Up the Arse! Goons Thread

[glenferry23]

Tomiyasu played some minutes in the u23s during the week, Tierney appears fit now, ESR back in full training, Vieira has kind of been forgotten about however hopefully will get involved in the coming weeks. Some very encouraging squad depth at the moment, albeit a little short on the RW I feel and like many would love to bolster that CM position with say Tielemans.

About as good an Arsenal squad curently as there's been in many years.

 

[Gambit78]

This is Arteta's 3rd full season and he has spent a substantial amount of money building his own team, I think an expectation of a return to the CL isn't too much to ask.

COVID disrupted seasons:
19/20 - finished 8th on 56pts
20/21- finished 8th on 61pts
21/22 - finished 5th on 69pts

Tough first gig for a young manager WITHOUT the complications of a pandemic to boot, and yet, year on year, we've scored more points. Arteta has done a mega job of having us on the right trajectory considering how woeful the squad was in 19/20.

Kinda begs the question, if we finish on 75pts, but only 5th, would you sack him?

 

[HODGEYROAD]

COVID disrupted seasons:
19/20 - finished 8th on 56pts
20/21- finished 8th on 61pts
21/22 - finished 5th on 69pts

Tough first gig for a young manager WITHOUT the complications of a pandemic to boot, and yet, year on year, we've scored more points. Arteta has done a mega job of having us on the right trajectory considering how woeful the squad was in 19/20.

Kinda begs the question, if we finish on 75pts, but only 5th, would you sack him?

I agree the squad is a lot better balanced and better now after 300 odd million pounds of investment since then.

But let's not forget that woeful squad you talk about got 70 points and made an EL final in 2019.

I don't buy into covid disrupted seasons, all clubs are dealing with the same thing. Certainly gets a free pass for 19/20 though given he took over halfway through the campaign with the league season already in turmoil.

 

[Cruyff14]

COVID disrupted seasons:
19/20 - finished 8th on 56pts
20/21- finished 8th on 61pts
21/22 - finished 5th on 69pts

Tough first gig for a young manager WITHOUT the complications of a pandemic to boot, and yet, year on year, we've scored more points. Arteta has done a mega job of having us on the right trajectory considering how woeful the squad was in 19/20.

Kinda begs the question, if we finish on 75pts, but only 5th, would you sack him?

I guess it would depend how and why we would miss fourth, for me anyway.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

I guess it would depend how and why we would miss fourth, for me anyway.

He also has the EL as another route as a chance for CL football, we probably are the best side in that as things stand pending who drops down from the CL.

 

[Cruyff14]

Yeah, let's hope we can give the EL a very good shake. Anything less than a semi final would be pretty disappointing.

 

[Gambit78]

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I want top 4 and a trophy. I believe we're capable. But Tottenham are strong. Chelsea is Chelsea. Not concerned with ManU at the moment, but I reckon Newcastle will be dangerous. To answer my own question, if we end with 70+ points for the season, I'd deem it a success and where that lands us on the table will be revealed. Because unlike that 2019 squad, which peaked then collapsed, this squad's upside knows no bounds. We're still the youngest squad in the PL. I'm just not buying into this top 4 or out narrative just yet.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I want top 4 and a trophy. I believe we're capable. But Tottenham are strong. Chelsea is Chelsea. Not concerned with ManU at the moment, but I reckon Newcastle will be dangerous. To answer my own question, if we end with 70+ points for the season, I'd deem it a success and where that lands us on the table will be revealed. Because unlike that 2019 squad, which peaked then collapsed, this squad's upside knows no bounds. We're still the youngest squad in the PL. I'm just not buying into this top 4 or out narrative just yet.

The only issue with this is, the EPL isn't like the AFL or NBA where top teams will come to the end of a cycle and have to build through the draft again etc, City will just replace ageing starts when other top line players when the time comes.

Now I don't mind the path we're on, but no certainties we'll reap huge rewards from it given the dynamic of the EPL.

 

[glenferry23]

I agree the squad is a lot better balanced and better now after 300 odd million pounds of investment since then.

But let's not forget that woeful squad you talk about got 70 points and made an EL final in 2019.

I don't buy into covid disrupted seasons, all clubs are dealing with the same thing. Certainly gets a free pass for 19/20 though given he took over halfway through the campaign with the league season already in turmoil.

He's been given considerable time and support, far beyond what many other clubs perhaps would have tolerated. Definetly agree that it is coming to the point when that faith/support needs to be reflected in the results.

And yes I think CL qualification should be a realistic objective (ideally through a top 4 league campaign, but also there's a prime opportunity to go all out for the EL trophy as well). That Villerreal failure still sticks in the memory, and how abject Arteta and the performances were when it was there for the taking. That also needs correcting. I feel the club and squad is now well placed to do that, despite how overly long at times it has felt to get here.

 

[dirty2]

Looking dangerous early.

 

[dirty2]

JESUS!!! Lovely!!!!

 

[tigs2010]

Jesus!!! Wow

 

[Kipz]

What a way to open your account

 

[dirty2]

Saliba is going to be massive for us this season....

 

[lewdogs]

I love the way we are using Zinchenko. Running everywhere, looks really dangerous.

Martinelli looking really dangerous too.

 

[dirty2]

Martinelli has forfana worried

 

[tigs2010]

Jesus again

 

[dirty2]

Jesus!!!!!

 

[dirty2]

Na... Na na nah...Jesus!!!!

 

[dirty2]

nearly a 3rd for Jesus!!

 

[tigs2010]

How did he not get the hat trick?

 

[dirty2]

How did he not get the hat trick?

Good defending by evens? I think... Got his foot in at the last sec..

 

[dirty2]

Penalty

 

[dirty2]

I think that was harsh

 

[tigs2010]

Good defending by evens? I think... Got his foot in at the last sec..

Yep good lunge. Wasn’t Evans.

Pen may be overturned here