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Champions League

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posted on 1/1/24

I think all the English sides left in Europe stand a very good chance of progressing deep in to the different competitions.

So that should hopefully get us a 5th CL spot.

In that case for me the current top 5 take the top 5 spots.

posted on 1/1/24

HNY btw. Also that gives spurs an advantage as they have no European footy this season.

Could help you to a 3rd/4th place finish.

Really spurs should be getting top 5.

posted on 1/1/24

Yes, other than Bayern, other CL sides are not as strong as the current top 5 in PL. RM maybe one another exception but clubs like Barca and PSG, are not the force they were anymore.

posted on 1/1/24

I'd say 4th or 5th is about where we are given how bad United and Newcastle have been. Probably 4th.

But, I'm not suggesting for 1 second we can win the league, but to be this close with the injuries and suspensions means we should be the in The conversation for winning the league. At least whilst we are this close. I suspect we will soon see a gap developing though fairly soon

posted on 1/1/24

comment by Gafter Pranky (U22336)
posted 18 minutes ago
I think all the English sides left in Europe stand a very good chance of progressing deep in to the different competitions.

So that should hopefully get us a 5th CL spot.

In that case for me the current top 5 take the top 5 spots.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
itll be no thanks to Manyoo either

comment by Samir (U2630)

posted on 1/1/24

Arsenal's primary issue for me isn't our attackers. We scored 88 goals last season with these same players bar one or two. The main issue is we barely create chances from open play, so every miss by our forwards feels worse than it is because we conjure up so few attacking opportunities. The team is very unbalanced and some players are being ran into the ground with minimal rotation.

Until we find a way of unlocking low blocks/settled defences, and stop passing the ball around in a horseshoe shape, I wouldn't even assume top-4 is a given for us. There's a lot of work we need to do to secure CL football for next season, let alone compete for the league.

posted on 1/1/24

comment by Samir (U2630)
posted 6 minutes ago
Arsenal's primary issue for me isn't our attackers. We scored 88 goals last season with these same players bar one or two. The main issue is we barely create chances from open play, so every miss by our forwards feels worse than it is because we conjure up so few attacking opportunities. The team is very unbalanced and some players are being ran into the ground with minimal rotation.

Until we find a way of unlocking low blocks/settled defences, and stop passing the ball around in a horseshoe shape, I wouldn't even assume top-4 is a given for us. There's a lot of work we need to do to secure CL football for next season, let alone compete for the league.
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Maybe spend another 200m to get that balance right. Then moan about oil clubs and their spending

posted on 1/1/24

comment by InBefore (U20589)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Gafter Pranky (U22336)
posted 18 minutes ago
I think all the English sides left in Europe stand a very good chance of progressing deep in to the different competitions.

So that should hopefully get us a 5th CL spot.

In that case for me the current top 5 take the top 5 spots.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
itll be no thanks to Manyoo either
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Embarrassing

comment by Samir (U2630)

posted on 1/1/24

Thanks for that absolutely useless contribution

posted on 1/1/24

comment by Samir (U2630)
posted 19 minutes ago
Thanks for that absolutely useless contribution
----------------------------------------------------------------------

In all fairness, I can't argue with you as it was a pretty immature comment. But, being serious, your spending under Arteta has had hardly any real scrutiny.

You will def get CL football, and my IMO you are still in the title race and can go on a run at any point. I just don't get the narrative around CL is the aim, as given your spending that is the minimum for you IMO.

I appreciate your comment was about breaking low blocks etc so not related to my comment.

posted on 1/1/24

comment by Samir (U2630)
posted 33 minutes ago
Arsenal's primary issue for me isn't our attackers. We scored 88 goals last season with these same players bar one or two. The main issue is we barely create chances from open play, so every miss by our forwards feels worse than it is because we conjure up so few attacking opportunities. The team is very unbalanced and some players are being ran into the ground with minimal rotation.

Until we find a way of unlocking low blocks/settled defences, and stop passing the ball around in a horseshoe shape, I wouldn't even assume top-4 is a given for us. There's a lot of work we need to do to secure CL football for next season, let alone compete for the league.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Correct me if I am wrong but you lodt to Fulham who don't play low block at all?

posted on 1/1/24

* lost

posted on 1/1/24

Have Arsenal spent any money under Arteta?

Never seems to get a mention in the media.

comment by Mack (U6574)

posted on 1/1/24

Honestly don’t care about champions league unless we get into by actually winning something. So bored of football being about coming fourth. It’s not like the champions league means we go large in the transfer market.

Would rather be in the conversation for the fa cup

posted on 1/1/24

comment by Mack (U6574)
posted 13 minutes ago
Honestly don’t care about champions league unless we get into by actually winning something. So bored of football being about coming fourth. It’s not like the champions league means we go large in the transfer market.

Would rather be in the conversation for the fa cup
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Providing Ange didn't get sacked, I would happily see Spurs finish 10th if we won the FA Cup.

posted on 1/1/24

comment by Mack (U6574)
posted 7 minutes ago
Honestly don’t care about champions league unless we get into by actually winning something. So bored of football being about coming fourth. It’s not like the champions league means we go large in the transfer market.

Would rather be in the conversation for the fa cup
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It does feel like we’re building again though. I am excited about the transfer window, we’ve been very good in those recently and I suspect we might pull off another good one.

We absolutely must take Friday seriously though. I read a crazy stat this morning that shows how seriously we’ve taken the FA cup in the past decade - in Hugo Lloris 11 years at the club, he only appeared in 7 FA cup matches

posted on 1/1/24

comment by Samir (U2630)
posted 48 minutes ago
Arsenal's primary issue for me isn't our attackers. We scored 88 goals last season with these same players bar one or two. The main issue is we barely create chances from open play, so every miss by our forwards feels worse than it is because we conjure up so few attacking opportunities. The team is very unbalanced and some players are being ran into the ground with minimal rotation.

Until we find a way of unlocking low blocks/settled defences, and stop passing the ball around in a horseshoe shape, I wouldn't even assume top-4 is a given for us. There's a lot of work we need to do to secure CL football for next season, let alone compete for the league.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Odd assessment.

You struggle with low blocks as your are quite one dimensional up front. And that is because you lack a proper striker would allow you to play a different way. You still have loads of quality in attack but are fairly predictable. The option to hit a no.9 and play off them, more directly, or to put a ball into the box, is totally lacking. I don't know what the stats are but I would suspect you haven't scored many headed goals this season, at least not with a striker and I think even Pep sees this as an essential option in a PL team

posted on 1/1/24

comment by Gafter Pranky (U22336)
posted 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
I think all the English sides left in Europe stand a very good chance of progressing deep in to the different competitions.

So that should hopefully get us a 5th CL spot.

In that case for me the current top 5 take the top 5 spots.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

My big concern is Klopp prioritising the league and Liverpool getting a surprise knockout in the Europa - ditto, Emery and Villa.

Really Liverpool and Villa should be finalists in their respective comps and we would just need City to make the semis, Arsenal to beat Porto and West Ham and Brighton to make the quarters.

posted on 1/1/24

comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Samir (U2630)
posted 48 minutes ago
Arsenal's primary issue for me isn't our attackers. We scored 88 goals last season with these same players bar one or two. The main issue is we barely create chances from open play, so every miss by our forwards feels worse than it is because we conjure up so few attacking opportunities. The team is very unbalanced and some players are being ran into the ground with minimal rotation.

Until we find a way of unlocking low blocks/settled defences, and stop passing the ball around in a horseshoe shape, I wouldn't even assume top-4 is a given for us. There's a lot of work we need to do to secure CL football for next season, let alone compete for the league.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Odd assessment.

You struggle with low blocks as your are quite one dimensional up front. And that is because you lack a proper striker would allow you to play a different way. You still have loads of quality in attack but are fairly predictable. The option to hit a no.9 and play off them, more directly, or to put a ball into the box, is totally lacking. I don't know what the stats are but I would suspect you haven't scored many headed goals this season, at least not with a striker and I think even Pep sees this as an essential option in a PL team
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I agree with this, a target man - Giroud like, would transform the Arsenal attack - Saka wouldn’t always have to cut in, they could launch it up field every now and again when under pressure and they will finally have a battering ram against low blocks

posted on 1/1/24

comment by Striketeam7 - There used to be a football club over there (U18109)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Gafter Pranky (U22336)
posted 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
I think all the English sides left in Europe stand a very good chance of progressing deep in to the different competitions.

So that should hopefully get us a 5th CL spot.

In that case for me the current top 5 take the top 5 spots.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

My big concern is Klopp prioritising the league and Liverpool getting a surprise knockout in the Europa - ditto, Emery and Villa.

Really Liverpool and Villa should be finalists in their respective comps and we would just need City to make the semis, Arsenal to beat Porto and West Ham and Brighton to make the quarters.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the only trophy Klopp hasn’t won. He’s gone pretty strong so far and I don’t expect that to change.

The FA cup though, I think he’ll rotate.

posted on 1/1/24

Liverpool, man city, arsenal, Tottenham, Brighton, west ham, Aston villa, Newcastle
Maybe even Chelsea.
These are the teams in no particular order that I think will finish ahead of man utd.

posted on 1/1/24

Might as well put wolves in that bunch too.

posted on 1/1/24

comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 20 minutes ago
Liverpool, man city, arsenal, Tottenham, Brighton, west ham, Aston villa, Newcastle
Maybe even Chelsea.
These are the teams in no particular order that I think will finish ahead of man utd.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Chelsea won’t, they are poor in both boxes, they will be lucky to finish top half

comment by Samir (U2630)

posted on 1/1/24

comment by Bake 'em away toys (U7303)
posted 1 hour, 15 minutes ago
comment by Samir (U2630)
posted 19 minutes ago
Thanks for that absolutely useless contribution
----------------------------------------------------------------------

In all fairness, I can't argue with you as it was a pretty immature comment. But, being serious, your spending under Arteta has had hardly any real scrutiny.

You will def get CL football, and my IMO you are still in the title race and can go on a run at any point. I just don't get the narrative around CL is the aim, as given your spending that is the minimum for you IMO.

I appreciate your comment was about breaking low blocks etc so not related to my comment.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

We have spent a lot, but at the same time, as we have seen with Chelsea and Man United, money alone isn't the only factor. We also have to acknowledge we are competing against the best manager in the world and the best players in the world who have just won 5 trophies in a calendar, including a treble (that consists of a 3rd consecutive league title), and a Liverpool side who, despite having an off year last year, still have world-class talent and an elite manager that have competed at the very top for multiple years. We also have struggled to sell players and recoup any decent fees for our players - which is our own fault, I get that), but it's still a factor because it means there's more work for us to do to rectify these mistakes, even if its self-inflicted.

Arteta is still relatively inexperienced and although I'm not his biggest fan, I don't think it's fair to expect him to win the title considering how bad we were just 2 years ago. We should be competing, and I expect us to compete, but getting over the line is hard when there's so many good teams now.

Where he does need more scrutiny is our cup record. Since winning the FA Cup in 2020, our record in the cups have been pitiful. That has to change.

comment by Samir (U2630)

posted on 1/1/24

comment by He who Dares, waits for Trophies (U15748)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
comment by Samir (U2630)
posted 33 minutes ago
Arsenal's primary issue for me isn't our attackers. We scored 88 goals last season with these same players bar one or two. The main issue is we barely create chances from open play, so every miss by our forwards feels worse than it is because we conjure up so few attacking opportunities. The team is very unbalanced and some players are being ran into the ground with minimal rotation.

Until we find a way of unlocking low blocks/settled defences, and stop passing the ball around in a horseshoe shape, I wouldn't even assume top-4 is a given for us. There's a lot of work we need to do to secure CL football for next season, let alone compete for the league.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Correct me if I am wrong but you lodt to Fulham who don't play low block at all?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

They play a mid block, but yes, the Fulham game was an exception to the general rule. That was our worst performance of the season though. However, the blueprint to beat us is there. If you're well-organised, have a decent defensive structure, double up on the wingers, force the strikers to play with their back to goal, you can limit us. Then if you play the ball into the channels in behind the fullbacks, we can be got at. Rice is having to do the job of 3 players because Havertz is a ghost in midfield, so we are also susceptible to getting overrun in the middle too. We're too easy to exploit and too predictable in our attacking patterns.

It's not looking good for us at the moment and I have very little faith that it's going to turn around any time soon.

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