The European Competitions Thread

[Jase 43,479]

1 minute ago, Tomo said:

It ain't funny anymore, i'm genuinely worried he's getting sacked. 

Even if they sack him, who is good out there that they will hire?

[Tomo 21,754]

2 minutes ago, Jas said:

Even if they sack him, who is good out there that they will hire?

They'll probably get Sarri and while they won't trouble the top of the league he'll get them consistent enough to be back in top 6 and possibly challenge for top 4 again.

I genuinely believe there's a chance they'll go down in the not too distant future if they keep this chancer.

[Stats 7,230]

6 minutes ago, Jas said:

Isn't that just due to low expectations at Arsenal?

They signed Pepe for a club record fee of 70+ million and no one seems to talk about him failing to live up to expectations etc. Compare that with the spotlight that Werner, Havertz etc seem to have gotten here. 

Pepe got a lot of flack last season tbh, but yh agreed. Partey too has been below par this season. Was absolutely awful tonight.

People make excuses and say they do not have squad to challenge for top 4 etc. Was our squad top 4 material last season? Not necessarily but we did it. Too many excuses made for them.

[Nero 1,902]

Arsenal = Loser mentality.

[Jase 43,479]

3 minutes ago, Stats said:

Pepe got a lot of flack last season tbh, but yh agreed.

Did he? At any other big club, if they sign a player for that kind of money, there would have been expectations, there would have been pressure for that player to lead the club to better things etc but no one in the media seems to talk about that. 

6 minutes ago, Stats said:

People make excuses and say they do not have squad to challenge for top 4 etc. Was our squad top 4 material last season? Not necessarily but we did it. Too many excuses made for them.

Arteta has gotten a free pass for the signings he's made. I mean, wanting a past-it Willian? Wanting a soon-to-be-past-it Aubameyang to stay?

[Jase 43,479]

9 minutes ago, Tomo said:

They'll probably get Sarri and while they won't trouble the top of the league he'll get them consistent enough to be back in top 6 and possibly challenge for top 4 again.

I genuinely believe there's a chance they'll go down in the not too distant future if they keep this chancer.

Would be surprised if Sarri can fix this mess, especially with the current state of their board.

[Stats 7,230]

3 minutes ago, Jas said:

Did he? At any other big club, if they sign a player for that kind of money, there would have been expectations, there would have been pressure for that player to lead the club to better things etc but no one in the media seems to talk about that. 

Arteta has gotten a free pass for the signings he's made. I mean, wanting a past-it Willian? Wanting a soon-to-be-past-it Aubameyang to stay?

Not just that. Sending out Saliba on loan while his team mate Fofana who Rodgers plays, looks quality, meanwhile Arteta doesnt trust Saliba who was rated higher than Fofana. His tactical flaws have been evident way throughout. Any other owners would have sacked Arteta by now. Emery proved tonight that he is a good manager. Tactically outsmarted Arteta both games. Arsenal should be beating Villareal. Even the other games they have gone through, they not looked convincing in any of the games apart from when they beat Slavia Prague away from home.

[Pizy 19,381]

Arse are in sort of a lose-lose situation managerial wise. They stick with Arteta and they’re fucked because he’s in over his head. They sack him and there aren’t any standout, top class managers that are a good match for them. Sarri would be a poor fit and wouldn’t excite their fans at all. No currently employed world class coach is leaving their club to step into that shitty job. Allegri has been out of the game for years now and would be a huge gamble. Plus, he would need a mega transfer budget which Arse won’t have. The only thing I think they could do to almost immediately turn things around is if they absolutely beg Brendan Rodgers to take the job. In fact, both North London clubs should do that. But he may see those jobs as a step down form Leicester.

As a Chelsea fan this is beautiful to watch. 🤗🤗🤗

[Jase 43,479]

5 minutes ago, Stats said:

Not just that. Sending out Saliba on loan while his team mate Fofana who Rodgers plays, looks quality, meanwhile Arteta doesnt trust Saliba who was rated higher than Fofana. His tactical flaws have been evident way throughout. Any other owners would have sacked Arteta by now. Emery proved tonight that he is a good manager. Tactically outsmarted Arteta both games. Arsenal should be beating Villareal. Even the other games they have gone through, they not looked convincing in any of the games apart from when they beat Slavia Prague away from home.

Arteta seemed to have a clear tactical plan last season, even if it's not the prettiest. But this season? God knows what he's trying to do. Can't tell if he's trying to make Arsenal a possession based team, a counter attacking side, a mixture of both or something else.

[Stats 7,230]

5 minutes ago, Jas said:

Arteta seemed to have a clear tactical plan last season, even if it's not the prettiest. But this season? God knows what he's trying to do. Can't tell if he's trying to make Arsenal a possession based team, a counter attacking side, a mixture of both or something else.

Meanwhile, I placed £15 on Arteta to be sacked at 6.00 aka 6/1 odds. Pretty sure price will keep lowering as it was 7.00 not too long ago. The Arsenal board probably will keep him on anyway, but worth a punt.

[NikkiCFC 8,529]

I think Sarri with no European footy next season would be good fit. He would have time on training ground which is essential for his football. But Spurs also want him so probably better option for him.

[Vesper 31,181]

 

[Vesper 31,181]

Arsenal getting ready to rejoin the super league like

[Vesper 31,181]

[Jase 43,479]

12 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

I think Sarri with no European footy next season would be good fit. He would have time on training ground which is essential for his football. But Spurs also want him so probably better option for him.

Guess he fits the bill?

 

[Jase 43,479]

10 minutes ago, Vesper said:

 

Will they even qualify for the UEFA Conference League?

[Vesper 31,181]

31 minutes ago, Jas said:

Will they even qualify for the UEFA Conference League?

no idea, sorry

[Vesper 31,181]

Arse in a nutshell

[OneMoSalah 9,124]

hace 4 horas, Stats dijo:

He was hyped up too much tbh. He had a bigger reputation than a lot of managers because he worked with Pep and won FA Cup, but he has been tactically really bad this season. It is crazy that there is more pressure on Ole and Jose losing their jobs than Arteta yet both are better placed in league. Spurs obviously sacked Mourinho now, but Arteta seems to get away with a lot. I genuinely thought Arsenal might win Europa and have won of their seasons where they do shit but have some cup glory and there fans talk like they have had a brilliant season but no, they were dull and had no real ideas tonight.

This is true.

Last season I felt he put an identity on Arsenal though, they played 4 at the back but it went to a 3 with the ball with Tierney sort of tucking in more like a left sided CB than Pushing on as a wing back. They weren’t breathtaking or had obvious quality but could play more direct if they wanted to with Aubamayengs pace and his tendency to drift out wide or play a bit more patient and shorter despite not having a huge deal of creativity in midfield. They had intensity and a structure that made them difficult to play against. 

I think now though he is on the way out. He just said 90% of his squad tonight have never played in a semi final... which is utter bullshit. Even more so considering they won an FA cup last season going through the process of playing quarters and semis to win. Likes of Aubamayang, Bellerin, Tierney, Willian, Partey, fuck even Rob Holding, all played tonight and have won trophies, playing cup finals and semi finals. Then even the squad in general, David Luiz, Granit Xhaka, Lacazette, hes got a lot of players in there with trophies and experience of these ties. Or in big games to know that they should do better. 

Just watching them tonight, chasing a goal to flip the tie basically, from like the 70th min onwards they gave away so many stupid fouls for balls they were never winning, like for me that was as big a sign as to how immature a team they are and how immature and out of his depth Arteta as a manager is. Young teams needs a manager and some senior pros to guide them and make up for the lack of experience or immaturity in their decision making at times. Be that playing some older heads or telling them to be a bit more smarter etc, Villarreal and Emery just used all their experience. They were desperate, so Villarreal just managed the game excellently, winning fouls, taking the hits knowing they were coming etc slowing it right down. 

My mate is an Arsenal fan and he said regarding tonights game for them and this is a direct quote from a group chat “Arteta’s arrogant belief in this slow backwards orientated passing style of football is predictably mind numbing and nothing like Guardiola who he is obviously dying to be like, should be learning his trade at a smaller club where the stakes aren’t as high” which has escalated now to the point where now he would take Sarri or Graham Potter in to replace him 😂 

hace 4 horas, Jas dijo:

Waiting for @Tomo to come butcher Arteta...

To be honest he was telling us last season he wasnt up to much and nobody listened... 

hace 4 horas, Tomo dijo:

It ain't funny anymore, i'm genuinely worried he's getting sacked. 

Tbf I fully agree. But you’d think even if this take over goes ahead or doesn’t, whoever the owner is would be doing their club an absolute disservice not sacking Arteta before its well too late. Its close enough.

He may not have had huge money like other clubs but they have got players that are better than their league position reflects. 100%. Guys like Tierney, Partey, Leno, Gabriel, Aubamayang, Smith-Rowe, Saka, Lacazette, Bellerin... to be sitting 9th and only looking like its going to get even worse. It is incredible. 😂

[NikkiCFC 8,529]