It won’t happen this year unfortunately. I knew it after the Villa game, but I got sucked in again. I thought maybe Spurs could do us a favour and, credit to them, they played better than I expected them to. But I should know better myself. We shouldn’t rely on others to do our job,
I was just so desperate to see us win it. I had to wait a few days for the disappointment to sink in, the reality is we should look at ourselves.
One point against Fulham. That corner Zinny gave away for their equaliser with 10 man. Playing Thomas Partey at RB, with Gabriel on the bench. Jorginho gifting Spurs a draw at the Emirates. The Kai Havertz experiment in midfield, which let’s be honest didn’t work. And we tried it against Villa which ultimately cost us, because that was the only moment it was really in our own hands. West Ham at home missing chances and conceding poor goals. Even the draw at Anfield, we took the lead, then we fell into the emotion of the game.
Some people will call me harsh or negative, but against this Man City side, a draw is like a defeat. If we want to lift the title, we need to dissect every single mistake that has cost us or could’ve cost us and prevent it from repeating as soon as possible. Back when I started watching the PL a season like ours with 89 points potentially would’ve been good enough.
And I do understand in a lot of ways we’re at a disadvantage to City. Just their wage bill for last year is almost equal to our entire turnover. They have the best manager, the best players and the experience. Yet that was the case with Ferguson back in the day, but Wenger came and produced teams that beat him, won doubles. Mourinho came and overtook us and United. It’s possible, we didn’t come this close by looking for excuses, we kept trying to improve.
Honestly this season hurts more. Last year we kind of took the league by storm, this season especially after Christmas we’ve been a monster. We’ve dropped 5 points. What we ultimately have to do to win it is combine the start of last year with the finish of this one and finish in the 90+ points. Something we’ve only done once in our history with the Invincibles who had exactly 90.
And you wonder what might’ve been if we had actually beaten Bayern in the first leg, because I do believe our mood was really hurt by that game and that affected the Villa home game. Don Unai doing the double over us, when we binned him, doing us in the EL in the past as well. I am really hurt, because it feels like we haven’t learned some lessons still.
I know the task is difficult, but we must elevate our way of thinking if we want to win it. You can actually look at Spurs for this. Their entire existence is focused on what Arsenal are doing, it’s why they never win anything. I actually respect big Ange for being a winner and trying to look at the bigger picture. It’s just funny how you see Mourinho, then Conte and now Ange talking about what the foundations at Spurs are.
We’ve been there ironically. We used to be a club happy to make the numbers with a top 4 finish. To win the title we now need to look at the striker department. City won the title without an out and out striker, yet still bought Haaland to elevate themselves. Let’s go big and get Gyokores or Isak. Frankie De Jong in midfield would be a welcome edition. Saka needs competition on the wing. On the other side Martinelli fell off a cliff, maybe we need an upgrade there.
One thing we lack to City is players who can take games by the scruff of the neck and win them by themselves. Someone to request the ball at his feet and produce a magic moment. I know it won’t happen, but an Mbappe signing for example. This would really tell City we want the crown you are wearing and we’re willing to cut your head off to take it.
We just can’t rely on other teams. Arsenal is one of the most hated clubs in this country from pundits to fans. There are a lot of London clubs – none of them want us to succeed.
West Ham will not do us a favour on the final day. I’ve seen Moyes put hate comments towards Arsenal long enough. Besides he’s leaving, the players are on the beach, Antonio’s lost his love for football, they are way off. It’s just such an easy game for City. That’s the ultimate lesson, we have to do the job ourselves.
Konstantin
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Who cares if they win or lose? It’s just football. And it’s not my title anyway. I haven’t done anything at all for it.
The positive thing is that Arsenal FC have played the best football in EPL this season (beating Man City; beating Liverpool; beating Chelsea; beating Tottenham & beating Man United twice). With no lost game against any of those teams. From that perspective they should win the title… Of course! But one bl**dy single game less good executed since new year were enough for losing the EPL. Hard, but a reality.
If you are sitting in a full lifeboat and see Pep Guardiola in the water. Don’t give him the hand to help him on board. He will only take your place in the boat and throw you into the water. You can’t give that man a hand, like Arsenal did vs Villa.
Guardiola is the most consistent manager in modern football history, so I don’t think we’ll win EPL as long as he manages an ultra-wealthy English team
We’d likely lose the major trophy again, but I’m proud of the whole squad because they managed to be unbeaten against the traditional big six teams and made a huge goal difference
I just hope Jesus will play left-sided AM next season, because he has all necessary skillsets to thrive in the role
@Gai, I don’t see Jesus embracing that he doesn’t have that kind of physicality, he would be better as a winger considering he was trained as a No 9.
In my opinion if ESR is not sold he should fit into that position. I guess Arsenal would want to make money out of GJesus if good offers come. All things been equal I don’t see PEPG Winning Epl next season Arsenal has better chance. They will develop tired legs in midfield. Arsenal have really closed the gap the magins between the two teams this season very close
I’d prefer Jesus in the left-sided AM position than Smith-Rowe, because Jesus is better in tight-spaces and more press-resistant
I don’t agree that we can’t win the league with Pep still in charge of City.
Just look at how close the margin is this season. Now that speaks volume.
If we had at least went into the Villa game at home with the right selection and attitude, we probably would’ve won and the narrative won’t be what it is right now.
With the necessary improvements next season, I sense we will do it.
In fact, I want us to beat Pep to the league even if it will be once. Wanna see his face when we lift the trophy after winning the league with one or two games to spare.
Man City could lose the final game of the season, have seen crazier things happen on the final day.
Come what may on Super Sunday, the gaffer must be shown respect for a job well done.
One way of showing it is a brand new extension with a fat contract.
The gaffer now have over 100 wins under his belt playing some 170 games, thats keeping company’s with some stellar names in the premier league.
Now thats less than half dozen games behind The great Alex Ferguson and eight games behind the legendary big German Jurgen Klopp.
Its the first time Arsenal have reached back to back 80 points in two decades, Kroenke’s must now do the honorable thing.
If we HAVE TO look for reasons in our own performances, I would say it’s one of these 3 matches:
1) home loss to W Ham
2) home draw to Fulham (playing vs 10 men)
3) away loss to Fulham
Especially those Fulham matches are plainly unforgivable given they’re like 12-13th in the league.
Great great season
Am proud of my team, no matter what will happen tomorrow
Just a correction: If City wins the league, I won’t say we lost it against Aston Villa. We could have beaten Villa and lost against Spurs and Manchester United
Let’s keep on trying
My dream summer signings
Striker – Osimhen/Vlahovic/Toney/Isak/Gykores/Sesko
DM- Guimaraes/Luiz/Onana
RW- Raphinha/Neto/Nico/Olise
Whatever happens, it’s a big upgrade from the last season. Mistakes are part of the game. I just hope Arteta and players will learn from it. Arteta should stop unnecessary experiments. Players should be business -like on the pitch. Finally, Edu and Arteta should give the team a strong physical presence in the midfield. A big goal scoring striker and of course, a good RW to give Saka competition. If only we can do all of those things perhaps, next season may be ours.
I agree with you Konstantin, we need to combine the first half of last season with the second half of this season in order to displace Man City and win the league. Arsenal have been incredible since the start of the new year bar the home loss to Aston Villa; we should have won that game and the title would have been securely in our cabinet by now.
We can only hope for the unlikeliest of miracles tomorrow. No matter the final outcome, I can say that this season has been an upgrade to last season.
Hopefully, the upward trajectory continues and we finally become the EPL champions.
A draw or loss is not impossible for City. Likelihood is that they will win but im not giving up until the final whistle blows.
I think we would be champions if we beat Villa. And possibly be champions if we drew with them. Its always bad to lose but to lose at Home was tough to watch
When Arsenal couldn’t score against Aston Villa the season tock it’s last (?) turn, a turn in wrong direction. Even with 0-0 vs Villa it would be just one point, and City still be passing Arsenal. 90 vs 89.
It’s been a great season, Arsenal have been unlucky at times, but we were competing with a Frankenstein club? And that’s difficult.
I haven’t seen other clubs compete with Man C, but we’re the villains? Go figure.
Besides, I’m happy we’ve made rival fans piss boil, they torture themselves and misdirect their anger away from their own woeful clubs. Long may it continue.
It’s City’s title to lose Konstantin, not ours, because they’re the holders, not us, but they won’t lose it as West Ham doing us a favour will not be an issue as they’re just not good enough to get anything from City at The Etihad whether Moyes hates us or not.
I really, really hope I’m wrong.
When I see so many ppl hand-wringing over what could have been done to win this game or that game, I’m genuinely surprised.
The EPL title has many twists and turns and can be decided by one decision, one small action which is out of a club’s control.
Imagine that Son tucked away that late chance against City, as he has done so many times in the past. Now Arsenal go into the last game in charge of destiny. If that were the case then City would have their own set of regrets.
Look at the horrible decisions by officials such as the Newcastle goal when they won 1-0. There’s been a fair few of those.
Look at the finances off the field with City facing over 100 charges which never seems to progress.
If you think this is all about what Arsenal does then think again – over 38 games played by 19 different sides and multiple sets of officials (at all levels, not just the ones who referee games)… with two clubs as closely matched as City and Arsenal, over a whole season there’s plenty of scope for small variables outside of the control of any one club to be the deciding factor.
Just be happy to be in it on the final day. Supporters have one job to do: supporting.