Arsenal banter 8

21 Sep 2025 19:38:28
Set up negatively from the start should have started eze for merino and have ago at them this is not the city of old but we are being held back by poor team selection we have to take these games by the scruff of the neck or we will be runners up yet again!

21 Sep 2025 21:34:04
The problem is we are set up to not lose, and not to win. This is causing the issues we have with creativity as the players don’t want to take a risk which might mean losing the ball.
A prime example of this is Odegaard- 2 seasons ago he was making incredible forward passes but if you watch him now he very rarely takes the chance, and the ball ends up going sideways or backwards.

21 Sep 2025 23:27:00
At long last - someone highlighting Ode…The elephant in the room.

Yep - it’s unpopular but : drop Ode and upgrade with Eze in that role. That single move changes our approach yet fans jump to Ode’s defence. He’s been terrible this and last season plus before then disappeared in big tight games. Unpopular but true, sorry if you love him.

Exe is a game changer that special ingredient we simply haven’t had.


Sorts out our captain issue although Arteta is intent on giving it to someone who doesn’t give 💩 or shout at players hence Saka took the armband when he came on. Love Saka but he’s not a captain. He needs to find his mojo as Noni attacks better than him. Thought Saka was poor today.

Zubi not yet looking the player I thought we needed or got. Bit slow and liteweight. Hope that gets sorted. Is that why Merino started?


Winter window - still need LW and a striker.

21 Sep 2025 19:00:04
Hello everyone
First of all brilliant taken goal by Gabi, and yes I openly championed on this sight to sell him.
But the team selection was wrong from the off, no creativity and Vic not getting no service. I fully understand that with the new signings we need time to find the right mix but today and against Liverpool it has to be on Arteta.
Mal mate, you have to accept that people have different opinions and views and that's what this sight is about.
On the plus side great to see Saka back and Eze looked good. Sorry if the post was a bit of a downer but am genuinely disappointed.
Take care everyone.

21 Sep 2025 19:36:52
Superb pass from Eze and exquisite finish from Martinelli

You could say great subs but both should have started and took 45 mins to see it.

Noni looked sharp also

Well done Noni, Eze and Martinelli - really good performance for the 45 you were given

Viktor looked like a poor man’s Giroud - needs to sharpen up, get hungry and we need to play to his strengths. He needs to be more aggressive and predator like.

21 Sep 2025 19:42:23
Agree 100%. I cannot understand why we have the luxury of options to replace Odegaard, and we play Merino. As soon as Eze cane on the dynamics were so much better. Great goal from Gabi, showing his values yet again, a deserved point, but could and should have been three. 🤔🤔.

21 Sep 2025 19:55:50
Hi Bill I think your post is a spot on mate. Arteta has put a target on his own back by picking a safety first line up even though he has abundance of attacking talent available to him.

Last season we had so many injuries his options were extremely limited and I had total understanding of his situation, but I have no understanding of his safety first choices today against City or a fortnight ago against Liverpool.

He should have got the message loud and clear after the Liverpool game that the fans expect this Arsenal squad to go for it, but it seems he didn't listen the. Well only Martinel saved him today but if he has any genuine friends who care about him enough to be completely honest with him they will sit him down tonight and tell him straight
" the fans believe in the squad 100%, it's you they are doubting more and more "

If the club give him until Christmas so be it, but if they are already looking for our next manger then I certainly wouldn't blame them for doing so as Arteta would have brought his personal own downfall 100% on himself.

{Ed025's Note - i cant argue with that G62..

21 Sep 2025 20:12:05
Who will do that - spineless captain? His back room staff? He doesn’t do conflict so who will do that. He needs a number 2 that gives him a shake every so often, a captain who will knock on his door and question him. Ode is more likely to ack for hair advice than challenge him. The Keowns or Adams would not put up with it but our team and back room staff? He should surround himself with people that make him stronger not his life easier.

Who will do it? Where have they been over past 3 years

Emperor is showing his clothes.

21 Sep 2025 20:37:53
Hello John its frustrating mate isn't it.
For me what I cannot understand how we have gone from the attacking football of a couple seasons back, spent a shed load of money and have become to this stage.
Take care John mate.

21 Sep 2025 21:32:12
Hi Bill mate it is very frustrating and extremely difficult to understand and impossible to accept.

For any manager to play like that when they have so many mpre positive options available to them they absolutely have to come away with 6pts from Liverpool and City games to get away with it, and he certainly didn't achieve that. Mystifying to say the least.

21 Sep 2025 18:53:36
Forward line - Martinelli. VIk, Noni / Saka

( Noni is more direct to be fair)

In the winter - but a fast striker for love of god

Midfield - drop Ode and put Eze there for good.

Eze - every thought he had is -- go forward. The passes, how he controls the ball, his turns, his body position everything about him.

Ode - takes the ball to naturally go backwards

Let's change our mentality.

Rest of midfield Rice (captain) and Zubi

Don't make Saka captain or Ode. Why change captain when Saka cones on. He's not a captain.

Defence is obvious

We have to change our attacking mindset and at present I would start Noni over Saka but wouldn't let Noni go left wing. RW or bench.

Our goal - Saka lazy ball sideways. EZE grabs hold of it runs forward and early long-ish ball and Martinelli shows what pace does. That shows what's wrong with us and how easy we can change. If boss wants it.

21 Sep 2025 17:29:45
Big 45 minutes coming up for Arteta, he has to show he is capable of overriding his cautious nature and using a quality squad to its full potential.

Lose today after once again showing his fear of his biggest rivals and he's in big trouble.

21 Sep 2025 18:42:23
Absolute bottle job from Arteta. He’s an embarrassment to our so called 1Bn investment and title credentials. Viktor looked slow and not hungry to get into dangerous positions. Team happy to play sideways and the boss watches on happy as Larry. Eze on the bench and Merino starts. Come on. We were the home team and City meant to be a poor City. Haaland showing how you buy a proper fast deadly striker. Bloody Martinelli showing we need a speedy striker as an option because we don’t play to whatever Vik’s strengths are. Perhaps delaying so long to get him hasn’t helped but we aren’t playing to our strengths or with any intent like a title challengers.

BOTTLE JOB BOTTLE JOB BOTTLE JOB ARTETA PATHETIC BOSS - you should be ashamed and embarrassed if not - get your coat.

{Ed025's Note - you can be over the top at times SY but i dont think you are far wrong today mate, the set up and the tactics are very underwhelming and the "we must not lose" mantra rather than "we must win" is dragging the side down, unless you change that attitude you will soon find yourselves as top 4 contenders only and another false dawn will come and go..

21 Sep 2025 19:08:52
City were there for the taking, and our starting eleven was a poor decision by the manager.
I understood it slightly away from home at Liverpool, but at home today it was almost cowardly.

{Ed025's Note - almost?..

21 Sep 2025 19:27:27
I know I have been and am

Why…

There’s been a circus protecting him in media and in fan base. Feels like at last questions are being asked.

He’s been this way for past 3 or so years but never under pressure because we were rubbish before he joined. Somehow that means expectations have to drop - no.

He turned us around - well done but you’ve been praised and paid. Now we need to win.

Can he take us forward - I don’t think so but hope wrong

Enjoy your Sunday and thanks for reply - I know I annoy people and repeat myself. I am sorry.

{Ed025's Note - i dont think you are annoying SY, you are a passionate supporter mate who cant take being second best and there is nothing wrong with that in my eyes..

21 Sep 2025 19:43:11
Sy 4 I do not blame victor we are not giving him any kind of service. We have all longed for a number 9 we have to play to his strengths or it's a waste of money!

21 Sep 2025 21:24:47
Viktor didn’t make use of the chances or crosses that were there for him. He didn’t do anything except look slow and not hungry. No decent runs, no great touches, no turn of speed and no shouting at people to pass quicker. Would Ian Wright put up with that service. Would he have been in a better position for the couple of great crosses Noni did. Viktor wasn’t to blame but he doesn’t look part of the solution at present or a 25 epl goals per season striker. Did he put their keeper under pressure at corners? Where was he dangerous?
Look at Haaland - fast and deadly. If he’s not happy - the team know. He’s a winner.

Where is our boy going to cause big teams away from home challenges? Caused zero today. Zero against Liverpool and to be fair not much in other games. He needs to step up PLUS we need to play to his strengths.

Would he have pulled off Martinelli goal - have the run and pace? Where is he going to be dangerous as I don’t see it yet. It’s not pace. I really wanted a pacey striker to start or be in the bench.

21 Sep 2025 23:03:56
His touch was terrible also.

21 Sep 2025 17:28:00
Right now I want Merino and trossard off. Eze in central and martinelli on lw. Zubi seems to be taking an age to be a better fit than partay or jorginho. I wouldn’t have thought that’d be too difficult either. Maybe Saka in at 10? Honestly anything is better than this.

21 Sep 2025 17:12:13
This is pathetic to watch! Staring Merino over Eze. Saka if fit for bench can surely start! We need both of them at the START of the second half and not the customary 70 mins mark!

21 Sep 2025 15:40:50
Exactly the line up I didn't want to see. Happy to be proved wrong, but it almost seems like hubris on Artetas part.

21 Sep 2025 16:08:39
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Merino, Madueke, Trossard, Gyokeres.
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White, Saka, Eze, Martinelli, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly.

Eze on bench and Merino starts….

We are at home - right.

21 Sep 2025 16:09:53
Not certain if it's hubris or Arteta simply lacking a pair. Regardless of today's ultimate outcome, it demonstrates Arteta's frustrating risk-aversion tactics against bigger sides. which may in the end make it exceedingly difficult to overtake Liverpool.

21 Sep 2025 16:38:29
Someone needs to give him a shake and see - Trossard and Merino shows limited intent.

21 Sep 2025 11:44:38
Here we go - love these days.
Let's get after them and show them how great we can be from both an attacking and defending force!

Let's get after them and see it click - looking forward to that

COYG - let's GO!

21 Sep 2025 15:04:00
Buzzing for the game today just on my way now.

Repeat of last season please.

21 Sep 2025 15:32:55
Fantastic R_G
COYG👍👍👍👍.

21 Sep 2025 10:51:28


SY4 has written an article entitled, Is Mikel Arteta A Bottler As Arsenal Manager?

21 Sep 2025 11:38:00
Boring tripe as usual.

21 Sep 2025 13:18:47
It was a reply to Gabi not an article or whatever.

21 Sep 2025 11:41:32
When did I write that?

{Ed033's Note - Your reply was very long, so i took most of your reply text and put it as an article.

21 Sep 2025 16:02:57
Fair enough Ed, guilty as charged on a long reply but certainly not an article on Arteta or it would have been quite different…. 😂

Enjoy your Sunday and thanks.

21 Sep 2025 18:43:31
Yes he is a bottler - I agree 😂

He bottled it years ago and has every season since.

21 Sep 2025 10:00:15
I would like to see some ambition today against an eminently beatable city side. Assuming Odegaard is out, the time has come to put some faith in Nwaneri or Eze to start in their best position. My heart is likely to sink if we play with Rice hamstrung in the middle between Zubi and Merino.

Just to say, a trapped nerve in my neck is causing the negative sentiment. 🤣.

21 Sep 2025 10:48:04
I think another thumping win by us today Hoxton will go some way to relieving your neck pain mate.

21 Sep 2025 11:18:11
Indeed it will. 👍.

21 Sep 2025 13:20:58
Yep - Exe in for Ode and Martinelli on LW as no other option. Nice to see Eze controlling the pace of the game in the middle and getting us moving forward quicker down both wings. Please don’t put Noni on Left and Ethan on RW.

Let’s tear them apart.

21 Sep 2025 07:39:29
{Ed's Note - RedCyclist has posted a new article entitled, Nottingham Forest v Burnley Review