Up the Arse! Goons Thread

[Shoei]

Why do we? Why is there an obsession about beating a "top 6" club? You get 3 points no matter who you beat.

We need to focus on consistency of performance in every game; doesn't matter if its Watford, Chelsea, Blackpool, Norwich or Man City.

On to the game, thought we played pretty well. Still some defensive issues but remembering that this Liverpool team is pretty good only conceding 1 is great work.

Thought Musafi and Holding were immense, Xhaka had a great game and Iwobi (did slate him a lot last year) has improved immensely this season.

The vibe around the club is certainly the most positive i can remember in the last 5/6 years and a lot of that is down to Emery's infectious enthusiasm.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Why do we? Why is there an obsession about beating a "top 6" club? You get 3 points no matter who you beat.

We need to focus on consistency of performance in every game; doesn't matter if its Watford, Chelsea, Blackpool, Norwich or Man City.

On to the game, thought we played pretty well. Still some defensive issues but remembering that this Liverpool team is pretty good only conceding 1 is great work.

Thought Musafi and Holding were immense, Xhaka had a great game and Iwobi (did slate him a lot last year) has improved immensely this season.

The vibe around the club is certainly the most positive i can remember in the last 5/6 years and a lot of that is down to Emery's infectious enthusiasm.

Because we will slip up in more games just like the Crystal Palace one so some wins against fellow top 6 teams will really help. Also the confidence and belief that you can gain from beating quality oppositions can't be measured just in terms of the points that it gives.

 

[glenferry23]

Because we will slip up in more games just like the Crystal Palace one so some wins against fellow top 6 teams will really help. Also the confidence and belief that you can gain from beating quality oppositions can't be measured just in terms of the points that it gives.

Depends what your goal is. If aiming for the title, then yes. Defeating your direct rivals has a two fold effect, boosting you further ahead whilst taking points directly off them.

But if aiming for the top 4, it’s not necessarily essential. For years, Arsenal under Wenger had a poor record against the top 4/5 clubs but beat up on the mid/lower table clubs. And that was enough to play champions league.

For what it’s worth, this Arsenal team is not contesting for the title.

 

[Shoei]

Because we will slip up in more games just like the Crystal Palace one so some wins against fellow top 6 teams will really help. Also the confidence and belief that you can gain from beating quality oppositions can't be measured just in terms of the points that it gives.

Every team is going to drop points against teams that they shouldn't.

Of course beating quality opposition helps but the idea that the team should be striving to beat a "top 6" more than another team is self defeating. We want a team that treats every opponent the same, not just think "hmmm well we are playing Man City today because we really really have to beat them more than we need to beat Fulham". That breeds a terrible attitude.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Depends what your goal is. If aiming for the title, then yes. Defeating your direct rivals has a two fold effect, boosting you further ahead whilst taking points directly off them.

But if aiming for the top 4, it’s not necessarily essential. For years, Arsenal under Wenger had a poor record against the top 4/5 clubs but beat up on the mid/lower table clubs. And that was enough to play champions league.

For what it’s worth, this Arsenal team is not contesting for the title.

Would you be happier if I said we need to beat one of Spurs and United then ? Because of the two fold effect and they're the teams we are competing with for top 4.

 

[glenferry23]

Would you be happier if I said we need to beat one of Spurs and United then ? Because of the two fold effect and they're the teams we are competing with for top 4.

4 points even from those two fixtures would be a very nice outcome.

Overall though it’s been shown that top 4 can be achieved whilst not having good results against the teams directly around you.

 

[PendlePie]

 

[HODGEYROAD]

4 points even from those two fixtures would be a very nice outcome.

Overall though it’s been shown that top 4 can be achieved whilst not having good results against the teams directly around you.

The dynamic is slightly changing these days though, you may well need high 70s points to get a top 4 spot this season, 20 years ago that sort of tally had you in contention for a title.

 

[glenferry23]

That’s true. Leicester won the league a few years ago with 81 points. That would have placed them 3rd in 2017 and 2018.

 

[bok_party]

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Be nice if we can get the win tomorrow morning, would mean that our last 2 group games are totally irrelevant.

 

[glenferry23]

7am kick off time tomorrow morning (Eastern time). Handy.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Jenkinson getting some European burn.

 

[NTRabbit]

Welbeck with a broken leg the same day he was named for England, looks like lots more bench/game time for Nketiah coming up

 

[glenferry23]

That didn’t look good for Welbeck.

 

[glenferry23]

Ozil has already tweeted to get well soon. Looks very nasty. Whenever the oxygen comes out along with the stretcher, you know it’s serious shit.

Especially with the reactions around him, evokes memories of Ramsey and Eduardo.

 

[glenferry23]

Sporting defended very well, good pressing. Draw a fair result, we didn’t really creat much that second half aside the Mkhitaryan flick on.

Guendouzi, Iwobi and Mkhitaryan quite good. Some heavy injuries tonight unfortunately.

 

[charcoalchicken]

That welbz injury doesn't look good would say thats the season done for him, was playing well too, sucks.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Poor performance and injuries, 3 draws in our last 4 now, be interesting to see how we go against Wolves.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

That welbz injury doesn't look good would say thats the season done for him, was playing well too, sucks.

Probably means he's played his last minute for Arsenal given he's out of contract at seasons end.

 

[glenferry23]

Probably too soon to start speculating about that, but I doubt the club would just cut him loose given the circumstances.

He’s actually much improved from last season, and playing well enough to earn a new deal. I’d say he’s just behind Iwobi, Lacazette and Xhaka in terms of most improved.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Probably too soon to start speculating about that, but I doubt the club would just cut him loose given the circumstances.

He’s actually much improved from last season, and playing well enough to earn a new deal. I’d say he’s just behind Iwobi, Lacazette and Xhaka in terms of most improved.

As harsh as it is this will be the 3rd season out 5 that he's been out for the majority of the season since he joined us, I don't think we can afford to carry 100k+ wages on someone who is injured so much.

 

[glenferry23]

The club afforded so many more chances to Diaby and Wilshere over the years, it would be harsh to take a stance now on Welbeck IMO.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

The club afforded so many more chances to Diaby and Wilshere over the years, it would be harsh to take a stance now on Welbeck IMO.

And it cost us dearly being far to soft and lenient, successful clubs make ruthless decisions not sentimental ones.

 

[windyhill]

The club afforded so many more chances to Diaby and Wilshere over the years, it would be harsh to take a stance now on Welbeck IMO.

And Santi