Arsenal vs Crystal Palace 23.04.2025 - KO 20:00 GMT

[Niall_Quinn]

Umm. You know we drew both league games before the two Real games, right?
I understand a bit of frustration but I'd finding the depth of it a bit weird in the context of a long since dead league campaign and a CL semi-final to think about.

This is unbelievable! DEAD season? No, I believe there are 4 games remaining, one away against the club that's going to win the title. It's FAR from over. Unless we're taking our ball back and sulking off because we didn't win a title?

What about the fans turning up having paid for season tickets? TURNING UP. HAVING PAID. The very least the players can do, seeing as they haven't been very good this season, is show a bit of respect and turn up and earn the cash that just came of of those fans' pockets. No?

To even imagine it is acceptable to not put 100% effort in over the last 4 games is extraordinary and flies in the face of what competitive sport is supposed to be about. Utter complacency, total disregard for the game itself.

So why are Liverpool so far ahead? Why didn't they ease off and piss on the fans, stroll out the last few games and finish a point ahead? Is it a coincidence the team that won the most games is going to win the title? Probably with a points tally that approximates what City have been doing in recent years. They WON those games to build that margin which means they will inevitably win a title. They kept on winning regardless of the race being over, because that's what winners do! And so they will win the title. Winning is their habit.

Losers do different things. They take easier paths. They do what's required to achieve minimums. It becomes a different habit.

Why don't people get this? In sport, in life in general?

[HCZ_Reborn]

I decried the top4 trophy nonsense for exactly the same reason it's important to finish second. Not because there's a trophy for 2nd, but because it means we'll have won our remaining games rather than lost them. Same applies to top 4 trophy, didn't win enough games to be 3rd, 2nd first. It's your argument that's at fault. 2nd, 3rd, doesn't matter? Well it does. Because we're here to win, first and foremost. If we qualify for stuff or get trophies on the back of winning, that's a bonus, not the mission. Win every game and you get all that other stuff anyway. Winners win. Winning football matches is what we're here to do. Fucking around in football matches because we'll still qualify anyway is not what winners do. It's what players who don't respect the shirt do, and what manager and owners who don't respect the fans or the game do.

This is absolutely fundamental and something this club still doesn't get, neither do half the fans. Cheering when you qualify for Europe in 4th is and always has been a nonsense because the 4th place club has zero chance of winning what they just qualified for! Because they don't have a winning mentality in the first place. Same as yesterday. When you go out there for a stroll because there are "bigger" games to come, that's the loser in this club emerging yet again. You win what's in front of you then on to the next win. Apart from which, PSG were watching that game yesterday and laughing their knackers off. I suppose we may have lulled them into a false sense of security, if that was the plan?

It was embarrassing to watch that yesterday. An absolute disgrace from all involved.

The last week of the season before we played Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley in the Fa cup final in 1993, we put out half a team and played like chumps at home to Spurs and lost 3-1.

In April/May of 1994 before winning the cup winners cup we did the same in league games.

You act as though this is somehow a recent thing. Do I think the performance was acceptable last night? No but neither do I think they were set up to play within ourselves. The Saka chance and the Martinelli disallowed goal rather suggests that we weren’t simply content to sit on a one goal lead, but when a team isn’t confident in front of goal, it’s worried about being caught on the break and yes in the back of the players minds they are concerned about not getting injured for the semi final…you can probably not unreasonably conclude that this all contributed.

Plus I wouldn’t mind, people act like I’ve told them they’ve no right to be angry/disappointed/frustrated. I’m all three, but I’ve seen enough of us this season to understand how it comes about. And no that’s not a result of thinking I have superior knowledge. But I think the reason people are snapping at me, is the same reason why I snapped at them earlier on in the season, people like to have their anger validated or failing that be left to be angry

[Letters]

Nothing to do with finishing 2nd three times in a row, it’s about finishing 2nd despite having a monstrosity of a season

I want us to finish above Forest, City and Newcastle. It’s as simple as that

I do too, I just don't see it as important as some of you lot seem to.

[Mac76]

This is unbelievable! DEAD season? No, I believe there are 4 games remaining, one away against the club that's going to win the title. It's FAR from over. Unless we're taking our ball back and sulking off because we didn't win a title?

What about the fans turning up having paid for season tickets? TURNING UP. HAVING PAID. The very least the players can do, seeing as they haven't been very good this season, is show a bit of respect and turn up and earn the cash that just came of of those fans' pockets. No?

As one of those very people, I don't mind rotating (I actually like seeing fringe and youth players be given a chance) and players taking care not to pick up injuries

Did they turn up? I'd say mostly, we should have won the game but Saliba made a monumental mess (partly because he's not been rested at all this season perhaps) and gifted them a goal

Unfortunately these things happen

So why are Liverpool so far ahead? Why didn't they ease off and piss on the fans, stroll out the last few games and finish a point ahead?

Liverpool are out of the CL and FAC so have nothing to play for elsewhere, therefore can field their first team as much as they want in the League - given refs and injuries decided the outcome of the season for us, we've rightly focused on the CL

I can only say again no one will (or certainly should) give a damn about the league position (as long as it's top 5) if we win the CL

[Niall_Quinn]

The last week of the season before we played Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley in the Fa cup final in 1993, we put out half a team and played like chumps at home to Spurs and lost 3-1.

In April/May of 1994 before winning the cup winners cup we did the same in league games.

You act as though this is somehow a recent thing. Do I think the performance was acceptable last night? No but neither do I think they were set up to play within ourselves. The Saka chance and the Martinelli disallowed goal rather suggests that we weren’t simply content to sit on a one goal lead, but when a team isn’t confident in front of goal, it’s worried about being caught on the break and yes in the back of the players minds they are concerned about not getting injured for the semi final…you can probably not unreasonably conclude that this all contributed.

Plus I wouldn’t mind, people act like I’ve told them they’ve no right to be angry/disappointed/frustrated. I’m all three, but I’ve seen enough of us this season to understand how it comes about. And no that’s not a result of thinking I have superior knowledge. But I think the reason people are snapping at me, is the same reason why I snapped at them earlier on in the season, people like to have their anger validated or failing that be left to be angry

No I don't act as if it's a recent thing - it's the absolute opposite, which is why I specifically referred to the losing mentality that still exists in this team to this day. Fostered by Wenger and his Top 4 Trophy. The minute a professional sporting team accepts anything but the very highest possible standard as the norm is the minute they embrace being losers. 2nd is still a place for losers. But there's losing because you tried 100% but somebody was better, and there's losing because you didn't give it your best effort. The latter is a disgusting, hateful, embarrassing thing that nobody should ever want to be associated with. Not in sport, not in life.

One minute they are beating Madrid, next minute they are being bitch-slapped by Palace. They fancied the Madrid game (prestige, signing bonuses in the future for some of them no doubt), didn't fancy Palace so bent over and took it. Not even an ounce of dignity in that lot. And you still claim they played like that because they find it difficult to break down defensive opposition? That's the reason they strolled around like they were on a sightseeing trip? Okay, if that's true then Arteta is probably the most clueless manager we ever had. Must go out there every time, Oh no, they have 10 men behind the ball. Slow it right down lads. Have a stroll. Make plenty of lazy passes and Raya, make sure you fuck around as much as possible for the whole match! Well, it's a theory I suppose, just not a very convincing one.

We weren't that great in the game against Ipswich either, in honesty. Levels dropped way off there too. Ipswich were just that poor.

And people holding up the other draws we've had as some sort of justification for this latest one! That's hilarious. Don't worry boys, they'll actually care about the PSG game so all is well! Hilarious.

[HCZ_Reborn]

No I don't act as if it's a recent thing - it's the absolute opposite, which is why I specifically referred to the losing mentality that still exists in this team to this day. Fostered by Wenger and his Top 4 Trophy. The minute a professional sporting team accepts anything but the very highest possible standard as the norm is the minute they embrace being losers. 2nd is still a place for losers. But there's losing because you tried 100% but somebody was better, and there's losing because you didn't give it your best effort. The latter is a disgusting, hateful, embarrassing thing that nobody should ever want to be associated with. Not in sport, not in life.

One minute they are beating Madrid, next minute they are being bitch-slapped by Palace. They fancied the Madrid game (prestige, signing bonuses in the future for some of them no doubt), didn't fancy Palace so bent over and took it. Not even an ounce of dignity in that lot. And you still claim they played like that because they find it difficult to break down defensive opposition? That's the reason they strolled around like they were on a sightseeing trip? Okay, if that's true then Arteta is probably the most clueless manager we ever had. Must go out there every time, Oh no, they have 10 men behind the ball. Slow it right down lads. Have a stroll. Make plenty of lazy passes and Raya, make sure you fuck around as much as possible for the whole match! Well, it's a theory I suppose, just not a very convincing one.

We weren't that great in the game against Ipswich either, in honesty. Levels dropped way off there too. Ipswich were just that poor.

And people holding up the other draws we've had as some sort of justification for this latest one! That's hilarious. Don't worry boys, they'll actually care about the PSG game so all is well! Hilarious.

Disgusting, Hateful, Embarrassing is where you lose me

Have you never dialled in a performance in your job even when you’ve had the best intention to provide the best service possible?. Have you ever had a tricky task either at work or doing some home improvement where if you make a mistake it could be costly and for some reason that’s made you particularly hesitant?

There’s no amount of money you can pay a person that cuts out that human factor. In football especially it takes only one or two people to stink out the place before it has a knock on effect on the team. And sometimes the harder you try the worse you end up performing.

We weren’t at the races yesterday, that’s not acceptable. I hope Arteta gave them a bollocking for it….(whilst looking at himself for anything he did that contributed to it). But disgusting and hateful….adjectives a bit too far for me

[Niall_Quinn]

Disgusting, Hateful, Embarrassing is where you lose me

Have you never dialled in a performance in your job even when you’ve had the best intention to provide the best service possible?. Have you ever had a tricky task either at work or doing some home improvement where if you make a mistake it could be costly and for some reason that’s made you particularly hesitant?

There’s no amount of money you can pay a person that cuts out that human factor. In football especially it takes only one or two people to stink out the place before it has a knock on effect on the team. And sometimes the harder you try the worse you end up performing.

We weren’t at the races yesterday, that’s not acceptable. I hope Arteta gave them a bollocking for it….(whilst looking at himself for anything he did that contributed to it). But disgusting and hateful….adjectives a bit too far for me

No, I haven't ever "dialled in a performance" because I work for myself so I'd be the victim of it. Have I been hesitant when faced with major tasks? Of course. Has that made me take twice the time to execute it? No. Maybe it'd take twice the time overall because I spent a lot of time planning. But the execution would be efficient thereafter. If I take somebody's money and deliver something substandard I have robbed them. Which would be disgusting, hateful and embarrassing - and terminal in terms of that relationship btw. I don't get the luxuries these players abuse.

What would happen if everybody "dialled it in"? Well, we saw it against Palace.

[Niall_Quinn]

I do too, I just don't see it as important as some of you lot seem to.

Let's say you had the football knowledge and experience of the most experienced manager in the game. But you kept your current attitude?

Where do you think your teams would be guaranteed to finish?

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I decried the top4 trophy nonsense for exactly the same reason it's important to finish second. Not because there's a trophy for 2nd, but because it means we'll have won our remaining games rather than lost them. Same applies to top 4 trophy, didn't win enough games to be 3rd, 2nd first. It's your argument that's at fault. 2nd, 3rd, doesn't matter? Well it does. Because we're here to win, first and foremost. If we qualify for stuff or get trophies on the back of winning, that's a bonus, not the mission. Win every game and you get all that other stuff anyway. Winners win. Winning football matches is what we're here to do. Fucking around in football matches because we'll still qualify anyway is not what winners do. It's what players who don't respect the shirt do, and what manager and owners who don't respect the fans or the game do.

This is absolutely fundamental and something this club still doesn't get, neither do half the fans. Cheering when you qualify for Europe in 4th is and always has been a nonsense because the 4th place club has zero chance of winning what they just qualified for! Because they don't have a winning mentality in the first place. Same as yesterday. When you go out there for a stroll because there are "bigger" games to come, that's the loser in this club emerging yet again. You win what's in front of you then on to the next win. Apart from which, PSG were watching that game yesterday and laughing their knackers off. I suppose we may have lulled them into a false sense of security, if that was the plan?

It was embarrassing to watch that yesterday. An absolute disgrace from all involved.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

No I don't act as if it's a recent thing - it's the absolute opposite, which is why I specifically referred to the losing mentality that still exists in this team to this day. Fostered by Wenger and his Top 4 Trophy. The minute a professional sporting team accepts anything but the very highest possible standard as the norm is the minute they embrace being losers. 2nd is still a place for losers. But there's losing because you tried 100% but somebody was better, and there's losing because you didn't give it your best effort. The latter is a disgusting, hateful, embarrassing thing that nobody should ever want to be associated with. Not in sport, not in life.

One minute they are beating Madrid, next minute they are being bitch-slapped by Palace. They fancied the Madrid game (prestige, signing bonuses in the future for some of them no doubt), didn't fancy Palace so bent over and took it. Not even an ounce of dignity in that lot. And you still claim they played like that because they find it difficult to break down defensive opposition? That's the reason they strolled around like they were on a sightseeing trip? Okay, if that's true then Arteta is probably the most clueless manager we ever had. Must go out there every time, Oh no, they have 10 men behind the ball. Slow it right down lads. Have a stroll. Make plenty of lazy passes and Raya, make sure you fuck around as much as possible for the whole match! Well, it's a theory I suppose, just not a very convincing one.

We weren't that great in the game against Ipswich either, in honesty. Levels dropped way off there too. Ipswich were just that poor.

And people holding up the other draws we've had as some sort of justification for this latest one! That's hilarious. Don't worry boys, they'll actually care about the PSG game so all is well! Hilarious.