⚽ Football (Soccer)

[PepS]

Next Sunday has the potential to be very nasty (banter wise) for one of our club’s and new strikers.

 

[Hunter Rider]

This manager is so intent on imitating his buddy at City, although I feel he is more stubborn. He is certainly more arrogant, as he and his cult act as if he is something, yet he is nothing. If Gyokeres flops due to him not integrating him adequately, his cult will blame the owners for not backing him to the hilt, Berta for not getting him the player he wanted and the players for letting him down. It will never be his fault. Yet the biggest problem we have is he himself.

Arteta is a strange one, he's only won 1 trophy, right? Yet he's incredibly strident in his approach, like he's found the key and nobody can see it but him. On paper Gyökeres should be the final piece as a top goalscorer is something Arsenal have lacked in the last 2 seasons to get over the line and win the PL, but if he has to adapt to Arteta, as opposed to Arteta setting the side up to maximise him, then it might become more complicated than it needs to be.

Next Sunday has the potential to be very nasty (banter wise) for one of our club’s and new strikers.

Lol, I actually don't think Sesko will start the game, probably off the bench for the last 20-25 minutes, the big issue is that you'll overrun us in midfield.

 

[Zantera]

It's interesting to hear a more doom and gloom perspective from an Arsenal-fan because most talk around the club is "trust the process", "it's coming... soon" and all that. And I get it, fans have to stay positive and you could definitely argue that Arsenal have put building blocks every season to put themselves in the position to win something big. But then you also look at Slot coming in and winning in his first season with Liverpool, and you think about all the years Arteta's had.

While I do expect Arsenal to be in the top3 race there's also part of me that wouldn't be surprised if the wheels came off this season. I thought fans would be more vocal after last season (because going into it, that was the season to win something big - no excuses) but I think the CL run probably helped Arsenal look slightly better than they were. Now they've added Zubimendi and Gyökeres, they've added depth. There's really no more excuses. And with an outlet like AFTV where emotions are high, a club like Arsenal could very quickly spiral into a negative place if they have a poor start or something similar.

But also at the end of the day I don't think history should be ignored. I look at Liverpool and City and there's a winning mentality there that's completely missing at Arsenal - regardless of any individual quality those players might have. Arsenal have been let down by some of their star players in the past and even if Arsenal were 12 points clear at Christmas I would still bet on them crumbling in the last half of the season. It's a big road block mentally to get over to be close to winners and actually being winners.

I don't really like the changes we've seen in Arsenal in the last 18 months or so when they changed from an exciting team with the foot on the gas playing attacking football to being this cynical Mourinho-team playing for set pieces. I also think the silly 'mindgames' behavior (or ****housery) is fun if the team is actually winning big trophies but it also comes off as a bit pathetic if you're not.

 

[Zantera]

Arteta is a strange one, he's only won 1 trophy, right? Yet he's incredibly strident in his approach, like he's found the key and nobody can see it but him. On paper Gyökeres should be the final piece as a top goalscorer is something Arsenal have lacked in the last 2 seasons to get over the line and win the PL, but if he has to adapt to Arteta, as opposed to Arteta setting the side up to maximise him, then it might become more complicated than it needs to be.



Lol, I actually don't think Sesko will start the game, probably off the bench for the last 20-25 minutes, the big issue is that you'll overrun us in midfield.

Against a team like Arsenal and with Sesko still fresh I would guess we're playing Bruno in the front 3 (maybe as false #9) and get a combination of Casemiro/Mainoo-Ugarte behind for extra protection.

 

[BlackFox]

Next Sunday has the potential to be very nasty (banter wise) for one of our club’s and new strikers.

Dont think Sesko will be playing as he's hardly had a preseason apparently so seems unlikely to be included.

 

[BlackFox]

Good luck to him but I'm pretty sure we came out with that PR drivel about Hojlund at the time and look how thats gone. He isnt a prolific striker either so it will be interesting to see how he gets on and the reaction to him is if he isnt the "next Ronaldo" straight away.

 

[Zantera]

Sesko is a striker I've wanted us to sign for a few years (definitely impacted by him being a beast in the FIFA games and just a promising youngster overall) so I'm thrilled that he has joined. The one negative is the price tag because even if he turns out a good signing, you need to be an amazing signing for that price. Hopefully he has the right mentality though, I think that's key to making it here.

 

[PepS]

Arteta is a strange one, he's only won 1 trophy, right? Yet he's incredibly strident in his approach, like he's found the key and nobody can see it but him. On paper Gyökeres should be the final piece as a top goalscorer is something Arsenal have lacked in the last 2 seasons to get over the line and win the PL, but if he has to adapt to Arteta, as opposed to Arteta setting the side up to maximise him, then it might become more complicated than it needs to be.

He really is and his cult following makes it even more so. Oh no, it’s 3 trophies, he shamelessly counts Community Shields as well. I expect nothing less of him. It might sound extreme, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he doubles down on this stubbornness out of spite to the board and Berta because he didn’t get what he wanted in Sesko.

Lol, I actually don't think Sesko will start the game, probably off the bench for the last 20-25 minutes, the big issue is that you'll overrun us in midfield.

Hehe, I actually think it will be the same for Gyokeres too and I expect the manager to opt for Havertz. Us overrunning you in midfield? Maybe But our midfield lacks any real creativity and is full of tractors. We will pass out wide to Saka and expect him to create and do something. Our LHS is a mess, which everyone has realised and I expect you, as well as most teams we come up against to target and exploit that.

 

[PepS]

It's interesting to hear a more doom and gloom perspective from an Arsenal-fan because most talk around the club is "trust the process", "it's coming... soon" and all that. And I get it, fans have to stay positive and you could definitely argue that Arsenal have put building blocks every season to put themselves in the position to win something big. But then you also look at Slot coming in and winning in his first season with Liverpool, and you think about all the years Arteta's had.

While I do expect Arsenal to be in the top3 race there's also part of me that wouldn't be surprised if the wheels came off this season. I thought fans would be more vocal after last season (because going into it, that was the season to win something big - no excuses) but I think the CL run probably helped Arsenal look slightly better than they were. Now they've added Zubimendi and Gyökeres, they've added depth. There's really no more excuses. And with an outlet like AFTV where emotions are high, a club like Arsenal could very quickly spiral into a negative place if they have a poor start or something similar.

But also at the end of the day I don't think history should be ignored. I look at Liverpool and City and there's a winning mentality there that's completely missing at Arsenal - regardless of any individual quality those players might have. Arsenal have been let down by some of their star players in the past and even if Arsenal were 12 points clear at Christmas I would still bet on them crumbling in the last half of the season. It's a big road block mentally to get over to be close to winners and actually being winners.

I don't really like the changes we've seen in Arsenal in the last 18 months or so when they changed from an exciting team with the foot on the gas playing attacking football to being this cynical Mourinho-team playing for set pieces. I also think the silly 'mindgames' behavior (or ****housery) is fun if the team is actually winning big trophies but it also comes off as a bit pathetic if you're not.

Facts. Ultimately it stems down from the top and the owners. The Kroenke’s do not view and hold the club in the same regard as they do their other sports ventures. They are contempt with just being steady and competing if the chance presents itself. They will only really step in if we fall out of the CL places (i.e. Wenger and Emery). This mentality has rubbed off on the majority of the fanbase. Then you also have the social media fans who probably don’t feel completely in line with what they say, but go along with the positivity and delusional support of this manager and the PRoject due to the clicks and traction it brings them, as well as the perks they get from the club for being ‘on side’.

AFTV completely destroyed Wenger and Emery, but have almost 180’d on Arteta in terms of keeping the same energy and criticsms due to the club ‘getting them on side’.

If this was any other top club, Arteta would’ve been gone long ago. If we don’t win anything again this season (I don’t believe we will), I fully expect him to still remain. It would have to take something drastic like falling out of the CL places, drop in attendances and major uproar in the fanbase for the higher ups to step in.

 

[PepS]

Dont think Sesko will be playing as he's hardly had a preseason apparently so seems unlikely to be included.

I’m expecting him to make the bench, at least.

 

[Zantera]

I can't help but feel that another factor we're not considering in how Arsenal are viewed is how some of the other top teams have been doing. So it's been Liverpool or City for the last decade (or there abouts) and Arsenal in recent years have squeezed themselves into that conversation. Other teams like Chelsea, Man Utd and Spurs have been disasters.

If we get to a place where Chelsea or Man Utd (I would say Spurs are more unlikely) catch up to Arsenal or even pass them in the table, I think all hell will break loose over at the Arsenal fanbase. For now Arsenal have been miles clear of those teams but that could change.

 

[Bobber]

I can't help but feel that another factor we're not considering in how Arsenal are viewed is how some of the other top teams have been doing. So it's been Liverpool or City for the last decade (or there abouts) and Arsenal in recent years have squeezed themselves into that conversation. Other teams like Chelsea, Man Utd and Spurs have been disasters.

If we get to a place where Chelsea or Man Utd (I would say Spurs are more unlikely) catch up to Arsenal or even pass them in the table, I think all hell will break loose over at the Arsenal fanbase. For now Arsenal have been miles clear of those teams but that could change.

Chelsea have won two PL titles and a Champions League in the last ten years, but I understand your point.

I think it's difficult with Arteta. For about half my lifetime Arsenal have been pretty much completely irrelevant in regards to actually competing and winning major trophies (PL or CL titles). He's the one who's made them look like a team that actually could win a big title for the first time since the mid 00's, so I understand why he's revered amongst Arsenal fans, pundits, and so on. But he has reached the point where he really needs to deliver, or maybe it would be time for Arsenal to look for someone else to take them over the line (although I have absolutely no idea who that would be. Another project manager seems pointless, and how many fully fledged win now managers are actually out there these days?)