13 Jan 2025 23:25:42
Evening

Enjoyed reading a lot of the posts and info from the eds. And know that quite a few people are level headed about the situation at the moment.

For those that aren't or for those that need a bit of reassurance.

We went through this last season, people calling us boring arsenal, questioning what has happened to us and saying we had lost our attacking threat, a striker was needed.

I am not denying that a gyokores or isak wouldn't have finished the chances we created over the last two games. However the managers job is to create those chances the conversion is down to the player or players.

A short time after we were discussing the need for stickers, goals and more attack we went on an amazing run that meant we were serious title contenders. Some things may differ this season such as the loss of saka, Jesus and havertz being in poor form, but havertz has been in poor form for us previously and we have turned it around, we have lost key players like saka (oodegard and Saliba) and maintained challenges. We can overcome these challenges.

Didn't Ferguson's united always start slow, but if the were in with a chance a Xmas that's all that mattered. That is mentality more than players just look at some of the players he won the last time with.

Yes we may need some reinforcements. I don't believe this is news to you, Arteta or the board. But we have to trust that the people (be it players coaches or back room staff) that have got us this far can get us further in the long term or at least sustain out challenge I the short term.


1.) 14 Jan 2025
14 Jan 2025 09:19:52
I am not denying that a gyokores or isak wouldn't have finished the chances we created over the last two games. However the managers job is to create those chances the conversion is down to the player or players.

Really? I thought it was the players that created the chances for other players who convert them. We have players creating chances (23 shots in that Newcastle game) , and not a one who could convert. Players created chances in the Manu game, and we didn't have a player that could convert them.

Imagine the morale of these players creating all these chances having to then walk away with little or nothing to show for it.

Asking for faith and trust is easy, but the people you're asking to trust need to see that their trust is nor misplaced. It certainly feels misplaced when, instead of the striker we needed, we get Sterling, Merino, Califiori.

I'm at a loss as to how any of these 3 have strengthened us. This sort of stuff can easily ebb away at "trust".


2.) 14 Jan 2025
14 Jan 2025 09:43:07
Trouble is we are in January and let's be fair we are out of both domestic cups, it's a monumental effort to win the league or CL with the current injury situation.

We always seem to say " next season "

Serious question, how much longer does Arteta have.


3.) 14 Jan 2025
14 Jan 2025 11:15:46
Hi Banbury mate good to see you posting again.

In answer to your question I'd say let's see where we finish in May, if it's top 2 again I feel Arteta has earned the right to carry on but if we have gone backwards by the time the season ends then obviously it's only reasonable that questions are asked about the managers future.


4.) 14 Jan 2025
14 Jan 2025 12:20:45
Hey Rshape

I understand where you are coming from however In my opinion it's the system that Arteta sets up that creates the chances, this is obviously well practiced (too much some would say) . The conversion is down to so many things that can't be practiced (weather, atmosphere, opposition the factors are endless and sometimes seem ridiculous) . If anyone believes that kai or any other player can't put a ball in the back of the net from 5 yards out they are wrong, I could do that, my man could do that even my dog could.

What the players are struggling to do at the moment is convert those opportunities with our situation as it is, whether it's the goal to get us through to the next round, close the gap on Liverpool or physical and emotional fatigue build up after two seasons. I am hoping that the planned mid season break has the same effect as last season and allows physical and mental reset resulting in a monumental end to the season.


5.) 14 Jan 2025
14 Jan 2025 12:55:43
Hi Ben hope alls well. are you or your nan available for the rest of the season and what’s the release clause on your dog…? … we are crying out for strikers. ARSENAL/ TILL I DIE. ?⚪️❤️ VTH… #BANTZ ??.


6.) 14 Jan 2025
14 Jan 2025 13:15:24
????.


7.) 15 Jan 2025
15 Jan 2025 00:43:41
I just want to say: Calafiori is an excellent long-term signing.

I agree that the transfer window wasn't what we wanted, but let's not toss this guys name in with poor signings. The guy has everything, its just a shame he and others have had injuries and meant nobody could get a run in.

I also don't love how everyone has turned on Trossard. He came in and gave us 10 assists in half a season. Next season he gave us more goals and assists than Martinelli, Nelson and Nketiah combined. Alright he isn't the BEST, but he's a great squad player.

A team isn't all superstars, its 2-4 stars with a solid team around them. People who can step in and out and do a job. We can still want new players without dragging our existing ones through the mud.


8.) 15 Jan 2025
15 Jan 2025 10:17:10
I tossed in Calafiori's name for exactly the reason you're stating. He's not what we needed. And when we have needed him, well . he's been injured. He may have had everything, but he's not really been tested in this league.

We were close on two occasions, and we just needed that little something up front that, maybe, could have seen us over the line. Instead we get reinforcements in areas of the pitch where we didn't really need them.

I'm not knocking Trossard. Somewhere in there is a very decent footballer - he's shown us that. Something is off with him this season. Something is off with a few of our players in terms of form.

Not sure anyone is asking for superstars. What people are generally saying is:

1. Go back to that swahsbuckling football of last season
2. Stop playing players out of position
3. Buy a fecking striker already

Also, as an aside, if anyone genuinely cares to help me, I'd like to understand what superstar, in the context of football, means. I mean obviously Messi and Ronaldo. Is Mbappe a superstar? So basically any player that top teams would covet? Is that it?


9.) 15 Jan 2025
15 Jan 2025 10:25:29
Ben, they're not trying to land F-35's mate. They're goal is to stick a ball in a very large net. I get that all those things come into play, but not really at the scale at which you're suggesting.

"Natural finisher", or even "he's a goal scorer" are about because there are people who train their whole lives to get the ball in the net. Kai is not one of these people. He's not a striker.

{Ed001's Note - exactly Sharpie - Robbie Fowler gets called the most natural finisher Liverpool have ever had and he hates that. He finds that offensive because he worked incredibly hard on his finishing, not just doing the normal training, but staying behind to practice after the rest of the players had gone in for a shower etc. Surely Havertz could put in an hour or so a day? Not like he isn't being paid enough to think it worthwhile making that little extra bit of effort is it? Does he not have personal pride in his work?}


10.) 15 Jan 2025
15 Jan 2025 12:08:48
Ed001, it's madness isn't it? We're literally making up excuses now for people who are earning millions a year, instead of holding them accountable and demanding a little more. At the end of the day, these are "professional" athletes. If they're not out there honing their skills so that wind, mud, and opposition become less impactful barriers, then what's the point?

{Ed001's Note - I really don't get it mate. They expect our sympathy when things aren't going well but aren't prepared to put in a little bit more work for it. They are being paid more than enough for what they are contracted to do, surely it is not too much to ask them to maybe do a bit extra off their own back to make themselves better? A bit like those people in every job who do courses in their off time to get promotions. There are those who just do enough and get nowhere, then there are those who go that little bit further in everything they do and succeed. Which does Havertz want to be?}