Premier League 2024/25: Our Title Charge

[Rasmi]

Fine. And we're betting our avis?

Let me think about this. I will come back.

 

[Batman]

No. His avi is mine.

You can choose his tagline.

See this is part of the reason I think I didn't pursue a bet with him in the first place because I knew I would be behind you and @A_G in the queue when he loses all of them.

 

[Batman]

Let me think about this. I will come back.

We're going to have to have a discussion because if you lose all 3 of your bets then there may not be enough suitable avenues for you to pay up. @db10_therza called dibs on your avi, I'm behind @A_G as well in the queue so we have to think about how you can satisfy all 3 obligations when you inevitably get swept.

 

[Rasmi]

We're going to have to have a discussion because if you lose all 3 of your bets then there may not be enough suitable avenues for you to pay up. @db10_therza called dibs on your avi, I'm behind @A_G as well in the queue so we have to think about how you can satisfy all 3 obligations when you inevitably get swept.

One is not making top 2. The other one is Liverpool finishing ahead of us. I’m very confident on both bets

 

[HagnSprayGooners]

It’s the bare minimum to win the league mate.

Is it possible? It is yes, however it needs us to become more fluid in our attack and rigid in defence.

We need to integrate Nwaneri more I feel. His dynamic play between the lines is going to give us a new dimension in our attack, and help unlock that left side.

In defence, we need Rice back in front of our CBs, his anticipation and managing of dangerous spaces in the opposition zone 14 is second to none.

Well the club needs something in January as well I feel.

They want an elite winger then go drop £100M on Kvara or Leao.

 

[El Duderino]

Find it hard to believe the club will manage a 100m signing in January.

We've tried with Caicedo and Mudryk and came up empty.

I'm positive our name will be used to drum up interest (Vlahovics agent certainly will), but the players we want are all likely playing for teams who are also fighting for something and unless they are unwelcomed at their respective clubs...

We will trim the squad further with Zinchenko and possibly Kiwior leaving and probably call it quits.

My copium outlook is maybe we push for something outside an opportunistic buy if we recover on the PL and have a real fighting chance, can see Mikel getting and/or pushing for backing if thats the case.

 

[HagnSprayGooners]

Find it hard to believe the club will manage a 100m signing in January.

We've tried with Caicedo and Mudryk and came up empty.

I'm positive our name will be used to drum up interest (Vlahovics agent certainly will), but the players we want are all likely playing for teams who are also fighting for something and unless they are unwelcomed at their respective clubs...

We will trim the squad further with Zinchenko and possibly Kiwior leaving and probably call it quits.

My copium outlook is maybe we push for something outside an opportunistic buy if we recover on the PL and have a real fighting chance, can see Mikel getting and/or pushing for backing if thats the case.

It's tough to do but a necessity. We kept powder dry in the summer and have the ability to improve the squad now.

 

[Batman]

One is not making top 2. The other one is Liverpool finishing ahead of us. I’m very confident on both bets

Right but your confidence does not change the fact that if you were to lose all 3 bets, your ability to pay all 3 simultaneously is in question. I'm only betting with you presently so my sig or avi can be up for grabs with nobody else having claim to them because I'm not making any other wagers. If you were to lose all 3, you would need to satisfy your first 2 bets with your sig and avi and then we would need to find something else for you to satisfy the third with. Do you understand what I'm saying? You may believe you're not going to lose all 3 but there has to be an established protocol for what happens if you do lose all 3.

 

[SA Gunner]

Despite Merino's cameo against Chelsea, which was quite encouraging, I dont think he forms part of our best midfield.

Our best midfield does need more boldness from Arteta, and that boldness involves the playing of two 8/10 profiles higher up, Ødegaard and Nwaneri, with Rice sitting in the six. Ødegaard and Nwaneri then alternate in dropping deeper and progressing play, with the other 8/10 remaining higher up to connect with the attack.

Something like this...

Nwaneri ---- Ødegaard
---------Rice (Merino)

This has both good ground cover with a defensive 3 in Gabriel--Rice--Saliba, as well as naturally rotating wide areas (Calafiori -- Martinelli --- Nwaneri ) and ( Ødegaard -- Saka -- Timber ). Rice would need to back up both triangles as a fourth man though, depending on where the ball is.

Thoughts?

 

[Goonger]

Despite Merino's cameo against Chelsea, which was quite encouraging, I dont think he forms part of our best midfield.

Our best midfield does need more boldness from Arteta, and that boldness involves the playing of two 8/10 profiles higher up, Ødegaard and Nwaneri, with Rice sitting in the six. Ødegaard and Nwaneri then alternate in dropping deeper and progressing play, with the other 8/10 remaining higher up to connect with the attack.

Something like this...

Nwaneri ---- Ødegaard
---------Rice (Merino)

This has both good ground cover with a defensive 3 in Gabriel--Rice--Saliba, as well as naturally rotating wide areas (Calafiori -- Martinelli --- Nwaneri ) and ( Ødegaard -- Saka -- Timber ). Rice would need to back up both triangles as a fourth man though, depending on where the ball is.

Thoughts?

I can understand long term that might be the thinking, but I don't think it's an absolute necessity to move to it in the short term.

I agree with you about Merino's cameo, I thought it gave a nice snapshot of what he can offer the team in that left 8 role.

I think we can try out Stage 1 if you like, which would be the team I think Mikel envisaged which had a Rice - Merino - Ødegaard midfield.

I'd like to see that midfield now that Ødegaard is back supported by hopefully fully fit Calafiori and Timber at full backs (as I think we've been playing with full backs with the handbrake on a bit because of fitness issues as the White news today suggests) and they can provide more of an attacking threat but still have the balance of duel winning and defensive security.

I think then if we still have issues then 'Stage 2' might be to introduce Nwaneri as a more attack minded left 8. That allows us the flexibility for an extra adjustment if necessary.

 

[OnlyOne]

Ben White out for 12 weeks.

I concede the title AM. I thought we’d win by a good margin but the injuries are not slowing down. You can deal when it’s long term for a player here or there but it’s player after player.

Nevermind. I guess we win the league when Peps gone. Shame.

Also shoutout to the club for signing crap like Calafiori who can’t stay fit, keeping and extending crap like Tomi who can’t stay fit. Keeping Zinny who can’t stay fit.

Then running a player who’s had a huge ACL injury into the ground and just smashing Ben White into every game.

Nice. Let’s focus on top 4 and a cup and call it a decent season.

 

[HattoriHanzo]

Ben White out for 12 weeks.

I concede the title AM. I thought we’d win by a good margin but the injuries are not slowing down. You can deal when it’s long term for a player here or there but it’s player after player.

Nevermind. I guess we win the league when Peps gone. Shame.

Also shoutout to the club for signing crap like Calafiori who can’t stay fit, keeping and extending crap like Tomi who can’t stay fit. Keeping Zinny who can’t stay fit.

Then running a player who’s had a huge ACL injury into the ground and just smashing Ben White into every game.

Nice. Let’s focus on top 4 and a cup and call it a decent season.

We had a good chance last season, not so many injuries (only Timber and Partey) and we failed.

 

[SA Gunner]

Good video, deserves a watch I feel

 

[HattoriHanzo]

Good video, deserves a watch I feel

It does, especially last 5 minutes where the quy explains why Kroenkes are not worried about lack of trophies at this moment.

 

[blaze_of_glory]

We had a good chance last season, not so many injuries (only Timber and Partey) and we failed.

Most wins in club history and second most points while taking four points off the champions is hardly a fail. Any single other team managing a draw with City over the last three months and we win the league doing nothing different.

 

[El Realista]

I think you're very wrong. If Arteta didn't change anything to do with culture we wouldn't have gone toe to toe with City within 2 years of Arteta being our manager.

Fans are fickle, no win in 4 and now suddenly people conveniently forget what happened last season and the season before.

If the culture has not changed then why do 95% of us fans now EXPECT a title? I don't know about you but I did not even consider that before Arteta arrived.

Tell me since when we haven't expected a title. I remember everyone expected that from Wenger even when we built a new damn stadium and he couldn't spend like the Lego man.

 

[avenellroad]

Two things need to come back to this team. Defensive solidity and organisation, as well as attacking fluidity.

Two players come to mind, and Arteta must be bold with this. Ethan Nwaneri as our left #8 and Declan Rice as our #6. Merino and TP can be our depth and tactical options.

This is the team I want to see Mikel, are you ready to do this?

martinelli --- havertz --- saka
--------nwaneri ---- Ødegaard
----------------rice
cala ---gabriel ----- saliba ---- timber
----------------raya

Arteta is too risk averse to go with that type of team. He’s completely killed the creative potential of this team with his need for control.

 

[db10_therza]

Right but your confidence does not change the fact that if you were to lose all 3 bets, your ability to pay all 3 simultaneously is in question. I'm only betting with you presently so my sig or avi can be up for grabs with nobody else having claim to them because I'm not making any other wagers. If you were to lose all 3, you would need to satisfy your first 2 bets with your sig and avi and then we would need to find something else for you to satisfy the third with. Do you understand what I'm saying? You may believe you're not going to lose all 3 but there has to be an established protocol for what happens if you do lose all 3.

 

[HagnSprayGooners]

Tell me since when we haven't expected a title. I remember everyone expected that from Wenger even when we built a new damn stadium and he couldn't spend like the Lego man.

You expected a title when we were challenging for top 4 and knew that every time we went to a big away game we would get smashed? Just no.

 

[Kav]

With all due respect, I think you’re falling for all the talking points and buzzwords out there to be honest.

Of course we have problems, but not looking closely at the situation is something that’s for the media and non Arsenal supporters out there. It’s imperative that we as supporters look at the details.

We’ve dropped in our performances. Lack of central access, the stop start nature of our left side and it not being able to settle, the absence of key players and players dropping out in key moments due to injury or suspension (including red cards) all contribute to this.

But let’s also add in one of the hardest starts in Europe this season. Away to City, Inter, Atalanta, Villa, Sp**s, Newcastle and soon Chelsea. I’d throw Bournemouth in there as well. Home with 10 men against Brighton, a patched up defense against Liverpool. All navigated with a stop start team throughout.

Adaptation was needed, and yes we can question the level of adaptation, and how it’s destroyed our attacking game. But we must do all this with the context of our season in mind as well.

Allow the team to get back to full fitness and for our tactical plans for the season to bed in and come to life before dismissing the team and manager and our chances this season. There is still time to get back to our best.

I’m laughing at the fixture list excuse. Every team plays the same opponents in the league. Sure some games can be more difficult than others in terms of the quality and form of the opposition but ultimately all of the teams play the same number of games and the same opponents. That is what contributes to the fairness of the competition. This is just an excuse being used by some to complain. People just want to complain and find fault instead of looking inwards. If the team is good enough it will win. Simple.

Did we not win games during the course of this difficult fixture list as you put it? So if we are good enough to win those games why can’t you admit that we were not good enough when we lost?

Instead of blaming the fixture list look at the players and managers and coaching staff and medical department. If the players are getting a lot of injuries then questions need to be asked about what if anything is being done differently, if none of the variables have changed then it’s just a part of the game and we should have contingencies in place. Is that not why we have a squad?

I think you're very wrong. If Arteta didn't change anything to do with culture we wouldn't have gone toe to toe with City within 2 years of Arteta being our manager.

Fans are fickle, no win in 4 and now suddenly people conveniently forget what happened last season and the season before.

If the culture has not changed then why do 95% of us fans now EXPECT a title? I don't know about you but I did not even consider that before Arteta arrived.

Maybe those fans are delusional like you!

Also have you asked 95% of Arsenal fans what they expect? How did you arrive at this figure? … You made it up didn’t you!

This is not the transfer thread you can’t just make stuff up and post it.

Fine, but that doesn't mean you can't set one up now

Instigator

Ben White out for 12 weeks.

I concede the title AM. I thought we’d win by a good margin but the injuries are not slowing down. You can deal when it’s long term for a player here or there but it’s player after player.

Nevermind. I guess we win the league when Peps gone. Shame.

Also shoutout to the club for signing crap like Calafiori who can’t stay fit, keeping and extending crap like Tomi who can’t stay fit. Keeping Zinny who can’t stay fit.

Then running a player who’s had a huge ACL injury into the ground and just smashing Ben White into every game.

Nice. Let’s focus on top 4 and a cup and call it a decent season.

You fickle prick.