Result: Newcastle 2-0 Arsenal
Competition: Premier League
Date: 16 May 2022
Venue: St James’ Park
Arsenal: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, Gabriel, White, Tavares, Elneny, Xhaka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Saka, Nketiah.
Subs: Leno, Cedric, Swanson, Oulad M’Hand, Lokonga, Patino, Martinelli, Pepe, Lacazette
Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League suffered a crushing blow at St James’ Park as Newcastle ran out 2-0 winners.
A Ben White own goal and a late strike by Bruno Guimaraes did the damage as the Gunners’ stretched squad ran out of steam when a win was a necessity.
The result leaves the Gunners two points behind Sp*rs heading into the final match of the season which, coupled with our neighbours’ superior goal difference, means our only chance of finishing above them is if they suffer an unlikely defeat to relegated Norwich.
It’s heartbreaking to say it, but it looks like we’ll have to settle for Europa League football.
Pre-game
Having left White Hart Lane unsure whether he’d be able to cobble together a functioning defence for the remainder of the season, it was a big plus for Mikel Arteta that both Gabriel and Ben White were fit enough to start, especially with Rob Holding suspended. It also allowed him to field Takehiro Tomiyasu in his preferred right-back position with Nuno Tavares tasked with marshalling the left flank. Emile Smith Rowe was given the nod ahead of Gabriel Martinelli on the left flank, otherwise, it was the same side that started on Thursday.
First Half
Given the frenetic pre-game atmosphere, the home side were always going to come out fast. We really didn’t want to give them anything to cheer about so when Ramsdale twice slipped over clearing the ball inside two minutes, the omens weren’t great.
Our keeper’s nervy start continued when Almiron closed him down in the six-yard box and nearly had his tenacity rewarded with a goal. When our keeper slipped over a third time on 17 minutes, he started to look concerned by his footwear. It was like he was playing on ice.
He wasn’t much better with his hands. A cross from the right went straight through him and he was thankful for White’s presence and emergency clearance. By that point, the centre-back had already gone in the book for a foul on Wilson.
Having barely got into the Newcastle half in the opening 20 minutes, two Saka efforts, the first blocked and the second scuffed, hinted at life in the Gunners attacking unit. It wasn’t much, but it was something.
Given they’ve rarely dominated possession this season, it was hugely frustrating that we let Newcastle have so much of the ball. They won eight corners in the first half and came close to breaking the deadlock via Joelinton’s head only for Tomiyasu to get a vital touch. Ramsdale was also forced into a fine save as Saint-Maximin arrowed a low drive at his near post after cutting in off the left flank.
The tempo was momentarily sucked from the game when Tomiyasu went down with an injury. As Arteta held an impromptu team talk, the Japan international, clutching his hamstring, was replaced by Cedric. The halftime whistle came as a relief.
Second half
The opening minutes of the second period were overshadowed by a head injury to Schar who had a coming together with Nketiah as the pair challenged for the ball in the air. Our striker went in the book as the Swiss defender underwent treatment. He was replaced by Lascelles, who took to the field as a concussion substitute.
When the game restarted, Newcastle continued to dominate the centre of the park. Arteta didn’t wait long to switch things up. Smith Rowe, who looked completely out of sorts, was replaced by Martinelli. The Brazilian’s introduction buoyed the travelling fans who turned up the volume. Almost immediately they were silenced.
After Tavares was penalised for a foul throw, the home side worked the ball from back to front, eventually freeing Joelinton to race into space down the left. The Brazilian played a dangerous low ball towards the near post where White, stretching to stop it from reaching Wilson, diverted it into his own net. (1-0)
Having not won an away game coming from behind this season, the goal felt like a dagger in the heart. Now needing two goals, Arteta sacrificed Tavares, went three at the back and asked Lacazette to partner Nketiah.
It didn’t change much. Newcastle continued to dominate and Wilson came close to doubling their lead with a flying volley that flew just over Ramsdale’s bar. We just couldn’t build up a head of steam, not helped by Martinelli and Lacazette both requiring treatment.
Elneny did test Dubravka with an effort from range but that was the best we could offer heading into the final 20 minutes. We were living by the skin of our teeth and were thankful for a great block by White to deny Wilson.
Due to the earlier concussion substitution, we were allowed another change and sent on Pepe for Gabriel. Xhaka retreated to the backline, if you can call it that.
We had nothing to lose but now looked seriously disjointed – loads of players up top, but nobody behind to bring any sense of order to things. When Pepe gave away the ball making a simple 10-yard pass, Ramsdale had to dig us out of a hole when Murphy went one-on-one on the break. There was a cockiness about the Geordies exemplified by Wilson trying his luck from miles out. His effort just went wide.
The reprieve was temporary. With six minutes remaining, Newcastle finally doubled their lead as Guimaraes pounced on a loose ball to slide home a finish that beat the despairing dives of White and Cedric. (2-0)
Any hopes of finishing fourth were extinguished in that moment. There can be no complaints about the result this evening. We knew what we had to do and didn’t at any point get to grips with the task at hand.
On the touchline, Arteta looked forlorn. He and his players have worked so hard this season. They’ve dared to dream of the Champions League but, barring a miracle at Carrow Road on Sunday, we’re going to come up short.
On the day that we absolutely needed to win, we were dominated as badly as I’ve ever seen us dominated by a team we won’t consider elite. I don’t think it’s ever going to happen for Arsenal. Which of the two teams was going for the Champions league spot? Arsenal? If Arteta was sacked tomorrow, I’d be happy. I know he’s a good coach but I’m so done with this team that I just want this to become as bad as it can be. There’s something about Arsenal of the past decade or so that we’ll never be able to… Read more »
Seriously. We have the youngest squad in the league and have over achieved this season and you would be sacked if Arteta got sacked. Get behind the team rather than slagging it of when we lose
If nothing else Mikel had brought the true fans and the team back together and you want to rip that up
The bottlers of this age? We need to get better yes, but we won a trophy 2 seasons ago, and many much more recently than some other c*nty sides
It’s not the europe league, it’s sp?ds that hurts…
Exactly! Would have been a lot more tolerable if it was literally ANYONE else!
Top 4, even top 3, was in our own hands until NLD defeat. Now it is no longer in our hand, hoping that sp*rs loose and we win vs everton in the last game. But I’m still proud of our young squad, they have been outperforming all of our expectations at the beginning of the campaign. Yes, it hurts so much to loose the NLD and give sprs the advantage, but looking at the big picture, 5th is pretty decent place given our circumstances. Perhaps the mistake lies in the January transfer policy….it’s the club management things. Proud of the… Read more »
Yep, that decision to not strengthen the squad in January became our undoing. But like you said, I am proud of the boys. Hope we do some crucial business in the summer to continue moving us upwards.
Yep. And now all the talk about how we have no spine or mentality, and that one annoying friend who tells he predicted this weeks ago….
Kinda true
Yes,but the table doesn’t lie after 38matches… we’re not the 4th best team in England…..we need experience…Partey was sorely missed over the last two games….we would have taken 5th at the beginning of the season..
Would we? Resigning to spurs and Man u before the season has not started? It thats the ambition im not buying it.
Different context altogether. We would’ve taken 5th at the beginning of the season, yes. But when we worked our way to top 3, and it’s all in our hands (twice I might add, before the losses to BHA Soton etc, and the recent loss to Newcastle), I wouldn’t settle for less.
Yes and social media is now buzzing with that lot calling us Spursy….what really hurts is that are right. No fight and made it easy for them. Embarrassing
There no pressure playing Chelsea United and West Ham and we were really lucky against West Ham. As soon as there was pressure we lose.
That’s ridiculous. There was tons of pressure in those games as well having lost the 3 “more winnable” games before. The problem is that these kids take a few games to recover from a confidence sapping loss. They’ll need to build the resiliency to accept that in this very competitive league, a loss can happen even to the best teams. But to be the best, you need to brush it off and come back in the next game with the confidence and desire to show you deserve to win. But injuries were just too much. White clearly was not quite… Read more »
It’s not even getting draws against palace , Brighton , sotons that caused it , perhaps there was pressure of anticipation in those.
Bouncing back for a defeat slow
The problem with Sp*ds fans is that they hate us more than they like their own team.
That kinda works both ways, I hate them back double.
Don’t read social media then
Yeah if you shut off all football media entirely, and don’t look at the league table, you can imagine we’re doing really really well
That’s what I am planning on doing. Take a break from Twitter and not see all the rubbish that people who already wrote us off in the first month of the season are writing.
What is Arseblog that you are reading?
Arseblog is intelligent, perceptive and witty. Unlike the crap from social media trolls
We deserve to loose the game. The manager is clueless. Loosing the game with spurs was where the fourth position was lost. An intelligent and wise manager would have set the team up not to loose, rather he left them running around like headless chicken. We have owners that do not give a shit or understand what football is all about. How can a reasonable owner renew a manager’s contract when the season is not yet over. Arteta has emberked on Arsene’s style of licking the arses of the owner so that he will continue to keep his job. The… Read more »
If playing in the strongest competition in the world is not enough for us to shit on what is happening whit the Spuds – maybe we deserve what we get…
We out-bottled Sp*rs in a straight shoot for CL football where we undeniably held the advantage. Pain doesn’t describe it, this is heart break
You are 19-23 yo, your team is losing a VERY important game, you look at the bench and your manager has his head down and a loser face on. How can you believe you can do it?
It’s my birthday today. Was really hoping for a gift from the lads.
My best buddy is a Spurs fan so he’s really grinding my gears right now.
Any chance of a Norwich miracle?
Sorry, mate. But absolutely no chance of a Norwich miracle. If they were Brighton or maybe even Palace, there’s be a glimmer of hope.
Nobody remember the last day of that Leicester season? Spurs done 5-0 by a much worse Newcastle side than today’s, giving Arsenal runners up spot.
5-1. But I think it was a 10 man Newcastle too…indeed it was (from 67th minute)
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36240333
I’m not putting too much faith in a repeat, but hey… you never know.
3-2 Norwich I’m calling it.
Team giving the home fans a proper send off before heading back down to championship.
Just stop. Not happening man. It was in our hands multiple times and we bottled it each time.
Norwich will play the kind of football that suits this Spuds side down to their toes. They will pick them off on the counter.
Look we’ll all be fine in August when Spurs get dumped out in qualifying round!!!
Lol. Wish that would happen. Would be fucking hilarious.
Let’s hope CUNTe takes his odious self to Paris so they are irrelevant again.
Did somebody say Norwich???
Bloody right it hurts, especially as they are the media darlings. Only bonus is that they will still win absolutely nothing.
Spurs are media darlings and adored by PGMOL
Objectively, they are the better team. Don’t think many people expect us to finish above spurs or in champions league position at the start of the season.
I think what really hurts is that this season is probably our last chance of getting into champions league and fool ourselves into believe we’ll stay there. Newcastle are looking scary and they are only getting better. Man City and Liverpool are not going anywhere. With the burden of europa league, I think we’ll struggle for top 6next season. Really hope I was proved wrong.
Goodness. That was heartbreaking to watch. It felt like Villarreal all over again. We just never seem to have answers once we’ve conceded.
This is the other worrying trend under Mikel, if not wrong Wolves at home was the only time we turned a deficit into a win. That’s actually very poor.
Against both Newcastle and Sp*rs, as soon as the 2nd goal went in for them I knew we were done.
Break out the chequebook, we need someone who can score goals
Absolutely insipid given what was at stake.
You can usually tell after 10 minutes which Arsenal have turned up.
Yeah I knew after 10 minutes we wouldn’t win
Yes you can. Aside from the obvious motivation of champions league football I’d hoped the events of the previous game would have fired up the team also. It wasn’t to be.
I have to say Odegaard is just not captain material. He can have all the technical skills in the world, but he is weak and wet as a paper towel. Look at him sitting on the floor at the end, insipid. He just gets walked over in midfield, and so does this team.
I don’t agree with your assessment of MØ
Guimaraes and Joelinton really crowded him out today. He just doesn’t seem to play well against physical central midfielders.
He def. needs to learn to use his body more. He tackles with toes only, and doesn’t protect the ball well enough, esp. with his back to goal.
Speaking about tackling, he buys every dummy and feint and gets wrong sided a lot.
Not a problem when we’re in the ascendancy… was a problem today.
Good observation. Hopefully something he’ll be working on for next season.
He’s too caution in these high intensity matches, but the same could be said about a lot of our players but only he’s captain.
Give it to a defender and free up our attackers
My comment about the squad not being strong enough stands, but I also agree with this – didn’t seem to be nearly enough desperation on show today.
It wasn’t insipid and you really can’t accuse the players of not trying. This is a team that’s probably overachieved to get to 5th, which was the original target for the season, that’s riddled with injuries, that’s going out there and maybe trying too hard. I’m proud of the way they tried, and I know it’s annoying listening to the cunts jizzing their pants because we supposedly “blew it” with our weak mentality but this team is showing a lot of guts and learning all the time. Hopefully we can get a nice win at home to finish off the… Read more »
Mhmm. I understand you don’t wish to pile on the team. That’s fair.
However, I don’t think it’s fair to say 5th is an overachievement for this team considering how much has been spent and the favourable conditions we’ve had.
Don’t you believe we’re capable of better?
Not with the squad we have, no. We have a core of excellent players but we need a top class central midfielder because Partey is always injured, a top class left back because Tierney is always injured and Nuno isn’t ready, a really good striker (or two) and another centre back, probably Saliba, but he’s also young and will need to adapt to the Premier League. The Europa League will also give our youngsters the opportunity of game time. Also, dodgy refs, covid issues and hate filled media are not favourable conditions, there’s been a lot to overcome this season… Read more »
Hate filled media – Yes
Dodgy ref – Somewhat yes
COVID – Not really a mitigating factor. It affects everyone.
Exciting football – I think that’s subjective. Goals are generally what makes football exciting. We’ve scored the least no of goals in the top 7
By favourable conditions, I meant less matches and less pressure from the Board.
I hope we don’t go on another defensive spending spree next season. This team is already bottom heavy. We need as many creative players signed as possible.
I thought we looked tired, probably a hangover from the NLD but I agree, I’m not going to slag our players even though I understand the disappointment of many, we have a lot to look forward to with this young team and maybe Europa will give more opportunities to some of our other talented youngsters to develop.
Funny, I never saw these takes when Emery achieved the same result with a worse team, in a stronger league year, having to juggle the Europa League. His famed “collapse” was three losses and a draw – two of which can be directly atributed to individual player fuck-ups. We’ve already had three losses in a row at the end of the season (Palace, Brighton, Southampton), and now we have two in a row. If anything, we’ve tanked worse than under Emery. The bar has been set so low for Arteta, he’d have to do something absolutely extraordinary not to clear… Read more »
Emery had prime Aubameyang. Arteta didnt have proper striker whole season.
Arteta had prime Aubameyang when he won the FA Cup – his only real achievement with our club. And Auba has scored 14 goals for Barcelona since January. That doesn’t really sound to me like he’s past it. I’ve always maintained that Auba was very poorly used by Arteta, who never seemed to have a plan for him. An interesting comparison would be a certain England-captaining cunt playing for another London club. While Auba scored only four goals in his fourteen games this season, you know how many that prick Kane scored in his first fourteen games? One. What Sp*rs… Read more »
Maybe a different type of striker might thrive under Arteta. Fair to say though with the dearth of chances created as a consistent theme under his tenure, Arteta’s Arsenal has been a striker’s graveyard.
Well said! Newcastle has been winning at home and playing well for months. We were playing guys who were not 100% all across the back. No Gunner out there quit; we just got outplayed today. You can look at the first Everton game, or the last Southampton game, and rue missed opportunities (and dodgy VAR). But we got some unlikely points as well, like from Wolves. I’m proud of these guys and I hope they can keep this trajectory.
And the Burnley game as well.
I certainly didn’t accuse the players of not trying. The qualify of performance though simply didn’t match the magnitude of the occasion
This. I’m paradoxically enjoying this rollercoaster ride of emotion because it replaces the apathy I’m usually feeling this time in the season. Feels low now, but trajectory is up. Proud of the team on average and looking forward to the right additions this summer.
I’ve done everything i can to remain positive with Artetas Arsenal but tonight was a confirmation of all my deep growing resentments towards the man and his work. He is completely omnipotent regarding footballing decisions at AFC for three years and hundreds of millions spent. We start the biggest match since Wenger left with a midfield of Xhaka & Elneny, the midfield pairing many have lamented for years as one of our weakest. Our striker, Eddie, the last time we were excited to see his name on the team sheet was upon his return from Leeds loan. Hes proven to… Read more »
Losing back-2-back games has been a trend this season. Well, glad this whole nonsense is now over and my nerves can finally rest!
I can’t agree more…same olds same old
Well its not like we didn’t see this coming. But it hurts
Ouch! Mentally not ready for the task.
We just ran out of players. Thin squad was a risk and in the end it didn’t pay off.
True but other than Auba, who was so poor for us the last 12 months, I’m not sure anyone else really would have contributed this last month to change our results.
Saliba gendouzi or torreira? Instead we had sambi and holding. Please
Well that hope’s almost over now! With a young and thin squad, it was always going to come back and bite us in the ass. There’s always a next season. Come on boys!
🙂
Let’s suppose you were 46 when you saw the team losing the final against Barcelona…
Mate I am not even 46 today! I am just realistic having lived through 25 years of supporting Arsenal through moments worse than these.
I thought you are not. That’s what I was trying to refer to…
The one in my example is 63 now. Maybe He or She is not as optimistic/explicit as you are when talking about the “next season”.
‘there’s always next season’ – we should get this as a permanent plaque outside the emirates 😂 we’ve been saying it since 2004
I think we raised the expectations for ourselves with some absolutely brilliant performances after January but ultimately the lack of depth always meant we were an injury or two away from a different team and different performances. Hopefully we can keep the core together and be sensible in the window.
It’s not just the depth though. Newcastle don’t (or at least shouldn’t) have a better midfield than us. So why did they beat us to every second ball? Why were we so easily dominated? Huge mentality issues in the squad.
One of the big lessons we need to learn, which has been a problem since the 2nd half of the Wenger era, is being too dependent on injury prone players. Still can’t get over the fact we would have won the league had Rosicky stayed fit, even though we all knew he couldn’t.
Let’s not make the same mistake time after time.
Has nothing to do with lack of depth… the team has no backbone. That is simply the problem. The way Spurs played us last time, shows how a team fights. The one on the field should simply show a fight. You never see that with Arsenal since later part of AW.
I don’t buy into that. There were plenty of times this season we showed fight and there are plenty of big characters in that squad. That’s what made parts of this season so enjoyable. We suffered because we had to rely on the likes of Cedric, Elneny, Tavares & Nketiah (who are all just alright) while absolutely running the other first team players into the ground because there was no one good enough to replace them.
Pretty disappointing, but exactly – a thin squad cost us. Provided we make 4 or 5 quality signings in the summer, I am quite optimistic for next season.
My feelings too Aussie-! I was born into this team because of my surname , Gunner. Gotta roll with the punches, mate!
This is why football is just great!
In the end – You get what you deserve.
We didn’t deserve long-term injuries this season to Tomiyasu, Tierney, Partey, and Xhaka.
No we didn’t, but we deserved not having a strong enough squad
Arteta doing miracles. No other manager can do shit with these players. Although most seem like nice guys. They simple arent very good. On top of that, not having any world class talent that can win you games and its a recipe for disaster.
Please tell me this is sarcasm.
No its not sarcasm. If we had Ronaldo, Kane, or Son we would have had a secure 3rd place. No question about it. Its honestly ridiculous how far from reality so many fans of this club are. We are not the same team we used to be. Arteta has achieved the most he could realistically hope for with this squad.
I missed Artetas miracle tonight and many times this season, and Arsenal have plenty of top players give me a break
Our best player in that team is Saka. Hes a great talent but to think he can win you games is not realistic. He is still only 20. On top of that with neither Tavares or Cedric being able to play for any other top 10 club in the pl. Nketiah and Elneny have been good in recent weeks, but throughout their careers are just about as average as it gets. Elneny couldnt even be sold for 5 mil. Its funny how every other fan besides Arsenal fans rate Arteta. Because other fans knows that this team is young and… Read more »
Probably also because they see the results and not the performances. We’re absolutely painful to watch most of the time. In reality it’s not so much about us being bottlers but moreso that it’s such fine margins between us winning (if we get the first goal we tend to be OK) and losing (likewise when we concede first we generally lose) because we’re so completely toothless in attack and have to rely on brilliance/set-pieces/purple-patches of great intricate football that only seem to last a few games. A few injured/suspended players or some bad luck and the tiny margins go against… Read more »
Saka is worldclass, Partey is too and losing him was the most significant issue with the end of our season. I think it is a fair criticism to say we lack enough strong players but you could say the same about Newcastle and they outclassed us. The only reason anybody has referred to ‘artetas Arsenal looking pretty decent’ etc. Is because we were high in the table, not based on some sort of special analysis of how we were playing. It is possible of course that our players aren’t quite good enough for fourth, but also our coach, who has… Read more »
Yes, it is a miracle that Arteta is still in charge.
As Alan Hanses used to say: “You cannae win anything wuth Kids.”
If I had to choose between the players and the manager, I’d choose the players every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
A likeable team, but still a bit short really. I enjoyed this season more than last though.
Right here. Good comment.
Young side, but wracked by injuries. With Partey, we don’t lose either this match or the derby.
But Partey is a big Parte of the problem. 50M for Mr. Perma-crock.
Terrible business. He’s had half of a good season for us, for 50M. KT, love him to death, is also crocked.
MA is doing a lot with what we have, only a fool cannot see that.
There is still a chance for spuds to crap them selves at Carrow Road.
Please make it stop
If Newcastle don’t win the league next season, they should be investigated for cocaine traces this game. The way they played out their skins against us, they could win the Champions League
Oh to be an Arsenal fan
Heartbreaking. We had a chance to come back to the Emirates on the weekend, and be able to clinch 4th in front of our supporters.
I think this team has just run out of energy and fitness.
Lost 5 of last 9 games. Just not good. Need better players in summer. Two forwards desperately needed. Move on Lacazette and nketia. Cedric and taveres. Pepe.
Just not good enough.
Can’t argue with getting rid of any of them, but that would mean bringing in at least half a dozen players given how thin the squad is.
We need to keep Eddie, if he’s content to be 2nd a 3rd choice striker.
Hopefully we get a new striker, central midfielder and a better LB backup. Move Pepe on and replace with an upgrade to rotate with Saka. With Saliba coming in, that’s 5 changes to the side. I wouldn’t want to risk more than that in one window
Nketia as second striker. Get Toney or even Wilson who we saw tonight. Nketia would need to be 3rd striker at best.
I think Eddie will develop into a decent PL striker but might take a few more years. He would be a very good 3rd choice striker or 2nd choice and hope he develops. I don’t think he will stay unless he is at least 2nd choice.
Without risking more than that then progress will be painfully slow. If the owners really back Arteta, there needs to be far more incoming than what you’ve suggested.
With same recruitment team who signed Pepe?
It’s not tho is it mate
Not really. Was dodgy Raul who was responsible for that one.
Replace Tierney and Partey with players who can stay fit or buy quality backups.
What the fuck was Newcastle playing so hard for?!
right?! it’s weird watching a team make an actual effort to win.
it’s almost like they were fighting for fourth, not us
They have won 7 of last 8 home games. We have only come in one game to win after going behind I think. Seriously worried with mentality
Come back to win one game after going behind
Last home game and everyone knows the blueprint to beating Arsenal at home. Create an atmosphere and we sadly crumble.
Last home game.
Change to show Eddie Howe that he doesn’t have to replace them.
They weren’t playing any more intensity than they usual. The commentators have been raving about their home form in 2022 for a reason.
I expected a tough game, what I didn’t expect was an utter domination from Newcastle. We were one of the few sides they’ve had more possession against.
Maybe showing us a bit of passion that has gone from us.
New and improved bumper contracts.
Probably on a massive win bonus from the Premier League, the refs, VAR, Conte and Gary The Cunt Neville.
The crowd that paid money to watch them play a childrens game? Every player/team should play this hard.
We can only speculate what the Saudis might do to players not working hard enough.
3 more years and 300 more million for Arteta please.
Are you having a laugh?
5 more years an double money
Nobody’s ever realistically thought that we were in a good position after the spurs game.
I know that we’ve overachieved and before the season I would have gladly signed on to finish 5th, but now the feeling of false hope (again…) is just flat out terrible…especially given the circumstances.
Martinelli has really lost his form.
Pepe isn’t worth my comment.
Very disappointing game.
Martinelli played Left back, what was he supposed to do if the manager cant figure out the tactics the team is on?
Martinelli was our most lively player tonight and against Leeds and Sp*ds.
Martinelli has worked his fucking socks off this season.
Give the kid some credit FFS and just be grateful that we have him.
It’s happened again, but it’s the hope that gets you.
At least we won’t have to worry about getting beaten 7 – 0 by Bayern in the CL.
We’ll win the Europa League next season.
When you think about it, that would actually be quite a cool trophy to win, in the context of this team’s development.
Plus, of course, you get automatic qualification into the ECL.
Sign Gabriel Jesus and a few other quality players and I reckon we can have a pretty good tilt at it.
Cheers mate. You’ve just picked me up and got me looking forward to next season already!
😊👍🍺
Which is just as well, because it’s my twin daughters birthday soon – and they both want the pink shirt…!! 😂
“He knows exactly what he needs… Gabi at the back”
Oh wait
He was the one trying, then he was moved to LB.
Madness
Outplayed, but undermanned and they gave everything. Can’t fault effort.
Stay behind them. COYG
Well I’m quite ok with Europa League at this point. I just want this season to be over cuz I’ve suffered a lot. Knowing that our fate is sealed, I can feel relaxed and stress free. Don’t forget, there was some improvement this season!
We are more likely to win the Europa than the UCL anyways. I say we fight hard for it next season and start a revolution from there!
Bottled 🍼 it again. That 3 years contact was too early. You take your pants off or pull your zipper down before you p*ss. Ffs
Disappointed Martinelli didn’t start but not really sure it would have made any difference.
Don’t know what you think about this, but there are some games where ESR seems to wear a wet pair of jeans from minute 1 (he is a very good player, dont get me wrong)
I rate ESR and Odg highly but I don’t think they work together when they start together it lacks a zip and zest
I’m ok with no CL, but being leapfrogged by Tottenham and their horrible manager is devastating. they were lost, had the courage to change, appointed someone who fixed them and here we are. Arsenal gave a control renewal to a someone who did not deliver, in a way we were so afraid to lose him that its scary. club dna seems damaged.
He may still bugger off to PSG.
Good.
The sooner the miserable cunt and his 70’s toupee fuck off out of the Premiership the better.
Fixed them….?
What the fuck have they won…?
They are a two trick pony – period – and will be found wanting YET AGAIN next season when the pots get handed out.
At least we’re making genuine progress. Spurs are a busted flush on repeat rinse.
Squad was too thin and the quality of our back up fullbacks really cost us. Such a shame. It’s going to be really difficult to get another chance to qualify for the European Super League. Chelsea going out of business seems like our best hope.
Yep, looked like our best hope this year given Newcastle and some other clubs will be on the up next season. A few more top players in key positions will help a lot though, central midfield in particular.
Oh come on. They only 2 team that are far ahead are the 2 first.
Agreed. Will become much harder to finish top 4 next year and beyond. Best route into the CL may be via EL and/or this new dodgy rule that will see more English clubs get in
I think it’s a reasonable rule given how much better the premier league is than the other leagues at the moment. We have 3 of the top 4 teams in the world currently so leaving 1 remaining place for everyone else who inevitably placed below them was a bit tight IMO.
Is the celebrations police out today?
A DVD of tonight’s match is already being sold at food stands around White Hart Lane.
I hope they all get food poisoning and need to be hospitalised with a drip.
Arteta should not have been given the contract extension for me he’s been found out again
He has lost 5 of last 9 games. Have only turned around one game all season when going behind. I think it’s right to be concerned
Wolves 21-22
Leicester 20-21
Everton 19-20.
Those are the league games under Arteta we’ve come behind to win. I genuinely hate knowing that the game is already over once we’ve conceded.
Was top 4 our goal this year?
I think he still had a lot to prove, maybe the trumpeting of the new contract wasn’t necessary.
Maybe the timing was bad, it certainly doesn’t look good when you look at our performances since then.
Nothing hurts more than collapse at the brink of breakthrough! I’m just going to go offline for the rest of tonight. I don’t have the stomach to listen or read pointless post mortems on this one.
What a terrible performance on a day when players need to give 100%. How much did they really want it though? No structure in the game, no cheekiness and no individuals to turn it around. Pff
We had it ; we blew it ; we got it back again ; and finally we blew it.
‘it’ being top four.
Truth is the squad is too thin and we have players in it who are passengers. Pepe, Cedric, Laca’ and probably Eddie will be gone come August.
This places a massive reliance on Edu to get the signings right. We are not a CL proposition and we don’t have City style money. But we still need at least four – probably five red letter signings.
So no pressure Edu. But you’d better get it right !
Eddie hadn’t been a passenger, it’s amazing how long this theory has survived.
The brass gambled on not singing anyone in January while sending unwanted players out and it’s backfired predictably. We’ll fall just short because of that terrible call. And I hope for everyone’s sake that’s the last we see of Pepe. Just a woeful. Why they kept giving the ball to him I have no idea, he clearly is checked out at this point and just needs to go somewhere else where he’ll get a fresh start. Was that signing Arsenal’s worst ever? It has to be high up there on the list. Such a terrible mistake to sign a player… Read more »
So you think Arteta had the possibility to get more players and said no?
Don’t think so.
We had to offload.
The only player that I would love to have is AMN believe it or not
Gervinho was better and he was dreadful 🤦♂️
Not with a bang but a whimper.
A pathetic performance to round off a mediocre season. The miracle is that we were ever in the battle for top four.
Don’t blame Arteta: this club is rotten from the roof. We need a new owner to rescue this disaster.
Fuck off Stan.
To think that some fools here believe a good striker and 100m more for Pep’s cone placer will solve all the problems: the shit mentality, the boring playstyle, the losing streak…We just spent 100m+ on defense and got worse ffs.
I WILL NOT watch any more games until this fucker Arteta is sacked, coz it will be more of the same thing.
Bye 😊
Got worse? Who were you watching this season? The four first team defenders we’ve brought in over the last few years have been brilliant. Boring playing style? I’ve seen some of the best football this season since the highs of the Wenger years.
Probably means we’ve conceded more goals than last season.
Yeah brilliant, so much that we shipped even more goals this year.
Is there any chance that you’ll refrain from posting any more of your pathetic shite on here as well….?
Go back to your FIFA22
Don’t worry dude, I will distance myself from this club and watch it burns with the naked emperor Arteta from afar.
Maybe this time next year I will come back to tease fans like u who will cry once more over the same mess again…
We are a couple of top strikers and some decent fullback and defensive midfield second choices away from a very very good squad. If you can’t see the genuine progress between this season and last season – and also factor in the adversity we have had to endure from the refs, VAR and a football media willing us to fail – then, yeah, you’re better off staying away. Why not pop down the road and nail your colours to the mast of that crock of fool’s gold, who haven’t won anything for 14 years, a decent major trophy for over… Read more »
Arteta spent over 100m on those positions and you still want him to spend some more on these positions…dude, just how much more money you think he need to spend more to get us into top4 or even reach Emery’s 71 points?
Maybe if we need 500m (over 250m spent already) we can hire a better coach?
Actually it’s not about the trophy count. Realistically we cant compete with Man City or Liverpool yet. What put me off are: The boring football. We score very few, when we score one we tend to play negative immediately. If we conced first we almost always lose. Which leads to the reason. Arteta shit tactics and his horrendous lack of proper squad management. He treats people like shit. Look at the treatment of Pepe, Saliba or Auba. Which could be better if it were not for his unfounded arrogance. Super annoying. Don’t worry after 25 yeara supportibg the club I… Read more »
I don’t understand why a different owner would make any difference- they spent the MOST of any team in the league over the summer, what more do you want? The issue with the owner is that they give little oversight to Arteta and Edu, two novices in their roles.
Kroenke’s Rams won the NFL Super Bowl and his NHL team Colorado Avalanche are favourites to win the Stanley cup. I’m not sure he’s the problem. He didn’t spend 72 million on Pepe. We need better decision makers at the club.
And who hired the ones we’ve got now?
I think this new lawyer who came in shortly after Raul left (if I’m right) is there to keep a check on nonsense like that. The funds are forthcoming from the Kroenkes. Most of the recent post-Raul signings have been decent so hopefully we’re moving in the right direction.
Stan who gave Mikel and Edu over 100 million last summer, and I reckon he will again this summer.
it’s tough to take, but if we look this bad against newcastle then we don’t deserve champions league football. it’s fine tho, the team’s going in the right direction and i’m sure next season’s europa league will be a good step in this team’s development.
It was a he’ll of a ride.
This hurtful experience will only make our talents better.
More thirsty.
Let’s stay together
In before Arteta blames our relative youth and inexperience
Top four was there for the taking but it was never going to be easy with the age profile and qualities of this squad. Midfield and up front need fixing.
Don’t listen to the pundits. Carragher and Neville can fuck off with their statements about how this is a disaster of a season. A few signings and some good academy talent can help us. Europa League is our level I’m afraid to say.
We also lost Partey which is a big blow.
That was the killer blow of our season.
Fair play to Newcastle, they got their game plan spot on, and we didn’t have the players available to deal with it.
At the start of the season I would have been happy with 5th or 6th and signs of progress.
Those signs are clearly there, given the disappointment in probably missing out on the Champions League
Agreed, from 8th to 5th is very good progress.
There was no bravery. “Your fate was in your hands” , but we didn’t grab it.
Really proud of the effort of the players this whole season. A bridge too far in the end but the short term future looks incredibly exciting and we’re heading in the right direction with Mikel in charge.
This squad is too short on quality. Yes we’ve had injuries to too many of our first team but the backups are not up to it. Makes that lack of business in January look foolish. And why let Callum Chambers go during that window? Could’ve been very useful in the last two games. Our centre backs are obviously not fully fit. And please let that be the last we see of Tavares.
Chambers never would have gotten a game even if he stayed.
Aw c’mon. He would have tonight
Odegaard was terrible. He cost us the game.
Crap.
Why take Tavares off? He was our biggest threat!! had just made 3 runs up that left flank.
Arteta is not a good manager, simple as that
Exactly right Glen. Starts at the top and ends with Arteta. We need to stop bailing him out with the “squad” excuses, bc it’s tired and weak. He owns this squad, he owns the performances and he’s had years to improve us. Arteta should have been sacked a few times by now. Owners are happy with mediocrity. Stubborn, inconsistent man manger with predictable and uninspiring tactics. Poor in game management (never influences a match when things go wrong). Not to mention entirely overrated. Did he just get another extension and for what exactly? Arteta hasn’t developed these talented young players,… Read more »
5th was our ceiling with this squad. Need AT LEAST 5 high quality signings in summer.
If you’d told me at the start of the season that we’d finish 5th, I’d have happily accepted but after this game really feels like an opportunity lost. All we can hope for now is a game of the season performance from Norwich.
We seriously need to invest in more mobile midfielders and some solid depth players.
We just don’t have that many good football players 🙁
We do.
We don’t
We have a lot of young potential, but not enough reliable quality players and our most important players are usually out for at least half the season Partey, Tierney, Tomiyasu)
St. Totteringham’s day will be that much sweeter next year. Especially after a Europa League win.
fuck sp•ds
I think most neutral’s call that St Arse’s day these days