Right, we are out of Carabao Cup and FA Cup, but not everything is lost. We are 11 points clear of Man City in Premier League and we can take that lead to 12 points if we beat Bournemouth today. City do have 2 games in hand, but if they win both, we will still have a 6 point lead with only 6 games left for the season. In Champions League, we have a 1-0 advantage against Sporting and the second leg is at home. If we managed to get at least a draw, we will be playing Atletico (most likely) in the semi finals. I would rather play Atletico than Flick’s Barcelona.
The chance of lifting a trophy is still a possibility. And a win today will improve that possibility even more. Bournemouth are sitting in the bottom half of the table, and I hope we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot today.
Playing XI is out and I still don’t understand what has gotten into Arteta’s mind.
Why is Martinelli in the playing XI when you have Hincapie available. It’s not the time to be concerned about the injuries, because a loss in any of the games could mean a title. I’m OK with rest of the selection, Eze could have played ahead of Havertz but I’m not sure how much of his fitness is back.
I don’t understand the fact that we spend more than 250m on midfielders (Rice, Zubimendi, Norgaard, Havertz, Odegaard) and yet, we always have 2 DM-profile players and an option to choose from a non-performing Odegaard with a out-of-form Havertz. Anyway, that shouldn’t be a problem for a team sitting on 1st, playing against a bottom half team I suppose.
We need to win today. Man City has to visit Chelsea tomorrow and though I don’t have much confidence in Chelsea beating them, anything can happen. In last 3 seasons, we have always been the favorites going into last 7-8 games but have given it away. There are 7 games left, and 7 test of whether we have learned something over the years.
Right, game starts in an hour. See ya.
Achoo–keep Hoopah’s name out of your dirty little piehole…see you in the lunchroom bitch
‘I Played 79 Games Under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal – I Left Because It Was Joyless’ https://share.google/Tx1cc07JIpTUf85bt
I know how he feels…if you can’t be arsed opening the attachment, it’s about Jorginho… allegedly!
Why would someone in the US be trawling Daily Mail Stories eh ‘Killroy’? Your miserable oeuvre based on Fleet Street inspired bollocks makes me wonder if you’ve dishonestly usurped the real Killroy who could always be relied on to write pithy, original and incisive stuff about Arsenal along with interesting insights on world rugby. I’m pretty certain you’re an erstwhile poster on here who thinks he’s far cleverer than he actually is.
TRVL
When there is no answer as to whether the virus emanates out of the same rock
you have the answer to the bot moot Q
Timmy “Tactics” Sherwood on Soccer Saturday telling everyone the Spud’s aren’t used to being in a relegation battle.
Clearly he’s not aware they finished 17th last season – they might have had a healthy points gap to the bottom 3 but they haven’t gone from top 3 to relegation battle in one season.
You flirt with these things and sooner or later they’ll bite you in the arse.
Just thinking about that Jorginho accusation of joylessness under Arteta. It’s especially extreme when one considers that his former club was the epitome of sporting misery, ie Chelsea.
“Why would someone in the US be trawling Daily Mail Stories eh ‘Killroy’?”
Sorry, should have done this but sill DM server reference:
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/04/17/15/107970117-15742353-A_full_set_of_medals_from_Man_City_s_Treble_winning_season_will_-a-42_1776437131719.jpg
Totally agree with your Daily Mail assessment. The link was just for showing what the medals look like. Their footballing content is pants.
Leeds and Forest get wins and it’s going to leave the Spuddies pretty much in a straight up fight with West Ham.
We lose tomorrow when do we have the conversation about throwing the West Ham result on purpose?
Marc—I hope you were able to read my Ode comments on the previous page…Cheers
KP—sounds like Jorginho’s joylessness had more to do with his lack of playing time than MA’s style of play…that said, he did criticize our overreliance on set pieces and how that can negatively impact the product on the pitch
TRVL
Yeah – we differ on the double pivot I don’t have an issue with the idea or the players being used but we need a real manager directing it.
Arteta stifles attacking and creative players.#
He’ll never change.
Now come on Brighton!
Ha
I turned the Spuddies match off with them in front only just found out Brighton equalised.
Fantastic.
I must admit this is the first time in ages that I’m actually anxious about one of our matches…I hope it lives up to its billing…the fact that our imposter of a manager said he didn’t contemplate a draw(even for a second) does cause me some concern, as we all know that’s an outright lie…City has only lost once at home this season, but they’re still a gettable side if you show some courage and attack their greatest weakness…unfortunately countering with pace just isn’t something we excel at (talk about your massive understatements)…with this in mind, I don’t think it would be such a big deal if they were to score first so that we have to open things up a bit…far too often MA has rolled out a thin margins borefest on the road and I don’t think that will get things done…maybe he’ll start a bonfire on the sidelines to inspire the boys…what a fucking clown show
This is what a manager with sauce looks like Pelegrino Matarazzo, born in New Jersey, played there and coached and played in the Bundesliga. He took over Real Sociedad in December when they were in 15th place fighting relegation and now he has taken them close to European football next season. In addition, today he won the Copa Del Rey trophy their 1st trophy in 40 years before fans and discounting the COVID win.
7 of the starting 11 were Real Sociedad academy players. Six of them are from the province where San Sebastian is located in the smallest province in the whole of Spain. Their most expensive player 19m Euros and in their policy they set the target of at least 60% of youth teamers.
Compare that to our trophy dodger.
I know this opinion will disappoint a few people on here…but I genuinely believe Spurs are fucked. Having seen the highlights of their draw with Brighton and the performative and emotional energy they exhausted (watch it…it’s as if there were eleven mini Artetas on the pitch – that’s how fucking bad it was) I doubt they’ll come back from it.
So today people are saying Arteta’s going to go for it – sat here its hard to believe that but strange things happen.
We win – the PL is ours.
A draw – we should win it unless there’s a complete collapse.
A loss – I think City will go on to win it and we’ll need to have a conversation if West Ham are still in the mix about letting West Ham win.
TRVL
Arteta would give his left bollock for a draw today.
Our shooting has been dismal during this mediocre run of form. Need to start hitting the target. Odegaard’s shooting ability, in particular, has been off.
kind of an unusual lineup today with Havertz up top and Eze out wide on the left…btw this is not what I meant when I said that I would like to see Ode and Eze in the starting 11 together…this is obviously MA’s fake-ass way of suggesting that he’s all-in for a win…I would beg to differ, as that lineup wouldn’t include a back 4, both Rice and Zubi in the midfield and fucking Havertz leading the line…there ought to be a shit ton of flopping today
TRVL
I think Eze playing wide is more down to Trossards crap form and Arteta’s dislike of Martinelli than Arteta really going for it.
Havertz playing up top shows just how poor Arteta is at coaching attacking players. Its not even the Havertz of last season he’s looked way off the pace since the injury.
Why would you spend £60 million on a striker to not play him in a match where chances are you’ll need at least one goal to even get a draw.