If you read certain social media posts or listened to some YouTubers after Arsenal’s latest fixture on Tuesday night, you might have assumed we had dropped points?
I have come across the word ’embarrassment’ to describe our 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.
You don’t encounter that description too often to describe 3 points in the Champions League. Yet some Gunners seemed dispirited that this was ‘only’ the scoreline. Quite disrespectful to the opposition?
In hindsight the atmosphere at our stadium reflected that attitude, like a win was a formality and goals were a case of when and not if.
I do understand why sometimes a section of our fanbase come across as arrogant by our peers.
We do act like something that we are not.
Our players are built up like they are superior then they actually are.
A false narrative exists that this manager has achieved anything special.
We are imposters, acting like we belong at a level when we haven’t earned that right.
In reality we haven’t lifted the Prem in over two decades. Mikel Arteta has been knocked out of Europe by the likes of Villarreal, Olympiacos and Sporting Lisbon.
So, the Gunners are simply not good enough nor have we earned the right to be taking for granted any kind of win at the Head of UEFA’s table.
There are some encounters where the result is more important than the performance.
With two tricky away trips to follow in the CL, maximum points at the Emirates are vital if we want to finish in the top 8 of the table and avoid a playoff.
The outcome was all that mattered midweek and all that should matter. It’s unrealistic to have expected anything different.
Bournemouth was our first defeat since April so naturally confidence would have been hit.
Without Odegaard and Saka we are without our two best creative options.
So, when you are not at your maximum it takes skill to find a way to get over the line.
That actually shows great mental strength and shouldn’t be discounted.
Victory means we have 7 points out of 9 with us yet to concede a goal in the competition.
If that disappoints you, then nothing we will do in Europe will make you happy.
Be humble peeps.
Dan
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A positive view on the match which I like. I agree with the importance of getting the 3 points. That’s all that matters after all.
I’ve not noticed anyone saying the result was an embarrassment – I don’t doubt it has been said, but to that extent, surely every top 6 club has a section of “arrogant” fans?
A lot of people have expressed disappointment and probably a feeling (fear?) that we’re inevitably going to fall short of winning a significant competition again. Sometimes, I find the way that is expressed to be disappointing, but not surprising.
Dan it was a poor performance from most of the players, that atmosphere from the crowd was a result of players lacking fight and that’s what fans want to see, FIGHT!. Challenge for everyball, give that 100% . Yes we got the points ànd that matters, we’re the players complacent? Or ill prepared , Arteta said we will be up for the Liverpool game! Why weren’t we ready for the past two?
It seems to me that whatever dross this bunch churn out game after game, there are those fans that just refuse to see or say anything negative about this team.
I say it how it is, people are acting like this is happening in the odd game here or there, wakeup and be honest with yourselves.
Arsenal haven’t been playing good football all season, and don’t give me that rubbish about the players that are missing.
That happens to most teams, and the two men that should have done a better job in the summer regarding better quality cover, ie: Edu and Arteta didn’t do their job regarding transfers.
Any team that banks on players like Jesus, Sterling, Kiwior and the like really deserve what they get.
And lets face it, that means another trophy less season. Arteta’s been here 5 years now, if only they had shown Emery the patients they’ve shown Arteta I wonder where we would be now.
Has anyone noticed the excellent job he’s doing at Aston Villa. (What a mistake it was sacking him.
Still not to worry, maybe given another five years and these endless phases I keep hearing about, we might finish second a couple of more times. (Yippee!).
What are you ranting on dude!!!
Is Pep a joke to you? Tell me a coach better than Arteta in the last 3 years in the premier league bar Pep
Ola,
Granted Arsenal have improved under his management, but most of the transfer window’s under him have been totally underwhelming for the most part.
And I don’t care where he ranks as a manager compared to any other manager, you don’t win trophy’s because maybe you were the second best manager two seasons on the trot.
No, I’m afraid Arsenal dropped a major clangor when they didn’t give Emery the time they’ve given Arteta.
Have you seen the excellent job he’s doing at Aston Villa, I wonder where we would be had he been here over the past five seasons.
No, lets just stick with Arteta and his phases, and while were at it we can give win the dog a nice stroke to. (How ironic that the Arsenal dog is called Win). Win what?
Unai Emery, Jurgen Klopp??
Just to get the debate started and MA is the manager.
Chronicle,
It might sound like a rant to you, but this joke of a manager is slowly taking down this once great club.
Wake up and look at the squad overall, it’s no where near good enough to maintain a challenge, and you’ll get people bleat on about the injury’s we’ve currently got.
Well look to Edu and Arteta, they must have known the squad needed better back up. Don’t tell me that they couldn’t find better quality cover, because if that’s the case then football is in a bad way.
Oh dear looks like I’ve had another rant. (Just keep wearing those rose tinted glasses, and refuse to see the blindingly obvious weaknesses of this once great club, that no longer wins anything).
Derek, which players should Edu and Mikel have signed ?
That’s wild…is the upward trajectory (especially the last 2 years) since MA took over not evident to you?
Funny enough, I’m picturing Emery having a similar dip in results and you having a similar rant about him in this what if scenario of yours.
As the youth say these days, let him cook!
Surely there was no embarrassment, not only did we demonstrate mentality but strong character.
We played the game with the handbrake up, if I may borrow a term from that legendary Frenchman.
With one eye firmly on the big game coming up on Sunday, a return to winning ways in the league, would hardly surprise
Wenger Era talent in the squad with Graham Era tactics. I have hoped Arteta could find a way to marry the two.
Retain our strong defense and yet find a way to play memorizing attacking football.
Injuries have hampered us no doubt, but we seem to be playing not to lose rather than playing to win.
Difficult start to the year, but there is time to adapt and get back on track.
” Victory means we have 7 points out of 9 with us yet to concede a goal in the competition.
If that disappoints you, then nothing we will do in Europe will make you happy.”
To be fair, those that expect perfection week I’m week out will say 9 points out of 9 in Europe would make them happy
A win is a win, but it wasn’t the “comeback” performance that I’m pretty sure Arsenal wanted after the (earlier) embarrassment of the Bournemouth game.
Some fans were getting a little carried away with Arsenal’s win over a very average PSG side (who couldn’t beat PSV in Paris a couple of days ago). However, Shakhtar would make them look positively good. Standing 27th out of 36 in the CL table prior to the Arsenal game, Shakhtar hadn’t scored a goal and had only two shorts on target in their two previous matches – one a penalty that they missed! We’re not talking Real Madrid here.
The quality of any performance must be judged by the quality of the opposition. In this case, Arsenal struggled mightily against one of the weakest sides the competition. I don’t see much point in trying to dress that up. Let’s shout about it when it’s good, but let’s not pretend when it isn’t.
I found our game quite boring, but will take the 3 points all day long.
As for the fans, much like our home game against PSG, they were quite quiet. Has the reduction in the allocation to the Ashburton Army played a part ?