Arsenal thread | 2025/26

[Danny Tiatto]

It still counts as a major trophy.

Try telling West Ham supporters that it’s irrelevant.

So does the carabao cup then

 

[bridgeno1]

You’re kidding right? He gets nothing but plaudits and headlines and thats the point I’m trying to make.

How long did it take Rodri (a far superior player) to get the attention and recognition that Rice is getting now? Like I said if the guy wasn’t English he wouldn’t even be spoke about.

From an Arsenal perspective at least we always knew Rodri was an exceptional player. The best player in the world in fact. Maybe the Dippers cast aspersions on him but we always knew he is a phenomenal player, and for sure better than Rice.

It was also fucking hilarious seeing Vinicius throw his toys out of the pram!

 

[super_city_si]

He’s a better Nico Gonzales, who also takes corners and free kicks. He walks into the England team and the Arsenal team, and would have been the obvious and natural replacement for Gundo/Kovacic, even with Rodri fit and healthy…but he could have filled in for him, too, last year.

I give up. He’s shit and would be on the bench at City…got it!

(Delusional and I’m done.)

He's a completely different player to Nico Gonzalez. He's more like Reijnders. Hes a front facing player. Good when the pitch is in front of him. He's not a 6. never will be. ridiculous comparison with Gundogan. Chalk and Cheese.
PS nowhere did i say he was shit. He's clearly a very good player at what he does.

 

[Gingers Dad]

Rice is a bit like David Silva or Santi Cazorla. Basically a player that other teams' fans don't appreciate so much because they don't see them week in/week out but when you do see them every game you realise they are a minimum 8/10 every match and are key to the team even though they don't get the headlines of other players.

Rice and Cazorla in the same sentence as David Silva? You're just taking the piss now.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Rice and Cazorla in the same sentence as David Silva? You're just taking the piss now.

He’s not as complete as either of those. He’s more akin to Gerrard. Very good at most things, but the downside of chasing the ball all over the pitch means he’s out of position too much.

 

[GunnerGer]

He’s not as complete as either of those. He’s more akin to Gerrard. Very good at most things, but the downside of chasing the ball all over the pitch means he’s out of position too much.

Both his club and international team are playing him with someone that holds a bit more.
Now that might be because of what you say above, or it might be because much like with Kante, their managers think that having him as a traditional 6 doesn't get the best out of him. Or maybe a bit of both.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Both his club and international team are playing him with someone that holds a bit more.
Now that might be because of what you say above, or it might be because much like with Kante, their managers think that having him as a traditional 6 doesn't get the best out of him. Or maybe a bit of both.

Comparing him to Gerrard isn’t an insult. He’s pretty complete, it’s just that his positioning is suspect at times. You need your 6 to be positionally aware at the top level, hence he’s now a box to box 8. City struggled last season as we had Kovacic in the 6 and he’s of a similar ilk.

All players have flaws. It’s how you mask them that matters.

His improvement in set piece delivery is a huge extra string to his bow.

 

[GunnerGer]

Comparing him to Gerrard isn’t an insult. He’s pretty complete, it’s just that his positioning is suspect at times. You need your 6 to be positionally aware at the top level, hence he’s now a box to box 8. City struggled last season as we had Kovacic in the 6 and he’s of a similar ilk.

All players have flaws. It’s how you mask them that matters.

His improvement in set piece delivery is a huge extra string to his bow.

Fair points mate. I think this season him and Zubimendi have been playing much more like a traditional midfield pairing, with taking turns in holding and in build up, bombing on, with Eze playing more like a traditional number 10. It will be interesting to see if that continues with Odegaard back.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Fair points mate. I think this season him and Zubimendi have been playing much more like a traditional midfield pairing, with taking turns in holding and in build up, bombing on, with Eze playing more like a traditional number 10. It will be interesting to see if that continues with Odegaard back.

Having a top 6 means your 8s can do more. Zubimendi is better than Partey.

 

[jamesha]

Having a top 6 means your 8s can do more. Zubimendi is better than Partey.

He’s less rapey

 

[Vienna_70]

So does the carabao cup then

Who said it doesn’t?

It’s one of only four trophies à team can win in a season.

And don’t forget, the League Cup, and Dennis Tueart's brilliant goal was all we had to cling to for 35 years.