now? He is one of our major problem, he lacks football intelligence & he very predictable.

JuiceJ

As a LW yes, but striker may be his best position. He gets into positions that may cause issues for defenders opening space for others to attack. At present we have no 9, defenders have no one causing them issues. in our squad, no one can do that aside from Martinelli.

gunnerboreus

I’m not sure he’s good enough but I agree he might be better through the middle

Limpar2

Just like all of them then..

marc

to me it seemed odd that Havertz choose the identical penalty that Odegaard had saved in 2nd half

Deano

I usually defend players like Havertz, but to say he has had a back week would be an understatement. Jesus looks out long term, Saka already out for a while and Mereno struggling to make an impact we have serious problems. Other than Havertz having a stinker, Rice kept picking the goalie out, missed a penalty and Trossard should have bundled that ball home. Sterling actually played ok after a first dreadful 5 minutes. The first half was awful and again it is down to this tedious epic amount of time taken for throw ins and set pieces. We were… Read more »

Flash

Also it was Havertz who made the penalty possible. And he also set up a 100% chance for Trossard. (But the belgian tried to tap in as if he would have been walking in the park on a sunny afternoon).
We had 50% attempt on the right.
Odegaard missed the penalty.
And we were lucky with Raya’s fantastic save at the end…
I think it is much, much more than only “Havertz, Havertz, Havertz…”

gunnerboreus

Havertz had a stinker yes, but I agree with you that the worst ‘miss’ of the lot was Trossard dawdling and allowing De Ligt to clear off the line. Criminal striking!

Alex

God, we’re so ORDINARY this year.

PS – buy a striker.

Crash Fistfight

We were ordinary last season until the team went away. This game is pretty-much a copy of the game against Liverpool in the FA Cup from last season, just against a team that went down to 10 men.

Scrubbychubby

Big difference is that there’s not time to get away to Dubai this year.

Alex

The white kit is cursed

truj

that’s not enough

Billymac1967

That’s not going to fix the caution and conservatism in this team that comes from the coach. Like watching paint dry a lot of the time. Sorry to say this but the contrast with Liverpool, a team that nearly always plays entertaining, front foot football, is massive.

Emil

All we really need, and all we’ve really needed for the last 2 seasons is a striker who can tap the ball into the back of the net. The chances we create are phenomenal, and yet, we keep playing havertz up front, who seems, time after time, to miss the goal when it would be easier to score… Trossard doesn’t work as a striker, Jesus runs hot and cold… but havertz simply IS NOT the answer. We don’t need a vlahovic or gyokeres or osimhen or an Isak… all we need is a reliable striker who can be in the… Read more »

MeSoHornsey

And that’s the reason why even Nketiah who can’t break into the Palace team, looked half decent for us, imagine a decent, not even necessarily world class but decent striker. He’d get an absolute hatful. It’s crazy!

Haybe

I think the issue isn’t KH who has been pretty good until recently. The issue is the lack of options going into a season with plenty of football to play.

Last season and the season before Eddie was a decent option for situations like this. And he scored few goals. Nelson and Vieira too. And even ESR would be helpful.

But we sold them/loaned them without any investment back into the team

Crash Fistfight

We needed to use that income on a lumpy central midfielder with no discernible skills and an injury-prone centre-back to play out of position at left-back.

Evaristus

Lol. I’m as frustrated as you dear, but I don’t twist facts to support my narrative. Merino has been average to decent, and Calafiori was trained as a left back/Wingback. His only season at centre back came with Bologna. It’s clear what this team needs, and it’s an attacking player who can put chances away. Other than Saka, No one else comes close enough to doing that for the team

Der32

Charlie Austin and a bag of Aspirin would do well.

Tierney’s Tescopoints

Yes we may need a better striker but this endless passing around the box and taking extra touches is killing us. We had the gift of a red card for them and a soft pen and still we couldn’t do it.

Don Cazorleone

What’s it going to take for us to just buy a fucking striker

Kevin Richardson / Jorginho

Was a valid point in the summer, and still valid now. We went into this season shorthanded and lo and behold, we are paying the price

gunnerboreus

The right question but my worry is we will go and buy someone bang ordinary in a panic this window…..and then not buy the top quality killer we need to in the summer

Johnny 4 Hats

There’s some ridiculous attitude in English football where the team that actually tries to play football are endlessly sneered at by pundits, while the team that parks the bus are amazing – resilient, brave, committed…  It’s like “Hahaha, look at Arsenal, trying to play football and score goals and entertain people. What a bunch of twats”.  And “Oh, how magnificent, the opposition have put 11 men behind the ball and occasionally break away. Genius. Tactical masterclass.”  If I was a United fan I’d be embarrassed that they spent all that money and all they can do is Big Sam tactics. … Read more »

SterdeyGooner

Nah it’s not that it’s the team that tries to play is derided, it’s that Arsenal are derided. When we did against City we were slated.

Johnny 4 Hats

That’s actually very true. Good point.

I guess George Graham really was onto something…

JuiceJ

Did we really try to play football and score? with that slow lethargic snail-like pace?
I think not. We looked like a team obliged to show up and kick the ball around aimlessly then go home. We didn’t give it a proper go like a team intent on winning the match.

Johnny 4 Hats

See xG comment below.

Yes, it was a stale first half. But 95% of the time we win that game.

But if you all want to throw your toys out the pram then go for it.

Just wait while I grab the popcorn.

JuiceJ

See I get you and agree 95% we win this game cause United are not a very good footballing team. But at home, seeing how weak United are, with so much ball dominance, surely we have to move the ball quicker, effectively, and ask question, serious questions like a team intent on winning the game, the only time we looked decent was 5mins after the red card cause we were already 1 nil down. after the goal, we went back to the methodical, snail’s pace and played into United’s hands. we are looking for a goal but their defenders have… Read more »

Der32

We knew Man U will defend deep and try to hit on the counter. We knew we’ll have loads of possesion and opportunities to cut open the United defense, especially so after the red card. But our forwards chose to have another off day despite the xG. xG is not our problem, the toothless attack is. Clearly the team needs reinforcement after our most clinical finisher and creator (Saka) is injured.

IgorStepanoooo

“95% of the time we win that game.”

That goes a long way, but we’re past it now. Wenger trotted that line out a little too often in the end, you know what I mean? Not suggesting the end, etc etc, but we need to do something, not lean into platitudes.

Clay

xG is rubbish at the end of every game only the goals scored or conceded matter not xG.

Mentalista

Can’t blame the ref this time, let’s blame the pundits? Weird take.

Johnny 4 Hats

Not blaming anyone. We got super unlucky. Could’ve played better but still did enough to win.

Limpar2

Super unlucky?
A football game shall be decided not by playing better football and taking your chances but by being lucky.
Another apologist diverting attention away from the manager.

gunnerboreus

We get super unlucky quite a lot don’t we? Enough to make some suspect it’s not about luck

Pappy

This is a very dumb take and the reason we are ok being shit!

Johnny 4 Hats

3.2 xG to 1.22

Yup. We are obviously shit.

El Mintero

Seriously, enough of the xg bullshit. We suck right now. Plain and simple.

Shivam

Out of FA Cup VS Into the next round. Continue believing we are not shit

Ebo

Thank god for you Johnny, I was expecting to see a 100% toxic comment thread. That was a tough watch to be fair, very frustrating, but not for our lack of playing hard or even lack of pushing forward or trying to put the ball in the net, as some have already suggested. It was a lack of finishing and to some extent just some bad luck, but when you’ve had bad luck so many matches in a row it starts to make you wonder. Like you I’m proud of the boys, they really gave it everything. Unfortunately everything hasn’t… Read more »

BelgianGooner

I am usually the positive one here but unlike last Wednesday I don’t feel like they gave it all.
Were they tired? Unwell? Unfit? Could be. But I saw no determination in this display.

Ebo

I did, they ran their arses off, and if one of those dozen balls we had in their six yard box had gone a few centimetres a different direction, or one of the few chances we had that went just wide of the post had gone the other side of it, we’d be speaking a completely different tone here right now. That’s not to say there’s nothing to improve on or nothing we could’ve done better, far from it, but I just don’t think the effort is at fault.

Shivam

It’s a game of few centimetres. It’s because of the control on these few centimetres that some players play in the semi-professional league and some in the top leagues top clubs earning millions. A few centimetres is all that matters, not even a Sunday league player is going to overhit or under hit passes and crosses by meters.

JuiceJ

Agreed, we played a lot better against Newcastle than we did today. We just weren’t luck as we were today except today we had a man more, and still showed no invention, no urgency.

El Mintero

We were up against a shit team who had 10 men on the pitch ffs! Enough of the head in the sand “well done boys, good effort” bollocks. Get a fkn grip Arsenal. Utd are fkn SHIT and they beat us with TEN fkn men ffs!

Shivam

Proud of what? 60 mins of football at home to 10 men Utd and no open play goal? Are you proud of that? It nice to be optimistic, and positive but how to be proud of that performance?

Ebo

No, I’m not proud of us not scoring goals Shivam, exactly as I said, I’m proud of the fighting effort.

And nothing in my words was optimistic, in fact I’m getting fairly pessimistic about this season, so much so that I think I might stop visiting this comment session, because it’s gotten really foul and toxic lately and it seems entirely results-dependent, and unless we manage to buy some great players in a January window where very few of those are available, and with our current state of injuries, I don’t see results improving drastically.

AusDrexler

Unfortunately, social media has given us platforms to be toxic. And many people have this idea that what they believe is all that matters and if you disagree your the villian. Its like peoples lives are inteertwined with the performances of the team, if they win our lives are great if they lose our lives are terrible. I am on your side here. Arsenal played alright, created plenty of chances to win that game but the guys didnt take those chances. It doesnt mean the team played bad, they were bad in the key area of finishing. And that has… Read more »

Ebo

*this comment section

El Mintero

We tried to play football today? When did that happen? I must have missed that…wow

Ebo

No worries, you can catch the replay tomorrow on the AFC website.

A5000m555

Agree with you. Although of course that is not always the case. When Arsenal play Man City and try to defend a LEAD with 10 men, they take the opposite view!

Chessneck

How much are you entertained after this match?

Limpar2

They won and we lost – that’s why…

Shivam

I constantly make this complaint in the Wenger era, but now that our tactics are, itself so conservative, I don’t think the complaint is quite valid. I do agree in general though.

IgorStepanoooo

Win or lose this game absolutely solidified to me that we are done this season. Injuries have left us out on our feet, and out of ideas.

Also, our Summer signings have to be questioned now. One is past it, one ain’t got it, the other one isn’t ever here.

rnab08

Yup. Nearly 100 million on the second coming of Tomiyasu (great when fit but never is) and a very 6 or 7 out of 10 midfielder who doesn’t do anything particularly amazing. At least Sterling tried to run at defenders today.

All feels very bleak at the moment.

Limpar2

I agree – trouble is I don’t particularly trust him to strengthen our attack – this month he has been linked with the centre defender from Barcelona- rumours I know but there is no fire without smoke is there?

Bruce666

Could’ve/ should’ve won this. We need our shooting boots on asap.
Onwards to the next. COYG

Haybe

I love Arteta but serious questions should be raised if he can’t perform against 10 men at home and resorts to sideways passes.

The mentality of the team seems to be sunk and so many players seem to be either injured or in low confidence.

Guns Up

At some point players have to stand up and be counted, and finish easy chances. I didn’t see as much sideways passing today and wouldn’t pin this particular loss on Arteta.

Gavin Mcadam

It’s harder tae play against 10 men tbh. They played a 540, that’s frustrating tae play against. The best teams in the world struggle with that.

BelgianGooner

Even if I agree, the issue was not to create chances but rather to finish them.

Chris L

I thought his substitution to bring Partey on at right back at 1-1 against 10 men was ‘inspirational’………
WTF?!?!?! I really am lost for words!
This is a new low for me!
Am I watching something different to everyone else?!?! It was poor at best up to they scored & had a player sent off – I just don’t see us winning anything again this season!
Look forward to all the ‘thumbs down’ for being honest & telling it like it is!

SG_Gooner

Timber had hamstring issue.

Ealing

what a shitshow

VanRobin

Let’s admit it folks, Tets has taken us as far as he can. I posted this same comment after the Newcastle game and Admin hid it. Do it again today, doesn’t change the facts.

JuiceJ

Deservedly got beat. We were awful.
So static, so robotic, so slow, lacking invention, it’s stupid.
No hiding from this we are winning nothing this season and come end of March at this rate the season will be over for us.

Wengerball

Still absolutely no change in tactics, substitutions were head scratching and that penalty selection was mind boggling. Arteta has no clue on how to adapt or change his way of playing to extract results, just repeating the same thing over and over again expecting different results. Clueless!

Kst

Sorry but no. Cant blame the manager if grown men can not finish those chances as professional, as they should, for their club, fans and teammates. Odegaard, Havertz, Rice, Trossard missed sitters. Be fair.

Earlcourt

The signs have been on the wall for awhile.
But this is a new low.

It’s what my granny will describe As a
“TOOTHLESS BULLDOG “

Wengerball

Might be a silver lining, when results go our way, it covers the cracks but ever since we changed to this “control” tactic I’ve been worried. Luckily we’ve had generational players like Saka and Ode playing out of this world and scoring and creating goals out of nothing, but this year they finally dropped their form or got hurt and the cracks of widened considerably.

Tobi6footplus

At least we have a reduced schedule. Hey ho 😒

Shivam

Hell Yeaah, now we can concentrate on finishing 2nd international he league again

Shivam

*in the league

Daveod

I’m gonna steer clear of my instinct to come here and do what I did against Newcastle which was to shout arteta out we need a striker etc etc etc…….I’m gonna try be glass half full, this hurts and it’s embarrassing but I think Jesus getting injured compared with this result might be the slap in the face our club has ignored for too long. Havertz playing like a man being told to show how inept we are upfront also helps. This hurts this sucks, please learn from it we are one a decent striker (not even world class) a… Read more »

Al Alontos

Even if Arsenal gets a decent striker, the tactics of the coach will take away whatever instincts he has.

Daveod

It’s possible but just look at what Havertz missed, even a Danny Ings gets 2 tonight

Mexida

That’s has been the major reason this guy’s aren’t it anymore. I remember what this players were like before joining until they learn the haram football of Arteta.

Daveod

I do remember what we were like before Arteta and it wasn’t good, I won’t take praise away from what he’s done I just think he’s hit a brick wall, showing some of that stubbornness that plagued the latter wenger years

Mexida

That is what we are right now what we use to be before Arteta. We are even far better in attack then.

Mexida

We got Arteta because of unai’s last result didn’t we? I love Arteta but he tactics are anti common sense

Shivam

We need a striker. This is amply clear. But I don’t think this alone will make the team great. Will certainly improve it considerably,but not make it great bcos we need better winger too. Martinelli has been poor to okayish for over a year, so need to improve there. Whether we consider Rice a 6 or a 8, there is a need for a top quality partner. Those 3 positions need work.

Jack

Arteta, thank you for the memories (not sure exactly what memories but yeah) but it’s time to go.

Every single season we come up short in everything. Leave now while we still have some decent players here.

Fatgooner

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

I spectacular example of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

After 5 years of Arteta we are simply not good enough.

Enough is enough: Arteta and Havertz out TONIGHT!!!

The season is over!!!

Voldemort

A centre forward needed, simple as that. Love Arteta , no better manager for me but fans could turn unless he addresses the obvious..season getting thrown away again.

Shivam

While I don’t want Arteta out, and while I feel he has done a good job, I don’t quite believe this reverence to Arteta where for some fans think he is irreplaceable. Klopp who won the PL and CL with Pool, departed Liverpool as a legend and the new manager has them sitting top of PL with 6 points clear and the PL theirs to lose. Also at the top in CL. I repeat, this is not me saying I want Arteta out, but this reverence by fan that he is the best or there is no one better is… Read more »

Der32

We won the game by xG again. Havertz will score a hattrick in the next game. Sterling is on fire. Merino is adapting. Calafiori is taking time to heal. Saka talked with Arteta. All is well boys.

Momozemio

If Havertz score a hatrick in the next one, i’m actually ok with today’s result!!
(Despite we were embarassing, i’d be even more embarassed comes wed evening if we don’t win it)

Crash Fistfight

Why? We probably aren’t going to win the league anyway. Now we’re definitely going to win the FA Cup.

Glen Helders Left Foot

How in the name of God was Havertz allowed take a peno and possibly one of the worst attempts I’ve ever seen by keeper in a shootout…… This is the end of the Arteta reign, whether it’s the end of the season or the start of next season, he’s finished, no coming back from that

StuArse

That was abysmal! That hand brake is stuck on in place and we are sliding down a muddy hill.
Need a signing to get us some new energy, pace and ability to dribble and it is this kind of game we miss someone with the drive and leadership like Xhaka. Didn’t feel like we had that today.

Mentalista

We’ve never replaced Xhaka. Rice is a phenomenal athlete and was brilliant last season but no creativity. Merino is the equivalent of a filler Dragon Ball Z episode where nothing actually happens. Martinelli suffers because no one spots his runs.

Chris

Ha! I came here to say the answer was to bring back Xhaka!

Marko

That was embarrassingly predictable. Whatever, if anything, is happening behind the scenes tactically and in training to combat any team who put men behind the ball is clearly not working. Buy a striker. Anyone. Literally anyone. Josh Windass from Sheffield Wednesday would have put those Havertz chances away.

BelgianGooner

This was much worse than Newcastle midweek. They gave us the win on a silver plate but we said no thanks.

I have no words I just hope Mikel does because we have an important game in 3 days.

Wengerball

It’s dire when even you aren’t seeing any positives…rough times.

BelgianGooner

Well positive thing is that now Mikel might have additional arguments for the board to buy a new forward?

Wengerball

Or the board has additional arguments to sack Mikel and get us a manager who knows how to win things. It’s the next evolution of the process.

BelgianGooner

Let’s politely agree to disagree 🙂

Chessneck

Everything bad is good for something. Everything is screaming BUY A STRIKER!

Ratcat

With all these attacking injuries, which combination of lifeless automatons will Arteta select for the front 3 vs tottenham? Does it even matter

Ashburton Patriot

Something haunting about arsenal dressing up in all white, sacrificing our silverware to the red devils in that way….

What the hell did I just watch??

Goonermaybaj

Call me superstitious or whatever, but playing in that white kit almost always brings a bad result

Ealing

Raya is the best keeper we’ve had, I admit that, but we got rid for a pittance of 3 Keepers, had Leno, Martinez, and Ramsdale, all playing in the PL, and we have bought 4 left backs, we need to spend money on a number 9, not merino, no calafiori

gunnerboreus

I would take Martinez over Raya every day of the week

loose_cannon

Vlahovic/Havertz swap anyone? Seriously though, there will be a LOT of hate for Havertz tonight, and I know a lot of us won’t want to hear this, but we have to get behind him and the team. Let’s not kill him.

Vonnie

The poor guy looks absolutely devastated. There have been threats to his wife and unborn baby. What the fuck is wrong with some people?

Grump

As much as I appreciate we’ve had bad luck with injuries, it has been no worse than other teams this season. Josh and the board must be beginning to have creeping doubts about Mikel, because for the first time ever, I’m having them. If not, then they must realise we need someone up top who can actually hit a cow’s arse with a banjo. Other than that, we’re just so, so bad. Ponderous as ever, sideways passing that allows the opposition to reset every time we have an opportunity to counter, throw-ins that take an entire minute. There is zero… Read more »

Gooner J

When will Raya ever save a pen?
When will Havertz ever…ahh forget it!
Hope Jesus is ok?

Crash Fistfight

Do you not remember him in the penalty shoot out against Porto last season?

Zenithreptile

When were 0-2 down against West Ham at home with a minute to play

John

Can we just give a shed load of money to that anti-knife crime charity and never wear that white kit again.

Goonermaybaj

Spot on mate.

Jeremy

Who else was surprised by that? As soon as Odegaard missed that penalty (which was never a penalty), I knew that was it. I don’t have any faith in this group of players with Saka out and they bore me to death. They should be ashamed of themselves. Considering the circumstances that was a humiliating bottle job, the worst I have seen in MAs time. I think he’s taken us as far as he can. Buy some fucking players too. This squad is completely cooked and they need help. If they don’t, I can see them dropping out of the… Read more »

Gooner J

Proper bottle job, most irritating and annoying Arsenal game I have seen this season. How do we fail to win against ten men at home with an extra 30 minutes of play.

Wengerball

I’ve been a constant critic of MA. He exceeded his capabilities the last few seasons because of generational players like Ode and Saka. His true level has been exposed and he needs to go and continue his education

Hantal

Penalty run ups have got increasingly more stupid. I hate the stutter.

It should be a smooth run and smash the ball into the back of the net

Ray's Parlour

Before most of you go all over the top now… on a normal day we would have won it. There is a bunch of things wrong BUT with this thin squad (especially up front), key players out of form and star players injured, we are still 2nd in PL and in last 16 CL.

Shivam

You do realise that this is “on another day we could have won it” crap is becoming nauseatingly frequent of late? That another does not seem to arrive an awful lot, and with the attack that we have right now, we may not get that day too frequently either. 2nd in the PL when City have dropped off, is not such a achievement as you make out to be. Getting in the last 16 in CL I probably even less of a deal in the current format. Out of one competition, almost out of another. Only a miracle will give… Read more »

Paul

We seem to have changed to a “crosses and corners” team this season especially.
With that in mind it might be an idea to get a dedicated tallish striker to alleviate Havertz from the role that he’s been filling in for?

Guns Up

Someone with Giroud’s skillset would have 25 goals by now this season. So many crosses (many of them very good) delivered toward players not suited to finishing them.

Ealing

Not even chasing them

Ballz

I don’t want to gloat, but It’s a bit satisfying to see that my opinion on Mikel Arteta’s tactics and football philosophy is becoming more accepted among the Arsenal fan community. From the time he was announced as our manager, every time I have listened to him talk it’s like listening to one of these social media gurus who use vague words to describe vague ideas in order to sound smarter than they actually are. Football is not as complicated as he tries to make it sound. For the last 3 years, he has had the personnel to play way… Read more »

Paul

Being the second best team in the Prem for last two season is good work in my opinion but you think it’s Ballz?

Matt

Got what we deserved I’m afraid.
Anyone surprised?

Shivam

Didn’t watch the first 60 mins, kinda knew this would happen. But somehow convinced myself to watch the game, alas, it did happen

Mexida

It will be a miracle if we make the top four with these set of forwards. I’ve been saying this since our last 7 games but kept getting down voted of which I don’t care about one bit cause my love for this club is more than anything and so I will only say the truth. Trossard, Jesus, Merino, Rice, Martinelli, Odegaard and Raya have all dropped quality massively, and we won’t get top with such a performance.

Ealing

trossard, Rice and Odegaard from last season, Martinelli has plateauded for a while; seems that this his GM’s level.

Simon

The attack had been ignored for too many transfer windows now. It needed to be strengthened after last seasons amazing effort but instead it was weakened (if not but quality at least by quantity). A club going into a season in four completions with fingers crossed they don’t get injuries is not a valid tactic as this has shown. Arteta even said he didn’t think it was possible for ode to repeat his numbers of last season. So then why didn’t he buy some forward player to also do so. I’ll go back to what I used to say before… Read more »

El Mintero

Havertz. Why? 😡

Shivam

Ex Chelsea, that has a magnetic charm for Arsenal football club!

James Connery

The White shirts once more, make this the last season .

Vonnie

They’re cursed, we never win in them.

BelgianGooner

Can we stop these useless discussions about a T-shirt ?

This is a great initiative which show how classy the club is and has nothing to do with tonight or any other losses.

Have some respect.

Vonnie

It’s a brilliant initiative but there needs to be another way to do it. The shirts are horrible, we go out of the FA Cup every time we wear them.

James Connery

Look like the Spuds, play like the Spuds pal

Pappy

Played more than an hour against a shit 10 men utd team, yet we managed to play worse than previous weeks?? Lmao

Mentalista

It’s that time of the year when we crash out of all competitions at once. Thank goodness there’s still a bit to go till the CL knockout.

mt91

It certainly brings back memories of Wenger era annual spring crashes. But at least back then we played fast, dynamic, entertaining football.

Vonnie

We really didn’t.

mt91

We really very often did, problem was in our crappy defence. Back then fans were begging for CDM like today we beg for CF. Different manager, different owners, but its seems we just cant have it all.

Mexida

Our annual crash-out festival is here 🤣🤣

Chippy

The ONLY positive today (and fuck me I am jaded after that) Sterling was half decent.

BelgianGooner

He was ok overall but he seems at the bottom in terms of confidence. He did not trust any of his ideas and hesitated every time he was in a dangerous position and/or made the worst choice possible.

Shivam

30 plus, past his prime Chelsea player, what else to expect?

BelgianGooner

Good decision making given his previous seasons ?

Paul

You mean he wasn’t awful as we expected. Be honest.

SarcasmB0T

The thing about Arsenal is they always try to walk it in.

Shivam

On the contrary, at the moment they are more keen to walk it back towards there own goal

Crash Fistfight

I think that reference might be too old for people to remember. I enjoyed it as a bit of gallows humour.

vieiraera

Another frustrating, toothless performance. No invention. No passion. Predictable and slow af in the final 3rd. Havertz, a calamity Arteta brought upon Arsenal. Martinelli had been underdeveloping in the last 2-3 seasons. Odegaard in a slump. Yet Arteta is talking shut about not finding any talent who could improve on these lot. If he doesn’t win anything this season, Arteta has to go.

vieiraera

Arteta keeps talking *shit

Shivam

The way some of these players are playing, there would be 100 plus options that instantly improve the team

Tobi6footplus

I suspected we were about to have a long evening once I saw that white kit.

Liam

We haven’t advanced past the fourth round in Arteta’s five full seasons at the club. £700m spent in that period. Totally unacceptable

Limpar2

Very disappointing to be honest.
If that doesn’t galvanise Arteta into at least trying to buy a striker I can honestly say that will be the end of our season – Jesus will be out for a while and you all saw Havertz. Odegaard did no better.
Do people call this progress?

BelgianGooner

Again, he tried to buy Sesko only he months ago but the club didn’t make it happen.

RockyRog58

Sesko wanted to stay with his club & not join Arsenal Said quite a lot to me that !

BelgianGooner

What does it say exactly ? He preferred to stay at the club where he was sure to be a regular starter and where he can dominate much opponents only thanks to his physical attributes.

truj

Good Ebening!

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