Charles, keep up the good work. What I find surprising is that the only time Arteta won a trophy, he had a prolific goal scorer in Auba, yet all this time, he has never really tried to replace him. Arteta's Arsenal cannot win any silverware without having a clinical finisher. Every time they have fallen short of winning silverware, it can always be traced back to wasting chances in front of goal.
There is a book that sums this situation well, and although it’s a business book it applies to Arsenal, Arteta a The Board: it’s titled “What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There!”.
Before Arteta came in we were probably 8 years off competing for a title & major honours, to get us to the level we are at now is an incredible achievement itself. We’d probably still be floating around in 5th or 6th without him.. A lot of our gormless fans need to remember that (people like Troopz come to mind)
@@Ty01386Erm, you are talking like we haven't raced city to the finish line 2 seasons in a row...and probably would have won at least 1 of them if the refs did their job....
We have two issues. Poor squad planning and slow build up. We’re so concerned about not conceding that even when some players are making runs in behind (rare but I did see attempts yesterday) our defense and midfield refuse to play early through balls and crosses. Every team has figured out our predictable patterns of play and without a KDB or a Haaland level of players this system isn’t working anymore.
Since tonali has been starting as a 6 we have won every single game isak is getting all the credit but tonali at 6 is a game changer fir the toon it pushes bruno up the pitch . Our midfield is unreal best in the league
To the Arteta out crowd, if we had beaten Brighton it would have been more points than same stage last season, on the back of incredible injuries. I heard it's like only 6 players in the squad haven't missed games due to injury/ illness and those questionable reds (only 6 in the Liverpool squad by comparison). Not saying performances are at the level needed or that attacking reinforcements aren't needed. But to say in a reactionary way Arteta out is not sensible. Question is how do you rest people when the squad is stretched? And to get an attacker at the correct level is really tough in this window. This means stick by the team.
To the arteta fans this is Arsenal and not all about arteta fc. I dont wanna hear all this rubbish what he has done and where he got us. He just isnt a top top manager
Also I know this shouldn't annoy me but I was really angry at pundits talk about how great the Newcastle management was when they moved to a 5-5-0 formation. Of course its "amazing game management" but if the roles were reversed Arsenal wouldn't get the same praise
Spot on Charles…Big gamble that didn’t pay off. Thank you for giving me perspective. If those injuries didn’t happen…Club hierarchy will look like a bunch of geniuses. Big Gamble that didn’t pay off…TIME TO HUMBLY REACT.
That was well said ,Isak showed us everything we are missing. He made the best CBs partnership in the league be indecisive and that chaos Newcastle exploited
Charles keep up the good work. Our issue is extremely poor squad planing. GK: No actual decent backup and an 18yo DF: 7 injury prone wingbacks, 3 CBs (doesn’t trust kiwor fully) Mid: 4/6 are defensive minded, odegaard and an 18yo Wing: 3/4 are LW (doesn’t trust Sterling) and there is no Saka backup. ST: both are average and doubt they will score more than a goal per game. Yes we had bad luck but it’s also poor planning and the balance isn’t great. If Edu didn’t leave it deserves a sacking. We have been heavily reliant on our top players not getting injured.
@@MrKlaiman we’ll find out now if the problem is Arteta or Edu. We’ve been told by likes of Ornstein and Romano that signings like Viera, Kai, Merino, Califiori were all Arteta signings so let’s see who the problem is. Either way time and patience is running out
@ apart from Viera I have no issues with any of these signings. Viera was meant to be an odegaard back up, it failed and we didn’t move on. Last summer we needed to replace him, get a winger, a striker and a backup goalkeeper. We didn’t do any of that.
@@durk88 They could not predict the amount of injuries we have got at the same time that have ruined any chance of creating some momentum. I do agree though, Mikel himself has stated that we have one of the thinnest squads in the league, so it’s very strange that they allowed it to stay that way.
I saw you there last night and I could see how fed up you looked. I was also!! I couldn't agree more. We are one of the biggest clubs in Europe and for us not to have a proper recognised striker is a terrible neglect of duty. 100% needs to be sorted asap!
Hi Charles, Arteta has been found out, he's refusel to sort out the attack will cost him his job, juggling keepers and defenders is all he has done in the transfer windows since he took over, although he has done great work, he is clearly not the man to get us over the line in any competition, I hope the powers that be are already looking for his successor for next season, someone who cam finish the job and get this great club back winning trophies again, he has had a fair crack of the whip and has came up short.
Everyone thinks its isak that is making Newcastle win , yes he is sciring the goals but people are sleeping on tonali . Since tonali has been starting as a 6 Newcastle have won every game . He is the game changer he is world class
You can have a striker and still not score. Haaland is a world-class striker, right? How has that work foe City? In football,, as in other team sports whre ppl score, you need all your shooters to score, be it hockey or basketball b
The players are dead on their feet because the players who aren't injured just have to play every game. I think we are overperforming considering the amount of injuries and other bad luck we've had.
I wonder ... Why there are no more players? Why there is no rotation when the players are available? ... and why with same players we have so many different performace/results
First defeat since the start of November. Second in the league, most points gained in the league over the last ten gAmes….. Yes I’m very worried and deflated also, but we gotta try and stay positive, we’ve been pretty poor the past 6weeks and we are still in the fight. 🙏
Arsenal with ISAk, an explosive winger and a ball playing midfielder (8).. will dominate Europe. But Arteta is Arteta..he would rather die on the havertz mountain
First defeat since the start of November. Second in the league, most points gained in the league over the last ten gAmes….. I bet you can't wait for the open top bus parade for all that eh?
I was one of those who left on 80 mins. I had no faith in the team to score. Agree with everything you said and the lack of quality in the final third is hurting us.
I saw this coming, but I don't see Arsenal signing this January. This team with Arteta's rest defense system is killing our attacks , we only attack and create from our right ,now we are lacking. I know my team and Mikel ....I don't see them reacting to this .
@@duaneswaby622 even last season we weren't that good , we still struggled to win games ...you have to go back to the other season when we didn't employ this rest defense.....we would kill the game by the 30th minute , we used to score early goals ...if a team scored agaist us , we scored back at the immediately....but since then ....we are not winning most games we should win ...we get a draw and that okay ..like 5 games this season...we could have won easy ....but we got a draw 🤣
@@nahashonkorir8925 disagree with you there. Last season started out slowly but in the second half we were sensational. The rest defence was great, we could pin teams in and pick them apart. Especially away from home the record spoke for itself. This season we can’t pin them in nearly as effectively, and can barely create right now. The balance is off.
To me it’s the defense that is a bigger concern this season. We are back to our old self where the other teams attack once and they score! So vulnerable suddenly.
Generally speaking our defence has been our best asset. Our attack is heavily reliant on Saka on Odegard to produce. When they are playing, or out of form, we have nothing up there
Charles, agree with everyrhing you have said. However our fans need to check themselves too. I was in the stadium last night and guy sat next to me was silent until Willock came off and he made a point of virtue signalling and applauding him off. Another fan started on a fan in front of him for "standing up too often and blocking his view". Meanwhile Newcastle fans were on their feet singing and bouncing the whole game. We need to be singing, standing, loud and proud all night long in these types of game or we give the away team the advantage. I also think so many players have dropped off this season - Rice, Odegaard, Trossard, Kai, Jorginho, Martinelli, meaning the common denominator is the coach and something tactically that he has changed this season.
As a season ticket holder who goes to every home game, its very difficult to continually stand and be excited and back the players for 90 minutes with terrible performances week in and week out. I think its easy to see it from the outside in and accuse the fans of not getting behind their team, but its quite hard to do it consistently, especially when we play badly. I myself pay £2000 a year for my ticket and travel an hour to each game (as well as originally waiting 10+ years to get the opportunity to buy my season ticket all those years ago), that's a hell of a lot of money and time to spend when i'm being rewarded with players who don't look like they are trying. I think everyone is just very disappointed / frustrated in the team more than anything (in terms of how we play rather than our results per say). Don't mean this comment to be negative, i'm fully behind arsenal and Arteta, but most of the time i think it's up to the team to hype the fans up, not the other way around (obviously we still do make an effort when we are playing badly!). Also worth noting that most season ticket holders didn't have last nights game included, that means the stadium is going to be filled up with people who have bought tickets for that game specifically (On average, i assume these fans are probably less die hard fans than normal season ticket holders and hence maybe less of an atmosphere and more likely to leave early so it doesn't take hours to get onto the tube).
@mrobolance143 I completely understand your sentiment around the price of the season ticket, the value of what you're watching and being excited by the football. And I was a red member in the crowd yesterday who goes to a handful of games each season. However, i just thought that for a Semi final, it should have been better. They had the pyrotechnics, the fireworks, the announcer tried getting the crowd up, but then the East Bank crowd went flat for large periods apart from the odd chant of "Arsenal Arsenal". I get you cant do thay game in game out but I think we need to appreciate when we are in a semi final or final of any competition and raise the level, and certainly not allow frustrations to lead to in-fighting (although obviously that was an isolated incident).
@@hpm92377 I fully agree, the atmosphere at the emirates has been awful up until the past few years. Not entirely sure what it is. When we start losing / playing badly you can hear a pin drop in the stadium. I think it's probably just a cumulation of this season's performances!
@@hpm92377 I also think arsenal fans are probably just a bit entitles. Most think we are too good to be excited about the carabao cup, despite having won nothing for years...
This might hopefully have been the perfect kick up the Arse the management needed, with the team openly struggling now and for all to see and so other teams try to take advantage of in the coming games. So seeing it is only the Carabao Cup and only the first leg, it might actually be a blessing in disguise and so force the hands of management and so be pro-active and get someone really really decent, to carry us through to the end of the season, and beyond.
On the one hand, I sat in the bar after the game last night and tried to remember the last time we lost at the Emirates. It took me a while to remember it was Villa last season. We’re an excellent side and we shouldn’t have short memories of how bad it was 4-5 seasons ago. On the other hand, I’ve always had this feeling that we’re not quite going to get over the line with Arteta and this very formulaic way of approaching games. If you try to eliminate luck, I guess you don’t get any. I also don’t think it’s as simple as saying we need a striker. We need a bit more excitement and even jeopardy in the mix IMO
I usually agree with Charles. But on this occasion I’m going to have to disagree. The game last night was down to the squad being tired and fatigued also Newcastle defended well but didn’t really play that well they just had 2 chance opportunities that Isak was able to exploit. We on the other hand had over 23 chances created.In terms of buying players they are not many players who we can afford to buy in this transfer window that would make a difference. Injuries and poor squad planning have hindered us this season very little to do with Mikel unfortunately Edu has left him to bear the brunt of the criticism
We spent 65M on Havertz in the same window Isak moved for 63M. Now we want to talk about Isak like he just came out of nowhere. We spent combined 70M this summer on 2players who were never going to be the reason we got over the hump, and neglected our obvious attacking deficiencies. All these players we're lusting over have all made moves in the last 2-3 seasons. We've bought the players We've been looking for... And it's clear we've not been building a squad aimed at winning. We've just been building for the sake of building.
@SueMyChin He wasn't on the market because??? Did someone put in a bid, and the club refused? Did we go for him and Sociedad said come back next year, so we bought Kai instead? Or did he refuse to come? This is not about Isak individually. It could have been anybody else. I don't even particularly care about him. It's about the clubs investments in general. And what we've invested in. There's a reason we only have defenders on the bench. Cos, that's all we keep buying. 100M spent on Left sided defenders not named Big Gabi. The stale attack has been brewing for a few seasons cos we are not looking for attacking talent. We tried to get Mudryk. We missed. That was 2 Januarys ago. Did we satisfy the needs of the squad by getting Trossard? Even if we'd gotten Mudryk, and he had blossomed as we all hoped, the squad would have still been light on attacking talent. Keep in mind that Kai wasn't even signed as a forward. And now nobody knows what his role in the squad really is. All we know is we have this expensive 65M player, who isn't really a difference maker, who sometimes plays in attack and sometimes doesn't. This isn't specifically about Kai either. But if you're determined to miss the larger point and make my comment all about Isak and what timeline he moved, then I can't help you.
Charles, as always, you’re spot on. I am curious, do you honestly believe we’re going to sign a striker in January? I think not. I often feel that we’re starting to operate more like a business, versus a football team. I am willing to bet that the Board have asked Mikel to ‘hang on’ till the summer, before signing a player(s)…
Thanks for your analysis of the Martinelli chance. He did so well to create that space himself and the angle did not exactly favour a far post finish. It was not a high value XG chance.
Come on Charles, how can they go after Sescko like they did and then decide they have enough to get through a season? The two are mutually exclusive. It's clear they just weren't convinced by the available alternatives. Saying they need this and need that is all well and good but if the players are not available then they can't do anything about it.
I'd love to see Mbuemo and a quality striker in on loan for the remainder of the season until we can go all out for Isak, Sesko or Gyokeres in the summer. I would even be open to us going after Osimhen for the reported 50 mil release clause. But Mbuemo would be outstanding cover for Saka for however long he is out. Love the content, keep up the great work!
I was in the upper end of the North Bank last night. Very few people left early in my section and we were shouting and cheering the team on right into second half injury time. I'm not saying that this is what Charles is saying, but it is not the fans' obligation to just cheer whatever they are given. It's down to the players and the manager to give us something to cheer, and we didn't get that last night.
Hi Charles, in my opinion over the last 2 seasons Zinny in the team enabled us to play fast and expansive. He used to pick up the ball in those half spaces which then allowed Martinelli to stay wide and open.He offered so much threat and aggro to the opponents with those positions he picked up and was another great ball carrier. It's annoying people complain about his defensive frailties instead of what he brings offensively, It's like TAA but for Arsenal. Liverpool don't care about his problems defensively, they know what he brings going forward is more important. Arteta is more the reverse
Agree he’s undervalued. Of all our fullbacks, he’s by far the best on the ball. Great vision and can actually break lines. His defensive frailties can’t be ignored but I do feel like he could bring a lot of value in the matches where we struggle to find space in the attacking third.
Hi Charles, Keith here Arsenal fan living in Northumberland and it's horrendous. All I can think of is, as an Arteta fan, can't believe his excuses for the game, he actually sounded like Ten Hag which is a very bad sign for him. Still think we had a terrible summer transfer window selling or loaning out so many players without replacing them we were always going to be short
Well done for getting through that Charles I think everybody is super disappointed despite us all knowing that our squad was thin especially up front we were super hopeful that this season would bring us silverware and with City issues it feels even more like we should be taking advantage and the final straw being the feeling that it was in our hands and we have blown it but not doing enough in the transfer window it’s very hard to take the feeling that the season is slipping away 😢
I've got a name for you Charles, Ricardo Pepi at PSV. He turns 22 tomorrow. He's PSV's back-up striker. He's scored 10 goals in 15 league appearances this season (mostly late goals off the bench). He came off the bench to score a Champions League game winner for PSV against Shaktar. He's currently a proven offensive weapon coming off the bench and has the potential to be more in the future. Should be relatively cheap. American, so already speaks English.
Hi Charles. Not in the Arteta out brigade, but I do think his position would be tenuous if we weren’t to win anything significant this season. Just from a practical perspective, is he really going to motivate the players to go again after three consecutive seasons of disappointment? It’s an uncomfortable conversation as clearly he’s a quality manager who’s done wonders for the club, but we possibly need to freshen up the coaching staff in the same way we do the attack
Rosicky as leading candidate for new Arsenal director made headlines briefly before the Newcastle game. I think you didn't mentioned in your video and want to ask your opinion on Rosicky. Personally, i don't get all the negative views on why he shouldn't become Arsenal director. He has very similar thoughts to both Arteta and Wenger. Running a self-sustainable club and building the foundation from the inside bit by bit making culture and making a complete team. He also knows the team very well and Wilshere, Mertesacker or even Mikel didn't had enough experience before coming to Arsenal yet they did a great job. He might not be the massive Olabe or Campos type of figure that everyone would want but he does seem like the man who is ready made for the Arsenal job.
We need Isak to be that Sol Campbell type signing. NUFC may not be our eternal nemesis, but signing arguably the best striker in the league would be massive for Arteta, the team’s confidence and it would be an electric atmosphere at the Emirates
Wait..... everyone has said for years we needed a striker. You often said we didnt charles. We blew 65 million on havertz when we could have signed and out and out striker
@@SueMyChin Does Isak have a lifetime contract at Newcastle? We could sign him from them. It would cost an arm and a leg, but how much does a Premier league title cost these days?
Our problems in a nutshell Excellent defense Decent midfield Average attack Decent manager My proposed solution. There are several great options with release clauses. Mbuemo (RW) Gyokeres(CF) release clause Williams (LW) release clause Maybe another creative midfielder on the left side ( Xhaka was never replaced adequately). Maybe Merino will step up. We are not too far and I have always wondered. Why does Mikel say so much during games? I mean if the players have trained well and understood their roles, why give orders all game? It almost feels like we are playing with 2 handbrakes in a very very controlled way. It makes us look worse than we are.
It was interesting watching this after watching AC Milan come back from 0-2 to win 3-2 recently. What pushed them to victory? Theo Hernandez, Leao, Pulisic and an okay striker who know where to stand. All players with dynamic attacking quality who put fear into defenses.
Charles thank you for your consistent and objective coverage. Posted this a few months back and now believe it rings true even more so: I am not a "Chicken Little" / doom and gloom fan like a lot of others. That being said, this season seems to be getting away from the team and Arteta (maybe being a bit too stubborn with tactics and subs). The injuries with the added component of a bunch of new players has definitely prevented the squad from having the time to properly gel. Because of these factors I'm beginning to feel that a top-4 finish would be a great result. It may be the case that this year is a take 1 step back to take 2 steps forward. With some bolstering signings (unlikely in the winter transfer window), such as an out and out number 9 and real coverage on the wings to be signed during the summer and with the injured members having that time to bet back to full snuff. Then the team can return even stronger and deeper in the 25/26 season. Just trying to be objective. As always COYG!!
Hey Charles, hopefully you get to this question. As an American fan is there a situation with the seating of the fans in the stadium? I’ve heard online that a lot of the local and “more” passionate fans are seated high and away from the pitch. I’ve questioned how loud the fans have been this season through tv considering last season the crowd noise would bleed through the mics. Now the crowds sound quiet, definitely not as loud as last season and every 15-20 min chant the same “Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal”. I initially put it to tv editing but with all those fans leaving so early last game. how could they leave in a semi final with a second leg to come. I guess people forgot how important and loud the emirates was last season.
How Arsenal are even second is hard to imagine considering that everything that could go wrong this season has gone wrong, soft red cards, Merino injured in first training session, Odegaard injured on International duty, sicknesses, Saka out for 3 months, Tomiyasu not 1 minute, Nwanweri injured just when he gets in the starting 11, and we've played most of the Top 12 away, including 2 more away than Liverpool. It's similar to last season when we lost to West Ham and Fulham...Martinelli, Jesus, Trossard and Havertz all inconsistent this season, but then the team has frequently changed dramatically. Having said that, The Club as a whole did not back Arteta by turfing out Eddie, ASR, Nelson and the flimsy Vieira and not adequately replacing them. They obviously did not get their targets but Sterling has also been a massive disappointment.
Arteta now has one of those moments to push the team on with when we go to the return fixture, play the video back of all the missed chances (that will take a while LOL!) and get them to really raise their game to try and win that leg.
Charles, great content and great points. I was wondering what you think about the Merino signing now that we are 6 months into the season. I felt it quite telling that given that ode and kai are both so off form wise but even with illness hitting both of those players, Merino still couldnt find a place in the starting 11. I get that he is a floor raiser rather than a celing one but 40 million euros plus on an eleny replacement seems a bit mad given the lack of investment in attack.
Hey Charles this is a long one but I struggled to capture my thoughts in only a few sentences, I mean this in the most respectful way but Arsenal fans really need to stop thinking about the club as some sort of Arteta pet project. I think he is a great coach but for 5 years our recruitment has been average (more so squad planning rather than individuals brought in). I am unsure if Edu is to be blamed or someone else but someone was not doing the job correctly. We have had the same holes in the squad for nearly 3 seasons and I think its only down to the fact that we have 3-4 genuine world class players that the squad has managed to perform this well. Not to start some attack on individual players but lets use Martinelli as an example. Yes he has had good moments but he also only has 55 goal contributions in 146 premier league games. I fail to see how that level of player wins you a league title as your starting left winger. In my opinion ( I understand it may not be popular) but no other team in the top 2-3 of Italy, England, Germany or Spain would continue to persist with a player with those numbers. Again, I think he would be a great bench option but the poor planning and squad management has left us in a position where you have 4-5 guys in this squad that HAVE to start. As soon as those few world class, league title winning level of players get injured, the cracks start to show. Odegaard struggling post return from injury, no magic from Saka and heaven forbid something were to happen to Gabriel or Saliba that kept them out injured for a long time. In my personal opinion Arteta has 1 window left (next season) to correct these mistakes, interested to hear your take on this. Apologies for the Novel lol.
Our team seems to have a knack of standing and waiting for something to happen in our build up. I've said it before, we are too re-active and not pro-active enough. One key stand out for me is this Havertz role. It's great when he "arrives in the box" when we are drawing or losing, but when we are losing and he is drifting out of the box to midfield or the wings its truly frustrating. He is our biggest ariel threat but is rarely in the box between the centre backs giving them something to think about. That seriously needs to change - at least for when we are behind in games. Many times we could have crossed the ball in the second half and many time there was no one in the box because Havertz is standing behind the person looking to cross... too 1 dimensional! Even if we only get loans this window, I don't mind that. We need players now as injuries and illness ravage the squad.
Hi Charles, Good to hear you speak candidly about what Arsenal needs going forward. But, I'm disappointed it took the game against Newcastle for you to speak like this. We don't only have a striker's problem, but many problems such as lethargic display, predictability, lack of sense of urgency right from the start, and lack of legs in the number six role. One vital position people are not talking about is the number six. I've heard a lot of praises showered on Partey for his performances so far this season. But, in honesty, our slow buildup and lack of intensity is down to the personnel we have in that position. Compared to Caicedo, Tonali, Gravenbach etc. What those players have in common is legs. If you can't run in the premiership, you basically can't play. It starts from training the six role dictates the tempo and our quick ball-recovery. There's a reason Man City are missing Rodri. Partey and Jorginho don't have it anymore and Rice is Jack of all trades with no specialty in a position, in fact, he lacks the positional discipline to play as a six, though that can be coached, if the coach allows him to play that role consistently and make Partey and Jorginho his back-up. Where do we start from regarding the attack? It's just a total mess. I don't know if it's a lack of foresight, arrogance, ineffectiveness, or what.
I feel Rice is a mobile no.6 seen as our defenders play so high up the pitch. Rice has bags of energy & to be disciplined into sticking to an area of the pitch is needed. Its what's infront of them is why Rice is caught out of position as the teammates don't cover the ground needed
@Nostradanus86 Agreed. That's why we need to replace Partey and Jorginho quickly with young and quality midfielders. Continuing with those two and coach's slow approach will keep holding us back.
If we'd put away the chances before Newcastle scored we'd be saying it was a good result. Apart from the very good chances we missed from Saliba, Timber, Martinelli etc. it's staggering that someone as talented as Odegaard can't hit the proverbial barndoor. We only have ourselves to blame as it's been clear for a long while that we needed a clinical finisher but were told that we spread our goals across the whole team and had scored x number of goals etc. We lost the league last year because of a handful of games where we lost our goal scoring touch and we're being punished again this year.
Thanks Charles. Here are some harsh and uncomfortable truths we need to accept after last match: 1. All of Calafiori, Merino and Sterling didnt start and were not brought on by the same manager who bought them when we were chasing the game and the Goalkeeper we signed for this competition ia cup-tied shows how we've regressed as a result if our shmabolic summer transfer window. 2. Arteta spending £96m on Havertz and Merino over two summers only to still start Rice at left-8 is poor for squad-building. 3. Arteta has signed 3 or more "left backs" but Tierney is still the only actual leftback at the club... And MLS starting ahead of Kiwi²or, Zinny, Calafiori is indicative enough. 4. For all the money spent on Merino and Calafiori, I still can't tell you that they're miles better than Myles Lewis-Skelly both at Left 8 and left back. 5. Arteta was actually going to pay north of £20m for Joan Garcia (a backup Goalkeeper) but was ready to keep waiting for the "perfect" striker or wide forward. 6. This is not a "process" anymore. It's been 5years now, Gabriel is 27 now, this is not that "young team is growing together" anymore. If Arteta doesn't win anything this season, the question will have to be asked whether another manager giving the same time and resources (over £600m) to build his own team would've won even if it's a league cup by now (5 years +). Laugh at ETH all we want but he won 2 trophies in 2 years. 7. A whole world still exists this season where City still finishes above us and more teams (Villa, Chelsea, Man Utd, City, Liverpool) will still improve further next season. 8. When a manager begins to blame the ball like he did last night, just know that we may be at the beginning of the end 😒 No I don't have an Arteta out agenda, I actually think he's a great coach but I'm beginning to ask myself some objective questions is this the most we could've have gotten for all this time and all the money spent? If you can answer that honestly, then you have your answer.
Maybe he’s a nearly manager. Agree with all your points. Viera & Havertz have been awful in the grand scheme of things. The knock on effect of those have been massive on the squad. Selling ESR Nelson Nketieh and Viera and only getting Sterling on loan on the final day is a huge problem
All in all, he has done a good job bringing the squad together. But end of the day, Arteta is not an experienced manager and the way he pans out pre season, it gives off the vibes that he only trust 14 to 15 players tops. The way he sets out? Feels like he isn't truly interested in wanting to win any silverware. I mean charity shield is sufficient for him. It's been half a decade. We have had decently good memories. Maybe it really is time for a change. You don't shoot, you don't score. You really just don't win games
@tan9640 I couldn't agree with you more. When it comes to buying defensive players (a la Goakeepers and Defenders) he doesn't wait, he buys one almost every summer but when it comes buying an attacker, we'll actually wait for the "perfect" striker or forward, once the one we want is not available for some reason. Like in this whole world of football, other than Sesko and Nico Willams, are we actually accepting that there was genuinely no other forwards that could've improved us that we could afford? And let's not even mention Sterling, we all know he was panic buy. 😒
Calafiori and Merino are very good players playing in there first season in the Prem and have both been hit with serious injuries. More importantly Arsenal haven’t had a settled squad. They’re not the issue. If you think Myles is anywhere near Calafiori at his best then you’re beyond deluded.
Thanks Charles. Can’t believe what an awesome job you do after such a disappointment, especially compared to all the other click-merchants yelling and screaming like babies just to get the likes. This is actually when your podcast is MOST VALUABLE AND APPRECIATED! Keep up the great work!
The problem is that we competed too soon for the title in 22/23, and certainly too soon for Mikel. Here’s what I mean by that: Recall the fluid, exciting, silky and free-flowing football we played that season? And how we were far and away the best team in the league until Saliba got injured? Then the wheels came off and we fell apart because we had Rob Holding in defence? I think that traumatised Arteta and pushed him into becoming what he is now. He became so afraid of being too light in defence and being too reliant on Gabriel and Saliba that he proceeded to buy so many defensive players to compensate. In his mind, he must’ve thought that the attack would always perform and execute, so he was more worried about our defense. This tracks with the Arsenal team he came into that was horrendous defensively but was scoring a little bit. So he sacrificed boldness, daring, aggression, speed, bravery, and risk in attack just to avoid losing games. This almost worked last season, and that cemented his newfound beliefs in the new system. So he bought Calafiori and Merino, two defensive-minded players, as his marquee signings and left the attack scanty once more. He either didn’t anticipate the injuries we have suffered to otherwise constantly available players, or he had developed tunnel vision on the issue he identified to the extent that he didn’t care or was willing to risk it. We all knew that what we needed most was a reliable goal threat, but his trauma simply couldn’t let him look past the holes in the defensive shape he had identified. So now, we’re here. We DID have money for a CF or productive attacker, but didn’t take the plunge because we trusted Havzoos. We moved on Nketiah, Nelson and ESR, and brought Sterling in. That’s tantamount to sporting malpractice and we are now paying HEAVILY for it.
Once again Charles, I said to you a year ago that we need a striker but you said we didn't when you commented on my message. It cost us the title the last 2 seasons. It's going to cost us again.
Ok, of course we have to buy - but it isn't easy in Jan. However, I think there are 3 deals that can be done with will and cash (money won't always do it - the selling club has all the power): Cunha, Vlahovic and Williams. They are all players that shouldn't leave us with buyers remorse in the summer and will massively improve the attacking power.
Those empty seats is a by product of that embarrassment of a transfer window, and of not signing a striker for 2 effing seasons now, and as long this ownership continues not giving the team what it needs these empty seats will continue happening and slowly but surely Arsenal will be back what we were 4 years ago
Hey Charles! This January i would do the best i can if i were In Edu position to sign a winger and a loan striker and go all for Isak bcs i think signing anyone else is a massive gambling. just go for him i mean break the bank, he worth it.
The season when Arteta bought Jesus and Zinchenko i was so excited, i finally saw why they i kept on hearing people say believe in him, just those signings alone. He added to that again with Trossard, great signing. The Rice came i finaly thought we are a serious club now, we dont care about saving money but we have gone backwards from that. Selling all those players, making up all that money just to not spend it on improving the squad. Im so annoyed
Hate hate hate the quote from Arteta about fans leaving! "Arsenal" rang out as soon as we conceded, the team need to give us something to believe in right now. Weeks ago I saw the winter window as an oppurtunity but now it's a necessity. Panic stations people.
Congratulations Charles that's the best i have heard from you, to best sum up Aresnals performance. Normally you are very conservative with any comments about a defeat. But through all the doom and gloom we still have a chance up there !! It is, and has been, for a couple of seasons , lack of a striker and of course a winger to ese the burden on both Marti and Saka. But getting back to the 2nd leg. BUY Gyokeres !! he scores in every game !! that means we will start the 2nd leg 2-1 🤷♂🤷♂🤷♂🤷♂ Now, we still have the fear factor [JUST] and arriving with him in the team the fear factor will be lifted to such a level that we could put them on the back foot . Thats the dream . And sometimes dreams come true. Remember teams still fear Arsenal JUST. 👍👍
5 years into the process and we had 4 left backs on the bench last night, calafori, tierney, kivior and zinchenko. Predictable subs, blunt performance yet again from the front 3 and the manager comes out with excuses about the football. Your two marquee summer signings sat on the bench - sums it all up. Embarrassing
i think is one thing to have possession. But when you slow the ball down to snail pace and allow the defense to just shift over whenever the ball moves. It doesn't make sense. Have the possession and move the ball around quicker. We are too slow and ots making us very easy to defend.
We're just missing a few pieces. It's not all doom and gloom. If we can get a goal in the first 15 min in the second leg, it will be a panic station from Newcastle. We do need signings, tho. I'd love for us to get at least a CAM.
As regards to the form of MØ8, I do wonder if he is being affected by the pressure of having to be our only source of creativity [with Saka out-which has also had a negative impact on him].
After the first goal arsenal played how we expect them to play with quicker passes but apart from the two goals they should have scored Newcastle defended with their lives and so the result may be seen as one of those one off results. I am happy if they play with such urgency and pace and quickness going forward. It's no good talking about Ian Wright, those strikers don't exist any more
06:47 This is why I say Cunha is not what we need. He's just like Jesus and Harvetz, not staying at the centre and fighting those defenders for every ball in. Great player, just not what we need. We need a classic number 9. There's too much focus on technicality today, Rice is one of the least technical players in this team but I honestly thought he was the one trying the most with driving forward with the ball and making runs forward exploring the space opened up. I say the same thing about that winger we're looking for, hopefully it's that direct, pacey dribbling winger we get this window
So much negativity, lets look at the positives. Having nearly 70% possession, over 20 shots, 11 corners and giving the opposition very little will generally lead to wins more often than loses. So even playing like this we won't lose too many. Being patient in the transfer market to get the players we actually need is the best course of action in my opinion even if it means we don't make further progress this season. In terms of progress, the main experience which arteta will learn from is don't leave yourself short going into next season. Important lesson.
Some fans are being too reactionary. Yesterday imo we played better than in the Brighton game even with the loss. United are also going to gung ho on us. But if we finish 6 points adrift Liverpool a month from now after Man City's game I believe we may win the epl. Or maybe ManCity again.
@@nathanmachoka6824It's not reactionary in my opinion. The fact of the matter is we've haven't capitalised on Liverpools slip ups once this season. You mention how we could close the gap, which is fair, however if we drop a few more points, they could be too far out of reach. It's unlikely we will win a cup at all this year
The stats were impressive, however we all know that the most important stats are the ones which win you the game. The patient approach in the transfer market should have been excercised in the summer, our signingshave not pushed us forward at all. None of our new signings were featured in the semi final of a cup run, which is concerning
If lessons are not learned after last night, they will never be learned in time to stop Saliba and Big Gabi leaving us. The absence of a striker has been masked for the last two years, but illnesses and injuries this season have exposed more brutally what happens when good players are not available to hold up the mask.
Two thoughts - a) we're still absolutely in all comps. Football is weird and we have had a lot of bad luck. Even with 'these players' we're right up there and maybe need perspective given how bad we've been in recent memory. However... b) on fans leaving - Is there a frustration that we are eternally 1 piece/player away from success and never take that step.
you're wrong charles. After a bad loss i find it theraputic to work through thoughts and compartmentalise by watching content. But you are also right that its always nicer when we have won, thank you for your content and keep up the good work
Me too! there's is a weird smile i notice from arteta in press confrence that always give me the feeling we are not winning. Everytime i see that smile i know we are not winning the game.
How long does Arteta need to finally get that Odegaard is not a direct freekick-taker? When has he scored a direct freekick? One, maybe...years ago.... He routinely hits it into the wall, and he has a rather weak foot anyway. What we need are two players with a rocket-foot that actually do shoot from the edge of the box and that pose a threat from distance. Opposition defences have long figures us out and know that they just need to play a low block because we never shoot from distance but somehow hope we can carry the ball into the goal, or bomb down the flanks until a defender gets into the way forcing us to lob in a poor cross into no-man's-land, and certainly never play into the back of a defence because there's simply no one of us. We slowly build up play from the back, apparently so that the opposition defence has duly time to set up properly, so we can begin with our side to side passing around the box until we're so desperate that we're trying to rush into the box like an NFL rushing play, and every time we just get crowded out by their defence laying back and waiting for us.....
Thanks Charles, not sure how anyone can even suggest Arteta needs to go. The other players need to step up in Saka's absence. Trossard and Martinelli need to step up and grab this opportunity. They are not at the moment. I think Martinelli still needs time and Trossard will always be great squad option from the bench. Whilst I understand the calls for a more established striker I think without Saka it shows how we actually need to prioritise a wide attacking/creative player in our next signing. I would love Kudus but if the whole world knows our predicament its probably financially unrealistic to look at players like that without affecting the long term plan, unless we can recreate a Trossard-like situation for a reasonable fee. This season hurts in the league given the optimism/expectations we've been provided with in the last few seasons but referee decisions and injuries have changed that now. It's disappointing, but not the end of the world if we finish top 4 with no trophies and get the players we want for their correct value in the summer. I'm happy to be patient for domination of the league with Arteta at the helm if we get it right long term but most people seem to demand everything yesterday. I trust Arteta and his team to get it perfect this summer and if not then I can start to accept the other suggestions
Arsenal will NOT win any Cup without a sharp no. 9, and Arteta and co are adamant in getting us a no. 9. Yesterday's result is a disgrace and heartrending. Step up Arsenal!
Hi Charles. Wow its been a while since I've heard you so down, I know it feels like we've taken a huge punch on the nose and it hurts but we have to learn from this and move forward. I'm sorry but stating the obvious isn't helping, there about 4000 other professional clubs who would love Isak right now, as a club we've got to get it right and it's hard to get a guaranteed success as a striker. For every Isak and Haaland there's a huge percentage of failed to deliver. Keep your chin up mate, it could be worse....we could all be spurs fans.
Is Odegaard's drop off in form partly down to the absence of Saka? They both make each other look world class but, perhaps, they are unable to replicate their form with other team members
Charles I think our issue in cups and we've had enough semis and quarters under Arteta know to get this, is that we approach cup games like they are the league. In the EPL, slow and steady (can but not always will) win you the race, in cups you need variation and you need to try things. You may sometimes sit back and play the counter, other times you may just play a back 3. Arteta did exactly that in his first FA Cup and then seemed to abandon it. I always think of how long it took City to win the UCL and their main fault was that when they got to the semis and came up against Madrids of the world, they would approach it like a league game and then get done with sucker punches. When they ditched that and started getting savvier about cups they won it....
We needed a striker 2 seasons ago... Arteta should reflect on his career so far with the budget and players he has, no silverware is just poor management
Hi Charles. Brilliant book btw even if talksport gave you a bit of stick. Whats your opinion on us being over coached? I thought that’s exactly what we needed when Arteta first came in but i feel now we have become so predictable it is easy to coach against us. Had these lingering doubts about Arteta ever since the 2-2 with palace at home 3 years ago when Viera got a better reception than he did. Hope he can change as i can see he really loves the club.
I was there last night, didn't see the usual season ticket holders around me. The atmosphere was really poor, and you could feel the lack of belief in the crowd. The Arsenal team just seem slow and predictable.
I didn't bother to go - let one of my son's go -felt sorry for him though, having to watch that. With our slow build up, I have lost interest in watching Arsenal. Charles says we don't have the fast flowing players like Pires, Ljungberg, Henry etc. That is wrong, you can coach one touch football into ANY player. Odegaard will take stupid chances, like playing a dummy inside Newcastle penalty area, when no-one was behind him, he needs to be more aware.
Just came here after listening to some dross on Talk Sport about Arteta so called blaming the ball which he didn't. Very poor and lazy from them. Happy to be here with some sensible analysis.
Havertz 6ft4 iv never seen a man so soft that size, I wana see shoulder barges that involve standing ground holding play up, he also needs to sprint more with effort, cmon man
The club might be waiting to see if anyone can be brought in easily, but if not, then in a week or two they put in an offer for a striker with a release clause and salary they can afford, one that does not impact our FFP position. How easy is that to do? I've seen some names put forward, it's big money, but it could be the difference between trophies this season or none.
Charles, keep up the good work. What I find surprising is that the only time Arteta won a trophy, he had a prolific goal scorer in Auba, yet all this time, he has never really tried to replace him. Arteta's Arsenal cannot win any silverware without having a clinical finisher. Every time they have fallen short of winning silverware, it can always be traced back to wasting chances in front of goal.
Good point that no one has mentioned before
Yep, we need someone who's capable of scoring 20 goals a season
I agree. Arteta is very stubborn to get a finisher as in a no.9. Somebody has to tell him as it is- WE NEED A NUMBER 9.
But remember guys a striker has to have a great attitude lol
Auba trauma the reason Arteta does not want to replace him?
There is a book that sums this situation well, and although it’s a business book it applies to Arsenal, Arteta a The Board: it’s titled “What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There!”.
Before Arteta came in we were probably 8 years off competing for a title & major honours, to get us to the level we are at now is an incredible achievement itself. We’d probably still be floating around in 5th or 6th without him.. A lot of our gormless fans need to remember that (people like Troopz come to mind)
What major honours has he competed for ? You talk as if he’s performed miracles , he’s had 700m to spend ffs
@@Ty01386Erm, you are talking like we haven't raced city to the finish line 2 seasons in a row...and probably would have won at least 1 of them if the refs did their job....
@@AntonGranbo People have been spoilt by how far he's taken us in such a short space of time, incredible manager. & you are 100% correct sir.
@@AntonGranbo you said he competed for a title & major honours. I Asked what Major Honours has he competed for ?
@@Ty01386I think he meant the whole finishing 2nd just missing out on the league ... you know
We have two issues. Poor squad planning and slow build up. We’re so concerned about not conceding that even when some players are making runs in behind (rare but I did see attempts yesterday) our defense and midfield refuse to play early through balls and crosses. Every team has figured out our predictable patterns of play and without a KDB or a Haaland level of players this system isn’t working anymore.
And a no good manager with all of that
@@ankitavalanche I saw Rice get so frustrated when Odegaard stop short of playing a ball in behind to him
It's the financial withstrictions that we are dealing with.
He’s Pep 2.0
Isak is elite, but imho Tonali not spoken about enough. NUFC are a top 4 team with him in midfield
We’re a top four team too…outthought and outclassed 🤷🏽♂️
@ not wrong, but should we’ve of gone out earlier no one would’ve bothered. Let’s back team and use this as a springboard to start our year.
Since tonali has been starting as a 6 we have won every single game isak is getting all the credit but tonali at 6 is a game changer fir the toon it pushes bruno up the pitch . Our midfield is unreal best in the league
@@Leenufc Rolls Royce of a player. You guys are going to be at the top soon for sure in my opinion
To the Arteta out crowd, if we had beaten Brighton it would have been more points than same stage last season, on the back of incredible injuries. I heard it's like only 6 players in the squad haven't missed games due to injury/ illness and those questionable reds (only 6 in the Liverpool squad by comparison). Not saying performances are at the level needed or that attacking reinforcements aren't needed. But to say in a reactionary way Arteta out is not sensible. Question is how do you rest people when the squad is stretched? And to get an attacker at the correct level is really tough in this window. This means stick by the team.
We are arteta out due to the squad building and recruiting
@@snipedotgeniusand his dumb in game tactics
To the arteta fans this is Arsenal and not all about arteta fc. I dont wanna hear all this rubbish what he has done and where he got us. He just isnt a top top manager
Also I know this shouldn't annoy me but I was really angry at pundits talk about how great the Newcastle management was when they moved to a 5-5-0 formation. Of course its "amazing game management" but if the roles were reversed Arsenal wouldn't get the same praise
We got slated for doing it away to city with 10 men.
Arteta only has a plan a so he wouldn’t make changes
Spot on Charles…Big gamble that didn’t pay off. Thank you for giving me perspective.
If those injuries didn’t happen…Club hierarchy will look like a bunch of geniuses.
Big Gamble that didn’t pay off…TIME TO HUMBLY REACT.
It's not a gamble to not buy a player, it's a gamble to buy a player.
That was well said ,Isak showed us everything we are missing. He made the best CBs partnership in the league be indecisive and that chaos Newcastle exploited
Charles keep up the good work. Our issue is extremely poor squad planing.
GK: No actual decent backup and an 18yo
DF: 7 injury prone wingbacks, 3 CBs (doesn’t trust kiwor fully)
Mid: 4/6 are defensive minded, odegaard and an 18yo
Wing: 3/4 are LW (doesn’t trust Sterling) and there is no Saka backup.
ST: both are average and doubt they will score more than a goal per game.
Yes we had bad luck but it’s also poor planning and the balance isn’t great. If Edu didn’t leave it deserves a sacking. We have been heavily reliant on our top players not getting injured.
@@MrKlaiman we’ll find out now if the problem is Arteta or Edu. We’ve been told by likes of Ornstein and Romano that signings like Viera, Kai, Merino, Califiori were all Arteta signings so let’s see who the problem is. Either way time and patience is running out
@ apart from Viera I have no issues with any of these signings. Viera was meant to be an odegaard back up, it failed and we didn’t move on. Last summer we needed to replace him, get a winger, a striker and a backup goalkeeper. We didn’t do any of that.
While I agree with the overarching point, the team went into the summer with an attack that was absolutely firing.
@@norwegiantacoeater9115 with saka and in-form kai, we need more in attacking
@@durk88 They could not predict the amount of injuries we have got at the same time that have ruined any chance of creating some momentum. I do agree though, Mikel himself has stated that we have one of the thinnest squads in the league, so it’s very strange that they allowed it to stay that way.
I saw you there last night and I could see how fed up you looked. I was also!!
I couldn't agree more. We are one of the biggest clubs in Europe and for us not to have a proper recognised striker is a terrible neglect of duty. 100% needs to be sorted asap!
Hi Charles, Arteta has been found out, he's refusel to sort out the attack will cost him his job, juggling keepers and defenders is all he has done in the transfer windows since he took over, although he has done great work, he is clearly not the man to get us over the line in any competition, I hope the powers that be are already looking for his successor for next season, someone who cam finish the job and get this great club back winning trophies again, he has had a fair crack of the whip and has came up short.
Everyone thinks its isak that is making Newcastle win , yes he is sciring the goals but people are sleeping on tonali . Since tonali has been starting as a 6 Newcastle have won every game . He is the game changer he is world class
We’ve always needed a striker, the whole summer went and he just chased one. We should’ve asked for Osmimn on loan.
You can have a striker and still not score. Haaland is a world-class striker, right? How has that work foe City? In football,, as in other team sports whre ppl score, you need all your shooters to score, be it hockey or basketball b
@ jesus and Haverts are not strikers, we needed a proper number 9.
Halland is 2nd to the golden boot@@josephthybrother9534
The players are dead on their feet because the players who aren't injured just have to play every game. I think we are overperforming considering the amount of injuries and other bad luck we've had.
I wonder ... Why there are no more players? Why there is no rotation when the players are available? ... and why with same players we have so many different performace/results
First defeat since the start of November. Second in the league, most points gained in the league over the last ten gAmes…..
Yes I’m very worried and deflated also, but we gotta try and stay positive, we’ve been pretty poor the past 6weeks and we are still in the fight. 🙏
Arsenal with ISAk, an explosive winger and a ball playing midfielder (8).. will dominate Europe.
But Arteta is Arteta..he would rather die on the havertz mountain
First defeat since the start of November. Second in the league, most points gained in the league over the last ten gAmes…..
I bet you can't wait for the open top bus parade for all that eh?
I was one of those who left on 80 mins. I had no faith in the team to score. Agree with everything you said and the lack of quality in the final third is hurting us.
Nice work Charles 👍👍
I saw this coming, but I don't see Arsenal signing this January.
This team with Arteta's rest defense system is killing our attacks , we only attack and create from our right ,now we are lacking. I know my team and Mikel ....I don't see them reacting to this .
Sadly you’re probably right. Sad thing is the rest defence isn’t even as good as last season so we’ve basically regressed in all facets
@@duaneswaby622 even last season we weren't that good , we still struggled to win games ...you have to go back to the other season when we didn't employ this rest defense.....we would kill the game by the 30th minute , we used to score early goals ...if a team scored agaist us , we scored back at the immediately....but since then ....we are not winning most games we should win ...we get a draw and that okay ..like 5 games this season...we could have won easy ....but we got a draw 🤣
@@nahashonkorir8925 disagree with you there. Last season started out slowly but in the second half we were sensational. The rest defence was great, we could pin teams in and pick them apart. Especially away from home the record spoke for itself. This season we can’t pin them in nearly as effectively, and can barely create right now. The balance is off.
To me it’s the defense that is a bigger concern this season. We are back to our old self where the other teams attack once and they score! So vulnerable suddenly.
Generally speaking our defence has been our best asset. Our attack is heavily reliant on Saka on Odegard to produce. When they are playing, or out of form, we have nothing up there
Charles, agree with everyrhing you have said. However our fans need to check themselves too. I was in the stadium last night and guy sat next to me was silent until Willock came off and he made a point of virtue signalling and applauding him off. Another fan started on a fan in front of him for "standing up too often and blocking his view". Meanwhile Newcastle fans were on their feet singing and bouncing the whole game. We need to be singing, standing, loud and proud all night long in these types of game or we give the away team the advantage. I also think so many players have dropped off this season - Rice, Odegaard, Trossard, Kai, Jorginho, Martinelli, meaning the common denominator is the coach and something tactically that he has changed this season.
Trossard is always poor when he starts game, he is an impact (Sub) player.
As a season ticket holder who goes to every home game, its very difficult to continually stand and be excited and back the players for 90 minutes with terrible performances week in and week out. I think its easy to see it from the outside in and accuse the fans of not getting behind their team, but its quite hard to do it consistently, especially when we play badly. I myself pay £2000 a year for my ticket and travel an hour to each game (as well as originally waiting 10+ years to get the opportunity to buy my season ticket all those years ago), that's a hell of a lot of money and time to spend when i'm being rewarded with players who don't look like they are trying. I think everyone is just very disappointed / frustrated in the team more than anything (in terms of how we play rather than our results per say).
Don't mean this comment to be negative, i'm fully behind arsenal and Arteta, but most of the time i think it's up to the team to hype the fans up, not the other way around (obviously we still do make an effort when we are playing badly!).
Also worth noting that most season ticket holders didn't have last nights game included, that means the stadium is going to be filled up with people who have bought tickets for that game specifically (On average, i assume these fans are probably less die hard fans than normal season ticket holders and hence maybe less of an atmosphere and more likely to leave early so it doesn't take hours to get onto the tube).
@mrobolance143 I completely understand your sentiment around the price of the season ticket, the value of what you're watching and being excited by the football. And I was a red member in the crowd yesterday who goes to a handful of games each season.
However, i just thought that for a Semi final, it should have been better. They had the pyrotechnics, the fireworks, the announcer tried getting the crowd up, but then the East Bank crowd went flat for large periods apart from the odd chant of "Arsenal Arsenal". I get you cant do thay game in game out but I think we need to appreciate when we are in a semi final or final of any competition and raise the level, and certainly not allow frustrations to lead to in-fighting (although obviously that was an isolated incident).
@@hpm92377 I fully agree, the atmosphere at the emirates has been awful up until the past few years. Not entirely sure what it is. When we start losing / playing badly you can hear a pin drop in the stadium. I think it's probably just a cumulation of this season's performances!
@@hpm92377 I also think arsenal fans are probably just a bit entitles. Most think we are too good to be excited about the carabao cup, despite having won nothing for years...
This might hopefully have been the perfect kick up the Arse the management needed, with the team openly struggling now and for all to see and so other teams try to take advantage of in the coming games. So seeing it is only the Carabao Cup and only the first leg, it might actually be a blessing in disguise and so force the hands of management and so be pro-active and get someone really really decent, to carry us through to the end of the season, and beyond.
On the one hand, I sat in the bar after the game last night and tried to remember the last time we lost at the Emirates. It took me a while to remember it was Villa last season. We’re an excellent side and we shouldn’t have short memories of how bad it was 4-5 seasons ago.
On the other hand, I’ve always had this feeling that we’re not quite going to get over the line with Arteta and this very formulaic way of approaching games. If you try to eliminate luck, I guess you don’t get any.
I also don’t think it’s as simple as saying we need a striker. We need a bit more excitement and even jeopardy in the mix IMO
I'm blaming the bug on this one Charles,Newcastle seemed to have a lot more energy and were a lot more sharper than us.coyg
I usually agree with Charles. But on this occasion I’m going to have to disagree. The game last night was down to the squad being tired and fatigued also Newcastle defended well but didn’t really play that well they just had 2 chance opportunities that Isak was able to exploit. We on the other hand had over 23 chances created.In terms of buying players they are not many players who we can afford to buy in this transfer window that would make a difference. Injuries and poor squad planning have hindered us this season very little to do with Mikel unfortunately Edu has left him to bear the brunt of the criticism
We spent 65M on Havertz in the same window Isak moved for 63M. Now we want to talk about Isak like he just came out of nowhere. We spent combined 70M this summer on 2players who were never going to be the reason we got over the hump, and neglected our obvious attacking deficiencies. All these players we're lusting over have all made moves in the last 2-3 seasons. We've bought the players We've been looking for... And it's clear we've not been building a squad aimed at winning. We've just been building for the sake of building.
We bought Kai a season after Newcastle bought Isak. At least get the facts right.
@SueMyChin OK sorry. Within 1 season of each other. But the point still holds.
@@TobiMesh No it doesn't. Isak wasn't on the market when we bought Havertz..
@SueMyChin He wasn't on the market because??? Did someone put in a bid, and the club refused? Did we go for him and Sociedad said come back next year, so we bought Kai instead? Or did he refuse to come? This is not about Isak individually. It could have been anybody else. I don't even particularly care about him. It's about the clubs investments in general. And what we've invested in. There's a reason we only have defenders on the bench. Cos, that's all we keep buying. 100M spent on Left sided defenders not named Big Gabi. The stale attack has been brewing for a few seasons cos we are not looking for attacking talent. We tried to get Mudryk. We missed. That was 2 Januarys ago. Did we satisfy the needs of the squad by getting Trossard? Even if we'd gotten Mudryk, and he had blossomed as we all hoped, the squad would have still been light on attacking talent.
Keep in mind that Kai wasn't even signed as a forward. And now nobody knows what his role in the squad really is. All we know is we have this expensive 65M player, who isn't really a difference maker, who sometimes plays in attack and sometimes doesn't.
This isn't specifically about Kai either.
But if you're determined to miss the larger point and make my comment all about Isak and what timeline he moved, then I can't help you.
@@SueMyChin Were you at the Newcastle game?
Charles, as always, you’re spot on. I am curious, do you honestly believe we’re going to sign a striker in January?
I think not. I often feel that we’re starting to operate more like a business, versus a football team. I am willing to bet that the Board have asked Mikel to ‘hang on’ till the summer, before signing a player(s)…
Thanks for your analysis of the Martinelli chance. He did so well to create that space himself and the angle did not exactly favour a far post finish. It was not a high value XG chance.
What's xG?
@DaveRichards-q9l expected goal(s)
Come on Charles, how can they go after Sescko like they did and then decide they have enough to get through a season? The two are mutually exclusive. It's clear they just weren't convinced by the available alternatives. Saying they need this and need that is all well and good but if the players are not available then they can't do anything about it.
I'd love to see Mbuemo and a quality striker in on loan for the remainder of the season until we can go all out for Isak, Sesko or Gyokeres in the summer. I would even be open to us going after Osimhen for the reported 50 mil release clause. But Mbuemo would be outstanding cover for Saka for however long he is out. Love the content, keep up the great work!
I was in the upper end of the North Bank last night. Very few people left early in my section and we were shouting and cheering the team on right into second half injury time. I'm not saying that this is what Charles is saying, but it is not the fans' obligation to just cheer whatever they are given. It's down to the players and the manager to give us something to cheer, and we didn't get that last night.
Hi Charles, in my opinion over the last 2 seasons Zinny in the team enabled us to play fast and expansive. He used to pick up the ball in those half spaces which then allowed Martinelli to stay wide and open.He offered so much threat and aggro to the opponents with those positions he picked up and was another great ball carrier. It's annoying people complain about his defensive frailties instead of what he brings offensively, It's like TAA but for Arsenal. Liverpool don't care about his problems defensively, they know what he brings going forward is more important. Arteta is more the reverse
Yeah arsenals rest defense system puts allota defensive responsibility on the fullbacks
Agree he’s undervalued. Of all our fullbacks, he’s by far the best on the ball. Great vision and can actually break lines. His defensive frailties can’t be ignored but I do feel like he could bring a lot of value in the matches where we struggle to find space in the attacking third.
Strikers need swagger and killer instinct.
Havertz often doesn't address the ball in striking situations despite his goals.
Hi Charles, Keith here Arsenal fan living in Northumberland and it's horrendous.
All I can think of is, as an Arteta fan, can't believe his excuses for the game, he actually sounded like Ten Hag which is a very bad sign for him.
Still think we had a terrible summer transfer window selling or loaning out so many players without replacing them we were always going to be short
Well done for getting through that Charles I think everybody is super disappointed despite us all knowing that our squad was thin especially up front we were super hopeful that this season would bring us silverware and with City issues it feels even more like we should be taking advantage and the final straw being the feeling that it was in our hands and we have blown it but not doing enough in the transfer window it’s very hard to take the feeling that the season is slipping away 😢
I've got a name for you Charles, Ricardo Pepi at PSV.
He turns 22 tomorrow. He's PSV's back-up striker. He's scored 10 goals in 15 league appearances this season (mostly late goals off the bench). He came off the bench to score a Champions League game winner for PSV against Shaktar. He's currently a proven offensive weapon coming off the bench and has the potential to be more in the future. Should be relatively cheap. American, so already speaks English.
Hi Charles. Not in the Arteta out brigade, but I do think his position would be tenuous if we weren’t to win anything significant this season. Just from a practical perspective, is he really going to motivate the players to go again after three consecutive seasons of disappointment? It’s an uncomfortable conversation as clearly he’s a quality manager who’s done wonders for the club, but we possibly need to freshen up the coaching staff in the same way we do the attack
Rosicky as leading candidate for new Arsenal director made headlines briefly before the Newcastle game. I think you didn't mentioned in your video and want to ask your opinion on Rosicky. Personally, i don't get all the negative views on why he shouldn't become Arsenal director. He has very similar thoughts to both Arteta and Wenger. Running a self-sustainable club and building the foundation from the inside bit by bit making culture and making a complete team. He also knows the team very well and Wilshere, Mertesacker or even Mikel didn't had enough experience before coming to Arsenal yet they did a great job. He might not be the massive Olabe or Campos type of figure that everyone would want but he does seem like the man who is ready made for the Arsenal job.
When you chase Sesko you acknowledge that your need a striker ...... when you don't follow up and address the need ...... that is a problem .......
That was the first time I ever saw saliba look scared
The academy is far better than the transfer business so far
We need Isak to be that Sol Campbell type signing. NUFC may not be our eternal nemesis, but signing arguably the best striker in the league would be massive for Arteta, the team’s confidence and it would be an electric atmosphere at the Emirates
More chance of Saka joining Newcastle than Isak joining Arsenal 😂
cant remember the last time you gave trossard a higher score than a 4 and i 100% agree. really want him to get his form back :(
Wait..... everyone has said for years we needed a striker. You often said we didnt charles. We blew 65 million on havertz when we could have signed and out and out striker
When we literally could have signed Isaac! Criminal. Havertz is the hill Arteta is going to die on
@@P.T18 No we couldn't he was already at Newcastle you fool.
@@SueMyChin Does Isak have a lifetime contract at Newcastle? We could sign him from them. It would cost an arm and a leg, but how much does a Premier league title cost these days?
Our problems in a nutshell
Excellent defense
Decent midfield
Average attack
Decent manager
My proposed solution. There are several great options with release clauses.
Mbuemo (RW)
Gyokeres(CF) release clause
Williams (LW) release clause
Maybe another creative midfielder on the left side ( Xhaka was never replaced adequately). Maybe Merino will step up.
We are not too far and I have always wondered.
Why does Mikel say so much during games? I mean if the players have trained well and understood their roles, why give orders all game? It almost feels like we are playing with 2 handbrakes in a very very controlled way. It makes us look worse than we are.
Aubameyang & Pepe signings was never replaced either..
@ 100% right.
HIGH WATTAGE ⚡⚡⚡
Super High Wattage ⚡⚡⚡
No, no, no. It's 2025. 😂
It was interesting watching this after watching AC Milan come back from 0-2 to win 3-2 recently. What pushed them to victory? Theo Hernandez, Leao, Pulisic and an okay striker who know where to stand. All players with dynamic attacking quality who put fear into defenses.
Hello Charles, thanks for your even healed objective updates! I wonder how much would Nico Williams help the squad both this year and in the future?
The squad is good enough in my opinion a bit short but we are good enough just need a tactical adjustment way too predictable right now
Charles thank you for your consistent and objective coverage.
Posted this a few months back and now believe it rings true even more so:
I am not a "Chicken Little" / doom and gloom fan like a lot of others. That being said, this season seems to be getting away from the team and Arteta (maybe being a bit too stubborn with tactics and subs). The injuries with the added component of a bunch of new players has definitely prevented the squad from having the time to properly gel. Because of these factors I'm beginning to feel that a top-4 finish would be a great result. It may be the case that this year is a take 1 step back to take 2 steps forward.
With some bolstering signings (unlikely in the winter transfer window), such as an out and out number 9 and real coverage on the wings to be signed during the summer and with the injured members having that time to bet back to full snuff. Then the team can return even stronger and deeper in the 25/26 season. Just trying to be objective.
As always COYG!!
Hey Charles, hopefully you get to this question. As an American fan is there a situation with the seating of the fans in the stadium? I’ve heard online that a lot of the local and “more” passionate fans are seated high and away from the pitch. I’ve questioned how loud the fans have been this season through tv considering last season the crowd noise would bleed through the mics. Now the crowds sound quiet, definitely not as loud as last season and every 15-20 min chant the same “Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal”. I initially put it to tv editing but with all those fans leaving so early last game. how could they leave in a semi final with a second leg to come. I guess people forgot how important and loud the emirates was last season.
Yep. I didn’t feel good about this game too!!! I guess it was too obvious. Arsenal, frustration is thy name!
How Arsenal are even second is hard to imagine considering that everything that could go wrong this season has gone wrong, soft red cards, Merino injured in first training session, Odegaard injured on International duty, sicknesses, Saka out for 3 months, Tomiyasu not 1 minute, Nwanweri injured just when he gets in the starting 11, and we've played most of the Top 12 away, including 2 more away than Liverpool. It's similar to last season when we lost to West Ham and Fulham...Martinelli, Jesus, Trossard and Havertz all inconsistent this season, but then the team has frequently changed dramatically. Having said that, The Club as a whole did not back Arteta by turfing out Eddie, ASR, Nelson and the flimsy Vieira and not adequately replacing them. They obviously did not get their targets but Sterling has also been a massive disappointment.
Arteta now has one of those moments to push the team on with when we go to the return fixture, play the video back of all the missed chances (that will take a while LOL!) and get them to really raise their game to try and win that leg.
Trust me we'll win the PL this season by GD
Charles, great content and great points. I was wondering what you think about the Merino signing now that we are 6 months into the season. I felt it quite telling that given that ode and kai are both so off form wise but even with illness hitting both of those players, Merino still couldnt find a place in the starting 11. I get that he is a floor raiser rather than a celing one but 40 million euros plus on an eleny replacement seems a bit mad given the lack of investment in attack.
Hey Charles this is a long one but I struggled to capture my thoughts in only a few sentences,
I mean this in the most respectful way but Arsenal fans really need to stop thinking about the club as some sort of Arteta pet project. I think he is a great coach but for 5 years our recruitment has been average (more so squad planning rather than individuals brought in). I am unsure if Edu is to be blamed or someone else but someone was not doing the job correctly. We have had the same holes in the squad for nearly 3 seasons and I think its only down to the fact that we have 3-4 genuine world class players that the squad has managed to perform this well. Not to start some attack on individual players but lets use Martinelli as an example. Yes he has had good moments but he also only has 55 goal contributions in 146 premier league games. I fail to see how that level of player wins you a league title as your starting left winger. In my opinion ( I understand it may not be popular) but no other team in the top 2-3 of Italy, England, Germany or Spain would continue to persist with a player with those numbers. Again, I think he would be a great bench option but the poor planning and squad management has left us in a position where you have 4-5 guys in this squad that HAVE to start. As soon as those few world class, league title winning level of players get injured, the cracks start to show. Odegaard struggling post return from injury, no magic from Saka and heaven forbid something were to happen to Gabriel or Saliba that kept them out injured for a long time. In my personal opinion Arteta has 1 window left (next season) to correct these mistakes, interested to hear your take on this. Apologies for the Novel lol.
Our team seems to have a knack of standing and waiting for something to happen in our build up. I've said it before, we are too re-active and not pro-active enough. One key stand out for me is this Havertz role. It's great when he "arrives in the box" when we are drawing or losing, but when we are losing and he is drifting out of the box to midfield or the wings its truly frustrating. He is our biggest ariel threat but is rarely in the box between the centre backs giving them something to think about. That seriously needs to change - at least for when we are behind in games. Many times we could have crossed the ball in the second half and many time there was no one in the box because Havertz is standing behind the person looking to cross... too 1 dimensional!
Even if we only get loans this window, I don't mind that. We need players now as injuries and illness ravage the squad.
Hi Charles,
Good to hear you speak candidly about what Arsenal needs going forward. But, I'm disappointed it took the game against Newcastle for you to speak like this.
We don't only have a striker's problem, but many problems such as lethargic display, predictability, lack of sense of urgency right from the start, and lack of legs in the number six role.
One vital position people are not talking about is the number six. I've heard a lot of praises showered on Partey for his performances so far this season. But, in honesty, our slow buildup and lack of intensity is down to the personnel we have in that position. Compared to Caicedo, Tonali, Gravenbach etc. What those players have in common is legs. If you can't run in the premiership, you basically can't play.
It starts from training the six role dictates the tempo and our quick ball-recovery. There's a reason Man City are missing Rodri. Partey and Jorginho don't have it anymore and Rice is Jack of all trades with no specialty in a position, in fact, he lacks the positional discipline to play as a six, though that can be coached, if the coach allows him to play that role consistently and make Partey and Jorginho his back-up.
Where do we start from regarding the attack? It's just a total mess. I don't know if it's a lack of foresight, arrogance, ineffectiveness, or what.
I feel Rice is a mobile no.6 seen as our defenders play so high up the pitch. Rice has bags of energy & to be disciplined into sticking to an area of the pitch is needed. Its what's infront of them is why Rice is caught out of position as the teammates don't cover the ground needed
@Nostradanus86 Agreed. That's why we need to replace Partey and Jorginho quickly with young and quality midfielders. Continuing with those two and coach's slow approach will keep holding us back.
@@Nostradanus86 Were you at the Newcastle game?
@@DaveRichards-q9l no I was working until 5:30pm
@Nostradanus86 Where do you work?
Seems like everyone knew that one Saka injury and we're done except Arsenal
This is our first loss since his injury. Which comes on the back of Ethan's injury.
Charles I assure you, those players slept absolutely fine last night. Football is your job, don't make it your life.
If we'd put away the chances before Newcastle scored we'd be saying it was a good result.
Apart from the very good chances we missed from Saliba, Timber, Martinelli etc. it's staggering that someone as talented as Odegaard can't hit the proverbial barndoor.
We only have ourselves to blame as it's been clear for a long while that we needed a clinical finisher but were told that we spread our goals across the whole team and had scored x number of goals etc. We lost the league last year because of a handful of games where we lost our goal scoring touch and we're being punished again this year.
But you didn't HWTM
Thanks Charles. Here are some harsh and uncomfortable truths we need to accept after last match:
1. All of Calafiori, Merino and Sterling didnt start and were not brought on by the same manager who bought them when we were chasing the game and the Goalkeeper we signed for this competition ia cup-tied shows how we've regressed as a result if our shmabolic summer transfer window.
2. Arteta spending £96m on Havertz and Merino over two summers only to still start Rice at left-8 is poor for squad-building.
3. Arteta has signed 3 or more "left backs" but Tierney is still the only actual leftback at the club... And MLS starting ahead of Kiwi²or, Zinny, Calafiori is indicative enough.
4. For all the money spent on Merino and Calafiori, I still can't tell you that they're miles better than Myles Lewis-Skelly both at Left 8 and left back.
5. Arteta was actually going to pay north of £20m for Joan Garcia (a backup Goalkeeper) but was ready to keep waiting for the "perfect" striker or wide forward.
6. This is not a "process" anymore. It's been 5years now, Gabriel is 27 now, this is not that "young team is growing together" anymore. If Arteta doesn't win anything this season, the question will have to be asked whether another manager giving the same time and resources (over £600m) to build his own team would've won even if it's a league cup by now (5 years +). Laugh at ETH all we want but he won 2 trophies in 2 years.
7. A whole world still exists this season where City still finishes above us and more teams (Villa, Chelsea, Man Utd, City, Liverpool) will still improve further next season.
8. When a manager begins to blame the ball like he did last night, just know that we may be at the beginning of the end 😒
No I don't have an Arteta out agenda, I actually think he's a great coach but I'm beginning to ask myself some objective questions is this the most we could've have gotten for all this time and all the money spent? If you can answer that honestly, then you have your answer.
Maybe he’s a nearly manager. Agree with all your points. Viera & Havertz have been awful in the grand scheme of things. The knock on effect of those have been massive on the squad.
Selling ESR Nelson Nketieh and Viera and only getting Sterling on loan on the final day is a huge problem
All in all, he has done a good job bringing the squad together. But end of the day, Arteta is not an experienced manager and the way he pans out pre season, it gives off the vibes that he only trust 14 to 15 players tops. The way he sets out? Feels like he isn't truly interested in wanting to win any silverware. I mean charity shield is sufficient for him. It's been half a decade. We have had decently good memories. Maybe it really is time for a change. You don't shoot, you don't score. You really just don't win games
@tan9640 I couldn't agree with you more. When it comes to buying defensive players (a la Goakeepers and Defenders) he doesn't wait, he buys one almost every summer but when it comes buying an attacker, we'll actually wait for the "perfect" striker or forward, once the one we want is not available for some reason. Like in this whole world of football, other than Sesko and Nico Willams, are we actually accepting that there was genuinely no other forwards that could've improved us that we could afford? And let's not even mention Sterling, we all know he was panic buy. 😒
Calafiori and Merino are very good players playing in there first season in the Prem and have both been hit with serious injuries. More importantly Arsenal haven’t had a settled squad. They’re not the issue.
If you think Myles is anywhere near Calafiori at his best then you’re beyond deluded.
Brilliant comment
Thanks Charles. Can’t believe what an awesome job you do after such a disappointment, especially compared to all the other click-merchants yelling and screaming like babies just to get the likes. This is actually when your podcast is MOST VALUABLE AND APPRECIATED! Keep up the great work!
The problem is that we competed too soon for the title in 22/23, and certainly too soon for Mikel. Here’s what I mean by that:
Recall the fluid, exciting, silky and free-flowing football we played that season? And how we were far and away the best team in the league until Saliba got injured? Then the wheels came off and we fell apart because we had Rob Holding in defence? I think that traumatised Arteta and pushed him into becoming what he is now. He became so afraid of being too light in defence and being too reliant on Gabriel and Saliba that he proceeded to buy so many defensive players to compensate. In his mind, he must’ve thought that the attack would always perform and execute, so he was more worried about our defense. This tracks with the Arsenal team he came into that was horrendous defensively but was scoring a little bit. So he sacrificed boldness, daring, aggression, speed, bravery, and risk in attack just to avoid losing games.
This almost worked last season, and that cemented his newfound beliefs in the new system. So he bought Calafiori and Merino, two defensive-minded players, as his marquee signings and left the attack scanty once more. He either didn’t anticipate the injuries we have suffered to otherwise constantly available players, or he had developed tunnel vision on the issue he identified to the extent that he didn’t care or was willing to risk it. We all knew that what we needed most was a reliable goal threat, but his trauma simply couldn’t let him look past the holes in the defensive shape he had identified. So now, we’re here. We DID have money for a CF or productive attacker, but didn’t take the plunge because we trusted Havzoos. We moved on Nketiah, Nelson and ESR, and brought Sterling in. That’s tantamount to sporting malpractice and we are now paying HEAVILY for it.
I was there last night, put isak in the arsenal team and we win the game
Once again Charles, I said to you a year ago that we need a striker but you said we didn't when you commented on my message.
It cost us the title the last 2 seasons.
It's going to cost us again.
Ok, of course we have to buy - but it isn't easy in Jan. However, I think there are 3 deals that can be done with will and cash (money won't always do it - the selling club has all the power): Cunha, Vlahovic and Williams. They are all players that shouldn't leave us with buyers remorse in the summer and will massively improve the attacking power.
Those empty seats is a by product of that embarrassment of a transfer window, and of not signing a striker for 2 effing seasons now, and as long this ownership continues not giving the team what it needs these empty seats will continue happening and slowly but surely Arsenal will be back what we were 4 years ago
Hey Charles! This January i would do the best i can if i were In Edu position to sign a winger and a loan striker and go all for Isak bcs i think signing anyone else is a massive gambling. just go for him i mean break the bank, he worth it.
The season when Arteta bought Jesus and Zinchenko i was so excited, i finally saw why they i kept on hearing people say believe in him, just those signings alone. He added to that again with Trossard, great signing. The Rice came i finaly thought we are a serious club now, we dont care about saving money but we have gone backwards from that. Selling all those players, making up all that money just to not spend it on improving the squad. Im so annoyed
Hate hate hate the quote from Arteta about fans leaving! "Arsenal" rang out as soon as we conceded, the team need to give us something to believe in right now. Weeks ago I saw the winter window as an oppurtunity but now it's a necessity. Panic stations people.
Congratulations Charles that's the best i have heard from you, to best sum up Aresnals performance. Normally you are very conservative with any comments about a defeat. But through all the doom and gloom we still have a chance up there !! It is, and has been, for a couple of seasons , lack of a striker and of course a winger to ese the burden on both Marti and Saka. But getting back to the 2nd leg. BUY Gyokeres !! he scores in every game !! that means we will start the 2nd leg 2-1 🤷♂🤷♂🤷♂🤷♂ Now, we still have the fear factor [JUST] and arriving with him in the team the fear factor will be lifted to such a level that we could put them on the back foot . Thats the dream . And sometimes dreams come true. Remember teams still fear Arsenal JUST. 👍👍
5 years into the process and we had 4 left backs on the bench last night, calafori, tierney, kivior and zinchenko.
Predictable subs, blunt performance yet again from the front 3 and the manager comes out with excuses about the football.
Your two marquee summer signings sat on the bench - sums it all up.
Embarrassing
i think is one thing to have possession. But when you slow the ball down to snail pace and allow the defense to just shift over whenever the ball moves. It doesn't make sense. Have the possession and move the ball around quicker. We are too slow and ots making us very easy to defend.
We're just missing a few pieces. It's not all doom and gloom. If we can get a goal in the first 15 min in the second leg, it will be a panic station from Newcastle. We do need signings, tho. I'd love for us to get at least a CAM.
As regards to the form of MØ8, I do wonder if he is being affected by the pressure of having to be our only source of creativity [with Saka out-which has also had a negative impact on him].
After the first goal arsenal played how we expect them to play with quicker passes but apart from the two goals they should have scored Newcastle defended with their lives and so the result may be seen as one of those one off results. I am happy if they play with such urgency and pace and quickness going forward. It's no good talking about Ian Wright, those strikers don't exist any more
06:47
This is why I say Cunha is not what we need. He's just like Jesus and Harvetz, not staying at the centre and fighting those defenders for every ball in. Great player, just not what we need. We need a classic number 9.
There's too much focus on technicality today, Rice is one of the least technical players in this team but I honestly thought he was the one trying the most with driving forward with the ball and making runs forward exploring the space opened up.
I say the same thing about that winger we're looking for, hopefully it's that direct, pacey dribbling winger we get this window
He is nothing like them he is more similar to Bellingham than them
We can't buy him, he's signed a new contract.
Are you going to the Utd game on Sunday?
So much negativity, lets look at the positives. Having nearly 70% possession, over 20 shots, 11 corners and giving the opposition very little will generally lead to wins more often than loses. So even playing like this we won't lose too many. Being patient in the transfer market to get the players we actually need is the best course of action in my opinion even if it means we don't make further progress this season. In terms of progress, the main experience which arteta will learn from is don't leave yourself short going into next season. Important lesson.
Some fans are being too reactionary. Yesterday imo we played better than in the Brighton game even with the loss. United are also going to gung ho on us. But if we finish 6 points adrift Liverpool a month from now after Man City's game I believe we may win the epl. Or maybe ManCity again.
@@nathanmachoka6824It's not reactionary in my opinion. The fact of the matter is we've haven't capitalised on Liverpools slip ups once this season. You mention how we could close the gap, which is fair, however if we drop a few more points, they could be too far out of reach. It's unlikely we will win a cup at all this year
The stats were impressive, however we all know that the most important stats are the ones which win you the game. The patient approach in the transfer market should have been excercised in the summer, our signingshave not pushed us forward at all. None of our new signings were featured in the semi final of a cup run, which is concerning
If lessons are not learned after last night, they will never be learned in time to stop Saliba and Big Gabi leaving us. The absence of a striker has been masked for the last two years, but illnesses and injuries this season have exposed more brutally what happens when good players are not available to hold up the mask.
Two thoughts - a) we're still absolutely in all comps. Football is weird and we have had a lot of bad luck. Even with 'these players' we're right up there and maybe need perspective given how bad we've been in recent memory. However... b) on fans leaving - Is there a frustration that we are eternally 1 piece/player away from success and never take that step.
you're wrong charles. After a bad loss i find it theraputic to work through thoughts and compartmentalise by watching content. But you are also right that its always nicer when we have won, thank you for your content and keep up the good work
Newcastle are 2 3 quality players form challenging for the league. We are coming for yas 😂
It's tough right now man. I think the scariest/most worrying thought is; Who actually thought we were gonna win last night? Not me.
I felt exactly the same Charles , I thought we would loose
Me too! there's is a weird smile i notice from arteta in press confrence that always give me the feeling we are not winning. Everytime i see that smile i know we are not winning the game.
How long does Arteta need to finally get that Odegaard is not a direct freekick-taker? When has he scored a direct freekick? One, maybe...years ago.... He routinely hits it into the wall, and he has a rather weak foot anyway. What we need are two players with a rocket-foot that actually do shoot from the edge of the box and that pose a threat from distance. Opposition defences have long figures us out and know that they just need to play a low block because we never shoot from distance but somehow hope we can carry the ball into the goal, or bomb down the flanks until a defender gets into the way forcing us to lob in a poor cross into no-man's-land, and certainly never play into the back of a defence because there's simply no one of us. We slowly build up play from the back, apparently so that the opposition defence has duly time to set up properly, so we can begin with our side to side passing around the box until we're so desperate that we're trying to rush into the box like an NFL rushing play, and every time we just get crowded out by their defence laying back and waiting for us.....
Thanks Charles, not sure how anyone can even suggest Arteta needs to go. The other players need to step up in Saka's absence. Trossard and Martinelli need to step up and grab this opportunity. They are not at the moment. I think Martinelli still needs time and Trossard will always be great squad option from the bench. Whilst I understand the calls for a more established striker I think without Saka it shows how we actually need to prioritise a wide attacking/creative player in our next signing. I would love Kudus but if the whole world knows our predicament its probably financially unrealistic to look at players like that without affecting the long term plan, unless we can recreate a Trossard-like situation for a reasonable fee. This season hurts in the league given the optimism/expectations we've been provided with in the last few seasons but referee decisions and injuries have changed that now. It's disappointing, but not the end of the world if we finish top 4 with no trophies and get the players we want for their correct value in the summer. I'm happy to be patient for domination of the league with Arteta at the helm if we get it right long term but most people seem to demand everything yesterday. I trust Arteta and his team to get it perfect this summer and if not then I can start to accept the other suggestions
Arsenal will NOT win any Cup without a sharp no. 9, and Arteta and co are adamant in getting us a no. 9. Yesterday's result is a disgrace and heartrending. Step up Arsenal!
The way this season is going, even if we had a striker they’d be injured. Still want one tho
Hi Charles. Wow its been a while since I've heard you so down, I know it feels like we've taken a huge punch on the nose and it hurts but we have to learn from this and move forward. I'm sorry but stating the obvious isn't helping, there about 4000 other professional clubs who would love Isak right now, as a club we've got to get it right and it's hard to get a guaranteed success as a striker. For every Isak and Haaland there's a huge percentage of failed to deliver. Keep your chin up mate, it could be worse....we could all be spurs fans.
Is Odegaard's drop off in form partly down to the absence of Saka? They both make each other look world class but, perhaps, they are unable to replicate their form with other team members
💯 agree!! We need to make something happen in the window!!kallstrom incoming 😬😅
Charles please don’t make excuses for Martinelli. And £65 on Havertz might prove to be the downfall of Arteta
Charles I think our issue in cups and we've had enough semis and quarters under Arteta know to get this, is that we approach cup games like they are the league. In the EPL, slow and steady (can but not always will) win you the race, in cups you need variation and you need to try things. You may sometimes sit back and play the counter, other times you may just play a back 3. Arteta did exactly that in his first FA Cup and then seemed to abandon it. I always think of how long it took City to win the UCL and their main fault was that when they got to the semis and came up against Madrids of the world, they would approach it like a league game and then get done with sucker punches. When they ditched that and started getting savvier about cups they won it....
We needed a striker 2 seasons ago... Arteta should reflect on his career so far with the budget and players he has, no silverware is just poor management
Hi Charles. Brilliant book btw even if talksport gave you a bit of stick. Whats your opinion on us being over coached? I thought that’s exactly what we needed when Arteta first came in but i feel now we have become so predictable it is easy to coach against us. Had these lingering doubts about Arteta ever since the 2-2 with palace at home 3 years ago when Viera got a better reception than he did. Hope he can change as i can see he really loves the club.
I was there last night, didn't see the usual season ticket holders around me. The atmosphere was really poor, and you could feel the lack of belief in the crowd. The Arsenal team just seem slow and predictable.
I didn't bother to go - let one of my son's go -felt sorry for him though, having to watch that. With our slow build up, I have lost interest in watching Arsenal. Charles says we don't have the fast flowing players like Pires, Ljungberg, Henry etc. That is wrong, you can coach one touch football into ANY player. Odegaard will take stupid chances, like playing a dummy inside Newcastle penalty area, when no-one was behind him, he needs to be more aware.
Just came here after listening to some dross on Talk Sport about Arteta so called blaming the ball which he didn't. Very poor and lazy from them.
Happy to be here with some sensible analysis.
Havertz 6ft4 iv never seen a man so soft that size, I wana see shoulder barges that involve standing ground holding play up, he also needs to sprint more with effort, cmon man
Lmao! Any sort of foul from Havertz will result in a foul and you know it!
The club might be waiting to see if anyone can be brought in easily, but if not, then in a week or two they put in an offer for a striker with a release clause and salary they can afford, one that does not impact our FFP position. How easy is that to do? I've seen some names put forward, it's big money, but it could be the difference between trophies this season or none.