[Zizu]

So refreshing to see two teams kicking the ball rather than their opponents

[Parmy]

Originally Posted by Zizu

So refreshing to see two teams kicking the ball rather than their opponents

Yeah, look where its getting them!

[Swan]

Originally Posted by Zizu

So refreshing to see two teams kicking the ball rather than their opponents

Not so much in the second half, lots of dirty play.

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Parmy

Yeah, look where its getting them!

It did taper off somewhat but I personally would rather see that kind of play to watching Newcastle and Villa midfielders and defenders kicking anything that moves for 90 minutes

[MTVN]

Arsenal showing why they're the most disliked team in the league these days. Disgusting from Martinelli chucking the ball at a player and shoving him off the pitch when he's just suffered a serious knee injury. Seen this sort of thing from Arsenal players often in the last few years. That's at the end of a game they didn't deserve to win as well and put in an insipid performance

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Arsenal showing why they're the most disliked team in the league these days. Disgusting from Martinelli chucking the ball at a player and shoving him off the pitch when he's just suffered a serious knee injury. Seen this sort of thing from Arsenal players often in the last few years. That's at the end of a game they didn't deserve to win as well and put in an insipid performance

In his defence … he was desperate to play on to win the game and when he saw Bradley inch himself back onto the pitch .. he flipped completely and tried to push him off the pitch

He probably thought he wasn’t that bad if he was moving onto the pitch ( it was only a few inches if you watch the replay)

Interestingly Slot was just interviewed on TalkSport and wouldn’t vilify Martinelli - he said that if he knew the lad was injured he wouldn’t have behaved the way he did ..

He said football has brought this on with every team feigning injury and time wasting at the end of a game

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Arsenal showing why they're the most disliked team in the league these days. Disgusting from Martinelli chucking the ball at a player and shoving him off the pitch when he's just suffered a serious knee injury. Seen this sort of thing from Arsenal players often in the last few years. That's at the end of a game they didn't deserve to win as well and put in an insipid performance

I agree — Martinelli was awful in that moment, and the whole team was too throughout the match.

What really sticks with me is how different this was from the Villa game. Arsenal won that match by coming out flying in the second half, scoring twice, and putting Villa under real pressure.

Against Liverpool, the first 20 minutes after the break were the complete opposite. Liverpool just kept the ball, and Arsenal seemed perfectly happy to let them have it: no press, barely any pressure, no attempt to disrupt their rhythm. And the strange part is that Liverpool weren't even posing a real threat — they were circulating the ball without cutting edge.

That's what makes the tactics even harder to understand. Arteta didn't seem to have a plan for keeping possession, regaining control, or shifting the momentum. It felt passive, almost resigned, and it let Liverpool dictate a game they weren't actually dominating.

[Crimson Dynamo]

such a dull game

first time in 16 years that Victimpool did not have 1 shot on target

[Zizu]

Maybe Arsenal thought it was better to settle for one point and stretch their lead as opposed to losing the game


I actually think Liverpool should have had a penalty when Wirtz was bodychecked in the box

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Crimson Dynamo

such a dull game

first time in 16 years that Victimpool did not have 1 shot on target

Yeah, I’m with you — it was such a dull game, and that stat says everything. First time in 16 years that Liverpool didn’t manage a single shot on target, and honestly, that tells you more about Arsenal’s defence than anything else. If Arsenal do end up winning the league, it’ll be because of that back line and how solid they’ve been all season.

But the tactics worry me. Letting the opponent just keep the ball for long stretches at home, especially when they’re not offering any real threat, feels like a dangerous way to play. It hands control away for no reason, and it’s not the kind of approach that wins tight title races. The defence bailed them out tonight — the rest of the setup didn’t.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Zizu

Maybe Arsenal thought it was better to settle for one point and stretch their lead as opposed to losing the game


I actually think Liverpool should have had a penalty when Wirtz was bodychecked in the box

I agree to an extent, but I’m still sceptical that those tactics were what the moment demanded. Champions — at least in my view — have to prove they’re strong front‑runners. This felt like the game where, if Arsenal were top and won it, we could finally say they’re ready to lead from the front and have a serious conversation about them winning the league.

But they didn’t win, so that conversation has to wait. There’s still work to do, especially with Forest coming up and the FA Cup distraction in the mix. The players need to switch on and stop letting teams just keep the ball at the Emirates. That passive approach isn’t going to get them over the line.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Arsenal can take the point and the clean sheet and move on

Liverpool are all over the shop tbh

[GiRTh]

Arsenal taking the point is fine, but it’s still frustrating when you look at the context. Liverpool have conceded 28 goals this season, and only United, Fulham, and the bottom six have let in more. With a defensive record that shaky, it’s genuinely disappointing that Arsenal have failed to score against them in both matches. That’s why I keep coming back to the tactics. Arsenal never really imposed themselves, never forced Liverpool’s back line into mistakes, and never created the kind of sustained pressure you’d expect against a team that vulnerable. When a defence that leaky keeps you out twice, it’s hard to blame the finishing — the approach just wasn’t right, and that’s where the responsibility lies.

[Swan]

Amazing to think 5 weeks ago Chelsea were supposedly in a title race, talk about falling off a cliff. Ridiculous

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Swan

Amazing to think 5 weeks ago Chelsea were supposedly in a title race, talk about falling off a cliff. Ridiculous

It’s a weird season


Didn’t Liverpool lose about 10 games in 11 matches and now they’re battling for 4th ( even 3rd ) place !!

[Zizu]

[Swan]

Originally Posted by Zizu

It’s a weird season


Didn’t Liverpool lose about 10 games in 11 matches and now they’re battling for 4th ( even 3rd ) place !!

Yeah, i mean Utd are ahead of Chelsea despite being in a "crisis". City drawn 3 in a row. Spurs are being Spurs. Arsenal will never have a better chance to win the league than they have this season, and the current position they're in.

[bots]

lets not sugar coat it. Arsenal will probably win the league this season, but everyone in history will say its because all the other teams were crap

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by bots

lets not sugar coat it. Arsenal will probably win the league this season, but everyone in history will say its because all the other teams were crap

They have a fantastic squad possibly one of the best EVER club squads


I wish they still played that dreamlike football from a few years ago though

[Swan]

Originally Posted by Zizu

They have a fantastic squad possibly one of the best EVER club squads


I wish they still played that dreamlike football from a few years ago though

They're the best team in the league this season, by a way tbh. But lets not get carried away now, no way is their squad one of the best "ever".

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by bots

lets not sugar coat it. Arsenal will probably win the league this season, but everyone in history will say its because all the other teams were crap

I’ve already seen people making this argument, and it highlights the double standard Arsenal fans have been talking about for years.

Manchester City have drawn their last three matches, yet no one is calling them “bottle jobs.” If Arsenal put together the same run, that label would be everywhere — and in fact, I’ve already seen people saying Arsenal “bottled it” after last night.

Last season, Liverpool won the league with 84 points — the lowest winning total since Leicester — and still finished ten points ahead of Arsenal. This season, projections suggest that 84 points won’t be enough, with the title likely requiring something closer to 87 or more. Yet no one described Liverpool’s title as a “poor season” or questioned the standard of the league.

Meanwhile, people are already suggesting that if Arsenal win the league this year, it will somehow be a weak or unimpressive title. The inconsistency is obvious, and the bias against Arsenal is hard to ignore.

[Crimson Dynamo]

anyteam that wins their fans can say the other teams were crap

that is an excuse

nothing else

turn the mirror on yourself, not the team that wins

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Swan

They're the best team in the league this season, by a way tbh. But lets not get carried away now, no way is their squad one of the best "ever".

Name some other team that could field two or even 3 strong teams !!


Just about every player on each game’s bench would start for their opponent

They have at LEAST two excellent options for every position and three for some

We know you hate Arsenal but lets not be too silly mate

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

I’ve already seen people making this argument, and it highlights the double standard Arsenal fans have been talking about for years.

Manchester City have drawn their last three matches, yet no one is calling them “bottle jobs.” If Arsenal put together the same run, that label would be everywhere — and in fact, I’ve already seen people saying Arsenal “bottled it” after last night.

Last season, Liverpool won the league with 84 points — the lowest winning total since Leicester — and still finished ten points ahead of Arsenal. This season, projections suggest that 84 points won’t be enough, with the title likely requiring something closer to 87 or more. Yet no one described Liverpool’s title as a “poor season” or questioned the standard of the league.

Meanwhile, people are already suggesting that if Arsenal win the league this year, it will somehow be a weak or unimpressive title. The inconsistency is obvious, and the bias against Arsenal is hard to ignore.

Maybe Arsenal are so hated as they have so many London opponents plus they have been the champions or number two team when Liverpool were a dominant force , same when ManU were a top team then of late they have been harassing ManC for years ..

No wonder everyone is so jealous

[bots]

As people say in other contexts, you can only beat what's in front of you. That will always be true