Arsenal vs Manchester City 21.09.2025 - KO 16:30 GMT

[HCZ_Reborn]

I see that no one has wanted to do a match thread for this, i have no idea what side Arteta will put out for this…the imodium midfield trio of Rice, Merino and Zubimendi seems to only have been deployed in away matches but i do fear given this is a big fixture that Arteta’s instincts will be to do so again rather than exploit a City side that is vulnerable at the back.


Side i would put out


Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Merino, Eze, Martinelli, Gyokeres, Madueke

[Letters]

I hope we win, tbh.

I’m not scared of them any more. They are dangerous but so are we (in theory at least).
I don’t know if there is such a thing as a must win this early in the season but this is close to it.

[Marc Overmars]

First time in as long as I can remember that we are favourites to beat them.

Clearly they’ve still got players who can hurt us though if we aren’t at the races. Need to really lay down a marker here.

2-1.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I hope we win, tbh.

I’m not scared of them any more. They are dangerous but so are we (in theory at least).
I don’t know if there is such a thing as a must win this early in the season but this is close to it.

The Hammerings they used to dish out to us in the past are long gone i think, but they are definitely capable of beating us.

Haaland has four goals against us from last six meetings with them, and he has five in four in the league this season so probably wouldn’t bet against him scoring today.

I don’t especially have faith in our goalscoring ability and we could have a day of frustration with Donnarumma between the sticks.

So i think any result is possible

[Letters]

he has five in four in the league this season.
I saw some ridiculous stat about him. As you say, he has 5 goals in 4 games and apparently that's his worst ever start to a PL season :wacko:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Hmm. Come on the draw I guess.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I said 2-2

[HCZ_Reborn]

It’s the Imodium midfield again.

There are just no words. What a complete and utter cunt

[Marc Overmars]

Arteta. :lol:

Go away.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

No idea what that team is about.

Trossard starting is strange.

[Mac76]

Arteta. :lol:

Go away.

Indeed, joke of a lineup

0-3 Haaland hatter

[HCZ_Reborn]

No idea what that team is about.

Trossard starting is strange.

Arteta thinks the shit show against Athletic Bilbao was a master strategy

He is thinking he is going to contain City and then get goals later on.

Trossard i think he’s looking at going direct and Trossard can be quite good at long passes.

[Mac76]

No idea what that team is about.

Trossard starting is strange.

What it's about is Arteta being a clueless coward

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Merino, Trossard, Madueke, Gyokeres
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Martinelli, Eze, Mosquera, White, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Saka

Manchester City: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Rodri, Reijnders, Silva, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Trafford, Ake, Stones, Gonzalez, Savinho, Nunes, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What it's about is Arteta being a clueless coward

Yeah I guess so. It's all on the approach of the players now

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yeah I guess so. It's all on the approach of the players now

Not really, you can’t make players something they are not. You can’t make them worse by coaching them badly. But no amount of tactics or individuality is going to make Rice a number 8 or Merino a number 10.

Plus their midfield trio is going to shit all over ours. This is going to be ugly

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Merino, Trossard, Madueke, Gyokeres
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Martinelli, Eze, Mosquera, White, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Saka

Manchester City: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Rodri, Reijnders, Silva, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Trafford, Ake, Stones, Gonzalez, Savinho, Nunes, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis

This was why I was so frustrated before and during the Bilbao game.

He clearly knows that Eze is better playing through the middle, but he can't help himself but listen to those voices in his head of "caution, caution, caution."

The time to test Eze has slipped by and now he's ready to play for another bore draw brawl.

It's always one thing with him, just one change would have made this lineup perfect and he had more than 2 weeks to plan this.

Even Sky did a piece on this immediately after the Bilbao game on what the stats show when Merino and Rice play together (should have dropped it on here earlier but its been one of those weeks).

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Imagine giving someone a Ferrari, Lambo and Koenigsegg..yet he insists on showing up to the race track with a rickety Volvo just to spoil everyone's mood.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Arsenal. :bow:

[HCZ_Reborn]

The thing is if Odegaard were fit, he’d be starting today no question

So not sure it’s even about caution it’s about lack of trust. The two things overlap but aren’t necessarily one and the same

He doesn’t trust Eze through the middle, he doesn’t trust Nwaneri starting in a big game. Most of all it’s about him saying i know better than the rest of you. He clearly wasn’t burnt badly enough at Anfield to not to be a galaxy brain

[KSE Comedy Club]

It’s the Imodium midfield again.

There are just no words. What a complete and utter cunt

Yep. There is no excuse for this shit again

[KSE Comedy Club]

What a surprise

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 Haaland.

[Marc Overmars]

So simple.

Us. :rose:

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

So simple.

Us. :rose:

The annoying thing is that playing 3 DMs hasn't stopped any team from running straight through our middle like there is no one there, and I've pointed this out severally in the other games he did this....so what exactly is the point of persisting?

[HCZ_Reborn]

The annoying thing is that playing 3 DMs hasn't stopped any team from running straight through our middle like there is no one there, and I've pointed this out severally in the other games he did this....so what exactly is the point of persisting?

I think because he doesn’t see Rice or Merino as defensive midfielders (Rice definitely is, and Merino lacks the ability to be more progressive).

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I think because he doesn’t see Rice or Merino as defensive midfielders (Rice definitely is, and Merino lacks the ability to be more progressive).

Only a thorough idiot or a madman would consider either Rice or Merino as creative talents of the top calibre.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Only a thorough idiot or a madman would consider either Rice or Merino as creative talents of the top calibre.

Well i’d remind people that people wouldn’t have it when i said Rice couldn’t play at 8

Although i don’t want to single out Rice, we’ve lost a player that makes interceptions since the Rapist was released

[KSE Comedy Club]

The annoying thing is that playing 3 DMs hasn't stopped any team from running straight through our middle like there is no one there, and I've pointed this out severally in the other games he did this....so what exactly is the point of persisting?

Because he reached his ceiling last season.
He genuinely doesn’t know what to do with all the decent players we now have

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Because he reached his ceiling last season.
He genuinely doesn’t know what to do with all the decent players we now have

TBH even if we find a way to come away with something in this game is it worth being stressed out everytime your coach drops his starting lineup?

We need new energy and ideas, I am tired of repeating this.

[KSE Comedy Club]

TBH even if we find a way to come away with something in this game is it worth being stressed out everytime your coach drops his starting lineup?

We need new energy and ideas, I am tired of repeating this.

That’s the thing though - it infuriates me when I see them.

We’ve now got a decent amount of attacking talent and it’s being wasted.
He has all the tools and is still a coward

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 HT.

That was horrific. :lol:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Merino has been non existent, ffs Arteta take him off for Eze

Stop being a total clown

[Marc Overmars]

45 mins away from defeats against the 2 main title rivals.

Going backwards I’d say. Arteta :rose:

[HCZ_Reborn]

The only basis that anyone reasonably had to tolerate Arteta was his ability to get results against the top teams (although he’s never managed at win at anfield or at city).

If this goes by the way side, what possible reason does anyone have to support this complete and utter fraud

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Merino has been non existent, ffs Arteta take him off for Eze

Stop being a total clown

He cherishes his record of not being embarrassed in these big matches more than actually going out and winning these games.

A complete coward that will die from fear a thousand times before the event itself.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

The only basis that anyone reasonably had to tolerate Arteta was his ability to get results against the top teams (although he’s never managed at win at anfield or at city).

If this goes by the way side, what possible reason does anyone have to support this complete and utter fraud

The 2nd place trophy of course :trophy:

Not even sure we'll get it this season at this rate.

[Marc Overmars]

Eze and Saka coming on.

Leaving space now to be countered and finished off. :bow:

[KSE Comedy Club]

He’s taken off Madueke and left Trossard on :doh: :ffs:

This fucking manager!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Eze and Saka coming on.

Leaving space now to be countered and finished off. :bow:

That's the cconcern, going to force it so much now.

His starters and finishers idea completely in tatters.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

He’s taken off Madueke and left Trossard on :doh: :ffs:

This fucking manager!

My stream isn't up, beside Madueke who else did he take off?

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Finally, he plays the team he should have started with....what an idiot!!

Shame though, I would have left Noni on for a bit longer before bringing in Saka.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

My stream isn't up, beside Madueke who else did he take off?

Merino.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Eze on for Merino, but knowing Arteta he will play Trossard in the middle

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What the fuck?

[KSE Comedy Club]

Every corner the same, every attack playing for a corner

FOR FUCK SAKE DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!

[KSE Comedy Club]

So another loss on the cards.

Fuck off Arteta.

What a prick

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Looks like we have no ideas left.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

No idea how Trossard made it to 80 minutes and counting.

[KSE Comedy Club]

No idea how Trossard made it to 80 minutes and counting.
Arteta still hasn’t figured out he’s nothing more than a bench player

[KSE Comedy Club]

Now he brings Trossard off

Seriously can the board just sack him so we can get a real manager in

[Letters]

So another loss on the cards.

Fuck off Arteta.
Agreed.


What a prick
Not really. The worst you can say is he’s not able to deliver at this level. That was always in question, he’s emphatically answering that question this season. He’s taken us a fair way so some credit where it’s due there. But with the squad we have now assembled he really has to deliver and he…isn’t. #ArtetaOut


#WengerIn :ninja:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

MARTINELLI!!!!

[Letters]

As I was saying, Arteta :bow:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Martinelli out of nowhere :faint:

[KSE Comedy Club]

As I was saying, Arteta :bow:

No fucking way - he’s been lucky, the players have done this in spite of him

[dostoy]

I knows it's good and a big relief but they should be running back, put the ball on the centre spot and trying to get another rather than kissing each other.

[Marc Overmars]

Well done Martinelli. Stepping up this when the doubters (like me) had the knives out. Shows great character, good on him. Deserves a start at St James’ Park.

Arteta rescued from the mud.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 FT.

Horrific performance from Arteta, lucky to scrape a point.

If this is the best he can show, no way should he continue.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Well done Martinelli. Stepping up this when the doubters (like me) had the knives out. Shows great character, good on him. Deserves a start at St James’ Park.

Arteta rescued from the mud.

Dunno about that, i think his pace means he’s better as an impact sub to be honest

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

A spectacular goal by Martinelli, especially with all the pressure. Really really top from him.

More importantly, I hope this game is analysed properly with more scrutiny on tactics and that both Pep and his clone will be remembered as the villains they are for what they've done to the beautiful game.

[Marc Overmars]

Dunno about that, i think his pace means he’s better as an impact sub to be honest

Regardless, his work has got us points this week when we’ve looked unlikely to score.

[Mac76]

Playing 3 DMs, scraping a draw at home after spending shedloads on attacking talent = Arteta out

[Letters]

Playing 3 DMs, scraping a draw at home after spending shedloads on attacking talent = Arteta out

Largely agreed, but the Martinelli goal gives Arteta a bit of a stay of execution. Big alarm bells ringing though, two potential title rivals played already and 1 point out of 6. It's not exactly the stuff of champions

[Marc Overmars]

Need to win at St James’ Park really to prove some title credentials. A game that I’m sure will be an ultra stodge fest.

[Mac76]

Largely agreed, but the Martinelli goal gives Arteta a bit of a stay of execution. Big alarm bells ringing though, two potential title rivals played already and 1 point out of 6. It's not exactly the stuff of champions

Actually no it proves the point that he sets us up too defensively to start with and we end up trying to rescue a point instead of winning the game

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Largely agreed, but the Martinelli goal gives Arteta a bit of a stay of execution. Big alarm bells ringing though, two potential title rivals played already and 1 point out of 6. It's not exactly the stuff of champions

I don't think it should (be a stay of execution), draws killed us last season and we nick a goal out of nowhere but that doesn't override what happened before it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Need to win at St James’ Park really to prove some title credentials. A game that I’m sure will be an ultra stodge fest.

Do we see anything other than Rice/Zubimendi/Merino there? :lol:

At least we should see some football against Port Vale midweek.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Largely agreed, but the Martinelli goal gives Arteta a bit of a stay of execution. Big alarm bells ringing though, two potential title rivals played already and 1 point out of 6. It's not exactly the stuff of champions

Again, it's not necessarily about the points, it the whole context that needs to be looked at.

When this game is analysed, this will be the least possession Pep has had not only in Citeh, but in his whole managerial career.

What Pep came out to do today, was not to win and avenge himself, but "not to lose".

Once he scored the goal, he had no intention of doing more and was ready to sacrifice his legacy as a supposed brilliant maestro of the game, to stay back and play like Burnley of the olden days, a team he would have criticised if they took points off him through this approach.

It is the exact same thing Arteta setup to do today even though he's playing at home!!

Also, the respect Slott and now Pep have given Arteta by making their teams contain themselves and play unnaturally against him, undeniably reveals who everyone thinks has the better squad.(And if you'd still want to debate this, don't forget that In Peps case he's played the Spuds and United and didn't make any concessions)

Despite this, Arteta still doesn't realise, that he is the only manager under pressure, not Pep, and definitely not Slot. None of them have anything to prove, people are convinced of their quality and their ability to manage top teams .. can Arteta say the same??

We could have drawn both games , or lost both....it doesn't change the fact that everyone can see that Arteta is struggling under the expectation and wishes he was the underdog again.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I don't think it should (be a stay of execution), draws killed us last season and we nick a goal out of nowhere but that doesn't override what happened before it.

:gp:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Playing 3 DMs, scraping a draw at home after spending shedloads on attacking talent = Arteta out

My brother text me and said “i’ve never seen City park the bus before”. I mean why wouldn’t they when we are so one dimensional.

Even if we’d won, i think that would have just papered over the cracks. I’m gratified Arteta gambled enough to change the formation shape of the team, but it was far too late in the game and only done when Ming the Merciless bought off Haaland.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Again, it's not necessarily about the points, it the whole context that needs to be looked at.

When this game is analysed, this will be the least possession Pep has had not only in Citeh, but in his whole managerial career.

What Pep came out to do today, was not to win and avenge himself, but "not to lose".

Once he scored the goal, he had no intention of doing more and was ready to sacrifice his legacy as a supposed brilliant maestro of the game, to stay back and play like Burnley of the olden days, a team he would have criticised if they took points off him through this approach.

It is the exact same thing Arteta setup to do today even though he's playing at home!!

Also, the respect Slott and now Pep have given Arteta by making their teams contain themselves and play unnaturally against him, undeniably reveals who everyone thinks has the better squad.(And if you'd still want to debate this, don't forget that In Peps case he's played the Spuds and United and didn't make any concessions)

Despite this, Arteta still doesn't realise, that he is the only manager under pressure, not Pep, and definitely not Slot. None of them have anything to prove, people are convinced of their quality and their ability to manage top teams .. can Arteta say the same??

We could have drawn both games , or lost both....it doesn't change the fact that everyone can see that Arteta is struggling under the expectation and wishes he was the underdog again.

Yeah i have to say, i agree with you here

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Martinelli on his goal, I wonder if Merino sees beyond the grass when he has the ball in that position :doh:




On his goal, he added: "I saw Ebs [Eze] getting the ball and I tried to make eye contact with him and once the ball was open, I made the movement and it was a great ball from him. I just tried to put it in the back of the net."

[Letters]

I don't think it should (be a stay of execution), draws killed us last season and we nick a goal out of nowhere but that doesn't override what happened before it.

But this is the only draw so far this season.
It’s the way we are playing which is of a bigger concern than the results actually. Anfield aside - and we were a bit unlucky to lose that - results have been ok. But the performances haven’t been ok and Arteta going into these big games setting us up not to lose isn’t good enough with our squad.

I reckon it’s a bit premature to sack a manager when we are second in the table having had a tricky start in terms of league fixtures.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

This level of football and failing to win these games is unacceptable I think.

First draw this season sure but that looks like exactly how it ended up going against teams last season.

[Letters]

This level of football and failing to win these games is unacceptable I think.

First draw this season sure but that looks like exactly how it ended up going against teams last season.

The big problem last season was we dropped an insane number of points from winning positions.
We haven’t done that so far this year.
But what we have done is gone into the bigger games trying not to lose them. Which given our squad now I agree is unacceptable. But what it all adds up to so far is only Liverpool are above us. And they surely will stumble soon (yes I know that’s what we thought last year!)
Big alarm bells ringing but I don’t think we’ve hit the iceberg just yet

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Carragher on the game:


"I think Arsenal are a brilliant team, for me the best squad in the Premier League, and I thought they would not win comfortably, but would win 2-0 against Man City today," said Carragher.


"And Arteta has got a team and a squad that are that close to being really, really special in terms of winning a Premier League and maybe even winning a Champions League, I think they are that good.

"But time after time, when it comes to these big games he picks a team that feels like he is thinking more about the opposition and that does not mean you cannot win the Premier League, Jose Mourinho won it three times and he was a little bit like that.

"But, for me, that was a waste of 45 minutes [in the first half]. And the reason I am saying that is because I played for managers like that at Liverpool and we were really close and a very top team, but we never won a Premier League.

"I always felt at times under Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez, maybe we had the handbrake on in certain games and that is what Arteta is doing.

"Liverpool were there for the taking in that second half at Anfield, Man City were there for the taking at the start of this game and he has allowed them to come into the game.

"It is just a recurring pattern season after season and if you are Arteta and an Arsenal supporter, you just have to hope that does not cost you at the end of the season as they are a brilliant team with a fantastic squad, but the margins are so small."

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Roy Keane also talked some sense but I dislike him too much to be bothered to quote him.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/29327/13435956/arsenal-1-1-man-city-gary-neville-and-jamie-carragher-accuse-mikel-arteta-of-having-handbrake-on-while-roy-keane-feels-he-is-defensive-minded

[Mac76]

But this is the only draw so far this season.
It’s the way we are playing which is of a bigger concern than the results actually. Anfield aside - and we were a bit unlucky to lose that - results have been ok. But the performances haven’t been ok and Arteta going into these big games setting us up not to lose isn’t good enough with our squad.

I reckon it’s a bit premature to sack a manager when we are second in the table having had a tricky start in terms of league fixtures.

We weren't unlucky to lose at Anfield, it was odds-on due to the attempt by Arteta not to concede a goal and hope we scored just the one - football doesn't work that way and our 'manager' shows no sign of learning which is why I'm now firmly Arteta out

[Letters]

We weren't unlucky to lose at Anfield, it was odds-on due to the attempt by Arteta not to concede a goal and hope we scored just the one - football doesn't work that way and our 'manager' shows no sign of learning which is why I'm now firmly Arteta out

Slot literally said that 8 times out of 10 that game is a draw.
So yes we were.
That can be true but it can also be true that Arteta’s safety first attitude made us more susceptible to the infamous “moment of magic”

[HCZ_Reborn]

What a curious statement, we were odds on to lose at Liverpool because we played for a draw.

That’s not how football works??. Better not tell that to Diego Simeone or any other coach who has made their reputation as spoilers.

I’m pretty sure that’s how it worked when we nullified City and got a 0-0 last year.

You can rightly criticise the approach (which i do) and say we missed the opportunity to exploit a team that knows it is vulnerable defensively. You can say we were punished for our negativity and that we have no one to blame but ourselves.

But to say we were odds on to lose…is the kind of maximalist approach people (yes including myself at times) like to take when we are pissed off.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Actually no it proves the point that he sets us up too defensively to start with and we end up trying to rescue a point instead of winning the game

Yep, this.

We wasted 45 mins and then it's throw everything on and hope for a draw.
Same happened at Anfield.

Really sick of this shit now.

Arteta is holding us back

[KSE Comedy Club]

Martinelli on his goal, I wonder if Merino sees beyond the grass when he has the ball in that position :doh:

It's also why Goku is struggling. He's lucky if he gets one ball like that a game, so he is not able to sharpen himself up enough.

[KSE Comedy Club]

But this is the only draw so far this season.
It’s the way we are playing which is of a bigger concern than the results actually. Anfield aside - and we were a bit unlucky to lose that - results have been ok. But the performances haven’t been ok and Arteta going into these big games setting us up not to lose isn’t good enough with our squad.

I reckon it’s a bit premature to sack a manager when we are second in the table having had a tricky start in terms of league fixtures.

The fact is the Pool game would have been another draw, instead it was even worse.

That was entirely down to the set up, which plenty of people called out as soon as it was announced.
The idiot is also saying that no one complained after the Bilbao game - but that was just as turgid to watch for 70 mins until he made some changes.

That starting midfield and Trossard starting, categorically & demonstrably, does not work

We have an brilliant squad now and he is still acting like we only have 9 that can start every game.

Ironically, the squad he assembled has outgrown his ability.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Carragher on the game:

Exactly what I text my mate during the game - 45 mins wasted.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Ironically, the squad he assembled has outgrown his ability.
:gp:

You hit the nail on the head here.

I mean we're all theorising so many different things, but practically everyone is in agreement that he is not getting the best (or even 50%) from the squad he assembled.

Like I said earlier, we really need to start considering options or he butchers the team next season like he did after the second title challenge.

[Mac76]

Ironically, the squad he assembled has outgrown his ability.

Yup