As a gooner, I am both proud of the team and also very livid with how this has ended. We outperformed expectations by a huge margin but worringly, similar to last season we were incapable of making the most of an advantage that unexpectedly appeared.
The players let us down - some don't have the quality to play on this team Holding needs to move on. Vieira needs to kick on. Others lost form at a critical point - Saka, Partey, White to some extent and Xhaka even.
Injuries did not help. Saliba's injury wrecked us. Tomiyasu and Esr being injured for much of the season was also a big problem.
Having said that, our rotation was abysmal and Arteta foots the blames on that. Kiwior came and got no minutes until we were desperate. He then proved he was better than Holding and fit into our style better. Tierney was actually fit this year but has for one reason or another fallen down the pecking order behind Tomiyasu and even Kiwior. He will move on with our blessing and shine elsewhere. EsR not playing even when fit is baffling. Saka playing when NOT on form is just based on favoritism as we could have pushed Jesus wide and had Trossard down the middle.
Where did it go wrong for me? Liverpool. The moment Xhaka got involved with TAA, I screamed at the TV "Why?". Pool were on the ropes, the crowd were on their team's back and we gave them a reason to get behind their team and find their voices. The next two games is where we lost the league and then followed a complete non performance at City. It was over.
I really hope Arteta learns from his mistakes with rotation to keep players in sync and match fit. I also hope he gets backed in the transfers. We need a good 5 top top players. Cb, ST, DM, CM and Winger. Possibly a LB if Tierney leaves. Tavares, Cedric, Nketiah, Elneny and Lokonga should be shifted out. Xhaka is already leaving. Vieira and EsR have one more season to prove themselves/show thst they fit into the system. We probably need up and coming squad players to grow too. Either way, a lot of work to be done between now and August.
Bottled it AND overachieved
posted on 21/5/23
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 4 hours, 41 minutes ago
comment by Croatian Gooner (U10698)
posted 20 seconds ago
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 29 minutes ago
I would love:
3 starters. 2 backups.
Rice, Vlahovic, Cancelo.
Gundogan and Xavi Simon.
But if City refuse to sell us Cancelo, we will have to sign a backup RCB and RB.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Gundogan backup? LOL. He would easily walk in any team.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Doesn't have the legs. Which is why he is off to Barca. In a league where Modric can still look world-class.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know you are trying to provoke, 'cause of my name, but Modric is still world class. One bad game doesn't mean he is finished.
posted on 21/5/23
This was Arsenal’s only. Chance
---
Why? We are the best positioned to go again against City, a young team that will grow and use this experience next season. They all said last season was the only chance to get into the top four look what happened next.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah it depends if you get an unbelievably fortuitous start to the fixtures again - if you do then you might build up the momentum again and have another challenge, but is suspect Lego head will continue to make the same weird decisions.
CL next year will also cause problems for you, unless you just tank it.
I’m guessing you will be 5/6
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't get your logic on fortuitous start of fixtures, everyone has to play everyone twice, what's that got to do with where Arsenal finished and Spurs finished
---
Yeah its just another way to try and denigrate what Arsenal have done this season. Obviously they've only done what they've done because of luck. It just hurts too much to say you know what it's a pretty decent team one that lacks experience and some depth but is certainly on the right path.
What evidence is there to say there are 5 or 6 teams that will do do better than us?
posted on 21/5/23
What evidence is there to say there are 5 or 6 teams that will do do better than us?
----
Striketeam7 I would like to see your 6 teams who would do better than Arsenal next season
posted on 22/5/23
comment by Croatian Gooner (U10698)
posted 16 hours, 46 minutes ago
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 4 hours, 41 minutes ago
comment by Croatian Gooner (U10698)
posted 20 seconds ago
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 29 minutes ago
I would love:
3 starters. 2 backups.
Rice, Vlahovic, Cancelo.
Gundogan and Xavi Simon.
But if City refuse to sell us Cancelo, we will have to sign a backup RCB and RB.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Gundogan backup? LOL. He would easily walk in any team.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Doesn't have the legs. Which is why he is off to Barca. In a league where Modric can still look world-class.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know you are trying to provoke, 'cause of my name, but Modric is still world class. One bad game doesn't mean he is finished.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Quite the opposite. It's not only Modric, but I can name others like Lewandoski. My underlying point is that Liga doesn't quite have the high intensity football it used to and so older players can still make a living in the sun compared to the Premier League where, to borrow an old saying, is 'no country for old men'.
posted on 22/5/23
So if we do sign Gundogan it's unlikely he will start most games.
posted on 22/5/23
comment by Passion Power - Make 1984 fiction again (U8398)
posted 20 hours, 9 minutes ago
comment by Striketeam7 - the smartest person you know - B... (U18109)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Admiral Ozil is my new favourite Star Wars character (U10178)
posted 15 minutes ago
This was Arsenal’s only. Chance
---
Why? We are the best positioned to go again against City, a young team that will grow and use this experience next season. They all said last season was the only chance to get into the top four look what happened next.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah it depends if you get an unbelievably fortuitous start to the fixtures again - if you do then you might build up the momentum again and have another challenge, but is suspect Lego head will continue to make the same weird decisions.
CL next year will also cause problems for you, unless you just tank it.
I’m guessing you will be 5/6
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't get your logic on fortuitous start of fixtures, everyone has to play everyone twice, what's that got to do with where Arsenal finished and Spurs finished?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I hate the 'yeah but everyone plays twice argument', it just rules out every other factor and quite an unintelligent thing to say.
Having a run of fixtures playing teams at the right team etc can have a huge impact, building momentum and confidence from a good run of fixtures can be two key items to a good season and a good run.
Momentum and confidence after all are ABSOLUTELY KEY in football.
Unless you're Man City with a billion pound squad of course.
posted on 22/5/23
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 1 hour, 55 minutes ago
So if we do sign Gundogan it's unlikely he will start most games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Obvs each to their own but not imo, the entire City team press and run all game he is also one of top CMs in the league and would start for Arsenal in every game he wasn't injured or had perhaps 3 in 8 days
posted on 22/5/23
comment by Del Boy (U22000)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Passion Power - Make 1984 fiction again (U8398)
posted 20 hours, 9 minutes ago
comment by Striketeam7 - the smartest person you know - B... (U18109)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Admiral Ozil is my new favourite Star Wars character (U10178)
posted 15 minutes ago
This was Arsenal’s only. Chance
---
Why? We are the best positioned to go again against City, a young team that will grow and use this experience next season. They all said last season was the only chance to get into the top four look what happened next.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah it depends if you get an unbelievably fortuitous start to the fixtures again - if you do then you might build up the momentum again and have another challenge, but is suspect Lego head will continue to make the same weird decisions.
CL next year will also cause problems for you, unless you just tank it.
I’m guessing you will be 5/6
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't get your logic on fortuitous start of fixtures, everyone has to play everyone twice, what's that got to do with where Arsenal finished and Spurs finished?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I hate the 'yeah but everyone plays twice argument', it just rules out every other factor and quite an unintelligent thing to say.
Having a run of fixtures playing teams at the right team etc can have a huge impact, building momentum and confidence from a good run of fixtures can be two key items to a good season and a good run.
Momentum and confidence after all are ABSOLUTELY KEY in football.
Unless you're Man City with a billion pound squad of course.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So please tell me who in the 1st half of the season were the "easy" fixtures as oppose to the 2nd half of the season or as oppose to other teams in the top 4?
posted on 22/5/23
comment by Passion Power - Make 1984 fiction again (U8398)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Del Boy (U22000)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Passion Power - Make 1984 fiction again (U8398)
posted 20 hours, 9 minutes ago
comment by Striketeam7 - the smartest person you know - B... (U18109)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Admiral Ozil is my new favourite Star Wars character (U10178)
posted 15 minutes ago
This was Arsenal’s only. Chance
---
Why? We are the best positioned to go again against City, a young team that will grow and use this experience next season. They all said last season was the only chance to get into the top four look what happened next.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah it depends if you get an unbelievably fortuitous start to the fixtures again - if you do then you might build up the momentum again and have another challenge, but is suspect Lego head will continue to make the same weird decisions.
CL next year will also cause problems for you, unless you just tank it.
I’m guessing you will be 5/6
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't get your logic on fortuitous start of fixtures, everyone has to play everyone twice, what's that got to do with where Arsenal finished and Spurs finished?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I hate the 'yeah but everyone plays twice argument', it just rules out every other factor and quite an unintelligent thing to say.
Having a run of fixtures playing teams at the right team etc can have a huge impact, building momentum and confidence from a good run of fixtures can be two key items to a good season and a good run.
Momentum and confidence after all are ABSOLUTELY KEY in football.
Unless you're Man City with a billion pound squad of course.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So please tell me who in the 1st half of the season were the "easy" fixtures as oppose to the 2nd half of the season or as oppose to other teams in the top 4?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't say Arsenals fixtures were easy or not, I don't really care tbh I just vehemently disagree with your statement 'everyone plays each other twice'.
posted on 22/5/23
comment by Insufferable-Piffle, just in case, I'm sorry! (U4388)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 1 hour, 55 minutes ago
So if we do sign Gundogan it's unlikely he will start most games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Obvs each to their own but not imo, the entire City team press and run all game he is also one of top CMs in the league and would start for Arsenal in every game he wasn't injured or had perhaps 3 in 8 days
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think Arsenal would mostly use him in high profile games and CL games. Arteta has made a big deal of retraining ESR into that role, and I would see him as an ideal mentor. Very much like Arteta has been using Jorginho (31), a year younger!