Its baffling how Anthony Taylor did not bother going over to the monitor and check in slo mo. Or why didn't VAR bother to tell him to check n review his decision as they do in a lot of other instances!
The VAR was super quick to confirm it. I think I'm now officially sick of VAR, it's use or non-use, when it interferes or not. I get it that it's evolving, but it's getting worse and the people using it are inept too. These people have biases. It's another 2 points dropped for us. You can say Brighton deserved something, but the best teams don't always get things from matches, it's been like that forever.
@@Gunner_MAK answer is simple - I bet they didn't even spot Saliba touched the ball first as they focused on the contact of heads. Watched highlights of other games there were almost in each game bigger contacts in penalty box and penalties not given! Very frustrating.
Gabriel got wrestled to the ground following a set piece situation. No VAR review and no contact on the ball ⚽. The team should expect rubbish refereeing and train with that in mind.
When I saw Anthony's Taylor's name assigned to our game, I instantly picked a draw result on my multibet tickets which are still alive. Of course he had to screw another Arsenal game. The game is corrupt. Refs are literally making new calls or enforcing what they choose to focus calling at the beginning of each season, namely kicking the ball away this season. No one can remember or even find such a penalty call made for two players contesting the ball with the heads, in which Saliba did make contact with the ball. As Arteta said, "AMAZING CALL".
Hi Charles, I'm glad you got to see the highlights of the penalty decision on MOTD. 3 ex-footballers one played for Spurs agreed that Saliba hit the ball first before he clashed with Pedro's head. Yellow card for Pedro that was OK to take the pen and get it on target after apparently been headbutted. Wished Saliba went down as well. I agree Charles that this doesn't paper over the cracks showing in the squad and we do need to address this in the January window. However, I feel we have been robbed at least 6 points this season. 4 points in the last two Brighton games. Rice shouldn't have been sent off and of course the terrible pen decision in yesterday game. Trossard being sent off in the city game. We had to defend our lead for 60 mins or so. So it's fair enough that people can say we haven't played well so it's our own fault for dropping points this season. But we have won games playing terribly. I can't remember a win this season that we played well in the full 90s mins! Liverpool when I watched them beat City. They didn't look good either. So it's not fully on our performances or who we didn't buy last summer. A lot of the blame can go on the poor referring! Thoughts?
All players do that, just like they act like they get shot from an AR-15 when touched slightly by another player. Refs never give yellows for diving anymore which is the only thing that can change these antics
Saliba won the ball you can see it from the slowed down frames but VAR weren’t interested in that after looking at it for 5 seconds. Also Kulesevski on Gordon didn’t result in a more obvious penalty.
Well, one thing is for sure Havertz steps in straightaway against Newcastle. Timber, at right back and Partey back in midfield. No messing around. We play our strongest team in their best positions.
Yes completely I know that game will be tough one Isak/Gordon/joeliton/Tonali/Guimaraes they are on top now bar liverpool If we fail here i will panic😢 but until then COYG.
VAR didn't even look at that penalty. In other matches if a player is a quarter of an inch offsides they will take ten minutes to look at it from every angle. This happens far too much to Arsenal
They got it 50% right, which proved not to be enough. Arsenal relied on a very active and contributing Raheem Sterling in attack, and he's been a non-entity. That left the attack quite lightweight. Add that to the ridiculous amount of injury issues in defense, the fixture congestion right now and the lack of any sort of margin for error and that leaves Arsenal virtually out of contention against a healthy and red-hot Liverpool in January, which is a bit depressing. Arsenal should focus on the cup competitions now.
Maybe the official in the VAR was Antony Taylors mate and he didn’t want bother him to run and watch the VAR. The decision to award the penalty was appalling
Inter Milan secured a victory against us despite making five changes to their starting eleven, highlighting the strength and depth of their squad. With the growing number of fixtures in a calendar year, having a larger squad especially in attacking positions is a no brainer. We took a calculated risk by not prioritising squad depth during the summer transfer window, which did not pay off. We must look to rectifying this as soon as possible. Moving forward, we must approach games with the awareness that officiating decisions may not always favour us and focus on scoring as many goals as possible to eliminate any uncertainties.
Not saying this in a negative way, but i think our priority needs to be the cups from here on out. We have a seminfinal coming up and should make the top 8 of the champions league. We are a really hard team to beat despite our struggles to break teams down so we are suited for these competitions. We obviously need to still do well in the league, but allowing 1 or 2 players to be rotated in non big 6 league games is only going to benefit our chance of a trophy elsewhere
Total Var waste of time.. was it the Liverpool supporter looking at the video. 3 seconds , that was not slowed or looked at . I'm disgusted with var officiating
Charless, I don't agree with you why we are always thinking about next summer when we can do something this year and maybe win the league. Arteta has become total opposite of Wenger (from 2007 - 2018) he always neglected defense and now Arteta is completely doing something in attack. If Liverpool win this year, it's gonna be their explosive attack even though I am happy with our defence. Fact is only complete teams win trophies.
I agree with you Charles. So many of us always react based on emotions. Do I blame them though when they are desperate to win the league? no. I believe those in charge of the football club will take the best decisions for the success of the team on and off the field. Good work Charles
Thanks for the great content as ever. However I can’t agree with your assessment of Anthony Taylor. The question is, why is he getting involved in a decision like that? It’s a sign of a ref that is looking for a reason to give a decision rather than just reffing the game. Profound lack of common sense from refs, to Arsenal’s detriment again.
Partey has to play in the midfield. It's not that he's bad at right back, but we need him to progress the ball through our midfield. Jorginho was absolutely shocking yesterday. If Partey doesn't start in the midfield, its a strong possibility we dont win the game.
With the Pen Saliba was supposed to roll around on the floor instead of being strong and staying on his feet. Maybe then they would've viewed it as a possible 50/50 challenge🤷🏾♂️
This is what happen to man utd last season injury after injury they end up at the mid table for arsenal to be in that position I am very very proud of the the team,the fault of this season is on luck and lack of forward singing, thank you Charles for always controlling your emotion everytime thing's to go our way, This Media space as exposed how much toxicity in our fan base
Genuine question - who is holding the PGMOL accountable for these types of erratic and inconsistent “precedent-setting” decisions? Why is there no media backlash or investigation on the blatant bias and the damage it’s causing to the quality of the league?
@@CROSSNSHOOT it’s really shocking. For a league of this size, scale and reach, one can easily argue that it may be the worst run competition in professional sport. I’ve been an Arsenal supporter for decades and this seems like a crossroads period for the league, between the PGMOL farce and the inevitable battle that will ensue whichever direction the City charges land.
I think Arsenal needs to compile a litany of one off refereeing decisions and make a case to the FA . If in a court of law precedent changes the course of a judgement , I don’t see why the reverse cannot be applied . Lack of precedent in many of Arsenals decisions should have weight .
Charles, to me the reason for the lack of attack is when Partey has to start at RB. In EPL where Partey started at CDM, Arsenal's record is 6-3-1 with 2 of the draws being Brighton at home and City away and the loss being Bournemouth away. In those games Arsenal scored 23 goals and let in 10 a 2.3 goals scored to allowed ratio. In the EPL in games where Partey started at RB, Arsenal are 1-3-1 with 7 goals scored and 6 goals allowed. a 1.17 goals scored to allowed ratio. (these stats are from looking at fixture list, nothing official). The injury crisis at the back is hurting Arsenal going forward.
The fact so many Arsenal fans can’t see these facts is beyond me - we rarely lose points when Partey in this form plays at 6 - it’s just a fact - Rice would be better suited to play right back also
Saliba won the ball yju can see it from the slowed down frames but VAR weren’t interested in that after looking at it for 5 seconds. Also Kulesevski on Gordon didn’t result in a more obvious penalty.
Sorry, totally disagree with your point..Never a Pen as both players contending for the ball…when will common sense be utilised by Refs and VAR…making it up as they go..Joke mate!!
It's a penalty. A head clash is when two players go for a loose ball. In this case Pedro flicks the ball up and attempts to head the ball around the defenders, and saliba basically headbutts him in the side of the head, yes saliba does get a touch on the ball but as an Arsenal fan if the roles were reversed i would want a penalty.
He got the ball, end of. I don’t think anyone would accept that it was a pen even if the shoe was on the other foot. He headed the ball before he hit the player.
Charles I’m sorry but we need journalists like yourself, club officials and Mikel to call out this nonsense officiating.people’s livelihoods are at stake and these clowns have cost us so many times it’s actually become farcical. We must make noise otherwise roll over and take it which is pathetic
The Newcastle game is going to be so so hard. It will be one of the biggest games we have to overcome this season. They are already a side that reached the final 2 yrs ago so they know the tournament very well. Newcastle will be without Schar and Guimaraes due to suspensions on the 1st leg which we should take advantage of. The biggest problem is how to stop the in form Isak. He already scored against us this season and it will be a good chance to check whether he's worth the ￡150m price tag. Gordon and Tonali also big threat as well. We need to win big at the Emirates.
If the penalty was given on the advice of VAR, on the basis of a head butt, which becomes foul play, why was there no red card ? Something very wrong somewhere.
There are things in the clubs control and things out of the club’s control. Unfortunately, neither is going our way right now. Liverpool did not have Champions League last season and their main players (aside from TAA, who has been in and out of fitness) either didn’t play or did not go very far in the Euros. Our players have been completely run into the ground and refs have definitely been more punitive to Arsenal this season - this is all out of our control. For what’s in our control, Charles you’ve said it perfectly, the club took a gamble in not sufficiently strengthening the squad over the summer. It was a gamble every fan knew would not pay out. We’ve got to pray for significant signings in both the Jan and summer windows because I think we need something like 5 signings between the two. Hopefully Jan signings get us silverware in one of the other competitions because our changes of winning the prem are next to zero at this point.
Havertz/Jesus, Martinelli/Trossard, Saka/Sterling.....how was/is Arsenal gambling in the foward line. All three positions had backups. The dropped points are highly linked to the Odegarrd situation. There is a seemingly weak narrative flying around.
Especially when we have positive fans like you sat there to cheer us on. I’m also a season ticket holder and this year the crowd has been nervous and edgy and hasn’t helped. Try and be more positive.
The Arsenal have always had moaners in the crowd even at Highbury nothing new with the latest bunch of loud mouthed depresive surrender at the earliest opportunity merchants tbh
brother, after the pen, it change the game completely, they, Brighton, got momentum. You even said yourself, no pen and Arsenal would have seen out the game. In addition, we've all seen Arsenal start slow second half's but nonetheless, a gear is pulled later and the pressure kicks in, so I put my money on Arsenal performing well later into the game... don't you?? Furthermore, changes would have made a difference at 0-1 - so you can't criticize the second half because who knows how many more we would have scored. Lastly, considering the problems with players out and a heavy schedule ahead, Arsenal had to conserve, ration what they had. So for me and should be for you, fair play to Arsenal considering the circumstances. It was only a ref that stopped them... Taylor will go down in history for what he did... disgusting!
Hi Charles. There is no way the technical staff, Mikel and Edu didnt know that the squad depth gamble could backfire. As you said, we let go of Reiss, Eddie, ESR, Vieira even rotation players like Mo. The replacement was Sterling on the last day of the transfer. This all shows a huge lack of clarity on what Arsenal were hoping to achieve this season. Going into this year they would have known the schedule, they would have known there is no winter break, that there are more games, that the Euros happened and that the squad is still fatigued from last year (the physios have very detailed data on everyone). I always go back to this article your colleague James McNicholas wrote about how the Kroenkes were disappointed with all the spending and wanted Arsenal to claw back money in the summer and thats why we did not do major business. Im sorry but what ambition is that? Happy with top 4 again, Champions League places being a trophy, the odd cup and then big players start leaving. It all goes back to lack of ambition and clarity from the owners. If this is a 5 year project, we are in the 5th and whats the output? We've still got 3 competitions other than the PL, and where's the squad depth for that. We all made fun of Todd Boehly, but he knew something important, that football is heading in the American sport direction and you need big squads that can fight multiple fronts. Im not saying we should emulate that, but there's happy medium somewhere and Im afraid we'll never get there under this ownership.
I've been saying this since the kronek's took over. When they asset stripped the invincibles over first 3 or 4 years of their ownership. They always only want top 4 and champions league money and they never go that extra mile top be the best team in the country it never change under their ownership. It is funny they have spent all that money on players in the last 5 years knowing that at the end that they were going to expand the stadium how much that cost in higher ticket prices. The kronek's are richer than abramovch.
Nice take Charles. I agree with you everything you've said. Unfortunately, we've had too many games like this this season. At some point we'll have to stop blaming bad officiating, injuries and bad luck and look at ourselves. Given the level of investment into that team, the margin between winning, losing and drawing these types of games shouldn't be this close. What do I mean, regardless of the penalty, Arsenal should be able to win comfortably. Of course they are extenuating circumstances but some of those were enabled by our own very actions and or inactions. Nwaneri is injured now. Should we have bought a Saka and Odegaard's rotational option in the summer? Yes, Did we? No. Don't come at me with Nwaneri being Odegaard's backup when you remember vividly how much he was played when Odegaard was 2 months out. In all, I just hope we learn the lessons we ought to learn, but for some reason I'm not convinced we have. This summer I won't be surprised if Arteta goes again to buy another Goal keeper and a full back who can invert into midfield. The more things change the more they remain the same.
We don't care,Charles! We knew the squad wasn't filled out properly. Artera himself said the squad was short, and we needed better box efficiency. This isn't anything new. They have let the fans and the players down by not acting aggressive enough to upgrade that forward line. No excuses.
Not a penalty in a million years, anywhere else on the pitch game is stopped for a clash of heads followed by a drop ball......referee taking centre stage again, VAR backing their man again.... ridiculous decision
People criticize our summer transfer window a lot but could we actually spend more? Calafiori is very useful with all the full back injuries and Merino is also a good player. Would we want to trade those two for more attacking options? What if in that parallel universe we dont have enough defenders and midfielders and games end 3-3 instead of 1-1? ESR really wanted to go and I dont think Viera and Eddie would have helped much. Even if the summer window wasnt great did the club actually have the resources to make it better? Sterling may end up a failure but we basically replaced Nelson with him and Arteta clearly didnt trust Nelson.
The wild thing is, we've always had ample attackers, which is the position everyone is crying out for. Form has been the issue with them. They've all shown they can score many goals in this team, but... Now, how many times have we worried about filling the midfield and especially defence this season? They made good signings in he summer, shown by uen being some of the best (Arsenal) players of this poor game. We don't know why they sold/loaned out each player they did, probably respect for the players and their short careers. They weren't getting picked. Why didn't we sign others? Again, we don't know. Likely we didn't want to settle for back up options as first team and bench options weren't available, or given unreasonable prices.
Hi Charles, I don’t think we’ll be anywhere near the league title unless we sign at least two players for the front line. Our midfield looks exhausted, and Morino, while skilful, doesn’t seem to have the legs for the Premier League-he looks very slow. Last summer felt like a huge missed opportunity to strengthen the attack and bring in proper cover for Saka. As for Edu’s departure, I think it’s probably for the best. In my opinion, he wasn’t at the level Arsenal needs to secure the kind of players required to compete at the top.
Hello Charles, I understand Mikel likes having a tight knit group because he relies so much on his starting XI and wants pay close attention to the development of his players but it seems like the same old story each year with injuries in key positions and lacking squad depth. To your point, we’ve gotten even weaker this season since last season. Seems like since we’ve been competing for the league, it’s the same theme, “we’re so close but ran out of steam” or “we don’t have enough squad depth”. Really frustrating especially since Arsenal are competing in multiple competitions, you’d think Arteta and co. would take that into consideration. Arsenal just seems to be cursed or something. Too many ilnesses, idiotic decisions made against us and injuries, but we carry on #COYG
The summer transfer window has been a tumultuous period for Arsenal, especially concerning Mikel Arteta's pursuit of an offensive target. Arteta's comments about Raheem Sterling being a last-minute option signal a deeper issue: the failure to secure his priority target, which remains undisclosed but was clearly critical to his vision for the team. This situation raises questions about Edu's role and whether he adequately supported Arteta's meticulous plans. Arteta is a highly intelligent and organized coach, known for his strategic approach to building a winning team. He has effectively constructed a solid back five and strengthened the midfield, ensuring that young talents like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli receive the necessary support. The addition of Kai Havertz as a versatile false nine showcases Arteta's commitment to innovation and adaptability in his tactical setup. Throughout this process, Arteta has remained steadfast in his commitment to Financial Fair Play (FFP) guidelines, emphasizing the importance of maximizing every transfer window as part of his five-year project. The offensive department, particularly the need for creativity, was clearly identified as an area in need of investment. It’s implausible to believe that Arteta would have solely targeted a player like Calafiori without considering more impactful options. This indicates a significant breakdown in the transfer strategy, likely stemming from Edu's mismanagement. Arteta is a driven winner who demands excellence. The rapid progress Arsenal has made under his leadership, closing the gap with Pep Guardiola's dominant Manchester City, underscores his capabilities. The notion that the club wasted the summer transfer window is not just a simple oversight; it reflects a failure to align the club’s ambitions with Arteta's vision. While Arteta remains loyal to Arsenal, guarding the club's reputation amidst these challenges, it's clear he is frustrated. The decision to pursue Sterling was likely born out of desperation rather than a true alignment with his plans. Arteta's intelligence and strategic acumen should not be underestimated; he knows the potential consequences of subpar acquisitions. In conclusion, Mikel Arteta deserves unwavering support from fans and the media. The scrutiny he faces overlooks the complexities behind the scenes, particularly in the transfer dealings. He is not merely a coach; he is a visionary dedicated to transforming Arsenal into a formidable force. Any notion that he is to blame for the summer's shortcomings is misguided; rather, it is a reflection of a broader systemic failure within the club's management that must be addressed. No team would have achieved what Mikel has achieved with the fitness issues we’ve had. Mikel Arteta deserves credit not misplaced emotional hate. Give him the same fate of fitness Liverpool is enjoying and we’d be 15+ points clear on everyone! 💯 COYG!!!! North London Forver! 💯🔥🔥🔥
Charles 6 for calafiori? He was our best player. Won basically every one on one, blocked several crosses into the box, drove forward into good space (more than our midfield did). Was very solid he. He lost the ball once at the end after beating 3 players (he's a defender what do you expect) - very harsh rating.
Wow, we are still in 4 competitions. people are returning from injury and suspension. Bad luck is not exclusive to us. Be patient. We must look forward to the next game COYG.
On transfers… all I’d question is, how much difference do we think January signings can make? I think they only help if you get the right players. Even experienced players with PL experience - Havertz, Merino, Raya, Sterling - have taken time to settle in and play their best in our system. And irrespective of how much we’re prepared to pay, a lot of the top players we’d want are no less tired/on the verge on injury than Arsenal’s squad. I’m not against doing something if the right players can be found and brought in, but we need to balance the benefits against the risk of overpaying for another Nicholas Pepe - which could set us back significantly in the longer term. Dani Olmo would be absolutely perfect - and it does look like Barca are finally really close to having a problem and no rabbits to pull from the hat.
You know what’s funny, if you look at the GW20 premier league table last season Arsenal have actually done better - same points (40) but a much better GD this season. Liverpool were also on the same points and top of the table just having played less games. Really interesting when you think about it - appreciate we need more firepower but a lot of people are still overreacting😅
Good Morning Charles. Great content as always, Many thanks for that. I would like to suggest that we need something completely different than what we currently have and I think we should try and bring in Liam Delap from Ipswich. This guy is a beast and is a nightmare for most defences. Debatable if our current style of football would suit him however what it would do is keep other teams guessing pre match as to what we are going to do. Plus he has the ability to change a game completely with his style of play. Thoughts ? There is a chance he could be sensational
Mid Liverpool v United match here. Look how they stream forwards with speed like there’s a time limit to getting a shot off on goal. Is it a mystery what’s wrong with us? Like watching paint dry.
Finally someone that sees it. Arsenal are slow in build up. Sometimes line breaking passes are made only for the ball to be returned to the defenders. I just couldn't wrap my head around it. I don't know what happened to receiving a pass ,turning around and just directly going forward
This has been such an obvious issue with Arsenal this season, zero pace on transition and we give teams time to settle and get back into shape, until the game is gone... so predictable!
My only worry Charles is that we were putting in these performances when everyone was fit over that last 2 seasons. Reason why we couldn't get over the line the last 2 years
We needed to use 4-5 subs last game. Only using 2 was crazy. The whole team is sick and injured so we need to keep legs as fresh as possible. Also Brighton had 1-2 extra days of rest. Zinny and kiwior should’ve got some minutes.
We can ALL see the sins of the summer transfer window. Arsenal FC better prepare for the civil war between fans... you thought it was bad during Wenger leaving days...its going to be 10x worse. Arteta OUT he is simply NOT GOOD ENOUGH. IT'S TIME TO GO.
Summer 2024, any one could see we left ourselves short why gamble thats the question why not prepare your squad for the worst case scenario. Arteta thought we need another LB when that wasn't the pressing issue. Now costing Arsenal because of the clubs lack of ambition in the summer. League is done. Focus on cups but my word if he picks up nothing this season, next year will be a pressure unlike anything his known before.
I wonder why this is different than when in a very close proximity a player kicks the ball but his followthrough catches the other player with the cleats. Dangerous play usually and fif cleats made contact is a red card. Pedro glances at the ball, so does Saliba, then Pedro plows into Salina's head.Not saying Saliba should get a foul but I am not sure why everyone assumes the infraction was from Saliba. To me it looked like any other contact in close contests no foul by either player. Can someone explain the difference?
Good analysis on the penalty. Of course you cannot criticize the on-field decision. It is the VAR involvement that is so disgraceful. I try so hard to not criticize VAR, but week after week they are pathetic.
I’m not so pissed about the Pen as I can’t see it being blatantly obvious one way or the other. I’m more frustrated at our lack of attacking threat. I cant help but feel if this was Liverpool they’d of got back into it. (Yes I know we’re missing Saka) we need more squad depth and quality imo
Harshly awarded penalty, agreed. But we didn't do enough anyway. If we want to win the league, that penalty decision shouldn't have meant we dropped points. It seems when we have key players out, we're not the force we all think we are! Where was Jesus, Merino kept losing the ball, so frustrating. We were passing the ball about in their box loads yesterday, but could hardly get a shot off. I'm hoping we get an out and out striker in Jan. That could have been the difference against Brighton, if we had! Keep up the good work Charles..Gooners!
Hey Charles, Do you reckon PSR is a factor for the last window and this one? I know take what a manager says with a pinch of salt but Arteta is talking about internal solutions rather than the market in Jan and I'm just thinking about the Summer window gone. I love Calafori but did we really need another LB last summer. We were linked with Sesko and Williams at the time and it just seems a strange u turn on getting a forward in Feels like Edu just spent all our money and then bailed on us 😂
It seems harsh to give a player a 6, when he’s made a great run, took a player on and then slotted in a great finish - but that kind of sums up the game
Don't understand how the club doesn't see that what the club needs more attacking depth, especially with the injuries and number of games to be played.
Hey Charles, Can you clear up some of the realistic transfer targets this month? Seeing some crazy rumours on X and YT this week, in the last hour here’s the names I have seen… Cunha N Williams Matheus Sesko (summer) Gykoeres Isak Lookman Raphina (if Barca want to register Olmo) None of these seem realistic at all for January? Can you clear all of this madness up 😂
That pen given by var is an utter joke. I’d love your thoughts on my idea. Do you think, for big calls. I’m talking for penalty’s, sending offs, second yellow cards and disallowed goals. I’d like the Pgmol protocol to direct the on field ref, the fourth official who’s next to the screen anyway and the lineman on that side to go directly to the pitch side screen to also watch the incident on the screen as the var team are reviewing it. Then the var team gives its view on the incident, before the ref,fourth official, and linesman all vote to agree or not. A majority of all three/four makes the final decision. Have the ref mic’d up and broadcast the audio to tv and stadium live. I feel like it wouldn’t add that much time to games as the ref just stands there waiting 90% of the time, rather than standing doing nothing he should be moving to watch the incident. We need to focus on correct decisions over speed.
Sunday’s result basically cancels out this gameweek, so we need to put Brighton in the rear view! Mikel will likely echo the same sentiment to the players. Had Liverpool won this weekend it would’ve been a hard sell. Hopefully now the players and fans can see it’s still all to play for. Onto Newcastle, a chance to get one foot closer to Wembley! If Havertz is back I’m starting him up top, with Martinelli LW and Jesus RW. Timber back at RB means Partey and Rice can run the midfield. Physicality to match physicality.
Our poor goal scoring form is coming from playing party at right back. Not surprised every time we play him out of position, we play badly in front of goal. But when he's in midfield we win comfortably with high goal margins! Just my very obvious discovery!
Charles should not complain about the squad. Some of us called this after the summer transfer window but you refused to call the fact that the squad is thin. Now it’s obvious for all to see. The focus on defense is just too much and the season has shown that our team would have survived without the 3 players we signed.
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 never allowed the squad 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 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!!
This season is such a mess for us. We are the best team, yet can't catch a break. So many injuries to important players and crap decisions. We should be walking this league, especially as Liverpool will drop off.
PL title is done…it is no longer what we need to do…we need a Liverpool collapse which does not look likely…time to adjust expectations and hope we can get a cup or go deep into CL…injuries have sapped our ambition…shows how lucky we were last season…
Tom Canton is adamant not a pen! Did you two not discuss sitting near each other at the time lol No excuse with yet another injury, now to Nwaneri, to not strengthen in this window now and take a calculated risk like when AW bought Arshavin in a Jan window in somewhat desperation to overhaul Villa and grab that valuable CL spot and it worked! His goals and assists were invaluable. We need that again! Arsenal get it done. Go get Mbeumo or whoever is affordable and suitable.
so are we now expecting pens everytime there is a clash of heads on corners????? Thats ridiculous Charles!!! Why does it feel we are always the test subject for new rules!!!! 🤬
For me, Saliba touched the ball first & then the man.
Letter of the law says it’s not a penalty..
I’m not happy
Its baffling how Anthony Taylor did not bother going over to the monitor and check in slo mo. Or why didn't VAR bother to tell him to check n review his decision as they do in a lot of other instances!
@@Gunner_MAKsimple, they hate us
The VAR was super quick to confirm it. I think I'm now officially sick of VAR, it's use or non-use, when it interferes or not. I get it that it's evolving, but it's getting worse and the people using it are inept too. These people have biases. It's another 2 points dropped for us. You can say Brighton deserved something, but the best teams don't always get things from matches, it's been like that forever.
@@Gunner_MAK answer is simple - I bet they didn't even spot Saliba touched the ball first as they focused on the contact of heads.
Watched highlights of other games there were almost in each game bigger contacts in penalty box and penalties not given! Very frustrating.
Gabriel got wrestled to the ground following a set piece situation. No VAR review and no contact on the ball ⚽. The team should expect rubbish refereeing and train with that in mind.
I've been wondering why nothing more was made of that all this time.
We will never see that kind of penalty again in th PL . Internally PGMOL will direct the ref's not to give them .
When I saw Anthony's Taylor's name assigned to our game, I instantly picked a draw result on my multibet tickets which are still alive. Of course he had to screw another Arsenal game. The game is corrupt. Refs are literally making new calls or enforcing what they choose to focus calling at the beginning of each season, namely kicking the ball away this season. No one can remember or even find such a penalty call made for two players contesting the ball with the heads, in which Saliba did make contact with the ball. As Arteta said, "AMAZING CALL".
DM me any other thoughts you have
For me the jewel of this weekend was Brentford away the odds on that game were great
100% someone is getting paid big money for the corruption
Exactly pissed me off
Hi Charles, I'm glad you got to see the highlights of the penalty decision on MOTD. 3 ex-footballers one played for Spurs agreed that Saliba hit the ball first before he clashed with Pedro's head. Yellow card for Pedro that was OK to take the pen and get it on target after apparently been headbutted. Wished Saliba went down as well.
I agree Charles that this doesn't paper over the cracks showing in the squad and we do need to address this in the January window.
However, I feel we have been robbed at least 6 points this season. 4 points in the last two Brighton games. Rice shouldn't have been sent off and of course the terrible pen decision in yesterday game. Trossard being sent off in the city game. We had to defend our lead for 60 mins or so. So it's fair enough that people can say we haven't played well so it's our own fault for dropping points this season. But we have won games playing terribly. I can't remember a win this season that we played well in the full 90s mins!
Liverpool when I watched them beat City. They didn't look good either.
So it's not fully on our performances or who we didn't buy last summer.
A lot of the blame can go on the poor referring!
Thoughts?
Know what's funny? How Pedro was so hurt from the challenge he took the penalty 🗣WILD
See how he was shaking on the ground? Pathetic…
All players do that, just like they act like they get shot from an AR-15 when touched slightly by another player. Refs never give yellows for diving anymore which is the only thing that can change these antics
Tbh he dives in nearly every game and shouldn't have even been playing after his awful intended elbow in previous game
Cheated us home and away
Saliba won the ball you can see it from the slowed down frames but VAR weren’t interested in that after looking at it for 5 seconds. Also Kulesevski on Gordon didn’t result in a more obvious penalty.
This is the exact reason why he’s been held back! His body is not ready for such intensity
Those who were blaming Arteta for not giving him more games deserve to eat their humble pies.
@@lnspectormukfai8291 yeah but unfortunately, they’re not because they’re just gonna blame Arteta on something else
Well, one thing is for sure Havertz steps in straightaway against Newcastle. Timber, at right back and Partey back in midfield. No messing around. We play our strongest team in their best positions.
Yes completely
I know that game will be tough one Isak/Gordon/joeliton/Tonali/Guimaraes they are on top now bar liverpool
If we fail here i will panic😢 but until then COYG.
If Havertz and Odegaard well enough …not so sure
It hurt being an arsenal fan. It doesn’t fail i swear
Remember guys Anthony Taylor is the same ref who did not send off Van Dijk for kicking Kai Havertz twice
VAR didn't even look at that penalty. In other matches if a player is a quarter of an inch offsides they will take ten minutes to look at it from every angle. This happens far too much to Arsenal
No two ways about it - the club got the summer 24 transfer window totally wrong.
Facts
They got it 50% right, which proved not to be enough. Arsenal relied on a very active and contributing Raheem Sterling in attack, and he's been a non-entity. That left the attack quite lightweight. Add that to the ridiculous amount of injury issues in defense, the fixture congestion right now and the lack of any sort of margin for error and that leaves Arsenal virtually out of contention against a healthy and red-hot Liverpool in January, which is a bit depressing. Arsenal should focus on the cup competitions now.
Maybe the official in the VAR was Antony Taylors mate and he didn’t want bother him to run and watch the VAR.
The decision to award the penalty was appalling
Inter Milan secured a victory against us despite making five changes to their starting eleven, highlighting the strength and depth of their squad. With the growing number of fixtures in a calendar year, having a larger squad especially in attacking positions is a no brainer. We took a calculated risk by not prioritising squad depth during the summer transfer window, which did not pay off. We must look to rectifying this as soon as possible.
Moving forward, we must approach games with the awareness that officiating decisions may not always favour us and focus on scoring as many goals as possible to eliminate any uncertainties.
They didn't slow it down because it's Arsenal. Like how they forgot to draw the offside line against Brentford.
Not saying this in a negative way, but i think our priority needs to be the cups from here on out. We have a seminfinal coming up and should make the top 8 of the champions league. We are a really hard team to beat despite our struggles to break teams down so we are suited for these competitions.
We obviously need to still do well in the league, but allowing 1 or 2 players to be rotated in non big 6 league games is only going to benefit our chance of a trophy elsewhere
We ain’t got a chance realistically 😂
Total Var waste of time.. was it the Liverpool supporter looking at the video. 3 seconds , that was not slowed or looked at . I'm disgusted with var officiating
Charless, I don't agree with you why we are always thinking about next summer when we can do something this year and maybe win the league.
Arteta has become total opposite of Wenger (from 2007 - 2018) he always neglected defense and now Arteta is completely doing something in attack.
If Liverpool win this year, it's gonna be their explosive attack even though I am happy with our defence. Fact is only complete teams win trophies.
He was taking about last summer
I agree with you Charles. So many of us always react based on emotions. Do I blame them though when they are desperate to win the league? no. I believe those in charge of the football club will take the best decisions for the success of the team on and off the field. Good work Charles
Thanks for the great content as ever. However I can’t agree with your assessment of Anthony Taylor. The question is, why is he getting involved in a decision like that? It’s a sign of a ref that is looking for a reason to give a decision rather than just reffing the game. Profound lack of common sense from refs, to Arsenal’s detriment again.
Partey has to play in the midfield. It's not that he's bad at right back, but we need him to progress the ball through our midfield. Jorginho was absolutely shocking yesterday. If Partey doesn't start in the midfield, its a strong possibility we dont win the game.
Exactly stats prove it
With the Pen Saliba was supposed to roll around on the floor instead of being strong and staying on his feet. Maybe then they would've viewed it as a possible 50/50 challenge🤷🏾♂️
This is what happen to man utd last season injury after injury they end up at the mid table for arsenal to be in that position I am very very proud of the the team,the fault of this season is on luck and lack of forward singing, thank you Charles for always controlling your emotion everytime thing's to go our way,
This Media space as exposed how much toxicity in our fan base
Genuine question - who is holding the PGMOL accountable for these types of erratic and inconsistent “precedent-setting” decisions? Why is there no media backlash or investigation on the blatant bias and the damage it’s causing to the quality of the league?
No one because someone is getting paid big money on the quiet
@@CROSSNSHOOT it’s really shocking. For a league of this size, scale and reach, one can easily argue that it may be the worst run competition in professional sport. I’ve been an Arsenal supporter for decades and this seems like a crossroads period for the league, between the PGMOL farce and the inevitable battle that will ensue whichever direction the City charges land.
A relief to listen to a rational critique of the game, well done Charles.
Apparently VAR said to taylor its a pen I heard on talksport, I know they said they sticking with on field decision but they sad pen very quickly
The money cleared very quickly in the VAR bank account so penalty against Arsenal every time
I think Arsenal needs to compile a litany of one off refereeing decisions and make a case to the FA . If in a court of law precedent changes the course of a judgement , I don’t see why the reverse cannot be applied . Lack of precedent in many of Arsenals decisions should have weight .
Charles, to me the reason for the lack of attack is when Partey has to start at RB. In EPL where Partey started at CDM, Arsenal's record is 6-3-1 with 2 of the draws being Brighton at home and City away and the loss being Bournemouth away. In those games Arsenal scored 23 goals and let in 10 a 2.3 goals scored to allowed ratio. In the EPL in games where Partey started at RB, Arsenal are 1-3-1 with 7 goals scored and 6 goals allowed. a 1.17 goals scored to allowed ratio. (these stats are from looking at fixture list, nothing official). The injury crisis at the back is hurting Arsenal going forward.
The fact so many Arsenal fans can’t see these facts is beyond me - we rarely lose points when Partey in this form plays at 6 - it’s just a fact - Rice would be better suited to play right back also
Saliba won the ball yju can see it from the slowed down frames but VAR weren’t interested in that after looking at it for 5 seconds. Also Kulesevski on Gordon didn’t result in a more obvious penalty.
Sorry, totally disagree with your point..Never a Pen as both players contending for the ball…when will common sense be utilised by Refs and VAR…making it up as they go..Joke mate!!
Bro,🤯💯. AT what already 😠 😡 with M moaning about the decisions. 🫣🤦🤷🤷♂️
It's a penalty. A head clash is when two players go for a loose ball. In this case Pedro flicks the ball up and attempts to head the ball around the defenders, and saliba basically headbutts him in the side of the head, yes saliba does get a touch on the ball but as an Arsenal fan if the roles were reversed i would want a penalty.
@@kingsleymoore2510as an fan you must know, arsenal don't get that kind of penalty, he would never give us that kind of penalty
He got the ball, end of. I don’t think anyone would accept that it was a pen even if the shoe was on the other foot. He headed the ball before he hit the player.
Fabianski did the same likewise to Gabriel, in which Saka converted and scored. If that was given as a penalty, then this would be the same
Party 6..???? Cmon bro Party has been our best player all season & he should get a higher mark just for playing out of position & doing so well...
Surprised on your interpretation of the pen. 100% isn’t a pen.
Charles I’m sorry but we need journalists like yourself, club officials and Mikel to call out this nonsense officiating.people’s livelihoods are at stake and these clowns have cost us so many times it’s actually become farcical. We must make noise otherwise roll over and take it which is pathetic
The antics of the Brighton No9 deceived the refree who should have known better 😮
The Newcastle game is going to be so so hard. It will be one of the biggest games we have to overcome this season. They are already a side that reached the final 2 yrs ago so they know the tournament very well. Newcastle will be without Schar and Guimaraes due to suspensions on the 1st leg which we should take advantage of. The biggest problem is how to stop the in form Isak. He already scored against us this season and it will be a good chance to check whether he's worth the ￡150m price tag. Gordon and Tonali also big threat as well. We need to win big at the Emirates.
If the penalty was given on the advice of VAR, on the basis of a head butt, which becomes foul play, why was there no red card ? Something very wrong somewhere.
There are things in the clubs control and things out of the club’s control. Unfortunately, neither is going our way right now. Liverpool did not have Champions League last season and their main players (aside from TAA, who has been in and out of fitness) either didn’t play or did not go very far in the Euros. Our players have been completely run into the ground and refs have definitely been more punitive to Arsenal this season - this is all out of our control. For what’s in our control, Charles you’ve said it perfectly, the club took a gamble in not sufficiently strengthening the squad over the summer. It was a gamble every fan knew would not pay out. We’ve got to pray for significant signings in both the Jan and summer windows because I think we need something like 5 signings between the two. Hopefully Jan signings get us silverware in one of the other competitions because our changes of winning the prem are next to zero at this point.
Havertz/Jesus, Martinelli/Trossard, Saka/Sterling.....how was/is Arsenal gambling in the foward line. All three positions had backups. The dropped points are highly linked to the Odegarrd situation. There is a seemingly weak narrative flying around.
That was never a penalty, we didn’t play well enough for the win . It’s like we’ve been cursed with injuries this year tho
With injuries and officials stitching us up, we have to be not only levelling the playing field, but making sure the odds are always in our favour!
The positive is our squad is completely depleted, tired and not playing at our best, yet we’re the 2nd best team in the league
I agree they have to move in this window but they also have to do it now not on 31st January
Charles as a season ticket holder we’ve played poorly at home all season and were never contenders!! Let’s not delude ourselves any longer
Especially when we have positive fans like you sat there to cheer us on. I’m also a season ticket holder and this year the crowd has been nervous and edgy and hasn’t helped. Try and be more positive.
The Arsenal have always had moaners in the crowd even at Highbury nothing new with the latest bunch of loud mouthed depresive surrender at the earliest opportunity merchants tbh
brother, after the pen, it change the game completely, they, Brighton, got momentum. You even said yourself, no pen and Arsenal would have seen out the game. In addition, we've all seen Arsenal start slow second half's but nonetheless, a gear is pulled later and the pressure kicks in, so I put my money on Arsenal performing well later into the game... don't you?? Furthermore, changes would have made a difference at 0-1 - so you can't criticize the second half because who knows how many more we would have scored.
Lastly, considering the problems with players out and a heavy schedule ahead, Arsenal had to conserve, ration what they had. So for me and should be for you, fair play to Arsenal considering the circumstances. It was only a ref that stopped them... Taylor will go down in history for what he did... disgusting!
Hi Charles. There is no way the technical staff, Mikel and Edu didnt know that the squad depth gamble could backfire. As you said, we let go of Reiss, Eddie, ESR, Vieira even rotation players like Mo. The replacement was Sterling on the last day of the transfer. This all shows a huge lack of clarity on what Arsenal were hoping to achieve this season. Going into this year they would have known the schedule, they would have known there is no winter break, that there are more games, that the Euros happened and that the squad is still fatigued from last year (the physios have very detailed data on everyone).
I always go back to this article your colleague James McNicholas wrote about how the Kroenkes were disappointed with all the spending and wanted Arsenal to claw back money in the summer and thats why we did not do major business. Im sorry but what ambition is that? Happy with top 4 again, Champions League places being a trophy, the odd cup and then big players start leaving. It all goes back to lack of ambition and clarity from the owners. If this is a 5 year project, we are in the 5th and whats the output? We've still got 3 competitions other than the PL, and where's the squad depth for that. We all made fun of Todd Boehly, but he knew something important, that football is heading in the American sport direction and you need big squads that can fight multiple fronts. Im not saying we should emulate that, but there's happy medium somewhere and Im afraid we'll never get there under this ownership.
I've been saying this since the kronek's took over.
When they asset stripped the invincibles over first 3 or 4 years of their ownership.
They always only want top 4 and champions league money and they never go that extra mile top be the best team in the country it never change under their ownership.
It is funny they have spent all that money on players in the last 5 years knowing that at the end that they were going to expand the stadium how much that cost in higher ticket prices.
The kronek's are richer than abramovch.
That penalty..so may I suggest people watch it again..the ball comes off salibas head first..its just 2 people contesting a header..madness
Nice take Charles. I agree with you everything you've said. Unfortunately, we've had too many games like this this season. At some point we'll have to stop blaming bad officiating, injuries and bad luck and look at ourselves. Given the level of investment into that team, the margin between winning, losing and drawing these types of games shouldn't be this close. What do I mean, regardless of the penalty, Arsenal should be able to win comfortably. Of course they are extenuating circumstances but some of those were enabled by our own very actions and or inactions. Nwaneri is injured now. Should we have bought a Saka and Odegaard's rotational option in the summer? Yes, Did we? No. Don't come at me with Nwaneri being Odegaard's backup when you remember vividly how much he was played when Odegaard was 2 months out. In all, I just hope we learn the lessons we ought to learn, but for some reason I'm not convinced we have.
This summer I won't be surprised if Arteta goes again to buy another Goal keeper and a full back who can invert into midfield. The more things change the more they remain the same.
Can’t see any attacking incomings this January the seasons over let’s hope next summer we can get the players we need 🤷🏽♂️
We don't care,Charles! We knew the squad wasn't filled out properly. Artera himself said the squad was short, and we needed better box efficiency. This isn't anything new. They have let the fans and the players down by not acting aggressive enough to upgrade that forward line. No excuses.
Not a penalty in a million years, anywhere else on the pitch game is stopped for a clash of heads followed by a drop ball......referee taking centre stage again, VAR backing their man again.... ridiculous decision
People criticize our summer transfer window a lot but could we actually spend more? Calafiori is very useful with all the full back injuries and Merino is also a good player. Would we want to trade those two for more attacking options? What if in that parallel universe we dont have enough defenders and midfielders and games end 3-3 instead of 1-1? ESR really wanted to go and I dont think Viera and Eddie would have helped much. Even if the summer window wasnt great did the club actually have the resources to make it better? Sterling may end up a failure but we basically replaced Nelson with him and Arteta clearly didnt trust Nelson.
The wild thing is, we've always had ample attackers, which is the position everyone is crying out for. Form has been the issue with them. They've all shown they can score many goals in this team, but...
Now, how many times have we worried about filling the midfield and especially defence this season?
They made good signings in he summer, shown by uen being some of the best (Arsenal) players of this poor game.
We don't know why they sold/loaned out each player they did, probably respect for the players and their short careers. They weren't getting picked.
Why didn't we sign others? Again, we don't know. Likely we didn't want to settle for back up options as first team and bench options weren't available, or given unreasonable prices.
Hi Charles,
I don’t think we’ll be anywhere near the league title unless we sign at least two players for the front line. Our midfield looks exhausted, and Morino, while skilful, doesn’t seem to have the legs for the Premier League-he looks very slow.
Last summer felt like a huge missed opportunity to strengthen the attack and bring in proper cover for Saka. As for Edu’s departure, I think it’s probably for the best. In my opinion, he wasn’t at the level Arsenal needs to secure the kind of players required to compete at the top.
Sadly it was a stone wall penalty.. if it happened outside the box it's a stone wall foul.. and I believe Arteta knows it....
We wont be anywhere near the title anyway so better not make any rush decisions
@@jamessmyth3437 nonsense
Hello Charles,
I understand Mikel likes having a tight knit group because he relies so much on his starting XI and wants pay close attention to the development of his players but it seems like the same old story each year with injuries in key positions and lacking squad depth. To your point, we’ve gotten even weaker this season since last season. Seems like since we’ve been competing for the league, it’s the same theme, “we’re so close but ran out of steam” or “we don’t have enough squad depth”. Really frustrating especially since Arsenal are competing in multiple competitions, you’d think Arteta and co. would take that into consideration. Arsenal just seems to be cursed or something. Too many ilnesses, idiotic decisions made against us and injuries, but we carry on #COYG
The summer transfer window has been a tumultuous period for Arsenal, especially concerning Mikel Arteta's pursuit of an offensive target. Arteta's comments about Raheem Sterling being a last-minute option signal a deeper issue: the failure to secure his priority target, which remains undisclosed but was clearly critical to his vision for the team. This situation raises questions about Edu's role and whether he adequately supported Arteta's meticulous plans.
Arteta is a highly intelligent and organized coach, known for his strategic approach to building a winning team. He has effectively constructed a solid back five and strengthened the midfield, ensuring that young talents like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli receive the necessary support. The addition of Kai Havertz as a versatile false nine showcases Arteta's commitment to innovation and adaptability in his tactical setup.
Throughout this process, Arteta has remained steadfast in his commitment to Financial Fair Play (FFP) guidelines, emphasizing the importance of maximizing every transfer window as part of his five-year project. The offensive department, particularly the need for creativity, was clearly identified as an area in need of investment. It’s implausible to believe that Arteta would have solely targeted a player like Calafiori without considering more impactful options. This indicates a significant breakdown in the transfer strategy, likely stemming from Edu's mismanagement.
Arteta is a driven winner who demands excellence. The rapid progress Arsenal has made under his leadership, closing the gap with Pep Guardiola's dominant Manchester City, underscores his capabilities. The notion that the club wasted the summer transfer window is not just a simple oversight; it reflects a failure to align the club’s ambitions with Arteta's vision.
While Arteta remains loyal to Arsenal, guarding the club's reputation amidst these challenges, it's clear he is frustrated. The decision to pursue Sterling was likely born out of desperation rather than a true alignment with his plans. Arteta's intelligence and strategic acumen should not be underestimated; he knows the potential consequences of subpar acquisitions.
In conclusion, Mikel Arteta deserves unwavering support from fans and the media. The scrutiny he faces overlooks the complexities behind the scenes, particularly in the transfer dealings. He is not merely a coach; he is a visionary dedicated to transforming Arsenal into a formidable force. Any notion that he is to blame for the summer's shortcomings is misguided; rather, it is a reflection of a broader systemic failure within the club's management that must be addressed.
No team would have achieved what Mikel has achieved with the fitness issues we’ve had. Mikel Arteta deserves credit not misplaced emotional hate.
Give him the same fate of fitness Liverpool is enjoying and we’d be 15+ points clear on everyone! 💯
COYG!!!! North London Forver! 💯🔥🔥🔥
Charles 6 for calafiori? He was our best player. Won basically every one on one, blocked several crosses into the box, drove forward into good space (more than our midfield did). Was very solid he. He lost the ball once at the end after beating 3 players (he's a defender what do you expect) - very harsh rating.
Agreed
He was brilliant in the first half
I don't think I've ever seen a foul given for a clash of heads
Wow, we are still in 4 competitions. people are returning from injury and suspension. Bad luck is not exclusive to us. Be patient. We must look forward to the next game COYG.
On transfers… all I’d question is, how much difference do we think January signings can make? I think they only help if you get the right players. Even experienced players with PL experience - Havertz, Merino, Raya, Sterling - have taken time to settle in and play their best in our system. And irrespective of how much we’re prepared to pay, a lot of the top players we’d want are no less tired/on the verge on injury than Arsenal’s squad.
I’m not against doing something if the right players can be found and brought in, but we need to balance the benefits against the risk of overpaying for another Nicholas Pepe - which could set us back significantly in the longer term.
Dani Olmo would be absolutely perfect - and it does look like Barca are finally really close to having a problem and no rabbits to pull from the hat.
You know what’s funny, if you look at the GW20 premier league table last season Arsenal have actually done better - same points (40) but a much better GD this season. Liverpool were also on the same points and top of the table just having played less games. Really interesting when you think about it - appreciate we need more firepower but a lot of people are still overreacting😅
Good Morning Charles. Great content as always, Many thanks for that. I would like to suggest that we need something completely different than what we currently have and I think we should try and bring in Liam Delap from Ipswich. This guy is a beast and is a nightmare for most defences. Debatable if our current style of football would suit him however what it would do is keep other teams guessing pre match as to what we are going to do. Plus he has the ability to change a game completely with his style of play. Thoughts ? There is a chance he could be sensational
Mid Liverpool v United match here. Look how they stream forwards with speed like there’s a time limit to getting a shot off on goal. Is it a mystery what’s wrong with us? Like watching paint dry.
Finally someone that sees it. Arsenal are slow in build up. Sometimes line breaking passes are made only for the ball to be returned to the defenders. I just couldn't wrap my head around it. I don't know what happened to receiving a pass ,turning around and just directly going forward
This has been such an obvious issue with Arsenal this season, zero pace on transition and we give teams time to settle and get back into shape, until the game is gone... so predictable!
It always seems to be Arsenal getting these bizarre referee decisions.
Charles - How about saying Trossard / Jorginho are both rubbish
The window 🪟 is open. We need to SIGN SOME ATTACKING PLAYERS.
My only worry Charles is that we were putting in these performances when everyone was fit over that last 2 seasons. Reason why we couldn't get over the line the last 2 years
We needed to use 4-5 subs last game. Only using 2 was crazy. The whole team is sick and injured so we need to keep legs as fresh as possible. Also Brighton had 1-2 extra days of rest. Zinny and kiwior should’ve got some minutes.
We can ALL see the sins of the summer transfer window. Arsenal FC better prepare for the civil war between fans... you thought it was bad during Wenger leaving days...its going to be 10x worse. Arteta OUT he is simply NOT GOOD ENOUGH. IT'S TIME TO GO.
Summer 2024, any one could see we left ourselves short why gamble thats the question why not prepare your squad for the worst case scenario. Arteta thought we need another LB when that wasn't the pressing issue. Now costing Arsenal because of the clubs lack of ambition in the summer. League is done. Focus on cups but my word if he picks up nothing this season, next year will be a pressure unlike anything his known before.
What are your thoughts on our time wasting. It’s becoming a joke, Throw ins, corners and free kicks. We need more urgency.
Charles, not just the free kick, Merino had a clear header and skied it. Terrible
missed opportunities.
Exactly. Likely, he was struggling.. For all the lamentations about removing ethan. Sterling also out.
Can no haĺe ender that's fit step up
I wonder why this is different than when in a very close proximity a player kicks the ball but his followthrough catches the other player with the cleats. Dangerous play usually and fif cleats made contact is a red card. Pedro glances at the ball, so does Saliba, then Pedro plows into Salina's head.Not saying Saliba should get a foul but I am not sure why everyone assumes the infraction was from Saliba. To me it looked like any other contact in close contests no foul by either player. Can someone explain the difference?
Good analysis on the penalty. Of course you cannot criticize the on-field decision. It is the VAR involvement that is so disgraceful. I try so hard to not criticize VAR, but week after week they are pathetic.
I’m not so pissed about the Pen as I can’t see it being blatantly obvious one way or the other. I’m more frustrated at our lack of attacking threat. I cant help but feel if this was Liverpool they’d of got back into it. (Yes I know we’re missing Saka) we need more squad depth and quality imo
Our last 3 draws have been when Arteta removed Partey from 6!! Rice should okay right back so we don’t lose momentum
Harshly awarded penalty, agreed. But we didn't do enough anyway. If we want to win the league, that penalty decision shouldn't have meant we dropped points. It seems when we have key players out, we're not the force we all think we are! Where was Jesus, Merino kept losing the ball, so frustrating. We were passing the ball about in their box loads yesterday, but could hardly get a shot off. I'm hoping we get an out and out striker in Jan. That could have been the difference against Brighton, if we had! Keep up the good work Charles..Gooners!
Kususevski did the same thing in the NC match with his shoulder and no call was made
Hey Charles, Do you reckon PSR is a factor for the last window and this one? I know take what a manager says with a pinch of salt but Arteta is talking about internal solutions rather than the market in Jan and I'm just thinking about the Summer window gone.
I love Calafori but did we really need another LB last summer. We were linked with Sesko and Williams at the time and it just seems a strange u turn on getting a forward in
Feels like Edu just spent all our money and then bailed on us 😂
It seems harsh to give a player a 6, when he’s made a great run, took a player on and then slotted in a great finish - but that kind of sums up the game
Don't understand how the club doesn't see that what the club needs more attacking depth, especially with the injuries and number of games to be played.
No Striker has cost us for a 3rd year running, it's unacceptable.
A striker is not arsenals problem. There's a lack of dynamism to the approach play. Bring haaland in and he'd score less at arsenal.
I think we do need to enter the transfer window not sure who that player will be though
Hey Charles,
Can you clear up some of the realistic transfer targets this month?
Seeing some crazy rumours on X and YT this week, in the last hour here’s the names I have seen…
Cunha
N Williams
Matheus
Sesko (summer)
Gykoeres
Isak
Lookman
Raphina (if Barca want to register Olmo)
None of these seem realistic at all for January?
Can you clear all of this madness up 😂
That pen given by var is an utter joke. I’d love your thoughts on my idea. Do you think, for big calls. I’m talking for penalty’s, sending offs, second yellow cards and disallowed goals. I’d like the Pgmol protocol to direct the on field ref, the fourth official who’s next to the screen anyway and the lineman on that side to go directly to the pitch side screen to also watch the incident on the screen as the var team are reviewing it. Then the var team gives its view on the incident, before the ref,fourth official, and linesman all vote to agree or not. A majority of all three/four makes the final decision. Have the ref mic’d up and broadcast the audio to tv and stadium live.
I feel like it wouldn’t add that much time to games as the ref just stands there waiting 90% of the time, rather than standing doing nothing he should be moving to watch the incident. We need to focus on correct decisions over speed.
Well done Arsenal should go out and sign the players they need now.
Sunday’s result basically cancels out this gameweek, so we need to put Brighton in the rear view!
Mikel will likely echo the same sentiment to the players. Had Liverpool won this weekend it would’ve been a hard sell. Hopefully now the players and fans can see it’s still all to play for.
Onto Newcastle, a chance to get one foot closer to Wembley! If Havertz is back I’m starting him up top, with Martinelli LW and Jesus RW. Timber back at RB means Partey and Rice can run the midfield. Physicality to match physicality.
Our poor goal scoring form is coming from playing party at right back.
Not surprised every time we play him out of position, we play badly in front of goal.
But when he's in midfield we win comfortably with high goal margins!
Just my very obvious discovery!
Charles should not complain about the squad. Some of us called this after the summer transfer window but you refused to call the fact that the squad is thin. Now it’s obvious for all to see. The focus on defense is just too much and the season has shown that our team would have survived without the 3 players we signed.
Arsenal team kubwa we must win the title we have hopes arshavin mwenyewe
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 never allowed the squad 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 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!!
With all the illnesses and injuries would playing 5 at the back with Timber and MLS as WB be the better option vs Newcastle?
Additions needed b4 inevitable depreciation of key players. Transfers like the set pieces. CARE.
This season is such a mess for us. We are the best team, yet can't catch a break. So many injuries to important players and crap decisions. We should be walking this league, especially as Liverpool will drop off.
Let’s jus wait to hear what pgmol say 😮
PL title is done…it is no longer what we need to do…we need a Liverpool collapse which does not look likely…time to adjust expectations and hope we can get a cup or go deep into CL…injuries have sapped our ambition…shows how lucky we were last season…
MO not been the same since his injury…🤷🏽♂️
@@leonbell5141 I edited my comment…I did not realize he was sick…
Tom Canton is adamant not a pen! Did you two not discuss sitting near each other at the time lol
No excuse with yet another injury, now to Nwaneri, to not strengthen in this window now and take a calculated risk like when AW bought Arshavin in a Jan window in somewhat desperation to overhaul Villa and grab that valuable CL spot and it worked! His goals and assists were invaluable. We need that again! Arsenal get it done. Go get Mbeumo or whoever is affordable and suitable.
Var spent a whole 3 seconds on reviewing that. 😮
Really don't understand football fans...we can never win all the remaining games of the season..we most drop point a season
so are we now expecting pens everytime there is a clash of heads on corners????? Thats ridiculous Charles!!! Why does it feel we are always the test subject for new rules!!!! 🤬