Arsenal banter 7

13 Mar 2026 12:09:28
If you are talented you will play with anyone, not this. He plays better with so and so, they are all together in training.

Entitled Sal to you opinion but not having it. Sorry.

Maybe he needs a reality check and put him on the bench.

13 Mar 2026 15:59:05
I second that. He's been dreadful lately, and his goals and assists are nowhere near world class. We seemed more dangerous when Noni came on. As for him in a number 10, no thanks.

13 Mar 2026 16:33:08
Saka may just need some rest, he hasn't been in top form last few games. He definitely needs to be more impactful now that he is the top earner.
I would give Dowman the number 10 role. He was great against Mansfield. He can be replaced by Eze (or Ode when available) in the later part of the games.

13 Mar 2026 16:40:03
I don't think he has been the same since coming back from injury, Bill.

14 Mar 2026 09:18:29
I think that's a valid point, Sally, but he really needs to be aware of Gyokeres making runs, and he needs to get into the box more.

14 Mar 2026 12:07:51
Don't worry about Saka - he's quality. Funny how no one backed me pointing out how poor Ode was. But now Arteta has killed our attack; he has forwards defending and playing more naturally with our backs to goal, so that Saka is seen as an issue. It's our boss & his style of play. Look at Eze, look at the strikers (non-strikers) he buys. Look at the lack of fire we like in our captain. There is a lack of creativity because of Arteta. I'm not sure Saka is world class, but he is head and shoulders above Jesus, Vic, Kai, Martinelli, and Trossard. If they were all up for sale, which player would Real or City bid for if there was room in their team? Saka& Rice would be one & two.


Blame the boss, not one of our best players.
Blame the people that call him world class, which is a term only a few players in each position can hold. It's like the word celebrity or star. If a reality TV person is a celebrity, what the hell does that make Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt.
Sorry for the rant, but there are plenty other players & manager & people in the dugout to blame first, who celebrate winning a corner rather than getting a bit of play for a goal. We struggle scoring, so what do we do? Long throws & wrestling.

14 Mar 2026 16:45:00
SY4, the style of play is (potentially) gonna win us our first title in 20 years!! Saka, and only Saka, is to blame for poor form. It has nothing to do with Arteta or the coaches. Jesus Christ, we are gonna win our first title for 20 years and Arteta is still getting stick, pmsl.

If, and it's a big if, Arteta wins our only CL trophy, he will go down as one of our greatest managers, and people will still have a go l, can't please some people, hahahah.

12 Mar 2026 21:03:41
I've been thinking about our star boy's form and saw an interesting post.
It suggested he finds playing with White and Odegaard much easier, not so much with Timber and Eze. And he is limited now with his natural game, which is to cut back and go for goal. I believe this changing role, to try and find the striker, is stifling his talent.

13 Mar 2026 01:36:16
Sally, I agree that White and Odegaard made Saka shine. But, on the other hand, he's probably our best player (although now I wonder whether that might be Rice?) , and we can't make excuses for him. I liked Madueke's cameo, and with Dowman waiting for his shot, I think Saka needs to be pushed to add to his game.



I think we've talked about it before, but I really do have sympathy for Gyokeres, because he makes these runs to the back post when Saka has the ball, but the timing on the final cross is impossible for anyone but Saka to know.

13 Mar 2026 08:48:40
I've said this a few weeks ago. He's not world class, nowhere near, and he doesn't score enough goals, but that's my opinion. Some posters worship him. Madueke (spelling) is more dangerous when taking on players. I'm not saying he's better, his end product needs to be worked on, but at this moment in time I'd start him ahead of Saka.

Saka was awful on Weds. I agree with Gyokeres, if you just watch him when he's in frame he makes loads of runs and doesn't get service. It's annoying, lol, because he only needs a sniff at goal and he scores.

13 Mar 2026 11:54:40
Saka delivers better corners but Madueke dives better. Tough choice.

13 Mar 2026 12:05:27
Interesting note in the Guardian today suggests playing Saka as a No 10. Did he take that role in the cup game against Mansfield? It could be an option with Eze not exactly shining and Noni a considerable threat.

It could be a tinker too far at the business end of the season, but we cannot break open defences as we did in the opening half of the season.

13 Mar 2026 13:20:12
It's called an opinion, Iceman!

13 Mar 2026 13:52:19
I think Noni poses more of a threat because, simply, Saka has become too greedy, he has become frustrating to watch imo. Noni seems more willing to get into the box.

13 Mar 2026 17:58:03
Dublin, I wasn't having a dig at you. Every non-Arsenal fan seems to be saying that we are only winning because we cheat and score from corners, so I figured I'll just leave a quick joke about that. I have a feeling it wasn't all that funny.

14 Mar 2026 16:47:26
No worries, Ice, I don't care how we win. A win is a win, we havnt cheated by selling hotels to fund our spending like Chelsea and City have done illegally! We have earnt our titles fair and square, and I fecking love how it annoys the hell out of everyone! I would take a one nil win every game from an own goal or corner all day, every day.

12 Mar 2026 08:42:04
Just seen that Everton have the second best away form after us.

12 Mar 2026 11:55:02
And our home record isn't great recently. 😃
COYG!!!

12 Mar 2026 17:58:21
I don't expect any of these games to be pretty, but we just have to get the job done! These are games ordinarily we would be expected to win, but pressure does funny things! However, three points gives us a 10 point lead, with a tired City away at an in-form West Ham. Straws well and truly clutched! Where's my briefcase, COYG.

12 Mar 2026 18:52:30
Lol, Sussex mate,
I wrote earlier, we may have a bigger points gap at the end of this round of fixtures. Carabao Cup final will be interesting. We both would have played the second round of CL matches.

12 Mar 2026 07:25:42
I agree with Highbury, we just don't look like scoring in open play.

I have a concern that we will struggle to score more than 2 against the big boys, as we are playing now. Yes, we outplayed B Munich but we were in out pomp and very fresh.

We have to up the game now.

12 Mar 2026 08:02:52
Banbury, the thing that annoys me most is the constant sideways passing. It seems more important to retain possession than provide any threat!

12 Mar 2026 08:30:29
We definitely need to up our game for the business end, else it will again be the case of 'so close yet so far', and if we end up in that situation with nothing to show at the end of the season, next season will be very difficult.
We retain possession for the sake of it. Yesterday Gyokeres made a run, pointed to where he wanted the ball, but Rice took a touch, looked around, and then passed on the byline to Martinelli, who tried his 'trickery' and lost the ball on the edge of their box.

So annoying!
Hope we regroup, reenergise and get 3 points against Everton.

12 Mar 2026 14:49:34
Zubimendi made a great little run, same thing happened, it happens quite a lot, which is frustrating as hell.. Get the ball forward with pace, be quick and direct. We have the players to do it.. It's about having the minerals to do it.. COYG/VTH. 🔴⚪️❤️

11 Mar 2026 19:13:53
We are so rubbish today!

11 Mar 2026 20:06:07
Hi Bill, hope all's good. That was a frustrating watch tonight. Don't think any of our players deserved any more than a 6 out of 10. Passing was bad, movement bad. We were so predictable from start to finish. Thought we were lucky to come away with a 1-1 draw. Let's hope that's our bad Champions League match out of our system.

Return leg, we need to really up our levels or we are out. It's going to be tough. We've got to be all over them like a rash. The only positive I can say is, surely we can't play as bad in the 2nd leg. COYG/VTH. 🔴⚪️❤️

11 Mar 2026 20:22:34
Evening Highbury and Gabi, it wasn't a good look tonight, but, like all good sides, we got something out of it.
Hopefully a little rest and recharge for Everton on Saturday. Coyg.
👍❤️💪

11 Mar 2026 20:30:26
It's going to be very tense 2 months. We don't look like we are even trying to score from open play. 😂
But where there's hope there's a way!. 🤪

11 Mar 2026 20:43:00
We are playing so negative, scared to lose, which just piles on more pressure from the opposition. Something needs to change because this is not enjoyable to watch.

12 Mar 2026 10:06:53
Seems like the other PL teams were suffering with the same problem last night..

11 Mar 2026 10:59:32
Ed025, I dunno whether Arsenal are even standouts as worse offenders than other sides. I watched Everton the other day and I thought they were even more physical than what Gabriel and Saliba do. I would absolutely agree that Arsenal have catalysed the set piece change for the league -- corners went from a set piece with like 3% conversion to something like 8%, and what team wouldn't copy that? IMO the onus lies on the league and the officials to be clear about what is and is not acceptable. To my mind, the fact that they have not weighed in yet is an indication they believe what Arsenal does is absolutely fair.

As for the stuff about diving and holding their faces, I really have no idea why you'd single Arsenal out for this. I can't recall any of our players getting yellow for simulation or playacting to get someone else sent off.

To my mind, Arsenal are top of the league right now because they found a way to break down teams who don't set up to play attacking football against them. This has always been a problem, and I don't have anything against the clubs who do it, but you can't have it both ways. You can't accuse a club of ruining football when they have only resorted to this method to win against teams who are content to park 11 men in their own box.

{Ed025's Note - the catalyst for me Wire is that the standard of football in the whole league is dire mate, its not just Arsenal though but they are the ones who have used cheating as an art form especially at corners, throw ins and set pieces where they grapple and pull opponents constantly a lot of the time not even looking at the ball, its not all your fault though as its up to the referees and VAR to do something about it..but it would end up with you having only 4 players actually finishing the game as the rest would be sent off if they done their jobs properly, other teams are copying the Arsenal model now and even my beloved Everton have been guilty of Arsenalgate, but i do still want you to win the league even if it will go down as the worst one ever.. :)

11 Mar 2026 19:55:58
I'm all for the banning of fouling, blocking, holding, etc., in the box. I'm looking forward to an unimpeded Gabriel having a free run at it, with Deckers and Saka's delivery. He's quite good at it, even when being held, blocked, etc., at every corner, especially. All for it. Coyg.

12 Mar 2026 07:19:16
Set piece goals can vary in quality too. Many of them don't look good because of the "meat wall", but our first against Chelsea was fantastic.

Most of the teams are now very capable, at least physically, in addition to being tactically good enough to nullify their opponent's biggest threats.

If there was a shift towards outplaying the opposition, the quality might go up. As it stands, teams don't seem to think they would be very successful using such tactics.

I also think the way games are being refereed is having an impact, as written previously.

10 Mar 2026 20:23:13
Sp*rs being Sp*rsy.

11 Mar 2026 07:24:45
I actually feel bad for them. That was just pathetic on every level. Alvarez is some player, though. Arguably the better player than Haaland this season, which is some statement.

10 Mar 2026 17:02:04
Pep Guardiola has came out and said that this season’s Premier League is the toughest he’s known. For him to say that. Then the Arsenal and other teams must be doing something right. Also goes to show how much effort everyone at the Arsenal is putting in for us to be in the position we are… One game at a time. Coyg/Vth 🔴⚪️❤️.

11 Mar 2026 06:00:02
Couldn't agree more, Gabigoal. Onwards and upwards, I say. We are right up there with the best, and the results speak for themselves. We've got to land at least one or two trophies this season, as it's there for the taking! If we don't, then there will be a lot of questions asked, and Mikel Arteta will be on a knife's edge. Coyg!!

10 Mar 2026 06:14:18
Well, can't complain about the FA Cup draw again. We've had a kind two draws - now we need to take advantage of that as Mansfield proved to be a little harder than should have been. COYG

Hope you all and Eds have a smile on your face and a great week 👍.

10 Mar 2026 09:58:17
Yes, Sy, mate. The draws are certainly favourable, and it feels like we can achieve something this season. I also have a feeling that we will have good results this weekend in the PL, have a bigger points gap, and a trophy to head into the (unnecessary) international break.

10 Mar 2026 10:34:57
Hello Sy and Highbury, hope you are both well.
The draw wasn't bad, but we must pay the ultimate respect to Southampton and put out a strong side and play to our fullest capabilities.
COYG. 👍💪👍💪❤️❤️

10 Mar 2026 10:50:54
Of course, Bill, mate. All games from now on are important and to be taken seriously. On paper, all look winnable (at least to us fans) , but the team has to turn up and be professional up until the end of the season.

11 Mar 2026 06:02:11
True, Sy4, but remember Arteta didn't exactly field the strongest side for the Mansfield clash. That being said, he needs to go all out and show Southampton respect in order for the team and club to deliver.

08 Mar 2026 07:39:17
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, United Need A Savvy Summer To Build Depth

06 Mar 2026 11:34:41
I saw Ed25's comments about the style of play, and whilst I agree, I don't think Arteta has much option right now.

We've been vocally criticised under all of Artetas tenure by pundits and fans for being naive and not finding a way to win.
We've often played against 11 men behind the ball, which is within the laws of the game despite it not being fun to watch and limits the opportunity for free flowing football. The criticism of that is just that the game was slow or boring, not that the team doing it were doing anything to spoil the game - they were just being pragmatic.

I was fed-up watching us being stifled by low-block teams, and although I hoped we'd find a way to break them down mid game by a change of formation (e. g. 3412 with kai and Gyokeres up top, eze behind, Dec and zubi in the midfield with madueke and saka playing out wide to fire in crosses) but for whatever reason, formation change has not been tried. I still think we could and should at least try something very different tactic-wise but not holding my breath.

I don't want to win games of football by a single, scrappy rugby-style corner. Inhate anything that's seemingly unfair - holding, diving, fake injuries etc. That said, I hate watching an entire team sit behind the ball for 90 mins and either grind out a draw or worse, nick a goal and win it. And that's what I think caused our reliance in set-pieces and as it worked so we'll, sticking with it.

From the way football changes in style over the seasons based on what seems to work best (from 442, to 4231, 433 / Fabregas style players to much more physical amd athletic) perhaps someone will work out another style that will dominate and remove the opportunityfor low block teams and the reliance on corners, but I don't think there will be a move away from the current style organically.

For me, the best solution to improve the entertainment side of things are rule changes - but that needs to be both corners and open play.

Ultimately, City are playing more free-flowing football than us but have been beaten by teams worse than them, and aren't top. We're in pole position to win the league and that's what the fans have been demanding for years. If the low block is acceptable, I can't blame Arteta for being pragmatic, playing to our strengths and utilitising corners the way we do.

{Ed025's Note - finding a way to win is the main thing i suppose Jim, you are not the only team who are finding a way by fair means or foul to get a result mate but i dont have to like it, having seen a lot of great Arsenal sides i must admit the style does disappoint me (or should i say lack of) but hey ho, i want a date with Emilia Fox but thats not happening either.. :)

07 Mar 2026 22:44:11
Jim, Ed025 - I will say only that to form a complete picture of this Arsenal side, you need to watch the games against Leeds, Spurs, Villa, CL sides, etc. When the other team comes to play, it's fairly exciting football.

You do get the odd damp squib like against Brighton but look how far up the pitch they pressed. IMO there's a bit of selective reporting going on.

{Ed025's Note - i suppose its how you see things on a personal level Wire, im a bit of a football snob and like to watch skillful fast flowing play from teams who get me off my seat and entertain me, the Liverpool team under Klopp, the Utd side under Fergie and the Arsenal side under Wenger, i hate the way football is heading now where set plays corners and throw-ins are deciding the result mate, add to that the pushing, pulling at grappling in the box and players rolling around holding their faces when they get tackled...its all getting a bit much for me i must admit, Arsenal have taken that to a new level this season and you either cant or dont want to see it, are you the only ones?..NO, but two wrongs have never made a right..