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Arsenal Team PL Champions Talk/Gossip/Rumours 25/26!

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,701 ✭✭✭✭OmegaGene


    This might be the craziest comment ever.

    Arteta wins the league, reaches a Champions League final, and somehow that's the evidence he should be sacked? That's like complaining your lottery jackpot wasn't paid in smaller notes.

    And the Wenger comparison is brilliant. If we're allowed imaginary football, why stop there? Imagine what Pep could do with the Invincibles. Imagine what Napoleon could do with VAR.

    "Wonderful squad" is doing a lot of heavy lifting too. Pundits and media spent three years calling those same players overrated bottlers until they started winning.

    Replacing a manager who just delivered the league and a Champions League final because you don't like the style is football's version of divorcing a supermodel because her handwriting annoys you.

    The internet isn’t for everyone



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,111 ✭✭✭KaiserGunner


    Enjoy the trophy parade tomorrow my fellow gooners. Obviously we're all gutted not to win the European Cup. But we're the premier league champions 💪🏆🎉🏆.

    We'll go into next season favourites again and go far in the champions league. Man City, Liverpool new managers. Utd probably our biggest threat. We're set for next season. Love yas all. ❤️💪



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,760 ✭✭✭G1032


    What's 'playing to our potential'? Arteta has built the best defence in Europe bar none. It kept the great PSG at arms length all night, bar one slip up by a 21 year old center back filling in on the right against the best left winger in Europe.

    What we don't have right now is amazing talent up front. Saka is unfortunately still finding his feet after horrific injuries. Odegaard is just not at the races and hasn't been for 2 years. Trossard and Martinelli are a level below true elite forwards. Havertz was the whole season injured. Gyokeres played his first season in a new league/system and as Arsene Wenger always used to say, it takes 6 months to adapt to the English game. Madueke is limited enough but can have very bright moments. Jesus injured most of season. Eze had just flashes of brilliance but little consistency.

    Those are the facts that Arteta faced this season and given that a couple of years ago he played open fluid attacking football but came up short I think he was 100% justified in playing the way he did this season and last.

    We had the potential to win the PL and we won it using the resources he had to the best effect. Tonight he did the same and was a kick away from immortality.

    No English side has ever won each of FA Cup, League Cup, PL and Champions League in one season so I'm not sure how you can make out Arsenal has the potential to do that and even more unsure how you think we could do that given the injuries we've had all season and the limitations up front.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 4,012 ✭✭✭Azatadine




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 747 ✭✭✭CuriousCucumber


    Think about this honestly, how good did you feel we were during the last few months?

    We won so many games by the absolute minimum.

    Watching the games, from February on, was hard work.

    We're accepting the Southampton result without question

    I want us to win every game, and I want to enjoy it while it's happening

    Beating West Ham and Burnley, two teams who were relegated, was incredibly hard work.

    Weve sucked the freedom out of Ødegaard, Eze, and Saka.

    We completely under utilize Martinelli and Gyokeres.

    We have a rigid structure, that won us the league.

    That's incredible, but we've placed a glass ceiling in ourselves. I think we can smash through that, but I don't think Arteta can

    Just to be clear, I wouldn't replace Arteta, just for the sake of it. I don't know who could do a better job, but there is a massive opportunity for us to become the greatest team in the world, and right now, we're not



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,132 ✭✭✭Barlett


    I think you’re living in a dream world to be honest. Finding a manager that is a good fit for a major club is extremely difficult to do. Arsenal are very lucky to have Arteta , could easily be a mess like United or Spurs at this stage.

    It’s no longer a case of finding a manager with a good track record , it’s finding one that has the characteristics that will work with what you have within your club.

    If Arsenal hired Luis Enrique tomorrow, I wouldn’t be convinced he would be a success.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,520 ✭✭✭Sheep breeder


    From my perspective tonight, PSG were made to look ordinary up to the penalty with 70% possession of the football and created very little. One small mistake in such a high tempo game and the attacker went looking for the penalty. Under no circumstances can our player be blamed he was playing out of position and has been a super signing and will only get better, for me watching Odegarrd was the weakest player tonight and as a fan very proud we got to final and came so close to winning. Enjoy what we won this season and next season rolls around hopefully the team will have some new talent and Mikel takes the handbrake off let’s them play.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 810 ✭✭✭unichick


    Odegaard was shocking tonight. Whether he stays is one thing but definitely should not be captain. Rice deserves that honour. I really rate Mosquera. I hope he doesn’t blame himself.

    It must be so exhausting for the players to have the parade tomorrow after that match. It’s a pity it’s not a bank holiday in the UK & they could push it out til Monday.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,750 ✭✭✭wonga77


    I shall comment more in the morning when I sober up, I'm truly devastated but I just want to comment on Marquinhos, what an extraordinary display of sportsmanship to comfort Gabriel at the end rather than celebrate with his own teammates.

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DY-WhKPMEQX/?igsh=dGFmdnB3NjRiMTBs



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,698 ✭✭✭omega man


    Christ we showed up tonight and almost took down the favourites despite some predictions of a hammering. So proud of the team and the supporters.

    Sadly it’s such a hard competition to win (luck required unlike the league) and we mightn't get another chance like that for a long time but that’s sport for you.


    Gabriel and Eze can not take an ounce of blame, balls of steel. However personally I don’t like to see a CB walking up to take a pen, especially in a CL final. Hindsight but that was a serious error.

    Finally I’ve a very bitter taste in my mouth tonight after witnessing around 60-70% of the pub where I watched the match with my son very vocally wanting PSG to win. An oil club. I just don’t get it and it’s putting me off football to be honest.

    I predict the parade will be huge and the players will feel nothing but love which will drive them onto even more success, that I have no doubts about. COYG.




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,941 ✭✭✭ronjo


    Its 5am and have just boarded my train home from Budapest.

    Haven't read all comments here but seen a lot in Champions league thread.

    Spent last 7 hours in pubs with Arsenal and PSG fans. Not one single PSG fan thought they were anything but lucky to win tonight.

    Maybe they were being nice but they all were full of praise for what Mikel has done over last few years.

    Boards (imo) is an absolute cesspool of bitterness. We are the best team in England and one of the best teams in the world.

    Thank you Mikel for making this possible and we go again next season as Champions.

    VAMOS!!!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,026 ✭✭✭eastie17


    I get the comments about being proud to get there and all that, but we had done all of the hard work and needed to push on and win it when we had the chance and didn’t. I obviously don’t agree with the sack Arteta poster but can see the merit in some of the points

    It’s damn hard to get to the final, when you do, if your in with a chance have to find a way.

    we had the better team on the pitch for extra time but didn’t change it up. Perhaps the manager tried to but it didn’t happen.

    Arteta doesn’t strike me as sentimental but I can’t see Odegard starting as anything other than a sentimental choice. He offered nothing, and has only really contributed in brief cameos off the bench since he came back. Time to move him on but we probably won’t get much for him.

    From around the 50th minute on PSG started getting more joy down Mosqueras side, even though he was excellent. If Timber had 60 mins in him, which he had, I thought 60 mins was the time to make that substitution and Odegards. The pen probably doesn’t happen.

    I know, hindsight, but to win these sort of comps you have to be almost flawless in everything and that was probably a mistake.

    Noni had the beating of his man, we needed to get him the ball more

    Arteta has built the best defensive team in Europe, he know needs 3 or 4 elite level signings in the attacking side, and a new reserve goalie. Maybe bring Stretfotd up as two and get a new third.

    The manager has shown his ability to evolve, hopefully he can build on what’s he has created and evolve again. Big summer ahead and it will be challenging with the world cup



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,701 ✭✭✭✭OmegaGene


    that’s exactly why I didn’t bring my lad out for the game, he’s never watched a match in the pub before and I thought it would make for a good atmosphere but then I remembered the anti Arsenal agenda that’s been spread around and decided against it

    We walked around town yesterday in our matching rice shirts and plenty of people wished us good luck and I didn’t have a clue who they were and that tempted me but pub goers and average people on the street are totally different

    Just think when people are hating that’s a sign something is going right and it’s better than being laughed at.

    The internet isn’t for everyone



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,616 ✭✭✭wassie


    Just to be clear, I wouldn't replace Arteta, just for the sake of it. I don't know who could do a better job,

    So you call for Arteta to be replaced after acknowledging the great work he has done but have no idea who should replace him?

    Bizarre stuff.

    It's not just a manager alone, you need a unified leadership that includes owners and management that has the trust and belief of the playing group, which can be rare enough in top flight sports. If you disrupt that you can end up languishing mid table.

    As has been rightly pointed out, we are not a petro-state sponsored club and are fighting the likes of City & PSG. Only need to look how City's form improved after picking up Semenyo and Guehi in Jan....

    And I am "thinking about this honestly" when I write you keep trying to push the anti-Arteta agenda at a time when true supporters are feeling proud of the club is only bordering on trolling at the stage. Only hours after a loss. Rather than celebrate the season you want recriminations.

    I fkn love this club, super proud of the entire season and the ride we had, the ups, the downs and the in betweens.

    My kids saw me take a hard loss last night and were upset themselves. But then I reminded them that's the thing about sport. You can't win all the time, but the great thing is you get to go around again and try again.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,636 ✭✭✭Wrongway1985


    I've seen this bandied about.

    Gabriel is his team mate!

    Sure they might wear different shirts on the night but if that was Eze say the pessimist in me reckons he'd not concern himself.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭IrishOwl...


    Anti Arsenal agenda? Ah come on now. I've been in many a pub down through the years watching big English teams in finals. Liverpool and UTD in particular, and I dont think I've ever witnessed a neutral fan shouting for them. Ever.

    Did you expect different for Arsenal, regardless of the opposition? There has not bee honour amoung football fans for decades now.

    You don't even have to stray too far from your own league to see it when it comes to the petrol state teams. How many neutral were supporting either Liverpool or Arsenal as they battle City on and off over the last 10 years?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,701 ✭✭✭✭OmegaGene


    I was in a pub in cork for the last champions league final and it was full of United and Liverpool fans and they all wanted us to win so yes it’s changed over the years, we live in a rural setting so maybe it’s different

    Social media and pundits 100% stir up nonsense that gets rival fans riled up


    if it was just me I wouldn’t give a toss but an 11 year old wouldn’t take it well if the place erupted when psg scored, poor lad was in tears on the sofa as it was

    The internet isn’t for everyone



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭IrishOwl...


    I go back even further. Maybe the English fans are different, but I remember living in London when UTD won in 99 and I was in a minority of 1 shouting on that incredible comeback.

    More recently I was on holidays for the Liverpool loss to Real, the Garety Bale final. And the day of the match the hotel was full of Irish and English kids going around in those knock off Real jersey that's their dad's had clearly bought them for the match.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,616 ✭✭✭wassie


    Thanks for posting that link. This is the stuff I love to show my kids. You cant teach this, it has to be modeled.

    Its important.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,000 ✭✭✭Ottoman_1000


    As an older Liverpool fan I would have begrudgingly hoping Arsenal got it done last night.

    But I also understand this is not reciprocal. I watched the Real final loss in a pub, the one where Salah got injured and pub erupted in cheers when Salah went off in clear physical distress.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,111 ✭✭✭KaiserGunner


    I wouldnt support any rival premier league club in a champions league final. However I wouldnt be cheering, celebrating and jumping around with joy if they lose.

    Sadly last night was the most joy our rivals have had all season.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,817 ✭✭✭emergingstar


    gutted to loose yesterday, but we had some season, nothing will beat winning the prem after 22 years


    listening to Arteta after the final, he is going to push on again in the summer we might see players leave that we don’t expect


    he is going to be ruthless



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 4,012 ✭✭✭Azatadine


    Yeah, it was a rough way to lose. The nature of how it unfolded makes it hurt more I think. If we had lost by a goal or two in the 90 mins I don't think it would hurt as much but we really pushed them all the way.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 4,012 ✭✭✭Azatadine


    I think Ronnie Whelan, despite all of his thinly veiled anti Arsenal bias throughout, actually softened at the end. He definitely felt for Gabriel.

    Haaland really stooped low with his post after the game.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,758 ✭✭✭Underground


    The online discourse just is what it is, which is toxic.

    Within minutes of the end last night, Palace, Chelsea, Spurs and City had all posted about the game to mock us. Chelsea and Spurs were actually posting from the official club accounts, which is bizarre, whereas players from Spurs and City were posting sh*te.


    Not only that, but Sky Sports then post about the clubs mocking Arsenal, they love it, so that kind of stuff is rewarded. It’s all very sad and juvenile but then we’d probably like it if we weren’t on the wrong end of it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,760 ✭✭✭G1032


    Just saw on SSN that Arsenal have played the record amount of matches in the European Cup / CL without winning the trophy. 226.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 12,347 ✭✭✭✭DvB


    I would if it was against PSG. I find it very difficult to have respect for a petrol state sport washing project that has its entire league structure set up to assist them.

    They might play nice football (against teams incapable of stopping them) but to me they are man city in a different shirt.

    Unfortunately they're not going anywhere so we need to find a way to topple them too.

    "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" Charles Dickens


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 745 ✭✭✭farmerval


    Arteta has proven in the past that these players can play flowing attractive football. That they are not is his tactical choice. That every attacking player appears to be regressing under Arteta is presumably his tactical choice. Saying buy better attacking players will make Arsenal a better attacking force is subjective. Better attacking players will make any team better, but they need to be allowed to attack.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,698 ✭✭✭omega man


    We have to get our attack going and play better football. We can do it and not lose our defensive advantage. The stats from the final were poor. The aim has to be retaining the league as the CL is a bit of a lottery.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,111 ✭✭✭KaiserGunner


    Yeah i agree with you on PSG. They are the Man City of Europe. Probably why rival fans find it easier to accept them winning.

    Watched the PSG team lift the trophy last night. Did bother me seeing Nasser Al-Khelaifi get in amongst them and be the 4th person to lift the trophy. Ahead of the majority of the players.



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