Arsenal Banter 3

31 May 2026 22:47:20
Well done on finally winning the Premier League after 20 odd years. Shame about the Champions League, boys and girls. That one is the really special one, and believe me the feeling of total joy when it happens is like no other.

We are not in it next season as our season ended when Liam took over from an elite manager (our club is run by clowns) . So good luck in your quest to join us next season as champions of Europe. 2012. 2021.

01 Jun 2026 07:49:32
If I could have chosen either the Premier League or Champions League this season, I'd have taken the Premier League every time. 22 years is a very long time, and after finishing second for 3 seasons running, the one we got is the most important of the 2. 👍

01 Jun 2026 09:53:16
We'll do our best next year, Greenaway! Hope your new manager works out for you. You have some awesome young players..

01 Jun 2026 11:06:13
Greenaway, hope you are all well, mate.
Hope you don't mind me asking, but are you named after the old Chelsea die-hard fan of the late sixties and seventies?

31 May 2026 20:35:32
Met Police estimate 1.5 million at the parade today.
OMG!

31 May 2026 19:46:05
I watched the parade today on TV. How wonderful to see such happiness. If only it could be bottled.

Then I wondered how many of those players will be with us next season and I shed a little tear.

Whether players stay or leave, I don't think they will forget this day. Anyone reckon Declan was a little tipsy? lol
And how great to see Josh Kroenke having the time of his life.

A day never to forget.

31 May 2026 21:22:53
It was indeed a memorable day for us Gunners. I was very low since last night, but watching the parade cheered me up again, and I am proud of the club.
My only wish is that we have done it now. We must get back to playing fast, attacking football.

We can also win that way, and have the resources to play that style.
With all our competitors in transition, we can express ourselves and still dominate. COYG!

31 May 2026 19:44:51
Now the season has come to a close and boy what a season highs and a few nail biting behind the sofa lows. Rumours flying about who we are buying who we are selling. Morgan Rogers seems to be the name cropping up so I would like the Eds and the posters what are thoughts and ideas on this, also Timber and Caliafiori are fantastic full backs and in the case of Timber one of the best fullback I have ever seen in a Arsenal shirt but both seem injury prone, due you think replacements need to be looked at.

If you look at years gone by Rice/Mcnab Rice/Nelson Dixon/Winterburn their durability was one of their biggest assets. Insights greatly appreciated in advance.

31 May 2026 21:38:20
Hi Bill, mate,
Attention will quickly turn to new additions, and with the World Cup starting soon, it may not be a surprise if we get a deal or two finalised before that.
Rogers is a hot topic and will be a great addition, but Ode/Kai/Merino may be collateral.


For the fullbacks, we must make Hincapie permanent to cover the left back with Calafiori. On the right, we should get Denzel Dumfries. He will be great to cover Timber and play for the next 2-3 years until Marli Salmon is integrated into the first team.

31 May 2026 21:52:58
Thanks for your insights, Highbury, mate. 👍👍

31 May 2026 19:38:37
Whatever you think of our style, yesterday you saw the best defence in action. I found it oddly satisfying watching us constantly readjust to their passing and movement, blocking their passing lines and not giving any extra space through the middle.

It starts with Odegaard and Havertz up front, forcing their defenders to play out wide. There they meet Saka or Trossard helping their fullbacks.

And any ball into the box from these areas gets dealt with.

You look at some other teams. There are players who don't give their all. There are teams that you can walk through from the middle.

Not this team. Everyone 100% committed and playing as a team, together.

Are we boring, set piece fc, "the worst watch" of the season etc? Doesn't matter to me. I'm proud.

31 May 2026 20:54:35
Great post, Iceman.

31 May 2026 21:27:15
Great post, Ice mate. Total effort and commitment should be a given from every player of every team in every game once they put on their club's shirt, but we all know this isn't always the case with some players and some teams. People can say whatever they want about this Arsenal team over the past 4 years, but no one can justifiably question the effort and commitment they have always given, and this is what I have always loved and appreciated about them most.

This first big trophy is nothing short of extremely well earned by every player and, of course, our manager.

31 May 2026 21:51:14
We are an absolutely committed and well-drilled team. It is the antonym of the team we had in the second half of the Wenger era, where we couldn't defend even if our life depended on it.
But now that we have won, we must work on the other aspect of football - scoring goals. We have the players, but for whatever reasons they have been blunt, and we laboured throughout the season (with odd exceptions) to score more than a goal.


Yesterday, we needed at least two goals before we went into defensive mode.
Hope the boys have a good reset and we start scoring freely along with our defensive resilience.

31 May 2026 23:11:05
Hi Highbury mate, I think most of us have felt the team played within its capabilities for most of the season, entertainment-wise. I genuinely think the fear of coming second for a 4th consecutive season, and the stick, accusations, and pressure that would follow another season of not quite getting over the line, played heavily on Arteta's mind from day one of the season, as well as some fans' minds too, which inevitably transferred to the players.

The nerves of the fans, manager, and players were consistently there for the whole world to see, especially in the second half of the season.

I see no reason for those nerves to exist next season, now the first major trophy has been achieved, and everyone can breathe and be their natural selves again. 👍

31 May 2026 23:35:39
Hoping the same, 62, mate.

31 May 2026 15:27:47
Some parade guys, get used to it because there's more to come COYG.

31 May 2026 17:02:13
That was an amazing turn out - biggest event involving people & sport they were saying… wow!! Lots of love for our great club & pent up desire for that major trophy!!

31 May 2026 21:57:00
Met are estimating 1.5 million!

31 May 2026 14:27:57
Gabby has been my favourite all season and still is.

31 May 2026 14:53:59
He & Rice have been amazing - not fair on Gabs that he takes the fall for not winning Champ League.

31 May 2026 13:59:16
Not quite what Enrique means by the Arsenal goal being lucky.
Would anyone care to enlighten me.

31 May 2026 14:47:16
It was a deflection that put Kal thru rather than a purposeful assist. That or maybe that Kai kept his cool, good touch & finished sublimely. 😉 😂

31 May 2026 18:02:33
And being awarded a penalty and your opponent being denied a penalty was PSG's good fortune? Sounds like a very silly comment to me, Bill, mate. 🤔

31 May 2026 18:30:39
Beautifully put, as always, John, mate.
Hope you and the family are good. 👌👌👍👍

31 May 2026 19:23:40
All good here, thanks, Bill, mate, and I hope it's the same with you too, mate.

31 May 2026 19:46:37
All good here, John.
Cannot wait for the season to start. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

31 May 2026 11:44:41
Wow! That’s some tough truth and the boss needs to look a bit at himself if we are to keep improving as we didn’t spend great last window in terms of top top class additions to starting 11. Still need a CF and LW (seriously!) .

The lack of attacking intent led L'Equipe to go as far as claiming Arteta had 'rejected his Barcelona legacy'.

They wrote: 'For a long time, it seemed PSG would lose this final without even really playing, rendered powerless, locked down by the Gunners, who threw the key into the Danube before parking their double-decker bus in front of David Raya's goal.

'Mikel Arteta's rejection of a Barcelona legacy, on the cusp of the best night of his career, can justify his defeat, as can this statistic: Havertz's goal was Arsenal's only shot on target, a sorry mess with players like these, as if this club, built on attacking football, had shed all scruples to extinguish its reputation as a loser.

'

'Can you be European champion with only one shot on target, a constantly low block, and 25% possession? Perhaps, and even certainly. But it's quite fortunate that it didn't happen this Saturday night', they added.

Arsenal were content to protect their lead despite scoring so early.

Leandro Trossard and Cristian Mosquera were the two lowest rated stars - both handed three out of ten. Ode got a 4…

Some tough love is probably what’s required for us to kick in.

Still Champions and still an amazing season.

COYG.

31 May 2026 14:30:58
And how many shots on target did the 'best attacking team' in Europe manage? Fact is, they needed penalties in the game, and, afterwards, to beat us. And, add to that, not one team beat us all year in the CL. We just got unlucky at the end. It's a fantastic platform on which to build. Success doesn't happen overnight.

31 May 2026 14:52:32
It's still Arteta's Achilles heel. We need to figure out how to win rather than not to lose.

'A boring team that did nothing but defend' - Sir Alex Ferguson.

We need to add & get stronger & braver.

31 May 2026 10:25:08
Hope the boys are ready for their victory parade and they see what the league meant to the fans.

We need to look at last night and learn. You have to have a proper RB otherwise you lose Saka or a penalty. He's no RB but had a strong game. Timber should have played.

Gabs and Rice were outfield players of the year for me and played a blinder. Not sure how or why Gabs stepped up and the boss let him ( that's a key part ) but the rest is history and I hope we learn and move on. 1st penalty as key 5th in champ league final - thanks Gabs but let me ask a few others first.

Kai was outstanding and great goal but we ultimately lacked a bit of courage to attack but we more so lacked that cutting edge up front as we had opportunities but not quite there. Vik was terrible and like against most top teams hindered us - he couldn't hold onto anything and that caused us problems. Probably not helped that no Red shirt was there to pick up the pieces.

We really lacked quality in CAM, wings and striker which was where we were last season - personally I feel what we added last year were solid SQUAD members but not enough to improve the starting 11. Noni isn't that guy, Vik isn't that guy and I don't think our style has brought Eze to the front as he's disappeared too often. Shame as Eze was the only one that excited me. The addition of Zubi has meant our defensive midfielder has pushed further forward so we are not dynamic enough with Zubi and Rice V MLS and Rice.

We have been defensive but we've achieved a lot. We should have strengthened in Jan and we should have bought better.

"The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining" - Arteta has gotten the sun shining on our great club again, put us in places we haven't been for a while BUT has spent a fortune and needs to have a strong window to go to the next level.

What a great year! It's been a long time coming and it's a well well deserved parade!

31 May 2026 09:05:01
Feeling pretty flat this morning after all the emotion of last night so I can't imagine what the players and staff are feeling.

I hope all the fans going to the parade can shakw off their disappointment and give our boys a rousing welcome home.

To lose to the best team in Europe by a penalty taken by a defender means the margins are so small. Come the new season our strength of character will be vital and over the past few years we have proved we have this so we will go again next year.



I know a few of you need to win at all costs and I hope you can soon shake off the disappointment and enjoy the summer, the World Cup and the transfer window.

We are so nearly there.

Have a great day if you are going today and keep the faith, we are champions of England! And that was the trophy we needed most 💪 🔥 ⚽️ 🏆.

31 May 2026 09:33:47
Absolutely lovely post, Sally.

31 May 2026 09:45:57
100% Sally, it's been our best season in a very long time, and in my opinion we should definitely be enjoying what was achieved rather than focusing too much on what we didn't manage to do.


It could possibly be another 22 years before this time comes again. Hopefully it won't be, and this season is just the start, but none of us ever genuinely know what the future might or might not bring.

31 May 2026 10:38:27
100% 62. 😊

31 May 2026 10:47:52
We need to enjoy what we've achieved, and without overshadowing it, look to see why we didn't get more and ask whether we have the appetite and skillset to go one further. We all know how we played, the positions we need to add, plus a realisation that corners probably can't be our salvation next year.

I'm enjoying our success, but insisting we must improve on key positions that we didn't do a good enough job of upgrading last year, despite the budget. It shows the depth and quality we need. Upgrade the first-team attacking options, and get more intent in our play - the foundation and hard work have been done.

31 May 2026 11:15:56
Yesterday was in my top 2 best Champions League finals of all time, Sally, and I'd much rather watch Arsenal in 3rd Champions League final defeat in next season's than watch a final without us in it.

Obviously I'd rather see us win it next season, but by and large I really enjoyed yesterday and seeing our team play in the biggest game in club football again. 👏👏👏👏👏

31 May 2026 11:29:41
If you are going to be in it, be equipped to win it & play to win it. Being there is amazing, but we must equip ourselves better & when the opponent changes tactics, adjust. We need more quality at that level, which is top top top class.



To have a Champions League medal, how many players in the UK can say that? Having an FA Cup winner and loser medal was amazing, but a Champions League medal - you are elite!

31 May 2026 11:33:55
Me too, 62. I thought it was a great game to watch. A credit to the game of football, so many finals are disappointing.

31 May 2026 11:49:00
Did we do & offer enough to make it a great game, Sally? We showed great skill in defending, which is part of football, but 1 shot on target? I thought we were a little frustrating in the second half & beyond, to be honest - good because we were there, good because we scored, good because we stayed in the game, but PSG turned it up a bit after 1st half and our subs didn't work out at all.

31 May 2026 13:30:58
We were very much in it until the final whistle of extra time, Sally, and towards the very end of extra time we actually looked the most likely to grab a winner. I'm not sure there is another team in Europe who could have given this fantastic PSG team a more difficult night than we did.
We certainly have the potential to be even better next season, but improving on being Champions of England and losing the Champions League final on penalties won't be easy at all.

6 years ago, the room for improvement at the club was absolutely huge, and the fact that the room for improvement is now so small is a fantastic reflection of what our manager, players, board and the fans have achieved together.

👏👏👏👏 The Emirates has become a vibrant cauldron of passionate noise under Arteta's leadership, and no one would dream of referring to our stadium as "the library" nowadays. Of all the things Mikel has done for our club, this, in my opinion, has been his greatest achievement by far. We are a very different club to the club he came back to 6 to 7 years ago. ❤️👏👍

31 May 2026 14:38:35
It is appalling, really, that a club of Arsenal's stature has never won the Champions League.

31 May 2026 19:35:51
I'm pretty sure there will be additions, Sy. Nothing in life is perfect, but what I see at Arsenal is desire, total commitment and love for our club. In my world, you cant buy that!

31 May 2026 19:50:32
My point was, did we contribute enough to make it a great spectacle and a great game of football?

31 May 2026 22:19:47
Contribute in effort? Definitely. Contribute in passion? Totally. Contribute to the best game ever? Of course not, Sy. But I couldn't take my eyes off the game, and I was surprised it was 25/75% possession.

Now, if we can get our attack as solid as our defense, we will be totally awesome.


Getting the right players is never easy when you have Real Madrid, PSG, City etc. chasing the best players.

Can't wait for the transfer window, ole ole.