Arsenal Banter

29 Jan 2026 21:08:30
Just watched yesterday’s highlights and was great to see Kai back on the field, scoring and assisting.
Ode/Eze/Rice should learn from the pass he made to Gyokeres for his goal, this will allow our wingers to also attack the box with pace and pepper the opposition goal.


Bill mate, your suggestion of playing 4-4-2 may work with Havertz and Gyokeres upfront. We may have to sacrifice Ode and Eze for this formation and the hoss won’t do it but it could be plan B in the last quarter of the games.

30 Jan 2026 00:10:32
Lots of reports Odegaard is looking to move on for a new challenge Highbury.

30 Jan 2026 07:11:31
That’s news, I haven’t seen anything on that but we can cash on him in the summer and give Nwaneri a chance at his role with Eze to cover. We can recruit a younger player to slowly slot in the next couple of years.

29 Jan 2026 10:11:35
Good morning boys n girls

Another choppy day on the high Irish sea

How good was it too have King Kai back he was superb

A full house in the cl not too shsbby

Anyway I'm off to the engine room Uncle Albert is on duty

Watch out the ferry from Pembroke.

29 Jan 2026 07:39:36
{Ed's Note - thefutureisoldgold3 has posted a new article entitled, Planning for the Championship: Wolves' Financial Rebuild

28 Jan 2026 16:44:46
Good evening all Mr optimistic here
Looking forward to another evening of laughter, love and banter on live chat

All welcome even stoner if you're around buddy

SHARPIE get you're ass back tonight

Regards to all.

28 Jan 2026 18:58:33
Better win tonight and a big margin please.

29 Jan 2026 08:59:55
At the game last night which on another night could have been 6-1 and the love for Kai was huge! VAR just sucks the fun out of it doesn’t it? COYG.

29 Jan 2026 15:59:54
Glad he used the reserves and rested the main players and still managed to get good result. This new champions league format does need to be looked at as there are no insentives in getting first or 8th as i see it apart from finacial.

27 Jan 2026 17:58:31
I really hope this quote from Arteta is genuine 😊

"jump on this boat it's going to be fun".

27 Jan 2026 18:46:46
He sounded genuine, but we should not get sea sick by the time we reach the shore!

Leeds are in form and fighting for points, it is going to be another big test for us, I an praying that we respond in an emphatic manner. COYG!

28 Jan 2026 12:46:46
It's going to be a tough game Highbury mate. They will be in our faces, testing our mental strength, we need a win simple as
Take care mate.

28 Jan 2026 15:04:04
Thanks mate, yes, the first part will be to get a win and 3 points, however, if we just manage to get that with a single goal scored from a corner, it won’t boost anyone’s confidence so we definitely need a performance. At least that is my view. We fans need the utmost patience until May!

27 Jan 2026 07:53:34
So what's our thoughts on selection for the CL, full strength or 7 or 8 changes?

I think VG has to start, the boy's confidence must be shot to bits.

27 Jan 2026 10:57:43
Morning BG Why do you think that surely if he ain't scoring then he should be benched.

27 Jan 2026 11:09:45
Well there are a few ATM that performing.
Ode and Saka for starters. Got a bit of sympathy for VG as he clearly doesn't get the service due to mainly Ode not releasing the ball quick enough.

If he was missing chance after chance, which he isn't, I would drop him.
Eze is the worry for me, needs a good long run in the first team instead of Ode who has been poor as a player and captain
Take care.

27 Jan 2026 11:33:35
I'd play Gykores up front. His physicality for me is the key and I'm sure the goals will come. Bring on Jesus/Merino/Havertz as subs.
I'd give Eze a start and Madueke as they need minutes to prove their worth.
I think Saliba needs a break.
Trossard to start with Martinelli on soon into the 2nd half.

I quite like the idea of subbing lots of players to bring on extra energy and sharpness.
Against ManU I thought some players looked tired. mentally, not just physically.

27 Jan 2026 12:24:50
Bill you are bang on, he just isn't getting the service and there is evidence of that . Eze does need a run and MO needs a rest.

SAL I think Martinelli could start, he has great form in the CL and was rested at the weekend.

Isn't Havertz injured again?

27 Jan 2026 13:37:29
Aha, I think you're right about Havertz Banbury. And I'm happy for Martinelli to start with Trossard on just after half time. I don't think either of them play to their advantage when on for the whole game.

27 Jan 2026 15:36:07
I'm hearing from a mate martinelli is on the way out.

27 Jan 2026 16:09:24
Hello Mal mate hope you are well.
I have been very critical of him in the past, bust he has shown some good form this season especially as a impact sub, so I would be disappointed not heartbroken if he went.

What do you think of Saka this season, showing signs to me that he thinks he might be too good for the club, know he has signed a long term contract but that means sweet fa nowadays
Take care.

27 Jan 2026 17:22:31
Afternoon Billy mate, from what I can see is saka is being marked by 2 players all the time white/timber are not doing enough to take 1 of those players away from him
MO needs to get closer to him and play a give and go attack
It's unfair in my opinion to blame our forwards for lack of goal they just are not getting the service our midfield although look superb on paper are just not doing it for me too defensive

Hope that makes sense old billy.

27 Jan 2026 17:59:16
Very good post Mal mate
Makes very clear sense
Take care.

27 Jan 2026 21:19:20
Guaranteed top 2 the only thing to gain from this match is money, thus I would rest everyone who's starting the next one and give some young lads their shot.

28 Jan 2026 11:34:09
I was hoping he would have rested them last week as it didn't really matter what the result was we were going through. Its a big lesson learnt for champions league you don't have to win all the games to go though and player rotation should be key factor. However looking back at our injuries i don't think we played with our strongest 11. Midfield for me right now has become an issue as Mal has pointed out we just are not getting the service. In the current setup the midfield move up so defence comes in to support midfield then raya comes out to support defence and leaves himself short. Needs addressing.

Still can't get over the fact we lost to united, but in the grand scheme of things may only be 1 game.

26 Jan 2026 12:23:43
Oh I do like to be beside the sea side!

Afternoon all, it's captain sensible here and I would just like to say EIE the Bear would be very disappointed.

26 Jan 2026 13:24:01
Mr Connell also knew when we were pants, and like me in those days we saw some rubbish performances.

26 Jan 2026 14:00:35
Ahh the good old early 80s

What wouldn't do to go back to them

The Whittington stone what a pub.

26 Jan 2026 14:21:00
Blimey Mal, that's a blast from the past I know.

Clock End or N Bank boy?

26 Jan 2026 15:05:27
Has to be the clock comrade or West lower

I do like my comfort.

26 Jan 2026 15:36:18
I started in the Clock End than graduated to the North Bank where people like John Hoy stood.

26 Jan 2026 16:24:57
Ffs Billy, you're going back to the early 70s I think

I'm getting on a bit but come on geezer

I think we will start calling you OLD BILL.

26 Jan 2026 16:33:58
Well I am 70 in July, so Old Bill will be approiate😂😂😂😂😂.

{Ed025's Note - you are experienced in life rather than old Bill.. :)

26 Jan 2026 17:36:05
Thank you Ed🫶.

26 Jan 2026 18:23:21
Was always North Bank from the age of 13, must be, oooooh 20 years ago now :op.

27 Jan 2026 06:24:29
North Bank boy me :)

26 Jan 2026 11:43:54
So. here I am the Doom Monger ( Realist )

I go back to last week when Mal and Co are saying we are having a good season. you can only have a good season when you have something.

Today is a stark reminder and I will say it again, CL football is suited to us and we look better in it, I will say it again, M City and Villa are still in this title race, I have seen enough over the last few PL games to say this now. Arteta WILL NOT win us the PL I'm afraid, he isn't good enough or brave enough.

It's all well and good saying we are 1st in the PL

1st in the CL

Q/F of the EFL

4th round of the F A Cup

As Henry said in the week Arsenal haven't won a thing yet, which means they are no better than anyone else.

26 Jan 2026 11:50:32
Im usually level headed but loosing to united our bogey team is a big No for me I would have accepted a draw. Club needs to admit they got it wrong with Victor and bring in a ready made striker for the prem somone who will score the moment he puts on the shirt.

Not saying Victor won't come good I think he needs time with the team for the team to adapt to play with a striker upfront.

That said we are top of the table with 4 points infront. Still top of the table for Champions league in both the cups. One bad came does not take the season away but we need to pull our socks up 4 points will soon turn quickly.

26 Jan 2026 11:57:16
I posted this yesterday, it's not me on another rant, I have said enough on the game now.

Let's see what he does this week, will he rotate and focus on Leeds?

26 Jan 2026 11:57:46
We might not have won, we might be as ugly and as infuriating as they come, but we certainly haven't lost yet either.

Maybe Arteta won't win, but I hope he does win so people finally give him some respect.
If we do change manager at the end of the season, they'll have an incredible foundation to build from.

26 Jan 2026 11:59:28
You say you're a realist but you come out as a pessimist to me. Which is fine to be honest. I think a realist would say that we have a good chance in all the competitions we're in but nothing's guaranteed at the moment.

26 Jan 2026 12:51:36
If I'm a pessimist I wouldn't praise the team when deserved. which I do, We have the same chance of winning the PL as Man City and Vila, we have the same chance of winning the EFL as Man City . both good chances because not many teams are left in with a chance.

We have a fair chance of the FA Cup and a chance of the CL, that's realism.

26 Jan 2026 13:14:48
Is a pessimist incapable of paying a compliment by definition? I don't think so. I think it's pessimistic to say that we won't win the league when we're leading. It's not certain but it's certainly possible and some (optimists no doubt) could cautiously say even probable.

I don't think the chances are the same for us, City and Villa. I give us the biggest chance and i don't think it's overly optimistic. That said a loss against leeds would even the odds somewhat.

26 Jan 2026 21:39:12
Pessimist is about evaluating the future outcome rather than an evaluation of the past. So saying we played great or poor isn’t about being a pessimist but more your evaluation of a run of games or performances - how you review them could be very different eg performance Vs result Vs expectation Vs standards expected of the team or just the fact one might pick out positives or negatives more as it’s your nature or you are making a point.

It’s impossible to not acknowledge we are sitting pretty in all competitions.
It’s somewhat impossible to deny we haven’t set the world on fire and have our challenges that aren’t getting addressed
It’s debatable if that will cost us the league - we will continue to drop points the way we are playing however, if City or Villa don’t capitalise then we win.
History says City finish strong and never count out City. So it’s reasonable to ask for the boss to address some of the poor attacking play we’ve put up with, especially given the embarassing options at his disposal

Should we be concerned? Does moaning help? I’m concerned and I don’t care if it helps as it’s a banter site.

If we lose Arteta will I be concerned - yes and no. Yes as I like the consistency. NO because I don’t think in a strong league thst he has the tactics or heart to make the big decisions to win big trophies. So I would trade a 4th for another 2nd place if we ultimately get the right person so we win things. If Arteta proves me wrong - FANTASTIC AS i'm AN ARSENAL FAN NOT AN ARTETA FAN OR HATER. I like the guy, I just think he’s the Emperor with no clothes and a bottler. He loves our club but lumped us with Kai, Jesus and Viktor while picking wrong captain, ruining Eze and loves a hand break.

I’ve been saying it for 4 years and he’s not changed. Only thing changed is City and Liverpool are crap this year. It’s the Leicester year….

26 Jan 2026 11:35:12
Well done Utd - far more attack minded and breaking with pace and intent. We need to take a good look at how we play, puss around with ball at back and get a striker with pace. We got to be braver if we want to win as it will cost us.

Onwards and upwards

Who’s the person that will question how we play.

26 Jan 2026 13:11:57
How's it going sy4 buddy

How's the family doing.

26 Jan 2026 21:40:29
Doing good bud - good to see that heading a football has been linked to brain issues. About ……. time.

How you doing? Hope you are good 👍.

27 Jan 2026 15:38:50
I'm. OK my health has improved so I'm in a better mood

I see that about the medical implications of heading the ball mate.

{Ed025's Note - at least that wont effect Gyokeres Mal, he never gets in a position to actually head the ball mate, or maybe he just doesn,t want to spoil that nicely styled hair do he has?.. :)

26 Jan 2026 09:41:19
Another thought- fatigue was obvious, 4 away games, including to Italy, before this game.

{Ed025's Note - for me Sally thats an excuse rather than a reason mate, these are finely tuned athletes and its more the set up and nerves that is making you look so poor, you are still in a great position but the opposition can smell blood and the supporters can see that and are starting to panic as well, its time for Mikel to step up to the plate and change things for me..

26 Jan 2026 11:44:24
I do question the decision to play a strong team in every champions league match. 7wins out of 7 is amazing, but also rather pointless (win bonuses and home advantage aside) and surely a contributing factor towards our lack of recent wins in the prem.

26 Jan 2026 09:40:25
Let's discuss our captain

He doesn't contribute enough with the ball and without it, vocally he IS NOT a leader, let's be honest you don't sub your captain, he is supposed to be the man. Is Arteta scared of a difficult conversation?

Give it to DR now show some backbone and get things sorted.

{Ed025's Note - Deco has not been at his best lately Banbury and while i think hes world class im not sure about captain material, but saying that i dont think MO is either mate and i see Gabby and Willy as the team leaders..

26 Jan 2026 11:52:07
Can't disagree with that ED, but someone other than MO.

{Ed025's Note - yeah Banbury im not even sure he should be a regular starter myself mate..

27 Jan 2026 05:50:57
Rice or gabriel should be our captain for me anyone of them.