Mikel Arteta | Lego Pep watch

Put Isak or Haaland or Lewandowski up front for this arsenal team and your looking at a team who would probably make the next step to winning trophies.

No idea of finances at arsenal, but they need to go all out for an absolute elite striker ala Isak or similar, otherwise it will be a waste of a cycle of talent at club.
 
tenpoless said:
Won the xG league. Get in.
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I wasn't posting that to say yay, we were the superior teams in those games when quite clearly we weren't.

My main take away from it though is it's just more evidence that points to what nearly every single person says on here anyway, is that at the very least, Arsenal need a proper number 9 that can actually take some of these chances that do fall there way.
And taking your chances at key moments in these games can make all the difference.

I watched PSG totally outplay Arsenal for 30mins last week and score on the 3rd minute which rocked us. I then watch Arsenal outplay PSG up until a similar time, however Arsenal didn't convert any of their good chances, 2 of them in the first 5 minutes, and get punished ruthlessly.

I think overall PSG deserved to win, but ties like this can hinge on small moments, and if you don't take any of them when they come, you invariably always get punished.

Oh, and I'm not saying signing a number 9 fixes everything that's wrong. But im sure everyone on here would agree, it's certainly very good place to start.
 
Lost both games in a two-legged tie and Arteta not only declares that they were the better team, but in fact the best team in Europe.

I guess there is no room for improvement.
 
I think the manager and the side as a whole are suffering from not getting over the line in any of the cups. Had they won even a Carabao Cup (they had a fairly winnable semi final against Newcastle this season) that might have given them the confidence to maybe push on in the league and or Champions League.

It also would have proven that they can "get over the line". Post Covid, they lost out on a top 4 race with Spurs in 2022 and lost out in fairly close title races with city in 23 and 24.

Granted, it doesn't always work out like that (See Mourinho at United and Ten Hag) but it did wonders for one of Fergie's great sides in 06 and arguably for Mourinho the year before.

You could also look at City's FA Cup win in 2011.
 
B20 said:
Lost both games in a two-legged tie and Arteta not only declares that they were the better team, but in fact the best team in Europe.

I guess there is no room for improvement.
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And that's according to some people he talked to. You know, The People.
 
KStandBarmyArmy1993 said:
I think the manager and the side as a whole are suffering from not getting over the line in any of the cups. Had they won even a Carabao Cup (they had a fairly winnable semi final against Newcastle this season) that might have given them the confidence to maybe push on in the league and or Champions League.

It also would have proven that they can "get over the line". Post Covid, they lost out on a top 4 race with Spurs in 2022 and lost out in fairly close title races with city in 23 and 24.

Granted, it doesn't always work out like that (See Mourinho at United and Ten Hag) but it did wonders for one of Fergie's great sides in 06 and arguably for Mourinho the year before.

You could also look at City's FA Cup win in 2011.
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To be honest, i'd rather we 'Wengerised' the League Cup again. There's just too much football being played just now, I think it's going to be harder and harder for clubs in England to compete in all trophies.

With the 2 extra Champions League games in January we had 9 games to play across 4 competitions, 11 if you count to the 5th of February, and they included 2 games Vs Newcastle, and games vs Utd, Spurs and Villa and Man City. I don't think that's sustainable. Id rather we play the 2nd string / young players again even if we get to the semi final stage.
 
GoonerBear said:
I wasn't posting that to say yay, we were the superior teams in those games when quite clearly we weren't.

My main take away from it though is it's just more evidence that points to what nearly every single person says on here anyway, is that at the very least, Arsenal need a proper number 9 that can actually take some of these chances that do fall there way.
And taking your chances at key moments in these games can make all the difference.

I watched PSG totally outplay Arsenal for 30mins last week and score on the 3rd minute which rocked us. I then watch Arsenal outplay PSG up until a similar time, however Arsenal didn't convert any of their good chances, 2 of them in the first 5 minutes, and get punished ruthlessly.

I think overall PSG deserved to win, but ties like this can hinge on small moments, and if you don't take any of them when they come, you invariably always get punished.

Oh, and I'm not saying signing a number 9 fixes everything that's wrong. But im sure everyone on here would agree, it's certainly very good place to start.
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Rice header was the only one that you should have scored. Rest were good defending or Saves. I mean, are you not expecting them in a CL semi final ? Point being, you had possession but did nothing of it. PSG knew this..
 
See all these comments about Arsenal needing just a #9 and similarly to us I think whilst that is true it also structurally missed the mark.

They need at least one quality #9 and then options for the inevitable injuries and rotation.

Not signing a finisher is one issue but then Arteta willingly let options, who might not have been starters, but would have massively improved the current squad for rotation and injuries is another - he's let Nketiah go and Balogun before that. Also saw Aubameyang and Lacazette out the door.

Now all four of those might not have been good enough to be a starting #9 but it means that he's never signed a proper #9 and dispensed of four of them.

Shows to me that it's less an issue of needing one player but also philosophy that doesn't regard it as essential to have that profile
 
bond19821982 said:
Rice header was the only one that you should have scored. Rest were good defending or Saves. I mean, are you not expecting them in a CL semi final ? Point being, you had possession but did nothing of it. PSG knew this..
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That's exactly the point.

If all the things that went against them didn't and all the things that went for them like Kvara hitting the bar or Barcola messing up a simple (at this level) finish stayed the same, then Arsenal would be unbeatable.
 
I really struggle to have any sympathy for a team beaten over 2 legs and them feeling hard done by around believing they were the better team or hard done by in terms of the officiating etc. The two teams in the Champions League final deserve to be there.
 
At some point you have to score goals to win games. Arsenal probably should have beated PSG with the chances they created/had. Thats the nature of cup football though and the likes of RM are masters at taking their chances when they come and shockingly they have won far more trophies than they perhaps deserve.

Arsenal need an elite striker and they should win the league/CL within a few years. Will they get one though?
 
Xaviesta said:
I really struggle to have any sympathy for a team beaten over 2 legs and them feeling hard done by around believing they were the better team or hard done by in terms of the officiating etc. The two teams in the Champions League final deserve to be there.
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I dont get this hard done by line.... according to UEFA laws, that was a penalty.

Instead of pointing fingers at others, they really need to look at their manager... who was a coward in the tie. Being 2-0... not really going for it, bringing on RB for RB.. LW for LW isn't going to change the tie.

He could have moved Partey RB and had a midfield of Rice, Odegard and Nwaneri. It was all like for like changes.
 
Xaviesta said:
I really struggle to have any sympathy for a team beaten over 2 legs and them feeling hard done by around believing they were the better team or hard done by in terms of the officiating etc. The two teams in the Champions League final deserve to be there.
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To be fair, it's really just Arteta saying this crazy stuff. I haven't seen any Arsenal fans who don't believe PSG weren't the better team over the 2 legs.
 
bond19821982 said:
Rice header was the only one that you should have scored. Rest were good defending or Saves. I mean, are you not expecting them in a CL semi final ? Point being, you had possession but did nothing of it. PSG knew this..
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So do we just discount chances now because they are saved as that's the goalkeepers job? We don't look at the quality of the chances, the quality of the finishes or the quality of the saves?

If the main point is that we can play decent, have chances, but don't score then we will get punished, then yeah, I agree, and that was my point.

Same way Utd fans have been talking all season long about their need for a number 9. Is the same analysis offered then?
 
GoonerBear said:
To be honest, i'd rather we 'Wengerised' the League Cup again. There's just too much football being played just now, I think it's going to be harder and harder for clubs in England to compete in all trophies.

With the 2 extra Champions League games in January we had 9 games to play across 4 competitions, 11 if you count to the 5th of February, and they included 2 games Vs Newcastle, and games vs Utd, Spurs and Villa and Man City. I don't think that's sustainable. Id rather we play the 2nd string / young players again even if we get to the semi final stage.
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You potentially raise a good point if you'd won that or the FA Cup within the last two years.

But... those players need to experience winning as a team.

And even then, Guadiola won it 4 years in a row. Klopp won it twice. Players seemingly got a lot from winning it even when many had already seen success at the highest level. I'm not sure you're in a position to be that dismissive.
 
GoonerBear said:
I wasn't posting that to say yay, we were the superior teams in those games when quite clearly we weren't.

My main take away from it though is it's just more evidence that points to what nearly every single person says on here anyway, is that at the very least, Arsenal need a proper number 9 that can actually take some of these chances that do fall there way.
And taking your chances at key moments in these games can make all the difference.

I watched PSG totally outplay Arsenal for 30mins last week and score on the 3rd minute which rocked us. I then watch Arsenal outplay PSG up until a similar time, however Arsenal didn't convert any of their good chances, 2 of them in the first 5 minutes, and get punished ruthlessly.

I think overall PSG deserved to win, but ties like this can hinge on small moments, and if you don't take any of them when they come, you invariably always get punished.

Oh, and I'm not saying signing a number 9 fixes everything that's wrong. But im sure everyone on here would agree, it's certainly very good place to start.
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While I agree objectively that Arsenal need a striker, they also need a been there and done that player who's won considerable accolades at a competitive level.

Effectively need a Thiago Silva when at Chelsea or even Casemiro for United. Someone the young team and players (even perhaps the manager) can resort too when in the crunch moments. I heard the commentary on talk sport mention this to be Rice, but Declan hasn't won a high level competition in his career. I don't even necessarily think Isak has that winning pedigree in his repertoire despite his borderline world class ability.

If Arsenal want to cross the line should get a talented striker like a Sesko alongside KDB.
 
GoonerBear said:
So do we just discount chances now because they are saved as that's the goalkeepers job? We don't look at the quality of the chances, the quality of the finishes or the quality of the saves?

If the main point is that we can play decent, have chances, but don't score then we will get punished, then yeah, I agree, and that was my point.

Same way Utd fans have been talking all season long about their need for a number 9. Is the same analysis offered then?
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Key point is- having a proper #9 isn't going to help you score those chances. Its not like you couldn't score because your players weren't good enough.

I have no idea what has United to do with this topic.I will assume that you wanted to go on a defensive mode and so I will conveniently ignore it.
 
Xaviesta said:
I really struggle to have any sympathy for a team beaten over 2 legs and them feeling hard done by around believing they were the better team or hard done by in terms of the officiating etc. The two teams in the Champions League final deserve to be there.
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If you’re beaten home and away, you can’t really complain. Arteta said Donnarumma made the difference as if Raya didn’t also make saves to keep arsenal in it.
 
Spent £650 million and has won 1 trophy with the team that wasn't even his.

He's the most protected manager in the media in the league.
 
erikcred said:
The bigger reason for their loss is that he forgot to bring the light bulb he usually uses for his motivational team talks.
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That talk was so cringy I'm surprised all the players kept a straight face. Some modern managers try to manufacture inspiration but it only works if it comes from the heart. Fergie did this brilliantly.
 
TheGame said:
Also why do they roll this Cnut out for every set piece? Fecking cringe worthy.

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The cameras showed him strutting out to the technical area for corners and throw ins. I want to see the cameras showing him sit back down after the 14th throw in is cleared easily.

Rooney in Paris said:
Should've gotten more pickpockets to go through his players' stuff
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Skelly obviously missed that seminar.
 
KStandBarmyArmy1993 said:
You potentially raise a good point if you'd won that or the FA Cup within the last two years.

But... those players need to experience winning as a team.

And even then, Guadiola won it 4 years in a row. Klopp won it twice. Players seemingly got a lot from winning it even when many had already seen success at the highest level. I'm not sure you're in a position to be that dismissive.
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I'm being dismissive purely because of the fixture congestion and the belief I have that something has to give.

It's the lesser of the 4 competitions, they've already squeezed an extra 2 Champions League games in January, they play a 2 legged semi final in it as well which is mad when we have got so many games on, and at some point you just need to prioritise competitions and players health.

Redstain said:
While I agree objectively that Arsenal need a striker, they also need a been there and done that player who's won considerable accolades at a competitive level.

Effectively need a Thiago Silva when at Chelsea or even Casemiro for United. Someone the young team and players (even perhaps the manager) can resort too when in the crunch moments. I heard the commentary on talk sport mention this to be Rice, but Declan hasn't won a high level competition in his career. I don't even necessarily think Isak has that winning pedigree in his repertoire despite his borderline world class ability.

If Arsenal want to cross the line should get a talented striker like a Sesko alongside KDB.
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I mean, we already have Zinchenko, Jesus and Sterling in a squad that won the lot at City, and Havertz and Jorginho that won things at Chelsea, Timber that won the league at Ajax, Partey that won Europa League at Atletico, so it's not like we have no experience of players winning things.

bond19821982 said:
Key point is- having a proper #9 isn't going to help you score those chances. Its not like you couldn't score because your players weren't good enough.

I have no idea what has United to do with this topic.I will assume that you wanted to go on a defensive mode and so I will conveniently ignore it.
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Id hope a proper number 9 might have been where Martinelli was when he missed his chance in the 3rd minute, or be in the box when Saka pulls the ball across the 6 yard line and Merino is nowhere to be seen.

It's not also about the chances missed, it's offering more of a threat than Merino where he makes more chances for the team or himself than a makeshift centre midfielder does.

I bring Utd into it because I find people look and analyse things differently when critiquing their own games vs rivals games when it helps suit a narrative.
 
KjaAnd said:
Don’t know if this has been posted before but he really is a weird one, isn’t he?

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I kind’a liked it. It is true what he says there, after all. The only relevnt thing is if it works with that exact crew there and then.. Was the clip taken before yeaterday’s game? Because Arsenal really came out blazing at Parc de Princes. But since he’s talking about connecting to 60.000, it more likely is before a home game. Arsenal was really bleak coming into the game at the Emirates, so mybe it fell flat with the players after all?
 
Grande said:
I kind’a liked it. It is true what he says there, after all. The only relevnt thing is if it works with that exact crew there and then.. Was the clip taken before yeaterday’s game? Because Arsenal really came out blazing at Parc de Princes. But since he’s talking about connecting to 60.000, it more likely is before a home game. Arsenal was really bleak coming into the game at the Emirates, so mybe it fell flat with the players after all?
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It's from ages ago. Xhaka and Lacazette are both there.
 
Xaviesta said:
I really struggle to have any sympathy for a team beaten over 2 legs and them feeling hard done by around believing they were the better team or hard done by in terms of the officiating etc. The two teams in the Champions League final deserve to be there.
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Yes, I feel the same. And I must add - this goes for Arsenal yesterday too!
 
I had Arsenal fans telling me not long ago Amorim has to be judged against his peers.

So the same has to be true of Arteta. How has he done this season compared to his peers Arsenal fans? A nothing domestic season relative to expectations and knocked out of Europe in poor fashion.

Meanwhile Slot bags a league at the first attempt, Howe wins silverware, Pep is in a final, likely to win it.
 
GoonerBear said:
I wasn't posting that to say yay, we were the superior teams in those games when quite clearly we weren't.

My main take away from it though is it's just more evidence that points to what nearly every single person says on here anyway, is that at the very least, Arsenal need a proper number 9 that can actually take some of these chances that do fall there way.
And taking your chances at key moments in these games can make all the difference.

I watched PSG totally outplay Arsenal for 30mins last week and score on the 3rd minute which rocked us. I then watch Arsenal outplay PSG up until a similar time, however Arsenal didn't convert any of their good chances, 2 of them in the first 5 minutes, and get punished ruthlessly.

I think overall PSG deserved to win, but ties like this can hinge on small moments, and if you don't take any of them when they come, you invariably always get punished.

Oh, and I'm not saying signing a number 9 fixes everything that's wrong. But im sure everyone on here would agree, it's certainly very good place to start.
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Agree these games can pivot on moments.

But all the moments have to be remembered if doing that. It can't be selective to suit.

PSG had two very good chances in the last 5 mins at your place. It could and should have been tie over before the second leg.
 
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