Morning all.
What is there to say other than we won’t be winning the Champions League this season. Mind you, not for one minute did I think we will. The only disappointment I have is not being knocked out of the competition but the fashion in which we were. The ‘not having a top notch striker’ debate is back that’s for sure but then in my head, it never went away.
In both legs against Bayern, we had chances. We fluffed those chances, just as we did against Villa.
We had our moments again. I think the team played with a lot of personality, but we lacked that magic moment at some stage or to force a mistake, because that happens as well to go through in the tie. We have to congratulate Bayern; they have done it, and they are through.
I see little point in dissecting the game because by now, we all know what unfolded. A close and even first half with Bayern coming out after the break with a bit more energy and creativity. Bayern won 1-0 but in my opinion, Arsenal lost the tie at The Emirates.
But let’s not be too hard on Mikel Arteta and the players because most of them haven’t ever been involved in this competition let alone face a team like Bayern even though their name is much bigger than their football would suggest. These players have to learn how to perform at the biggest grounds in the world and they have to learn how to win. Mikel Arteta has to learn too because throwing on Eddie Nketiah for the second fixture in a row when we’re in dire need of a goal is nothing more than desperation. I think it’s unfair on the player too regardless of what you and I think of him.
Arteta only used three of his five substitutes too which says a lot about what he thinks of those sat on the bench. Poor old Reiss Nelson didn’t even get a minute yet his pace might have been the thing to hurt Bayern. I would suggest that both are put out of their misery this summer, sell them and let them play football each week somewhere else.
They are not the only ones either because we as a club have a number of players who don’t get a lot of minutes. It’s easy for me to suggest Arteta doesn’t trust them because it’s the only reason I can think of but whatever his reasons, not rotating his squad more throughout the season than he has, has left us with a knackered squad in April.
I don’t know how Mikel Arteta lifts his players now for the Wolves game because to me, they looked dead on their feet by the end, possibly because they are. Gabriel, Saliba, Rice, Saka, Odegaard, White – if fit, they’ve played and for most of the season so far, they’ve been fit. Six games to go and I worry about these guys having much left in the tank.
Annoyingly, Man City were beaten too but at least I got my wish, extra time and penalties so with a bit of luck, Guardiola’s players will not only be emotionally deflated but physically exhausted too. As said, we face Wolves away from home on Saturday night whilst Man City face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final. Shame it’s not the same fixture but in the league.
Anyway, like so many clubs in the Premier League, we’re fighting for one thing. For some it’s to avoid relegation, others it’s a place in European football but for Arsenal it’s the league. Just two points separate ourselves and City and whilst two might prove to be too many, the manager and players have to believe it’s not because if they give up now, everything they’ve worked so hard for will be lost.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico
A disappointing evening. It was always an uphill struggle to go to Munich and get a result. We looked good in the first half, but it felt like we didn’t make the most of the chances that came our way. Then dropped deeper in the 2nd. Very similar to the Villa game at the weekend.
The goal was a defensive lapse. White was slow to close down the cross, then Martinelli lost Kimmich and no defenders stepped out to help.
The players look jaded and it will be hard against Wolves on Saturday. It feels if we score first we will prevail, but the goals have dried up. That big strong centre forward is still the No.1 priority. Havertz is a stop gap, Jesus isn’t prolific, and Eddie…well…
The team desperately needs to find some form and goals. Here’s hoping…
Beaten by the odd goal against a team that are of an equal ability to ours . We should not run away with the notion that because Leverkusen have won their league and that they will be runners up makes them rubbish . Were we in the Budesliga we would be about where we are in the premiership although more comfortable because the standard of the other teams doesnt reach so far down their table .
You are right we lost that tie at home , I was there that night and after 20 minutes when the crowd realised that they were no mugs the place deflated . The crowd went silent and the team struggled.
Would a Toney have made a differrnce ? who knows but if we are to play with two centre forwards that cant be relied on to score regularly I wonder sometimes whether we would be better playing without one at all and use another creative player as if we solely rely on Odegaard he can be played out of things and then like last night we really have no bite at all .
Well.Its do or die time.Might as well just chuck the kitchen sink at it! What’s left? Go hell for leather & gamble rather than a whimper.And Ram the insults of Collymore & Agbonlahor down their no mark mouths.
Morning Pete, Potter, guys.
I worry that we look a bit toothless up front again. Reminds me of pre Dubai when we couldnt hit a barn door.
I never caught on to the ‘Bayern are easy to beat’ theory. It’s like many clubs who go through a tough patch in the league, they’re often good in the cups. They can often raise their game when they need to too as we’ll probably find out when we play Totts and Utd. Were a scalp to be taken again because we’ve been doing well.
Afternoon all,
Yes similar to Sunday in some ways,they got stronger as the game went on.I thought we did quite well in the first half,the second half we offered next to nothing.
An away game after being away Midweek is always difficult,Wolves are a good team anyway,I I hope a few changes are made,Kiwior,Smith-Rowe,Kai Havertz is out so that maybe means Jesus plays.
I’ve just seen about the FA Cup changes,I can understand doing away with replays but it seems crazy to have the final the week before the end of the Premier season.
Afternoon Limey. Ditto re the FA Cup. Pleased there will be no more replays etc but it’s always been the seasons closing domestic game and I’m disappointed it won’t be from now on. Not that it affects us these days. Lol
Afternoon Rico and the gang, writing a post when it’s the last thing you really want to do must be a real chore? Then again it can be cathartic, only you can say? 😉
Yes, I’m on the same wavelength as you when it comes to Partey, when he’s on his game he’s a monster, but those are few and far between. In general he’s unavailable and if Arteta can’t trust him in games vs Villa and Bayern then he’s really on his way out of the club. As are a lot of fringe players we have in the squad.
I see criticism of Arteta for not rotating enough but to compete with City you cannot drop anything and with these fringe players the drop off in performance level is just too great.
I mean people have been criticising Jorginho and he’s head and shoulders above Nelson, ESR, Vieira and Eddie, their lack of use in the run-in tells its own story.
Rodri recently asked for a break, KdB and Haarland asked to come off yesterday, it’s not just our players that are gassed. Bernardo Silva was out on his feet when he missed his penalty, Liverpool players are dropping like flies and nobody criticises Guardiola or Klopp for not rotating. The Premier League is unforgiving and Man City have made it more so…
Looking ahead, if we drop more points, as seems likely, in the remaining games and we go into the last couple of the season with nothing on then then I hope he give Nwaneri a run out as he could save us a small fortune in the summer.
Mind you, if Arteta is desperate for the 2nd spot above Liverpool then it’ll be same old, same old…
We may not have the money or the depth of players that City have, but how many times during the season have we or the media said a player needs resting yet Arteta keeps playing them.
This is Arteta team yet he seems to have very little trust in his bench players.
Who do you feel will change the game coming off the bench?
– Trossard & Jesus can make a real impact
– Zinchenko can create
– Partey maybe, if he’s fit
– Vieira still looks very lightweight
– ESR looks unfit or injured
– Nelson fast but ineffective
– Nketiah sadly isn’t good enough
There’s not a lot there to work with in my opinion.
Pete, we could have used Trossard a lot more, as the other’s, is their heart really in it knowing no matter what they do Arteta still overlooks them.
Do we know Havertz is out of the Wolves game? I thought one of his 10 bookings was in the Community Shield, so shouldn’t count?
As I reckon chances of the league are now slim , we need 8 more points to guarantee champions league . How we get them and where we finish is immaterial although I am well aware of the criticism that will come our way even if we do end up 4th .
As I said last night this is our most important transfer window coming up . We have to look at the two seasons where we flattered to deceive and get players that Arteta will play and if that means that certain fans favourites depart so be it . I do feel that the chase for honours has meant that players that needed to develop have been stuck on the bench and had we not been close to winning they might have got more chance but having stagnated for a couple of years they will go to get playing time , and show their potential and criticism for selling them will rain down .
Afternoon Kev, boring is the word I’d use. 😜
Re rotation and City, if Arteta can’t rotate using the squad players, why are they still at the club.
I’m not going to start banging an Arteta out drum but I’d have thought he’d have learned to rotate more by now. Even if it’s just one player a week which in theory, gives each player at least a weeks rest, sometimes two..
Plus, City have been in 4 competitions until recently, we’ve been in just two for ages.
Pete, is Nelson really that bad? He’s quick, that alone will push defences back. We’re one trick ponies I think which when it works is great but on nights like last night, a seasoned manager like Tuchel will nullify our strengths. Sadly, just like Emery did. Just my opinion though.
Potter, for what it’s worth, finishing 4th wouldn’t surprise me one bit.
You’re right Andrew, the PL website has him on 9 bookings.
Perhaps save him for Chelsea in the week. 😜
I dont think they count after 32 games which we have already played . Open season now !
That’s even better then..
Yesterday Kev asked if we had got value for money from Partey, well here are the figures:-
Transfer fee £55 million
Wages £200,000 per week over five year contract £52 million
Total £107 million
His contract expires summer 2025. If we sold him this summer we would save £10.5 million in wages but how much could we sell him for?
Not much I’d imagine unless a Saudi club wants him. Age and fitness will go against him.
I don’t think he was injured much before he joined us.
Why the PL’s winter break has been scrapped
Sky Sports News reporter Gail Davis:
“When the winter break was brought in it was called a significant moment, but there is just not enough days in the footballing calendar for it all to work.
“The reason a lot of these changes are taking place is because the Champions League is expanding.
“What they’re going to do is give players an extra week off at the beginning of the season. Experts consulted say that is more beneficial to many of the players.
“They will then lose that winter break, where we have had it after a busy festive schedule.”
Loads of complaints from lower league about cup replays being banned and rightly so in my opinion. Simple solution allow teams in European competitions to play their under 21 teams .
I remember clubs getting fined for playing weakened teams , allow them to do so and it would give players a further development possibility.
I’m not surprised. The decision is disrespectful, many lower league clubs earn a lot of money from matches against big clubs.. often from replays
Dipping in and out of the Villa game. The Lille keeper has just made a fantastic double save to keep the tie level.
That’s great about Havertz.
Send Kolasinac playing for Atalanta.
I mean Sead !
Klopp’s flops out of the Europa League. Lost 3 – 1 on aggregate.
It’s not long before some players also head off to the Olympics.
I’m a bit disappointed we lost but I am not angry about it either. from the highlights and from what I have read it seems that we only have one game plan and when that doesn’t work, that’s we are in trouble,
The transfer market will be interesting to see who we keep and sell, hopefully a striker can be found some were.
If we loose to Wolves, do we drop Raya and select Ramsdale for the rest of the season to raise interest in him and hope his market value goes up just incase we sell him.
It’s reported that Newcastle are interested in signing Ramsdale, and Arsenal are considering making an offer for Newcastle striker Isak. How about a straight swap?
I like Isak but his injury record isn’t the best, he’s missed two months this season with groin injuries. It’d just our luck he’d have a few more with us…
Morning Cicero, Geoff, all.
The last thing we need is another Kieran Tierney, let’s stay away from Isak
I don’t think his injuries are that bad Geoff, just something to consider.
New post up.