02 Sep 2025 14:00:36
A lot has been said about the game. The way i see it is we were better in the first half, but Liverpool improved in the second. In the end the difference was a fantastic free kick.
Margins were small and criticism is aimed at Arteta for not trying to make them bigger. But how much can you really do away at Anfield when you've lost so many key players and the ones who are available have only been at the club for few weeks at best? Maybe the way he chose to play was actually the smart thing to do. I'm sure there are lot's of differing opinions about that.
Arsenal need to improve in several ways from last season. Arteta has all the tools in his disposal to do so. Now it's up to him and the players to deliver.
02 Sep 2025 16:15:36
I've just had a chance to watch the game and I have a few thoughts-
I'm really happy with Madueke, I think he will be awesome for us.
Raya definitely seemed wobbly. Too many balls booted up the pitch and I hate his passing to the centre, always gets me on edge.
Pretty even first half, lots of errors from both sides. Just glad Salah was a little off the pace.
I love Timber's commitment.
Perhaps subs were a little late.
We certainly picked up the pace after THAT goal. What a strike!
I agree with Iceman. We've had such a great transfer window and it will take time for the team to adjust to all our the changes.
All in all I don't think there was such a huge difference between us and Liverpool in that game.
I think it will be interesting to see how they progress, especially with Isak now on board. Will Etiketi (not sure of the spelling yet) be happy with his arrival?
02 Sep 2025 20:50:41
Did a Liverpool have a better window?
Seems like Viktor and Zubi are not having tne immediate impact expected or hoped. Both signings now being questioned in. a number of corners. Viktor looks a bit slow and robotic while Zubi not decisive with distribution and fast with the ball. Both will need time but also the boss to change tactics.
Great to see the boss throw Eze under the bus. ?
Still short of a striker and fast attack - every player looks to pass backwards 80% of the time- so boring and negative. This will impact our season given tough start.
Why didn’t we sell Martinelli
Why didn’t we sign a proven epl striker even as back up eg Watkins
Liverpool weren’t at the races in first half and we did little to threaten.
Liverpool slightly improved and caused us issues while at the other end, they didn’t even need a keeper really as we were limp.
It was a pathetic display from Arteta and the team. Injuries aren’t an excuse. We weren’t decisive in the window and look ill prepared for a champion challenging season. Boss doesn’t look like he’s learned and talks crap after games.
Noni turned up when played on right but pretty use, ESR on left but still didn’t put a dangerous early ball into the box and we brought a 15 year old on away at Anfield. Really .
Sorry but it was a pathetic spineless bit of management from Arteta and a spineless display. Hope we use the break to make some decisions, changes and Arteta gets his ass handed to him by the board to drive change. Clearly not going to be brave without a nudge.
03 Sep 2025 12:01:37
You changed your your tune.
03 Sep 2025 15:55:19
Forgive me, but I think the difference between the two teams was palpable. Liverpool had more possession and spent considerably more time going forward; we had a marked proclivity to sit back, and our phases of possession were spent mainly passing square or backwards. That was a deliberate tactic, evinced by the defensive selection. On far too many occasions, we had the ball deep in their half and within seconds, it was back to Raya. How does a throw-in from close to the corner flag in the opposition half get back to the goalkeeper in two touches? The switch in gameplay after we conceded was an indication that we went there without ambition, and for one point. Some serious soul-searching needs to be undertaken over the international break, or the title hopes will remain just that. Sorry to be so negative, but frankly, there were no positives.
03 Sep 2025 17:12:26
Liverpool spent more time going forward? And yet they only won because of a freekick.
I'm not saying i'm particularly proud of the way we played but we did manage to restrict them. Neither team had big chances from open play. When that happens the likelihood of a draw is very high. I wonder if the game would have finished 0-0 what would the general view be?
Let's be clear i don't want to see us play that way in 98 % of the matches, but considering the circumstances i'm fine with it in this particular game.
03 Sep 2025 18:22:03
The point is, we set out to frustrate, not to win. We are not going to win the league by playing that way against the top four/ five sides? The only circumstance was the absence of Odegaard and Saka; the potential occurrence of which was supposedly why we spent £200+M in the transfer window. Instead, Arteta chose to play Merino for Odegaard and left an ineffectual Martinelli on for 70 minutes. It was 0-0 because we have an incredibly good defence, which ought to provide the basis for attacking and dynamic football, not to play negatively for a draw. Play for a draw against top sides and you commonly get nothing. Why? Because the top four sides have the potential to do something special, which is why they are in the top four. We shall have to agree to differ, because I wasn't fine with it. Best, HB.
03 Sep 2025 20:33:00
We used to get hammered late during the Wenger era for trying to play that dynamic attacking football away to the biggest sides. I'm not saying the complete opposite of that is the right way but rather the right balance is probably somewhere in the middle (as in several other aspects in life) .
If we play like this in all the games against top 5 teams i won't be happy but this was an away game to the champions without several key players (not just Odegaard and Saka) . Liverpool can kill you on the transition and the coaches ultimately need to think of the best way to get the result. You need to pair idealism with realism. That said i hope this team will grow into one that always goes for the win no matter the opposition. It doesn't happen overnight no matter how much money has been spent though.
The setup wasn't perfect in my opinion. I thought this game would have been perfect for Eze. He was fit and could have just played according to his instincts. Would have made us much more dangerous in transition without overly exposing our defence.
I respect your view.
03 Sep 2025 21:00:03
Are you talking the key Wenger years when we won be trophies and won at big grounds while playing decent football or when he had 1/ 1000 of Arteta’s budget, was hounded out but still won more than Arteta?
I was saying the same thing last season - he’s a negative scared coach who bottles big decisions. Sky did a segment on how we play yet the Arteta crew attacks anyone who dares attack Arteta because we now try and we compete ( but fail) .
It’s one game and early but Arteta needs help. He didn’t get it last year on the bench and surrounds himself with people who clearly agree with him or don’t challenge him. He needs a David Dein like figure to challenge and push him. I’m not saying he’s a bad manager but I am doubting if he has the balls to win anything major.
04 Sep 2025 01:26:19
Liverpool fan here but I agree with Hoxton's opinion more. It was a drab game with both sides creating very little but Arsenal clearly set out to get a draw. Playing what is essentially 4 CBs and 3 CDMs is indicative of that. You can point to the injuries to Ode and Saka but if it takes just two injuries for Arteta to revert back to Stoke-esque football despite spending a fortune since he took over, then he clearly isn't the guy for the job. If you see yourself as a big club, then act like one too and take the game to the opponent.
Tbf, I have been annoyed by Slot for his tactics too since it's a far cry from Klopp's early days. But he has shown the tactical acumen to switch things up when needed at the right time. He made changes to the side much earlier than Arteta did and as the game went on, I felt that it was only a matter or time before we scored. It just happened to be from a moment of magic for us.
{Ed014's Note - as soon as I saw that Merino was playing I knew that we’d lose so never even bothered watching the game. That’s no offence to Merino.
To be perfectly honest that was pathetic, I personally don’t rate your side at all and had we played the football of the previous two seasons last year, you wouldn’t have had a sniff.
I’d go so far as to say you’re probably one of the worst league winners, in terms of squad quality and quality of football played last year, for some time, but you had Salah on fire. I watched you numerous times, wife is a pool supporter and you were poor so many times but just got the win.
We needed to make a statement Sunday and wipe the floor with you, Arteta bottled that and for me he can pretty much jog off.
I doubt I’ll bother watching us again as to churn out what was clearly a spineless performance with that current squad was a shocker, I hope he’s ashamed of himself.
Genuinely no offence to you about your team/squad but you don’t even have any real depth or a player I’d want at our club, which never used to be the case.
04 Sep 2025 07:07:54
Hello Ed mate hope you and the wife are safe and well. I was on live chat on Sunday but I was raging with Arteta, s tactics and selection and probably got a ban if I posted what I wanted to say.
Hope Arteta takes a long hard look at himself during the break and comes back with tactics that suit the players we have got
Take care mate.
{Ed014's Note - all good thanks mate, he really needs to, beating Leeds is fine but abject performances against United and then Liverpool is simply unacceptable, no matter at what point in the season.
All good thanks mate and likewise with you and yours.
04 Sep 2025 08:31:24
Well said 14
I will give mikel until Christmas and if we are not in a position to be title contenders he has to go
I hope that's not the case
But I'm sick of the same posts being written over and over again
If I have nothing new to post I don't bother
How's the wife buddy?
{Ed014's Note - if he doesn’t buck his ideas up pronto, then maybe sooner.
I’ve given him some slack but Sunday was an absolute joke.
All good thanks mate and hopefully your dad is doing as best he can mate.
04 Sep 2025 10:01:18
No offence taken Ed and I do agree to a certain extent, although I do have red-tinted lenses when looking at Liverpool. The league, and the game at the weekend, were yours for the taking. Your team should have won the league last season but truly bottled it against a Liverpool side who was still in need of a refresh and an out of sorts City. We won both the league and the last game because we had a much better manager who was able to make the most out of our team. You have quality players but a manager who doesn't know how to make full use of them.
{Ed014's Note - thanks mate and I agree on pretty much all of that although not totally sold on Slot just yet.
He was definitely able to make the most of last seasons team but never really came under any pressure, hence it was described as a walk in the park.
Hopefully we give him that pressure and then we’ll get a better idea.
I think you’ve more replaced than added to your squad again this season, so still short on depth. Interesting to see how Isak does and if Wirtz can bring something to the table.
My bad too, I’d defo take Alison Becker!
04 Sep 2025 12:03:26
Thanks 14 you're a real gent mate.
{Ed014's Note - likewise mate! ?
04 Sep 2025 20:01:02
Come on people the Liverpool game was not the be all and end all the performance too was not as dire as everyone is making it out to be. EVeryone is saying that liverpool are in a bad place because they are bringing so many new players in to the team. i'm sure we bought a few too. or was I just dreaming. I think liverpool had Frimpong injured before the game how many did we have injured out 6 and then saliba got injured 5 minutes into the game that's 7 from starting 11. It was at Anfield. we were still the favourites. I think the whole game we adapted well the free kick did us over but that kick would do anyone over just as rices kick last season would have.
I said this last season if we get the players we need and we all were talking about before the season finishing and we looked vunerable come christmas then we should start considering looking for a new manager. We have the players we need and bought well so far I have not seen anything that would suggest we will be vunerable come christmas except the injuries. Unfortunatey we have picked up injuries to key players early on. This is a great opportunity for the new members to prove their worth. Its a new system we are trying with new players looking forward to the new season.
04 Sep 2025 20:38:30
Hi Ed014, hope you are well. Wow, that was a quick 180 from you. That surprised me. Don’t get the sudden turn by a number of people. Same guy as last season and who bottled the league. Thought he’d have more support. Shame we spent the money on him Vs his replacement if that’s the case as why would the new manager want Kai, Jesus, Viktor etc
Surely we are in for a penny now - get a decent number 2 that thinks differently and stick a rocket up his ass and see what happens. As you said, he has played decent football before but he is a bottler. Not after a fight.
{Ed014's Note - wow mate, you’ve got a downer on Gyokeres, what’s that about?
04 Sep 2025 21:23:47
14 he's always on a downer moaning old git
No one said mikel was invisible but even a can of Guinness has a sell by date
Not in a title challenge by Christmas it's adios amigo.
{Ed014's Note - ? I know mate and spot on, we can’t fanny about doing nowt for another season, that really would be criminal.
I expected Arteta to have us straight out of the blocks not stumbling about making United look half decent and Liverpool beat us who really should be nowhere near us!
04 Sep 2025 22:23:53
Mal, you e been sticking up for Arteta like a madman. Jumped off live chat but now agree with the Arteta posts after a couple of games? At least I’m consistent. Oh and you do post the same thing o et and over again. Normally positive stuff and short posts - opposite of mine but when you aren’t happy with something you voice you opinion more - that’s actually a fact.
Anyway - hope you are well and hope you get that rose tint removed soon. Have fun and enjoy your can. ?.
04 Sep 2025 21:40:31
Not really but as many there are questions about the transition to EPL. He’s looked a bit behind epl pace, runs and battle. He’s looked a bit stiff and unfit. Still early and not convinced he fits Arteta’s tactics.
It’s more if a new manager would want him and we spent a lot on players and it would be ridiculous if we did that and sacked Arteta. Surely he’s had a big say in who he wanted although if you believe what you read - Viktor was second choice and “the Don” preferred another CM over Zubi…. I actually think we are a bit of a mess and not had a longterm view with some player signings. Take Kai - why spend 64m and 285k per week on a player who is not a game changer or top top quality. Only to eventually replace him and have a 285k per week player who isn’t an exciting dub.
we can’t sell players for toffee, take forever to buy, have bought some real duds and sign a player like Kai or Trossard or Viera who simply aren’t good enough but don’t / can’t sell them. Only to replace with more expensive players.
If we replaced Arteta - would the new manager want 500k per week in wages plus transfer kitty of over 125m wrapped up in those 3.
I know you think I’m a xxxx which is fine but why doesn’t he have a better number 2 who will challenge him. Ask why aren’t we making a sub, reacting or passing forward or why is Martinelli still here. We’ve thrown 1Bn at Arteta - what a disgrace. We can’t sack him now…
I think Arteta is a bottler and tactically inept but I still like the guy and would love him to succeed but I just don’t see him doing it.
Viktor needs time and I want him to succeed. However, if Arteta was sacked and I replaced him - I wouldn’t want a good number of the players we have: Calafiori, Merino, Jesus, Kai, Martinelli (Arteta ruined him) , Viera, Zin and I’d rather have the money in the bank than Viktor not because I don’t like him but I’d like to choose my own striker. I’d rather have Watkins personally. I would sign a proper fast attacking LW. I’d drop Ode and replace him with Eze.
I’d actually see the season out and if he still has no spine, still has Ode as captain, still allows team to pass backwards first, still can’t change tactics then I’d sack him and cry at the amount we’ve blown on him.
I can’t believe how many people blew smoke up his arse and couldn’t see the Emperor had no clothes. Then after 1 game turn on him. He bottled it over last 3 seasons.
What did the club expect - he’s a young manager. I’d see if he’s learned this season.
Viktor - I’m fine with him but not sure a new manager would be or with a number of slow players we have with no desire to get forward fast. Pedestrian players who do ok in europe at the slower pace.
What’s made you turn and turn quite passionately
Hope you are good - I am and really really hope Arteta learns / changes fast. Huge gamble as Zubi looks off pace, Viktor not match fit and big jump to epl, Noni useless on lw and what’s happened to Ethan;how does a kid get infront of him…it’s not a comic book, what was the young lad going to to at Anfield. Looked like a 15 year old playing in a man’s game.
{Ed014's Note - making United look like they could play football when they’re truly woeful shite and not smashing Liverpool.
Don’t really agree with much else to be fair and equally don’t think you’re a twat.
Watkins is 100% not the answer, run of the mill striker.
05 Sep 2025 05:58:35
I want to marry you sy honey
I do like a old spinster.
05 Sep 2025 09:12:00
I will marry you Mal unless 14 proposed first
Enjoy Friday.
05 Sep 2025 09:13:54
Hope you are good Mal - that disease is criminal, seeing memory, strength and who you are stripped without even you knowing. Hope all is good with family. Tough on those around too.
05 Sep 2025 09:17:45
As you know sy mate it's hard we try to carry on
Best wishes to your dad and family mate.
05 Sep 2025 09:16:17
Ed, Watkins probably isn’t the answer but symbolic that we need someone who can play epl and make an impact. I’d have him on the bench while Viktor gets up to speed and take pressure off. Better use of 50m than a lot of the stuff we’ve done in past 5 yrs
Thanks for reply and hope you / fam are good
Appreciate it and I know I can sound like a xxxx.
{Ed014's Note - I think we all know what you don’t like SY which can get a little repetitive but it’s good to sound off.
All good thanks and likewise with you and yours.