Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Vieira, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus
Subs: Turner, Tierney, Walters, Kiwior, Jorginho, Nelson, Smith Rowe, Trossard, Nketiah
—
Arsenal staged late comeback against Southampton to take a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Emirates this evening.
The Gunners were without Granit Xhaka who missed the game through illness, while Oleksandr Zinchenko returned at left-back.
We needed a good start, but got quite the opposite. Ramsdale played a pass towards Zinchenko, Alcaraz intercepted and slotted home despite the keeper’s best efforts to keep it out. 0-1.
Gabriel Martinelli drove into the Saints’ box but got crowded out, and after a corner Martin Odegaard hit the side netting. Zinchenko fired a shot over after another corner, but it got worse in the 14th minute when Theo Walcott made it 2-0 for Southampton, getting behind Gabriel to fire beyond Ramsdale. 0-2.
It took the life out of the stadium but in the 20th minute, Martinelli breathed life back into it. Odegaard picked it up, played it outside to Saka who burned beyond his full back, crossed it with his right foot, it fell for Martinelli who whacked it home first time. 1-2.
Ramsdale made a double save as Southampton threatened again, Alcaraz picked up a yellow card for a foul on Saka, before Odegaard headed over from a Martinelli cross. Perraud followed Alcaraz into the book, again for a foul on Saka.
The visitors had to make a change when Bednarek tumbled over Martinelli in an aerial challenge, he must have been knocked out and didn’t want to come off but the medical staff insisted and he was replaced by Caleta-Car. Walker-Peters was next to get a yellow, this time for a foul on Martinelli, and the game went into 7 minutes of added time at the end of the first half.
Odegaard saw a shot blocked before Gabriel headed over, Saka played Jesus in but Bazunu was there to deny him, and from the resulting corner a Ben White header was cleared off the line at the last minute by Alcaraz. Jesus had a header saved, while at the other end Southampton caused us some problems, taking their one goal lead into the break.
The Saints made a change at half-time, taking off the impressive Alcaraz for defender Lyanco, and going to a back five. It was all Arsenal in the opening stages, with a packed Southampton box dealing with crosses and through balls. Saka aimed a cross at Vieira but it was headed away at the last minute, and it was the midfielder’s last action as he was replaced by Leandro Trossard with 56 minutes gone.
It was one way traffic without the Gunners making clear cut chances. Saka hit the post but the ball had gone out of play beforehand, but it got worse when Southampton scored again from a corner. Corner came in, it was flicked on to the back post, and Caleta-Car headed in at the back post. 1-3.
There was a chance to respond immediately when Martinelli crossed for Jesus but the striker put it over the bar from close range. Eddie Nketiah replaced Zinchenko, but we continued to struggle to make chances. Saka had a shot blocked, by Eddie, and Jesus couldn’t make contact with a good Saka cross.
Bazunu saved a Saka shot/cross, Reiss Nelson came on for Martinelli, and in the 88th minute we got a goal. Odegaard fired into the bottom corner after a good combination with White. 2-3.
Incredibly, it was level 2 minutes later. Arsenal crossed it in, it fell for Nelson, Bazunu saved his shot, and Saka fired home. 3-3.
With the crowd reinvigorated, Trossard smashed a shot off the bar, as 8 minutes of added time were announced. Jesus went down in the box, Nelson shot just wide via a deflection, there was all kinds of late pressure, a VAR check for a penalty that didn’t come, and in teh end it’s another two points dropped.
Starting Vieira ffs.
Init – wtf.
He’s in the lakonga taveres category for me. Not good enough
Six points dropped in the last 3 games! The Etihad game becomes a must win now, no other choice., that’s what it takes to win the trophy this season.
My expectations for that one are suitably tempered, and hopefully I’ll be in for a shock.
Yeah. Call me old fashioned, but perhaps start with the best available players. Few could make a case for Vieira being one of them. Trossard causes problems for the opposition wherever he plays in the attacking third. He should have started tonight. It pains me too that The Smith can’t get a game at present – a brilliant player on his day.
Good post.
Hopefully Xhaka will be back for the Etihad.
Trossard was superb tonight. I’d be severely tempted to start him at the Etihad and then bring on Martinelli to run at their defence.
Smith Rowe has got to feature too.
I get where you’re coming from but I don’t think you can drop Martinelli at the moment. He was a fucking monster today. That cross for Jesus…if anyone should be dropped for Trossard I’d say Jesus (or start him at left 8, since it seems ESR ain’t happening).
It borders on extremely irresponsible and negligent for Arteta to leave on the bench Trossard (who’s been exceptional for us from day one) for a player who’s literately done absolutely nothing meaningful for us since he wore the red and white shirt.
Agreed. And Zinny too. KT comes in, has a good game & gets dropped straight away when Zinny is fit again, a player who has been miles off his best for weeks and weeks. Ridiculous decision imo. (And yes I know ‘KT can’t do what Zinny can do’…)
Zinchenko was atrocious today. Emotion is good, too much of it is bad.
Ya this notion of Zinny overloading midfield has been costing us lately. Look at Liverpool equaliser, and again gives a southampton defender a free header. Please. KT defends better
Why you trying to scapegoat him? Did he commit any blunders today to cost us the game? I’m a fan of ESR too but it’s not Vieira’s fault he’s not playing ffs. It’s his 1st season in the league, he scored in his 1st start for us in the league too (was it vs Southampton away?). Whoever pulls our jersey I’m rooting them on, cowards will find scapegoats for our recent form.
I am rooting for him. I wish him well at every chance. I hope he succeeds but … it does not happen
Nobody is scapegoating him. He wasn’t the reason we messed up tonight, but he was one of them. He is just nowhere near good enough at this level right now.
The 11 players in red and white were the reason we didn’t win. Tell me something I don’t know.
There doesn’t appear to be any point to the comment you just made in reply to mine. I’m guessing you didn’t know that 😀
It is not about scapegoating, it is about fine margins. And management if you do not have your prefered starting eleven at disposal. Viera has benn given waaaaay to many opportunities and has constantlyu failed to show anything. ESR who is Arsenal through and through, who prooved that he can be a catalyst when things are not going right is not being given any chance when it matters the most. Arteta can not manage games and there is no sign of him learning anything from his mistakes. So I am not blaming Viera for being just lifeless, strolling limp of… Read more »
It’s like watching Willian all over
Yap, I’ve been also saying it on couple of ocassions but that is obviously not popular oppinion as Mikel “knows better”.
Well yh he does know better than you FFS lol
I’m the biggest ESR fan since his debut, but it’s so easy to be a hindsight merchant. Maybe Arteta wants a left footed player in that Xhaka role or whatever. I would’ve played Zinny at Xhaka’s position and use Tierney at LB. But it’s pointless to now slate the manager or Vieira. If Ramsdale didn’t make the mistake in the 1st minute the game might have gone very differently. But we win or lose as a team.
Arteta out! AFL In! or… I love that these guys have fought their asses off in every tough situation. What an amazing young team to watch. I wonder what Arteta is seeing in Viera, I am having trouble seeing it. I will say, Trossaurd has earned every chance and seems to bring something more goal producing than Jesus. Managing those team dynamics must be really challenging.
Ramsdale started this chaotic game and must shoulder some responsibility. Totally unnecessary start to a crucial match. Vieira is just not good enough at this level.
I believe even Arteta has had enough of this Vieira experiment for the time being.
Vieira might come good with time but he isn’t ready. If we can bring in Rice and Tielemans this summer, we should keep Vieira for the first part of 23/24 but let him go somewhere on loan in January 2024.
All we fans have to do now is to demand that the league deduct points to Man City from the accusation of financial wrongdoing early this season. Sad we have no other choice.
Only two teams have conceded more goals at home than us. Leeds and Southampton
If true, that is a pretty Dämmung statistic of where things have gone wrong.
It’s true
Yeah sadly he seems to be the worst of the recent purchases. probably the only one that hasn’t surprised us in a good way. seems too lightweight without the ball to replace Xhaka and not good enough with it to replace Odegaard. Midfield looked light today without Xhaka
Fucking hell!
This is one of those days when you feel disappointed at the performance but then look at how far we have come since last season and feel a sense of pride.
On Wednesday, we’ll go beat up:
that financial doping, books cooking, over paid, freak show from Manchester. 😉
I’m not even angry about today’s performance. I just throw my hands in the air and think “oh you bunch of fucking pansies” and walk away in disgust.
The idea is to not have to go to City and win, the idea was to win against the so called lesser teams so we didn’t have to go and win in Manchester. That’s the clever way of doing it. This here tonight is the dumb as a bag of rocks way of doing it.
What just happened
It’s called a title run in.
How’s your nerves? A few stiff drinks my friend, a few stiff drinks. 😉
One positive: we keep coming up with new and exciting ways to get a draw.
Neutrals and City fans must love those last 3 games.
WTF was Partey thinking with that wild shot at the end? Keep passing it man, they were out on their legs.
no wonder City sold Jesus… Christ almighty…
He had a bit too many chances not to get a goal today. Pretty glad we have him though, but in a game against City where we have to take our chances, I might go for Trossard up top.
well.. it’s all well and good that we have him. but he needs to score in these games… then, I don’t know. we need someone better
He’s not in his best form.
He’s been scoring from last 2 games. What better form do we need?
But still misses to many chances. He reminds me of Adebayor
I’m thinking the same, Jesus disrupts defenders so well but he needs 4 chances to score at the moment. Trossard looks like one of the best attackers in the league, even if he plays differently, we have to fit him in somehow.
agreed – he has a great all round game but he’s a poor finisher at this level
Also…go with Trossaurd at City and possibly disrupt/destroy team chemistry and turn Jesus into Willian
I’ve come to realise that he isn’t good enough to be a striker for a title chasing team. He does everything well, apart from putting the ball in the net, which is what we need most from him
2-0 at Liverpool gone
2-0 at West Ham gone
3-1 down to Southampton at home
Forget bottle, that is throwing away the league. Collapse.
Ramsdale criminal start.
Viera is no Xhaka replacement.
Saka average for 5 games now. No competition for his spot.
Only a win at the Etihad will do.
Saka was excellent in this game.. if at all u watched
I agree Saka was good as were a few others, individually at least, but this is still no way to play if we are serious about winning the PL. What has happened with this team?
Great fight at the end but I guess the league is gone now. At this rate though, I really hope we get second.
How is it gone? Win at City and We’re 100% still on for the title. Even a draw there and they can drop points with the amount of games they have left
I love that optimism and wish I can have the same but with the moral of the team now you still think we can win away at City, Newcastle and Brentford? Plus Brighton at the Emirates?
We’re not winning all those games, not with what we’ve done in the last 3 games.
I’ve got to admire your balls, but really now…
I love your optimism and wish I can have the same but I don’t see us winning all 3 away at City, Newcastle and Brentford plus Brighton at the Emirates won’t be pushovers considering how we’ve played lately.
Yes they can drop points and we won’t??? With the way we’re playing now we’re not getting max points away at City, Newcastle and Brentford. Brighton at home won’t be easy as well.
We’ve already played Brentford twice
👍
If you realy think that with this form, we will win against city, newcastle and brighton, You’re delusional. Apart of that, if you gonna win the league you absolutely need to be good at in game management, which is arguably Artetas weakest point. I know it is great to be where we are, but you have to bear in mind that the big 6 competition this season was below par. It will be much tougher next season and we’ve effectively all but surendered our best chance to win the PL title in the last 20 years.
Nope – 2016 was our best chance.
Were we 7-8 point ahead of the run-in when Leicester won it? I really don’t remember but I think it was more tight that season.
I would argue the season Leicester won it (when we finished 3rd in a two horse race) was also a great opportunity…
But then again, we are known for collapsing when it matters most.
Tottenham finished third in a two horse race, Mr. Moo, not ‘we’.
Please don’t confuse us with them. Ever.
We finished second.
Tottenham finished third
Or is your use of the word ‘we’ a Freudian slip….?
Yep. Well said.
Too many people buying the shit being peddled on Sky and TalkShite.
Most disappointing St T*tts day ever.
Still in our hands but that was awful. Embarrassing. How many goals have we conceded since saliba has been out. Ramsdale has cost us last two games.
Not anymore I’m afraid. We’ll need to go at City now and we’ll be torn apart.
You are telling the truth. You can’t fear Southampton and think you will beat Man City.
It’s not in our hands at all.
Man City win all their games and they win it.
I just hope we can claim 2nd place – although that is meaningless really. No one remembers runners up do they?
It is still in our hands, technically.
If we win all our games, we win it too.
You’re right. It’s in our hands but also in City’s hands if they win all their games BUT
If you’re to put your money on one team winning all remaining fixture who will it be?
Of course it’s our hands. If we win all our games we win it. Do the maths.
The definition of being in our hands is that if WE win all our games, we win it
WE cannot hold on to two goal leads. WE cannot beat the bottom club at home. WE have no chance of going to City and WINNING. Be real.
There’s little chance that we will win our last six games but stranger things have happened
We will beat city but still blow it elsewhere and city will win the league .
Nah.
If we beat City, we are definitely winning this fucking title.
People like you gave us no chance in ‘89 going up to Anfield.
Mate, quit the self pity and get behind the team.
As players and fans we now have to put this behind us and start afresh on Wednesday night.
We have a great opportunity to shut all those cunts in the media (especially Sky) up once and for all.
With any luck City will be nicely knackered from their FA Cup Semi Final and there for the taking.
Have some faith. 😉🍺
If we win all our games, we win it. That’s the very definition of “in one’s hands” surely
If we win all the last 6 remaining games we will be champions. Simple, innit?
There’s more chance of Donald Trump becoming the next leader of the American Democrats than us winning the next 6 games.
No. No, there’s not.
If we smash City, I think we’ll do it and win all six.
And don’t tell me we can’t smash City, because these boys are more than capable and you know it.
If my auntie…
This is not the moment for a season review…we know the lads have done well but right now they’re behaving like cunts.
Actually it’s one or two individuals on here.
F*ck Partey for taking a pot shot on 98 minutes. And f*ck the referee for not adding on more time. What a shit show.
F*ck Partey for taking a pot shot on 98 minutes. And f*ck the referee for not adding on more time. What a shit show.
Is there an echo in here
Is there an echo in here
Shit performance for 85 minutes. Shit refereeing, VAR decisions not shown. Is this what Webb is up to? Ramsdale had a nightmare, and we started passing in defence like years gone by. I seriously hate seeing our fans scapegoating Vieira, lay off him. He did not commit any mistakes to cost us 2 points today. It’s his 1st season in the league, and it’s the coach’s choice who plays in that position. Only cowards scapegoat young players in his position.
This is the PL. I’m not scapegoating him, it’s MA’ s fault for sticking with him when it’s clear to see he doesn’t contribute to any thing and is passive when defending
It’s clearly scapegoating but you can call it whatever you want. Partey and Zinchenko were both shocking today, but we win and lose together as a team and a club. I won’t single them out for criticism and say they cost us the league when they were incredible for large parts of the season. As for Vieira, he looks tidy enough for me in his 1st season, and Arteta must be seeing something most don’t. How can he get better in the league if he’s not playing though?
Sorry for triple posting but I got moderated for what reason I don’t know! Anyways up the Arse, we move to Etihad and come what may. We came too far to become cowards now this season.
I am sorry if I snapped at you – it was unfair and uncalled for.
It’s clearly scapegoating but call it whatever you want. Partey and Zinny were both shocking today but we win and lose as a team and a club. I won’t single them out for criticism to get likes as they were both incredible in large parts of the season.
Vieira looked tidy enough for me this season for a young player. Besides how is he supposed to get better in the league without playing?
It’s clearly scapegoating to me. Partey and Zinny were both shocking today but we win and lose as a team and a club. I won’t single them out for criticism to get likes as they were both incredible in large parts of the season.
Vieira looked tidy enough for me this season for a young player. Besides how is he supposed to get better in the league without playing?
Partey and Zink, They were shocking but are regular starters. Why does he need to start Vieira when he’s got Trossard and Jorghino, because he thought this would be a walk in the park and Vieira would shine. It didn’t happen and Vieira was anonymous. Vieira was the first to come off. MA realised he had got it wrong
So it’s ok for Partey and Zinny to stink tonight but you chose Vieira to single out because he’s not a regular starter? That’s the definition of scapegoating in any dictionary you can find. The starter is out injured, someone needs to replace him lest we play with 10 men. Blaming the game on the replacement is scapegoating when other players played worse than him tonight.
Stop reposting the same message you fucking retard we got it the first time.
It’s epecially for people like you who may need to read 3x to get the point. Look in the mirror you’ll see an ugly fucking retard staring back at you.
FFS, why don’t you two get married? 😂
Arteta is not going to start two 10’s ahead of Partey if Xhaka is out. In theory Viera is the best suited to be a passing link between Martinelli and Odegaard.
It’s ok to be critical. Vieira was utterly anonymous. He didn’t make mistakes because he didn’t touch the ball. Never available for a pass. When he is he bungles it. He isn’t good enough and will never be IMO
I’ve noticed, there must be something between the Premier League and the broadcastors, I’ve noticed they’ve stop showing replays of any decision VAR do not give.
Play something fucking different will you.
This has nothing to do with VAR or the referee.
We are simply not good enough in defence.
To have just two top class centre backs and having to rely on Rob Holding what should we have expected?
Having to rely on a Championship level player for a title run in was only ever going to end one way – its only for the fact that we can score goals that we didn’t lose the last three games.
We have no hope against City and Haaland with fucking Rob Holding
I’ll play something different. Go cry to your fucking wall, I’m gutted Arsenal drew but I’m consoled that idiot like you face oblivion tonight.
Do we even know how to win games? I don’t even know what to expect from arsenal
Shit result. Shit game. Title gone. Progress? Yes. Does it hurt? Abso-fucking-lutely.
Another piece of plastic.
It is the hope that kills you isn’t it
KT might not be a technical midfielder but I know he can mark up on corners….
Not. Good. Enough.
Vieira with no penetration, Partey with no composure in the final minutes. That’s bad. But the defending is inexcusable. Their third goal is a goal that kids let in. An Under-16 mistake. We’ve dropped four points against the worst team in the league.
If we’ll become champions after this, it’s a fucking miracle.
Vieira oh oh oh
Vieira oh oh oh
He comes from Portugal
And did fuck all for Arsenal
Vieira oh oh oh
You did fuck all for Arsenal too coward.
Of fuck off you silly cunt..
Go on singing to your little willy you big fool.
This is really unfair. He didn’t have a great game, it’s true. But if you’re going to single anybody out, there are a lot of better choices this game than him. And singling anyone out in a game like this where at least 5 players had shockers seems a bit silly anyway.
We have to draw a line behind those draws and win at Etihad
Wishful thinking. A defence has just conceded THREE goals at home against the bottom team, and you expect them to beat, arguably, the best team in Europe at their own patch? It won’t happen. Arsenal will lose to City. Even when Saliba played at home we conceded three goals. It is best to let reality set in, and bask in the fact that we are back in the CL.
In the words of Brian Moore at Anfield on 26th May 1989 – “Chillingly simple.”
We have to win at the Etihad.
Just wait how Pep teaches Arteta why he sold Zinchenko next match. It was nice run. I hope for a competitive match at Etihad unlike the game of halves we’ve been playing recently.
3 games, 6 points dropped. It is now in City’s hands. Saliba has been the defensive gem and initiator of attacks from the back for this team. How we miss him.
It comes down to 26th April at the Etihad. A win looks an impossible task, but football can be full of surprises. Let’s keep dreaming until the end. I have surely enjoyed the ride
The two fastest goals in the Premier League in the 2022/23 season:
• Philip Billing (9 seconds)
• Carlos Alcaraz (27 seconds)
Both goals were scored against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium
If Jesus had spent half as much time trying to actually score as he did throwing himself to the ground every time the ball got within a couple yards of him, we probably would have won that game. Not that he was the only one to have a shocker. Frankly, we don’t deserve to win the league with a showing like that.
Oh well. 100% have to win at Man City now or it’s over. So we’ll know soon enough.
That ball from Gabi, dreadful finish from Jesus. The mistimed header too from the Saka cross. I’m sorry he has to get one of those on fucking target at least.
It is absolutely ridiculous for you to base our deserving to win the title on one game. Consistency is what counts at the end of the day. The league isn’t lost, so I don’t know what you’re on about. We haven’t lost but dropped points. I believe the boys will chin up and move on to win the league. You best believe in them too or just jog on.
I didn’t say the league was lost. Did you miss the bit where I specifically said it comes down to Wednesday now? I even put it in its own paragraph, so I thought it was pretty easy to spot.
If you’ve been watching from the beginning of the season, we lost point earlier as well against Saints, and why do you think that happened? Because Jesus didn’t score a 1v1. I’m not claiming he has to score everything, but when he’s not feeding our wingers, he’s a liability. And he’s been one recently
👊🏾
I’m still mad. That last attack. The ball comes back to him in the end. It was all set for our dramatic fairytale, where was Jesus? On the ground. It’s funny how we all praised him for being strong in the initial stages of campaign and how he’s just become the opposite now.
And he’s been falling like house of cards for 3 games now. If I don’t see Trossard up next game, I’ll know what to expect.
What a rollercoaster ride. I am genuinely impressed by how far this team has come. Arsenal has become a team with a tremendous amount of character. And at the same time, the last 3 games we have shown that we still know where that self-destruct button is. It is impossible not to feel disappointed also. City is such a great team, why are we gifting them the championship? 6 points now dropped, that we had no business dropping in the first place. And if you include that horrendous Everton game.. Please just win that game at Etihad. Let’s at least… Read more »
Sport can be cruel. Not like getting a life threatening disease cruel, or another country invading your land cruel, but it can feel like a knee in the nuts and I have a bad feeling it’s going to get even worse next week. This team has done brilliantly this season, they’re young and will improve. But for the second season running we’ve bottled it/shat ourselves/shot ourselves in the foot, and Arteta has to fix this or we’ll be doomed to repeat it every season. For my money the problem is the squad depth, as soon as we get past the… Read more »
Makes you feel sick for what could’ve been with Trossard smashing the crossbar like that. Why did it take us until 88′ and Odegaard willing the ball in with his mind for us to start playing?
Makes me feel sicker for what could have been if Jesus didn’t fall in extra extra time. The ball literally came to him begging, only for him to be on the ground facing opposite direction.
Fuck, if that had gone in, we’d be needing a new roof for the stadium.
Still, we go again, Wednesday night is 11 v 11.
We have to believe – because these boys are more than capable of writing the impossible dream.
Chokers, losers, failures.
Just like last season, these lot are showing that they don’t have the mental strength to handle the pressure of a title run-in.
We need big men but we’ve got a bunch of frightened boys. Title over.
BTW: Matt Turner must start against City: Ramsdale can fuck off.
Ramsdale has been immense for us this season (and last). I’ll be watching on Weds and win lose or draw im proud of this team and this club.
Suggest you have a think about what it means to be a supporter because throwing your toys out of the pram at each setback is not it.
We’re back in the Champions League.
This season’s mission, you may recall. Well, they’ve done it.
The Chokers Losers and Failures tonight are the ungrateful cunts ( I’ve already had to tell one bloke in the Tollington to shut the fuck up ) slagging this wonderful team off.
If the cap fits Fats….
Will you ever get a life .. constantly spouting negative bile just so the one time you post a positive comment you can get your positive validation because it’s such a change from the norm. I find it incredibly hard to believe you are a real fan. If the emirates was full off fatgooner replicates it would be the most toxic fan base in the league. Thankfully it’s not
I think that is harsh.
They lack experience and the one or two players that had that experience didn’t really turn up today.
It was very frustrating, and the disappointment will come out in harsh words, but the progress has been very good – I think we just need to strengthen in a few areas and with experience not potential and hopefully push on from this season.
At least they’re not fat
You disgust me.
Seek help
Partey has been a liability lately, giving possession cheaply, lackluster attitude, can’t make incisive passes like before and exposed without Xhaka. Jorginho has more urgency and hunger.
I have a feeling Partey might be off in the summer.
He might be in Prison
I hope so, we can do better. He’ll have two years on his contract and getting older, time to sell. He’s got no composure, gives the ball away too often and sometimes I think he’s a bit thick. Skying that ball in extra time was just stupid.¬
Great passer, but boy he is slow in the uptake.
His ambling and knack of threading the ball through the eye of a needle with microseconds to spare from losing possession is impressive in a George Graham ‘Stroller’ kind of way but frustrating in equal measure.
That pot shot at the end was unforgivably wasteful.
We’d do well to sign 2 defensive midfielders next summer. Partey looks like he’s ran his race.
It’s about the squad depth. City have international substitutes in every position. We do not
Saliba is a huge miss. It’s not only his speed, anticipation etc, it’s his quick forward passing out of defence
One thing is sure. We cannot lose at City but afraid to say, without Saliba…
Also, I quite like Partey but afraid no Patrick Vieira
A huge Congratulations to the team for her return to the Champions League. The number one target of the season achieved with six games to go. Kudos to all who made it possible. The owners, management team, the players and the absolutely fantastic fans. The title looked possible at a point; it’s still is. But if we miss out, we get more quality players in, sell some, and go again. This is not a night to be sad: my Arsenal is back on the big European stage! COYG!!!
That may well be true, now it hurts
That’s for later. This was shocking
Champions league is not guaranteed yet I am afraid…
Not quite. Mathematically, Brighton could overtake us. I don’t think it’s likely though.
👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾
Lads I know that before the match if you were offered a draw with Southampton you would rather shit in your hands and clap, BUT in the context of the season I can’t help but feel that comeback has kept us alive. Emotionally at least, if we lost 3-1 to Southampton we were dead. I still feel we are alive JUST. I know we have to win at city now but we have three days to come up with something we are not dead yet. COYG
No urgency in the first 85 minutes, and then they wake up and have to score 3 goals, well the odds for that are pretty low.
We almost did it, that makes it hurt all the more. This team has so much quality but we’ve been doing our best to hide it recently.
Mentality Molluscs?
This snail like complacency when playing it out from the back is now getting on my tits I don’t mind telling you.
Ramsdale’s mistake is the epitome of how dangerous that system is if the players aren’t switched on 100%.
We have to move the ball quicker too – another lesson that’s never learned until well after it’s too late.
Was at the game. Viera was shit, but wasn’t the only one. Awful start. You know it’s bad when Walcott looks good.
Were any of those penalty shouts valid for us? We don’t get replays on anything controversial in the stadium.
I’m grateful we didn’t lose but that’s lesson 101 on how not to start a football match. I’ll take the Smith over Fabio all day everyday
Arteta hoped his Portuguese would help him with his Brazilian mates. But it only made things worse.
We need to get Vieira on three Shredded Wheat a day and get him pumping some iron. He has skill in abundance but needs beefing up to be able to look after himself.
There’s fuck all of him and this is the Premier League. Seeing him get brushed aside in the tackle like a rag doll is now becoming tedious. He can’t keep possession for toffee.
Get him fed and into the gym, Arsenal.
The crazy thing after all that is that it’s still mathematically possible for us to win this this. Mathematically? Yes Realistically? I’m not so sure. A massive ask now. We need City to crumble to dust – and that’s the ‘easy’ bit. What’s going to be tougher is for this group of kids to stop shooting themselves in the foot. Again, I’m not going to single out anyone for criticism, because the team have done us proud all year. Arteta has to pick them up now and make them believe we can go up to the Etihad and win, because… Read more »
I don’t even feel like holding is playing bad but does saliba’s calm presence just rub off on people? Let’s hope he’s back Wednesday and the 5 games after to give us a glimmer of hope
Oh and veira over jorginho was a strange one, even smith Rowe would have been a better option
I reckon he’s out for the season, matey.
Just a hunch. Sincerely hope I’m wrong and you’re right.
Holding is a great professional but sadly I just don’t think he is up to standard. I think if we are all honest we were secretly dreading seeing Saliba injured.
It’s definitely made a difference but I think Holding has largely answered his questions. Apart from the dodgy penalty at Anfield, nothing stands out to me like last season at Spurs.
Holding is a perfectly fine 4th choice CB. For me it’s disappointing that we went out and bought a new CB in January who doesn’t look convincing and is a prospect at best. It created a weak point which has been exposed since the injuries to Saliba and Tomiyasu.
Has there over been more of a catch 22 player than Zinchenko? So important in building play, great passer, so passionate, great leader. But gives the ball away stupidly, loses his head, can’t shoot and can’t defend.
All of his skills are in one area, one of the least well rounded defenders out there it feels like. Also I get tired of him trying to overcompensate and hype the team when he’s made a mistake, let Odegaard do the talking and take your medicine.
He’s both instrumental and a total liability. With Xhaka out, personally I’d have liked to have seen Zinchenko in midfield and Tierney at fullback.
I don’t really know how to feel about that game . Anger at the stupid moments that preceded every conceded goal . Admiration at the way we continued to try to play our game and get a result . Despair at the loss of more vital points . If we’re going to win the league we’re going to do it the Arsenal way , the hard way .
I am going to try to decompress now …
We just need to beat city. If Saliba plays iv still got hope. Need to find a way for Trossard to be in our starting 11. Can he play right back?
Trossard should play as CF. At least he can score one from 2 shots and not fall before shooting.
Mistakes costing us big time. Why are we making these stupid mistakes? Crazy!!
Difficult to swallow. Shows true grit that we managed to not lose that game, but we should never have conceeded 3 goals against this team.
I started watching approx 30 minutes into the first half and we looked all over the place. Second half much better, thought we looked leggy though.
Anyway, onwards and upwards – best season in a llloonnggg time
Defending is the pits at the moment. Don’t see how we win the league shipping goals like this. Set piece again. Silly error again. Sigh….
It feels like I spent the majority of my teenage years watching Walcott be literally invisible during games. It was written in the stars that he’d play he’s best stuff in 5 years tonight and actually score. Sickens my hole
A result that if it happened early in the season would feel like a win now feels like a defeat. Before the Liverpool game we could afford to lose to City and still have the advantage. Then before West Ham we could afford to draw against City and still have the advantage. Now with this result we really need to win to keep it in our hands. Sadly with our defending at the moment i’m not too confident
We dropped 4 points to the Saints, that’s 4 too many
Crazy to think the team top of the table has dropped 9 points this season to Everton, Southampton and West Ham
Reality Check. I haven’t experienced an Arsenal attempt for the League in 20 years. These players have never experienced it ever. There is still an opportunity . But no matter what happens being an Arsenal fan is amazing. Not many supporters get the chance to go through all the emotions we are going through.Come on The Gunners.
Good post Ray hoping this is the start of something big
Mistakes again and every game, even when winning games. The team flowed better before Jesus came back and felt sorry for Trossard getting dropped. Win at Man City, doubt it, nor Newcastle or Brighton home. The players faces at the end of game said it all. League has gone and god knows when we’ll have such a good chance again. I sincerely hope I’m wrong
French commentary much better than sky shit think i will look for french streams for future and fuck sky off
I keep telling you guys to mute Sky.
Just turn your sound right down. Far better for the blood pressure than having those cretins with the microphones compounding the issue.
Now the Lee Mason 2 point VAR debacle really comes into play. Grrrr. Can this be appealed retrospectively?
Stop clutching at straws It’s not the reason. City have the Rashford offside thing for balance.
Lee Mason’s error was a fact. The Rashford incident was opinion (though we don’t disagree on it, Kiwamya).
I still think we win league.
Saliba out has been a disaster for us.
too strengthen the defense tierny must start. Zinc for all his talent adds nothing to the defense. He is covered by Gabriel a great deal but now Gabriel is covering for zinc, holding and today Vieira.
I cannot believe we didn’t get a penalty at the end. Either a push or a handball.
Declan rice will solve a lot of the problems we saw today.
what the heck was partey thinking with that long miss. More time should have been added.
I love my team.
Another point we all know but forget. Teams at the bottom are fighting as hard to stay up as we to win. Give them hope and they will fight harder.