Arsenal banter 5

18 Jan 2026 18:27:50
To Ed 25 and all the Evertonians THANK YOU🫶🫶.

{Ed025's Note - Villa have never been a threat to you Bill, the only ones who can blow this for you is yourselves mate..

18 Jan 2026 22:19:13
I rwallt didn't want to post anymore for many reasons. However, i will say this one last time. As we all know The beauty of the PL is that there is no easy or guarantee win game. Yes we ahould have taken the opportunity and win and make the gap bigger but it doesn't mran we are doing awefully as some stating.


I wish all well and hopefully will see all the happy your posts at the end of thr sea.

19 Jan 2026 00:32:11
We certainly aren’t awful Moe - we are top and doing well. Keep posting as it’s great reading your opinion.

{Ed025's Note - you are awful to watch SY, not just you but most of the games mate, i said last years premiership was the worst in history, this one is just as bad and could be even worse..

19 Jan 2026 10:35:57
Hope you keep posting Moe, always good to see people's thoughts on our club.

19 Jan 2026 14:09:07
Don’t go moe. just remember everything’s not lost. ✌🏻&🫶🏻.

{Ed025's Note - yeah hang in there Moe and keep posting mate..

18 Jan 2026 18:58:00
Every game is worth the same amount of points regardless of how our title rivals play at the same time. In my view every time we win we have "taken our opportunity" and every time we don't win there's a degree of disappointment involved. So looking at the table it is us who have taken the most of their opportunities and it is our rivals who should be more disappointed with their position and results.

There will be disappointments over the course of a 38 game season for sure. But in the end what matters is the points total and we're currently well on our way to beating everyone else. It's still not certain of course and the gap could always be bigger but that's done now. The team will focus on the next opportunity because that's the only thing they can control.

18 Jan 2026 22:31:02
Agreed Iceman - others falling is a huge benefit. We need to control what we control - our performances, tactics and intensity. I’d say all 3 need a review to stay in control and control of our own destiny.

Happy with our standings

Not thrilled with our dogged performances and inability to turn our attacking options into more points. Great individuals continually look to improve and find margins. Arteta must do that.

18 Jan 2026 18:32:36
The gods are with us. Thank you Everton 👏 👏 👏.

18 Jan 2026 18:47:45
Absolutely Sally, was going to wrote the same. The powers are trying everything to help us, we should do our part and make it easy especially for us fans!

18 Jan 2026 19:06:03
Hi Sal hope all’s good, what with city and villa both losing this weekend the draw we had away to forest (would have loved to have taken all 3 points. ) . Has now 100% been confirmed as a point gained. which could be a huge point come what may. really tired leggy performance from us yesterday.

would love to see us rotate massively for the Milan game. (use squad depth) . give our main guys a week to prepare for Utd at home next Sunday. because Utd with a week to prepare for us is going to be a huge game for both them and us… one game at a time. COYG/VTH 🔴⚪️❤️.

18 Jan 2026 22:33:45
It’s still two points dropped - over the course of the season, that’s two poor points dropped. It’s 38 games not a weekend comp.

Sorry if a little direct but the others let us off which doesn’t change the fact it was an opportunity missed. A point gained sounds like Arteta thing while we need a winning mentality thing

Sorry again.

19 Jan 2026 12:01:04
Hi sy hope alls good. whatever way we look at it yes 2 points dropped. but as city and villa both lost gaining 0 points each, and we drew…1 point is a point gained on our nearest challengers. that 1 point could be huge come what may. just as much as 2 points dropped could be equally as significant. but we won’t know either way until they’re all totted up at the end off the season. we will, as will everyone else drop more points before the end of the season.

We just got to keep going mate, and try to improve for the next one and the one after that. was reading a stat yesterday saying we have 15 points more than last season from corresponding fixtures which isn’t to shabby…and although we could be 9 points clear… (gutted we’re not) . 7 points clear is better than 6…. 2 points dropped🤕 1 point gained 😉 . ✌🏻&🫶🏻 🔴⚪️❤️.

18 Jan 2026 14:33:57
Premier league 1st

Champions league 1st

Carabo Cup semi final

Fa Cup 4th round

Wtf do people want

The doom and gloomers give me the shytes

Oh and by the way I've a groin strain from dancing when both united scored their second goals

The bear would be disgusted.

18 Jan 2026 15:03:20
14 shots on goal so obviously playing offensively Mal.

18 Jan 2026 15:16:14
Hello Mal mate, totally get where you are coming from, and I have posted similar things what you said. The concerns are how we are doing it, we got the style let's use it, that's all I am saying.
Take care Mal mate.

18 Jan 2026 15:36:59
Mal anyone can post an easy on the eye tale of the tape at this stage of the season. Being 1st on January 18th means nothing as does the rest of your claim to fame.

We start every season in 2nd place so no great shakes eh LOL

Let's discuss at the end of the season all I am saying is we really need to get our act together, 0-0 at Forest is something Banbury Utd will be ecstatic about not The Arsenal mate.

18 Jan 2026 16:13:05
I'm all about what we win not " oh look where we are are mid Jan "

I give no apologies but warning signs are showing and its getting very familiar .

18 Jan 2026 16:15:30
Afternoon Mal, hope you are well. I am sure people are happy where we are in all competitions. It’s way off the business end of the season and I am looking at us finding our feet and attacking mojo because we will need that when all competitions heat up. The boss has “bottled” it in previous seasons because he doesn’t go for the kill.

He’s not shown that yet, it’s not hurt us but it could. We have a brilliant squad but despite spending over 150m and over 500k per week on wages - we still don’t have the striker we all know we need. So I believe it’s more about what we will need come March, April and May rather than not being happy with 1st in league….

18 Jan 2026 16:18:05
I think I'm spoilt from watching us play all that attacking football for years.

18 Jan 2026 16:57:44
Hello sy me old mate how are you and the family doing?

18 Jan 2026 17:07:21
I guess we all are happy with our current position, our view is if we are the team who are going to win the league then we should play like one. With the team that we have, yesterday’s effort was way below par and as their is a long way to go and our history we would like us to shore up the advantage when we get a chance.

18 Jan 2026 17:31:59
We have a squad that is strong enough and big enough to win all four, i have no doubt about that, but we have to liven up.

18 Jan 2026 17:43:58
The fixtures are taking their toll. Look at all the other big clubs around the world they all are going through a dip and that can’t be coincidence. We have a realitively young squad that has had a few more than usual signings come in the summer. Uncertainties are creeping into the players head. We are are missing that killer instinct the killer passion that shows we mean business. I’m sure that will come after the summer once the players have been able to have a full preseason together.

This season I’m expecting some silver Premier league will be bonus and champions league will be awesome. Man United next won’t be easy let’s get behind the club and team at least till end of season before we start dissecting the team and helping our competitors. The fans in attendance need to get fully behind the team next week I think that will be the psychological key for us beat them and we are truly on the holy grail lose to them and a fear the team may spiral down. Come on you gunners.

18 Jan 2026 22:36:33
Hi Mal, another bloody funeral. Bad run at the moment. That aside - I’m good. Feel strong and happy in life. Family are good. How’s you - you seem a bit down / hurt. Hope you and fam are good as you are a great guy and a great heart. X.

18 Jan 2026 13:22:24
Agree with some of what's been said BUT there are 3 other teams in the semi final of the EFL, there are a lot of sides still in the FA Cup and there a host of side in the CL still, and yes we are the only team top of the PL, so other sides are also doing quite a lot right, currently no one has won anything yet.

I agree with you Bill, we keep missing the opportunities and we will be made to pay.

Gunns, we should be VERY disappointed at dropping points, this isn't the Forest of a couple of seasons ago, they really are poor, this is the Forest team that lost at home to Everton 2-0, they also lost to Wrexham.

Iceman, we should go into games with the mentality that our challengers will win every game, Villa at home should win so assume its 4 points, yes Villa average 2 points a game. we average 2.2 so let's not pretend we are a lot better than Villa.

I saw someone say we have the Spanish Gareth Southgate as Manager, not far from the truth. Arteta would rather grab a point than go for all 3.as you can all tell, I am having serious doubts if he's the man to win the PL.

Think I said a few weeks ago we are better suited to win the CL, as long as we avoid anyone from the PL.

And finally. I stand by what I said, we need a striker end of, Gyokeres is not the man I'm afraid, he is a bottom 6 PL striker or a Championship one.

{Ed025's Note - im with you Banbury mate..

18 Jan 2026 15:06:09
How should we deal wirh a packed goalmouth guys and Debbie? That just seems to be the only problem for me.

18 Jan 2026 18:05:27
Hello Sally, take the ball to them, make them make challenges, rash challenges, atm we are just not threatening enough, but having said that at we missed chances yesterday. From the other side of the coin, my son in law thought it was well earned point and was quite happy we came away with a draw. Everton are doing us a big favour as I post.

18 Jan 2026 18:34:08
You must have forgotten to tell Villa that they were in that title race, Banbury.

18 Jan 2026 10:49:10
Pint half full or half empty, I think it's 2 PTS dropped then a hard earned point, chances missed, looked at the penalty incident again and to me it's a penalty but if we had taken the chances then no one would be talking about it.
Struggling why with all the attacking options we got, dribbling and pace why we are faffing about passing when we should take the opposition on and create things. I said this on a few occasions that our style of football is more suited to the CL than the Prem, but as someone as already posted we are 7 clear, unbeaten in CL this season, semi final of EFL and 4th round of the cup, so we must be doing something right.


Big game next Sunday against Utd who will want to prove yesterdays result wasn't a one off. If we were to lose that, then I would start to have serious doubts whether we are going to win the Prem. Sorry for the rant but I am just so frustrated that we keep missing these opportunities to widen the gap.
Take care everyone.

18 Jan 2026 12:14:09
I'm not happy at dropping points. However Forest at home is not something to be highly disappointed with. I think it's time to take the boys to Dubai for a team bonding exercise. The Sun will do them great.

18 Jan 2026 12:40:33
Hi bill, hope alls good. just my opinion on yesterdays game. I thought we looked like a tired team. personally think there should have been more changes would like to have seen havertz and eze start. eze is a baller, just needs a few starts to get in to some sort of rhythm. he is more than capable of destroying teams on his own ( he tore spurs a new one) . don’t get me wrong I love odegaard but if he’s not quite at at it then give eze a go. we have a deeply talented squad. it’s time we used it to its full potential and it would be nice if arteta would sometimes change formation depending on who we are up against, watching yesterdays game thinking why don’t we go 4-4-2 one holding mid one attacking mid and two up top give forest two strikers to worry about.

there needs to be some flexibility in our set up and our in game management…if 4-3-3 isn’t working in a particular game mix it up, change formation. professional footballers of the quality we have should be able to adapt to any formation when required. stop all this too scared to lose tippy tappy football and really take it to the opposition. a few seasons ago we played some real swashbuckling football and was blowing teams away. we just didn’t have the squad depth to sustain it. hence the reason we fell short. now we have the squad to sustain a serious assault on all fonts. we need to release the handbrake and full throttle on. COYG/VTH 🔴⚪️❤️.

18 Jan 2026 15:12:17
Hello Gabi I am good, hope you are also. Totally agree about Eze and the formations.
Take care Gabi mate.

18 Jan 2026 08:04:02
I have to laugh, i read and hear, it's a point gained and it's now 7 points. I take Aston Villa aren't playing again this season? Some Arsenal fans need to wake up, Villa are most definitely in this title race.

Man City play Villa on the very last game of the season. I predict that will be the title decider and we will be relying on one of those two teams to drop points for us to win the league of course we will need to beat Palace away .

18 Jan 2026 08:37:44
Gap to Villa is 7 points as well. Don't hand out the points beforehand.

Disappointing result yesterday but in the big picture our position remains strong. I checked the form table and nobody has more than three wins in their last 5. Not sure how common that is.

United at home will be tough. They have been alright this season and have a whole week to prepare for us while we have a midweek fixture in Italy. Hoping for heavy rotation since top 8 in CL table seems all but guaranteed.

18 Jan 2026 10:03:39
Villa are averaging 2 points a game, which is normally the form for a solid 4th place finish. I'm still concerned City could yet drastically improve their form, but I anticipate Villas will continue rather than improve so significantly.

18 Jan 2026 10:59:24
It would help if just like in previous seasons we had a number 9 not an average championship striker!

17 Jan 2026 22:43:54
Can't add much to all the comments this evening. We are certainly making it hard work for ourselves!

{Ed025's Note - very much so Sally, the thing is there is no need to play this very negative style of football, you have a plethora of very good skillful players who can tear teams to bits if you want to, is Mikel trying to be the next Pep with all this pass for passing,s sake?, the supporters want to see high octane entertaining football and you have that in your locker, just stop with the must not lose attitude and make us all proud and that Arsenal are worthy champions i say mate..

18 Jan 2026 10:32:13
Well said Ed. it’s about time we took the shackles off and just go for it. we have assembled a squad deep enough with more than enough quality to just take the hand brake off and put our foot right down. COYG/VTH 🔴⚪️❤️.

{Ed025's Note - most neutrals were happy to see Arsenal win the league as far as i am aware Gabi because you have not won one for a while and you have very good players and WERE playing good stuff, that is starting to change because you have become quite boring and safe, now that probably doesn,t bother you one iota but its not just about winning it for me its about winning it in style, if you had some flaws and players who were average then i could understand that approach, but you have great players, flair players who can steamroll teams, so come on Mikel let them off the leash and entertain us all, you were an entertainer in your playing days so dont let the team go down as "boring boring Arsenal", be like the old "Invincible,s"..

18 Jan 2026 10:32:49
Apparently we had 14 shots on goal ed025 so once again its worrying we didn't score. I'm a bit concerned nerves are starting to fray, in particular Declan. Time for a bit of Arteta's meditation instruction I reckon. lol.

{Ed025's Note - you were playing Forrest though Sally..not Real Madrid, teams like them should be blown away by teams like Arsenal mate, but you have become awful to watch im afraid..

18 Jan 2026 15:10:21
They play open football though ed025, not low block.

{Ed025's Note - which should suit you down to the ground Sally, but you sat back and allowed them to stay in the game where as for me you should have gone for it from the start mate..

17 Jan 2026 21:44:37
We are in the second half of the season and I think our tired mentality was on show today. Against a bottom team we had to go all out and finish the game off in the first half. Like someone said, with the incentive to put 9 points lead over the rest of the pack, we had to be on our A game. If Villa win tomorrow the gap is 4 points and having played both our games with them, it will not be in our hands if Villa keep on our toes. Gyokores is not a league winning striker but we are not even trying to get him in the game, we rely on wingers and Gabriel to score goals.

Odegard is getting back in form but we should rotate alternatively with him and Eze. Martinelli is also inconsistent and he had to score today when he had the chance, he should have scored two. I am fairly confident we can do it but the team and Arteta’s inexperience to handle the pressure and get the job done may affect us in the run in…again! Hence, even though we earned a point away from home, my excitement from today’s other results has been dampened by our draw.

17 Jan 2026 19:29:45
We had a golden opportunity to go 9 points in front of City, it's poor i'm afraid. We just don't have a proper striker, this has to be addressed.

{Ed025's Note - it was poor Banbury, you are trying to limp over the line instead of really going for it mate, its so bloody boring..

17 Jan 2026 20:12:12
Respect to Forest for a great defensive display. but I cannot understand with Gyokeres, Kai, Jesus, Saka, Trossard, Martinelli, Madueke, Eze, Odegards why we are struggling to break teams down in the Prem.

{Ed025's Note - ask the manager Bill, all too safe and tippy tappy for me mate and why make 2 passes when you can make 52?..

17 Jan 2026 20:06:34
I think we're going to win it, but we are definitely doing it the painfully hard, boring and anxiety inducing way - too flat for me.

{Ed025's Note - absolutely SW..

17 Jan 2026 20:35:38
That was a piss poor performance from us with the incentive to go 9 points clear. Do you want to win the league or not…not one player on our side had a good game. To be honest yeh there keeper got man of the match but he only made one save…that just shows how snooze that game was. So disappointed we didn’t turn up whatsoever tonight. Also it can’t be put on “we need a decent striker” because we’ve got one…he doesn’t get any service, worked his socks off chasing down, bullying and making runs…what did Gabi J do when he came on? .

did he have even one opportunity? . no! . Ode I didn’t even hear his name once n he’s our leader (apparently)
Like ed said…. we’re 52 passes rather than 2 just to get to the same place n then you know what…let’s go backwards again just for the crack.
Sorry for the rant but that performance was absolute pish.

{Ed025's Note - it justified JE, not only is it very boring you are inviting pressure from your opponents mate..Arteta take the handbrake of FFS..

17 Jan 2026 23:29:38
I’m with you there 25…look at our bench today yet the 11 he put out…. seriously with no disrespect how are you not blowing away forest with the season there having. The handbrake is firmly on but the question is WHY? Does he not have the confidence in his attack so would rather not lose….

its the premiership I get that, hardest league in the world but he has the ammo this season to blow everyone away n make a statement. Today everyone looked lost when we’re in the oppositions half.
Let the handcuffs off n believe in your players…they were signed with your nod.

18 Jan 2026 11:00:47
Banbury you are so right Victor is awful!