Arsenal 2018/19

[JSArsenal]

I hope we get back to the top soon.

One thing that annoyed me after Liverpool was the number of Arsenal fans talking about what a good result it was and they expected worse.

All I could think of was that we were at home. Its a sad day when a draw at home to Liverpool is something to celebrate. If it was Anfield I would be right there with everyone else talking about how much of a step forward it is.

(Yes I'm annoyed by the result but only because I expect us to win every home game, no matter the opposition, if only for the fact that we're a top club and the home advantage should help us)

 

[Canagel]

I hope we get back to the top soon.

One thing that annoyed me after Liverpool was the number of Arsenal fans talking about what a good result it was and they expected worse.

All I could think of was that we were at home. Its a sad day when a draw at home to Liverpool is something to celebrate. If it was Anfield I would be right there with everyone else talking about how much of a step forward it is.

(Yes I'm annoyed by the result but only because I expect us to win every home game, no matter the opposition, if only for the fact that we're a top club and the home advantage should help us)

From where you were these last seasons its a big improvement. You were conceding goals for fun and ggetting regularly beaten by midtable teams. everyone expected you to lose for a reason and basically there was nothing between the two teams.
the fans weren't celebrating the draw they were celebrating a clear progress in performance and style. It's not about the result sometimes but if you can compete or not. Arsenal matched one of the biggest title candidates and for many people it was a surprise.

 

[JSArsenal]

From where you were these last seasons its a big improvement. You were conceding goals for fun and ggetting regularly beaten by midtable teams. everyone expected you to lose for a reason and basically there was nothing between the two teams.
the fans weren't celebrating the draw they were celebrating a clear progress in performance and style. It's not about the result sometimes but if you can compete or not. Arsenal matched one of the biggest title candidates and for many people it was a surprise.

I get the logic behind what you're saying, truly I do.

But at the same time it just bothers me for some reason, that we're celebrating a draw at home, against Liverpool. When it was prime Barcelona I was right there with everyone, but Liverpool?

Moreover, I hate how soft we were in big games. Liverpool, who I just slated, no matter how awful they were, they always gave every single big side a tough match at Anfield. Even Chelsea players when they want a manager out, give a decent performance in big games normally.

Whereas it felt like, that Arsenal players went out on onto the pitch rolled over and got their tummies tickled. However I do think Liverpool are vastly overrated and us underrated.

 

[ShadesOfTomato]

The hype over the result on the weekend has been inexplicable. It was a draw at home which very nearly was a loss.

Lots of passing the ball around on the edge of the box and domination of possession - nothing we haven't seen before at the Emirates. The same frailties were there in defence, and Liverpool score 3 or 4 goals on another day.

 

[Grinner]

What hype?

 

[FootballHQ]

I don't think a draw v Liverpool is that bad tbh, they also drew at Chelsea and won at Spurs so not like they've rolled over away to other top 4 contenders like last season perhaps.

Worth remembering Arsenal were prettty good at home last season, think you won 14 out of 19 yet were miles off top 4 due to the inept away form.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

The hype over the result on the weekend has been inexplicable. It was a draw at home which very nearly was a loss.

I think the fans are happy we didn't fold after going down against the run of play. Too many times in the past we would have ended up losing by 2 or 3.

Add to that, seemingly everyone thought we were going to get pumped. Also people were pointing out that we hadn't played any top team in our run of form.

 

[ShadesOfTomato]

What hype?

More or less every Arsenal social media outlet.

To be fair, the Arsenal fans on here seem a lot more level headed than many.

 

[Grinner]

More or less every Arsenal social media outlet.

To be fair, the Arsenal fans on here seem a lot more level headed than many.

Why are you reading those? Seems a bit twattish to use an example of something that probably indulges in hype quite a lot to get noticed.

 

[Ooh2B]

The hype over the result on the weekend has been inexplicable. It was a draw at home which very nearly was a loss.

Lots of passing the ball around on the edge of the box and domination of possession - nothing we haven't seen before at the Emirates. The same frailties were there in defence, and Liverpool score 3 or 4 goals on another day.

Might be more a sense of relief?

Everyone, including a lot of ourselves had us down for a throttling.

The defence stepped up a gear for this one and after the first 2 games of the season I think we can be relieved things haven’t gone as bad as some would have predicted.

Still, 3/4’s of the season left mind..

 

[Mastadon]

Why are you reading those? Seems a bit twattish to use an example of something that probably indulges in hype quite a lot to get noticed.

Every club has it share of fans like that. The kind who will gleefully go around digging up old posts and saying I told you so when Ramsey scores and few goals then go missing when he’s back to being crap. That doesn’t represent the overall fan base at all.

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

Don't think we are celebrating a draw against Liverpool. It's just that for the first time in years we were on pair with a big team. That's a big improvement.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

The hype over the result on the weekend has been inexplicable. It was a draw at home which very nearly was a loss.

Lots of passing the ball around on the edge of the box and domination of possession - nothing we haven't seen before at the Emirates. The same frailties were there in defence, and Liverpool score 3 or 4 goals on another day.

Or they thrash Liverpool on another day? Unless you think Liverpool were excellent?

 

[haram]

Don't think we are celebrating a draw against Liverpool. It's just that for the first time in years we were on pair with a big team. That's a big improvement.

I mean you drew to them at home last season.

 

[TheMagicFoolBus]

Emery has done very well - it takes a lot of courage to move the club's record signing out to left wing (even if he still gets goals). I frankly never thought Lacazette would get another look-in at his favoured striker position but since he's come back into the team as the man up top in Emery's preferred 4-2-3-1 Arsenal have been excellent from an attacking perspective. They have wildly outperformed their attacking xG (have scored 25 where they'd be expected to score ~16), but to be fair some of this can be attributed to the class of their strikers. A caution that this might be unsustainable, however.

Still think there is a lot of smoke and mirrors in terms of the defense though - they are still giving up far too many chances & for me they lack structure defensively. Although the team has improved under Emery I do feel they have been somewhat fortunate (e.g. the match vs. Watford) but the points are banked and I see no reason why they can't continue to push on as the side seems to have bought into his methods.

 

[Grinner]

We're not winning anything with a team that has Mustafi as a regular starter.

 

[Butch Cassidy]

Or they thrash Liverpool on another day? Unless you think Liverpool were excellent?

No, we were far from excellent. But we created enough clear cut chances to win comfortably.

 

[B20]

I mean you drew to them at home last season.

that was more due to our incompetence in defence than anything else.

 

[Kostov]

Arsenal were very good against Liverpool, and played them off the park in periods of the game. In the same time they were lucky they didn't lose the game, Leno flopped once in the first half and they got away with it, and let's not forget Liverpool scored a perfectly valid goal, which was wrongly disallowed.

 

[Ooh2B]

I mean you drew to them at home last season.

Fair point.

But have you seen the changes that have occurred at Arsenal since?

Coupled with a Liverpool side being touted as possible challengers to city?

I will agree, we expect to be winning at home regardless, but there’s been a decent amount of slack been given to Emery and the players, and to be holding their own against this Liverpool side means either they’re (pool) shite, or we’ve managed to bring in a whole new style and philosophy and it’s starting to work.

Nobody’s celebrating a draw, more a sense of optimism brewing.

 

[Ooh2B]

Arsenal were very good against Liverpool, and played them off the park in periods of the game. In the same time they were lucky they didn't lose the game, Leno flopped once in the first half and they got away with it, and let's not forget Liverpool scored a perfectly valid goal, which was wrongly disallowed.

Being that by a lot of accounts it was indeed perfectly valid, and wrongly disallowed makes it all the more perfectly sweeter and rightly celebrated..

Can’t fault me really

 

[Kostov]

Being that by a lot of accounts it was indeed perfectly valid, and wrongly disallowed makes it all the more perfectly sweeter and rightly celebrated..

Can’t fault me really

That's fine, and because it's Liverpool, we United fans won't mind that much. The point was, you could have been a goal down much earlier and who knows how it could have ended if you had to chase the game for longer and Liverpool being able to hit you on the brake.

 

[Ooh2B]

That's fine, and because it's Liverpool, we United fans won't mind that much. The point was, you could have been a goal down much earlier and who knows how it could have ended if you had to chase the game for longer and Liverpool being able to hit you on the brake.

Indeed, who knows? But not to be a smart arse, we did have to chase it after the pool went ahead, so it was further testimony to the improvement Emery’s making seeing as they didn’t loose their collective shizn and go down 3/4 which is in general what people expected.

And that’s really the crux of it, the improvement really is showing in the game management from Emery. It’s translating onto the pitch, whereas last season such a position for us would have surely been a right off..

 

[Ooh2B]

Interesting stat as per Sky..

Arsenal have won more points from a losing position than any other Prem side in season 18/19 so far.

That sentence would not have included Arsenal last season.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

No, we were far from excellent. But we created enough clear cut chances to win comfortably.

By all accounts they should have taken the lead on a few occasions. So it was a game Liverpool dominated then? First I've heard of this.

 

[Butch Cassidy]

By all accounts they should have taken the lead on a few occasions. So it was a game Liverpool dominated then? First I've heard of this.

It depends on your definition of 'dominated'. We created more clear cut chances, and should have taken at least one (more) of them. That's not up for debate.

Maybe watch the game and decide for yourself.

 

[JSArsenal]

The hype over the result on the weekend has been inexplicable. It was a draw at home which very nearly was a loss.

Lots of passing the ball around on the edge of the box and domination of possession - nothing we haven't seen before at the Emirates. The same frailties were there in defence, and Liverpool score 3 or 4 goals on another day.

I think its more patronizing than hype/praise. A draw at home against Liverpool of all teams, a result which is the least of what we should achieve.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I think its more patronizing than hype/praise. A draw at home against Liverpool of all teams, a result which is the least of what we should achieve.

Least or most?

 

[JSArsenal]

Least or most?

Least.

In other words, a draw at home to a rival is the bare minimum of what Arsenal should be doing. Its not something that should have countless articles written about how Arsenal are back and have newfound steel and other such nonsense.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Least.

In other words, a draw at home to a rival is the bare minimum of what Arsenal should be doing. Its not something that should have countless articles written about how Arsenal are back and have newfound steel and other such nonsense.

I suppose. But it's also because it's during a run where you've been winning plenty and seem to have definitely found a new found something compared to the last few years. I know his is arsenal who are a big club. But let's not pretend the last few years with Wenger stinking up the place didn't actually happen. Everyone felt you'd be well outside the top 4/5 this season.

 

[Sanchez7]

Torreira has added balance to their midfield and the front three seem to be forming a great relationship. This despite not spending a lot of money in the Summer. Very encouraging for Arsenal fans.

 

[JSArsenal]

I suppose. But it's also because it's during a run where you've been winning plenty and seem to have definitely found a new found something compared to the last few years. I know his is Arsenal who are a big club. But let's not pretend the last few years with Wenger stinking up the place didn't actually happen. Everyone felt you'd be well outside the top 4/5 this season.

What everyone felt is neither here nor there, but you can't criticize Arsenal like a big club then praise us like we're some sort of midtable outfit. Leave that for Spurs, who for some reason get heaps of praise and adulation for losing to one of the worst Barcelona teams in the past 7 years, at home.

Its because we have been on a winning run that I find the praise over a draw slightly annoying. It felt like everyone was just waiting to see us fail and trying to undermine our run by saying we haven't played anyone of note.

In all honesty, it feels like two dropped points to me.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

What everyone felt is neither here nor there, but you can't criticize Arsenal like a big club then praise us like we're some sort of midtable outfit. Leave that for Spurs, who for some reason get heaps of praise and adulation for losing to one of the worst Barcelona teams in the past 7 years, at home.

Its because we have been on a winning run that I find the praise over a draw slightly annoying. It felt like everyone was just waiting to see us fail and trying to undermine our run by saying we haven't played anyone of note.

In all honesty, it feels like two dropped points to me.

Except you're no longer a better team than Spurs. So I'll keep using it with Arsenal till they actually prove otherwise. My point is grounded in reality. Arsenal have been locked in a state of mediocrity for a good while. So it's no surprise for that a new manager showing new things and getting good results is being praised and hyped more than it would had you already been getting great results the last few years. Expectations have been lowered. Of course they have.

As for your last point about it being disappointing due to the recent good peformances and feeling like two points dropped, that's not totally unfair. But we're not that deep into the season, so i think you should cut Arsenal fans slack who are enjoying something that feels fresh and positive. Feels overly negative to be critical of this to me. But to each their own.

 

[JSArsenal]

Except you're no longer a better team than Spurs. So I'll keep using it with Arsenal till they actually prove otherwise. My point is grounded in reality. Arsenal have been locked in a state of mediocrity for a good while. So it's no surprise for that a new manager showing new things and getting good results is being praised and hyped more than it would had you already been getting great results the last few years. Expectations have been lowered. Of course they have.

As for your last point about it being disappointing due to the recent good peformances and feeling like two points dropped, that's not totally unfair. But we're not that deep into the season, so i think you should cut Arsenal fans slack who are enjoying something that feels fresh and positive. Feels overly negative to be critical of this to me. But to each their own.

If two years is a good while then by all means. It wasn't that long ago we finished second and picked up three FA cups in 4 years.

My problem with lowered expectations is the knock-on effect they can have. I'm not demanding we win the league far from it. Have you ever heard the phrase "Shoot for the moon so that if you fail, you'll land among the stars"? Our aim should be to win the league and everything we do, from our transfers to the way we prepare for our games should be in pursuit of that aim. Arsenal should never ever be saying, well this team as is, is good enough for top 4 so we don't need to buy a LB or a winger.

If you go for the title and fail, then you're most likely going to be in the top 4 anyway. If you lower your expectations and decide to merely fight for the top 4, you run the risk of falling out of it, which we finally did.

Other Arsenal fans are free to feel as happy or disappointed as they like, I have no quarrel with them. I just don't think a draw at home, against Liverpool, is anything to overly celebrate. If that is overly negative, then so be it.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

If two years is a good while then by all means. It wasn't that long ago we finished second and picked up three FA cups in 4 years.

My problem with lowered expectations is the knock-on effect they can have. I'm not demanding we win the league far from it. Have you ever heard the phrase "Shoot for the moon so that if you fail, you'll land among the stars"? Our aim should be to win the league and everything we do, from our transfers to the way we prepare for our games should be in pursuit of that aim. Arsenal should never ever be saying, well this team as is, is good enough for top 4 so we don't need to buy a LB or a winger.

If you go for the title and fail, then you're most likely going to be in the top 4 anyway. If you lower your expectations and decide to merely fight for the top 4, you run the risk of falling out of it, which we finally did.

Other Arsenal fans are free to feel as happy or disappointed as they like, I have no quarrel with them. I just don't think a draw at home, against Liverpool, is anything to overly celebrate. If that is overly negative, then so be it.

I'd agree with your point about ambitions with respect how the club should act/behave. However given your transfer activity activity, you don't really have the team to aim for the stars IMO. The standards can be really high once the ambition off the pitch matches it, rather than our of the blue, or due to this being Arsenal.

 

[montpelier]

The claim that it makes Arsenal into Title contenders seems a bit far-fetched. But they have every right to be pleased with the result & run of form, imo.

That isn't a 'perfectly good' Mane goal - it's a 50/50 call that illustrates the stupidness of the offside interpretation - wander around offside, but be OK in the next phase is a good idea on paper - and I have no better idea but players are just turning around & scoring having been stood offside 'waiting' until the next phase occurs.

In Mane's case, he was chasing the ball & in front of the Goalkeeper before getting the benefit of someone else's rebound. Would he be off if he had been passed the ball there? I think he probably would, isn't it?

 

[SquishyMcSquish]

If two years is a good while then by all means. It wasn't that long ago we finished second and picked up three FA cups in 4 years.

My problem with lowered expectations is the knock-on effect they can have. I'm not demanding we win the league far from it. Have you ever heard the phrase "Shoot for the moon so that if you fail, you'll land among the stars"? Our aim should be to win the league and everything we do, from our transfers to the way we prepare for our games should be in pursuit of that aim. Arsenal should never ever be saying, well this team as is, is good enough for top 4 so we don't need to buy a LB or a winger.

If you go for the title and fail, then you're most likely going to be in the top 4 anyway. If you lower your expectations and decide to merely fight for the top 4, you run the risk of falling out of it, which we finally did.

Other Arsenal fans are free to feel as happy or disappointed as they like, I have no quarrel with them. I just don't think a draw at home, against Liverpool, is anything to overly celebrate. If that is overly negative, then so be it.

This is weird logic. Your aims have nothing to do with the results.

Bournemouth could go 'right, we're heading for the title this season lads!' and I'm pretty sure they would still finish mid table. Alright, so Arsenal aren't Bournemouth, but the point is that you don't win just by being overly ambitious and setting big targets, just because you aim for the title doesn't mean you're likely going to get top 4. You'll get top 4 if you're good enough to be there.

Emery hasn't had long at the club and took you over when you were badly struggling, so understandably fans are happy to see genuine progress in a short space of time. It's pretty unrealistic to immediately expect huge improvements in a single season, especially when other clubs invested heavily and have been working on their projects for much longer.

 

[SquishyMcSquish]

The claim that it makes Arsenal into Title contenders seems a bit far-fetched. But they have every right to be pleased with the result & run of form, imo.

That isn't a 'perfectly good' Mane goal - it's a 50/50 call that illustrates the stupidness of the offside interpretation - wander around offside, but be OK in the next phase is a good idea on paper - and I have no better idea but players are just turning around & scoring having been stood offside 'waiting' until the next phase occurs.

In Mane's case, he was chasing the ball & in front of the Goalkeeper before getting the benefit of someone else's rebound. Would he be off if he had been passed the ball there? I think he probably would, isn't it?

They aren't title contenders (City will steamroll it, said it before the season and feel even more confident saying it now) but they've definitely asserted themselves as a real contender for top four, arguably a favourite to get the 4th spot .. which is worrying for us.

I'll admit at the start of the season I wasn't expecting them to improve so quickly, I thought Emery would eventually do well but would need time to revert the rot. They've impressed me and a few players I had written off, Xhaka especially, have massively improved under him.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

It depends on your definition of 'dominated'. We created more clear cut chances, and should have taken at least one (more) of them. That's not up for debate.

Maybe watch the game and decide for yourself.

I'm good.

 

[Butch Cassidy]

I think its more patronizing than hype/praise. A draw at home against Liverpool of all teams, a result which is the least of what we should achieve.

This is the third or fourth time you have referenced something similar. Are you stuck in a timewarp from a few years ago when you were better than us? Because you clearly haven't been recently. Without being patronising here, that performance and result is good for you guys and represents improvement.