Yes they were pedestrian as shit for long portions
Now connect the dots…why do you think they developed such a reliance on set pieces? Is it maybe because they became predictable in open play when in possession?
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Isn’t that more of a problem with the tactics as such and not the personnel.
I’m not disagreeing with you that Rice is better served as a deeper midfielder.
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And there was always a large element of our attacking play which was predictable.
The difference between arsenal and us was that we struck through with our principles to the end and got the benefits.
Arteta took the easy way out and developed a borderline illegal strategy to shithouse some points and wins and lost out on the overall picture.
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So maybe adding a more technical possession based player back into the midfield is part of the path to getting back to where they were before they took this diversion you dont like.
Your various arguments here are very difficult to connect with each other. Im not saying you are wrong, Im just saying you dont seem to agree with yourself.
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I would say after watching him in La Liga that if they need someone to take penalties he is a decent signing but he has left me as unsure as our goalie.
Let’s put it this way if you asked me whether id want to buy him this summer I’d say no.
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Seeing you describe him like that, reminds me of a player we once offered the same amount of money for, if not more, under peak Edwards, before the move collapsed and we didn’t go back in for him again, even when the opportunity was there.
Step forward Nabil Fekir.
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Not bothered who they sign… They are all playing catch-up :0)
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He’s a good player and will be an upgrade on a fading, and departing, Jorginho. Having said that, Zubimendi won’t move the dial for them too consequentially. They need more.
As far as I can tell, there are two main obstacles for Arsenal to overcome, if they want to be champions.
-
Mentality
Winners win. They overcome obstacles. Everyone has adversity, it’s a fact of life, but only the best will overcome it to achieve their objectives. There are growing question marks over Arsenal in this department. How many times have we heard about their injuries? How many times do they keep going on about PGMOL? In both cases they have had a point. It’s not as though those things have not been issues. But Arsenal have allowed them to become roadblocks, and Arteta in particular seems to be especially guilty. Mentality is key. Does he have the capacity to rise above adversity and lead his expensively assembled, and talented squad, to the title? Let’s see, but on the evidence so far, he is getting a reputation as a nearly man. -
Striker
If the mentality is not addressed, no amount of recruitment will make them champions. But looking at the playing side, they need a reliable striker who will stick the ball in the back of the net for them. They are very good in all departments until you get to the striker, and at that point there are question marks, and they are nearly-men. If they sort out a top striker, they will be that more dangerous again.
They need more in attack the problem is they’ve now become quite defensive they are going have to switch.
We had 4 weeks off because Arsenal couldn’t sustain any sort of form. The emphasis was on them to challenge and they didn’t even get within single digits.
Crazy thing is without signings our squad has ways to improve but we are making three quality players who add depth and upgrade with possibly a few more to come.
We ironically stayed still and won the title, these players I think if we get just the rumoured three will make us better.
The emphasis is not only to get back to where they were but overtake a side that can easily top 90 points.
I’ve grown tired of people shitting the bed when our challenger teams buy anyone.
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Still like ol’ Terry 'enry.
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- LegoMan. They need to replace his negativity and non winner mentality.
I lost all respect for him with that handball against Ireland.
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They definitely don’t need a striker. They would have walked the league if Saka and Havertz didn’t get injured
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Yeah, they would have hit 29 goals and 18 assists…each. 
They were still in the league when Saka came back and we increased our lead only to win it and sack 4 games off. They would have been closer but Havertz couldn’t hit a barn door at times before he was injured.
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Posting this just to laugh at the Arse.
They’re 3rd in both the combined total, and the English trophies won…but the self-professed “best team in Europe” not only got kicked out at the CL semis in the latest edition, they ranked a lowly 9th among all English clubs at UEFA and FIFA competitions, garnering a miserable booty of 2 middling pieces* of gleaming chattels.
*The Cup Winners Cup and Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
Last updated on 28 May 2025.
English men’s clubs by FIFA and UEFA honours won|Club|UCL|UEL|UECL|USC|ICFC|UCWC|UIC|IC|FCWC|Total|
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
|Liverpool|6|3|—|4|—|—|—|—|1|14|
|Chelsea|2|2|1|2|—|2|—|—|1|10|
|Manchester United|3|1|—|1|—|1|—|1|1|8|
|Manchester City|1|—|—|1|—|1|—|—|1|4|
|Tottenham Hotspur|—|3|—|—|—|1|—|—|—|4|
|Nottingham Forest|2|—|—|1|—|—|—|—|—|3|
|Aston Villa|1|—|—|1|—|—|1|—|—|3|
|West Ham United|—|—|1|—|—|1|1|—|—|3|
|Arsenal|—|—|—|—|1|1|—|—|—|2|
|Leeds United|—|—|—|—|2|—|—|—|—|2|
|Newcastle United|—|—|—|—|1|—|1|—|—|2|
|Ipswich Town|—|1|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|1|
|Everton|—|—|—|—|—|1|—|—|—|1|
|Fulham|—|—|—|—|—|—|1|—|—|1|
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Me too.
Wayne Rooney left Everton, got married, had 3 kids, won 16 trophies, went bald, had a hair transplant, became Man United’s top goalscorer, returned to Everton, left Everton to go to the MLS, became manager of Derby, got relegated, left to become Birmingham manager, got sacked and became manager of Plymouth, got sacked and became a pundit and Arsenal still haven’t won the Premier League.
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