Arsenal Thread | 2025/26

Some thinking for Arteta to do. The fact we aren't putting teams away, whilst at the same time letting in late goals (in recent weeks we've done that vs Sunderland, Wolves, Villa and now Palace) isn't a good recipe and not the sign of a healthy team. The late goals in all games have been in part due to sitting back to hold on, plus against Villa and Palace giving away idiotic and unnecessary set pieces.

Feels like we are stumbling across the line in games and that won't be sustainable. Their keeper had a blinder in the 1st half today but there were also chances that were struck straight at him. Can't afford to do that in the bigger games- if we had Haaland up front tonight he'd have got a hat trick in that 1st half. Must be more clinical - set pieces and own goals aren't going to win the big prizes. We haven't scored a non-penalty goal or own goal in 3 games despite having an XG of 7 in those games!

Next up is Chelsea who also can't hit a barn door from a yard so that will be interesting.
 
balotellishaircut said:
Arteta is a fucking scourge on the game, the football he serves up has no place in the PL, but yet despite having the strongest squad his teams continually stink the place out, in footballing terms Arteta is a terrorist.
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He doesn’t have the strongest squad, the media have said that but there’s fuck all creativity in it. I actually think they are worse than a few seasons ago.
 
balotellishaircut said:
Arteta is a fucking scourge on the game, the football he serves up has no place in the PL, but yet despite having the strongest squad his teams continually stink the place out, in footballing terms Arteta is a terrorist.
Click to expand...
Long may he reign he's holding the team back with his fear
 
cheekybids said:
He doesn’t have the strongest squad, the media have said that but there’s fuck all creativity in it. I actually think they are worse than a few seasons ago.
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The squad is much deeper today but people forget we had a peak Granit Xhaka in the team a few seasons ago. He'd walk into the current side - Rice and Xhaka would be the best combination we would have given the other options.

A few seasons ago people still thought we were shit so didn't play the low blocks that they do today. We still struggle against those and our lack of being clinical means we don't tend to score the 1st goal early which would force the low block teams to come out more. And if we do get the 1st goal Arteta's philosophy is then to try and hold onto that lead instead of killing teams off, which means we are always vulnerable to a late goal.

Gyokeres was supposed to solve that but nobody seems to pass to him - instead it's just hoofed up to him and he's not the most mobile number 9. Might as well have just signed Rasmus Hoijlund if that was going to be the tactical approach.

Also (and I know fellow Gooners will call me out on it) Odegaard is vastly overrated. He just passes side to side or to Saka, many times there is a clear pass to Gyokeres but he prefers to just recycle the ball. He should be nowhere near the 1st team let alone being captain - I'd sell him and make Rice captain.
 
bridgeno1 said:
The squad is much deeper today but people forget we had a peak Granit Xhaka in the team a few seasons ago. He'd walk into the current side - Rice and Xhaka would be the best combination we would have given the other options.

A few seasons ago people still thought we were shit so didn't play the low blocks that they do today. We still struggle against those and our lack of being clinical means we don't tend to score the 1st goal early which would force the low block teams to come out more. And if we do get the 1st goal Arteta's philosophy is then to try and hold onto that lead instead of killing teams off, which means we are always vulnerable to a late goal.

Gyokeres was supposed to solve that but nobody seems to pass to him - instead it's just hoofed up to him and he's not the most mobile number 9. Might as well have just signed Rasmus Hoijlund if that was going to be the tactical approach.

Also (and I know fellow Gooners will call me out on it) Odegaard is vastly overrated. He just passes side to side or to Saka, many times there is a clear pass to Gyokeres but he prefers to just recycle the ball. He should be nowhere near the 1st team let alone being captain - I'd sell him and make Rice captain.
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Agree with all that. The low block is a nightmare to play against, there’s a reason we seem to be easy to get at & it’s due to creating overloads & playing high risk high reward.

I’d say the squad is full of 7/10 when you needs sprinkling of star dust. Saka we agree on but he’s been anointed as a star so can do nothing wrong.
 
bridgeno1 said:
The squad is much deeper today but people forget we had a peak Granit Xhaka in the team a few seasons ago. He'd walk into the current side - Rice and Xhaka would be the best combination we would have given the other options.

A few seasons ago people still thought we were shit so didn't play the low blocks that they do today. We still struggle against those and our lack of being clinical means we don't tend to score the 1st goal early which would force the low block teams to come out more. And if we do get the 1st goal Arteta's philosophy is then to try and hold onto that lead instead of killing teams off, which means we are always vulnerable to a late goal.

Gyokeres was supposed to solve that but nobody seems to pass to him - instead it's just hoofed up to him and he's not the most mobile number 9. Might as well have just signed Rasmus Hoijlund if that was going to be the tactical approach.

Also (and I know fellow Gooners will call me out on it) Odegaard is vastly overrated. He just passes side to side or to Saka, many times there is a clear pass to Gyokeres but he prefers to just recycle the ball. He should be nowhere near the 1st team let alone being captain - I'd sell him and make Rice captain.
Click to expand...
We learned a few years ago, that its not just the 1st goal that's important, its the 2nd and 3rd, and ideally before half time!

Its frustrating that teams are more than happy to be 1 or 2 goals down with 30 minutes to play, as they believe they've still half a chance IF they manage to have their 1st goal fall into their lap from a corner, free kick or a mistake.

The issue Arsenal have is the 1st goal doesnt come early enough, and teams aren't dead and buried by half time.

Its something weve not done enough of over the last 2 seasons, but it does feel like that's coming back slowly over the last few weeks.
 
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