Jay we heard from half the squad plus the manager about the importance of Gyokeres and how he occupies defenders which gives space to others. We have also seen the mad dog chasing and harassing of players he does. So there is no way you can say Havertz scores higher than Gyok for that. also, Gyok makes run after run after run but never gets the ball, his movement is excellent but we don't play - or rather have not been playing - head up football. Havertz is absolutely not better than Gyok at making runs, at the forward press and drawing defenders. Havertz makes "different" runs to Gyok and notice I didn't say Gyok makes better runs - their runs compliment their game style, I have no problem with the runs Havertz makes.
I think the club latched onto social media nonsense to support a player who was struggling to score goals. I get that and support it. I think it's good for the player. Gyokeres's job is to improve the teams scoring. I think he can do it - there are signs. Havertz is one of the elite at the forward press. He has had that strength for years. Tackles won in final third, Havertz 0.34 per 90 in 24/25, vs 0.11 for Gyokeres in 25/26. (source FBRef) I think Havertz numbers might be the best in the PL. As an aside Havertz came in 2nd across ALL players in the PL (not just strikers) for work rate and competitiveness on the pitch, behind only Bruno Guimaraes in this analysis in 2025... https://www.givemesport.com/hardest-working-players-premier-league-right-now/
I don't agree, I think the manager and players came out in support of Gyokeres because he was getting unnecessary criticism from people that stare at stats and can't see the big picture. It was always only going to be a matter of time before Gyokeres found the back of the net but we could all see how well he was doing in other facets of the game. So even though he wasn't scoring his actions helped the team and this was the message the players and manager put out.
Completely changing the subject. But I never watch Scottish football and couldn't give less of a toss about them. But my word, that game last night. I challenge anyone to watch those 8-minute highlights on the BBC and not have hairs standing on end. That's what football is about. The crowd, the commentary, the importance of the match, what happened at the end. Unbelievable. KT - what a legend.
The highlights were bonkers, that game seemingly had everything in it, what a rollercoaster of a game and some of the best goals you will ever see.
Pep's been running his mouth about us in the media saying Arsenal are 'impeccable' and 'have no weaknesses' and 'we won't drop any points'. Whilst this may seem admirable to receive high praise like this from a manager of his stature, we all know what he's doing - he's trying to ramp up the pressure on us and increase the expectation, while City are 'in transition' (according to their fans apparently). It's mind games. I just hope the players and management ignore all his talk and focus on winning games. Do the talking on the pitch and ignore outside noise.
Pep is constantly making little remarks and taking cheap shots. Whilst Arteta is nothing but complementary.
All part of life at the top. We have to handle the pressure of being favourites, or frankly, sit down and go home. No one is going to make it even the slightest bit easier for us to win the league - as it should be.
Dude, standard mind games, its nothing new. Arteta probably won't criticise Pep unless Pep directly criticises Arteta, while its sly digs Arteta will keep shtoom, and so he should. In the words of singer Garnett Silk (RIP), "Talk keep them talking, we're gonna keep them talking, laugh when they're talking, we have a lot more coming".
Exactly - Arteta's time to talk is when he prevails and wins the league. Until then, it's wise to just let the mind games being played by managers, who have earned the right to speak with authority, to just get on with it.
Chelsea looking pretty good TBH. Just 3pts off top now. Very early to call anything at the moment, but I do think they and City will be major challengers for the title with us and maybe Liverpool still.
We might need to forget about Liverpool now - they are being smashed at home by Forest. Could the defending champions manager be sacked? 6 losses in PL 7 games
Eediot team, I knew they would get found out, nothing special at all. Makes our inability to win the league last season all the more galling !
I think we'd have won the league last year without the injury crisis. Our luck has not changed on that front this year.
Todays loss by City was a classic example of why they have fallen away from their peak since they signed Haaland. Not a criticism of him per se, but City's style is overly reliant on him. He has quite a few shockers a season - missing sitters - that ultimately cost the team points precisely because they are so reliant on him. He's off it and they are vulnerable. They used to score from all over the pitch and were never so vulnerable to one player having a stinker as Haaland did today.
They absolutely battered them from start to finish. That game could have finished 6-0 and it wouldn't have flattered Chelsea. It was a pathetic, naive and gutless performance from Barcelona, and they're not adjectives that you'd typically associate with the Catalan side. That ridiculous high line they play is criminal, especially in big games. You will always have a chance against a team that pushes up like that if you have pace and intelligent movement across your front line. On a separate note, that Estevao kid looks like a superstar. Incredible talent.
Chelsea look a very good side and I think will challenge for the title and the Champions League this year. I would put them slightly ahead of City in terms of threat. Thought that before last night - but in terms of Barca, I don't think people realise just how poor the Spanish league has become.
