Pervasive links to Tonali, Gordon, and Livramento reappear pronto ... NO , unless dirt cheap. Tonsli for 100m+ lol, snd we don't need a sick note fullback
I still can't believe we're champions!!! It has a very unreal quality - while also being the only thing I'm thinking about! I think it will hit home all over again on Sunday as we go into our game as Premier League champions. And the countdown will then begin to turn this into an all time great (even the greatest?) season by beating PSG.
Still buzzing bro. This has been the best feeling I have had in 20 years. I thought the Fa cup win when we ended the trophy drought under Wenger was good. But this is 10x that. 6 years without a trophy, coming short three times and we have got the big one.
All we need to max this out is beat PSG and this will go nuclear. I don't think we will top it in the next 20 years if we do that. I am going to be buzzing to see that final.
"When Mikel Arteta arrived at Arsenal, the squad was full of cliques & unprofessional stars - one was spotted "smoking like a chimney" after training. Two senior squad members hated each other so intensely that one routinely invited the other outside for a fight."
Any guesses who this might be, anyone remember an unexplained absence for 1 match?
---------
Sam Dean - "Last season, an important player was sitting at home in north London after training when a burglar smashed through his windows. It was, obviously, a deeply distressing moment. That player did not start the following game.'
"There is of course a bigger debate to be had about the aesthetics and style of the new champions, as well as the wider influence on the game.
The story is still ultimately one of control, though, of a manager seeking to maximise the effect of everything at his disposal.
That might not have always felt true in terms of the expansiveness of attack, but it ensured that Arsenal were the most rounded team in the game. And hence, the new champions.
It also plays into a theme that isn’t too popular given the general debate around Arsenal, but remains emphatically true: this is still a story of overperformance; of beating a much wealthier opponent through careful planning and strategy. City’s wage bill from the last accounts was still £80m more than Arsenal’s – in other words, five Bukayo Sakas."
Similarly themed article over at Sportsmole. This one provides stats in supporting how stout the defending has been-- while leaning into the team's season-long strength of mentality as the factor that separated us from the pack.
I read that article too - really can’t be underestimated how we owe it all to arteta. It’s one thing to be a great coach (to the point that other coaches, if not the fans, see how truly well coached we are). And arteta has his coaching faults - we all know.
But the vision and execution it takes to transform the club in the way he has is frankly phenomenal.
For Reyes, who was bullied by the Premier League, especially by Ferguson’s Manchester United, Neville and Rooney — whose life and career in England may have been very different had he been allowed to flourish instead of being targeted.
For Eduardo, who arrived in England after scoring 47 goals in a season, only to be abandoned by the league and criminally assaulted by Birmingham and Martin Taylor.
For Diaby — perhaps the most breathtaking midfield prospect of his generation, captain of France U18 — who was repeatedly destroyed by challenges from Sunderland and Dan Smith, Chelsea and Essien, Newcastle and Joey Barton. A career that never truly got to exist.
For Aaron Ramsey, criminally assaulted by Stoke and Ryan Shawcross. We saw glimpses of his real level in 2013/14, when his form matched or surpassed the greatest midfielders in world football — but his body could never again sustain continuity after the damage done.
For Wilshere, another generational English talent, endlessly hacked down and later broken further by challenges like Paddy McNair’s at Old Trafford.
For Rosický, the Little Mozart, whose elegance and intelligence belonged to another era — trapped in a league still addicted to glorifying “physicality” over football.
For Debuchy, whose career was effectively ended after Stoke’s Arnautović crashed into him with reckless force.
For Cazorla, whose injuries robbed football of one of the purest midfield artists of his era.
For Walcott, whose explosiveness was diminished after years of relentless physical punishment.
For Vermaelen, whose body broke down under the intensity and brutality of the league.
For Wenger’s Arsenal — a side that tried to play football in its purest form in an age where technical players were not protected, where artistry was mocked, and where violence was too often romanticized as “proper English football.”
People speak today about protecting talent. Arsenal lived through an era where talent was offered up as sacrifice.
There are so many pundits, even our football fans who have repeatedly called for Arsenal to play a more free flowing form of football. They forget how we were treated under Wenger. They forget the players lost in the plight of beautiful football. They forget the clear bias of the refs and media towards Ferguson. They forget Diaby and Eduardo. Rosicky and Ramsey. Wilshere and Reyes. They forget the brutality we had to go through at the hands of Bolton and Stoke and Chelsea. They forget how Senderos was mocked for being bullied by Drogba. They forget project youth. When we played the most beautiful football and were mocked for being too immature, too young, too weak. Guess who didn’t forget all of that. Arteta didn’t. Mertersacker didn’t.
Many sad stories in this 22 year long journey 😢...makes it more reasons to rejoice and savor the crowning moment 🏆...
Tbf, Vermaelen and Walcott may be not held back due to same brutality to which others were subject that would have been criminal offenses ...IF committed off pitch!
Helb too btw...still remember a pic of his extensively bruised lower leg taken end of a game when his sock was down....horrifying tbh
Really not surprising with how Arteta has played players too much till they got injured. I am so glad we signed Eze though. He has personality. And I still think he might have a say in the final.
If true, the rumours about him going harder in times of duress have some credibility. Amazing he didn’t learn from past seasons, especially when people like us could see the team was getting gassed. took eze to have the cajones to say it, clearly not afraid of going back to bench warming knowing odegaard was not 100%.
Title winners. Champions. Best in England
Merino joined training on the pitch !
Timber remains out...
Really wish we had timber fit. Would feel so much more comfortable against Kvara. Groin strains are the worst.
get him some mins v palace
Tbf, I told pals here that if we'd had merino from the start of the month, he'd be the striker best fit for the final! Still stand by it.
We win by choking them with midfielders and centrebacks. Bore out a setpiece win
1 nil
We had him fit foR the semi finals against PSG in May 202
It wasn't enough
for the world cup though, not the champions league final.
You need 100% sharpness in Budapest
Still buzzing and I feel the players are still in dream land. Need to snap out of it quick and focus on PSG game. Moment to create history.
They returned back to training today.
"Real Madrid are confident of signing Rodri from Manchester City amid Pep Guardiola's departure"
We need to just get the summer right and we will be dominating the domestic game for a while
Pervasive links to Tonali, Gordon, and Livramento reappear pronto ... NO , unless dirt cheap. Tonsli for 100m+ lol, snd we don't need a sick note fullback
Nah, I'm implying that city are losing their elite winning core and will be more vulnerable next season.
I don't want Rodri and Rodri will never want us.
We buy FBs in bulk as it is.
I still can't believe we're champions!!! It has a very unreal quality - while also being the only thing I'm thinking about! I think it will hit home all over again on Sunday as we go into our game as Premier League champions. And the countdown will then begin to turn this into an all time great (even the greatest?) season by beating PSG.
Still buzzing bro. This has been the best feeling I have had in 20 years. I thought the Fa cup win when we ended the trophy drought under Wenger was good. But this is 10x that. 6 years without a trophy, coming short three times and we have got the big one.
All we need to max this out is beat PSG and this will go nuclear. I don't think we will top it in the next 20 years if we do that. I am going to be buzzing to see that final.
I haven’t been able to focus on work, thankfully it’s been a quiet week.
Thankfully.
I’m assuming that there must be a lot of other hidden gooners and we are all punch drunk on being CAMPIOOOOONES
It feels surreal for sure.
Neat thing is it won't ever wear off.
Another anecdote from Sam Dean, Ozil vs who?
-----------
"When Mikel Arteta arrived at Arsenal, the squad was full of cliques & unprofessional stars - one was spotted "smoking like a chimney" after training. Two senior squad members hated each other so intensely that one routinely invited the other outside for a fight."
Any guesses who this might be, anyone remember an unexplained absence for 1 match?
---------
Sam Dean - "Last season, an important player was sitting at home in north London after training when a burglar smashed through his windows. It was, obviously, a deeply distressing moment. That player did not start the following game.'
We were indeed worthy winners, see this:
Most wins
Fewest draws
Fewest losses
Fewest goals conceded
Best goal difference
Best home record
Best away record
2nd highest number of goals scored
Won the league!
Miguel Delaney, Independent
"There is of course a bigger debate to be had about the aesthetics and style of the new champions, as well as the wider influence on the game.
The story is still ultimately one of control, though, of a manager seeking to maximise the effect of everything at his disposal.
That might not have always felt true in terms of the expansiveness of attack, but it ensured that Arsenal were the most rounded team in the game. And hence, the new champions.
It also plays into a theme that isn’t too popular given the general debate around Arsenal, but remains emphatically true: this is still a story of overperformance; of beating a much wealthier opponent through careful planning and strategy. City’s wage bill from the last accounts was still £80m more than Arsenal’s – in other words, five Bukayo Sakas."
Similarly themed article over at Sportsmole. This one provides stats in supporting how stout the defending has been-- while leaning into the team's season-long strength of mentality as the factor that separated us from the pack.
Good read:
https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/feature/opinion-are-arsenal-really-the-worst-premier-league-champions-of-all-time_597899.html
I read that article too - really can’t be underestimated how we owe it all to arteta. It’s one thing to be a great coach (to the point that other coaches, if not the fans, see how truly well coached we are). And arteta has his coaching faults - we all know.
But the vision and execution it takes to transform the club in the way he has is frankly phenomenal.
For Reyes, who was bullied by the Premier League, especially by Ferguson’s Manchester United, Neville and Rooney — whose life and career in England may have been very different had he been allowed to flourish instead of being targeted.
For Eduardo, who arrived in England after scoring 47 goals in a season, only to be abandoned by the league and criminally assaulted by Birmingham and Martin Taylor.
For Diaby — perhaps the most breathtaking midfield prospect of his generation, captain of France U18 — who was repeatedly destroyed by challenges from Sunderland and Dan Smith, Chelsea and Essien, Newcastle and Joey Barton. A career that never truly got to exist.
For Aaron Ramsey, criminally assaulted by Stoke and Ryan Shawcross. We saw glimpses of his real level in 2013/14, when his form matched or surpassed the greatest midfielders in world football — but his body could never again sustain continuity after the damage done.
For Wilshere, another generational English talent, endlessly hacked down and later broken further by challenges like Paddy McNair’s at Old Trafford.
For Rosický, the Little Mozart, whose elegance and intelligence belonged to another era — trapped in a league still addicted to glorifying “physicality” over football.
For Debuchy, whose career was effectively ended after Stoke’s Arnautović crashed into him with reckless force.
For Cazorla, whose injuries robbed football of one of the purest midfield artists of his era.
For Walcott, whose explosiveness was diminished after years of relentless physical punishment.
For Vermaelen, whose body broke down under the intensity and brutality of the league.
For Wenger’s Arsenal — a side that tried to play football in its purest form in an age where technical players were not protected, where artistry was mocked, and where violence was too often romanticized as “proper English football.”
People speak today about protecting talent. Arsenal lived through an era where talent was offered up as sacrifice.
There are so many pundits, even our football fans who have repeatedly called for Arsenal to play a more free flowing form of football. They forget how we were treated under Wenger. They forget the players lost in the plight of beautiful football. They forget the clear bias of the refs and media towards Ferguson. They forget Diaby and Eduardo. Rosicky and Ramsey. Wilshere and Reyes. They forget the brutality we had to go through at the hands of Bolton and Stoke and Chelsea. They forget how Senderos was mocked for being bullied by Drogba. They forget project youth. When we played the most beautiful football and were mocked for being too immature, too young, too weak. Guess who didn’t forget all of that. Arteta didn’t. Mertersacker didn’t.
Love what you wrote, but I don’t think they forget at all. I think they want to return to it.
Yeah when we played good football, they said you need to toughen up
When we toughened up they said you need to play good football
That’s why you doing listen to outside voices. Good on Mikel for sticking to his guns
Many sad stories in this 22 year long journey 😢...makes it more reasons to rejoice and savor the crowning moment 🏆...
Tbf, Vermaelen and Walcott may be not held back due to same brutality to which others were subject that would have been criminal offenses ...IF committed off pitch!
Helb too btw...still remember a pic of his extensively bruised lower leg taken end of a game when his sock was down....horrifying tbh
Anyone aware of the size of crowd in/& around North London after we're crowned EPL Champions ? Some media suggest 100k+... credible?
I was guesstimating too. But amazing when I think that say 50000 people just f*cked off whatever plans they had that night and headed to the emirates.
Nwaneri is back and can feature against Palace?
Interesting article. If true, Eze might have saved Arteta from himself. Let's hope arteta learns from this.
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-premier-league-title-mikel-arteta-b2979801.html
Really not surprising with how Arteta has played players too much till they got injured. I am so glad we signed Eze though. He has personality. And I still think he might have a say in the final.
😂😂😂 didn't even see you saying the same thing about Eze in the final.
If true, the rumours about him going harder in times of duress have some credibility. Amazing he didn’t learn from past seasons, especially when people like us could see the team was getting gassed. took eze to have the cajones to say it, clearly not afraid of going back to bench warming knowing odegaard was not 100%.
There is something special about Eze. Have a feeling he'll come up clutch against PSG.
even if not 100% , probably not far off
Yeah read this too - really interesting intervention from eze and maybe something crucial to being able to close out those final games
We will kill PSG
If our back 4, gk, and defense support perform to expectation, we'd beat 'em
TIL Arteta is the only manager to finish above pep 2 seasons consecutively.
Opta Super Computer was... right.
Need to check in on our resident data analyst who called their approach bunk?