Arsenal away PL Match 23

[Kenneth]

I agree that Gakpo has faded somewhat, and I could add Elliott who has been **** as often as not this season. Gravenberch looks quite a long way off and looks low on confidence, we don’t know how to use Trent effectively and the 4-4-3 is looking very tired with teams overloading us with width. BUT, I’m not sure any of that is worth worrying about because so much will be thrown up in the air in the summer. We will change how we play and players who we currently rely on may struggle and some on the periphery may shine.

City are better then us, Arsenal are arguably better than us, so I think we just need to bag CL to set our new manager up to succeed. Things will looker clearer this time next year.

[BigChief]

Gakpo is another on who I don't really know where he fits into the side. I thought he was good last season but it definitely feels like he has regressed this season. He seemed at one point to be a Bobby type player, but he doesn't seem to be involved in games very much, and when he has got a few goals he doesn't seem to have enough of a threat to be a main central striker, and out wide he doesn't really offer much

I can see Xabi replacing Salah, Gakpo and Gravenberch as his first assignment at the club. Thiago will obviously just leave.

[Exiled_red]

Gravenberch has time still, same goes for Elliott etc., we saw what happened with Jones when he was given time and patience.

Gakpo, while not really old at 24, concerns me though. I think he cost too much for a Carabao cup squad player. If all the injuries are a result of our training and match intensity, then we also have to plan a squad where rotatiom players will be able to compete in games like today. We need to beat top teams as well, because this is no longer a time when you can win a title with 75 points like United often used to.

Gakpo is another on who I don't really know where he fits into the side. I thought he was good last season but it definitely feels like he has regressed this season. He seemed at one point to be a Bobby type player, but he doesn't seem to be involved in games very much, and when he has got a few goals he doesn't seem to have enough of a threat to be a main central striker, and out wide he doesn't really offer much

[BigChief]

I disagree with this. If you want to win a title you have to beat your title rivals too, we don't do that anymore. The title was already in City's hands almost as much as in ours, now they are theoretically ahead with their 2 games in hand and we have to beat them. And I don't see how Arsenal's season is now over, they went through their rough patch and are now 2 points behind us.

Teams have worked Arsenal out this season, they are dropping points as a result. They will finish this season with fewer points than last season. 3rd is the best they can hope for once Salah, Bradley, Dom, TAA/Robertson (fitter) are back. Saka is looking weary and injured now. Season over.

For us we have to put away all the teams that we now meet. And get at least a draw at City. Then it's up to City to win all their games, which they may with KdB, Stones and Haaland back. And if they do then we had no chance anyway.

Finishing second is important too in case by some miracle the PL actual give decent punishment to City (unlikely but in it to win it).

[Fuzzy]

This was by far the hardest away game remaining for us. Key players for us missing or returning too soon for this game (TAA, Robertson, Tiago). Plus facing a team that was going to take revenge for the cup defeat, this was literally their cup final and their season is officially now over.

The best we could have gotten was 1 point. We got 0. Not a large margin of difference. This is not a defeatist attitude, but a realist one. What we do from now with our players all returning, Alison over his annual brain farts, etc, will determine where the title goes.

Today's game is not as big as everyone is making out.

I disagree with this. If you want to win a title you have to beat your title rivals too, we don't do that anymore. The title was already in City's hands almost as much as in ours, now they are theoretically ahead with their 2 games in hand and we have to beat them. And I don't see how Arsenal's season is now over, they went through their rough patch and are now 2 points behind us.

[Fuzzy]

Gravenberch has time still, same goes for Elliott etc., we saw what happened with Jones when he was given time and patience.

Gakpo, while not really old at 24, concerns me though. I think he cost too much for a Carabao cup squad player. If all the injuries are a result of our training and match intensity, then we also have to plan a squad where rotatiom players will be able to compete in games like today. We need to beat top teams as well, because this is no longer a time when you can win a title with 75 points like United often used to.

[BigChief]

What do you mean?

This was by far the hardest away game remaining for us. Key players for us missing or returning too soon for this game (TAA, Robertson, Tiago). Plus facing a team that was going to take revenge for the cup defeat, this was literally their cup final and their season is officially now over.

The best we could have gotten was 1 point. We got 0. Not a large margin of difference. This is not a defeatist attitude, but a realist one. What we do from now with our players all returning, Alison over his annual brain farts, etc, will determine where the title goes.

Today's game is not as big as everyone is making out.

[Exiled_red]

I'm struggling to see what Gravenberch is at the moment, perhaps he needs an intensive coaching by Klopp before being introduced, like Fabinho and Robbo. Oops, hang on a mo

He's a promising youngster, he has done OK against the lesser sides but at the moment like you say I don't know what his role is or where he will play. To be honest I am disappointed when he starts because we seem to play worse.

I don't think he's a bad player, he needs time to fine his role and develop and get used to the nature of the league, but at the moment for me he needs to be doing that mostly from the bench as for me at the moment he doesn't offer enough to start

[Norbs]

Yeah, would have been good if Endo was back for this one

Granvenberch is not ready for these games yet.

I'm struggling to see what Gravenberch is at the moment, perhaps he needs an intensive coaching by Klopp before being introduced, like Fabinho and Robbo. Oops, hang on a mo

[BobTheCharmer]

Point at City, draw home to Arsenal, lose away to Arsenal, lose away at Spurs, draw at home to Utd, win at Newcastle, win home to Villa.

I don't think if we miss out on the title we can have many complaints.

[Slinky Skills]

Our first defeat since the Spurs debacle.

What’s important here is the response, every team has a bad day, every team loses from time to time. What we do next matters and we have Burnley at home next weekend.

If City win their two games in hand they go 1 point ahead of us m, which brings back too many memories. The one positive for me this season is there are a lot of teams with something to play for so I’d say it’s not likely that any team is going on a 15 match winning streak.

It is going to be a bin fight this season. We are going to have to accept that and scrap. And support.

City will lose games definitely, starting tomorrow.

[Buzzo]

Yeah I can’t stand Arteta

[Exiled_red]

never bottled Konates two soft ones did he?

fair result. we were terrible. self inflicted a loss sadly

Arsenal were the better side, undoubtedly, we were terrible and gifted them goals, 2-1 10 v 10 for the last 8 mins though snd the game could have ended differently whether it was deserved or not.

[pondus]

Rice looked like both Beavis AND Butthead in that interview, looking like he had an IQ of 76 trying to understand the interviewers questions. Arteta one of the most punchable faces in the world. Deserved win though, we were abysmal.

[Kenneth]

Gakpo would have been a better choice than grav, as would Trent.