Quote Originally Posted by IBK View Post
Hmmm...Re 1 I'd say that at the time - ie before the season started, the fan base was reasonably happy with our Summer transfers. There might have been misgivings about a striker, but there was hope that Jesus was fit again and able to contribute, and even the Sterling loan was greeted with a certain amount of relief that we had a player who might shake off his Chelsea form.

Re 2 - if we were top of the league and looking strong, I think there would be little criticism amongst Gooners regarding our style of play, tactics etc.

The misery and criticism has come because we look so inconsistent - and it is because we are not performing to expectations while allowing another team that we feel we should be at least equal to, to run away with the title.

As HCZ correctly observes, this season we are 'doing a Liverpool' in the season after they won the league. I think actually that the more telling comparable was Liverpool finishing 2nd in 2021/22 then 5th in 2022/23. Criticisms of our team aside, the pressure of trying to keep pace with City - as we have done for the past 2 seasons - should not be under estimated.
On point 1 - yes you are correct, most of the fanbase thought the summer window was good - I however did not & voiced my displeasure at the time. I knew we were short and I knew that Sterling was not the answer, I also knew that we still needed at least 1 or 2 more players after him that we didn't get.