Offical match day thread

I don’t mind Pepe playing as a striker, I think in theory it can work.

...but Pepe as striker in the most important game when we’ve never tried it before????

 

In a way it’s what was always going to happen.

a spectacular implosion of the Arteta project.

 

Well it seems he knows something we dont, he has an immunity from the sack, and regardless of what happens he would be here next season!

 

Seen it twice still not seen the yellow card offence

 

It was so obvious he was going to be sent off, he could have subbed him at half time, what the heck was he waiting for? 75th minute? I give up now!

 

Pepe gives us hope.

Isnt that just like Arsenal?

 

10 v 10.

I really think we need an equalizer - cant see us going through if it ends 2-1

 

why is he making subs at 90+4???

 

I think after Capoue went off we were VERY poor. We essentially did nothing for 15 minutes, when we really should have been pushing for an equalizer.

at 2-1, the tie is not over, but I just cant see us winning 1-0 at home, nor by 2 goals.

United won 6-2 so even if we make the final it might all be for naught.

 

Arteta is VERY lucky tonight. That first-half was utterly disgraceful.
Considering what was on the line and the fact we supposedly sacrificed the league for the Europa, he totally botched the starting XI. There was zero reason to be so experimental and trial a formation/personnel system that we'd never utilised before in our biggest game of the season. There was no presence in the box, no intensity in our pressing or passing, played a cumbersome midfielder against a pacy, skilful winger (Xhaka vs Chukweze), selected Chambers ahead of two of our other natural right-backs and, not only played Ceballos in a game where he didn't deserve to be starting, but refused to take him off despite the countless fouls he was making. Then the inevitable happened .

That being said, we actually did better when it was 11 v 10 because the game petered out when it was 10 v 10. Aubameyang was unlucky with that chance at the end, but let's be honest, we created bugger all.

Saka has single-handedly kept Arteta in a job. For now.

We need a significantly better performance and result next week.

 

Does anyone honestly expect this team to get better? Be honest now.

 

Not under this manager. I'm not saying we'd get them, but a manager like Ancelotti, Ten Hag, Gasperini, Rodgers, Potter, Kovac or Marsch would maximise the potential of this group of players.

 

I can’t believe we’re bottom half after 33 games lol.

bottom. Half.

 

Why, did you think it would be sooner?

 

cheeky get!
We should be grateful, we are not fighting to stay up!

 

Piss take mate. I think you have the makings of a good team and just need someone to bring it out of them

 

Honest question and not on a wum as we've been almost as bad as you lot this season:

At the start of the season, where did you expect to finish?

 

Definitely not 11th with 5games to go! Top5/6th..

 

honestly, I predicted 5th (with 6th being likely). I knew we weren’t good enough for top 4 but I thought after the FA cup win, Arteta would have this squad really push on. What I have seen since then convinces me he is not the manager to progress us forward.

 

I think Chelsea, Liverpool and City have objectively better squads than us. The rest are very similar.