Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal 26.02.2025 - KO: 19:30

[HCZ_Reborn]

I can’t think of a game this season I’ve looked forward to less. This feels to me like if we play the way we did against West Ham it’s a guaranteed defeat. So it’s a question of whether Arteta has learnt anything from saturday or not. The problem is I fear it’s not within our power to avoid defeat, especially if we accept (as some people on here still haven’t) that there are no goals in this team.

By this I mean we have the kind of players who might add to our goal tally were we already in front, but not the type of players we can rely on to open the scoring. This then puts so much pressure on our defence not because their incapable of keeping a clean sheet against this team, but because they know the failure so to do is likely fatal.

[Marc Overmars]

The pressure is off so I wouldn’t be surprised if we performed but realistically it’s hard to see anything more than a scrappy draw at best. Very little chance that we win this game and I’d imagine a defeat here would begin a spiral into a CL dogfight for the remainder of the season.

[Niall_Quinn]

Yeah we're winning this one. No pressure, title gone, nothing to play for - this is when we are at out best.

[Mac76]

12-0, hatters for Wood, Gibbs-White, Elanga and Hudson-Odoi

[Mac76]

The pressure is off so I wouldn’t be surprised if we performed but realistically it’s hard to see anything more than a scrappy draw at best. Very little chance that we win this game and I’d imagine a defeat here would begin a spiral into a CL dogfight for the remainder of the season.

Agree, it's all very well saying the pressure's off but the team is shot and Forest will be rubbing their hands at the thought of this one

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yeah we're winning this one. No pressure, title gone, nothing to play for - this is when we are at out best.

Well for once I hope your jaded cynicism proves to be accurate and that what we saw on Saturday was a reflection of choking when the chance came to assert pressure on Liverpool rather than just a reflection on where the squad is in terms of both injury and fatigue. I have to say though, I don’t think there’s that much wrong with the mentality of the team especially compared to the Wenger days, but we still need wins.

[Niall_Quinn]

Well for once I hope your jaded cynicism proves to be accurate and that what we saw on Saturday was a reflection of choking when the chance came to assert pressure on Liverpool rather than just a reflection on where the squad is in terms of both injury and fatigue. I have to say though, I don’t think there’s that much wrong with the mentality of the team especially compared to the Wenger days, but we still need wins.

Was thinking of it more from Arteta's perspective. No reason not to let the team of the leash now. All we have to protect is that top 4 spot so coveted by the money men. Unless we totally collapse (yes, I see your point regarding the exhaustion that may result from the careful lack of planning) we'll get at least 4th spot. So we might as well go out and see what these players can do, in preparation for next season. It's a shame we are still in the CL. That means more games, distractions for no purpose. Well, I suppose the experience is something.

[Mac76]

Was thinking of it more from Arteta's perspective. No reason not to let the team of the leash now

If there's one thing anyone would never think about him is easing off on anyone, that's been part of the problem, whether it's playing people continuously or never playing them

Bukayo Saka? you play 90 minutes of every game

Ethan Nwaneri? You only get a kick when everyone else is injured

There's a guy called Butler-Odeyeji been on the bench the last few games but not got a kick and guess what? He's a forward and he's also played more competitive football than either Nwaneri or MLS. He needs to be involved tonight, winning, losing or drawing, only in match conditions can you see what someone is really made of

[Letters]

I hope we win, I suppose, but I'm struggling to muster any enthusiasm of this, tbh

[HCZ_Reborn]

Well I would say that it’d be nice to see Rice, Trossard and Odegaard all discover the goalscoring touch, but I don’t think the chances will be there to stick away to begin with.

I’d basically encourage anyone with the ball outside the box to shoot, it’ll most likely be closed down but you never know, it might fly in, with or without a deflection or might be palmed out by Sels.

Id be happy to encourage a direct, route one approach if a) I thought our players capable of it b) that it would work against a deep lying forest who won’t overcommit.