Arsenal Banter

09 Jan 2026 17:11:05
It's been a while since my last post. What lured me back in is the Martinelli-Bradley incident. I'm reading stuff like he should have been sent off or he could have made Bradley's injury worse.

It's not cool to push a player who's down injured. It's disrespectful and annoying. But it's not dangerous. It's just a push. I think yellow was right. As for making an injury worse, you can't really make a leg injury worse by pushing someone's upper body like he did. The energy that injures him initially is far bigger than Martinelli's push. That's enough to break a ligament. That push at best is enough to maybe cause a small hematoma.

We see players elbowing each other to head and stamp on other's feet with their full weight. The energy and impulse in such cases is far higher than when pushing someone with both hands for a small period of time.

I get it why he gets a bad reaction but try have some perspective. He wasn't endangering Bradley and he has apologised. He has a tendency to lose his head a bit and i hope that will be looked at. Mostly for his own sake.

Not sure this was a worthy topic to end my hiatus but at this stage i'm not going to not send this :)

09 Jan 2026 11:48:30
Hi all.
So, just quick message regarding our constant passing sideways and backwards more than we should. I think a lot of it is due to so many midfielders and defenders over last few years not trusting their weaker foot, so go with the way they're facing. Can't understand why players aren't comfortable with either foot, like magician cazorla. Just remember as a kid, we had training sessions where everyone had to use their weaker foot, if not, it was press ups or sit ups etc.

obviously only junior football but made us feel ok using either foot.
Few times last night Hincapie was facing across the pitch had option to clip it with right foot into other players further up and in space, but chose to go back 20yds to gabs, who then passes across to will, by then, other team has reorganised. Just something I've noticed and frustrating
Anyway, happy new year to all 👊.

09 Jan 2026 15:33:47
I sometimes feel the back line, when in midfield and up against a really congested area, are not super confident and then take too long on the ball . our boys certainly play better when its fast paced RG.

{Ed025's Note - all too slow for me Sally, you are like an Italian tank...you have 1 forward gear and 12 reverse ones, pass pass then pass again, sideways backwards but very little forward, you can be so much better imo and its bloody awful to watch, its very frustrating..

09 Jan 2026 09:32:23
So, my take on last night.
I give full credit to Liverpool for soaking up so much pressure in the first half. When the tables were turned in the 2nd half and Liverpool put pressure on our defence we looked extremely shaky and more than a little panicky. We definitely need to sort out the endless times we lose possession. Bit of deja vu going on there and I felt we were lucky not to lose. Hope the nervousness is not a sign of things to come as there's a long way to go. Sad to see Dec losing it, perhaps his driving ban didn't help!
Now for rhe positives 😊 how good was our star boy?! He seemed to be the only cool head when everyone else was losing theirs. and Timber, so calm under pressure. And I was really happy with Madueke's game. And how quiet were both keepers? that says a lot.
I'm glad Martinelli has apologised for his idiotic reaction. Lesson learned I hope. I don't see him as a dirty player.

I blame my other half for the disappointing result - he always seems to jinx the game when he watches. I'll have a word with him lol 😉 😜.

09 Jan 2026 10:57:24
Good post Sally, hope you read the riot act to hubby. Just like to say I do agree with you Gabi but I think he saw the Liverpool player definitely make a movement to get more of his body on the pitch and that's what triggered the reaction.

Think he was a bit lucky not to get red tbh.
Our next 4 games in the Prem are Forest, Utd, Leeds, Sunderland and with the greatest respect to them 4 clubs we must be looking at maximum points.
Take care Sally
COYG.

09 Jan 2026 11:25:40
As much as you'd like to give Liverpool credit, I'm of a different opinion. I think our tactics allowed them to look good. I think our fear of losing gifted them a point that most Liverpool fans didn't expect to get before a ball was kicked. Disappointed to say the least.

Also, who are you? We have another poster named Sallyjannine but she has a very in your face! in her name.

09 Jan 2026 13:07:59
Haha I'm Sallyjannine too Sharpey lol
Seriously I do think Liverpool closed us down really well 1st half, it can't have been easy for them with all our pressing. but its fine to see things differently 😊.

09 Jan 2026 14:27:02
I absolutely respect that you have a different opinion. I was simply voicing mine.

P. S. The other Sallyjannine is sooooo much nicer. And a much better speller.

09 Jan 2026 15:36:28
Touché Sharpey lol.

09 Jan 2026 07:54:19
Morning all Ed’s and fellow gunners, reflecting on last night’s game. missed a massive opportunity to go 8 points clear. in my opinion, that Liverpool team were there for the taking. Fair play to them they came for a draw and got one. if ever a game needed a goal to spark it in to life. it was that one last night. I’m an honest fan. second half was very very poor from us. yes we gained a point but dropped two huge points. we got to dust ourselves off and move on. big improvement needed after that second half performance. I’m off to Fratton park on Sunday for cup game and I’m very much so looking forward to seeing our back up players try and impress and make a claim towards why they deserve a few more chances. on to the next one/one game at a time. COYG/VTH 🔴⚪️❤️.

{Ed025's Note - both teams played for a draw from the start Gabi, a borefest of the lowest quality mate, you had the chance to make a statement yesterday but blew it and bored the life out of everybody in the process..

09 Jan 2026 09:22:37
Hi Gabi,
It wasn’t a great game and we were not up to the pace. I was afraid that the narrative to the build up of this game “Liverpool are there for the taking” will impact our performance and that’s what happened, they are a good team and wasn’t going to be as easy as everyone was talking about, including the pundits.

However, a point against Liverpool is a good point, it could have been worse, I was terrified when Szoboszlai lined up for those two free-kicks! We need to rest and get back on the pitch to win the next game, the margins are very tight but we will do it this time.

09 Jan 2026 11:46:26
Totally agree. definitely not the best advertisement for the premier league. (probably the worst) . absolutely as dull as the weather last night. 🙂.

09 Jan 2026 09:33:23
I expected Arsenal to come at us from the start but good ol' reserved Arteta came to make sure you didn't lose.

We are not at it this season and had Isak, Salah and Eki all missing to further weaken us yet you played us on our name not what was on the pitch. There was 20 mins in the first half where I thought we'd get a hiding but after that you just retreated in your shell. And it wasn't particularly great from Arsenal I just am not particularly optimistic at the minute!

City are only 6 points back with a game against you, and last night was a huge chance to put one hand on the trophy. Now I think you have given City a whiff of a chance and they may smell blood. City have chased this before so it wouldn't be surprising to see them do it again.

If you don't win it this year, I'm not sure when you do but Arteta has to be brave and take the opportunities as they come. Title races are often swung on moments, and if you took the game to us and won. Most would have considered it over.

09 Jan 2026 07:39:46
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 20 - Quick Round Up

09 Jan 2026 06:43:01
Against City at Home and the 2 games against Liverpool it looks like Arteta just doesn't want to take a risk and win the game .

Think I will give the City away game a miss when it's on lol.

09 Jan 2026 05:19:30
Not going to sugar coat it. It was disappointing to say the least. Second half we were awful, no tempo in our play. Fans might say we still got a point after playing so bad is a plus, and I respect their view if they do, but me personally it was not the performance I was expecting.

Anyway we have to move on, the games are coming thick and fast. Take care everyone
COYG👍💪❤️.

09 Jan 2026 06:41:11
Looks like you wrote that for me Bill

I expected a win BUT BUT BUT, we have a 6 point lead so we are still firmly in the driving seat.

Ours to lose.

08 Jan 2026 23:07:14
That was definitely not the best second half of football for us. Getting dominated at home like that by what is, this season, a poor Liverpool side, is shocking. I'm not sure why we've played two games against them this season in similar fashion. Toothless.

{Ed025's Note - it was bloody awful to watch Sharpey, Liverpool were actually the better side mate, if they made a film about that match it would be called...ARSENAL SHAT THEIR PANTS, it bored me to tears..

08 Jan 2026 23:21:23
I think we were definitely the better side in the first half. We absolutely didn't turn up for the second half. Extremely disappointed with the result. Some fans will want to look on the bright side and be happy with the point taken from this game. I'm not one of those fans.

08 Jan 2026 23:59:14
Bruce Willis wants to play Arteta in his next film - Draw Hard

Managed to make a crap Liverpool team look half decent while we were time wasting for the last 45 minutes showing zero ambition in a toothless bottle job of a game. Another terrible point against a top 6 team. Like most bullies we lacked balls, heart and ambition. Hang your head in shame Arteta and our cowardly captain Ode who could not play more cowardly passes if he tried. Looks like Viktor has zero clue or desire to score.

Onwards and upwards - still top and still not hit any form yet. That’s a positive if we start to perform. Need to grow a set ready for a few away games as we will need that gap when the pressure really is on 👍

On another positive - Great first half from Saka and especially Rice. Rice was everywhere - My captain.

Viktor was goddam awful.

09 Jan 2026 09:31:39
Victor is a championship striker people have to wake up and stop defending him!

08 Jan 2026 18:41:39
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 20 - Quick Round Up

08 Jan 2026 07:39:34
{Ed's Note - Joyfull has posted a new article entitled, The Championship Drop and What It Means for West Ham United

07 Jan 2026 21:32:57
Christmas late this year. Scores going our way tonight hopefully the boys will put in a shift tomorrow n get the 3 points.

07 Jan 2026 23:56:13
Quite apart from that, I'd really like us to smash Liverpool. We were so timid going up against them last time at Anfield that the boys need to realise they are a class above when they commit to playing aggressively, and should be dominating them from the first whistle.

{Ed025's Note - beat Liverpool and its game over Wire, all the other contenders are tying their best to hand it to you on a plate...please take it..

08 Jan 2026 10:45:19
Hope so ed025. We've been here before - the season we capitulated to Liverpool handing them a route back to a 2-2 draw was basically where it all fell apart. I'm going to retain an air of absolute pessimism unless it's mathematically certain!

{Ed025's Note - its a great time to play Liverpool Wire, they are a bit of a mess at the moment mate and devoid of any confidence...but you must not sit back and let them bully you, go at them from the start and if you do score keep on the front foot and go for another and finish the job, i should be sending this to Mikel mate.. :)

08 Jan 2026 11:15:17
Thats a little extreme saying other teams are trying the best to give it us. I think it shows the results show that all the teams are having a bad season. Condenting with injuries and fatigue is mmassive. Number of games players are playing this season compared to other seasons has taken its toll. We have been fortunate the past two seasons that we have been able to remain competitive with our injuries and have now got a good squad that can handle these injuries even though some of the injuries have knocked us off the stride but we will be good and what we have been building on will last many years to come.

Tonights game is a massive psychological battle and one we should rise to. I too would love to see us smash LiVARfool, however its not a sprint and there is a lot of games to play. Do not risk injury to players and red cards and an entertaining game is what I am hoping for to keep the ship steady.

I stronly believe that we need to look out or dr physitions and medical team to make sure we have the best in place we can keep our players injury free and in the best health. that's our only weakness at the moment and on a grand scale would encourage the bodies to look at h ow they are scheduling all these diofferent tounments.