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.
That is not a penalty.
lets hope the Makem’s tak’em the points.
Get in Sunderland!
Massive deflection but who gives a fuck.
@Marc
You can’t clap with one hand don’t give the Kool Aid kids a platform to get a rise from their delusional perspective. I know it is difficult but “Patience you must have, my young Padawan.” Follow Art Fraud’s example of being stumm.
I’ve just checked the Spuddies remaining fixtures – not good reading if you’re a Spud.
I think we have an identity thief within our midst.
And Spuds lose. Thank you ENIC! 2 points adrift and 6 to play.
Battle of the PL’s premier cheats. C’mon Chelsea ya bunch o’cunts.
That flaming ponce Cucurella never fails to disappoint does he?
City has tails up . Already on 3-0 after goalless first half
Thought Chelsea was playing very well in first half half.
Shows limitations of Rosenthal , Howe , Arteta even with billion £ squads . They can just stay second best because of limitations of their manager
9 point lead gone
Goal difference evaporating
City fans taking the piss out of Arsenal – soon to be followed by pretty much everyone else
I’m not sure a draw will be enough for us next weekend now and City look like a team hitting form at exactly the right time whilst any team facing us will be given a boost that they can get something against us.
What a fucking shambles.
Cunt
In his 40th game as a manager Jack Wilshere wins a trophy. Well done Jack – the Norwich faithful miss you.
@Marc
“9 point lead gone”
Take the positive no manager has ever not won the title when being 9 points ahead at this point. The record at the moment is 8 points.
Next weekend we play City at the Etihad where they have not lost a game this season yet. If they beat us by 2 goals they have a better GD with one game in hand. Advantage City.
Without next weeks game at the Etihad, City have 6 games left and we have 5 games left. In the Bournemouth game we had an xG from open play of 0.18 with 3 shots on goal with one being a penalty. Who will score more goals in the remaining games? Advantage City.
This brings us to the game this coming weekend a City win makes them for me title favorites considering their present form and our drop in form.
A draw or an Arsenal win is for me Advantage AFC.
We are being brutalized in the media “Arsenal bottle job live on SKY SPORTS.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/NINTCHDBPICT001073106781.jpg
Killroy
Arteta loves setting a record!
Truly elite sides peak in the latter months of the season, but Arsenal are regressing as Manchester City are, belatedly, hitting their stride.
Oh what an irony, it is possible for City to win the treble, while Arteta is just holding his dick.
Killjoy
“Truly elite sides peak in the latter months of the season, but Arsenal are regressing as Manchester City are, belatedly, hitting their stride.”
Things can change very quickly in football, I’m not sure anyone would be calling city “truly elite ” 3 games ago after they had been beaten 5-1 on aggregate against Real Madrid and had drawn with both west ham and forest.
There is a fine line between success and failure and city’s recent good run of results reflects that perfectly.
The difference between city and Arsenal over the past few weeks is that city have been clinical in front of goal and other teams have not been so clinical against them in front of goal…..the opposite could be said of Arsenal and this has had an effect of boosting City’s confidence and at the same time denting Arsenal’s confidence.
I am not denying that City’s football has been on a different level to Arsenal recently but the stats show that City are not quite as good as some are making out whilst at the same time Arsenal are not quite so bad, and here’s why .
Arsenal have had 3 recent defeats
Total chances attempted 43..
scoring 3
Total chances conceded 25
conceding 6
City have won their last 3 games
Total chances 37
Goals for 9
Shots Conceded 30
Goals against 0
For city to not concede a single goal from 30 shots is abnormal and is unlikely to continue.
Take City’s defeat to Real Madrid, over the 2 legs city had 30 shots and only scored one goal , whilst at the same time conceded 5 Goals from only 23 shots.
So it is easy to get carried away by calling teams “truly elite ” just because they won 3 games whilst the other teams failed to take advantage of their numerous (30) chances whilst at the same time being more clinical in front of goal.
So, do I think we have a chance at the Etihad, yes I do but that would mean we have to be ruthless in both boxes the way city have been ruthless recently, am I confident that we can reverse the trend …doubtful mainly because I don’t rate gyokeres, Havertz has been woeful recently , Jesus has lost his sharpness and our wide players are either injured or under performing.
The glimmer of hope is that Eze or Dowman can produce some magic, or saka and odegaard are fit , plus timber and Hincape are fit.
A positive result and performance v sporting would also go a long way to bringing the belief back for the fans and players.
Wicksy
Have you ever heard the expression lies, damned lies and statistics?