Arsenal 2025-26 Champions

Pogue Mahone said:
You’re replying to someone who gave you a list of title defining performances/results from teams he doesn’t support. It’s really not hard to do. You just need the team who wins the league to rack up a few really impressive performances/goals/results over the course of a season. Which all worthy champions achieve. Beating an abject Villa side 4-0 doesn’t count.
Click to expand...
Then perhaps he's an avid PL fan like I mentioned. I would struggle to name title defining moments of any of the recent City wins and I consider my interest in the Premier League as above average, but maybe it's on me then :lol:

As for Arsenal this season, I think they failed to beat City twice, Liverpool twice, Utd at least once? I can remember the Dowman moment but that wasn't even a winning goal so there's that. And loads of corners and FKs otherwise.
 
Gazza said:
I was 17 the last time Arsenal were champions. Kinell!



Aww, this is sweet! Have you had some refreshment this evening? Enjoy! And fair play to @padr81 . Not like that @Gentleman Jim who is nowhere to be seen, the faux gentleman! ;)
Click to expand...
Ive posted this week you numpty.
We weren't quite up to it this season. Too many dropped points from good positions.
We'll be back.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
You’re replying to someone who gave you a list of title defining performances/results from teams he doesn’t support. It’s really not hard to do. You just need the team who wins the league to rack up a few really impressive performances/goals/results over the course of a season. Which all worthy champions achieve. Beating an abject Villa side 4-0 doesn’t count.
Click to expand...
I highly amused at the daily additions to the list of requirements of being “worthy” champions.

Back in my day we measured it by whoever won the most points throughout the season.
 
Gentleman Jim said:
Ive posted this week you numpty.
We weren't quite up to it this season. Too many dropped points from good positions.
We'll be back.
Click to expand...

Resorting to personal insults? Not exactly living up to your name there, fella.

I'm sure you will be back. Oil rich nation states are difficult to keep down, the plucky underdogs.
 
Gazza said:
Resorting to personal insults? Not exactly living up to your name there, fella.

I'm sure you will be back. Oil rich nation states are difficult to keep down, the plucky underdogs.
Click to expand...
Numpty is quite tame really. Almost an affectionate term. I was being kind to you.

Shareholder loans of hundreds of millions also assist a team don't you think?
The funding from Dubai and Rwanda doesn't go amiss either.
Are Arsenal putting in a team for the world Rugby 7's this summer? They should. They'd have a strong chance.
 
The large amount of Arsenal fans who have suddenly come out of the woodwork here is unbelievable and most of their comments attest to proving how unbearable they are. Yuk
Hoping PSG hand you a deserved trashing - Even more so now. :lol: :lol:
 
RobinLFC said:
Arsenal fans will remember it.

Imo you'd have to be a huge Premier League fan in general to remember defining moments from other teams, and even then a fanbase themselves might have a difference in opinion in what was defining and what wasn't in a title winning season. I personally can't remember any of the Utd examples you are bringing up. I can't even remember a memorable 4-3 win against Newcastle that you mention to be honest :lol:

It would have to be a GIGANTIC moment for all fans to remember it - the Gerrard slip, Cantona kick, Aguero goal, there's obviously examples of that, but the defining moments in a title winnign season are usually a lot more subtle and only remembered by the fanbase itself, is how I feel.
Click to expand...
That's true, and probably more so once good bit of time has passed.

I think the point though is that there isn't much really high quality stuff to pick out of Arsenal's league campaign this season. A good Zubimendi volley and Eze destroying a rancid Tottenham team is about it.

Champions League is different, they did actually deliver some quality performances and moments in that competition.

No harm, but in my opinion they got over the line without the X-factor a title winning team usually has.
 
christinaa said:
The large amount of Arsenal fans who have suddenly come out of the woodwork here is unbelievable and most of their comments attest to proving how unbearable they are. Yuk
Hoping PSG hand you a deserved trashing - Even more so now. :lol: :lol:
Click to expand...
If you find Arsenal fans unbearable, the ‘Arsenal 2025/26’ thread the day after winning the league for the first time in 22 years is odd place to choose to be.

Most of us have been here for a while. (Except the person who joined specifically to gush over Arteta who immediately had his ‘Neutral’ affiliation edited by the mods).
Wolfbot said:
That's true, and probably more so once good bit of time has passed.

I think the point though is that there isn't much really high quality stuff to pick out of Arsenal's league campaign this season. A good Zubimendi volley and Eze destroying a rancid Tottenham team is about it.

Champions League is different, they did actually deliver some quality performances and moments in that competition.

No harm, but in my opinion they got over the line without the X-factor a title winning team usually has.
Click to expand...
This is a fair take. Now we’ve finally got the monkey off our back, I’m hopeful we can be a bit more adventurous next season.
 
Daydreamer said:
I highly amused at the daily additions to the list of requirements of being “worthy” champions.

Back in my day we measured it by whoever won the most points throughout the season.
Click to expand...

Nah, you know - deep down - that everyone recognises a really worthy champion when they see them. And you also know how weird it is for so many neutral fans to root for an oil rich club in a title show down.

Arsenal under Arteta have been such a vile prospect you're even getting Manchester United fans hoping City would beat them. This is all VERY unusual. And all for obvious reasons.
 
Daydreamer said:
If you find Arsenal fans unbearable, the ‘Arsenal 2025/26’ thread the day after winning the league for the first time in 22 years is odd place to choose to be.

Most of us have been here for a while. (Except the person who joined specifically to gush over Arteta who immediately had his ‘Neutral’ affiliation edited by the mods).

This is a fair take. Now we’ve finally got the monkey off our back, I’m hopeful we can be a bit more adventurous next season.
Click to expand...
You may have been here for some time but hiding under rocks mostly for 22 years
 
Last edited:
RobinLFC said:
Arsenal fans will remember it.

Imo you'd have to be a huge Premier League fan in general to remember defining moments from other teams, and even then a fanbase themselves might have a difference in opinion in what was defining and what wasn't in a title winning season. I personally can't remember any of the Utd examples you are bringing up. I can't even remember a memorable 4-3 win against Newcastle that you mention to be honest :lol:

It would have to be a GIGANTIC moment for all fans to remember it - the Gerrard slip, Cantona kick, Aguero goal, there's obviously examples of that, but the defining moments in a title winnign season are usually a lot more subtle and only remembered by the fanbase itself, is how I feel.
Click to expand...

Yeah, everything you said, plus we need to stop defining importance by the alcohol/fatigue/banged impacted and limited memories of the random casual shallow minded fan

I think for me, one of the most memorable moments associated with a title was Giggs' goal against Wigan in 07/08. But that doesn't rank up there with the moments you mentioned and that's ok
 
Mb194dc said:
How hard can it be to have football be a proper sporting competition, with fair financial controls the same for all and the laws of the game enforced to the letter and the same for all teams as well. Along with reasonable prices for fans.
Click to expand...

Even ignoring who you support, thats a wild statement. Football hasn't been a fair fight for decades. It wasn't a fair fight when we were dominant for long period under Fergie. The top clubs have been making sure that its not an even playing field for a long time and there is no fundamentally fair way to do it. You either keep smaller teams down forever or you make it a free for all.
 
Daydreamer said:
Yep, I agree with most of your assessment, other than us scoring most of our goals from set pieces.
Click to expand...

I didn't mean most of your goals but you have relied on them a lot this season to get you over the line in games. I would be interested to know how many of the set piece goals decided matches. In much the same way Salah was LIverpools cheat code last season, set pieces have been yours this season.

Daydreamer said:
I actually think our style of play is pretty similar to the middle years of Pep’s City tenure where they spammed cutbacks. City were just better than us, so whereas our cutbacks frequently end with defenders scrambling it away for a corner, City often buried their chances.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I agree with that. I remember you being exceptionally good at scoring those goals for the past few seasons but I haven't seen those so much this year. I remember thinking "surely someone will learn to mark the guy coming into the box late" but they never did :D

I'm reasonably sure you did it to us a few times over the past couple of years.

I would characterise this season as control. You just suffocate teams. I watched the game on Monday and there was little pace or urgency to your game, you just invited them to sit deeper and deeper and made sure they couldn't get out. You could have counter attacked with pace and a bit of risk but instead you just penned them back and resumed business.

I just hope that next season you go back to what you were doing a few seasons ago. It was much more exciting from a neutral perspective and I wished you had won the league then. You got more points 2 years ago, scored about 20 more goals and only conceded 3 more. Maybe with that monkey off your backs you will be a little more adventurous again.
 
I sort of get the outpouring and gloating from both players and supporters. The constant memes and bottling jeers and posts have gone on for years, and on a few of those occasions, they were beaten by a team who should be winning it every year anyway, and they were very unlucky.

This is a testament to the manager and the players that they were tenacious and kept going and got it done by any means necessary. If it were United showing that steel and tenacity, we would be loving it.

Yes, their football needs to improve, but their defence has been nothing short of sensational in the face of the fear of “bottling” once again. Those last 3-4 games were a nightmare for their fans to sit through, never mind play in!

They deserve to gloat and they deserve their moment. It’s a great achievement, and I hope they do the oil double against all the odds.
 
WeePat said:
LW and ST I think.

If Ben White is no longer considered up to standard, they'll probably need a RB too. Every other position they've got good players and lots of depth.
Click to expand...

Replacement for Gyok (can’t spell the damn name) and Martinelli? Good call on White. Pretty darn good squad. If they get their decisions right, next few years could be the years of the Arse.
 
mctrials23 said:
I didn't mean most of your goals but you have relied on them a lot this season to get you over the line in games. I would be interested to know how many of the set piece goals decided matches. In much the same way Salah was LIverpools cheat code last season, set pieces have been yours this season.



I'm not sure I agree with that. I remember you being exceptionally good at scoring those goals for the past few seasons but I haven't seen those so much this year. I remember thinking "surely someone will learn to mark the guy coming into the box late" but they never did :D

I'm reasonably sure you did it to us a few times over the past couple of years.

I would characterise this season as control. You just suffocate teams. I watched the game on Monday and there was little pace or urgency to your game, you just invited them to sit deeper and deeper and made sure they couldn't get out. You could have counter attacked with pace and a bit of risk but instead you just penned them back and resumed business.

I just hope that next season you go back to what you were doing a few seasons ago. It was much more exciting from a neutral perspective and I wished you had won the league then. You got more points 2 years ago, scored about 20 more goals and only conceded 3 more. Maybe with that monkey off your backs you will be a little more adventurous again.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that’s fair. What I was trying to say, but perhaps could have been clearer, is that our style of approach play is similar to the 21/22 City side where they had lost Aguero but hadn’t yet signed Haaland. However, even with them playing false 9s, they always had more of a cutting edge than we’ve had this season.

That City side also prioritised control over all else, but they were simply better than us at it.
 
TheGame said:
As expected an element of the Arsenal fans on social media and even some of the players are insufferable. Too busy taking jibes at others rather than celebrating the title. Pathetic stuff.
Click to expand...

My best friend, who passed away just over 1 year ago, was one of them. He was a massive Arsenal supporter. I can't help but think about how absolutely insufferable he would've been yesterday, and throughout this entire season. He would've managed to ignore how unwatchable they are and could justify the many many times they should've had red cards given or penalties called...and didn't. Worst, I would've owed him a jersey, again (we had a yearly bet for who's team finished higher in the table). I still go watch games with his wife and she's becoming one of them now. So, I did have a drink for him last night but it was a cheap bourbon. No way I'm opening the good stuff for that.
 
Daydreamer said:
Yeah, that’s fair. What I was trying to say, but perhaps could have been clearer, is that our style of approach play is similar to the 21/22 City side where they had lost Aguero but hadn’t yet signed Haaland. However, even with them playing false 9s, they always had more of a cutting edge than we’ve had this season.

That City side also prioritised control over all else, but they were simply better than us at it.
Click to expand...

That iteration of City was very interesting. They had not become the 4 CBs at the back yet, and were still taking more risks in possession (Cancelo had that weird yet effective playmaking role)

I think that with the monkey off your backs now, Arteta may be tempted to let the handbrake go a bit. Integrating MLS more, getting a deep lying playmaker (Zubimendi and Rice is too pedestrian in this regard)... Eze and Madueke and Martinelli and Trossard... They need to show more intent in attack too.
 
adexkola said:
That iteration of City was very interesting. They had not become the 4 CBs at the back yet, and were still taking more risks in possession (Cancelo had that weird yet effective playmaking role)

I think that with the monkey off your backs now, Arteta may be tempted to let the handbrake go a bit. Integrating MLS more, getting a deep lying playmaker (Zubimendi and Rice is too pedestrian in this regard)... Eze and Madueke and Martinelli and Trossard... They need to show more intent in attack too.
Click to expand...

You must have been thrilled this season. Your two favourite teams, going head to head.
 
adexkola said:
Yeah, everything you said, plus we need to stop defining importance by the alcohol/fatigue/banged impacted and limited memories of the random casual shallow minded fan

I think for me, one of the most memorable moments associated with a title was Giggs' goal against Wigan in 07/08. But that doesn't rank up there with the moments you mentioned and that's ok
Click to expand...

Tevez (bastardo) equalizer at Ewood Park that season :drool:
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Nah, you know - deep down - that everyone recognises a really worthy champion when they see them. And you also know how weird it is for so many neutral fans to root for an oil rich club in a title show down.

Arsenal under Arteta have been such a vile prospect you're even getting Manchester United fans hoping City would beat them. This is all VERY unusual. And all for obvious reasons.
Click to expand...
Some lovely amateur psychology, there.

Some people think the whole point of league system is determine who is worthy of being champion. Actually, I’d go as far as to say most people think that.

But if you have other criteria that Arsenal apparently don’t live up to - that’s cool. Asterisk away. It’s just mental to assert that Arsenal fans witnessing their team end a 22 year title drought are crying on the inside because of what @Pogue Mahone thinks.

If I was to play amateur psychologist, I would diagnose you with a massively inflated sense of self-importance.
 
TheGame said:
As expected an element of the Arsenal fans on social media and even some of the players are insufferable. Too busy taking jibes at others rather than celebrating the title. Pathetic stuff.
Click to expand...

Most of them around my way have been fine. Obviously loud but they've eaten a lot of shit. A bit of giveback is fine.

My brother booked a flight to the parade. Remember watching the 2006 final with him. Ambivalent but would be happy for him if he saw 2 trophies on the bus

Pogue Mahone said:
You must have been thrilled this season. Your two favourite teams, going head to head.
Click to expand...

Would have been better if they both weren't shit :D
 
leeroyTX said:
My best friend, who passed away just over 1 year ago, was one of them. He was a massive Arsenal supporter. I can't help but think about how absolutely insufferable he would've been yesterday, and throughout this entire season. He would've managed to ignore how unwatchable they are and could justify the many many times they should've had red cards given or penalties called...and didn't. Worst, I would've owed him a jersey, again (we had a yearly bet for who's team finished higher in the table). I still go watch games with his wife and she's becoming one of them now. So, I did have a drink for him last night but it was a cheap bourbon. No way I'm opening the good stuff for that.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear about your friend. It’s good you celebrated for him.
 
TheGame said:
As expected an element of the Arsenal fans on social media and even some of the players are insufferable. Too busy taking jibes at others rather than celebrating the title. Pathetic stuff.
Click to expand...

It's probably because they won the league in the most anti-climactic way possible. Boring turgid 1-0 wins and then it gets confirmed on a random Tuesday night.

They're no better than they were in any of the previous 3 seasons. It's just everyone else is way worse. It's a bit like when Leicester won it in 2016 but significantly less entertaining.
 
Surprisingly I've found it easy to avoid Arsenal champions talk.

The news of the day seems to be spy-gate (Southampton knocking Arsenal out of FA Cup and then stealing their thunder here is funny in itself).
Then the week will be taken up by the relegation battle talk.
Next week we'll all be laughing at West Ham or Spurs.
Then it's UCL final, where hopefully Arteta gets exposed for his brand of anti-football.
Then gonna put the "Let's laugh at England" thread on my favourites once the World Cup begins.

Arsenal fans obviously loving it but it's been a bit anti-climatic, they don't get to celebrate at the stadium and luckily there's other huge stories happening.
 
Honestly, unless you live on social media / in London, it's pretty chill having Arsenal as champions. I don't watch AFTV, don't use X or social media, and the only Arsenal fan I encounter on a regular basis is a lovely guy from Afghanistan who works in the coffee shack outside my office. Happy for him!
 
It’s a shame Arsenal just can’t enjoy being champions, you have to have their players mirroring their fanbase and gobbing off rather than showing some class. Then again, we are talking about Saka, who kind of sums up Arsenal.
 
Congratulations, Gunners! We can all bitch and moan about how they got there with their bullying tactics on free kicks, but the played by the rules and refused to resort to the kind of criminal means City have been guilty of since their sportswashing transformation.
 
TheGame said:
As expected an element of the Arsenal fans on social media and even some of the players are insufferable. Too busy taking jibes at others rather than celebrating the title. Pathetic stuff.
Click to expand...

It is, because they know they've sold their souls to shit football to win it. But they won't admit it, so it's cheap shots all round.
 
Mogget said:
It's not really whataboutery if I'm regularly agreeing with the criticism of Arsenal and then adding on that I hope people apply consistent logic in other cases.

And again, you might personally think the hearsay evidence exonerates Hakimi and if you have no issue with him continuing to play, you do you.
Click to expand...
We will revisit when Hakimi is acquitted and Partey is in prison
 
Gazza said:
Honestly, unless you live on social media / in London, it's pretty chill having Arsenal as champions. I don't watch AFTV, don't use X or social media, and the only Arsenal fan I encounter on a regular basis is a lovely guy from Afghanistan who works in the coffee shack outside my office. Happy for him!
Click to expand...

You’re posting on Redcafe. This is the one and only place I’ve had any interaction with Arsenal fans in the last 24 hours and that’s bad enough!
 
Loon said:
It’s a shame Arsenal just can’t enjoy being champions, you have to have their players mirroring their fanbase and gobbing off rather than showing some class. Then again, we are talking about Saka, who kind of sums up Arsenal.
Click to expand...

It's not just mirroring the fan base, it's mirroring football fandom and society in general.

There's always been banter in the game between fans etc, but the birth of social media and the Fan Channels etc has meant a lot of younger fans get more joy from bantering other fans for only coming 2nd than they do from their own clubs. Unfortunately this has also slipped into the main stream media by the major broadcasters.

And the players aren't immune to this. Especially young guys who are 19 or early 20's. There also seems a genuine rivalry with Man City the last few years. Think of the Be Humble comments, Haaland throwing the ball of Gabriels head after he scored, asking Lewis-Skelly who he was and Lewis-Skelly replying by doing his celebration, Cherki keepy upies, digs in the media by Bernardo Silva, the players taking selfies with the 'bottle guy'....they all add up, they all chip away.

I've said before, I prefer a rivalry with some spice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.