I’m not trying defend him because he’s been pretty anonymous, but it’s hard to classify him as an out and out 8 with the arsenal play. Because Zinchenko takes a big part of a traditional 8’s responsibilities. If you watch the match, Havertz is basically playing up top for most of the game. He’s still passive though. And honestly it feels like the team doesn’t trust him. He’ll be in space and the team won’t pass it to him
Arsenal 2023/24 - Born to be runner up
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
They definitely do not seem to trust him so far and he is not involved enough in general. I have seen him to be fair to him in decent positions and they ignore him, choosing instead the more difficult option.
One of the worries I had bringing him in was that the whole Chelsea team looked very lazy last season. He cannot do that over here and really needs to put in a 100% on everything he does out there or he is not going to make it. Seemed more involved yesterday, and hopefully that was a performance to build upon.
Make no mistake I want him to be a success, but he really needs to involve more in the game. Most of Arsenal's attack is from the right and it becomes predictable.
12 years
So pretty much a foregone conclusion, should quieten down the Spurs talk for a while if Arsenal do them like 3-1 or something. Still think Spurs will be in the mix for top four, but they are not quite there on the same level as Arsenal and Liverpool yet. Spurs are better than United and Chelsea atm however, not that that is saying much.
Our defence, especially at home, is more than capable of multiple brain farts. Not expecting us to blow them away at all. Ange's a bit smarter than the lineup of useless managers they've had recently.
Last season at 19th game mark. They had lost 1 game and drawn 2.
Now, 6 games in the new season. They have already drawn 2 games. By game 19 they will have atleast 2 more games + 2 more draws.
They are getting in to their usual level. Also navigating Champions League night games + Pl weekend games will be a challenge.
Then the customary hitting the brick wall for them will come in April. Where they collapse completely.
Now, 6 games in the new season. They have already drawn 2 games. By game 19 they will have atleast 2 more games + 2 more draws.
They are getting in to their usual level. Also navigating Champions League night games + Pl weekend games will be a challenge.
Then the customary hitting the brick wall for them will come in April. Where they collapse completely.
They look average.
The £65m Havertz signing is one of the most bizarre in a long time.
The £65m Havertz signing is one of the most bizarre in a long time.
Very fortunate today, a massive deflection and a harsh handball decision got them a point.
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Nketiah being kept on the whole 90+ mins 
Can’t see them winning much if he is gonna be relied on as their main striker
Can’t see them winning much if he is gonna be relied on as their main strikerRice must be pretty badly injured to go off at half time in a Derby. Barely missed a game in West Ham's marathon season.
That's a problem for Arsenal with Partey unavailable again. Jorginho has his uses for certain types of games but not basketball style matches like today.
Elneny will be getting a testimonial at this rate.
That's a problem for Arsenal with Partey unavailable again. Jorginho has his uses for certain types of games but not basketball style matches like today.
Elneny will be getting a testimonial at this rate.
The shot came from a good attacking play and may have gone in anyway and the shot for the handball would also have gone in. It was a pretty even game.
I have no problem with the handball decision as long as it is consistent which it most certainly is not at the moment. You see them not given all the time as the defender is 'too close' to really react and lunging in. Then today, it is given, and you can pick out a bunch of similar situations that were not given.
They either need to be all given in similar scenarios or all denied. It really is like rolling a dice at the moment.
Spurs to their credit looked the goods, thought Jesus was poor, and Odegaard quiet. The less said about Jorginho the better, Havertz didn't do anything, good or bad, he just existed. Saka's defending on Maddison for that Son goal was truly awful.
They're so fecking overrated.
They need to beat City in a couple of weeks time. If not, that's their race run.
Did anyone see Arteta trying to intimidate Kulseveski when he was running with back through the sideline in injury time?
I just can't wrap my head around it. It actually kind of frustrates me. This is different than bringing in someone from another league that might not work out in the Premier League. Havertz had already shown to be average at Chelsea, yet Arsenal are willing to bail them out with a massive transfer fee, without even having a role in their team that suits him well. I just don't get it.
Not even the favourite for 2nd place anymore..... given the gap between and the other 18 was supposed to be pretty big!
They're going to be the Dortmund to City's Bayern in this new PL ecosystem. Always the bridesmaid...
They could’ve saved the 170m on Rice and Havertz, keep Xhaka and be better off.
Let’s be honest Arteta couldn’t intimidate a small child.
And how it pleases me
They overpaid on Rice, but I think he was a no brainer signing. And can get better as the season goes on.
Their season probably rests on the City game. Win and it's a psychological boost. Lose and they are scrapping for top four.
It’s a massively overpriced depth signing that they ended up weakening their starting XI to accommodate by shunning a better player in the same position to right back. In the PL, the change from the tried-and-tested Partey Xhaka Odegaard to whatever permutation of midfield they play this season has seen them controlling less of the ball and having more difficulty piling on pressure. And for all the hype about Rice’s defensive capabilities, his lapses of concentration has cost them 2 goals already in 6 games this season, but for his lucky deflected shot against us, a lot more pressure would be put on the signing.
Arteta having the audacity to state they conceded two poor goals whilst his side scored from a super deflection (celebrated with an imitated dart throw) and a penalty which wasn't a penalty as I was informed when Manchester United faced Spurs.
This is exactly why so many were content with another irrelevant plastic trophy lift from City last season...they're the most shameless bunch since the worst version of Klopp.
This is exactly why so many were content with another irrelevant plastic trophy lift from City last season...they're the most shameless bunch since the worst version of Klopp.
Xhaka wanted to go. He was treated poorly by fans for most of his time and was supposed to leave the summer before (apparently to Roma for about £16mil) but Arteta convinced him to stay one more year.
Havertz was quite good vs PSV (though that's not saying much) and did OK when he came on vs Spurs, but losing Rice at half time was a big loss. I knew when he was out we'd drop points, before that I was fairly confident we'd win. Rice has been very good for us so far and it's the first time in years we haven't missed Partey. IMO he'll be worth the hefty fee in the long run. We were far too easy to get through in the second half, mainly due to Rice's absence.
Think Liverpool will be City's biggest challengers as they have no CL this season. They're looking very good and have the experience (unlike us last season). For us it will be interesting to see how we manage it all, our injury list is piling up too. Timber, Partey, Martinelli and Trossard all out vs Tottenham and Rice injured during the game.
Join the club mate. Imagine Saliba and Gabriel get injured as well and saka gets banished from the squad for something stupid and then you'll know what we've had to go through so far this season.
If you extrapolate our start to the season out over 38 games, we’d finish with 89 points.
Also, we’ve just played 2 Pl + 1 CL game in a week where we scored 7 and conceded 2.
The fact that Spurs coming from behind twice to hold us to a draw is being viewed as such a disappointing result is a pretty good indication of where we’re at.
The only reason 4 wins + 2 draws may prove insufficient is because we competing with literally the best team in the world (that also have 115 charges against them). That aside, you don’t have to look too far to find teams who would happily trade places with us.
TBH it's probably to be expected after WC last season and the extra minutes added on in games now. Players have played much more than usual. Chelsea of course also suffering with injuries.
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How we were going to manage CL and playing 3 games a week was always going to be challenge this season. Is really testing our squad depth in a way we haven't had to face in years. I think it's been a good week overall.
As many on here continuously pointed out, we had a favourable start to last season. Our start this time has been a bit tougher, having faced United and Tottenham already in first 6 games. However we're only 1 point worse off than this stage last season (15 vs 14 points). Difference is City have started imperiously and are 3 points ahead of where we were last season (18 points). Agreed CL this season changes things for us and it will be a challenge to manage the squad. Will be a real test and I'm here for it.
Oh so not the other 3 teams who are above you then?
No. They in the same boat as us. Their good start may not be sufficient to defeat a juggernaut.
Oh so you think Liverpool, Spurs, or Brighton are going to win the league this year?
It might sound defeatist. But while I expect Arsenal to "challenge' for the title in the sense of being close to the 1-2nd place, ultimately I'm realistic that the team will finish within the 2nd or 3rd position.
With the added demands of champions league, the lack of a top class striker up front, and the constant playing of havertz, let's be real, the title is no where near. Plus city seem to be chugging along despite losing significant team fringe players (eg: Mahrez, Gundogan) who were match winners.
A good run in UCL (aka not dumping out in the first round of 16) would be nice, plus a possible trophy in either league or FA.
this isn't a revisionist view after the start of the season.
With the added demands of champions league, the lack of a top class striker up front, and the constant playing of havertz, let's be real, the title is no where near. Plus city seem to be chugging along despite losing significant team fringe players (eg: Mahrez, Gundogan) who were match winners.
A good run in UCL (aka not dumping out in the first round of 16) would be nice, plus a possible trophy in either league or FA.
this isn't a revisionist view after the start of the season.
There's a real rush to discredit Arsenal on here. Irrespective of yesterdays performance, they are still a very good side and look comfortable for top four, in my opinion. Their front four is good, so they can consistently get goals, and they also have a fairly solid backline.
Probably you don't understand.
The problem is not what points you have after 6 games, but what points you will have after 19 games.
By 19 games last season you had 2 draws and 1 loss ( To United at OT
). So beating United in emirates happened last season also. So for any resemblance of last season, you guys need to lose only 1 game and win the next 12 games till game 19.
Is that possible? You know it's not possible.
I have always maintained the 2022-23 first half of the season from Arteta was such a big anomaly. A 50 point in 19 games is such a big anomaly. Arteta is a 30-35 points manager in 19 games. As it happened in the second part of the last season.
And all the pointers point to it being as business as usual for Arteta in this new season.
You guys never competed with City. City simply overtook you guys and you guys didnt even bother to stay close within them.
Only Liverpool have competed with City in last few years where they took City to last day and some impressive end of the season runs.
My problem with Arsenal and Arteta is that they are too hyped up. They are a good side but nowhere near title contenders. Arteta can try as much as he can but he wont be next Pep.
Statistically they did better with Rice this game than with him, who would have thought.