The Arsenal vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, Premier League Matchday 27, 18 February 2026

I think we lost the title last game and I had no optimism against this wolves team … statistically worst team in epl history….

I have no idea what Arteta is doing

wingers routinely are on an island … watching gyokeres isolated and running around is like watching a deer trying to get out of a car
Spacing is horrific with the front 7

It’s not like we were playing a decent squad
People on here lost their minds if they think saka decent performance at 10 or 8 against a shitty third division team or bottom feeder like wolves will solve anything

Completely demoralized

 

I haven’t lost the belief but it’s fading

 

We threw away a potential February St. Totteringham’s Day today

 

Imma be 100
We ain’t winning the league

the attack doesn’t work

it’s down to Arteta. He seems to have broken it and everyone looks scared.

the only time we were cooking this season was enforced due to injuries

 

It’s because we were scoring from set pieces, and we aren’t anymore.

 

I didn't watch the game till literally the 96th minute because that is when our staff left and I could watch. What a way to lose.

There's really not much to say, IMO the problems have been the same for a while now. It's unfortunate because the squad needs a real refresh whether we win the title or not. Winning would make it a lot easier though.

 

Well then we are effed

 

Broken record: This team only has one creative midfielder.

It showed again.

Not much to see here, but I still think we win the league.

 

That is fair take but we average 6 corner kicks per game - which says something about offensive attack
Today we had 3 - against one of the shittiest opponents in the league

 

Been thinking about this since the Arsecast brought it up.

On the one hand it can be terrible, horrible luck.

Not sure I completely buy that. Assume Arteta's philosophy is that he wants to sit back and encourage the opponent to take low xG shots. It makes analytical sense, 98% chance the shot isn't going in and it will probably be a goal kick or an easy save.

But that extra time and space could also mean that these shots are easier than xG would suggest. Maybe the model says 0.02 assuming an aggressive closeout and rushed attempt, but if the attacker knows he has time to line up a shot, maybe the xG increases. Allowing the shots to come in also allows for chaos and mistakes like the Wolves 2nd goal.

 

It's a touch odd, but it's a really poor use of data. Arsenal's xGA this season is 21.something, and have allowed 20 goals. So Arsenal are about where they should be in terms of goals conceded?

City are a different story: their xGA is roughly 31.5 and have conceded 24 goals. And Villa have made some sort of deal with the devil.

 

Those kind of things draw the focus away from where it really should be, which is at the other end of the field. It is what it is.

Only once in the past 3 years have Arsenal had more goals conceded than City or LFC, and yet lost the title each time. Even last year we allowed 5 goals less than LFC, and the year prior to that same thing with City. Yet every season, fans keep telling me how great the defense is and how that is going to solve all things. I keep hearing how (fill in team) are shit because they cannot defend. It's the same thing all over again.

Open play xG is 3rd this year, over reliance on set pieces. City are shit, so I am told, so let's hope they continue being that. I need a Trophy man.

 

We have a creative midfielder?!

 

This all comes down to gross mismanagement of a squad. Nothing more nothing less. You have to evolve and develop in a season. Change things up, its mandatory to do so. This is where Arteta's inexperience is most obvious. It's not too late but there is a definite sense of urgency needed to figure this stuff out.

 

Apparently two or three. Who knew

 

Unlike you, I don't care about being right. I just want to win. I'm here for the club, not any one player or manager. I also find it funny that a guy making the most money of any manager not named Pep is somehow immune to criticism. Every good book warns against idol worship.

 

It does suggest that Arsenal give up a lot of goals on low xG shots and relatively few on high xG shots. Which could be luck or could be a result of tactics.

 

That's tactical - Arsenal don't give up a many high xG shots period. But if you concede 100 shots, each with an xG of .01, the expectation is that you'll concede one goal. It's a little silly to then say "this is crazy, Arsenal conceded from a shot with .01xG."

After all, something that happens 1% of the time will still happen relatively frequently.