RealGunner wrote:Really can't see us beating Chelsea

I couldn't see you guys beating us in 2017, but you did.

I thought we'd lose in Baku, but we didn't.

Honestly can't pick which way it will go, and I am pumped.


Either way, a fantastic young manager will win their first trophy.

On the basis of how the past two matches went and how well Chelsea are playing, I really don't see us winning the FA cup.

We let Watford control the game after the three goals and if Welbeck's back heel was a little stronger, the match would have been completely different. You could see it on Arteta's face

come on guys, these last two games were dead rubbers

nowhere near the same level of focus and commitment we showed vs City

https://le-grove.co.uk/2020/07/27/you-cant-coach-character-huge-summer-wake-up-call-for-arteta/

I agree with this article, it is a huge character problem that has been widely ignored for years and is quite visible at times during Arteta's reign

Cup Final day!!!

Lads have to turn up, no excuses!

sigh

Martinez; Holding, Luiz, Tierney; Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles; Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang.

expected line up

Congratulations lads!

have to log in for this, WE WON GUYS. GRATS ALL

congratulations boyyyyyyys. I was perhaps most positive heading into this final than the rest here. But this is ours. This our Cup. This is the Arteta era. Let's kick it up from here on in. Onwards and upwards!!!!!

141414

Already first trophy for Arteta
Auba making up for some of his previous big game short comings

LADSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Auba dropping the trophy during the presentation was peak Arsenal 2020. Bumbling our way to success.

Even after going a goal down early, I felt we were in the game. The team came up with a performance when they needed to, led by the brilliant Auba.

I'm so lucky to have seen four FA Cup wins in the last seven years. This one ranks at the best for me.

Jay29 wrote:Auba dropping the trophy during the presentation was peak Arsenal 2020. Bumbling our way to success.

Even after going a goal down early, I felt we were in the game. The team came up with a performance when they needed to, led by the brilliant Auba.

I'm so lucky to have seen four FA Cup wins in the last seven years. This one ranks at the best for me.

Worst season in decades and still won it. Just incredible.

An absolutely incredible win. Everything about it.

Martinez deserves this the most. Guy has been through so much. Tremendous keeper. Teams would be looking at him to buy for 100m if he was at a top club. I mean the way he comes and collect the ball is almost erotic. We have had Almunia, Fabianski, Mannone, Szczesny, Cech all fumble in the year for decades. This guy eases the pressure. Unreal commanding. Ronaldo of GKs.

Martinez left his family in Argentina at 17 to earn a living. Toughed it out at the club for 10 years and is our longest serving player. Dude was in tears after the whistle.

I don't know what the future holds for him now Leno is fit again, but I'm so glad for him.

well i would say let him keep that spot in the team, until he warrants to be dropped.

While Leno is great too, Martinez is more complete just by commanding the box with so more much authority.

Hopefully our No 1 for the next 5 years

Also what a performance again by XHAKA. He had a disaster of first 10 minutes but he absolutely does not hide. Guy came back stronger than ever. I hope he signs a new contract and retires with us. Greatest mentality in football.

To those of you who followed the season more closely: what turned it around for Xhaka? I heard the comms say it is after Arteta talked to him and paired him with Ceballos. Was that it?

What happened to Torreira btw? I remm being hyped when he was signed.. (I already gathered from the press that Guendouzi's attitude is shite)

Jay29 wrote:Martinez left his family in Argentina at 17 to earn a living. Toughed it out at the club for 10 years and is our longest serving player. Dude was in tears after the whistle.

I don't know what the future holds for him now Leno is fit again, but I'm so glad for him.

I agree with RG, I hope he keeps the spot and Leno has to earn it back from him.

Jay29 wrote:
I'm so lucky to have seen four FA Cup wins in the last seven years. This one ranks at the best for me.

Word!

Sri wrote:To those of you who followed the season more closely: what turned it around for Xhaka? I heard the comms say it is after Arteta talked to him and paired him with Ceballos. Was that it?

What happened to Torreira btw? I remm being hyped when he was signed.. (I already gathered from the press that Guendouzi's attitude is shite)

correct on Xhaka.

Torreira is struggling with the pace of the PL. Too small, second to most 50/50s, and not tough enough as we thought he would be unfortunately.

Sri wrote:To those of you who followed the season more closely: what turned it around for Xhaka? I heard the comms say it is after Arteta talked to him and paired him with Ceballos. Was that it?

What happened to Torreira btw? I remm being hyped when he was signed.. (I already gathered from the press that Guendouzi's attitude is shite)

Initially, it was Xhaka-Torreira in the middle. Torreira played the role of deep collector in the build-up while Xhaka dropped to the left to become an auxiliary LCB/LB. Saka was always available on the left flank so Xhaka had an easy pass while also having the specific task of protecting that flank. Playing deeper also allowed Xhaka to face the play more and avoid situations where he had to turn to avoid being pressed, which masked a lot of his weaknesses.

Torreira then had his ankle fractured vs Portsmouth in the FA Cup so Ceballos came in. Post lockdown we switched to the 3-4-3 and played a far more conservative type of football. Ceballos helped because he tends to be available for an easy pass and puts a shift in defensively, so Arsenal could play out from the back and defend well in numbers. Playing this way meant spending a lot of time in our half without the ball, so Xhaka didn't have to stray very far from his position.

Overall, Arteta has done a good job of supporting Xhaka by giving him less ground to cover and better support.

As for Torreira, we're seeing more of his limitations. He's a brave player with a great engine, but his passing has been limited, and he's often been a fraction too late on tackles due to a lack of sharpness and pace. There have been reports of him being home sick as well.

Thanks Jay.

Would be great if we could keep Xhaka/Ceballos/Torreira ticking next season, instead of having to spend on a new player to cover that part of the pitch is what I am taking away from this. But that shouldn't preclude an attempt to improve.

Having hardly watched any games, its rather hard for me to gauge where we lack or what we need to find in the transfer market with hardly any budget and with (again) some deadwood eating up wages - our perennial issue now.

we still need to negotiate a deal for Ceballos if he is to stay, lots of talk of another one year loan deal. There's been rumours about getting Thomas Partey from Atletico, he will definitely be an improvement on Torreira.

our midfield has been our biggest issue this season, not the best balance at all with the current players we have. And of course defensively we still lack on-field quality as well. That road to the FA Cup win was purely on Arteta coming in and concocting the best gameplan to win us these games, but make no mistake, we still don't have the quality in players and depth to make it back to the top 4.