“The only godsend has been the five players that make up our defensive core have been pretty much invincible all season.”
Perversely, I worry this is a problem. We all cheered when Saka set that record for most consecutive league appearances for Arsenal (83 matches in 2023) but look at him now. It's the same with White, Timber, and even Cala to an extent (who could be rotating at LCB and putting a lot less miles on the clock). If our defensive core doesn't snap before the end of this season, I'm certain it will break next year and the damage is likely to be worse then.
As a club, we really need to start paying more attention to the number of minutes our players have played. I know it wouldn't have been popular to let Saka go, but given the minutes he's played in his career already, his recent injury record, and the high cost of his improved wages, a cold-blooded operator wouldn't have given him a new contract. I think there are worrying signs that we've already seen peak Saka. Maybe he needs to move away from the wings? I think some form of reinvention will be needed if he's to stay at the highest level.
On top of below, I just can’t fathom the Madueke signing at all. His stats are poor and when I saw him play before he looked fancy etc with no output and the same at arsenal. Gyok you can kind of understand with the goals he scored last season and he did play well in Europe for sporting.
Basically out of our attackers who would you keep? Bar Saka i think you could sell them all. I know that won’t happen but I think the true issue is they aren’t good enough.
Man City’s couple of games against palace and Villa could easily see them play against a weakened team because of Europe. Personally I think the result on Sunday makes city favourites now as we look more likely to drop points. We just have to win our five remaining games nothing else will really do (unless it does 😂). The Newcastle game will be horrible on Saturday, they are totally out of form but you know how they play against us and having Bruno back in midfield fully fit makes a massive difference. We have to score early to knock any confidence out of them (they are probably saying same about us)
Against Burnley I think we need to hope City don’t score many to boost goal difference.
I’m on board peds.If there is to be recriminations,let them be at the end of the season.
As for now we don’t need any towel chuckers & hanky waivers at this stage of the season.
Arsenal ALWAYS puts its fans through the wringer.never do anything the easy way.
“ it’s just who we are mate”
Everyone forgets about Merino.
If he plays then our whole midfield is fresher and we have another clutch option crashing the box.
If fit he would have taken minutes in all 3 midfield positions this season as well as a different option up front while Kai was out.
That was bad luck.agreed.
“The only godsend has been the five players that make up our defensive core have been pretty much invincible all season.”
Perversely, I worry this is a problem. We all cheered when Saka set that record for most consecutive league appearances for Arsenal (83 matches in 2023) but look at him now. It's the same with White, Timber, and even Cala to an extent (who could be rotating at LCB and putting a lot less miles on the clock). If our defensive core doesn't snap before the end of this season, I'm certain it will break next year and the damage is likely to be worse then.
As a club, we really need to start paying more attention to the number of minutes our players have played. I know it wouldn't have been popular to let Saka go, but given the minutes he's played in his career already, his recent injury record, and the high cost of his improved wages, a cold-blooded operator wouldn't have given him a new contract. I think there are worrying signs that we've already seen peak Saka. Maybe he needs to move away from the wings? I think some form of reinvention will be needed if he's to stay at the highest level.
There seem to be mixed metaphors in this Post .
Maybe one has to question the players bought in recently against the style of play our manager wants to play.
Why did we buy Norgaard ?Why did we send Nwaneri out on loan? Why was Eze banished after a mistake at Villa ? Why did we continue to play Kepa etc.
Arteta surely has his favourites and why didn't he rotate more ? Why was Trossard given a pay rise without an extension to his contract ?
I sincerely hope we win The PL or CL but either way win something or not Arteta just has to go.
On top of below, I just can’t fathom the Madueke signing at all. His stats are poor and when I saw him play before he looked fancy etc with no output and the same at arsenal. Gyok you can kind of understand with the goals he scored last season and he did play well in Europe for sporting.
Basically out of our attackers who would you keep? Bar Saka i think you could sell them all. I know that won’t happen but I think the true issue is they aren’t good enough.
But they’re missing joelinton the serial fouler.a huge loss.
Man City’s couple of games against palace and Villa could easily see them play against a weakened team because of Europe. Personally I think the result on Sunday makes city favourites now as we look more likely to drop points. We just have to win our five remaining games nothing else will really do (unless it does 😂). The Newcastle game will be horrible on Saturday, they are totally out of form but you know how they play against us and having Bruno back in midfield fully fit makes a massive difference. We have to score early to knock any confidence out of them (they are probably saying same about us)
Against Burnley I think we need to hope City don’t score many to boost goal difference.
2nd, an unacceptable position should we finish there.
Our position for most part of this season! Is that a record if we don't win?
I think we have the record from the 2022/23 season lol