Arsenal 2021-22: The Youth Movement

[Dutch 4498]

4-2-3-1. Saka and Martinelli wide with Odegaard in the middle behind Laca.

If I'm honest, a draw will feel like a victory.  GOYG!!!

[Buzzrock 15032]

Cmon boys!

[Buzzrock 15032]

Martinelli is so good

[shadow_operative 15932]

really nice first half. let's keep it up boys! one goal can make all the difference for this entire season COYG!! 🔴⚪️

Edited March 16, 2022 by shadow_operative

[Buzzrock 15032]

We look pretty good and Klopp is pissed. Good signs. Need to convert.

[Buzzrock 15032]

I’m gonna have a stroke

[Buzzrock 15032]

[shadow_operative 15932]

very rare error by Ramsdale leads to a goal. ugh. 

[Buzzrock 15032]

Oh well

[shadow_operative 15932]

unreal. both goals coming off of ridiculous errors. sometimes you just need to clear the ball, but Gabriel tried to dribble through five people. i knew that Liverpool were scoring as soon as he turned it over like that. no doubt in my mind. god damn it. 

[Dutch 4498]

 

Fucking hell. Play so well in the first half, then two bonehead errors gift the game away. Fuck.

 

Edited March 16, 2022 by Dutch

[Buzzrock 15032]

Lacazette the invisible man again

[dbecks 442]

Man, can’t get past ‘Pool to save their life. Fuck… get one back here to make it interesting.

(Watching from a random bar on the beach in Negril, Jamaica. Heavy Arsenal support here.)

[Buzzrock 15032]

I didn’t expect to get points from that one. Let’s use the game in hand to widen the gap from ManU and go lock up Top 4.

[Dutch 4498]

I haz disappoint in yesterday's match then saw our recent results::

Damn good run of form. The only points we've dropped are to the two title contenders (City should have been a draw but for ref fuckery) ... and motherfucking Burnley 🤬.  

Given how we started the year, I would have taken 6th with improvement throughout. To be in the driver's seat for 4th feels like we're ahead of schedule.  To get back in the CL next year(cash, recruitment improved, the experience for the young guys)... massive is in understatement. Just need to keep taking care of business against teams below us in the table.  IIRC we have the fewest matches vs top table opposition remaining. Utd and Sh*t still have visits to Anfield, and hopefully Liverpool takes those points.  One match at a time, Villa next.

Edited March 17, 2022 by Dutch

[idigTexas 2297]

23 hours ago, Dutch said:

Given how we started the year, I would have taken 6th with improvement throughout.

To me, it feels like this is where we are, despite our recent form and current position in the table.  I think we are in 4th more so because other clubs are under achieving.  Should we continue to earn full points from most of the clubs below us in the standings, then I will feel that we are ahead of schedule.  I have too much PTSD to believe we are back just yet.    

I'm enjoying the good run regardless.  

[Buzzrock 15032]

How did we not score there… come on boys!

[Buzzrock 15032]

Sakaaaaaaaa

[Dutch 4498]

ONE-NIL TO THE ARSENAL

YES!!! Three points. Ugly, but who cares after a third match in seven days. 

[Buzzrock 15032]

Sing it Gooners!

[Surly Bevo 25542]

Good bounce back. 

[Buzzrock 15032]

NLD 5/12. Could be big.

https://www.arsenal.com/premier-league-north-london-derby-new-date-tottenham

[shadow_operative 15932]

i'm nervous about this one. still, COYG.

[shadow_operative 15932]

yeah. had a feeling that would happen. oh well. time to see how we respond. 

[dbecks 442]

Toaster… in the muthafukin BATHTUB.

[shadow_operative 15932]

this just felt like one of those, didn't it? we haven't played in forever, we're short on players, and Vieira has Palace playing really well. add that to the fact that we've been playing over our heads for some time, and yeah. you get a night like this. 

[Dutch 4498]

[Dutch 4498]

I was worried about this one, more than our recent fixtures.  Fucking fuck.

[Buzzrock 15032]

Words you never want to hear: “Halftime can’t come soon enough for Arsenal.”

[shadow_operative 15932]

i'll say this- the subs have been brave and positive, and we have been in control this half. won't mean anything without (at least) two goals though. 

[shadow_operative 15932]

the foul in the box that wasn't called for saka was a worse foul than the penalty that was given for palace. #justarsenalthings 

[Dutch 4498]

Well that about sums up tonight.

Hopefully we put this one in the can and move on quickly; can't afford many more slips.

[Surly Bevo 25542]

Ooof

[Dutch 4498]

Bad night got worse: Tierney and Partey both injured.

https://theathletic.com/news/kieran-tierneys-knee-injury-does-not-look-good-with-arsenal-defender-to-see-specialist-on-tuesday/xCnNUdEAuGtO/

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Arsenal-manager-expresses-huge-concern-over-Thomas-Partey-s-latest-injury-1507505

 

[Dutch 4498]

And, of course, Tierney's having surgery and likely will be done for the season. 

https://www.espn.com/soccer/arsenal-engarsenal/story/4634557/arsenals-kieran-tierney-likely-to-miss-rest-of-season-with-knee-injury-in-top-four-setback

Really need Tomi back.  

Edited April 5, 2022 by Dutch

[shadow_operative 15932]

welp, we're done. at this point i will gladly take fifth in the league + another summer of big spending and call it a very successful 12 months. 

[Ted Lange 16158]

Need to buy a replacement for tierney, he is basically useless at this point.  Poor guy just can’t stay healthy. 

[Dutch 4498]

19 hours ago, shadow_operative said:

welp, we're done. at this point i will gladly take fifth in the league + another summer of big spending and call it a very successful 12 months. 

Fourth is looking a bridge to far at this point. Hope I'm wrong and we dig deep to grind out enough points. Then again...intestinal fortitude hasn't been an Arsenal strength the last decade and a half, but now would be a damn good time to find some. 

Another window like last summer (adding multiple players of quality) and we push for CL next year. A world-class No9 (or two) is a must, as is another holding MF. Probably an LB (Nuno looks lost at crucial times and, as @Ted Lange noted, Tierney unfortunately can't stay healthy) too. Arteta and Edu cleared out the dead wood (probably needed) in the squad and now need to build up the squad depth.  Arteta's system seems to revolve around Partey, and we seemingly have no one else on the roster who can do what he does to play the way Arteta wants us to play. Hopefully Kroenke and Kroenke Jr have seen how vital spending is to returning to the CL (and maybe they're still hungover from the SB win). 

Edited April 6, 2022 by Dutch

[Dutch 4498]

Manager of the Month is the EPL version of being on the SI cover; in only one of eight times it has been awarded this season did the "winner" see his side take three points in his next match. Bit us twice.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/apr/07/premier-league-curse-manager-of-the-month-award

Edited April 7, 2022 by Dutch

[Buzzrock 15032]

Welp

[shadow_operative 15932]

FAK

[Dutch 4498]

GABI!!!!

[shadow_operative 15932]

if they overturn this then i am going to overturn my tv. 

[Dutch 4498]

Of fucking course

[shadow_operative 15932]

you knew it was coming. i honestly never even celebrated the goal. you just fucking knew it.

[Buzzrock 15032]

Longest VAR ever. They tried very hard to find a reason to overturn that.

[Dutch 4498]

That’s the thing I’ve never understood: if it is not a clear and obvious error, you let the ruling on the pitch stand. Not look for reasons to overturn it.

Edited April 9, 2022 by Dutch

[shadow_operative 15932]

there has got to be a time limit on that shit. if takes you four minutes of frame by frame viewing to overturn the call, you shouldn't overturn the call. we need AW's new offside rules implemented like yesterday.

[Buzzrock 15032]

Four minutes of frame by frame viewing with six inches of pitch to work with. It’s ridiculous.

[shadow_operative 15932]

half time adjustments are clearly working. need it to translate into goals.