Arsenal 2022-23: All Or Nothing

[idigTexas 2288]

1 hour ago, Dutch said:

Very true that you don’t want to be leading that metric, but being last by a bit isn’t good either. We can do with rotating a bit more to keep guys fresher at the business end of the season. That balance isn’t easy to find, though. Hopefully adding in the summer will get us closer to it.

I definitely agree.  Even early exits from other trophy hunts didn't leave is fresh enough to compete with City's depth.  We've certainly had worse seasons as far as injuries go, but they really seemed to impact us down the stretch. 

[shadow_operative 15932]

 

 

 

[Dutch 4465]

The longer we go without “Saliba agrees new deal, final details being sorted, Arsenal to announce soon” the more nervous I get. His agent is absolutely doing the right thing for him, as his value to the club was made starkly evident after his injury.  He’s gonna get paid. 

But we do not want him to enter his final year w/no extension and have that hanging over next year.  

Easy for me to say since I’m not signing the check, but 

[Dutch 4465]

3 hours ago, shadow_operative said:

LFG!

we're building something special here boys. 

Hell yes we are.

Ramsdale us in games this year, and he’ll hopefully iron out the mistakes. Goalkeepers reach their peak after age 28; he’s gonna be great.

[Dutch 4465]

Xhaka @ LB? 

[Ted Lange 16085]

Xhaka starting over Tierney, hard to see Tierney back next season, unless he has some sort of knock or sickness. 

[Dutch 4465]

He gone, and it makes me a bit sad. Mik and Edu better have a replacement in mind, because Zinny’s injury record isn’t great, and Nuno Tavares ain’t a backup for a title challenger. Yes, Kieran didn’t play well last week, but who did? 

It’s going to hard watching him for another club, bombing down the wings and whipping in crosses for waiting forwards to head in, but it’s what he’s great at. He’s not an inverted LB, which is how Arteta wants to play, and it’s obvious that’s not his skill set. He (and we) played well when Zinchenko was hurt in the 1st half of the season, had having a change of pace guy seemed a good option to have. 

Edited May 20, 2023 by Dutch

[Dutch 4465]

 

The guys have checked out and are already on vacation.

Edited May 20, 2023 by Dutch

[Ted Lange 16085]

Painful to watch.  Thank goodness Arsenal have Champions League wrapped up, because I have zero confidence in them picking up points.  Team looks tired and out of ideas.   

[drt 638]

Partey is not doing well at right back. Everything stalls when it moves through him. 

[Buzzrock 14920]

Not watching since I’m at baseball with the boy. Is it that bad?

[shadow_operative 15932]

2 minutes ago, Buzzrock said:

Not watching since I’m at baseball with the boy. Is it that bad?

jesus just got stone cold pulled down inside the box and anthony taylor booked him for simulation. fucking horrendous. right in line with how this day has gone.

[Ted Lange 16085]

11 minutes ago, Buzzrock said:

Not watching since I’m at baseball with the boy. Is it that bad?

It’s not good. Starting Partey and benching Tierney was fucking stupid. 

[Ted Lange 16085]

Saka is absolutely cooked, he’s been mid for a month yet Arteta refuses to give him a rest. 

And here comes the time wasting.   20 min left, I’d be surprised if the ball is in play for 10. 

[shadow_operative 15932]

this has been Arteta Out bad. 81% possession, and it feels like we're getting dominated. we pose zero threat. 

[Ted Lange 16085]

On the whole it’s been an amazing season and credit to Arteta but this last month has been awful. 

[Ted Lange 16085]

1 good team result in the last 8!

[Hagbard Celine 10864]

you've got a great side and you're only a piece or 2 from really challenging city

the only mistake was declaring the title at christmas

[Dutch 4465]

Saka’s played 3k+ minutes. That’s 1-1.5k more than most. Mik can’t keep overcooking him. 

Lose the League to City if they close the season with 14 straight wins? Ok. They’re the finished article and know how to close a season. Finish strong on 90 points and set a tone for next year. But to collapse and check out mentally like we’ve done in the past two matches… man it’s worrisome. 

Edited May 20, 2023 by Dutch

[The Maestro 750]

They’re gassed physically & mentally.  I can’t believe they didn’t change formation at half.  It clearly wasn’t working.  How many relegation zone teams did we boost this season?

[Ted Lange 16085]

Everton, Forest, and draw at home vs awful Southampton.   

[Dutch 4465]

4 minutes ago, The Maestro said:

They’re gassed physically & mentally.  I can’t believe they didn’t change formation at half.  It clearly wasn’t working.  How many relegation zone teams did we boost this season?

Fifty points from the first 19 matches; 31 in the 18 since. We didn’t hit the wall, it slammed into us. Plenty of lessons, brutally painful lessons, from these final 9 matches; hopefully everyone at the club learns from them. 

[Dutch 4465]

Plenty of positives and growth this year, but damn it is ending badly.

 

[The Maestro 750]

Not that different from last year aside from winning the first three

[shnsajax 3591]

At least City don’t get to celebrate on the field.

[Surly Bevo 24908]

So much for finishing strong

[shadow_operative 15932]

 

[Dutch 4465]

 

[Bullneck 19090]

On 5/20/2023 at 11:58 AM, Ted Lange said:

Xhaka starting over Tierney, hard to see Tierney back next season, unless he has some sort of knock or sickness. 

 

 

[Bullneck 19090]

I guess it could have been worse.  Imagine losing on the last day by goal differential (this is today in Germany):

 

Quote

Bayern Munich won an 11th consecutive Bundesliga title as they beat Cologne to overtake Borussia Dortmund on a thrilling final day.

Dortmund would have won their first title since 2011-12 had they beaten Mainz, but a 2-2 draw opened the door for Bayern.

Or literally having the trophy in the center circle waiting for the other team to lose 2-1 with 85 minutes or so gone . . . 

 

 

 

[Dutch 4465]

Dortmund…. Yikes. Yeah that would have been worse. 

[The Maestro 750]

COYG! Let’s finish on a high note

[The Maestro 750]

xhaka boom!   

[The Maestro 750]

Xhaka boom boom.  Gonna miss him.  

[The Maestro 750]

Starboy!!!   

[The Maestro 750]

Jesus, we love you too!!!

[Bullneck 19090]

1 hour ago, The Maestro said:

COYG! Let’s finish on a high note now that it doesn't matter anymore!

 

[The Maestro 750]

Kiwi on the scoreline 

[Dutch 4465]

Really, really happy for Xhaka. His arc could only have been better had he lifted the PL trophy today. 

Glad we ended the season with good vibes. Now, sign 3-4 players, get Saliba inked, and go win the motherfucker next year. 

[Dutch 4465]

Such a different vibe around the club than a decade ago, when everyone picked off our young talent. 

Edited June 2, 2023 by Dutch

[Ted Lange 16085]

About time for @shadow_operative to start the 23/24 thread.  

[shadow_operative 15932]

23 minutes ago, Ted Lange said:

About time for @shadow_operative to start the 23/24 thread.  

was just thinking that. on it. helluva season boys. better than any of us predicted heading j to the season. let's go take that next step forward.

Edited June 3, 2023 by shadow_operative