Arsenal vs Manchester United 12.01.2025 KO: 15:00 GMT

[HCZ_Reborn]

Another fixture that frankly we could do without, and given we are playing Spurs midweek I’m certainly hoping that a lot of first team players are not starting. The same should have been the case midweek. And whilst it’s never good or acceptable to lose any game of football, but this squad is barely holding it together with injuries, form and fitness. So if we don’t make it into the 4th round could be a blessing in disguise. I do not see any likelihood of reinforcements coming in January, less because of transfer fees and more because of wages. There are links of Italian clubs interested in Zinchenko, and like Xhaka he probably would do well in a slower league….this possibly might free up wages somewhat.
The thing is who knows what the real story is behind what we spend on transfers and on who

[Letters]

And whilst it’s never good or acceptable to lose any game of football
It's never acceptable?
Who died and made you Karen?

[HCZ_Reborn]

It's never acceptable?
Who died and made you Karen?

Really? That’s what you’re taking issue with. Yes it’s never acceptable….do you think any manager of our club has ever reacted to defeat with “oh well that’s fine, never mind”

[Marc Overmars]

Another slog incoming.

No replays though apparently which is good.

[Letters]

Yes it’s never acceptable….do you think any manager of our club has ever reacted to defeat with “oh well that’s fine, never mind”
“oh well that’s fine, never mind” and "it's completely unacceptable, let me talk to the manager" aren't the only two options.

Sometimes a manager is disappointed with a result but basically thinks the team played well and got unlucky or was screwed over by the ref or whatever.
There are such fine lines in football, to say a defeat is "unacceptable" is ludicrous. I mean, I guess it depends on the game. If we were playing Preston North End at home then sure, defeat in that would be unacceptable. But most of the time we're playing teams that aren't at enough below us in level that a win is guaranteed and any other result is "unacceptable".

Here and in the other thread you're doing that thing again where you're acting like you're in a fine dining restaurant and the wine is corked. It's a bit silly. Football is a competitive sport, we are neither guaranteed nor owed success. You seem to be one of those fans who will only be satisfied with perfection. I used to sit near people like that and it was all a bit wearying.

[Mac76]

0-3 Hojland hatter

[HCZ_Reborn]

“oh well that’s fine, never mind” and "it's completely unacceptable, let me talk to the manager" aren't the only two options.

Sometimes a manager is disappointed with a result but basically thinks the team played well and got unlucky or was screwed over by the ref or whatever.
There are such fine lines in football, to say a defeat is "unacceptable" is ludicrous. I mean, I guess it depends on the game. If we were playing Preston North End at home then sure, defeat in that would be unacceptable. But most of the time we're playing teams that aren't at enough below us in level that a win is guaranteed and any other result is "unacceptable".

Here and in the other thread you're doing that thing again where you're acting like you're in a fine dining restaurant and the wine is corked. It's a bit silly. Football is a competitive sport, we are neither guaranteed nor owed success. You seem to be one of those fans who will only be satisfied with perfection. I used to sit near people like that and it was all a bit wearying.

And you’re being ridiculously pedantic homing in on a particular word or term

What you’re doing is essentially saying “well you’re being combative in a completely separate post so I have to assume the same here”. I will hold my hand up and say I’m guilty of it with 21 Brain Cells.
Bu If I’ve got your back up on another thread maybe address it there, rather than as I say taking issue with one word which in the context of the post is self explanatory. The point being where as neither the fans or the club regard any defeat as an acceptable thing, conversely there might be an argument for saying that defeat here could be a blessing in disguise. Now if you had argued with that, and said actually I disagree with you….we should make every effort to win the FA cup fine.

But this? I’m not even trying to be contentious. And frankly I’m trying to convince myself the best recourse isn’t just to tell you to fuck off :lol:

[IBK]

And you’re being ridiculously pedantic homing in on a particular word or term

What you’re doing is essentially saying “well you’re being combative in a completely separate post so I have to assume the same here”. I will hold my hand up and say I’m guilty of it with 21 Brain Cells.
Bu If I’ve got your back up on another thread maybe address it there, rather than as I say taking issue with one word which in the context of the post is self explanatory. The point being where as neither the fans or the club regard any defeat as an acceptable thing, conversely there might be an argument for saying that defeat here could be a blessing in disguise. Now if you had argued with that, and said actually I disagree with you….we should make every effort to win the FA cup fine.

But this? I’m not even trying to be contentious. And frankly I’m trying to convince myself the best recourse isn’t just to tell you to fuck off :lol:

Come on man. Letters is only pointing out that saying it's never 'acceptable' - ie able to be tolerated or allowed - to lose a football match is hyperbole. It's never a good thing for any team to lose, and a very poor performance might be unaceptable. But I don't think unacceptable is a suitable adjective to use in terms of a result.

[IBK]

As for Sunday's match. We all know that the manager is not going to play a significantly weakened team, and I'm not even sure that he should. Given what we have seen this season, there is no guarantee that resting players on the weekend would improve performances/results against Sp*rs or Villa anyway...

[Letters]

As for Sunday's match. We all know that the manager is not going to play a significantly weakened team, and I'm not even sure that he should. Given what we have seen this season, there is no guarantee that resting players on the weekend would improve performances/results against Sp*rs or Villa anyway...

I don't think we should be resting players. It's Utd in the Cup ffs, obviously we want to win this one.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Come on man. Letters is only pointing out that saying it's never 'acceptable' - ie able to be tolerated or allowed - to lose a football match is hyperbole. It's never a good thing for any team to lose, and a very poor performance might be unaceptable. But I don't think unacceptable is a suitable adjective to use in terms of a result.

But that’s the point, to take a word employed here for hyperbole and to then interpret it in its most literal sense to cause an argument is a dick thing to do. I’ve already put my hands up and said I’m guilty of it, but I’m in no mood for this bullshit when actually I haven’t been contentious

[HCZ_Reborn]

I don't think we should be resting players. It's Utd in the Cup ffs, obviously we want to win this one.

It’s funny how you didn’t start with this point in response to the OP

Yours is a valid point of view, but one I just don’t happen to agree with. As IBK states there is no guarantee that fresher legs would guarantee better results against Spurs and Villa, I’d sooner not pick up injuries for a game I frankly don’t give two shits about.

[Letters]

Yours is a valid point of view, but one I just don’t happen to agree with.
Well sure, but that's because you say you don't care about the FA Cup.
I do.
And there's no right or wrong about that, it's just different attitudes towards the competition.

[Letters]

But that’s the point, to take a word employed here for hyperbole and to then interpret it in its most literal sense to cause an argument
I honestly didn't know you were using hyperbole. Your comments in the other thread and on numerous other occasions make me think you really do believe that any other result than a win is "unacceptable" to you in any game. Which seems silly to me. In your response to my first post you doubled down on that, so... :shrug:

[HCZ_Reborn]

I honestly didn't know you were using hyperbole. Your comments in the other thread and on numerous other occasions make me think you really do believe that any other result than a win is "unacceptable" to you in any game. Which seems silly to me. In your response to my first post you doubled down on that, so... :shrug:

Maybe I’m being uncharitable but human speech is littered with hyperbole, even when people say that they mean something literally they hardly ever do. And I thought it was obvious in the context of what I was saying that, no club ever accepts defeat even though there is an obvious inevitability about it.

When I say certain results are unacceptable it’s in the confines of we’ve given ourselves little margin for error, and therefore it’s unacceptable to not win games that we must win in order to chase Liverpool down. I want us to win every game but I don’t literally expect it.

If we were twelve points clear and drew at Fulham and Everton, it’s fair to say the context has shifted and whilst frustrated i could likely be more philosophical about it


I also cannot stress enough how much my mind is screaming at me “Why on Earth am I having to explain this even though there is no tone in text”

[KSE Comedy Club]

Another slog incoming.

No replays though apparently which is good.

Yes but this could be the game where the tactics of 'bore the opposition, everyone in the stadium and the people watching at home to death until they submit' might actually happen.

It's been months now so it can't be much longer :good:

[KSE Comedy Club]

As for Sunday's match. We all know that the manager is not going to play a significantly weakened team, and I'm not even sure that he should. Given what we have seen this season, there is no guarantee that resting players on the weekend would improve performances/results against Sp*rs or Villa anyway...

And to be honest, a loss would be unacceptable.






;)

[Letters]

I also cannot stress enough how much my mind is screaming at me “Why on Earth am I having to explain this even though there is no tone in text”

Even though? It's because there's no tone. I've explained why I read your message the way I did, the context being other posts.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I’m in a group of one it’s fair to say in my attitude towards this game

Although not for a second am I saying it’s better if we lose, I don’t feel that way and I’d have no way of remotely justifying that belief even if I did

But I don’t care about this game. It’s not a feeling that’s been influenced by recent results or a fixture pile up either. I’m hyper focused on winning the league to the exclusion of everything else. When it comes to Arsenal it’s my obsession, and I’ll be a miserable prick about this club and until this is set right

[HCZ_Reborn]

Even though? It's because there's no tone. I've explained why I read your message the way I did, the context being other posts.

Oh honestly. I didn’t want this argument to begin with

I accept that things that should be obvious, maybe aren’t…especially when it comes to a pedant who was looking to start an argument

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Need to play the first team, going out of this will see our season spiral.

Seen it too many times to believe any other outcome.

Thought for a while we would lose this though, even before we played Ipswich.

[Marc Overmars]

Has the same feel to it as the Liverpool tie last year. We were in a funk and it was the kind of fixture we just didn’t need at the time.

Saying that, United are not very good and losing this would be a a gigantic kick in the balls. I’m going to predict an extra time defeat.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Has the same feel to it as the Liverpool tie last year. We were in a funk and it was the kind of fixture we just didn’t need at the time.

Saying that, United are not very good and losing this would be a a gigantic kick in the balls. I’m going to predict an extra time defeat.

The game could be very similar, chance after chance missed.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Not sure, those chances missed against Liverpool were from open play. We create nothing from open play and they (United) soil themselves every time we have a corner

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Need to play the first team, going out of this will see our season spiral.

Seen it too many times to believe any other outcome.

Thought for a while we would lose this though, even before we played Ipswich.

Agree with everything, especially the part in bold.

[Mac76]

Has the same feel to it as the Liverpool tie last year. We were in a funk and it was the kind of fixture we just didn’t need at the time.

Saying that, United are not very good and losing this would be a a gigantic kick in the balls. I’m going to predict an extra time defeat.

Do they still have ET or does it just go to pels?

[HCZ_Reborn]

Do they still have ET or does it just go to pels?

Thirty minutes extra time first

[HCZ_Reborn]

Team: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Maitland-Niles, Jorginho, Merino, Odegaard, Martinelli, Havertz, Jesus

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Team: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Maitland-Niles, Jorginho, Merino, Odegaard, Martinelli, Havertz, Jesus

Maitland-Niles back from the dead. :bow:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Maitland-Niles back from the dead. :bow:

He’s still at Lyon isn’t he?

Anyway his clone appears to be playing left back for us today

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Strongest back four right now with Lewis-Skelly there.

Subs: Neto, Zinchenko, Tierney, Kiwior, Partey, Rice, Trossard, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Strongest back four right now with Lewis-Skelly there.

Subs: Neto, Zinchenko, Tierney, Kiwior, Partey, Rice, Trossard, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji.

If Calafiori was fully fit, it wouldn’t be. But another muscular injury…boy is made of glass

But for my money he’s far quicker and technically accomplished that this Hale end lad. Which is good news for Martinelli, means he will have an excuse for hiding

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Calafiori. :lol:

Maybe he's sick but more likely an injury.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Calafiori. :lol:

Maybe he's sick but more likely an injury.

Muscular injury which makes me think we are rushing him back too soon each time

Frankly when you look at Odegaards form, it can be argued that we’ve done the same there

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Manchester United: Bayindir, De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Mazroui, Mainoo, Ugarte, Dalot, Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund
Subs: Onana, Zirkzee, Malacia, Eriksen, Yoro, Amad, Casemiro, Antony, Collyer

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Muscular injury which makes me think we are rushing him back too soon each time

Frankly when you look at Odegaards form, it can be argued that we’ve done the same there

I don't know what Bologna do in order to get him and Tomiyasu on the pitch but I'm not sure it's covered by employment law.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I don't know what Bologna do in order to get him and Tomiyasu on the pitch but I'm not sure it's covered by employment law.

Probably similar to what the World Anti-Doping Agency is appealing over Jannik Sinner for

[Niall_Quinn]

Strongest back four right now with Lewis-Skelly there.

Subs: Neto, Zinchenko, Tierney, Kiwior, Partey, Rice, Trossard, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji.

WTF, Rice is on the bench? Why on earth? Apart from him, that's a pitifully weak bench. Trossard is there for a like-for-like switch later in the game, but nothing at all that could change a game.

[HCZ_Reborn]

WTF, Rice is on the bench? Why on earth? Apart from him, that's a pitifully weak bench. Trossard is there for a like-for-like switch later in the game, but nothing at all that could change a game.

You’re saying this as if it’s something new

[Niall_Quinn]

Faggot Lineker and his anti-Arsenal BBCunts are off and running. Keown kicking back on what's important.

[Niall_Quinn]

You’re saying this as if it’s something new

I don't watch much now, so it's new for me.

[Niall_Quinn]

But really, why is Rice on the bench? Is he returning from injury or something?

[Niall_Quinn]

Where's that new kid that was replacing Saka? The one who got the goal against Brighton before the ref kitted up and scored the equaliser?

[Niall_Quinn]

Playing in a Leeds kit again so we can make a stupid political statement. That's ONE of the bullshit things they can cut out if they want to get serious about sport and competition.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Is knife crime a political thing?

[Niall_Quinn]

I notice they didn't put the sponsorship shit in white, that's obviously more important than the shit political message they are pushing. So cynical. I thought the shirt numbers had to stand out? Hopefully we get a massive fine for that kit.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Also because it can never be said enough, I detest that “North London forever” song. Awful

[Niall_Quinn]

Is knife crime a political thing?

Is world hunger a political thing? Should we have carrots stitched to the kit?

Has nothing to do with the purpose of this club so they should shut the fuck up about it.

[HCZ_Reborn]

United pressing us high. With Jorginho and Merino in midfield makes sense

[HCZ_Reborn]

Is world hunger a political thing? Should we have carrots stitched to the kit?

Has nothing to do with the purpose of this club so they should shut the fuck up about it.

Football clubs have been doing local initiatives since before either of us was born I suspect

[Niall_Quinn]

This is a joke. Arsenal vs Utd and we're in white and Utd in blue. Are there no rules about kits anymore. Thought the home team had to wear the official home kit and the away team the official away kit. I suppose piggish greed has intervened at some point. Why couldn't Utd wear theit proper kit then? Would have supported them if they had done it. Then again, they are the club that destroyed the FA Cup.

[Niall_Quinn]

Football clubs have been doing local initiatives since before either of us was born I suspect

Well fuck them every time I suppose.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Arteta really has programmed any individuality out of this team

[Niall_Quinn]

I'm fine with that challenge on Odegard, provided the ref doesn't blow when we do it.

[Niall_Quinn]

Terrible football. Pass to Martinelli then run away and leave him to it.

[Niall_Quinn]

Is VAR playing today? For which side?

[HCZ_Reborn]

Maitland Niles like his namesake wanting to play in central midfield it appears. Mainly because our actual central midfielders don’t

[HCZ_Reborn]

Jesus has decided less than 15 minutes in, that he doesn’t want to show for the ball

[Niall_Quinn]

This is going to be daylight robbery.

[Niall_Quinn]

1-0 Arsenal - but the officals have cheated.

[Niall_Quinn]

Maguire literally assists for an Arsenal goal and the Shearer genius says the Utd back five are doing well.

[Niall_Quinn]

And there you are. We just touch a Utd player and FK. It's not "giving him no time" on this occasion. So biased.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Easy enough for Raya off Mainoo.

[Niall_Quinn]

This ref is a grade 1 cheat.

[Niall_Quinn]

Jesus gets elbowed in the face and inures his knee. Something tells me he'll be fine.

[Niall_Quinn]

Everything Utd do is a foul. It's crazy. What sport are they trying to play?

[Niall_Quinn]

Good movement from Martinelli but he has to be so much sharper with his finish.

[Niall_Quinn]

What a pathetic dive by Fernandes

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Thought that was a foul.

[Niall_Quinn]

Oh no, didn't see it in real time. It was a foul. But I mean talk about the pot calling the kettle diverse.

Oh FUCK - It's Sterling DOH!

[dazthegooner]

Got a yellow card for it though :good:

[Marc Overmars]

Jesus is fucked. Again.

[Niall_Quinn]

Jesus was beyond shite anyway so no loss. But we could have brought a player on instead of Sterling. Trossard must be a bit pissed.

[Marc Overmars]

Pure negligence if we don’t sign someone this month.

[Niall_Quinn]

Jesus has given every impression he wanted to be off that pitch from the get go.

[Niall_Quinn]

You can see what's coming. We've been appalling but also 10x better than Utd. So get ready to go a goal down.

[Niall_Quinn]

Is Merino playing? Hadn't noticed. Also I saw Maitland Niles was in the starting lineup. Where did he go?

[HCZ_Reborn]

Pure negligence if we don’t sign someone this month.

Let’s be fair, we shouldn’t be distracted by his flurry against Palace. There’s very little difference between having Jesus available and not available. The tragedy is if it’s a bad injury that we have even less chance of selling him this month

[Niall_Quinn]

If only there was some way to see either of these teams up against a 1970s Leeds. Can you imagine? They spend half the time on the floor rolling around when there's nothing physical left in the game. What of they actually came up against a physical team?

That should be a second yellow nd red by today's standard. It would be if it were one of our players.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Is Merino playing? Hadn't noticed. Also I saw Maitland Niles was in the starting lineup. Where did he go?

The Actual Maitland Niles is playing for Lyon these days

His clone Lewis-Skelly plays at left back

[Niall_Quinn]

Odegard converts but we forgot to score the try beforehand.

[Marc Overmars]

Odegaard is crocked now.

[Marc Overmars]

HT 0-0

Doesn’t really get more predictable than that half.

[Niall_Quinn]

The Actual Maitland Niles is playing for Lyon these days

His clone Lewis-Skelly plays at left back

Yeah thought he'd fucked off. Was surprised to see him back in the starting eleven, but not that surprised. Why is Rice on the bench again?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-0 HT. Shite.

[Niall_Quinn]

1-0 HT, but the officials made up new rules and rolled it back to 0-0.

0-0 gives a false impression of how entertaining this half was. It's like rugby but without the contact. Pointless.

We could do with a striker really. Other teams have strikers. We could have one too. We did well in the past with strikers. There's precedence for having one.

[Niall_Quinn]

Is that the rule now? "Uncontrolled?"

It used to depend on who touched the ball last. When did that change? Today?

[Niall_Quinn]

The letter of every rule gives scope for the ref to satisfy fat, child molesting, gambling Asians.

[Niall_Quinn]

Everything else aside, fuck, Utd are REALLY poor. They are a parody of teams past. How have they managed to spend so much money to end up with that?

[Marc Overmars]

We’ll huff and puff in the second half and get caught out high up the pitch and concede. Lock those bets in.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Even Arteta’s chief fluffer Le Grove is turning on him, blaming him for poor planning and lack of rotation (not starting Sterling instead of Jesus). Whilst Anti Arteta sentiments are appropriate, strange hill to die on.

[Niall_Quinn]

Even Arteta’s chief fluffer Le Grove is turning on him, blaming him for poor planning and lack of rotation (not starting Sterling instead of Jesus). Whilst Anti Arteta sentiments are appropriate, strange hill to die on.

You can pin the boring tactics on Arteta, but not the lack of quality in players we know very well aren't this bad. The simple stuff, they are fucking it up. I suppose if they have instructions to be dull then that limits their ability to entertain, but it doesn't explain their inability to lay a simple pass, or maintain composure when the opposition comes within 100 yards. Lots of blame to go around, not all of it Arteta's.

[Niall_Quinn]

We aren't winning this cup anyway. Eventually we'll come up against a team that aren't as hopeless as Utd.

[HCZ_Reborn]

You can pin the boring tactics on Arteta, but not the lack of quality in players we know very well aren't this bad. The simple stuff, they are fucking it up. I suppose if they have instructions to be dull then that limits their ability to entertain, but it doesn't explain their inability to lay a simple pass, or maintain composure when the opposition comes within 100 yards. Lots of blame to go around, not all of it Arteta's.

It’s about failure to go above their programming. Run with the ball, take on opportunities, stop dithering and looking for the perfect pass. As you noted United are even more shit, if we have the players to dominate territorially. We have the players to open up a back three that includes Maguire

[Niall_Quinn]

Second half. We're out in those scandalous kits that are all white and devoid of red to highligt the problems with knife crime. Except for the RED of our sponsors, which kind of defaeats the whole fucking point, yes? And isn't it Rwanda we're promoting? Machete, knife hacking capital of the world? You really couldn't make it up.

Anyway, let the boredom resume!

[Niall_Quinn]

It’s about failure to go above their programming. Run with the ball, take on opportunities, stop dithering and looking for the perfect pass. As you noted United are even more shit, if we have the players to dominate territorially. We have the players to open up a back three that includes Maguire

That's what I mean. These players are big enough, or ought to be, to take advantage on the pitch even when it's not in the one dimensional game plan.

[HCZ_Reborn]

That's what I mean. These players are big enough, or ought to be, to take advantage on the pitch even when it's not in the one dimensional game plan.

They will probably be fined for showing initiative

[Marc Overmars]

Fernandes 0-1 :haha:

[Marc Overmars]

How fucking textbook was that

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 Fernandes.

[Niall_Quinn]

And there it is. Mr Obvious arrives right on time.

Now we have to watch plod, plod, plod, sideways, sideways, back, for the next 40 minutes.

[dazthegooner]

Why wasn't he even picked up?

[Niall_Quinn]

Again, why isn't Rice playing?

[HCZ_Reborn]

I find it fascinating how given we’ve not overcommitted, our midfielders have barely made it past the half way line. How we get opened up so easily. But yes that was completely predictable

[Marc Overmars]

Fucking hell Havertz :haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

Fucking hell - how past it is Sterling? That's worse than I would have done.

[HCZ_Reborn]

And there it is. Mr Obvious arrives right on time.

Now we have to watch plod, plod, plod, sideways, sideways, back, for the next 40 minutes.

Eh? Why only now?

We’d have had that anyway

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Havertz. :haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

Jesus - they bribed Havertz.

[dazthegooner]

Yes but he was there to miss so in Arteta's eyes that shows that we don't need another forward.

Oh and why are the BBC mentioning the Manure fans travelling all the way down they only had to get the tube from Essex

[Niall_Quinn]

Eh? Why only now?

We’d have had that anyway

Just reminding people.

[Niall_Quinn]

The ref is carefully booking every Utd player once - regardless of the thousands of foulds they are making.

[Niall_Quinn]

He "got to Maynoo quickly" - ha ha ha! Oh no, wait, it's a foul after all. FK to them, nothing for us. Poxy ref.

[Marc Overmars]

No conviction on anything we’re doing.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sterling is beyond gone. Why he's here is a complete mystery.

[Niall_Quinn]

Saliba sent to the touchline with a nosebleed for a non-elbow. How much more obvious do they need to be before Shearer forgoes millions of quid a year to call the game fairly?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dalot sent off!

[Marc Overmars]

This will be rather painful watching us trying to score now.

[Niall_Quinn]

Jeez, that's the dumbest challenge I've seen in a while. Even the ref couldn't ignore that one.

[Marc Overmars]

Gabriel!!

[Marc Overmars]

Pub special :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

GABRIEL!!!

[Niall_Quinn]

Gaberiel!

1-1

[Niall_Quinn]

Scores with his feet. First time for everything.

[Niall_Quinn]

Actually it's 2-1 if you include the goal the cheat ref scrubbed off.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sterling did something. :faint:

[Niall_Quinn]

what a fucking mess by Merino. Just get it on target you muppet!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pelanty!

[Niall_Quinn]

Pen for us. Didn't see it.

[Marc Overmars]

Bit soft

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal v Man Utd is back bby!

[Niall_Quinn]

Never a pen in a million years. So I'll take it. Now there's a punch up. FINALLY! We have a game!

[Niall_Quinn]

Pathetic by Havertz. Big guy like that going down holding his face.

[Marc Overmars]

Fucking hell Odegaard

[dazthegooner]

Shit penalty anyway

[Niall_Quinn]

Justice done.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Odegaard has it saved. :doh:

[Niall_Quinn]

Not that those fouling fucks deserve it.

[Niall_Quinn]

Merino off, Rice on.

DUH!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Decent save but that was poor from Odegaard. Jorginho is on the pitch, the man is a penalty scoring machine

[Marc Overmars]

This game is a mess.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a save.

[Niall_Quinn]

That's a great save. But a terrible miss.

[Marc Overmars]

Rice should have scored FFS

[dazthegooner]

Bad miss from Rice

[Niall_Quinn]

tbf though, Rice is immediately involved. I didn't even notice Merino on the pitch. Not sure he got a touch.

[Niall_Quinn]

Utd keeper being treated for fake injury.

[Marc Overmars]

Waiting for us to be caught out dawdling high up the pitch again.

[Niall_Quinn]

Utd changing their whole team. So silly. Girls' game now.

[Niall_Quinn]

Still pure pub though, isn't it?

[Niall_Quinn]

You'd never know we are 11 vs 13

[Niall_Quinn]

Do you think BBC will give MOTM to Giggs?

[Niall_Quinn]

Amad tried to keep it in but he died in the effort. RIP

[Marc Overmars]

Havertz :haha:

What the fuck

[Marc Overmars]

Absolutely pathetic miss yet again.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Havertz. :haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

Havertz saves them again. Brilliant defending.

[Niall_Quinn]

Got to admit, Utd are a shitshow but they've been the better team in this half. Absolutely nothing going forward but they have easily blunted our almost non-existent attack.

[Marc Overmars]

Fuck off Timber there was no need to shoot there

[Niall_Quinn]

Truly pathetic attempt by Timber. So poor. But he's probably been our best of a bad bunch over the 90.

[Marc Overmars]

This awful keeper chooses today to have the game of his life

[Niall_Quinn]

Holy fuck. What a save.

[Marc Overmars]

Need to get Trossard on, only guy who might have a bit of composure

[dazthegooner]

ET just what we don't need

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 FT. Fucking hell.

[Niall_Quinn]

We are going to be punished for another 30 minutes.

[Niall_Quinn]

Need to get Trossard on, only guy who might have a bit of composure

We have Sterling.

[Marc Overmars]

Even if we win this it’s a game just underlines so much about what’s wrong with us.

Pathetic this has gone to ET.

[Niall_Quinn]

That Fernandes goal was such a fluke. Ask him to do that again and give him 100 attempts. No chance.

[Niall_Quinn]

Gabriel's goal, on the other hand, was clinical. No really.

[Niall_Quinn]

Trossard on for Skelley. Might do something, probably not.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

So even with the ref, firmly on our side, we still can't win a game in 90mins at home....our attackers are probably waiting for the ref to have the courtesy to put the ball in the net for them.

If this goes to penalties, I am almost sure we'll lose. In fact it makes no sense for us not to win this game as this team is going to be to tired to do anything against spurs.

Honestly for the neutral, they'd probably have torn some stomach muscles laughing at us today.

[Niall_Quinn]

Utd have subbed so many players now they must have been doing transfers at HT.

[Niall_Quinn]

What was Martinelli doing there? So shite.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sterling is just a waste of space. An absolutely pointless player with a thousand flicks and twists and precisely zero delivery.

[Marc Overmars]

How the fuck has that stayed out?

[Niall_Quinn]

Yay - barrel thoroughly scraped, here comes Partey.

[Marc Overmars]

Good defending tbf

[Niall_Quinn]

Got to admit, the Utd defenders are really digging in now. But horrible miss from Trossard. Should never have given the defender a sniff.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Our finishing. :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

More chance of scoring of you shoot at goal rather than a thousand miles over it. So poor.

Yet another Utd sub - how many?

[Marc Overmars]

Should have just gone to penalties and spared us this embarrassment.

[Niall_Quinn]

Havertz has been their best defender.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 HT in ET.

[dazthegooner]

Got to admit, the Utd defenders are really digging in now. But horrible miss from Trossard. Should never have given the defender a sniff.

Yep just seen the reply from behind the goal Trossard should have scored.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on you useless fucking idiots.

[Niall_Quinn]

Partey tried to win it for Utd but Raya denies him with a good save.

[Niall_Quinn]

We could do with a striker.

[dazthegooner]

Maybe we should try and sign Mick Lynch though he is about to retire though so might be too late :(

[Marc Overmars]

Penalties :rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pelanties.

[Niall_Quinn]

They won't even shoot when there is zero minutes on the clock.

[Marc Overmars]

Odegaard scores this time.

[Marc Overmars]

1-2 Amad

[Marc Overmars]

Havertz…

[Marc Overmars]

Havertz has it saved.

Sums up his day.

[Niall_Quinn]

Oh FFS!

[Niall_Quinn]

We're done. All self inflicted of course.

[dazthegooner]

Raya goes to early

[Marc Overmars]

Partey has to score.

[Marc Overmars]

Zirkee to win it

[Marc Overmars]

Out we go.

Arteta. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fucking hell we're out.

[Niall_Quinn]

Pure embarrassment, except I don't think any of the pampered prancers will be embarrassed in the least. 60 minutes playing against just 13 and we still couldn't win against the most ordinary Utd we'll ever face.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Never happy to lose any game but I regarded both today and Tuesdays game as pointless fixtures that we could do without. Don’t think it will make any difference because our morale is so completely gone. Unlike Tuesday we created more from open play (although it took United to go down to ten for that) but all our players are completely useless at finishing chances. Seems almost cruel to see them out there, playing with zero confidence. Coached to death by a controlling sociopath

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

We were always going to go out once it got to penalties.

It's really tiring to keep mentioning the same thing over and over again, but well done our attackers, well done!

[dazthegooner]

Right so same time next year? <_<

[Marc Overmars]

Havertz was an embarrassment today.

Should be dropped for Spurs but we haven’t fucking got anyone else.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Pure embarrassment, except I don't think any of the pampered prancers will be embarrassed in the least. 60 minutes playing against just 13 and we still couldn't win against the most ordinary Utd we'll ever face.

You forgot to mention that the ref was firmly in our corner and everybody would have been watching being a sunday..... brace yourself, as we'll definitely pay dearly for this in the next few games with funny decisions going against us.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Havertz was an embarrassment today.

Should be dropped for Spurs but we haven’t fucking got anyone else.

I remember those days when he led the line for Chelsea, I always loved seeing him start as I knew he'd miss chance after chance....like I said before , it was during his era that we started getting real results against Chelsea.

Anyway, what's done is done, he's firmly out headache now.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I remember those days when he led the line for Chelsea, I always loved seeing him start as I knew he'd miss chance after chance....like I said before , it was during his era that we started getting real results against Chelsea.

Anyway, what's done is done, he's firmly out headache now.

Still could be worse the major decisions at the football club could be made by someone like you

A Todd Boehly on amphetamines :lol: or I should say Todd Boehly really :haha:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Anyway the season isn’t over today, it was over a month ago when we couldn’t beat Fulham

Arteta has decided just to make it worse by grinding our players into the dirt. Bereft of fitness, confidence…totally robotic.

No even point sacking him at this point because either way we can’t put a first team out and we can’t seemingly afford to bolster the squad

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

BTW, I'm really thinking we should make Gabriel the captain of this side, he's single handedly carrying us this season..... and to think he's probably the worst remunerated among our undropables.

https://www.arsenalinsider.com/news/aaron-ramsdale-says-people-disrespect-one-arsenal-player-a-lot-but-hes-actually-incredible/

[HCZ_Reborn]

BTW, I'm really thinking we should make Gabriel the captain of this side, he's single handedly carrying us this season..... and to think he's probably the worst remunerated among our undropables.

Whats the point. Apart from writing in the matchday programme, you’re either a leader on the pitch or you’re not. And you don’t need an armband for that. The only thing I can see this achieving is alienating Odegaard who hasn’t been great since he came back….but this idea that players suddenly become shit rather than low on confidence. If he was being a prick or something like that, I could see the argument for stripping him of the captaincy but he’s not going to get dropped because we have no one else to play there.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Whats the point. Apart from writing in the matchday programme, you’re either a leader on the pitch or you’re not. And you don’t need an armband for that. The only thing I can see this achieving is alienating Odegaard who hasn’t been great since he came back….but this idea that players suddenly become shit rather than low on confidence. If he was being a prick or something like that, I could see the argument for stripping him of the captaincy but he’s not going to get dropped because we have no one else to play there.

Odegaard has always reminded me of a tortured artist....how anyone can look at him and the way he plays and burden him with the captain's armband is beyond me.

Taking that penalty was showing who's the boss. He had no business taking it when we had Jorghino still on the field.

But you are right, he won't lose the armband, only a new manager would have the balls to correct this and identify proper leaders.

[Marc Overmars]

6 points from Spurs and Villa and we can move on from this woeful week hopefully.

Or just embarrass ourselves further. Who knows.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Odegaard has always reminded me of a tortured artist....how anyone can look at him and the way he plays and burden him with the captain's armband is beyond me.

Taking that penalty was showing who's the boss. He had no business taking it when we had Jorghino still on the field.

But you are right, he won't lose the armband, only a new manager would have the balls to correct this and identify proper leaders.

As said above, I’m glad you’re not the one who makes decisions for this club.

Because apparently there are ways to make things worse. I would have favoured Jorginho taking the penalty, but in the absence of Saka it’s Odegaard who takes penalties and actually stepping up to take a penalty (not only that but taking the first one in the shootout after having missed) does show both courage and leadership.

Gabriel has had a great season I agree with you, but he got himself a bit too involved in that Melee prior to the penalty, and he’s always been combustible and easy to provoke. I don’t know if we need to look at the captain role at some point, but the last thing I’d do at this moment in time is to fuck up morale anymore than it is. Arteta has done that enough by running his team into the ground. One of these competitions (if not both) should have been sacrificed especially given the squad available.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

6 points from Spurs and Villa and we can move on from this woeful week hopefully.

Or just embarrass ourselves further. Who knows.

At this point, I'd be happy if we just don't get beat against both of them.

I really wish there was something we could inject Saka with so he could get back....

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I don't think there's horse placenta potent enough to get Saka back before the March international break.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I don't think there's horse placenta potent enough to get Saka back before the March international break.
March???!!!

:lol: ......serves us right for expecting one guy to repeatedly do the job of 4 other highly paid individuals week in and week out.

[Letters]

Anyway the season isn’t over today, it was over a month ago when we couldn’t beat Fulham

Football fans are such goldfish :lol:

[HCZ_Reborn]

As said above, I’m glad you’re not the one who makes decisions for this club.

Because apparently there are ways to make things worse. I would have favoured Jorginho taking the penalty, but in the absence of Saka it’s Odegaard who takes penalties and actually stepping up to take a penalty (not only that but taking the first one in the shootout after having missed) does show both courage and leadership.

Gabriel has had a great season I agree with you, but he got himself a bit too involved in that Melee prior to the penalty, and he’s always been combustible and easy to provoke. I don’t know if we need to look at the captain role at some point, but the last thing I’d do at this moment in time is to fuck up morale anymore than it is. Arteta has done that enough by running his team into the ground. One of these competitions (if not both) should have been sacrificed especially given the squad available.


Football fans are such goldfish :lol:

Or it could have been that when we were arguing to no good purpose about Liverpool that I stated emphatically that we couldn’t afford to drop a single point in these more favourable fixtures because of the stupid situation we got ourselves into in October and early November

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I thought this performance was supposed to be reducing knife crime.

[Letters]

Or it could have been that when we were arguing to no good purpose about Liverpool that I stated emphatically that we couldn’t afford to drop a single point in these more favourable fixtures because of the stupid situation we got ourselves into in October and early November

We've also noted between us that we're actually in a very similar position that we were at this stage last season - Liverpool were well clear of us then too. And we've got easier fixtures to come. My point here is every season has ups and downs and people always seem to overreact to both as if they've never lived through a season before and can't imagine that a season can feel different at different points. This season is admittedly feeling like a slog, the lack of a striker is such an obvious and glaring omission and it sounds like it cost us again today (didn't watch, was at the snooker and sounds like that was a better use of my time). But there's still a long way to go, I'm not sure how helpful changing managers mid-season would be. Utd's season was a car crash last season and then they kept Ten Hag because they won the Cup, which was as stupid as knee-jerking in the other direction.

[HCZ_Reborn]

There’s no point comparing it to last season now. We did not have anywhere near the injury pile up we have now.

Our squad is dangerously depleted. For the Spurs game it’s likely we will be without the following

White, Timber, Calafiori, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Jesus, Saka


We are at the point where we can barely put a team out. I don’t think there’s a bottom we can reach at this point with fixture pile up. It’s not going to get better, it’s going to likely get a lot worse.

[Mac76]

Was out today, just saw highlights, WTF, disallowing that Martinelli goal was daylight robbery

But still a typically erratic Arsenal performance, spuds will trash us on Weds for sure

[Letters]

spuds will trash us on Weds for sure

:lol:

Since when have they ever “trashed” us at our place?

[HCZ_Reborn]

The problem is we are all hoping against hope that somehow we are going to click the way we did a year ago

There’s nothing, nothing that suggests to me that will happen. We are first and foremost without Saka till March, the rumours are at the moment that Jesus has done his ACL which means he’s likely to be out for about six-nine months (so we can’t even sell him to get him off the wage bill). We have Trossard and Havertz who are both in horrendous form, the amount of abuse Havertz gets when he’s not an out and out striker anymore than he is a no8.
Odegaard our captain looks broken, I think again the criticism he’s getting when he’s clearly unfit seems unfair as well.
We have an over coached team that has been ground into the dirt, it’s a joke that we have one of the biggest wage bills in the premier league when outside the first team we simply have no back up.
There’s no obvious solution to any of this and it’s going to get worse in all probability

[Marc Overmars]

Even before this weeks cup misery and really even before the Saka injury most of us felt this season was at high risk of flatlining. I know we pulled it together last year but there isn’t a chance in hell of that happening again with such a run down squad where players are getting injured every week. We can’t even field the same line up twice on the bounce because of the fitness issues every player appears to be dealing with.

We are in salvage mode now because this season is hanging on by the thinnest of threads and I do think it’s going to get very ugly should we lose to either Spurs or Villa.

[IBK]

Going to try to be a bit measured here.

Fans of other clubs are rightly going to point to this game to debunk the theory that adverse referreing decisions have cost us games. We had a few favourable decisions in this game, yet couldn't exploit a 10 man opposition and missed 2 penalties.

It is becoming embarrassing how we can't convert chances. I called HCZ out on another thread for labelling a loss unacceptable...well I think that our repeated failure to score from clear chances is unacceptable from a team with title aspirations, with expensively assembled players on high wages. Teams do not fear us. We are like the monster in Scooby Do - always revealed at the end to be some bloke in a costume.

It's so Arsenal to contrive to get the worst possible outcome from this game. A loss. A full strength team suffering further injuries and fatigue from playing extra time. The confidence sapping scenario of conceding in the first serious attack on our goal and seeing us again so toothless in our own attacks. The further evidence that our 'get out of jail' card of corners is no longer effective. A confidence 'striker' that will be further affected by his performance.

Going out of the FA cup is no biggie for me. We did create a shed load of chances against a fairly ordinary Manure team, so we are not a shit team. But failure to concert chances is now a serious issue, as is form and injuries to our forwards. Its inconceivable that the manager does not see the need to bring a forward/striker in immediately. If we don't then I will put this down to the owners/executive more than him and for me this will be evidence that we are not serious about winning anything.

[Marc Overmars]

Had a look at those Havertz missed chances again and they are absolutely atrocious. To miss the target on both occasions as well especially that one in the six yard box that he took down and lifted over the bar, unbelievably bad.

[Mac76]

:lol:

Since when have they ever “trashed” us at our place?

Laugh after the game not before it ;)

[Mac76]

Even before this weeks cup misery and really even before the Saka injury most of us felt this season was at high risk of flatlining. I know we pulled it together last year but there isn’t a chance in hell of that happening again with such a run down squad where players are getting injured every week. We can’t even field the same line up twice on the bounce because of the fitness issues every player appears to be dealing with.

We are in salvage mode now because this season is hanging on by the thinnest of threads and I do think it’s going to get very ugly should we lose to either Spurs or Villa.

Agreed - and we could very well lose to both IMO

I really do think even top four is something we will really struggle with this season if we don't act to a) strengthen the squad and b) adopt a more positive tactical approach

[HCZ_Reborn]

A couple of weeks ago I think it was highly unlikely that we could or would lose both these games. But with the team available to us, it wouldn’t matter what coach we have. Spurs is a game that could go either way and Villa is a highly probable defeat.

I don’t believe Now that Arteta is being stubborn about signing attacking player(s), his reputation is on the line at this moment in time and even I don’t think he’s insane enough to burn everything down in service to prove he’s right…about what ?

The noises he’s making is suggesting that the wage bill restrictions make it hard to sign someone. The Jesus injury is a disaster, not because he’s any use to us as a player because he isn’t…but it removes any chance of us getting him off the wage bill in January.

As for changing the style of play, I’m not sure that’s tenable now either. I’ve made as much noise as anyone to scrap the number 8 nonsense and play with two creative midfielders in front of the holding midfielder, problem is we don’t have two creative midfielders available. We don’t have one arguably, we have Odegaard who any other club would have rested for both cup matches….a player who looks dead on his feet.

I think ultimately the only thing we can do is play for a draw in both games, and have some luck with players coming back in the next couple of weeks. The title if it wasn’t over before last week is definitely over now, we simply can’t put out a team that can win games at the moment.

[IBK]

There’s no point comparing it to last season now. We did not have anywhere near the injury pile up we have now.

Our squad is dangerously depleted. For the Spurs game it’s likely we will be without the following

White, Timber, Calafiori, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Jesus, Saka


We are at the point where we can barely put a team out. I don’t think there’s a bottom we can reach at this point with fixture pile up. It’s not going to get better, it’s going to likely get a lot worse.

The sad thing is that our injury list is not that different to a number of EPL clubs and we have a bigger squad than most in MF and defensive positions. The problem is that we have made ourselves too light in the attacking department - so the injuries to Saka, Nwaneri and now Jesus have crippled us more than should have been the case.

[IBK]

A couple of weeks ago I think it was highly unlikely that we could or would lose both these games. But with the team available to us, it wouldn’t matter what coach we have. Spurs is a game that could go either way and Villa is a highly probable defeat.

I don’t believe Now that Arteta is being stubborn about signing attacking player(s), his reputation is on the line at this moment in time and even I don’t think he’s insane enough to burn everything down in service to prove he’s right…about what ?

The noises he’s making is suggesting that the wage bill restrictions make it hard to sign someone. The Jesus injury is a disaster, not because he’s any use to us as a player because he isn’t…but it removes any chance of us getting him off the wage bill in January.

As for changing the style of play, I’m not sure that’s tenable now either. I’ve made as much noise as anyone to scrap the number 8 nonsense and play with two creative midfielders in front of the holding midfielder, problem is we don’t have two creative midfielders available. We don’t have one arguably, we have Odegaard who any other club would have rested for both cup matches….a player who looks dead on his feet.

I think ultimately the only thing we can do is play for a draw in both games, and have some luck with players coming back in the next couple of weeks. The title if it wasn’t over before last week is definitely over now, we simply can’t put out a team that can win games at the moment.

Can't disagree with any of that. My (blind) optimistic side says that Spurs are also seriously depleted, and surely for this home fixture at least the players can get up for this home game (like I say, we are creating chances). I am still hoping that we can somehow win on Wednesday. Saturday I am more pessimistic about. If we can get 4 points from the 2 games this will be a good couple of results, in the context of where we are...

[Marc Overmars]

Spurs are more depleted than us especially at the back however they do have a better forward line than us that won’t miss the kind of chances we did yesterday.

It’s a game that I still think we’ll win because Spurs are Spurs, it’s Villa that I can see doing a number on us.

[HCZ_Reborn]

The sad thing is that our injury list is not that different to a number of EPL clubs and we have a bigger squad than most in MF and defensive positions. The problem is that we have made ourselves too light in the attacking department - so the injuries to Saka, Nwaneri and now Jesus have crippled us more than should have been the case.

I don’t know how our squad can be so thin yet we have one of the largest wage bills in the premier league (certainly no lower than 5th). We spend 310 million a year on wages approximately. Players like Jesus being on such a ridiculous amount contributes to why we can’t bolster the attacking line.

[Letters]

Spurs are more depleted than us especially at the back however they do have a better forward line than us that won’t miss the kind of chances we did yesterday.

It’s a game that I still think we’ll win because Spurs are Spurs, it’s Villa that I can see doing a number on us.

I fancy us against Spurs because...Spursy.
They're not going to come to defend and we'll definitely get chances. Whether we have anyone competent enough to actually take them...
But yes, Villa definitely a tougher nut to crack.

[Letters]

We spend 310 million a year on wages approximately.
:blink:

Holy shit...

[IBK]

I don’t know how our squad can be so thin yet we have one of the largest wage bills in the premier league (certainly no lower than 5th). We spend 310 million a year on wages approximately. Players like Jesus being on such a ridiculous amount contributes to why we can’t bolster the attacking line.

It's absolutely nuts.

[Letters]

Where did you get that number, HCZ?

https://www.spotrac.com/epl/arsenal-fc/cap/_/year/2024

Maybe you found a figure which includes all staff, not just players?

[HCZ_Reborn]

Where did you get that number, HCZ?

https://www.spotrac.com/epl/arsenal-fc/cap/_/year/2024

Maybe you found a figure which includes all staff, not just players?

Yes probably, a total wage bill is going to include management, coaching staff etc

Looking at this likelihood is that we have a wage structure for players that allows for no more than £200 million a year

[HCZ_Reborn]

The immediate thing that should come to everyone’s mind is who is top of the wage bill

Havertz and Jesus. Not Saka, not The club’s captain, not our record signing

Now this is to be expected to a degree as they are both attacking players and therefore will be on the highest salary but i think the bigger issue is that both come from clubs that run an extremely high wage bill and whilst we complain about the transfer fees for Havertz. Actually the real cost is what he will cost us in wages over the presumably five year contract, which is in excess of the money we paid to Chelsea.

To put it in perspective Havertz is on 280k a week and Salah is on 320k a week

Haaland is on 375 k a week

Isaak? He’s on the same money at Newcastle as Merino is on with us :haha: 120k a week


We are in danger of becoming Man United. I don’t mind Havertz as a backup striker but not on that money, it’s ludicrous. Jesus doing his ACL completely fucks us

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Where did you get that number, HCZ?

https://www.spotrac.com/epl/arsenal-fc/cap/_/year/2024

Maybe you found a figure which includes all staff, not just players?

Saw this a few days ago, which was why I "complained" about what Gabriel was on, compared to what he has consistently delivered:

Dedenders:

William Saliba £9,880,000
Oleksandr Zinchenko £7,800,000
Ben White £7,800,000
Riccardo Calafiori £6,240,000
Kieran Tierney £5,720,000
Takehiro Tomiyasu £5,200,000
Gabriel Magalhaes £5,200,000
Jurrien Timber £4,680,000
Jakub Kiwior £3,016,000

Midfielders:

Martin Odegaard £12,480,000
Declan Rice £12,480,000
Thomas Partey £10,400,000
Mikel Merino £6,760,000
Jorginho £5,720,000

Attackers:

Kai Havertz £14,560,000
Gabriel Jesus £13,780,000
Bukayo Saka £10,140,000
Gabriel Martinelli £9,360,000
Raheem Sterling £8,450,000
Leandro Trossard £4,680,000

https://www.goal.com/en-ng/lists/arsenal-wages-best-paid-player-gunners-salary-bill/bltb3ccde8d5165ca70#cs73351d047fb4ea98


As for Havertz, I'm not sure why it news what he's earning, seeing as while he was at Chelsea he was always their highest earning player and one of the reasons they were laughed at severally. We all knew this before we recruited him, and this was another reason I opposed the signing at that time.

However, what's done is done, and Arteta can't pretend he doesn't know what his players are earning compared to what they've been delivering for almost 2 years now.

I hate to mention it again, but I seriously think we should consider Real's overtures for Saliba...that would free up enough money and wages to balance the squad with a really top signing for a proper no 9....however I honestly don't think we need a top no9 this January if we are truly broke, if we look hard enough a Trossard type steal should be available, but it would be a gamble, which I think is far batter than our current reality.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Where did you get that number, HCZ?

https://www.spotrac.com/epl/arsenal-fc/cap/_/year/2024

Maybe you found a figure which includes all staff, not just players?

Sorry, just checked your link properly now, it didn't open initially.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Looking at Letters link, Vieira seems to be the only big transfer where we were a bit smart and didn't incur ridiculous wages.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Saw this a few days ago, which was why I "complained" about what Gabriel was on, compared to what he has consistently delivered:

Dedenders:

William Saliba £9,880,000
Oleksandr Zinchenko £7,800,000
Ben White £7,800,000
Riccardo Calafiori £6,240,000
Kieran Tierney £5,720,000
Takehiro Tomiyasu £5,200,000
Gabriel Magalhaes £5,200,000
Jurrien Timber £4,680,000
Jakub Kiwior £3,016,000

Midfielders:

Martin Odegaard £12,480,000
Declan Rice £12,480,000
Thomas Partey £10,400,000
Mikel Merino £6,760,000
Jorginho £5,720,000

Attackers:

Kai Havertz £14,560,000
Gabriel Jesus £13,780,000
Bukayo Saka £10,140,000
Gabriel Martinelli £9,360,000
Raheem Sterling £8,450,000
Leandro Trossard £4,680,000

https://www.goal.com/en-ng/lists/arsenal-wages-best-paid-player-gunners-salary-bill/bltb3ccde8d5165ca70#cs73351d047fb4ea98


As for Havertz, I'm not sure why it news what he's earning, seeing as while he was at Chelsea he was always their highest earning player and one of the reasons they were laughed at severally. We all knew this before we recruited him, and this was another reason I opposed the signing at that time.

However, what's done is done, and Arteta can't pretend he doesn't know what his players are earning compared to what they've been delivering for almost 2 years now.

I hate to mention it again, but I seriously think we should consider Real's overtures for Saliba...that would free up enough money and wages to balance the squad with a really top signing for a proper no 9....however I honestly don't think we need a top no9 this January if we are truly broke, if we look hard enough a Trossard type steal should be available, but it would be a gamble, which I think is far batter than our current reality.

It can’t be said emphatically or often enough. I’m so glad, even in this mess we are in currently that you have no say over how the club is run. I think sometimes it’s always best even in dispiriting times to console one’s self that things could be worse. And your posts always instill that positivity, so thank you

[Mac76]

Looking at Letters link, Vieira seems to be the only big transfer where we were a bit smart and didn't incur ridiculous wages.

I still don't get why we don't recall both him and Marquinhos, we need players ffs

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I still don't get why we don't recall both him and Marquinhos, we need players ffs

As for Vieira, I think the terms of the loan don't allow us to recall him.

However Marqiuinhos case is a bit strange, as he was sent back just a few weeks ago.

I think its safe to say Arteta doesn't see a future for him.....so obviously, the next question would be why did we waste limited resources to go after him in the first place?