The Football.....

[laurentian]

Give it a rest mate, that's the lowest level "banter" available to mankind, you can get it everywhere on social media, I like to think we're better than that here. I hardly ever post much about Arsenal on here, because it's much more interesting to hear about Blackburn, or Clitheroe or basically anything that isn't Premier League - which is everywhere, all the time. This was a nice refuge from the "banter" that infects every other football discussion in the universe nowadays

If it's any consolation, I would like for Arsenal to win the league.

I'm a Northampton Town fan. We were hammered on 4-0 by Lincoln on Tuesday to put us back into the relegation places of League 1. This is par for the course for the Cobblers over my many years of supporting them.

The Premier League gives us a bit of relief from the kick and rush of the lower leagues and I like Arteta, I like most of the Arsenal players, and I like the way they play football.

I like the fact that "The Apprentice" Arteta could topple "The Master" Guardiola. I like the fact we're approaching March and that the league isn't done and dusted yet, I like the spectacle and, although nominally a neutral, I'd like to see Arsenal win the league this season.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Give it a rest mate, that's the lowest level "banter" available to mankind, you can get it everywhere on social media, I like to think we're better than that here. I hardly ever post much about Arsenal on here, because it's much more interesting to hear about Blackburn, or Clitheroe or basically anything that isn't Premier League - which is everywhere, all the time. This was a nice refuge from the "banter" that infects every other football discussion in the universe nowadays

Genuine question. Is the feeling amongst Arsenal fans that you have to do it this season or it isn't going to happen under Arteta. With teams going for the title there usually seems to be one season which is pivotal, miss it and the chance never seems to come again, but those that win it then seem to have more success in following seasons.

 

[Mike_P]

Its that time of the year poorly performing tems suddenly find form, even Harrogate managed to win this week so anythings possible; maybe Sheff Wed excepted.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Genuine question. Is the feeling amongst Arsenal fans that you have to do it this season or it isn't going to happen under Arteta. With teams going for the title there usually seems to be one season which is pivotal, miss it and the chance never seems to come again, but those that win it then seem to have more success in following seasons.

There are definitely some fans that think that way, and if some fans think that way and he doesn't land the league then that''ll make it difficult for him to stay on - his legacy was meant to be based on the reunification of team and fans after the toxicity of the later Wenger years.

Personally I think far too many people have bought into the "bottlers" narrative, which is unhelpful and a highly flawed "analysis" (e.g. in 23-24 we dropped just 5 points in the last 18 games, an incredible run in anyone's books), so I would prefer to look and see if there are structural issues elsewhere before assigning any failures to some dubious mental state - though there's definitely a psychological edge to it as well. The failure to lock down the result last night might be partially due to player availability, heavy legs dictating some tactics and instructions from the bench, as well as player and/or manager psychology. Certainly our two best pressers (Havertz & Ødegaard) are out, but most fans can't see why he persisted with Martinelli/Gyökeres/Madueke as a front three, as the first two have never managed to combine well. We also look at tiredness and see that Ben White hardly gets a game and Christian Nørgaard is an unused sub while Timber and Zubimendi and Rice run themselves into the ground week in week out.

Ultimately responsibility is with Arteta - this is his team, his tactics, his coaching, and if we don't finally get the win this season after all that work then it's not going to look good for him. But hopefully Kai will be back for the weekend, and a win V Sp*rs followed by the same v Chelsea and a league cup win over Man City would go a long, long way to soothing the current nerves. It's just difficult to see it how we've been playing of late, and even from signs in our league play when we were getting results

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Give it a rest mate, that's the lowest level "banter" available to mankind, you can get it everywhere on social media, I like to think we're better than that here. I hardly ever post much about Arsenal on here, because it's much more interesting to hear about Blackburn, or Clitheroe or basically anything that isn't Premier League - which is everywhere, all the time. This was a nice refuge from the "banter" that infects every other football discussion in the universe nowadays

Of course it's low level banter, laughing at a rival's misfortunes is par for the course among football fans. I've been on the sharp end of plenty as a West Ham fan.

In truth I hope Arsenal (Or Villa) do it, the game becomes boring when it is dominated by big money clubs.