Arsenal Banter 4

08 Mar 2026 07:39:17
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, United Need A Savvy Summer To Build Depth

06 Mar 2026 11:34:41
I saw Ed25's comments about the style of play, and whilst I agree, I don't think Arteta has much option right now.

We've been vocally criticised under all of Artetas tenure by pundits and fans for being naive and not finding a way to win.
We've often played against 11 men behind the ball, which is within the laws of the game despite it not being fun to watch and limits the opportunity for free flowing football. The criticism of that is just that the game was slow or boring, not that the team doing it were doing anything to spoil the game - they were just being pragmatic.

I was fed-up watching us being stifled by low-block teams, and although I hoped we'd find a way to break them down mid game by a change of formation (e. g. 3412 with kai and Gyokeres up top, eze behind, Dec and zubi in the midfield with madueke and saka playing out wide to fire in crosses) but for whatever reason, formation change has not been tried. I still think we could and should at least try something very different tactic-wise but not holding my breath.

I don't want to win games of football by a single, scrappy rugby-style corner. Inhate anything that's seemingly unfair - holding, diving, fake injuries etc. That said, I hate watching an entire team sit behind the ball for 90 mins and either grind out a draw or worse, nick a goal and win it. And that's what I think caused our reliance in set-pieces and as it worked so we'll, sticking with it.

From the way football changes in style over the seasons based on what seems to work best (from 442, to 4231, 433 / Fabregas style players to much more physical amd athletic) perhaps someone will work out another style that will dominate and remove the opportunityfor low block teams and the reliance on corners, but I don't think there will be a move away from the current style organically.

For me, the best solution to improve the entertainment side of things are rule changes - but that needs to be both corners and open play.

Ultimately, City are playing more free-flowing football than us but have been beaten by teams worse than them, and aren't top. We're in pole position to win the league and that's what the fans have been demanding for years. If the low block is acceptable, I can't blame Arteta for being pragmatic, playing to our strengths and utilitising corners the way we do.

{Ed025's Note - finding a way to win is the main thing i suppose Jim, you are not the only team who are finding a way by fair means or foul to get a result mate but i dont have to like it, having seen a lot of great Arsenal sides i must admit the style does disappoint me (or should i say lack of) but hey ho, i want a date with Emilia Fox but thats not happening either.. :)

07 Mar 2026 22:44:11
Jim, Ed025 - I will say only that to form a complete picture of this Arsenal side, you need to watch the games against Leeds, Spurs, Villa, CL sides, etc. When the other team comes to play, it's fairly exciting football.

You do get the odd damp squib like against Brighton but look how far up the pitch they pressed. IMO there's a bit of selective reporting going on.

{Ed025's Note - i suppose its how you see things on a personal level Wire, im a bit of a football snob and like to watch skillful fast flowing play from teams who get me off my seat and entertain me, the Liverpool team under Klopp, the Utd side under Fergie and the Arsenal side under Wenger, i hate the way football is heading now where set plays corners and throw-ins are deciding the result mate, add to that the pushing, pulling at grappling in the box and players rolling around holding their faces when they get tackled...its all getting a bit much for me i must admit, Arsenal have taken that to a new level this season and you either cant or dont want to see it, are you the only ones?..NO, but two wrongs have never made a right..

07 Mar 2026 16:21:20
Afternoon fellow gunners, hope all’s good. I’ve been listening to a fair few views of pundits/ex pros saying we are boring. All the same ones that were saying only a few seasons ago that Arsenal were playing real entertaining football but didn’t have the bottle to get anything over the line. I’m going to try and put things into perspective regarding this season. When we was playing champagne football and blowing teams away it was because other teams were trying to play us at our own game. For 3 seasons we finished 2nd because we came unstuck by not being able to break down some teams that really sat back (low block) and those few games cost us winning titles. Now before this season kicked off we had assembled a squad to be feared. So a hell of a lot of teams have been playing low block on us. Most teams that have tried to play attacking football against us have been dealt with. 3-0s 4-1s 5-0s. But the low block teams who are too scared to go toe to toe with us are saying.

How you going to break us down. Our answer has been long throws, set pieces and in all fairness it’s working and we are breaking them down, getting results and on most occasions collecting the 3 points. (sometimes it’s not pretty) . But it’s more ammo added to our Arsenal. So the question is have the Arsenal become boring or are we involved in more apparently boring games because most teams are too nervous to go toe to toe with us fearing a battering. I myself think it’s the latter. Now if at the end of the season we’ve picked up some silverware, I’ll be buzzing. If we win the Prem or the Champions League I’ll be over the moon. Yes we would all love to see the Arsenal smashing teams to bits on the way to silverware. But that’s not how it works. So for anyone out there that says Arsenal are boring, just remember it takes two to tango and most teams are too scared to be our dance partners…Arsenal till I die. Coyg/Vth 🔴⚪️❤️.

{Ed025's Note - they are more wrestling partners than dance ones Gabi mate.. :)

07 Mar 2026 17:45:35
Hello, Gabi, mate, hope you and everyone are safe and well. That's a great appraisal of the situation, and so much better summed up than people like Pardew, Scholes and the rest stating the bleeding obvious club.
Take care, Gabi, mate.
Coyg. ❤️ ❤️ 👍 👍 💪 💪

07 Mar 2026 19:00:31
Hi Bill, all's good, my friend. I just felt the need to say something. We have a great squad, and, in my humble opinion, one of the best coaches around. He is hardworking and would give his soul for this club. This is his first managerial role, and it happens to be at a massive club. He's helped rebuild us, and he's got a lot more things right than he has wrong. He is also still learning from season to season, and using those experiences to make us better.

The players speak so highly of him and his attention to every single detail. He deserves more credit than some people give him. And if he and the squad start putting trophies in the cabinet, history won't say how they did, just who. the Arsenal & when. Fingers crossed, mate, for the rest of the season. 🔴⚪️❤️

08 Mar 2026 10:06:23
Looks like we both had the urge to say a similar thing, Gabi! 😊

08 Mar 2026 16:26:16
I think we did, Jim. 👍🏻😁

06 Mar 2026 09:29:34
Mikel - manager of the year

Declan - player of the year

I rest my case lol.

06 Mar 2026 10:23:13
I will second your choices, Sally. 👍👍

06 Mar 2026 10:31:59
Hear, hear.

06 Mar 2026 10:32:48
Special award to Eze, just for scoring 5 goals against Spurs!

06 Mar 2026 10:45:33
Absolutely, Highbury, mate. Second that as well. 👍👍

06 Mar 2026 13:44:10
Bill, they have just won those awards. 😊

06 Mar 2026 17:38:18
Oh, I didn't realise, Sally. Thank you for putting me right.
Take care. 👍👍

06 Mar 2026 09:17:29
I was just wondering if that knobhead OHara will be putting on his City shirt for the Carabao.

06 Mar 2026 10:07:06
Geezer is a first class. 🛎️🔚

06 Mar 2026 10:32:36
I like him. He makes me laugh.

05 Mar 2026 21:03:43
And I'm feeling

Glad all over.

05 Mar 2026 21:34:53
Dave Clark Five.

05 Mar 2026 22:08:19
The Spurs are in bits and pieces.

{Ed025's Note - love it Bill..

06 Mar 2026 07:29:48
Looking at their remaining games, there is a real possibility that they won't make it. They may have to permanently rent out the stadium for concerts.

05 Mar 2026 22:17:20
Cheers Ed👍👍

06 Mar 2026 09:59:12
I missed St Totteringham's Day at the weekend!

My favourite day of the year and earliest ever on record.

05 Mar 2026 14:20:08
I love how everyone hates us.

05 Mar 2026 14:54:57
I hope we win the rest of our games 1-0 with every goal scored from a corner.

05 Mar 2026 15:56:21
Honestly, there was nothing wrong with how we won yesterday. We scored the goal and then defended comfortably. It's up to Brighton to make it a contest again, and they didn't manage it this time. Same as Chelsea in the Carabao Cup 2nd leg.

Hurzeler can bicker as much as he wants (and he seems to like doing that more than most managers) , but we played well within the rules.

If you want more entertainment, then maybe also have a look at all the pro fouls Brighton committed every time we countered them.

05 Mar 2026 20:24:44
Come on, gents - it was terrible and boring. We now try to score like Stoke from throw-ins. It's crap. Yes there's a time & place for that type of game & I was pleased we had it in us. But let's put in a show & win with style & pride.

I swear at teams who come to Emirates & waste time from the start - let's not be that. Let's ask more from the boss & the team, as we can't be the Southern Stoke. We are better than that.

06 Mar 2026 09:46:05
I'm happy doing whatever it takes to get us over the line this season. The pressure is building, and anything but 3 points in the final 8 games would be a disaster and heartbreak. Carry on what we are doing, get the title, and worry about bringing the Arsenal way next season by learning from this experience gained.

05 Mar 2026 08:52:25
Just wondering Ed25 mate, if you got any pull with David Moyes, can you help us out, can you tell him, I am very close to a few stressed out Gooners and could you take it easy on us weekend after next😂😂😂
Hope you are safe and well Ed mate.

{Ed025's Note - hi Bill im good thanks mate and hope you and your family are well my friend, i expect Arsenal will win the game but in all honesty i dont really care because im fed up watching the game in its present state, its all about the winning at all costs now and the entertainment and fun seems a thing of the past, all this crap dragging and pulling at corners and set pieces rolling around pretending to be injured and general cheating at every opportunity is not what i signed up for, Wimbledon of old got slated for it and now we seem to celebrate this anti-football guff being celebrated and when you do win the league playing like that then im afraid its the death of the game as we know it, this is not the Arsenal i want to see Bill, you have had some great players and great teams in the past and a lot of those would be turning in their graves if they knew how this Gunners team are willing to play the game, sorry for the rant but im just really pissed off at watching the game played like this..

05 Mar 2026 14:32:51
I think no one is really happy with the performance, but at the minute we need to do what it takes to be able to win our first league in how many years. This will bring in valuable experience to the team and management.

Get us over the line this season, and next season you will see a much better performance. Everton has always been tricky for Arteta, and we don't usually walk away with 3 points, but I'm hoping Moyes would want us to win rather than City.

05 Mar 2026 09:45:01
Your entitled to your opinion Ed mate, glad to hear your well and we are all good here mate
Take care

{Ed025's Note - cheers Bill..

05 Mar 2026 12:05:59
Hello Ed mate, understand your frustration and I am also at a point where I am thinking should I watch the games or just check the result afterwards. But again, I think back to the past seasons where we were so close yet the title slipped away. This must be heavy on the team and Arteta's minds and that is why this approach to secure 3 points at any cost. Once we win the title we will have the monkey off the back and we will be free to play the game as we like it.

Just imagine the psychology of the team if we were not to win the title from here. Having said that I am also wary if we will be able to sustain this protecting a 1-0 lead for the next 8 games because the margins are very small and our luck is going to run out soon, hopefully after 7 games 😀

{Ed025's Note - i dont think you can play any other way now Highbury, your team ethic is to bully teams from corners set pieces and throw ins and gain advantage by fair means or foul mate which will ultimately get you the title but lose you any respect that usually champions deserve, you may not give a toss about that of course but for me its football that is the biggest loser in all this my friend..

05 Mar 2026 07:49:29
What a rubbish performance

BUT there is no extra points for artistic impression or style, you only get 3 points if you win

Well done lads, let's keep everyone moaning, I find it hilarious.

05 Mar 2026 07:39:16
{Ed's Note - KeeDal has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool Concerns Over Slot, Standards and Squad Attitude