#AFC | Mikel Arteta on Declan Rice's injury: "I think he is struggling. It does not look good."According to the Standard, it's believed the injury is hip related.https://t.co/JQ70CldNJf— Chris Davison (@cdavison_afc) May 11, 2025
on a title winning team he's 2/3 in the creative order but thats on Arteta. Hopefully Berta fixes that. We've been terrible in chance creation and xG open play after the 1st title challenge. Gotta up the ante and keep the security of the backline.
Salah and inshallah. But look at how poorly we use the left side. Saka goes up a gear if he isn't constantly double and at times triple teamed but that only happens when we get the left side functioning.
First, this side has massive upside potential. To be down 2 goals at Anfield and coming back is huge. We were 2 nil up at Anfield in the first half a couple years ago. We are a combination of 3 positions and a bit more mental toughness from league and CL champions. Second, in addition to the positions we know we need (striker, right wing, DCM) I think its also critical we have someone who can fill in for Odegaard. They don't have to be the same exact type but they do need to be able to retain the ball, find the right pass and have an engine. I think Nwaneri is that guy that we have in the squad already. And needs to be coached to deputize for that position. Runner up is touch and go. Newcastle needs to win at the Grove or they are pretty much out. A draw and a win should see us through. Mentally and optics wise we can't seem like we are going backwards. The only excuse for a 3rd place these days is both City and Liverpool have the kind of season they had a few years ago when they were both in the high 90s points wise.
If there are positives from last night... Liverpools last 37 games at home when leading at half time: Arsenal have never lost a game where Martinelli has scored, we are now up to 45.
Yeah do I think Arteta is going to need to dump some concepts and therefore some players this summer or risk his job. I wonder if Ode could do a job on the left wing.
We have to do more vertical direct passing through the middle. IMO that would unlock a new level of Rice, which has been mentioned by other people on here so shoutout to them
Saliba has had some uncharacteristic give aways the last few games. Carragher and Elliot on the AV pod seem to think he’s missing Gabriel. Maybe that’s part of it, but there is also another plausible explanation. I think he is physically and mentally exhausted. A quick check of FBref suggests he has played more minutes in all competitions this season than any other field player in the EPL. He has played almost 100 more minutes than van Dijk and almost 500 more minutes than any of his teammates. But for his red card, the gap would have been higher.
Saliba's had a bunch of uncharacteristic giveaways all season. For someone who was very deservedly in the FIFA World 11 last season, he hasn't been all that good this season, particularly in the second half.
Raya is up to 53 appearances in all comps on the season and he's shown some mental fatigue as well. Kicked it straight out of play a few times at the end vs Liverpool after going down to 10 men. White played just about every match at RB last season and Rice was playing more 6 with Partey injured. It's not just Gabriel that is different surrounding Saliba.
For someone who can stand up Mbappe, Dembele, and Salah one v one in the box and either win the ball or force them out of the box, as Saliba has done in the last few weeks, I’ll accept a loose pass every once in a while.
No Merino and might be without Trossard, Timber and Rice vs Newcastle. Assuming the worst case and none of them start, who does? I'd go Martinelli at 9, Saka/Nwaneri on the wings, Odegaard, MLS and Partey in midfield, and White, Saliba, Kiwior and Calafiori at the back.
Maybe we start Calafiori as Striker...as some on here ha If we're going nuts I would play Calafiori at CF
I mean if Merino who has never played striker works, who knows. While not the same remember that Henry was always seen as just a wide player, it wasn't until Arsene turned him striker that he became elite. I still think we should try Calafiori as the worlds most attacking defensive midfielder.
Rice and Trossard both trained in a session that was open to season ticket holders, so we may not get any fun lineups vs Newcastle.
Not apparently, someone in the crowd uploaded footage of him to reddit. Wonder if we hold him back to the Soton game. Newcastle thread is up by the way. https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/the-arsenal-v-newcastle-epl-18-may-25.2135142/#post-42974062