The Arses - 5/24/2025

arseblog1 @ 05:03 | May 23, 2025

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gooder @ 04:58 | May 23, 2025

Also on Trossard, consider the nketiah effect. That contract extension had the long game in mind. It ended up getting us a fair bit of cash that we would not have gotten if we'd tried to sell him with 6 months left on his contract.

gooder @ 04:53 | May 23, 2025

Reply to tosvenson:

We don’t agree on much but this is disappointing news.. Martinelli is the floor not Trossard. It means they are left wing is ok and it just isn’t.

I think I’m usually level headed with my posting but...

We've been lamenting our lack of depth in the attack all season. If we sign a couple forwards but let some go then we could end up with the same deficiencies we've been complaining about. I honestly thinks that's what's behind this extension and why I don't mind it. Now, If it meant not singing forwards then yeah I'd be worried but I don't think that will be the case. We'll see what the summer holds though.

Remember, Trossard is one of the few players we have who has consistently shown he can make an impact from the bench. He has that in his locker and it could be useful over a long season competing on four fronts.

tosvenson @ 20:51 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

Yeah. Hmm... I would be cashing-in on Trossard all day.

We don’t agree on much but this is disappointing news.. Martinelli is the floor not Trossard. It means they are left wing is ok and it just isn’t.

I think I’m usually level headed with my posting but this news is just so disappointing and seems to show a lack of ambition.

Maybe it’s because the Totts just won a trophy and it was such a bad season but we need “next level” forward players. Trossard is good but in Havertz absence, he didn’t do much at all.

mrswoo @ 19:39 | May 22, 2025

Geoff/Jeff you may get your wish if the talk of getting Hugo Ekitiké comes to fruition.... *waves*

s.p2 @ 19:21 | May 22, 2025

Reply to kleinfeld:

Is she the girl from Highbury Squad? Have heard her on a few things now; worth listening to. She sounds a lot like Amy Lawrence

That's her.

s.p2 @ 19:21 | May 22, 2025

Reply to gooder:

It depends what "cashing-in" means. If it means £10M, no thanks, if it means £40M then sure. We would need to make enough to adequately replace him. Re-signing him is a cheap(ish) way to retain som...

15-20m, I would consider.

northbankfc @ 18:12 | May 22, 2025

Reply to baichungbhutia:

What are the chances Arsenal make a big sale this summer - like a Gabriel or Martinelli? Especially if they are planning to get someone like Rodrygo.

Gabi Martinelli I would understand. Gabi Jesus too (though we wouldn't get much). But Big Gabi Magalhães is NOT FOR SALE. I would go absolutely Def Con 1 if Arteta and the board were ever to be so reckless. I don't believe they will.

kleinfeld @ 18:08 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

Love Sophie Nicolaou. She just gets how most fans feel:

"How are we feeling today Squaddies? For me, it was a dark night in football. You never ever want to see your nemesis lift a cup of tea, let al...

Is she the girl from Highbury Squad? Have heard her on a few things now; worth listening to. She sounds a lot like Amy Lawrence

iclass @ 18:00 | May 22, 2025

Reply to gooder:

It depends what "cashing-in" means. If it means £10M, no thanks, if it means £40M then sure. We would need to make enough to adequately replace him. Re-signing him is a cheap(ish) way to retain som...

Yup. Bulk of the squad should be retained with some quality additions grafted on.

iclass @ 17:59 | May 22, 2025

Daniel Levy has just discovered that the stadium designers failed to make a provision for a trophy room

gooder @ 17:49 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

Yeah. Hmm... I would be cashing-in on Trossard all day.

It depends what "cashing-in" means. If it means £10M, no thanks, if it means £40M then sure. We would need to make enough to adequately replace him. Re-signing him is a cheap(ish) way to retain some depth in the squad.

s.p2 @ 17:31 | May 22, 2025

Yeah. Hmm... I would be cashing-in on Trossard all day.

baichungbhutia @ 17:14 | May 22, 2025

Reply to bassarse:

Looks like Trossard will be staying.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/crlj05d5x5jo

If there is interest from Saudi Arabia, maybe we should sell him. 100 million and a set of binoculars.

bassarse @ 17:11 | May 22, 2025

Looks like Trossard will be staying.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/crlj05d5x5jo

gooder @ 17:10 | May 22, 2025

Reply to malaisegooner:

I don't think Big Gabi is going anywhere, ditto Martinelli. Rodrygo coming in is highly unlikely given his price tag.

As others have mentioned on here, it's probably his agent stirring up interest a...

I actually heard... somewhere... on the Arsecast, I think, that the club were in negotiations to extend Trossard. I'm actually happy with that, as long as it's intended as a depth option.

This summer should be about raising the ceiling without lowering the floor. I think most people would agree Trossard and Martinelli could both be upgraded on but if we could keep them AND upgrade that would probably be the best case scenario. Raise the ceiling and the floor together.

malaisegooner @ 16:52 | May 22, 2025

Reply to baichungbhutia:

What are the chances Arsenal make a big sale this summer - like a Gabriel or Martinelli? Especially if they are planning to get someone like Rodrygo.

I don't think Big Gabi is going anywhere, ditto Martinelli. Rodrygo coming in is highly unlikely given his price tag.

As others have mentioned on here, it's probably his agent stirring up interest and it's all just a bunch of hot air. I can see us selling Trossard though.

malaisegooner @ 16:46 | May 22, 2025

Reply to gooder:

ha ha, I love how you make that more humiliating than finishing 16th in the league 👍😂

As a matter of fact, it is indeed more humiliating because they were beaten by a side finishing 17th in the league! 😂😂

malaisegooner @ 16:41 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

Love Sophie Nicolaou. She just gets how most fans feel:

"How are we feeling today Squaddies? For me, it was a dark night in football. You never ever want to see your nemesis lift a cup of tea, let al...

This

malaisegooner @ 16:40 | May 22, 2025

Reply to gooder:

don't worry, it was just a dream, such a thing could never happen.

I on the other hand had a great dream last night, was like a scene out of Eyes Wide Shut, good stuff. 😂

Hah.

Lucky you! 😜

s.p2 @ 16:40 | May 22, 2025

Love Sophie Nicolaou. She just gets how most fans feel:

"How are we feeling today Squaddies? For me, it was a dark night in football. You never ever want to see your nemesis lift a cup of tea, let alone a European trophy. Would be feeling less pain had we won something, but we didn’t. There will be a parade in North London but not because of us.

Hope this disappointing end fuels the fire for the owners, board, manager and fans. The goal every season should be to lift silverware, not feelings. No excuses this time around. Been a lot of talk from Mikel and Josh. No more talking. Put your money where your mouth is. Empower Berta to do what he does best".

baichungbhutia @ 16:37 | May 22, 2025

What are the chances Arsenal make a big sale this summer - like a Gabriel or Martinelli? Especially if they are planning to get someone like Rodrygo.

northbankfc @ 16:36 | May 22, 2025

Reply to rockymtn_gooner:

I think we'd all agree we'd like to win a quadruple or treble. But the reality is that's very hard without a lot of squad depth and luck with injuries. And even harder in a league as competitive as th...

This

s.p2 @ 16:19 | May 22, 2025

Reply to gooder:

Maybe winning [Europa] in it's current config is about equal to the FA Cup.

Maybe even less than. To win the FA Cup you still have to go through some pretty tough teams.. I would argue the c...

We were unlucky against Atléti in Arsène's final season. One of the years where we really could/should have won it.

gooder @ 15:58 | May 22, 2025

Reply to rockymtn_gooner:

I think we'd all agree we'd like to win a quadruple or treble. But the reality is that's very hard without a lot of squad depth and luck with injuries. And even harder in a league as competitive as th...

Maybe winning [Europa] in it's current config is about equal to the FA Cup.

Maybe even less than. To win the FA Cup you still have to go through some pretty tough teams.. I would argue the closest analogy to winning Europa in it's current configuration might be winning the EFL Championship. 😏

rockymtn_gooner @ 15:47 | May 22, 2025

I think we'd all agree we'd like to win a quadruple or treble. But the reality is that's very hard without a lot of squad depth and luck with injuries. And even harder in a league as competitive as the PL.
Given the low probability of that, what does one prioritize? For me it would be league, CL, FA Cup, and Carabao in that order. Would I punt on the league to win the Carabao? Definitely not. Would I punt on CL qualification to win the Carabao? Also probably not. Would I be OK not getting out of the group stages in the CL to win the Carabao? Again, not. My answers would probably be pretty similar for the Conference League if we were somehow in that, and I think probably for the FA Cup too. If we were in Europa Cup, that's a little harder to say. Maybe winning that in it's current config is about equal to the FA Cup.
But given all our injuries this year, I'm OK with 2nd in the league and CL semis. I'd prefer that to the position of Chelsea, likely winning the Conference League, but struggling to qualify for the CL. And I'd probably prefer it to where Spurs ended up.

northbankfc @ 15:32 | May 22, 2025

Reply to kleinfeld:

Giroud, Podolski, Theo,

Haha I just thought I was funny you mentioned Sanogo aka the postman

Ah, of course, Giroud, who I criticised way too much and was better than I remembered (just slow). Podolski, who could definitely thump it but underachieved. And Theo, my recent neighbour, who again I gave far too much stick for being unable to control a ball like Messi, but who scored at a rate that our strikers would envy now.

collibosher @ 15:11 | May 22, 2025

Reply to gooder:

heh.

Vela has actually gone on to have a pretty good career.

Boring but true: Vela is actually Spanish for Candle. Therefore, in English, his name might have been Charles Chandler. Obviously no relation to Chas Chandler, bass guitarist of The Animals and manager of Jimi Hendrix Experience and Slade. I say obviously, because Chas was a nickname, his real name was Bryan Chandler.

gooder @ 15:00 | May 22, 2025

Reply to kleinfeld:

Sanogo? That boy was useless. Could have at least said Jeffers or Vela :-D

heh.

Vela has actually gone on to have a pretty good career.

kleinfeld @ 14:58 | May 22, 2025

Reply to northbankfc:

Heh! Just cataloguing who he bought. I know what he was. Forgot Jeffers and Vela, probably a couple of others. He liked his strikers.

Giroud, Podolski, Theo,

Haha I just thought I was funny you mentioned Sanogo aka the postman

northbankfc @ 14:57 | May 22, 2025

Reply to gooder:

>If they’re really £60m each (which i highly doubt)
agreed. Sesko maaaybe, but no way Gyokeres goes that little (unless Berta is some kind of negotiation savant).

>would make more sense th...

“Negotiation savant” I like this term. That’s what I believe he is. We’ll see very soon.

northbankfc @ 14:56 | May 22, 2025

Reply to kleinfeld:

Sanogo? That boy was useless. Could have at least said Jeffers or Vela :-D

Heh! Just cataloguing who he bought. I know what he was. Forgot Jeffers and Vela, probably a couple of others. He liked his strikers.

gooder @ 14:55 | May 22, 2025

Reply to northbankfc:

I call it the phenomenon of the N19 bus. Used to wait for it for ages on Blackstock Rd, only for two to arrive at once. Stranger things have happened. If they’re really £60m each (which i highly doubt...

>If they’re really £60m each (which i highly doubt)
agreed. Sesko maaaybe, but no way Gyokeres goes that little (unless Berta is some kind of negotiation savant).

>would make more sense than Rodrygo for the same price
agreed again. I think the Rodrygo noise might be another case of agents using us as a bargaining tool for their own agenda. I consider it quite high on the poo-o-meter.

>but neither and there will be noise!
agreed again

kleinfeld @ 14:52 | May 22, 2025

Reply to northbankfc:

Wenger bought Anelka, Suker, Kanu, Wiltord, Henry, brought Van Persie through the ranks, them Eduardo, Adebayor, and Sanogo before Aubameyang and Lacazette. Arteta is yet to buy a striker. I think hop...

Sanogo? That boy was useless. Could have at least said Jeffers or Vela :-D

northbankfc @ 14:43 | May 22, 2025

Wenger bought Anelka, Suker, Kanu, Wiltord, Henry, brought Van Persie through the ranks, them Eduardo, Adebayor, and Sanogo before Aubameyang and Lacazette. Arteta is yet to buy a striker. I think hoping he'll buy two in one window isn’t greedy or unrealistic. I know it won’t happen, but again, we need at least a couple of matchwinners. Gyökeres and Šeško are those sorts of players. I think Eze is as well, though not as prolific.

northbankfc @ 14:38 | May 22, 2025

Reply to gooder:

speaking of dreaming... 😏

You've been an Arsenal fan long enough to know that getting one striker is as rare as a sighting of a mexican staring frog, but getting two in one window?! That would be t...

I call it the phenomenon of the N19 bus. Used to wait for it for ages on Blackstock Rd, only for two to arrive at once. Stranger things have happened. If they’re really £60m each (which i highly doubt), it would make more sense than Rodrygo for the same price. Gyökeres can play off the left or they can compete for the No9 spot.

Seriously though, either one, but neither and there will be noise!

pip @ 14:26 | May 22, 2025

Graham got sacked soon after so I'm sure if we signed two strikers and a left winger and Mikel got sacked some people would be made up with that.

We won't mention playing like shit and finishing 12th though

pip @ 14:21 | May 22, 2025

Reply to pip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGf0Xt8uh1s

Signed a left winger soon after too

pip @ 14:17 | May 22, 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OJb7sFPQCI

pip @ 14:15 | May 22, 2025

Reply to gooder:

speaking of dreaming... 😏

You've been an Arsenal fan long enough to know that getting one striker is as rare as a sighting of a mexican staring frog, but getting two in one window?! That would be t...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGf0Xt8uh1s

gooder @ 14:13 | May 22, 2025

but seriously, in a perfect world, sure you'd love two elite players for every position but we ain't ¢115eh with their financial hullaballoo. We've been ultra focused on defense for long enough, attack has to be the priority of the limited finances this summer.

gooder @ 14:13 | May 22, 2025

Reply to arseblog1:

If Kiwior leaves, 100%. Even with him staying, I think we need someone for the right hand side

MIkel has hacked the Arseblog. 😏

gooder @ 14:04 | May 22, 2025

Reply to iclass:

It’s on his CV for the rest of his career…..beaten by a shit Totts team in a European final

ha ha, I love how you make that more humiliating than finishing 16th in the league 👍😂

s.p2 @ 14:00 | May 22, 2025

Reply to tceyes:

Losing the home leg v the barcodes was a sickener. Similar in many ways to the later CL defeat home v PSG.
In both, they blew us away in the first half hour before we finally started playing, by whic...

Fair.

gooder @ 13:59 | May 22, 2025

Reply to northbankfc:

Rodrygo for €100m is very undisciplined, which is why it had better not happen.

But Gyökeres and Šeško for £120m makes a lot of sense. I would happily give up a tricky, dribbly winger with little end...

speaking of dreaming... 😏

You've been an Arsenal fan long enough to know that getting one striker is as rare as a sighting of a mexican staring frog, but getting two in one window?! That would be the stuff of miracles.

tceyes @ 13:58 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

Also, this squad needs to experience success of some tangible description. If you assemble a robust squad, a domestic cup run need not put paid to a bigger prize.

Losing the home leg v the barcodes was a sickener. Similar in many ways to the later CL defeat home v PSG.
In both, they blew us away in the first half hour before we finally started playing, by which time it was already too late and too much to overcome in the second.

I have faith in Arteta and his team’s desire, but they now need to hold it together to get the trophy less monkey off their back so that they can make that final step into greatness and win one of the big eared trophies.

Let’s not ignore his recent record against the biggest teams. That shows this pedigree is there (even his winning FA cup run was against some of the big boys). Going back to finding all 3 points against the lesser clubs is the key now.
The ‘Nine lives’ count starts again in August.

gooder @ 13:55 | May 22, 2025

Reply to malaisegooner:

I had this bad dream last night about Spuds winning a trophy. Got me waking up in cold sweat.

don't worry, it was just a dream, such a thing could never happen.

I on the other hand had a great dream last night, was like a scene out of Eyes Wide Shut, good stuff. 😂

gooder @ 13:51 | May 22, 2025

Arse!
well in freddie!
billshit... and Ashley Young licks his chops.

s.p2 @ 13:50 | May 22, 2025

Just don't you should minimize those competitions when you're half a decade without silverware. Never said they should be the principal focus.

northbankfc @ 13:49 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

Also, this squad needs to experience success of some tangible description. If you assemble a robust squad, a domestic cup run need not put paid to a bigger prize.

See answer below

northbankfc @ 13:49 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

'Some people'. Just say me; it's fine.

Yeah, I get the broader point you're making. Still think it's a daft thing to say.

You were by no means the only one. I just don’t get your criticism of Arteta not buying certain players (a lot of which I agree with) and then losing focus thinking about the league cup. If it comes as a result of the building of a great squad, then fine. But the intensity of focus we will need to win one of the big two will be immense. To me, the domestic cups (or rather focusing on them) takes away from that focus on the next big step.

s.p2 @ 13:46 | May 22, 2025

Also, this squad needs to experience success of some tangible description. If you assemble a robust squad, a domestic cup run need not put paid to a bigger prize.

iclass @ 13:42 | May 22, 2025

This from The Independent, talking about Manure, was the reason I was content with last night’s result

“Quite how they can attract the right talent, to a team hurtling in the opposite direction from where it needs to be, without a continental carrot to dangle in front of prospective charges’ faces, is another challenge altogether.”

s.p2 @ 13:39 | May 22, 2025

Reply to northbankfc:

I forget there are some people who take all words literally, who seems determined at times to not understand the overall spirit of what is meant. There are fans, some on here this season, who genuinel...

'Some people'. Just say me; it's fine.

Yeah, I get the broader point you're making. Still think it's a daft thing to say.

northbankfc @ 13:37 | May 22, 2025

I forget there are some people who take all words literally, who seems determined at times to not understand the overall spirit of what is meant. There are fans, some on here this season, who genuinely argue that we should prioritise the domestic cups. It’s happened to Klopp and Pep. “Fielding an ‘understrength’ side???!!!!” How very dare you?!!! Sometimes a small victory can contribute to a larger defeat. I’ll say again, I used to want us to win more league cups, but now the fa and league cups in a season of so many games can be a detriment to the push for the big two. Winning one of the domestics can distort the measure of where a club is. Arteta won an FA Cup five years ago. At the time the league title was seen as the next step up. How are we going to feel winning the FA Cup next year and nothing else if Arteta then stays because of it? It’s arguable that winning nothing if we don’t win the big two would be better for the club in the long run. You can vehemently disagree, but it is a reasonable argument, it’s based on a rational assessment.

iclass @ 12:44 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

Worse than nothing? Jesus lol.

Well it surprised me also

kleinfeld @ 12:26 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

Worse than nothing? Jesus lol.

Haha

s.p2 @ 12:20 | May 22, 2025

Worse than nothing? Jesus lol.

northbankfc @ 12:13 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

If you can't win the league, at least you've something to show for the season. The League Cup is a competition that tends to reward deep squads and consistency as well. A lot of title winning sides ov...

The title-winning sides could enjoy their domestic cups because they were winning league titles. It’s a consolation. Without league titles, those cups worse than nothing. They’re also a way for a club and manager to paper over the cracks. Arguably, Wenger stayed three years too long because of FA Cup wins. We might have got Klopp in if he had gone before being offered the new contract after the first of those cup wins. They’re a bonus which clubs with massive squads can afford to plan for. I was happy with Arteta’s FA Cup. But now only the PL and/or the CL will do.

gunnerlocutor @ 12:06 | May 22, 2025

Arse. Well in Freddie.
If the win yesterday keeps Mate in situ for next season it will be hilarious.

iclass @ 12:02 | May 22, 2025

Reply to northbankfc:

Arsenal fans losing their minds on X. #ArtetaOut trending. All because Tottenham won.

If that’s what they are saying I think they had already lost their minds

s.p2 @ 11:55 | May 22, 2025

If you can't win the league, at least you've something to show for the season. The League Cup is a competition that tends to reward deep squads and consistency as well. A lot of title winning sides over the last several decades have done well in it.

iclass @ 11:55 | May 22, 2025

If the government declared supporting Spuds was akin to sexual deviation, and that there was a risk of inheriting this in progeny would it be reasonable that they were included in the current proposal of chemical castration for serious sex offenders

s.p2 @ 11:54 | May 22, 2025

Reply to northbankfc:

I’ve never understood this hypothetical. If you’re going to imagine something you would have liked why not settle for a Champion League trophy? We had a chance to win it. I’d have settled for getting ...

Obviously, I'd prefer those prizes but, personally, I take enjoyment from winning domestic cups.

northbankfc @ 11:51 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

I personally would have a taken a League Cup this season.

I’ve never understood this hypothetical. If you’re going to imagine something you would have liked why not settle for a Champion League trophy? We had a chance to win it. I’d have settled for getting to the final. Next year, I’m only interested in two trophies, because the rest are consolation prizes, unless you’re Crystal Palace or Tottenham.

salaar @ 11:35 | May 22, 2025

Well in Freddie
Well billed Blogs
Rats...

tceyes @ 11:33 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

People must think the landscape of football managers is quite arid if they're that nervous about the prospect of a replacement.

It worked out so well for United ditching ETH and appointing Amorin.
Spurs searched multiple managers, including that proven winner in mourinho, and conte.

Chelsea, the barcodes, even Liverpool and Citeh have had multiple managers before landing silverwear.

It’s not fear of replacement it’s more about who is genuinely out there to put the club in a better position?

s.p2 @ 11:14 | May 22, 2025

I personally would have a taken a League Cup this season.

northbankfc @ 11:12 | May 22, 2025

Reply to catfishstgermain:

You'd be a fucking idiot to sack your manager off the back of finishing 2nd twice and reaching the CL semis. How often does sacking a manager doing well but not well enough for some go well?

Unless y...

2nd three times in a row
FA Cup winners
QF and SF first two seasons back in CL

He’s had a lot of backing (though not nearly enough). He prioritised wrong on some players. But Merino is effective if wooden, and Calafiori, if he can stay fit, has got that aura in his playing style and sense of the moment in a game, regardless of the glossy fashion magazine vibe!

It boils down to next year, I think he believes it and this team has a good foundation. We need a couple of genuine gamechangers up front. Can’t fuck this up.

Process or no process, charisma or not, excuses or not, he will be judged on one metric only, whether he wins one of the two big trophies. That we’re even in the mix is reason to believe. But it has to happen.

northbankfc @ 11:12 | May 22, 2025

Reply to catfishstgermain:

You'd be a fucking idiot to sack your manager off the back of finishing 2nd twice and reaching the CL semis. How often does sacking a manager doing well but not well enough for some go well?

Unless y...

s.p2 @ 11:12 | May 22, 2025

Reply to tceyes:

Finding available managers that win things is a small pool.
You can easily get find some from the top end clubs of Scotland, France, Germany, Spain and Portugal where there’s only ever two teams to c...

People must think the landscape of football managers is quite arid if they're that nervous about the prospect of a replacement.

s.p2 @ 11:07 | May 22, 2025

Reply to catfishstgermain:

You'd be a fucking idiot to sack your manager off the back of finishing 2nd twice and reaching the CL semis. How often does sacking a manager doing well but not well enough for some go well?

Unless y...

I get it but when does absence of actual silverware start to factor into the equation?!

catfishstgermain @ 11:05 | May 22, 2025

Moot obviously, Arsenal wont even be considering it.

catfishstgermain @ 11:05 | May 22, 2025

You'd be a fucking idiot to sack your manager off the back of finishing 2nd twice and reaching the CL semis. How often does sacking a manager doing well but not well enough for some go well?

Unless you're investing hundreds of millions each season the way Chelsea did it under Abramovich...and now i guess, but with a more lunatic approach.

s.p2 @ 11:02 | May 22, 2025

Reply to tceyes:

This season has been tough, for so many reasons. I don’t know what you want from your team, but I want to see us challenging and competing; for players to truly wear their hearts on their sleeves and ...

A word I hear a lot from certain quarters is 'entitlement'.

Arsenal is the third most successful club in the English top flight - so expectations should always be high. While no-one reasonably expects us to win things with the same regularity as Liverpool/City in the present and Chelsea/United in the past, the club has spent the better part of the last 10-15 years underachieving relative to resources expended. There's no question we've been financially outmuscled by other clubs but we probably still should have seen more success in that time. Tired of fans scurrying behind the pretext of City and Chelsea's wealth and using it to refract legitimate criticism. Like cartoon animals scuttling behind a large mirror.

You can definitely argue that Arteta has had to chisel against residual frustration/anguish but the lack of cup finals and trophies this deep into his tenure is a bit galling. While he deserves a lot of respect for re-establishing the club as a CL outfit and challenging for the PL, he's been quite handsomely backed and given a lot of say re transfers. Also, the title challenges - great as they were - certainly benefitted from multiple early cup exits. I think some of the foaming at the mouth and baying for blood is uncalled for but I also think that it's a bit unfair to use the word 'entitled' for people currently pondering what a more proven manager could do.

Having said all that, there is a case to be made that the club's executive arm and negotiating team are highly culpable for the last two windows. In any case, the club's recent approach to squad-building will be its undoing where Arteta is concerned. Due to sheer amount of work required to bolster the squad sufficiently, I think it's quite likely next season will be a disappointment... but, depressingly, that's not a bold prediction.

iq_3 @ 10:30 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

El Khannouss. CAM at Leicester.

looks quality every time i've seen him and might be 'cheap'

tceyes @ 10:29 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

Find it strange how people can be so vehemently pro-Arteta and then insist that a trophy next season is an absolute must in the same breath.

There’s nothing wrong about wishing for a manager who has ...

Finding available managers that win things is a small pool.
You can easily get find some from the top end clubs of Scotland, France, Germany, Spain and Portugal where there’s only ever two teams to choose from, but there’s no guarantee they will deliver in the premier league. If you want an EFL, Europa league or conference title, then sure, your pool is wider but would you be satisfied with that?

bassarse @ 10:27 | May 22, 2025

Reply to kleinfeld:

Kdb is finished. No more rivals detritus

Bruno is still at the top of his game....plus we could make him wear a balaclava

Bruno is currently a large rat in a small fetid pond. Easier to shine in such an environment.

Plus he's 30, so we're unlikely to offer him a four or five year deal which he would undoubtedly want. If he does leave he'll end up in Saudi.

tceyes @ 10:18 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

Find it strange how people can be so vehemently pro-Arteta and then insist that a trophy next season is an absolute must in the same breath.

There’s nothing wrong about wishing for a manager who has ...

This season has been tough, for so many reasons. I don’t know what you want from your team, but I want to see us challenging and competing; for players to truly wear their hearts on their sleeves and them to hurt like the fans do when they lose (or fail to win).

I desperately want to go back to the style of Wenger’s best days where we blitz teams in the first 45 minutes, leaving opponents completely shell-shocked, and not the cautious horseshoe football trying to manufacture a way through highly disciplined defences. But the game changes year on year so it’s not easy to find the answers to deliver this.

I’m a fan, I don’t pretend to have these answers, but I do believe Mikel has the requisite skills to deliver in this team.
He changed something this year and it hasn’t worked, and he will recognise this and look for what needs to change. The two previous years produced some amazing exciting title challenges and I think he can find that again.
At the start of every season, we can win only four trophies: two of which require incredible consistency, mixed with a bit of good luck; the other two rely more on luck of the draw and a few one-off performances.
The external pressures crank up each year a trophyless season passes, but it’s the consistency in getting better that will determine my opinion of whether he should stay or not.

malaisegooner @ 10:16 | May 22, 2025

Reply to kleinfeld:

Kdb is finished. No more rivals detritus

Bruno is still at the top of his game....plus we could make him wear a balaclava

Fair enough 😂

kleinfeld @ 10:09 | May 22, 2025

Reply to malaisegooner:

No way we lose our 'Handsome FC' tag over that rat-faced prick.

Would rather have KdB if we're talking about signing a CM from Manc cunts.

Kdb is finished. No more rivals detritus

Bruno is still at the top of his game....plus we could make him wear a balaclava

iq_3 @ 10:08 | May 22, 2025

and Arse!
well in freddie

iq_3 @ 10:07 | May 22, 2025

"His father was a talking bear and his mother an ethereal forest spirit"

Blogs, sorry to disagree but, with Didier Deschamps* being a Frenchman, i think you'll find :-
"His mother was a hamster, and his father smelt of elderberries!"

* (Deschamps, AKA "Desi"on his membership card of "L'Union des porteurs d'eau")

malaisegooner @ 10:02 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

Find it strange how people can be so vehemently pro-Arteta and then insist that a trophy next season is an absolute must in the same breath.

There’s nothing wrong about wishing for a manager who has ...

I was going to suggest we go for Matey Mate who will win us a trophy in his second season until I remembered Arteta won one in his first 😜

malaisegooner @ 10:00 | May 22, 2025

No way we lose our 'Handsome FC' tag over that rat-faced prick.

Would rather have KdB if we're talking about signing a CM from Manc cunts.

malaisegooner @ 09:55 | May 22, 2025

Reply to kleinfeld:

He's a total prick, but what about stealing Bruno off man utd? His numbers are great plus would repay them for RVP...surely he's fed up with the shit show

No rats allowed... Ever!

malaisegooner @ 09:55 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

El Khannouss. CAM at Leicester.

Is he any good though?

s.p2 @ 09:54 | May 22, 2025

Reply to malaisegooner:

El who??

El Khannouss. CAM at Leicester.

malaisegooner @ 09:53 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

Tenuous reports about interest in El Khanouss a week or so ago.

El who??

s.p2 @ 09:53 | May 22, 2025

Reply to kleinfeld:

He's a total prick, but what about stealing Bruno off man utd? His numbers are great plus would repay them for RVP...surely he's fed up with the shit show

Can acknowledge the talent/numbers but… ew, no.

kleinfeld @ 09:52 | May 22, 2025

He's a total prick, but what about stealing Bruno off man utd? His numbers are great plus would repay them for RVP...surely he's fed up with the shit show

freddieathome @ 09:46 | May 22, 2025

Reply to tceyes:

For the first time in what, 25 years, this europa league was truly a second-tier club tournament- no CL drop-ins (correct, in my opinion) and mid-table clubs from all nations.

Next week, multibillio...

I wouldn’t be quite so sure, fancy Betis to surprise

northbankfc @ 09:45 | May 22, 2025

Reply to northbankfc:

I can't say if it was the experience of seeing him at the Union Chapel make that effort to connect with fans, or the fact we have several genuine world class players (particularly the defenders), or w...

Arteta's right, the board have to back him, it's their project too, they have to go the extra mile now and I think Berta's been brought in specifically for that. But he has to be backed with cold, hard cash.

northbankfc @ 09:43 | May 22, 2025

Reply to tceyes:

For the first time in what, 25 years, this europa league was truly a second-tier club tournament- no CL drop-ins (correct, in my opinion) and mid-table clubs from all nations.

Next week, multibillio...

I can't say if it was the experience of seeing him at the Union Chapel make that effort to connect with fans, or the fact we have several genuine world class players (particularly the defenders), or whether it's Nicola Berta coming in giving me hope, but I'm tranquil about this moment. I don't feel anything about Spurs winning Europa league or Chelsea winning the Auto-windscreens trophy! For me, it's all about what we do in the summer. If we get to the end of the summer and we don't have at least one genuinely shiny striker, I will likely get angry too. It's gonna be a long summer, but I too feel ready to take a break from it all. On Monday, I start house sitting for a young family in Hove. Hopefully, a few weeks that will take my mind of transfer speculation. I honestly don't care that Spurs fans will get dizzy at this little European success. They had already had European success and we've been poor in that department for years. Only a Champions League and Premier League double will do now. Arteta has to deliver this year. I think he will be backed by fans if he brings in several players who are clearly going to improve the team. We need to step up big time now.

hazza @ 09:42 | May 22, 2025

Reply to kleinfeld:

Is he out of contract?

Partey?

Yep.

arseblog1 @ 09:41 | May 22, 2025

Reply to kleinfeld:

Is he out of contract?

He will be on June 30th

s.p2 @ 09:39 | May 22, 2025

Reply to tceyes:

For the first time in what, 25 years, this europa league was truly a second-tier club tournament- no CL drop-ins (correct, in my opinion) and mid-table clubs from all nations.

Next week, multibillio...

Find it strange how people can be so vehemently pro-Arteta and then insist that a trophy next season is an absolute must in the same breath.

There’s nothing wrong about wishing for a manager who has more experience at winning things.

kleinfeld @ 09:33 | May 22, 2025

Reply to citizenerased1:

He's confirmed he wants Partey to stay then?

Everyone involved in this decision should be removed from their roles now.

Is he out of contract?

tceyes @ 09:27 | May 22, 2025

Reply to northbankfc:

Arsenal fans losing their minds on X. #ArtetaOut trending. All because Tottenham won.

For the first time in what, 25 years, this europa league was truly a second-tier club tournament- no CL drop-ins (correct, in my opinion) and mid-table clubs from all nations.

Next week, multibillionnaire Chelsea will win the 3rd tier tournament in an even bigger mismatch.

Sadly irrespective of the quality of opposition, any shiny trophy is a prize which Arteta hasn’t won since 2020. It hurts, and we had better find a way to win something next season.

I’m certainly NOT Arteta-out, but can understand fan frustration when even the cocks can enjoy the end of their truly pathetic season.

northbankfc @ 09:19 | May 22, 2025

Reply to citizenerased1:

He's confirmed he wants Partey to stay then?

Everyone involved in this decision should be removed from their roles now.

I do worry how this plays out next season. This season was fraught enough.

northbankfc @ 09:18 | May 22, 2025

Arsenal fans losing their minds on X. #ArtetaOut trending. All because Tottenham won.

citizenerased1 @ 09:02 | May 22, 2025

He's confirmed he wants Partey to stay then?

Everyone involved in this decision should be removed from their roles now.

ollie @ 09:02 | May 22, 2025

I woke up thinking 'at least I'm not in England'.
When I arrived at work, three fucking people tried to talk to me about some poxy football match that apparently happened yesterday. FFS.

s.p2 @ 08:40 | May 22, 2025

Reply to northbankfc:

If I had to choose, because of finances, between a creative midfielder and another defender, I'd go midfield, I think it's a no-brainer we go for a midfielder. In theory MLS could play there, dependin...

Tenuous reports about interest in El Khanouss a week or so ago.

northbankfc @ 08:34 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

…and if Partey leaves, you absolutely need to bring someone else in.

Would leave Merino, Ødegaard, Rice and Zubimendi as trusted senior midfield options. That is not the quantitative depth you need t...

If I had to choose, because of finances, between a creative midfielder and another defender, I'd go midfield, I think it's a no-brainer we go for a midfielder. In theory MLS could play there, depending on if Zinchenko stays or goes. On the right-side of midfield should be Timber, White who can both play CB at a push. A taller right-sided defender would be Tomiyasu if we can get him fully fit. But we need as much creativity and variety as we can get in midfield. I don't know, are there any rumours are flying about central creative midfielders?

s.p2 @ 08:19 | May 22, 2025

…and if Partey leaves, you absolutely need to bring someone else in.

Would leave Merino, Ødegaard, Rice and Zubimendi as trusted senior midfield options. That is not the quantitative depth you need to navigate multiple tournaments convincingly… and dragging Havertz from a position that actually suits him as a compensatory measure isn’t ideal.

s.p2 @ 08:13 | May 22, 2025

Reply to arseblog1:

If Kiwior leaves, 100%. Even with him staying, I think we need someone for the right hand side

That would mean, what, 9 defenders (Tomiyasu’s extended layoff notwithstanding)?!

We should not be heading into next season with the same number of midfielders as 24/25. If we do, Nwaneri needs consistent game time there.

arseblog1 @ 08:10 | May 22, 2025

Reply to s.p2:

‘…and then we have to think about a wide forward, and probably another defender too’.

Do we actually need another defender? We’re lighter in midfield.

If Kiwior leaves, 100%. Even with him staying, I think we need someone for the right hand side

iclass @ 08:10 | May 22, 2025

Reply to hazza:

Imagine being at the best club in Portugal, leading the table only to up sticks and head to the shithole that is Manchester and take over a club in the complete doldrums... And then proceed to make th...

It’s on his CV for the rest of his career…..beaten by a shit Totts team in a European final

s.p2 @ 08:09 | May 22, 2025

‘…and then we have to think about a wide forward, and probably another defender too’.

Do we actually need another defender? We’re lighter in midfield.

hazza @ 07:56 | May 22, 2025

Imagine being at the best club in Portugal, leading the table only to up sticks and head to the shithole that is Manchester and take over a club in the complete doldrums... And then proceed to make them even worse than when he was appointed.

Amorin has made Ten Hag look fucking competent.

bassarse @ 07:53 | May 22, 2025

Reply to arseblog1:

Riccy C in the middle, baby!

Forgot about him!

hazza @ 07:52 | May 22, 2025

Arse!

Well in Freddie

iclass @ 07:45 | May 22, 2025

Well in Fred

iclass @ 07:45 | May 22, 2025

Reply to northbankfc:

My cousin in Milan who’s a lifelong Utd supporter texted me a birthday wish yesterday. He said “I hope we do you a favour but Tottenham is a bloody jinx for us.” He gets 10 times angrier than me when ...

I find some consolation in the thought that for every happy Spud there are far more devastated Manc Supporters

chrism @ 07:38 | May 22, 2025

Arse. Well in Fred.

Morning all.

Fuck Spurs.

nik @ 07:37 | May 22, 2025

Arse!
Well in, freddie!!
Morning all!!!

northbankfc @ 07:28 | May 22, 2025

Reply to freddieathome:

To be fair, united have caused us much more hurt than that lot ever could so to witness another nail in their coffin is good enough for me

It’s funny that, with no personal investment in it, I said to my cuz they should stick with Amorin. But I can’t imagine how the fans will allow that. All the swagger when he came in of a generational young talent who was gonna revolutionise the team. But I don’t know that they can give him time, especially with the club hierarchy in disarray.

Yeah, it is funny seeing them suffer after all their success and all the hurts they’ve caused us. Far more than the spuds ever did. As far as that lot, they can stick that trophy where the sun don’t shine, which is the other end of the Seven Sisters Rd by the look of all those grey old men. It’ll make besting them next season all the better. No doubt we’ll face them at some point in the CL.

freddieathome @ 07:21 | May 22, 2025

Reply to northbankfc:

My cousin in Milan who’s a lifelong Utd supporter texted me a birthday wish yesterday. He said “I hope we do you a favour but Tottenham is a bloody jinx for us.” He gets 10 times angrier than me when ...

To be fair, united have caused us much more hurt than that lot ever could so to witness another nail in their coffin is good enough for me

northbankfc @ 07:17 | May 22, 2025

Reply to bassarse:

Ten times angrier than you?

That's pretty angry.

Indeed! Cool guy, and enjoys a laugh too. He introduced me to Mark Goldbridge 😊

malaisegooner @ 07:05 | May 22, 2025

Snap!

malaisegooner @ 07:05 | May 22, 2025

Reply to bassarse:

Our back four this weekend will be interesting. Possibly White and Kiwior in the middle, with Partey at RB and MLS at LB.

Calafiori did OK at LCB.

arseblog1 @ 07:05 | May 22, 2025

Reply to bassarse:

Our back four this weekend will be interesting. Possibly White and Kiwior in the middle, with Partey at RB and MLS at LB.

Riccy C in the middle, baby!

bassarse @ 07:03 | May 22, 2025

Our back four this weekend will be interesting. Possibly White and Kiwior in the middle, with Partey at RB and MLS at LB.

malaisegooner @ 07:02 | May 22, 2025

Reply to ollie:

I had a few nightmares last night. Quite scary but none of them involved football, I think.

Phew!

bassarse @ 07:01 | May 22, 2025

Reply to northbankfc:

My cousin in Milan who’s a lifelong Utd supporter texted me a birthday wish yesterday. He said “I hope we do you a favour but Tottenham is a bloody jinx for us.” He gets 10 times angrier than me when ...

Ten times angrier than you?

That's pretty angry.

malaisegooner @ 06:59 | May 22, 2025

Reply to northbankfc:

My cousin in Milan who’s a lifelong Utd supporter texted me a birthday wish yesterday. He said “I hope we do you a favour but Tottenham is a bloody jinx for us.” He gets 10 times angrier than me when ...

Ouch!

northbankfc @ 06:58 | May 22, 2025

Reply to malaisegooner:

I had this bad dream last night about Spuds winning a trophy. Got me waking up in cold sweat.

My cousin in Milan who’s a lifelong Utd supporter texted me a birthday wish yesterday. He said “I hope we do you a favour but Tottenham is a bloody jinx for us.” He gets 10 times angrier than me when they lose so I didn’t text back last night.

malaisegooner @ 06:57 | May 22, 2025

Reply to arseblog1:

What fucking world are you living in?

Might have been a cheeseballs-induced nightmare.

Never again.. 😒

arseblog1 @ 06:57 | May 22, 2025

Reply to ollie:

I had a few nightmares last night. Quite scary but none of them involved football, I think.

Glad to hear it

ollie @ 06:57 | May 22, 2025

Reply to malaisegooner:

I had this bad dream last night about Spuds winning a trophy. Got me waking up in cold sweat.

I had a few nightmares last night. Quite scary but none of them involved football, I think.

ollie @ 06:55 | May 22, 2025

Reply to arseblog1:

Gooooood!

Very!
Have to attempt to trek off to work shortly. Glad I didn't go on Tuesday though, it's a pain in the leg.
And I was in some pain at night.
Looking forward to the weekend, though I'd normally have some heavy Saturday planned with rugby/football/a mate's gig to watch, but now I have no idea what I will do.
Weirdly, to this day, if I go all the way to include the Wet Spam match three days before injury (22/2), I've been to London 5 times (granted, the three in the middle I'd never have done if they weren't plans from a long time before the snap), I've been to Lyon once(family visit), but I've not actually been out in Paris centre once....

northbankfc @ 06:55 | May 22, 2025

Rodrygo for €100m is very undisciplined, which is why it had better not happen.

But Gyökeres and Šeško for £120m makes a lot of sense. I would happily give up a tricky, dribbly winger with little end product for two strikers, one can play off the left if need be.

arseblog1 @ 06:49 | May 22, 2025

Reply to ollie:

Arse. Well in Freddie.
I can undestand ignoring the football playing yesterday (in fact there was a need for avoiding it), but Deschamps made his list for the June tournament public, so no point in sp...

Gooooood!

arseblog1 @ 06:48 | May 22, 2025

Reply to malaisegooner:

I had this bad dream last night about Spuds winning a trophy. Got me waking up in cold sweat.

What fucking world are you living in?

malaisegooner @ 06:48 | May 22, 2025

I had this bad dream last night about Spuds winning a trophy. Got me waking up in cold sweat.

ollie @ 06:46 | May 22, 2025

Arse. Well in Freddie.
I can undestand ignoring the football playing yesterday (in fact there was a need for avoiding it), but Deschamps made his list for the June tournament public, so no point in speculating whether Saliba is going to play as he was omitted.

malaisegooner @ 06:46 | May 22, 2025

Arse.

Well in Freddie.

Morning, Bassman..

Everyone

arseblog1 @ 06:45 | May 22, 2025

Well in Freddie

bassarse @ 06:43 | May 22, 2025

Reply to freddieathome:

Arse

Well in, Freddie.

freddieathome @ 06:43 | May 22, 2025

Arse

click to leave fresh arse

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