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.
Wicksy
Why do you think we get so many players injured at the end of the season?
Its not the first time.
In more amusing news BBC reporting:
“Tottenham captain Cristian Romero is set to miss the rest of the season with the knee injury he sustained in their 1-0 defeat at Sunderland.”
They really could go down.
From the Athletic article “Who will win the Premier League title? Arsenal or Manchester City? Our writers have their say.” There are a total of 9 writers commenting and 7 picked City to win and 2 for Arsenal to win. Of the 7 that picked City to win 3 of them changed their mind and pivoted from Arsenal to City after this weekend.
After Sunday’s result we will know 90% who will but this phrase sums it up for me:
“I’m still not sure this City quite have it in them to win every game, but the way Arsenal are going right now, you wonder whether they’ll need to.”
Marc
“Why do you think we get so many players injured at the end of the season?”
The question you should be asking is how is it man city nearly always have almost a fully fit squad in the title run in, is it the medical staff or does pep know how to manage the squad better or is it just down to luck as they always seem to have their important players fit for the big games..
Also it is possible that City don’t buy injury prone players or alternately offload them when the injuries catch up with a player like jesus and/or zinchenko who have rarely been fit for any length of time at Arsenal .
We have bought players like tomiyasu and calafiori and possibly Timber who all succumb to injury on a regular basis , you could also put hincape in that category and now should be the time to sell players like White, jesus and Havertz because of their injury problems.
A very logical quote written for LiR:
“Everyone was queuing up at the start of the season to say Arsenal had the best squad. If that is true then Arsenal failing to win a trophy must be on the manager and his squad management. Arteta is a joke figure among rival fans – as such the chorus of “Second Again, Ole Ole” would be unbearable for true supporters.”
Wicksy
“or does pep know how to manage the squad better”
You really are incapable of holding Arteta to account. Its not Pep knowing how to manage a squad better its Arteta not knowing how to manage a squad well enough.
He’s been given a huge amount of money to spend on players with a wealth of options and he still over plays too many key players so they aren’t ready for the final run in.
If it happens once you learn from it when you have someone repeating the same mistake its a lack of ability.
Killroy
The fanboys start the season telling everyone how wonderful Arteta is and how amazing he is at buying players (personally I expect someone who spends a billion quid on players to buy good players) and then slowly start to rewrite the narrative.
Its rinse and repeat every fucking year – I really wonder if they can comprehend “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.
Looking at the days ahead this Sunday is title day and a City win takes it out of our hands and it is City’s to loose. At present it is ours to loose and I fear we are on course for that. It is a real difficult time to be an Arsenal fan atm because for most Arteta and the club are the same.
April 22nd I can see City top of the table. Thanks El-B
Unfortunately our best two strikers (Set Piece and OG) are out of form.
Killroy
Remember when after Wenger left all Arsenal fans agreed having a manager with too much power was a really bad idea?
Marc
This is a generation now that has either forgotten it or that has died out, just as those that fought the Nazis can’t understand the support now for Nazi like rulers or ideologies as implemented by Mr. T.
That wasn’t a pen – went down really easily the player should be booked and he’s already on a yellow.
PSG put in a sub par performance and win away at Liverpool 2 nil.
Go on someone tell me Arteta’s a better manager than Enrique.
Marc
Arteta has definitely far more trophies to show for unwanted records than Enrique has, which is to be expected for any MIT. But to put both in the same sentence when discussing managerial capabilities if I would be Luis, I would consider this as an insult.
Killjoy
“a City win takes it out of our hands and it is City’s to loose.”
This comment brings to mind that a broken clock is right twice a day as I have seen this line written and said countless times over the last few months and it is yet to materialise.
Will just point out that to say “a city win this weekend takes it out of our hands” is factually wrong as even if city do win all their remaining games we can still win the title on goal difference .
The last time I looked at the league table we were 6 points clear with 6 games to play with city having a game in hand , 6 weeks ago we were 5 points clear with city having a game in hand, so unless I’m mistaken our situation has improved though you wouldn’t think so when you read the ramblings on here and in the media.
The injury situation doesn’t look great and it does look like the chase for 4 trophies may have caught up with the club but it should not be used as an excuse if we do fail .
Defensive stability is what this season has been built on and if we are to go on and win the title then defensive stability is a must.
Offensively, Eze and Dowman may prove to be our trump cards as they play without fear, we need players who can put their foot on the ball and take risks, it is not a time for safety first in the final third of the pitch.
Tomorrow night could be crucial to how our season unfolds , the players need to silence the doubters with a convincing performance.
Wicksy
“Will just point out that to say “a city win this weekend takes it out of our hands” is factually wrong ”
Actually that factually wrong because its still in City’s hands to score more than us.
“Offensively, Eze and Dowman ”
So after spending a BILLION £ our trump card going forward is a 16 year old.
You’re not even clutching at straws anymore – how about the manager doing his job and coaching the senior players into doing something?
Marc
“Actually that factually wrong because its still in City’s hands to score more than us.”
I get that you are being deliberately dumb but both things can be factually right.
Wicksy
That was my point when you’d already said the opposite.
Great tracking back by Martinelli there – could very well have saved us from conceding.