Arsenal v Brentford (11/02, 15:00 GMT)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Have to respond after being a little bit shit in the previous two.

Partey playing the full 90 or rather, playing enough so we won't lose with him going off.

Come on you berks!

[Mac76]

0-3 Mbeuma hatter

[Marc Overmars]

Bit nervous as last week was a reminder how fragile things can be.

Absolute must win and would also like to see a performance too.

[GP]

We'll win and win well.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Some changes today I think

Tierney for Zinchenko
Tomoyasu for White

Trossard for Martinelli


By the way this is what I think should happen, not what I think will happen

Arteta doesn’t do rotation

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Some changes today I think

Tierney for Zinchenko
Tomoyasu for White

Trossard for Martinelli


By the way this is what I think should happen, not what I think will happen

Arteta doesn’t do rotation

Don't agree that we should tinker this much with the team... it's like we are panicking.

Trossard starting over Martinelli is ok IMO as I think Martinelli does ok as an impact sub (though he should get more than 30mins if thats the plan).

I'd say the rest of the starting lineup should stay the same for now but I really do hope that if things don't workout early enough he has an alternative gameplan with subs that can work this time.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Don't agree that we should tinker this much with the team... it's like we are panicking.

Trossard starting over Martinelli is ok IMO as I think Martinelli does ok as an impact sub (though he should get more than 30mins if thats the plan).

I'd say the rest of the starting lineup should stay the same for now but I really do hope that if things don't workout early enough he has an alternative gameplan with subs that can work this time.

I don’t think it’s panicking, I think it’s overdue. White has been poor for the last few games. Zinchenko is massively overrated.

[Mac76]

I don’t think it’s panicking, I think it’s overdue. White has been poor for the last few games. Zinchenko is massively overrated.

Agree and it's also about resting some people and showing we can mix things up a bit.

I'm hoping he will make some changes, if only because of the upcoming Citeh game.

And yes Zin is overrated, we average more points per game without him than with him.

[Marc Overmars]

Would definitely like to see Trossard given a start in place of Martinelli.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah.
Subs: Turner, Tomiyasu, Tierney, Holding, Kiwior, Jorginho, Vieira, Trossard, Cozer-Duberry.

Brentford: Raya, Henry, Pinnock, Norgaard, Jensen, Mee, Toney, Mbeumo, Ajer, Janelt, Roerslev.
Subs: Cox, Hickey, Schade, Dasilva, Wissa, Zanka, Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Baptiste.

[Mac76]

Same f*****g lineup

Arteta :doh:

[GP]

Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah.
Subs: Turner, Tomiyasu, Tierney, Holding, Kiwior, Jorginho, Vieira, Trossard, Cozer-Duberry.

Same lineup that's put us top. Love to see it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It annoys me when they don't list players by position.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Same lineup that's put us top. Love to see it.

I agree.

[Mac76]

Same lineup that's put us top. Love to see it.

Apart from Zinchenko - statistically we do better without him

[dostoy]

What channel is anyone going to watch it on?

I know it's not on the two UK providers.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Might just have it on the radio, it's on BBC 5 Live over here.

Although it being a 3pm game, they go round the grounds every five seconds.

[dostoy]

I'm watching it on a Czech channel and I'm over 'here' as well.

Best thing about it is the commentary is all in Czech language so there are no English idiots commentating.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great chance for Henry. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Zinchenko. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brentford goal disallowed.

[Marc Overmars]

Sounds like Brentford have caused a lot of problems for us so far.

[Xhaka Can’t]

What channel is anyone going to watch it on?

I know it's not on the two UK providers.

Paramount plus UK subscription and NordVPN (Mexico)

[Xhaka Can’t]

We are getting ripped to shreds - how we are not behind, I don’t know.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Toney hit the woodwork.

[dazthegooner]

He should have scored.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Fuck me - they shouldve scored from that corner as well.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Our passing is a bit off, and we look nowhere near as dangerous on attack as Brentford.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Good save by Ramsey - he had to be alert to that

[Marc Overmars]

This sounds terrible so far.

The collapse pending. :rose:

[Xhaka Can’t]

Martinelli over the bar - our best move for some time

[Xhaka Can’t]

This sounds terrible so far.

The collapse pending. :rose:

Brentford are a very good side and they look very confident - and scary coming forward.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I’ll take being level. Hard to see where a goal is coming from.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Will we ever score again?

[Mac76]

Really poor again, we're so slow, Bremtford have had four good opportunities including a coiple of sitters

Time for Trossard, Tierney and Tomi

[dostoy]

They are very blunt at the moment.

Brentford should be in front.

[Xhaka Can’t]

We have lots of possession, but it’s slow, laborious and easily defended. When Brentford break, it is with speed and Tony could have and should have passed into the goal. We have been let off this half.

On the basis of what has happened so far, at best we get a point out of this.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Brentford are a very good side and they look very confident - and scary coming forward.

They've had the better chances and should be ahead.

The positives I've seen so far are few, but should still mention.

White playing far better. Back to his old self. Shame more of the attack isn't coming through their wing as they are the better players.

Both Eddie and Martinelli are not stuck in their positions like zombies and seeing more of the ball today. They've had the better chances to put us ahead.

However, like I started off with, Brentford should be ahead...we are still over complicating our attack, having all the possession and still not using the ball properly.

I think Trossard should come in ASAP, but Martinelli must still stay on as he has been the most positive player looking the most likely to score.

The game will not end 0-0, Arteta must get it into his head that we will need to score more goals than Brentford as they should be 2 up already.

Fingers crossed, but I'm not looking forward to Man City with what I have seen so far.

[Mac76]

Zinchenko. :lol:

He's been toilet again

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Will we ever score again?

You can see the players are mentally restrained by this thought. This is why we really need to come out flying in the 2half make sure all our goal threats are on the field. The main reason I dont want Martinelli to come off.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

He's been toilet again

He had our best chance of the game, even I am struggling to defend him with the crap he pulled.

Like I said earlier, our problem is the guys behind our attackers who are getting all the space and doing crap with the chances they get.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Odegaard right at the keeper who took away any angle

[Xhaka Can’t]

Fuuuuck - Tony just wide - it got really shambolic in our area

Now good work by Ramsey

We need at least agoal

[Xhaka Can’t]

Troussard about to come on

[HCZ_Reborn]

And taking off Martinelli who has played well today :rolleyes:

[Xhaka Can’t]

On for Martinelli

[Xhaka Can’t]

Absolutely no sign of where a goal will come from.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Absolutely no sign of where a goal will come from.

You timed that well

[McNamara That Ghost...]

TROSSARD!!!

[GP]

TROSSARD!!!!

[Xhaka Can’t]

You timed that well

Sometimes it works

[LDG]

Get in!

[Xhaka Can’t]

Get in!

It did!

[Marc Overmars]

1-1 Toney :lol:

VAR check?

[LDG]

It would be so nice to have a fit and in form ESR. The difference he could make in changing up the point of attack would be massive

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fuck.

[LDG]

Shit

[Xhaka Can’t]

Fuck off - such a sloppy jammy goal

[Marc Overmars]

The wheels are coming off.

I can feel it in my bones.

[LDG]

Bollock bollocks bollocks bollocks

[Xhaka Can’t]

Brentford’s goal was offside - it just wasn’t offside at the poin they checked

[Munchies]

Every fucking potential title year. February. We shit our pants.

[Xhaka Can’t]

5 min

[Xhaka Can’t]

Waste all the time!

[Marc Overmars]

VAR is checking for a Brentford penalty.

Not given.

[Munchies]

jesus fucking christ

[Marc Overmars]

FT 1-1

Not good.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Nope

[Mac76]

It's official - the wheels are off

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 FT. Fucking bellends.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Title hunt over, as I said it was last week. Can’t fault Brentford deserved at least a draw. But VAR fucked us, and let’s be fair we were utterly shit

[LDG]

Point gained for me

[Marc Overmars]

The textbook collapse is most certainly on.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

The wheels are coming off.

I can feel it in my bones.

It really feels that way.

[Letters]

Title hunt over, as I said it was last week.
Saying something incorrect twice doesn’t make it correct.

But we are certainly wobbling and we can’t afford to keep doing it.
The City game an absolute must win now.

[selassie]

This team has turned to shit at the most crucial point in the season so far. Im genuinely dreading Wednesday's game, because we are starting to look like a team that does not know how to win. Worrying signs, hopefully it's just a minor blip......

[dazthegooner]

Saving ourselves for Wednesday :haha:

[Letters]

The textbook collapse is most certainly on.

Certainly possible. But I’m not quite ready to jump on the doombus yet.
We’ve lost momentum. Wednesday’s game is massive now.

[Marc Overmars]

Saying something incorrect twice doesn’t make it correct.

But we are certainly wobbling and we can’t afford to keep doing it.
The City game an absolute must win now.

Today was the day to show our strength. Not a time for a wobble against a somewhat decent team but a team we should definitely be beating at home.

The City game won’t require any extra motivation but we have really shot ourselves in the foot now. It’s a marathon not a sprint but there are questions now and those questions need to be answered.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Saying something incorrect twice doesn’t make it correct.

But we are certainly wobbling and we can’t afford to keep doing it.
The City game an absolute must win now.
:gp:

[Munchies]

Sighs. We've blown it.

[LDG]

Absolutely nobody had us down for a title tilt at the beginning of the season. The fact we’ve had our best ever prem season so far shouldn’t be dismissed.

Every team, even the eventual champs will have a bad patch. The key os not to lose too many. Our invincibles drew a lot of games.

I’m proud of what we’ve done this year. Whatever happens, its a team we can get behind again and that is a massive step forward given the last 15 years

[Marc Overmars]

Arteta’s refusal to mix up his starting 11 is also ridiculous.

[HCZ_Reborn]

The problem is less the City game and more games against teams we expect to be beating

Brentford and Everton knew exactly how to play us, deep block and counter attack. We can talk about losing form all we like but we are being found out, I don’t think we realise just how pivotal Jesus is to us in breaking teams down. Even when he wasn’t scoring his movement was opening up defences. Nketiah cannot do that he’s more of a poacher, he needs the chances to be made for him.

I think we could have gotten away with a draw against City, no not now…we absolutely have no choice but to beat them and lay down a marker. Then I think we need a minimum of 14 points from the next six games after that

[Letters]

Absolutely nobody had us down for a title tilt at the beginning of the season. The fact we’ve had our best ever prem season so far shouldn’t be dismissed.

Every team, even the eventual champs will have a bad patch. The key os not to lose too many. Our invincibles drew a lot of games.

I’m proud of what we’ve done this year. Whatever happens, its a team we can get behind again and that is a massive step forward given the last 15 years
:gp:

This.

I think people are throwing in the towel too early.
There are wobbles in every season.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Aston Villa, Leicester, Fulham….those are the key fixtures away from home. We need to avoid a repeat of what happened against Everton. In order for that to happen, Arteta needs to change his ways…and stop putting out the same fucking team.

[LDG]

:gp:

This.

I think people are throwing in the towel too early.
There are wobbles in every season.

I don’t think we’ll win it. I’m not throwing the towel in, it’s just what I’ve always thought.

Doesn’t stop me from wanting us to, or dreaming. But lets face it, we all wanted to get above spurs and get into the champions league. The fect we’re top of the league and 6 points clear (five at xmas btw) isn’t a bedwetting incident.

Yes, we may bottle it and everyone can snipe. Fuck em. Love this team…they at least want it and care.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Arteta’s refusal to mix up his starting 11 is also ridiculous.

You know I keep saying Mikel might be a great manager one day...but its a real shame that he couldn't have had some more experience before we hired him.... because the lapses he has are so clearly based on inexperience that it beggars belief. I mean if he'd been sacked one or two times, or lost out on a league promotion because of his stubbornness, I'm really sure he would have adapted to change more quickly.

Oh well, he'll just continue experimenting with us till he gets it right it seems.

A real shame though as we're going to make winning this title harder than it needed to be.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Yeah, I never had us winning the league - and that they got in to such a strong position was way beyond anything that could reasonably be expected.

This is a young team and with the right strategy and support for the future, they’ll be well positioned to win some silverware.

But it isn’t going to happen this season.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

:gp:

This.

I think people are throwing in the towel too early.
There are wobbles in every season.

I'm with you here.

Let's see what happens against Citeh...its only a few days anyway.

[Letters]

I don’t think we’ll win it. I’m not throwing the towel in, it’s just what I’ve always thought.

Doesn’t stop me from wanting us to, or dreaming. But lets face it, we all wanted to get above spurs and get into the champions league. The fect we’re top of the league and 6 points clear (five at xmas btw) isn’t a bedwetting incident.

Yes, we may bottle it and everyone can snipe. Fuck em. Love this team…they at least want it and care.

Before the World Cup I was enjoying the ride but, like most people, thought that City would steamroll us eventually. But then when we started again and we kept getting the results - particularly the Spurs and Utd ones - I started to believe. Now, I’m not sure. No one expected a title push this season, as you say a CL place and dusting off the St Totteringham’s Day bunting was the aim. If we fall away now it will be disappointing, but we will almost certainly have overachieved from where we thought we’d be this season. But yeah, this is a team I can get behind and that’s a massive step in the right direction from where we have been.

[LDG]

Arteta’s refusal to mix up his starting 11 is also ridiculous.

He’s a bit hamstrung in some respects, and given they’ve got us where they are now is kind of understandable.

That said, we have a few players out of form. Martinelli is strangely downbeat. I’d like to see him in the middle picking up the ball and running at players. He’d cause mayhem.

Also ESR is a real miss for being able to change it up.

Lastly, we’re without Jesus. That should not be forgotten. He’s a massive reason why we got to Christmas where we were

[Letters]

This is a young team and with the right strategy and support for the future, they’ll be well positioned to win some silverware.

But it isn’t going to happen this season.
It does feel “now or never” for the title.
Utd are looking good now, the slow start probably means they won’t be champions, but they’ll be better next season. Chelsea are throwing silly money around, hopefully it’ll all implode but the level of player they’re buying must surely yield results. Newcastle are on the march and City aren’t going away - unless the FFP stuff hits them hard, but my gut feeling is it won’t.
So I’m not ready to give up the dream quite yet, but it is starting to fade a little. All eyes to Wednesday :sick:

[Marc Overmars]

You can never be sure of what’s going to happen in a year, in the summer no one would have thought we’d be challenging for the title and Liverpool and Chelsea would have fallen off a cliff. So I don’t think it’s necessarily now or never, we have a squad that is young enough and also committed enough to keep us competitive for a few seasons at least. The moment is now though and regardless of what our goals were, they must have changed, if they haven’t then that’s loser talk.

We can lay down the statement of all statements on Wednesday. I don’t see it happening but it’s in our hands and this wobble can’t be allowed to turn into something more serious.

Hopefully Jesus is back in a few weeks too. We need him badly at the moment.

[Mac76]

Arteta’s refusal to mix up his starting 11 is also ridiculous.

This

A real strategic failing to not move things around after such a terrible performance against Neverton and the Citeh game coming up

Now we' re in the worst of all possible worlds where the team he's so clearly flagged as his A team is failing

I like Martineli but Arteta should play Trossard and Tierney ahead of Martinelli and Zin on Wednesday - I have little hope he will, particularly re Tierney, and that is why Arteta is not a top rank coach, he has his favourites and he won't budge from them

Zinchenko is bad right now (and in my opinion in general) and against Citeh they will wind him up and it wouldn''t surprise me if he's carded, if not sent off, but the one certainty is that Arteta just won't see it - alongside Xhaka we now have two Arteta undroppables and if you want to win things no one should be undroppable

[selassie]

Arteta’s refusal to mix up his starting 11 is also ridiculous.

This is starting to concern me too because in certain positions we have pretty decent alternatives who IMO should be getting more regular game time.

Despite this, he will probably surprise us all and mix up the team for Wednesday's game against City.