Offical match day thread

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For me Martinelli looks a class above which makes its even more annoying that Arteta has barely played him.

I think we’re going to lose one of Lacazette or Aubameyang this summer, so martinelli should get his chance.

I like Lacazette, but his goals have badly dried up and he doesn’t really offer when we need up top. So I won’t be too sorry if he’s sold. That would also allow auba to move to the middle (where he should be) and Martinelli is good on the left cutting in.

front three of

Martinelli.......Auba......Saka
 
A really good core of young players?

Really good could arguably be Saliba (probably), Martinelli, Saka.......... And who else?

Willock, Fraudouzi, Nketiah, Nelson are all journeymen not even good enough to be squad player impact subs like Solskjaer and Butt of old.

I actually somewhat agree with this. The tier 1 youngsters for me would be Saka (who knows if he’ll even sign?), saliba (yet to see him in the PL), and martinelli.

beyond that Willock, Nelson, nketiah (who I honestly expected a bit more from), and Guendouzi ( who I’m not a fan of) are all average IMO.

Smith-Rowe is still very untested, but has not broken through.

I’m not sure we necessarily have a squad “full of talented youngsters”. Compare any of these players to someone like Trent Alexander-Arnold or Cesc Fabregas in 2005 :/
 
I actually somewhat agree with this. The tier 1 youngsters for me would be Saka (who knows if he’ll even sign?), saliba (yet to see him in the PL), and martinelli.

beyond that Willock, Nelson, nketiah (who I honestly expected a bit more from), and Guendouzi ( who I’m not a fan of) are all average IMO.

Smith-Rowe is still very untested, but has not broken through.

I’m not sure we necessarily have a squad “full of talented youngsters”. Compare any of these players to someone like Trent Alexander-Arnold or Cesc Fabregas in 2005 :/
For me tier one would be: Martinelli and Guendouzi
Tier 2: Saka, Nelson, AMN and Willock.

Martinelli is clearly just a level above, his finishing is superb, he works hard and unlike some others will actually win you games. He has already shown he can score goals in bag games.

Think about this; what position do you see most often players breakthrough into the first team but never actually develop into Top players? The answer is on the wing. The reason for that is young athletic kids full of confidence can often make an impact for a small amount of time. It's the position that requires the least tactical understanding.

The hardest position to break through at a young age is central-midfield. For me Guendouzi shows greater promise (than Saka, Nelson etc..) He makes mistakes but he is involved soo much that's bound to happen. When he is on the pitch you can help but notice him because he is everywhere - working his socks off. He wants the ball, he wants to make a difference, he is a real character.

‘Since the moment he came into the team, Guendouzi, he has looked like a big character and a leader,’ Neville said on Sky Sports.
‘He gets on the ball all the time, he shows great courage to play and he’s always demanding from his teammates. ‘He’s not (a squad player). You see him on the pitch, he’s always got his arms stretched, looking over his shoulder. He demands from himself but also others.’


I think he is spot on.
 
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Wonder if Martinelli will get a start today.

I expect Ozil and possibly Pepe will be brought back into the side.
 
Very rarely seen Guendouzi have a good game. No pace. Passing is average for a prem footballer. Can't shoot. Tackling average. Not physically dominant. I don't get how he's so highly rated. He's a bit like Denilson in that I can't think of anything he does really well. He's better than Denilson at football I think but I still don't get the appeal.
 
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That's a disgraceful challenge from Maupay. He wasn't getting to the ball and knew it. Leno already had two hands on the ball before he barged into him. Unnecessary challenge causing him to land awkwardly. Now he could be out for months.

Brighton have been making dirty challenges all game and the referee has not punished them at all.
Atkinson is a useless ****er.
 
PEPE! 1-0. Excellent curling finish.

He's been crap all game, but that's a lovely goal.

Let's hope we can win now...
 
We have completely forgot how to win football matches. 9 wins from 30 games. Wow.

unbelievable. As soon as I spoke, we lost.
 
Mapauy challenge was bad, lacas worse I have no hope for this squad needs big changes the board need to invest alot this summer will be a massive turning point. FFP rules relaxed we should take advantage
 
Mapauy challenge was bad, lacas worse I have no hope for this squad needs big changes the board need to invest alot this summer will be a massive turning point. FFP rules relaxed we should take advantage

we won’t spend on what we need - hence why we bought Pepe for £72m rather than DM or CBs. If we wanted a winger why didn’t we pay £80m and get Zaha - the decisions are all wrong from who we buy and the contracts we offer.
Silent Stan will not give us any money and the board will plead poverty.

today we had the opportunity to go above Spurs and we failed - finishing above Spurs is all we can hope for with this squad, as we are not top 4 contenders as the defenders we have are ****e, and the midfield are pushovers.
 
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Are we even going to finish in the top 10?

how in the world did we manage to lose today?

because Brighton’s players played till the end and didn’t give up trying - how many games have we with lost or drawn from leading this season.
 
Maupay's words after the game have ****ed me off even more.

He deliberately injures our 'keeper, scores the winner when he shouldn't be on the pitch and says we Arsenal players need more 'humility'.

****ing little prick.