If Arsenal can't beat any of the Big teams, then 5th-6th place it is.
Arsenal 2018/19
- Thread starter Adisa
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The game against Chelsea was not that bad. The team who commited less basic mistakes won the match. In terms of open play, Arsenal created (and wasted) more chances, imho.
I agreed. we just need to sort out the defense and also how to get the best out of Xhaka. It is not an easy task to get the 4th spot this season.
Personally I am giving Emery a "free season". I have no expectations whatsoever. 6th and a good EL run (win or be KO'ed by a top team) will be fine this season.
This is exactly how I feel. I am free of expectations and am just going to observe what happens for a year and see what the direction looks like next summer. I want to see the club infrastructure look improved and moving forward. I was happy with the firings but I won't be completely satisfied until Grimandi is gone. I'm probably more excited for the EL knockouts than the league this year anyway so hopefully by then, Emery can get this squad playing the way he envisions.
I don't think the idea of free seasons works anymore in the rat race of today's game where there is instant pressure to show progress and results. You also have to ask yourself what a 6th place finish would do in terms of revenue and a general attractiveness to lure world class players to your club. The target should therefore be CL football, progress from last year's league finish, and a general sense of a galvanized squad who are in sync with what the manager is attempting to achieve.
So you were sat in on the meetings about buying these players and transfer negotiations?
Numpty.
Why is Xhaka starting? Number of blind passes going to the opposition in dangerous areas, little input in defence and attack.
Torreira and Guendouzi looks miles better.
And Ozil should be dropped.
Defense looks as naive as always.
Leno
Lichtensteiner - Mustafi - Sokratis - Monreal
Guendouzi - Torreira
Mhikytarian - Ramsey - PEA
Lacazette
Torreira and Guendouzi looks miles better.
And Ozil should be dropped.
Defense looks as naive as always.
Leno
Lichtensteiner - Mustafi - Sokratis - Monreal
Guendouzi - Torreira
Mhikytarian - Ramsey - PEA
Lacazette
True, but I can't tell the Emery experience is a failure if that's the best we can do.
If after 2 seasons we aren't getting CL football, it'll be a different matter.
I really think at the very least we should be able to expect us banging at the door of 4th this season and in it by end of next season and challenging by Emery’s 3rd season.
It’s Arsenal after all, 3rd most successful club in England, so nothing wrong with that expectation, we’re not blow ins to the top tier having a visit.
We’ve every right to expect the club to be back challenging for the top honours.
Problem is, our owner. Will he back the manager to meet or exceed our expectations?
Do fans expectations even feature anymore?
I expect us to fight for it, but I wont dismiss him as a failure if he finishes 6th. I think he's showing signs of changing the team for the better and next season I think top 4 can be a reality and we'll resume our participation in he CL.
I am not so confident about the owner investing having the title in mind, but I think he realizes the importance of CL football, even if the only thing he cares about is his profit.
Is that the only source of information on player transfers then? Sitting in on meetings?
Muppet.
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Thats interesting, their fans didnt really like Gazidis did they? 
No it's the other one they don't likeThats interesting, their fans didnt really like Gazidis did they?
The other one?
Plenty of Arsenal fans, including myself dislike Gazidis. The man negotiated some abysmal commercial deals during his time.
I saw picture of Gazidis and was like what the feck is Jeff Bezos doing at Arsenal?
The American owner I can't remember his name.
Stan Kroenke
Yeah him
6 wins on the bounce for Emery & Arsenal. Sure that included a Europa League tie & a League Cup game vs Brentford, but hey, all you can do is beat what's in front of you... When was the last time Arsenal won six on the bounce? I wouldn't know where to even check such a thing, but if there's a website that shows such info, I'd like to know.
Last season we won six in a row, including beating AC Milan twice.
2017 we also won six in a row.
2016, same thing, well nine in a row.
This isn't anything new. Its just that in past seasons we would perform well, or get lucky wins then our performances would catch up to us and we would start losing games left and right.
So far our performances haven't been anything to write home about despite the results so I hope they improve, especially our defence. No way we can keep this up.
I think we won 2 consecutive away games for the first time since 2017. Our away record last season was shite. If we could improve that, that would be big plus to get us to top 4.
Our next 6 are also very winnable, let's make that 12 before we get humbled by Liverpool !
In other news, apparently Ramsey's gone, he won't sign a new contract. I don't know how to feel about it, sad to see him leave but he just doesn't seem to fit in Emerey's plans. We can't really afford to give a sub a 4/5y contract at 220k pw... We're also dying for a winger and will absolutely need to splash big on a world class CB in the summer so maybe that's for the best.
Thanks for the goals in the finals and good luck to him !
In other news, apparently Ramsey's gone, he won't sign a new contract. I don't know how to feel about it, sad to see him leave but he just doesn't seem to fit in Emerey's plans. We can't really afford to give a sub a 4/5y contract at 220k pw... We're also dying for a winger and will absolutely need to splash big on a world class CB in the summer so maybe that's for the best.
Thanks for the goals in the finals and good luck to him !
I can't see who'll give him that wage tbh, PSG possibly and us maybe
Cant see City offering him that or Juventus, is he likely to interest Barcelona or Madrid?
Probably in your best interests to let him go and find a younger replacement
If Chelsea can't get Kovacic to stay beyond his loan, then maybe they'll go for him. His wages wil probably be a bit lower than our offer and be offset anyway by his signing-on fee. He got a lot of abuse, often not warranted but he just seems unwilling to be more defensively aware. He does get goals, and important ones a lot of the time but his heatmap reads like one of a #9, it's a bit stupid really. Emery already has a massive task to get us back into the Champions League, he can't wast time finding a way to force him in our starting 11 without leaving a giant hole in the middle.
Has Lacazette cemented himself in the first XI?
Yep. Was only a question of time, but unfortunately Auba has to play on the left now.
So after a very difficult start, we have won six a row and still have room for improvement, especially at the back. Laca and Auba look a deadly partnership.
Bench Ramsey until he's out the door.
He is one of best in arsenal squad, it is not easy to be benched when fit
I'm completely out of patience with Xhaka and Mustafi. Bellerin needs to pull his head out of his arse too.
The front two, Torreira and Guendouzi have been the highlights so far.
The front two, Torreira and Guendouzi have been the highlights so far.
Every game you know that Mustafi will decide that he's Messi and try and dribble the whole field
No. It was both Gazidis and Kreonke (owner)
We are selling him in january for sure.
Came in a few min late, and did not realize he was on the pitch for quite a while. Ozil was pretty much the same story as well though. We should do a little Pogba - Ramsey + cash trade...yea will never happen.
I was ok with today's performance, it was not great by any means but we would have lost these games all too often in the past. We had a rough patch in the middle part of the 2nd but otherwise they rarely threatened. Props to Watford though, they came at us for most of the game.
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We are yet to play a convincing game so there is still room for improvement. For example, i expect more from Auba. It's true he is playing out of position, but he can surely do more. The defence can also improve a lot. Maybe we need better players in that position though.
Despite all the flaws they've won what 7 straight games and are joint with Spurs in 4th.
Certainly better to be in transition winning games and being relatively high up in the league than firefighting in 8th or 9th place.
Heck they lost their first two games and actually only 4 points off the top with the top 2 facing each other next weekend.
Certainly better to be in transition winning games and being relatively high up in the league than firefighting in 8th or 9th place.
Heck they lost their first two games and actually only 4 points off the top with the top 2 facing each other next weekend.
They're quietly winning matches.
Its better that we rack up points now because our end of season run is absolutely horrible.
In our last ten games we have United at home and the following games away: Spurs, Watford, Everton, Wolves, Leicester and Burnley (not necessarily in order).
That doesn't even take into account potential FA cup or Europa league ties. Spurs, on the other hand, will, of course, have a lot of home fixtures.
I could see us losing the first three while the latter are no walk in the park although I expect Burnley will be on their holidays by then.