Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours 25/26

tayto lover · 22-03-2026 06:58PM

Arsenal playing absolutely no football since half-time. Dreadful. City deserve their 2 goals. Arteta far too careful and playing the slow shyte at the back from the start. Well it came back to haunt him today.

Azatadine · 22-03-2026 06:58PM

Could be another one or two yet by City at this rate. Well on top.

TheRona · 22-03-2026 06:59PM

I agree with Neville. We allowed City into this with our aimless passing around at the back with no apparent plan to play forward.

tayto lover · 22-03-2026 07:02PM

Two down and still afraid to play the ball forward.

wassie · 22-03-2026 07:09PM

Kepa is the difference today.

wonga77 · 22-03-2026 07:09PM

We need something, may as well go gung ho at this point. Can't believe Trossard is still on the pitch

Fann Linn · 22-03-2026 07:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124332904#Comment_124332904

Can't believe Saka is still on the pitch.

Royale with Cheese · 22-03-2026 07:10PM

Gotta hope Arsenal can get over the line in the league because I just don't see it happening in the other competitions now. They've been poor in the big games all season, that forward line isn't good enough to hurt the bigger teams.

I'd bite your hands off for a 0-0 at the Etihad now.

omega man · 22-03-2026 07:12PM

The manner of this performance so far has to be a major concern. Could have a massive mental impact on the team.

Quazzie · 22-03-2026 07:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124332901#Comment_124332901

Anyone who thinks this doesn't have a clue about football.

Look at the pace City close every Arsenal.player down. Look at how they hunt the ball down in groups till they get it back. Look at the crispness of their passing. Look how Arsenal just sit back never challenging to win the ball. Look how when we got it high Havertz doesn't win it against Bernardo Silva despite being 8 inches taller than him. Look how we play around the backs and City have 4 attackers in a row stopping us playing any ball forward but our attackers do nothing.

All those things have a much bigger impact than Kepa

FixitFelix · 22-03-2026 07:15PM

I know people will give me pelters, but these boys have bottled it today. Completely froze when it mattered.

Just bring the league home

FixitFelix · 22-03-2026 07:15PM

Internationals coming at a perfect time

KaiserGunner · 22-03-2026 07:16PM

Everyone of our attacking lineup is replaceable in the summer. And i mean Saka too. He hasn't been anywhere good enough this season.

tayto lover · 22-03-2026 07:18PM

Fair play to Pep. He had a gameplan and his players carried it out very well. Softened up some of our danger men in the first half with a few strong challenges and came out to play us off the park in the second half. We posed absolutely no threat at all.

omega man · 22-03-2026 07:18PM

The Kepa start has absolutely cost us. Imagine not having won a trophy in 6 years and not playing one of the best keepers in world in a final against an average City team. Then to make matters worse he changes the dynamic of our defensive set up and to top it off he makes a howler of an error to give them a goal and turn the game. I blame Arteta for this one.

Azatadine · 22-03-2026 07:20PM

The worst of it is that we never really laid a finger on them. City well worth the win. We look really poor.

lertsnim · 22-03-2026 07:21PM

This is all on Arteta. Didn't play his strongest team in a final and when it was obviously not going right it took an age for him to make changes.

tayto lover · 22-03-2026 07:21PM

Thank God its only the Carabao Cup/

Quazzie · 22-03-2026 07:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124332918#Comment_124332918

Saka looks good playing with Ødegard, but that's primarily because Ødegard almost exclusively passes to Saka. It's easier to look good when you have someone constantly trying to pass you balls in attacking positions. Then Gyokeres came in everyone had an alternative and more direct outlet, and that killed Sakas game. He doesn't win his own balls and isn't good enough to carry from deep.

G1032 · 22-03-2026 07:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124332901#Comment_124332901

I couldn't agree. Kepa or no Kepa, that goal was coming. Arsenal haven't even tried to play today. Couldn't string 2 passes together. City played like you'd want and expect Arsenal to.

KaiserGunner · 22-03-2026 07:25PM

That was awful second half. No positives to be taken out of that. At least they can redeem themselves. But made city look like peak city there second half. Worrying tbh.

G1032 · 22-03-2026 07:26PM

He needs to be dropped for the run in. He's not been even nearly good enough for a team hoping to win the league

mossie · 22-03-2026 07:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124332916#Comment_124332916

Definitely. Wouldn't want to be going into a big league or CL game on the back of this

omega man · 22-03-2026 07:28PM

pressure significantly ramps up now even more. Not sure they can deal with it but hope I’m wrong.

CiaranW · 22-03-2026 07:29PM

better team won. We completely turtled up after half time and got what we deserved. Only bright spot for me was Calafiori.

wonga77 · 22-03-2026 07:30PM

First massive challenge for this squad was to get silverware and they failed miserably at the first hurdle. No excuses for that second half performance, it was brutal from players and management.

At least the international break is here and players have some kind of break before having to go again.

Will be sickening to listen to all the bottler jibes now but it's hard to defend tbh

FixitFelix · 22-03-2026 07:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124332974#Comment_124332974

Exactly, bottlers is the exact word in fairness.

AyeGer · 22-03-2026 07:32PM

Looked like some of the Arsenal players didn’t really want the ball in the 2nd half.

Deeper Blue · 22-03-2026 07:37PM

Easiest game City will play all season. We didn't turn up at all. Thought our tactics were really bizarre. Very worrying. Saka and Trossard were diabolical.

TheRona · 22-03-2026 07:45PM

We definitely miss Odegaard in games like today. He will come looking for the ball and drive forward with it, or play it forward. None of our midfielders today are willing or able to do that.

Terrible game to lose, but I hope it gives our boys a kick up the arse.

Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours 25/26

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