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Up the Arse! Goons Thread
- Thread starter bok_party
- Start date
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OptaJoe (@optajoe.com)
0.8 - Since the start of 2022-23, Arsenal have conceded 0.8 goals per Premier League game when William Saliba has played (85 matches), compared to 1.7 per game when he hasn't featured (13 matches). Integral.
bsky.app
Because....for all the hating, self-loathing and memeing......we are actually having a good season???
Going into last nights game, we were literally equal to our position this stage last season, points and goal difference.
Currently:
We are second in the league
Second best GD (22 to Liverpools 30)
Equal 2nd goals for (43 to Liverpools 50)
Equal 2nd least goals conceded (21 to Liverpool's 20)
We are 3rd in the Champions League cup race ****ing thingy.
Virtually same stats as Liverpool (Who are favourite to win it).
Only lost 4 relevant games all season (2 in the league, 1 in the CL and the FA game - I don't give a single **** about the Careless Cup Newcastle ties)
The reason our season feels so awful is
- Liverpool just not dropping points
If Liverpool didn't get their last gasp winners last night, our result wouldn't have looked as bad. But as it stands, even a draw is treated as a horrific defeat now just because the margins are so tight.
But it swings both ways, Liverpool drew their previous 2 league games and all the panic was on the gap disappearing. Arsenal win both the games again Villa and Brighton......and the gap would be only 4 points. Would the mongering still be the same?
Edit - just wanted to add in
Salah is also having an absolutely beast mode season.
He's currently sitting at (for the league)
M21 G18 A12
To put that into perspective, he needs just 6 more goals to better his previous 6 seasons final totals with 17 games left.
He's currently on course to potentially equal the best individual player seasons in Premier League history at the age of 32.
- Lack of luck
This year luck has completely abandoned us.
Rice's second yellow against Brighton
Saliba's "headbutt" penalty against Brighton
Trossard red card against City
City's last minute "stay humble" equaliser.
Saliba red card Bournemouth
Last night Merino goal hits Havertz anywhere else....
Havertz "foul" against Liverpool
etc etc. Last year these would have been wins, this year they just aren't carrying over.
- Injuries
Every team does. it's true. But I'd argue that Arsenal's have completely disrupted the entire design of the team.
White being out - has a massive impact on that right hand side with Saka. One of our best creative outlets broken down.
Odegaard being out - massive creative hole. We don't have any player that offers what he does on the list. And he looks completely out of form since coming back. This is also compounded by the talented Nwaneri now being injured, so there's not even a suitable like for like bench replacement option currently available.
Saliba being out - One of the best CBs in the world now looks to be out for a period of time, breaking up arguably currently the best CB pairing in the world. Forces Timber to move away from the RB role, now meaning we need to move someone else there.
Defence injury curse - With our right backs constantly being injured and now Saliba, it has a direct affect on the entire team. As we saw yesterday, Party had to move into RB to cover for Timber moving to CB. The defensive unit lacks cohesion now, Party moves forward on the cross (probably instinctively, but maybe because of miscommunication as the other defenders dropped back) which directly results in the 2nd goal.
Saliba being there, Timber at RB....that goal doesn't happen.
Saka being out - Arguably the second best player in the league this season (behind Salah) and easily our most important. Nobody in our team comes close to the attacking threat that Saka poses and what he's contributed to the team. With Saka out our attack has lost 75% of its output instantly.
Jesus being out - Jesus has only played 600 minutes in the league this season before his ACL injury. You could point to the fact that Jesus being out resulted directly in Saka having to play more minutes (due to now not being able to rotate other players as much) and that's true to some extent.
Add that to Sterling being unavailable for most of the season so far (some may argue that's been more of a blessing) that means another possible rotation hasn't been possible.
With both Saka and Jesus being out.....we are now down to just 3 recognised forwards for the rest of the season, all 3 having their own issues with form/ability.
You look at Liverpool; now take out Salah for the rest of the season. Take out Alexander-Arnold from the beginning of the season. Take out Van Dijk for a few weeks. Take out Gakpo for the rest of the season. Take out Robertson and stick an 18 yr old at LB for the rest of the season. How do you think Liverpool would go?
And yes, we are only to blame for the state of our squad and lack of options. But, also having the team constantly blowing up by injuries certainly doesn't help.
I have no doubt that IF we were able to consistently have our best starting 11 on the pitch we would be seeing much better results, but that's just it.
People are acting like being second to this Liverpool side is some kind of insult. Everyone seems to forget that Liverpool were right in the title fight with Arsenal and City up until the last 5 games of the season, when they only managed 2 wins 2 draws and a loss.
Liverpool were in exactly the same position last year we are this season, they were unable to turn slim margins from draws into wins. That's the difference to where they are now. They finished with 10 draws last season, we currently have 8.
Change two of our draws to two wins this season and we are exactly on pace with them. If only it was that easy.
- The fans expectations have been set so ****ing high now
2nd, 2nd.....well now we MUST finish 1st. We MUST win trophies. Nothing else is acceptable. Everything is shit.
Players are shit.
Manager is shit.
Board is shit.
Owners are shit.
Fold the club.
it's outrageous how far the attitude of "fans" has shifted in the last 5 years. Go on any of the forums and you'll see nothing but vitriol towards everything other than perfection. Modern fans seemly only want the Man City/PSG/Chelsea model.....a billionaire owner willing to pump unlimited funds into the club. No instant success? Sack the manager, get new players. Rinse, repeat. Only instant success matters.
- Overall
If you peel away all the doom and gloom and look at our season objectively, we are doing ok given what's been going on.
The upside is there is massive room for improvement.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #6,505
Great post.
Such an excellent post.
The entitlement from fans is making me fall out of love with the game. Nothing is ever good enough. We shouldn't be excused from criticism but nothing is objective anymore.
- Thread starter
- #6,507
It’s just the age we are in. Social media has warped perspectives on everything. If you aren’t first, then you’ve wasted a season.
Im not a social media person and from what I understand twitter in particular is a cesspool of toxicity in places, I get the impression a lot of this stuff originates from Arsenal fans of the last 10 years or so. The twitter generation I’ve heard them described as.
Many of them lean on the likes of aftv for their view on Arsenal. And that in itself is toxic. The various channels that have spun off the original aftv certainly would be thriving in moments like now, their views, impressions, clicks etc would be generating significant traffic (much of which I would question would even be coming from Arsenal fans).
The in stadium experience seems poles apart, the match day fans are not representative at all of what some sections of the online fanbase say.
Many of them lean on the likes of aftv for their view on Arsenal. And that in itself is toxic. The various channels that have spun off the original aftv certainly would be thriving in moments like now, their views, impressions, clicks etc would be generating significant traffic (much of which I would question would even be coming from Arsenal fans).
The in stadium experience seems poles apart, the match day fans are not representative at all of what some sections of the online fanbase say.
When we haven't had the continuity in the side like your post ^^^ definitely makes it hard.
Always moving the puzzle pieces around eg partey to RB ect.
I'll stand by what I said... I don't feel like we have actually played that great this season.
My opinion could be wrong.. my Mrs tells me quite often I am.
But not once have I said sack Arteta or our players are shit... Frustrating as **** sometimes
Now how good will we be.. when we get some good luck. Go the gunners!
tigs2010
Pick 1...
Do those campaigners ever win now?
They are blowing a golden generation.
Zagreb on Thursday morning at home next up. The squad is running on fumes and I imagine a few changes will be made. However the reality is there’s little respite available for the core group of Odegaard, Havertz, Trossard, Martinelli, Rice, Timber, Gabriel. With the amount of injuries there’s just not too much room for rotation amongst them.
Looking at the schedule I think there’s an opportunity to do a mini 5-6 day break to Dubai when the FA Cup 4th round is due in a few weeks time. There’s obviously lots of football to be played then and critical PL fixtures to contend with too.
However must win against Zagreb to nail a top 8 spot in the CL. That will that alleviate the need to play the extra 2 fixtures and thus the calander can open up very slightly to allow that little getaway.
Reports from France suggest although the Saliba hamstring is on the minor side, it’s still a few weeks sidelined. Just can’t muck around with a hamstring strain, it’s not worth the risk. Seems like he will miss the City game in early February as well.
Calafiori supposedly the closest to returning, with White and Tomiyasu a couple of weeks away still. Arsenal somehow just still need to be in the room around the March/April point and who knows what can be achieved from there.
Things seem quiet on the transfer front however surely something is being cooked up in the background. Everyone has a price, I wonder how far they’re willing to go to tempt Leipzig for Sesko.
Looking at the schedule I think there’s an opportunity to do a mini 5-6 day break to Dubai when the FA Cup 4th round is due in a few weeks time. There’s obviously lots of football to be played then and critical PL fixtures to contend with too.
However must win against Zagreb to nail a top 8 spot in the CL. That will that alleviate the need to play the extra 2 fixtures and thus the calander can open up very slightly to allow that little getaway.
Reports from France suggest although the Saliba hamstring is on the minor side, it’s still a few weeks sidelined. Just can’t muck around with a hamstring strain, it’s not worth the risk. Seems like he will miss the City game in early February as well.
Calafiori supposedly the closest to returning, with White and Tomiyasu a couple of weeks away still. Arsenal somehow just still need to be in the room around the March/April point and who knows what can be achieved from there.
Things seem quiet on the transfer front however surely something is being cooked up in the background. Everyone has a price, I wonder how far they’re willing to go to tempt Leipzig for Sesko.
- Thread starter
- #6,517
Been hearing we might make a move for Oshimnen. Not sure how he’d fit for us.
I wonder if trying to sign Dhuran would be worthwhile? Would want a starting spot but can’t beat out Watkins at the moment.
I wonder if trying to sign Dhuran would be worthwhile? Would want a starting spot but can’t beat out Watkins at the moment.
Oshimnen is a very odd situation, release clause of €130m which no one went near. Price dropped to €70mish and still nothing, ends up on loan in Turkey. There’s just something strange about the entire thing, similar to Toney who was touted as £100m+ with Arsenal linked and now is in Saudi. Attitude, wage demands, who knows really. However I can’t see it happening that Arsenal move for him, with however curated the squad and dressing room is under Arteta.
Something has to give though, it’s the 21st of the month so with ten days left a move will need to be made. I keep waiting/hoping for the Orn bomb.
MLS injured….
Nwaneri and Calafiori back on the bench.
Kiwior at CB.
Holy shit and was just thinking how much an early goal is needed here.
Lovely from Martinelli, Havertz and Rice. No saving that one, struck with real authority. Excellent start.
Lovely from Martinelli, Havertz and Rice. No saving that one, struck with real authority. Excellent start.
Geez, can see the stud marks in Gabriel’s knee. Yikes.
Martinelli running the length of the field like that is a sight not seen too often lately. He’s causing lots of problems for them on the left. Lovely to see.
1-0 isn’t a safe scoreline however aside from a nervy moment or two at the back, they haven’t really threatened. Arsenal should be further ahead really. Kiwior playing deeper than Gabriel and has been fine really, one moment where he misplaced the ball and was bailed out, he then returned the favour for Timber.
Ideally put the game beyond reach and then make a few changes later in the second half, however at 1-0 you can’t really do that.
Ideally put the game beyond reach and then make a few changes later in the second half, however at 1-0 you can’t really do that.
Should be up by more than 1-0 at the half
Would really like to see more instinctive shots, Odegaard and Havertz etc can pull the trigger earlier. We sometimes get into that rut of too many extra touches around the box, blocked or defended from there.
