By academic I mean, there’s nothing we can do currently that will make us more efficient up front
By academic I mean, there’s nothing we can do currently that will make us more efficient up front
Rubbish!Originally Posted by IBK
'Academic' debate is all we do on here.
We also insult each other. You prick.
I don’t insult anyone, it’s not in my nature. I simply point out things that certain people lack the self reflection to see for themselves
OK - fair enough - but your assessment depends upon Arteta's system remaining competetive (in terms of being able to win the league) if we bring in the players he wants (itself by no means a given by reference to our past few transfer windows).
Both City and Liverpool are going to have to re-build. Citeh's because of ageing players dropping off and Liverpool's because of the 3 key players at the end of their contracts. We have to have the best transfer Summer in living memory - even if we retain faith in Arteta's system.
Honest (and open) question - who would you back to do the above most quickly and effectively? For me - given Citeh's wealth and the fact that (if he retains his drive and desire) Guardiola is a winner who has shown he can evolve and adapt, and given how impressive and what a perfect fit Slot has already proven himeself to be - I would be inclined to back either team over us.
Of course, we are ignoring the chasing pack here...there are a number of well managed and administered teams in the EPL now. Even if not winners, they are certainly disruptors.
This is not an over reaction to a season ending defeat. It is based more on trajectory and the eye test of what we are seeing on the pitch. Let's be honest, we have not really been functioning as a team all season, and having levelled out, Arsenal is now on a downward trajectory - and I feel that this is as much in the boardroom as on the pitch. Is this temporary, and does the club and manager have the will and the ability to arrest it?
Putting the laughter back into manslaughter
Rubbish!
We also insult each other. You prick.
Putting the laughter back into manslaughter
City have a bigger job to do in my view
They have no idea what condition Rodri will be in after being out for so long. They have to replace defence, they have to replace De Bruyne and they have to contend with the fact that the spotlight will be very much on them even if they ultimately aren’t punished for their piss taking cheating.
Liverpool also have work to do. They will need replacements for Van Dijk and Salah
We really arent in a situation where we have to tear up everything and start again. I think there are players we could do with getting rid of, but they are largely on the periphery. We need to add to what we have. And ultimately we are dependent on how much KSE wants to be generous.
Players like Saliba? We need to sit down and talk to them. And say give us to 2026 to win something big, if we do you sign a new extension…if we don’t….we agree to sell you to Real Madrid.
I don’t think we are on a downward trajectory long term. We haven’t gelled as a team because there’s been almost no point during this season where we’ve been able to play our best team. Do we need to adapt? For sure. But at the most objective I can be if we take away the absolute crushing sense of disappointment we feel at not toppling a Liverpool side we all deep down know we are better than (to the point of wanting an inquest into it). Given everything that’s gone wrong for us this season (and yes it’s as much self inflicted as it is misfortune) we’ve actually shown remarkable resilience. That title ending defeat was the first league defeat in 15 games and it took our entire first choice front three to be out for it to happen.
Do I accept that in football if you’re not moving forward, you’re invariably moving backwards. Yes. And if we don’t get what we need to get this summer…I think the fanbase will not tolerate it. But ultimately whilst we do not want to stagnate we also don’t want to be a chaotic entity like Chelsea (a state that predates that American cretin taking over despite the shortness of other people’s memories)
I just think we give too much credence to tactical systems, they might make the difference in the odd game here or there but over the course of a league season it ultimately comes down to having the most skilled players and keeping them relatively injury free.
Arteta’s dogmatic standing by his tactical system is for sure frustrating but it hasn’t been the reason why we won’t win the title. As a contributing factor it’s a third/fourth order reason at most. After not signing a striker, injuries and refereeing decisions.
It’s something I totally agree Arteta needs to be more flexible about, but equally as much as I dislike him both as a coach and as a person. He has unquestionably been more tactically proactive than his two most recent predecessors in the job
Good points all. I think that ultimately I am a bit sceptical about whether the club as a whole is properly aligned to achieve success, and worried that last season - rather than being a stepping stone to this - may turn out to be a one off high point. This season will have done nothing to help Arsenal secure its players to long term deals. If you were a sought after player who craves success and has sacrificed a lot under Arteta would you sign a new contract now rather than wait and see who we bring in and how they bed down? If we did sell Saliba do you currently trust the club to have planned properly and bring in a player of equivalent talent? If you are Arteta how long do you stay before you are tainted with 'failure' (a relative term but one that I have no doubt he will associate with failing to win things)?
I defended the club over January - and stand by this. But (to use a contentious adjective) we bottled it in the transfer window last season. A lot of our problems this season have stemmed from, or been hugely exacerbated by this. I don't think we behaved like a club laser focussed on winning the title, and Gooners have painful memories of top 4 being considered a trophy. The past 9 months have suggested a will to be in the CL places rather than a real desire to get to the top of the tree.
So I'm not pessimistic for the sake of it - but rather my faith in this project has been shaken by a number of events this season. If we are not on a downwards trajectory, we have certainly lost momentum on and off the pitch. And regaining this is harder than it would have been to maintain it last Summer.
Putting the laughter back into manslaughter
I wouldn’t accuse anyone of being pessimistic for the sake of it, anymore than I would accuse anyone of being angry for the sake of it. And I’ve been fucking furious because when Rodri was injured for me that was the Go sign for us to go on and win the title, and I’m still incredibly upset deep down that this didn’t materialise
I don’t know how invested in success KSE is, ultimately I know that Arsenal is an asset for them…something for KSE to use as collateral for bridging loans to expand their business. But similarly they will recognise that whilst directly you’re not making much more money from finishing champions than finishing 4th, indirectly you are going to be able to negotiate far more lucrative sponsorship deals etc.
When you look at our financial position, the one thing that stands out is that actually we don’t generate as much commercial revenue as we could, and this isn’t just in comparison to Man City or Liverpool but in comparison to teams like Spurs. Arsenal were always known as the Bank of England club because of the pin striped blue bloods on the board. I think there’s ultimately this conservative risk adverse mentality that has survived them.
Didn't think you were acusing me of being pessimistic - you weren't. I guess we all have to wait and see what happens - but I suspect that we are goign to be a bit underwhelmed by our business even this summer. My concerns over his system (and whether some of his player issues are self-inflicted) aside, I think the truth is that Arteta has by and large got more of a tune out of some of his players than their talents strictly merit. Which is why I fear that being 2 points off the title last year was a high water mark.
Putting the laughter back into manslaughter
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