Arsenal Banter 4

16 Apr 2026 08:22:11
Well we got through but we really stunk the place out! Last night proves to me that we have to play Kai up front instead of Victor. He may not be the long term answer but he does things that Victor is not capable of.

He is much better at holding the ball up and is far superior in the air and we just look much more fluid with him up top. Finally we must hope Timber and Saka are ready to go on Sunday or it could be a very long 90 mins!

16 Apr 2026 07:39:17
{Ed's Note - The Chicken Staff has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool’s Recruitment Myths Under the Microscope

16 Apr 2026 07:09:37
Before his injury nightmare, Santi Cazorla was playing in my opinion the best football of his life as a central midfielder. Something that has stuck with me is Wenger describing him at the time as our "technical security". For me it meant that however tough spot he was in, you could play the ball to him and he would be able to spin away from his marker and play the ball forward, crucially retaining possession.

I don't see enough of technical security in this team currently. Against Bournemouth we play Gyokeres, Madueke, Martinelli, Rice and Havertz.

I'dn't be comfortable seeing any of these players receiving the ball in a congested midfield.

Odegaard can do that when he's fit. Eze helps a bit (at least compared to Havertz) but still loses the ball a bit too often. Saka and Trossard are an upgrade over Madueke and Martinelli. I hope we get a few more of these players back for the City game. If not, I'd put Havertz up front since he's better suited to the current long ball strategy we're using.

15 Apr 2026 23:27:30
Job done.

Next up - title deciding 90 mins!

Thought Vik was so poor tonight that I’d drop him for Kai or Jesus. That’s how poor he was. Couldn’t keep the ball or capitalise with half a chance.

Noni - looks terrible, frightened and clueless when taking on defenders. What’s happened to him? Such poor decision making.

Eze - bit better today but we just don’t get the ball to him fast or often enough, plus he drops way too deep.

Raya - stop messing around at the back.



Saliba - please stop rolling the ball and delaying. Move it quicker please. Between you and Raya, you are really adding more pressure onto us.

Lack of fullbacks - we really need a proper fullback (s) to offer better defending, width and attack. We used to have Cole; now we have centre back. Same on RHS where we miss Timber.

Moments of improvement but another painful watch. An easy quarter final sees us in another semi. Well done but tough watch.

16 Apr 2026 07:23:03
Morning Sy, hope all's good. I honestly don't know why we signed Noni. Should've kept our powder dry on that one, and should not have loaned out Ethan & told him he would get games, which he would have.

In my humble opinion, Ethan is miles better than Noni and can play multiple positions, and definitely has a goal or two in him. If we let him go at the end of the season, we will be making a huge, huge mistake. COYG.

16 Apr 2026 20:59:10
Hi, hope you are good. I'm hoping Noni, Eze and Vik all step up, as they have all been underwhelming this season, but not helped by our style. Noni is a good back up to Saka, who is far better than him, but he's even suffering from our style of play under Mikel.

The scary thing was seeing Noni open his legs & sprint, have space to run into, but only to stop in his tracks to pass backwards.

Another, just running out of the pitch. Another, having a clear option to go wide, but to instead cut inside into 3 defenders. He's not helped by us refusing to have proper fullbacks do no width there. Again, displayed the other night when we needed an overlap, but we stood still & passed sideways again.

He makes Martinelli look smart. That's saying something. 😂

15 Apr 2026 22:00:07
That was painful to watch.
No further comment.

15 Apr 2026 22:24:08.
Was we playing tonight, mate.
Didn't realise.

15 Apr 2026 22:32:53
Agreed, but on the positive side, we are in the semi finals for two consecutive seasons. Didn't have to play extra time, and we kept a clean sheet.
I have a feeling that, from the next game onwards, we will be a different team.

15 Apr 2026 19:23:01
COYG! Bit of pace up front and a statement game needed. Hopefully Eze stays forward. 4 CBs as normal….

Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres.

Subs: Kepa, Setford, White, Salmon, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Dudziak, Dowman, Trossard, Jesus, Havertz.

Let’s get them and get some momentum for the City game.

15 Apr 2026 07:39:16
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 32 - Quick Round Up

14 Apr 2026 16:12:51
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 32 - Quick Round Up

14 Apr 2026 12:06:02
Rice not in training. That would be a blow.

{Ed025's Note - it really would mate..

14 Apr 2026 15:32:00
Maybe he is being rested for the weekend. Whoever fills in should be able to do the job against Sporting.

14 Apr 2026 08:52:22
Tony Cascarino absolutely nailed it on Talksport.
He said what he cannot get his head round that we continually take risks playing back to Raya but won't take any risks when we are attacking.

{Ed025's Note - and hes spot on Bill..

14 Apr 2026 09:25:05
It's plainly visible to everyone except the manager and the players. I wonder if anyone feels concerned or raises this issue when they watch and analyse the game.

14 Apr 2026 12:07:01
If I was a senior player, I would be talking to Arteta and saying "this ain't working, mate".

{Ed025's Note - i would get all the players together and say.."listen lads just ignore what the manager says and just go out and express yourselves"..

14 Apr 2026 12:57:50
That's why I question the leadership on the bench & on the pitch. What does his number 2 see, but also what does Josh see.

14 Apr 2026 07:39:16
{Ed's Note - MK Scouser has posted a new article entitled, Slot, backing, and a big summer rebuild