Our run-in is almost comically easy, but the last 3 matches have been so bad that I'm not confident that we can beat anyone right now.
It should be. But I can tell you what will happen. We'll get through with a scrappy performance in Prague, play closer than we should in the semi but still go out, then close the season with a good run in the league because 6 of our last 8 opponents are bad. We'll just miss Europe altogether. The run of form will be used as evidence that Arteta is turning things around, because English punditry is incapable of assessing results in the context of quality of opposition. Arteta will stay on. This will all be framed as a chance to reset our focus domestically. We'll underinvest in the summer despite Josh Kroenke claiming there's plenty to spend, there will be rumors of locker room dissent, we'll start like shit, and begin the mid-table cycle anew.
I can’t help but feel that anyone who frequents multiple Arsenal forums at this juncture is either a Buddhist monk or a serial killer so kudos to you
Your crystal ball seems to have a good, accurate focus. I'm serious. Except perhaps the part about advancing with a scrappy performance in Prague. I don't see it. And certainly wouldn't put a dollar on it. But then again, Arsenal are nothing if not inconsistent.
When trying to predict Arsenal's future, the first question should be, "what's the funniest thing that could happen?" Usually that's losing on a hat-trick to like, Yaya Sanogo, but in this case, it's getting knocked out of Europe on a good thursday ebening by Unai Emery. (Analytically though, I was really unimpressed by Slavia. They never looked like scoring unless we handed them the chance, and their defense was porous even though we played poorly.)
We won’t sack Arteta but this is a dire. If we were a competent club, I would be for it. We aren’t. This squad stinks and it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
Everything about this club stinks right now and its not going to get better until we get a new owner in need of sportswashing, who won't mind losing a few hundred million to rebuild from the ground up.
No problem, they've dominated Czech football for several years now, so quite familiar with their roster. Their "makeshift back-line" was in my opinion overstated (actually the makeshift CB outplayed the normal one and scored the goal), but that was almost the worst Slavia has played this season, so still a poor result for you honestly. Their manager made a rare misstep playing Sima as a loan striker rather than on the wing as usual, he is electric facing goal but is still a raw-talent that needs to vastly improve hold-up play to justify rumored transfer interest. They've actually been noticeably worse at home than on the road the last few rounds of Europa league this season, so you still may have a slight advantage.
I think the need for all disciplinary action to be leaked is also going to be a major problem longer-term. Just handle this in-house FFS, we don’t need all the hard-man Arteta posturing that the club (and Arteta) are doing
i'm not saying arteta was wrong to have drawn a line at some point if it was true that aubameyang was a repeat offender but i can see how, if as one of the players and in the situation, you could feel like you were wronged to be penalised (even if you were willing to admit you fucked up) when you see willian got none for his dubai walkabouts and even continues[i/i] to get chances over people who are contributing.
I'm struggling to believe that Arteta has much credibility with veterans at this point. Players will put up with a lot if they're improving and winning. If you're fighting for 10th place the tolerance is a lot lower.
cannot disagree with you. i feel like there are some - maybe enough? - on pitch improvements that they might have been mollified but you cannot do uneven treatment and expect that someone with a voice will accept it.
It's only two others, both have little traffic. One I stopped posting on because they were really sexist, the other had a fascist moderator. I only post on this one. I liked a couple of posters on both so just check in from time to time to get their take on events.
He had his faults, but even a late Wenger team would hand out a paddling to the likes of Slavia Prague at home in a first leg.
That's just not true. I think you and I watched a different final season under Arsene. The signs of our current malaise were already present.
You can only do one. Sack the manager or turn over the squad this summer. What's your choice and why?