Arsenal Banter 3

20 Oct 2026 06:05:44
I want to ask a genuine question to all, why can people say players aren't playing well and everyone agrees but when it comes to Saka it's a big no what the difference, Gyok gets a lot of stick he was out top scorer Kia gets stick as well Noni, martinill, Trossard, Jesus the list goes on, but heaven forbid you have a go a super Saka, so come on people now is your time to answer the question, I don't want any silly quotes or riddles or sarcastic posts because that will just show you can't answer it,

20 Oct 2026 09:31:43
Hi Dublin, fair question and yes, I am of the opinion that he isn't playing well and is being treated differently to others.
He is certainly not fulfilling the potential and expectations that we thought he could achieve. There will be arguments that he is being doubled up on and fouled but great players find a way around it.

The soft corner we have for him is because he has risen through the academy and has been one of our best players. However, if the numbers doesn't improve we have to ask serious questions about his place in the team.

20 Oct 2026 10:12:16
Most people would agree that Saka isn't playing well! And if that continues then the noise will increase! Once Tzolis is back Noni if it's seen as the right thing to do will replace Saka. MA is quite ruthless but I prefer to accept his decision to play Saka or not rather than yours DG! No one is saying Saka is playing well as far as I can see and wouldn't be shocked to see him dropped! No one is saying he is undroppable! Yet you think some are blindly saying play him even if he's playing badly- not true in my case and the impression I get from here! What is fecking ridiculous is your call to sell him, he's crap blah blah! He's crap he's playing brilliantly neither are true! I suspect though as I don't agree with your confirmation bias you will assume I haven't answered the question.

At least it's a change I guess from the daily Kai kicking! 😜 I also like to go by just because someone doesn't agree with me doesn't mean I'm right 🤷‍♂️ COYG.

20 Oct 2026 15:19:37
If Arteta drops Saka then that's absolutely fine by me, no player should ever be undoppable.

I just think the claims he's been useless for 3 years are totally exaggerated unrealistic, I couldn't careless if he's homegrown, cost 100 million or came on a free transfer Saka is a top class player and Arteta is managing him how he sees best and that's fine with me.

20 Oct 2026 17:04:22
Hi Dublin, its your opinion that Saka has been useless for 3 years and if you genuinely believe that statement is true then you are fully entitled to it, but just because people don't agree with it doesn't mean they are treating Saka differently to other players it simply means they see things very differently to yourself.

I personally was disappointed to see Martinelli and Trossard leave and have often defended them both alongside Noni when others have singled them out for unfair criticism, so why on Earth wouldn't i challenge your unfair 3 year claims about Saka? i'm not treating Saka differently mate, i generally think its you who is doing that for reasons best known to yourself.

21 Oct 2026 03:18:37
Sussex when did I say sell him lol I said serious questions have to be asked! And who ever starts or doesn't start I have no say over what so ever I'm nothing to do with Arsenal i just support them and voice my concerns.

21 Oct 2026 03:25:15
62 I'm saying it because he isn't performing at a top level in my opinion like I said I personally think 6 league goals is not good enough but if you do that's your opinion, the thing I find funny about some members they will pull you on a post and say it's ridiculous but when some members do the same to there post they say it's " my opinion " lol, and if you can't beat a single olayer in 90 mins and can't beat the first man taking a Corner then I thing dowman should be given a chance.

21 Oct 2026 03:27:24
And like I said I hope he proves me
Wrong as I'm an Arsenal fan! That's me done on the saka saga you're all to emotional lol just joking before you all kick off.

21 Oct 2026 10:21:24
You said and I paraphrase ' sell our attack and start again and that includes star boy' blah blah. Then said attack went and won the league 🤷‍♂️ When someone makes such a ridiculous statement it sticks. Going to have a lie down now as way too emotional. Maybe you were tired and emotional when you made this statement 🤷‍♂️ COYG.

21 Oct 2026 13:08:28
Did I mention saka because I can't remember mentioning him exactly if I did I did that's my opinion mate like you have yours lol don't get upset mate it's all good, if an offer came in of 80m I'd snap it up.

21 Oct 2026 13:09:12
Ah bless I'm sorry I've upset you lol.

21 Oct 2026 13:25:57

Sussex I don’t want to argue because I think your a sound bloke and I really enjoy reading your post always have from when I was a lurker and plucked the nerve to join lol , you have your opinion and I respect it the same as everyone else’s, I didn’t mean to come across like I was arguing with everyone just because they like saka I like saka I’ve said every time I hope he proves me wrong big time, have a good one mate sorry if I came across like a t*4*

21 Oct 2026 15:58:48
We do need a shake up in our attack - from MAs mindset & philosophy to playing faster passes in front of players plus upping the sheer quality in the attack - the attack didn't win us the league it was Corners & Defense. We need to improve our attack with better quality players, freeing up the players we have & adding quality on wings, middle and creative spots.

I think Saka can be part of the solution about the only one but he needs help from Arteta ( most attackers have regressed under him ) and his pals. I don't really like Noni but at least he showed some intent while other cowards hid in their positioning, runs & passes.

21 Oct 2026 18:16:43
Always so negative Dublin, what's up with you fella??

21 Oct 2026 18:51:39
I'm too long in the tooth to worry about opinions on here, it's healthy debate and just proves in life we are all different! You haven't come across as a **** just be aware you might be wrong and on this occasion you are well wrong! And I love that you compound with the he's worth £80 mill. Each to their own!

I think we need a monster left wing who will a) score goals and create chances b) give the opposition tons to think about so they can't just double up on Saka and nullify us! It's a win win! Hoping Tzolis is that player but suspect we will be in for Yildiz, Kroupi or Williams hopefully in January! Toodlepips COYG.

22 Oct 2026 20:10:53
You know my thoughts - Yildiz & Kroupi.

19 Oct 2026 07:39:13
{Ed's Note - OptimumShots has posted a new article entitled, Everton Need More Than Moyes' Stability

19 Oct 2026 07:01:34
The Arsenal we are the champions of England. would like to see us play with a we are champions mentality and go out there and really put it on the opposition and and take the game to them. we seem to be too slow in what we are doing. yet on occasions when we have speeded up our play we have looked fantastic but it just seems to be in bits and pieces. we all know that we're capable of it would be nice to see it more.

yesterday I actually nodded off for 15 minutes in the first half. never done that before watching my beloved Arsenal . I know the Premier League is a marathon not a sprint. But if we're not careful other teams could become far away over the horizon with their bigger goal difference and it will be to late for us COYG/VTH ONE❤️ The Arsenal. ✌🏻&🫶🏻 to you all.

20 Oct 2026 11:34:22
Saka is a great player but not playing well and too safe. I wish he'd receive the ball faster & in front of him so he's running into the ball rather than receiving back to goal. Is it Arteta with his defence first and safe attitude? I'd say quite a bit BUT Noni ran at Forest and shot - Saka was too safe.


The boss needs to manage our attackers better and put more pressure on being fast & creative rather than safe it's not a great day if we drop Saka for Noni. Arteta needs to help Eze, Saka, etc by being more adventurous.

18 Oct 2026 22:46:59
Well played Konsa - super important tackle today and another strong performance!

Raya, Gabs & Konsa - well done gents.

19 Oct 2026 15:56:39
Konsa was great yesterday!

18 Oct 2026 19:59:54
Well done Noni - showed "he who dares wins!"

Too many players taking up cowardly positions, playing cowardly passes - sideways & backwards when we did go forward : slow passes behind the player whose first thought was . Sideways

So this is our "handbrake off" football where we invite pressure onto ourselves, almost give Forest their first home goal & achieve just 1 shot on target.

At least we won - 3 points in the bag

Bet Bayern defence are nervous.

18 Oct 2026 20:22:05

I don’t normally agree with you because every post you put up is negative but today I can’t say anything to disagree with you, I’d say our front line is probably the worst out of the top teams apart from spurs, don’t get me started on saka but hes a good defender and tracks back lol but him left back then because he’s s*** at right wing, I hope he proves me wrong, I’d love him to but I’m 3 years up on him, I’d bring kalastrom back,

{Ed025's Note - since when were Spurs a top team mate?..

18 Oct 2026 20:48:00
We were hopeless today and needed the lucky deflection to get the three points, that all that matters to stay above Brighton and in touching distance of City, both are playing awesome football. Need to plough on and keep getting the points because if we all can see it, the decision makers can too and let's pray that they invest in January.
Many players who we brought in to improve us i.

e Gyokeres, Zubimendi, Eze etc have lost their mojos. Why not give Dowman few minutes to show what he can do in such games when Saka wasn't able to affect the game?
Forest could have won if Wood had taken his shot first time and Murillio had found the top corner. We are riding our luck and hope it doesn't run out before January.

{Ed025's Note - you will get back on track next week against Everton mate..

18 Oct 2026 21:08:38
Agreed today wasn't anything close to us at our best but I did always think we'd snatch the points in the latter stages, we may not always be brilliant but we do usually find a way.

I saw a pundit question our set pieces and why we seem to have abandoned our reliance on something that made us champions last season, personally I think we are trying to carry on evolving as a team rather than standing still and thinking we've got it cracked.

18 Oct 2026 22:48:56
Not sure every post is negative DG - I've been posting for about 10 years but I get your point.

19 Oct 2026 07:42:21
I joined in 2013 SY and you was already propping up the bar when I got here mate 😊.

So you've been a member at least 13 years if not more mate 👍.

19 Oct 2026 08:16:59
Back in the day when the top 6 were talked about now it's the big 5 Ed lol SAKA FOR LEFT BACK AND KALASTROM RIGHT WING FOR ME HEHEHE let me take my saka glasses off first sorry for the late reply i'm in Egypt.

{Ed025's Note - Saka,s crossing has been abysmal DG, i dont know if i would swap him for Brennan Johnson...oh yeah i would.. :)

19 Oct 2026 13:04:31

He’s been s*** for the last 3 years mate, and just because he came from the ranks, doesn’t mean he should have special treatment, eze was crap and got dragged off half time,but saka was worse did he even beat a man yesterday I don’t think he did, but you can’t slate him because he’s defends well

{Ed025's Note - He has certainly gone downhill DG, he has the ability but he really has to up his game mate..

19 Oct 2026 14:56:12
Well said Edward 25 on to the next game.

19 Oct 2026 15:23:18
I really don't get the Saka knocking, he more than playered his part in us becoming champions and 18 months ago we were absolutely desperate for him to be fit for the Champions league quarter final against Real and he certainly didn't disappoint in either leg as we enjoyed one of best ever European nights.

I've absolutely no idea what the 3 year tag is about, i find that really strange 🤔.

19 Oct 2026 16:56:20
I'm sure Bayern are at the very least wary and you don't always post negatively Sy, I remember May 2017 ;) Yes Saka playing not at his best but there is an argument we have much better players and he at least doesn't shine as much. Sell him - nah! - I'm sure as a Premier League Winner he isn't worried by some noise COYG
#formistemporaryclassispermanentsameasOdegaardlastseason.

19 Oct 2026 16:58:01
I just wonder if the way the team is being directed to play simply does not allow our best players to perform. When Saka was at his best, we played a more free flowing, expansive game. Now, when he gets the ball there are already two to three players on him. When we moved the ball quickly, and trusted our ability to play to feet he looked far more dangerous.

If we can't turn it on at Forest, who have been abysmal this season, how are we going to play against Bayern. Sorry for the negativity but I do think football needs to be joyful to watch.

{Ed025's Note - you were a bit boring Hoxton, too many passes backwards and sideways for me mate and the standards of crosses was abysmal imo..

19 Oct 2026 18:33:57
Haha. I'm not known for my entertainment quotient. 🤣.

19 Oct 2026 18:50:36
The last 2 seasons we've finished 1st and second in the champions league qualification league and last season we were outstanding again Bayern even though we weren't playing our best in the Premier League, are Bayern not at least as worried about us as we are them?

Last season we were criticised for relying almost totally on set pieces for our goals, this season we have scored 21 of our 22 goals from open play plus one penalty. We are Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years and are currently sitting in second place as we try to defend our title.

We are currently enjoying a golden period in our history after a long run of being also rans, shouldn't we spend more time appreciating and being grateful for all the things that are right with our club rather spending our time looking at and dwelling on our imperfections? This Golden period won't last forever and we will once again play Spurday night football in the Europa league or possibly even make our Europa Conference debut at some stage, it's inevitable.

I guess some people really won't be able to appreciate what we have right now until it's gone, cest la vie as they say in Norfolk.

19 Oct 2026 22:43:37
Absolutely echo that post 62 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
We're fu**in champions for a reason! Not because everyone else bottled it it's because we conquered the league fair n square without cheating our way to it. Classenal❤️🤍
Imperfections are part of life but nobody's perfect let's enjoy what we have n support the champions of England which is us! The Arsenal ❤️🤍
Bring on ze Germans.

20 Oct 2026 05:31:50
If your happy with 6 league goals from a "world class "winger 62 then that's up to you but his numbers should be up there with real
World class wingers, just imagine us if he had MS numbers for Liverpool!' Yes we are champions and I'm chuffed, but I want Jim's numbers higher which they should be, you don't get the saka bashing did I see him Sunday without the glasses on, because if u even say he's been playing well then ill never post again lol.

20 Oct 2026 05:50:03
Jim's numbers I meant his hahah has to be his new nickname now lol.

20 Oct 2026 06:01:36
I'd rather Bowen on the left but that my opinion, and if you think it's just me that slates him it's all over the place I've heard it for the last 3 years, can I ask you a question 62 do you think he could be better and improve with his taking on players and goals,

20 Oct 2026 10:16:30
Saka's playing well! COYG 😜.

20 Oct 2026 16:01:08
I didn't mean every post sy sorry mate.

18 Oct 2026 07:39:17
{Ed's Note - thefutureisoldgold3 has posted a new article entitled, Wolves Player Ratings v Burnley

17 Oct 2026 07:39:12
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Manchester City - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

18 Oct 2026 08:39:56
Fair writeup ed001. I am by no means a Liverpool fan but was incensed at the cards shown to Gravenberch. I was surprised at the lack of scrutiny in the media following the sending off too, even though the 114 is the bigger story at the moment.

It would be better for everyone if this was resolved quickly, cleanly, with titles stripped and with CFG forced to sell.

{Ed001's Note - it does need sorting quickly before we have another tainted title to consider, as it is clear they are being helped along this season once again.}

18 Oct 2026 11:07:59
We shouldn't be very hopeful of a big retribution as the level of commercial and political involvement will destabilise the football ecosystem. Any punishment will certainly not be proportional to the charges.

19 Oct 2026 17:02:07
If the punishment is lame, or perceived to be so, the game will be irrevocably changed. It comes to something when we discuss the political and economic pressures that are bearing down on the principle of fairness, as though it were a legitimate consideration. i'm not pointing fingers at anyone here BTW.

16 Oct 2026 20:39:55
A record revenue of £691 million for the 2024–25 financial year, £20m contract for Arteta, New contracts inc Rice 350k PW yet we are laying off 60 people? Mental & not a great look esp after the COVID fiasco with Gunnersaurus 60 people - probably 8 weeks of Rice wage.

17 Oct 2026 09:20:23
This happens in all businesses where there are high earners but low earners are losing their jobs. Unfortunately it is the way the world is at the moment with everyone jumping on the AI bandwagon.

17 Oct 2026 11:03:50
Its not nice and in my opinion it's not how things should be or need to be, but it is most definitely the way of the world right now.

Would the reintroduction of the maximum wage be such a terrible thing, would 100k a week maximum wage in football across the board cuase devastating hardship to players; managers and their families?

17 Oct 2026 17:10:49
What does a MD of a big bank earn over a lifetime or a FTSE TOP 50. I am okay with mega stars getting mega money but we give some crazy ass contracts to mid players while staff are cut. Somethings not right

I guess a number of the top CEOs earn 20 to 20m & work till 50

So top top player at top club delivering medals should be up there BUT only if team delivers. So 200k per week in my book. With Kai on less than half of that ( SUSSEX)

They tried FFP tieing wages to revenue - probably best do a cap & % revenue. With a huge portion on success not coming 6th

Never had a problem with TH14 getting 100k at the time but Jesus, Zin, then have the cheek to sack low earners!

17 Oct 2026 17:11:24
Interesting. But, recall the days when chairmen would pocket all the profits, and top players would end their career with a ropey pub if they were lucky. I think it was Jimmy Hill that overturned that.? However, wages for the very top players, amongst others, are somewhat obscene in a world where a nurse has to use a food bank.

17 Oct 2026 17:13:32
By the way, spot about the club. Its a very unsavoury state of affairs and mirrors what happened at Manchester United, which was, rightly, universally slated.

17 Oct 2026 18:17:51
Sorry SY, I thought the discussion was about the general distribution of money within the game not our own personal opinions and valuations of who's worth what and who worth what they are currently paid.

My misunderstanding, I never would have got involved if i'd realised, oooopps.

17 Oct 2026 19:30:38
Hi Hoxton mate, i think the maximum wage Jimmy Hill fought to overturn was around about 3 or 4 times what the average fan could earn per week and given a footballers limited careers it was probably right to overturn.
But today players can earn 5000 times more than the average fan earns, to me that's crazy.

Football may get the majority of its money from TV and sponsorship but ultimately the TV companies and sponsors get their money from consumers, so whichever way we dice it the fan's are paying the extortionate wages one way or another.

18 Oct 2026 09:52:13
62 - I did drift a little but come on man! I was using an example. At a company the more responsibility & impact on the bottom line - the more money you do & should earn. So a CEO will earn more than the HR manager who earns less than the FD but probably more than the accounting manager. So the EPL needs to accommodate superstars, wages should be driven by performance as they do in the City and there should be caps.

I ran thru individuals to highlight the stupid wages we pay to non superstars. £100k doesn't cut it for top performers at any level for a top EPL player. But there should only be a few at that level. Why you got to be so funny about "worth" or opinion & see what I was actually saying. I was responding to your 100k point with an argument / opinion. Appreciate the response but why drop out like that.

18 Oct 2026 13:49:09
Hi SY, the money in football and how it is distributed is something that can addressed and universally agreed on by all clubs everywhere or alternatively something all regulating bodies from all nations can agree to impose on all clubs who fall under their jurisdiction

Obviously individual opinions on which players are better and more worthy of earning the most money at each club is something for each employer at each club to decide. Personally i'm not up for getting involved people's personal gripes about players they personally don't rate as highly as the club does especially when those gripes have been voiced repeatedly in the past.

A general discussion maybe 🤔 a new personal opinion 🤔 maybe too, but an old opinions and old longstanding personal gripes about the same players that have voiced many times before simply isn't something I enjoy, although I respect the fact it us something you personally enjoy doing very much. So I choose the sensible option of leaving you to enjoy something that simply isn't for me, to each their own mate 👍.

18 Oct 2026 17:11:49
Point taken - they were examples as to the £200k wage. I should have not strayed.

18 Oct 2026 17:55:25
Hi SY mate, always happy to exchange new views with you on new topics mate 👍.

18 Oct 2026 19:53:15
Cheers fella 👍.

16 Oct 2026 15:17:30
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Manchester City - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

15 Oct 2026 07:39:17
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 6 - Quick Round Up

14 Oct 2026 16:37:52
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 6 - Quick Round Up