The 2021/22 Season

Still BUZZING.

Such character this team showed to bounce back from a grave error. It doesn't get much more difficult than breaking down a solid team like Wolves who haven't lost from a winning position this season.

Feels like a marker thrown down. Lots left to play for but the gravity of that result cannot be understated for this young team.

Enjoy your weekends, friends. That was fun.

MJ wrote:

El Gunner wrote:so Arteta said he think Smith Rowe could work as a 9... thoughts? I mean i think he is a smart enough player to warrant the opportunity if it comes around, but that would take away his best attribute, especially against teams that sit back with a deep block, which is those driving runs.

It's an interesting one. Strikers are the hardest to buy, and it's definitely tantalizing to imagine Martinelli, ESR, Saka and Odegaard all in at the same time, bouncing around and exchanging positions.

Our wingers do not exchange position at all. They've been told to hug the touchline and stretch the play. This is one reason we struggle to break down low blocks. The wingers always cut in on their strong foot into traffic, or cross to no-one.

We definitely need more interchanging and freedom of our attacking players.

Think it depends on the situation and the opponent. Against Wolves for example, when Pepe came on, Saka switched to the left and Martinelli has had spells this season where he cuts in centrally or, like yesterday, where he's tasked with hugging the line which isn't his strong suit imo.

If there's anything Arteta seems to value in players it's versatility which is why the striker we sign will be so interesting for what it implies our favored styles will be.

this is so vital! we lacked these type of characters since the Invincibles

Another massive three points that take us 4th for the moment. Vital given United and Spurs are playing today and tomorrow, and that Wolves and West Ham lost.

Three sensational goals from Odegaard, Saka and Martinelli. Lacazette's role as a facilitator was on full display with the two assists he provided. Arteta's alertness as a ball boy is an underrated facet of his elite understanding of the game.

Lost control of the game at key moments and let Watford back in. They're more dangerous on the counter than their record would suggest. Just goes to show that there are very few 'weak' teams in the PL. Anyone can get got at any point.

Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli on the score sheet. Does it get any better for this young team than to see those three lead the way?

This team WANTS it, and it shows.

Last 10 games:
8 wins
1 draw (Burnley)
1 loss (City)

Up next, Leicester at home. Looking stronger by the match.

defense looked a bit shaky last two games though... they gotta get that right, but yes, really positive overall lately. Let's keep this going!

Yeah, some lapses in concentration from Xhaka and our defense overall that weren't helpful.

Tierney hasn't looked great defensively recently either.

Cedric has been solid but looking forward to having Tomiyasu back.

Top 4 back in our hands.

Imagine if we pull off Ivan Toney and Gabriel Jesus as striker recruitment this coming window... that's gotta be good right.

PS: @RG pm Jay so that he can come back and tell him not to take my critical/negative convictions/opinions too seriously when the team is doing bad
this section is dead without him

I doubt he left because of that. Must just be busy in real life.

If only we had won at least 2/3 of those matches against Brighton and Palace. We'd be celebrating right now. But we never make things easy for ourselves do we?

Beating chelsea and united back to back is good though. However many tricky games left. Newcastle is in great form. West Ham are a great team. Spurs away is always difficult.

We absolutely cannot lose to spurs

Yea... good old 6-pointer vs Spurs
Hopefully Frankfurt gets most of WHU's attention

cryin

On the losses, it is what it is. Would be nice to have those 9 points but who knows, in another world where we do get them, maybe Spurs don't drop points vs Brighton, Brentford and we don't beat Chelsea and United.

5 games left and it's in our hands. Incredible given where we started the season. Feels unbelievably nervy and tenuous. One game at a time, friends!

West Ham up next: we're their 3rd match in a run where they play 4 in 12 days, 2 of which are the EL semi-finals.

They are in atrocious form, dealing with injuries, suspensions and rotation with the EL semi-final looming. Their 1st leg could determine how distracted they are when we play them.

Feels like Tomiyasu coming back in could be very important if he can find his legs quickly. Cedric and Nuno were very suspect vs United and made our back line and distribution shaky.

I'd be inclined to either drop Cedric for Tomi straight up or slot Cedric in at LB if we're being extra cautious.

yea Cedric at LB for Nuno imo, at least Cedric is somewhat better and more experienced

MJ wrote:West Ham up next: we're their 3rd match in a run where they play 4 in 12 days, 2 of which are the EL semi-finals.

They are in atrocious form, dealing with injuries, suspensions and rotation with the EL semi-final looming. Their 1st leg could determine how distracted they are when we play them.

Sounds like a West Ham win then!

El Gunner wrote:yea Cedric at LB for Nuno imo, at least Cedric is somewhat better and more experienced

while that makes sense, i feel like if we drop Tavares now it might just kill his career for good. I'd start him again. Would be great for his confidence and he can't do any worse

silver wrote:

MJ wrote:West Ham up next: we're their 3rd match in a run where they play 4 in 12 days, 2 of which are the EL semi-finals.

They are in atrocious form, dealing with injuries, suspensions and rotation with the EL semi-final looming. Their 1st leg could determine how distracted they are when we play them.

Sounds like a West Ham win then!

as we've seen this season, teams in crisis are our kryptonite lol.

RealGunner wrote:

El Gunner wrote:yea Cedric at LB for Nuno imo, at least Cedric is somewhat better and more experienced

while that makes sense, i feel like if we drop Tavares now it might just kill his career for good. I'd start him again. Would be great for his confidence and he can't do any worse

With Tomi back on the right, able to reposition as the 3rd CB, we might have enough stability to offset Nuno's erratic play on the left, like we saw when Holdini came on and White played RB.

Easy to forget how little top flight football he actually has under his belt. So much raw potential but he could use a loan next season, especially if we're in the CL.

Hard to see how he gets enough trust to be rotated into the lineup often unless we're in one of the other two European tournaments.

So... Three games left. Four point gap between us and Spurs going into the NLD on Thursday. Newcastle (A) and Everton (H) after that.

A win and we're in.
A draw and we just need to win one of our final two.
A loss and we need to match Spurs' final two results.

How are we feeling?
Thoughts on who starts the NLD?
If Ben White is back, does he come right back in? If he's not, same lineup as vs Leeds?
Are we trusting Cedric to face Son at RB?
Or Tomi at LB, Ben White at RB and Holdini keeping his place next to Gabriel?

We rarely win away to Spurs now and with Conte most likely playing a conservative game it will be quite difficult. Kane and Son always perform against us while Kuluevski against Cedric at LB will be a nightmare.

It's a difficult game no doubt but we have to win or draw. Defeat is out of the question as newcastle away and everton home won't be easy either. Rather us get into the CL convincingly.

I'd be tempted to go 3-4-3 and mirror spurs. Conte always struggles when facing the same formation as him. It depends on White's fitness because coming straight back against Kane will be one hell of a task.

yea, draw would be a great result.

but let's just get it over with. Put in one more top class display for the season, solid at the back and hopefully get a lucky break or two going forward.

I am...
not well right now

Anyone else?

Biggest game of the season for sure however pressure is on them not us

How y'all doing lads?

I'm ok but we miss you.

need to win the last two games then.....

Braindead from Holding...