Mikel Arteta | Lego Pep watch

[TheArse]

Decided to look at the team in 2nd.. you haven’t played them. And when you do you’ll lose

Didn’t bother looking beyond that. United beat Arsenal with ease and that’s about the only full strength team I can recall you playing

As I say, it’ll catch up with you. Many better teams below you

Seeing as you're using missing players as an excuse. We were missing our most important player. Very convenient time for you to play us.

 

[AlexiV]

Fair fecks to Arsenal for sticking by him, either way this goes, looks like he’s the real deal.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

How ridiculously daft.

Who are these many teams?

We have the 3rd best xG.

2nd best xGA.

2nd best xP.

We have played well in almost every game this season we've played in. Including against United actually, which you might want to say was at ease, but the stats disagree. The biggest issue that game was the lack of Partey. You just went through our midfield on the counter. But, that is one of our biggest weaknesses, that we have no backup to him.

The lengths people go to in order to discredit us at times. City are a better side, as they should be. But beyond that, we deserve to be where we are.

Don’t have much problem with Arsenal. Rather that they win it than City

But if you don’t think you’ve had loads of luck so far then you’re lying to yourself. Noticed a pattern of the oppo you face never having their best players available for Arsenal. Last few I’ve checked the teams and it’s laughable how it’s every single time. Look how many of their strongest XI Brighton had out today. It’s quite funny

But again, i think it’ll catch up with you because luck like that can’t last a whole season. If I’m wrong in May you can quote me. But I’m very confident Arsenal won’t win the thing

 

[Il Prete Rosso]

Don’t have much problem with Arsenal. Rather that they win it than City

But if you don’t think you’ve had loads of luck so far then you’re lying to yourself. Noticed a pattern of the oppo you face never having their best players available for Arsenal. Last few I’ve checked the teams and it’s laughable how it’s every single time. Look how many of their strongest XI Brighton had out today. It’s quite funny

But again, i think it’ll catch up with you because luck like that can’t last a whole season

I don't think anyone discounted Utd's many league titles by saying the teams they faced had injuries or had important players out. Luck plays a huge part in a 38 game season and based on what's happened so far, Arsenal are deserved leaders. Stop with this nonsense.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

I don't think anyone discounted Utd's many league titles by saying the teams they faced had injuries or had important players out. Luck plays a huge part in a 38 game season and based on what's happened so far, Arsenal are deserved leaders. Stop with this nonsense.

Not saying they don’t deserve to be top. But pointing out how much luck they’ve had and that I don’t think it can last. Which is all true

 

[Nish115]

Don’t have much problem with Arsenal. Rather that they win it than City

But if you don’t think you’ve had loads of luck so far then you’re lying to yourself. Noticed a pattern of the oppo you face never having their best players available for Arsenal. Last few I’ve checked the teams and it’s laughable how it’s every single time. Look how many of their strongest XI Brighton had out today. It’s quite funny

But again, i think it’ll catch up with you because luck like that can’t last a whole season. If I’m wrong in May you can quote me. But I’m very confident Arsenal won’t win the thing

Find it irrelevent really. We have been consistently been playing well in all our games. If we were getting results but not playing well, then yes i'd be worried.

But, that isn't the case. So, I don't think it's down to luck.

Again, depth is our big weakness. We need another forward this window, and ideally a Partey backup but that won't happen, so we'll roll the dice. If Partey picks up an injury, then we won't win it.

 

[Il Prete Rosso]

Fair fecks to Arsenal for sticking by him, either way this goes, looks like he’s the real deal.

I always wondered why it was Pep who reached out to him FIRST and not the other way around.

 

[BlueHaze]

I think if any year is it for them it must be this season. I do not think they'll get as good of a shot at the title like this season for a very long time. Right now I feel they definitely have a big chance. I somehow feel like Haaland going to City might actually backfire for them. Maybe I'll be wrong.

At the start of the season when they signed Haaland I thought they'd walk the league but to me it seems he'll be smashing in goals every single game but the flipside is City seems worse off as a unit. If Arsenal wins the title they 100% deserve it.

A bit vomit inducing saying that but it's true.

It's a very young side competing with Oil prince City...

 

[Mogget]

Decided to look at the team in 2nd.. you haven’t played them. And when you do you’ll lose

Didn’t bother looking beyond that. United beat Arsenal with ease and that’s about the only full strength team I can recall you playing

As I say, it’ll catch up with you. Many better teams below you

Partey was missing in that game so using your own nonsense logic you only won because we weren't full strength.

 

[BarryWinks]

Hope they crash and burn.

Can't have them cnuts winning anything before us.

This is where I stand as well. Would rather City wins it 5 times over before I want them to do it before us. Feck them and their fans.

 

[awop]

Partey was missing in that game so using your own nonsense logic you only won because we weren't full strength.

Careful now, you're about to get them started on the 27th analysis and rendition of that game.

 

[ThierryHenry14]

Very good result lately. Enjoy it while it lasts.

 

[RacingClub]

Partey was missing in that game so using your own nonsense logic you only won because we weren't full strength.

Yup and I know that you have lots of players performing to a high standard but he's the guy that you struggle to replace the most IMO.

 

[GoonerInPeace]

I said he is the best young manager in the world recently. I guarantee Arteta' will be one of the most sought-after managers in the world going forward. This current Arsenal is not some accidental experiment, he didnt just put the potions together at random. He has been building toward this since the day he was named manager. The only surprising thing is how quickly it has come together this season.

There is no way Arsenal lose focus this season, and thats because Arteta is the manager.

People often say who is our best player, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Saliba, Jesus. When I think our best player is Arteta

 

[VorZakone]

He's winning the PL, isn't he.

 

[AlexiV]

I always wondered why it was Pep who reached out to him FIRST and not the other way around.

Would be an Arsenal thing to have him poached by City at the first smell of succes

 

[Ted Lasso]

He's doing quite a job isn't he. With United out of the race I do hope Arteta can see this over the line. Would be pretty incredible an achievement.

 

[GoonerGirly]

I'm actually surprised how we've just picked up where we left off after the WC. And with Jesus out too. Nketiah has been great so far and other players have also stepped up.
This focus and determination is definitely all down to Arteta.

 

[Member 125288]

With United out of the race

Are Citeh out of the race too then considering we’re only 4 points behind them and not even halfway through the season yet?

 

[AshRK]

Fair play to him and more importantly arsenal board.Have been a huge critique of him but he has done a solid solid job this season.

Feck Pep and city, I am backing Arsenal and arteta to win the league if not United.

 

[GoonerInPeace]

Are Citeh out of the race too then considering we’re only 4 points behind them and not even halfway through the season yet?

If you beat Bournemouth at home, which I imagine will happen, and City falter at Chelsea, then in the Manchester derby the next week, should United win you would actually go ahead of Man City in the table.

Its plausible that could happen. As for Uniteds title ambitions, 11 points is a big margin. especially when the team you are chasing has dropped only 5 points from 48. If United were to take over City in the league table it would be more of a case of City faltering badly and leaving the door wide open for Arsenal, rather than Man United forcing their way in on a title challenge. As if City drop points to United and Chelsea it would mean they have won one match form their last five league games.

I for one dont think United score enough goals to make a deep push for the title. Believe it or not United are actually 10th when it comes to goals scored

 

[Gazza]

With Arteta being so good and Arsenal having such brilliant players, it would have to be considered a bit of a failure if they don’t bring the league home this season.

 

[RacingClub]

He's winning the PL, isn't he.

I don't think he will but they have exceeded my expectations thus far.

 

[ZainCRse7en]

Not sure how he is managing it but he has been massively fortunate this season to be facing teams at the ideal moments. Brighton yesterday did not have 4 of their starting 11 players available. They also faced Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs at the time those clubs were in a bad run of form.

 

[RacingClub]

They also faced Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs at the time those clubs were in a bad run of form.

To be fair I think if you talked to any of the fans of those clubs they would consider themselves in a perpetual run of bad form thus far this season.

 

[GoonerGirly]

Not sure how he is managing it but he has been massively fortunate this season to be facing teams at the ideal moments. Brighton yesterday did not have 4 of their starting 11 players available. They also faced Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs at the time those clubs were in a bad run of form.

The table doesn't lie. We've dropped 5 points all season - that is not just luck or good fortune. Yes Brighton were missing players but we also have had a big blow of losing Jesus after the WC. A lot of people (myself included) had some doubts about whether Nketiah would be able to fill his shoes but he's scored 2 goals in 2 games so far. A big part of that has to be how Arteta has prepared the team for the change. I still think we need to buy another forward player in the transfer window, but we've scored 7 goals in 2 games without our main striker. I did not expect that, and I thought this would be a much tougher game for us. But we blew Brighton away today - we lost here 2-1 last season.

 

[Buxton]

To be fair I think if you talked to any of the fans of those clubs they would consider themselves in a perpetual run of bad form thus far this season.

Spurs I believe were unbeaten till we smashed them. Either way dropped just 5 points after 16 games, been almost perfect. And no fluke about it. Comfortably been the best team this season, and playing some superb football, with a young team that will be around for years. It’s a great position to be in. When you think no one predicted a top 4 finish never mind a title challenge. Arteta has done an incredible job, and achieving targets way ahead of Arsenal fans expectations, even if we don’t win the league, the rise of this team and the turn around of the club and with the fan base has been meteoric.

 

[ThatsGreat]

I think top four is secure. I'm just going to enjoy the rest of the season without too many expectations.

But I agree that this might be the best opportunity for Arsenal to win the thing. Arsenal don't have a deep enough squad to compete in both the PL and CL and likely will never have the necessary depth.

If we qualify for the CL this year then I could easily see Arsenal getting stuck in the top four PL and round of 16 CL cycle that Wenger got stuck in till Arteta gets tired and leaves to Real Madrid/Barca.

 

[GoonerInPeace]

I think top four is secure. I'm just going to enjoy the rest of the season without too many expectations.

But I agree that this might be the best opportunity for Arsenal to win the thing. Arsenal don't have a deep enough squad to compete in both the PL and CL and likely will never have the necessary depth.

If we qualify for the CL this year then I could easily see Arsenal getting stuck in the top four PL and round of 16 CL cycle that Wenger got stuck in till Arteta gets tired and leaves to Real Madrid/Barca.

Thats the spirit.

As for our depth. Its actually underrated. Our squad is deeper than many think. We have been missing Smith-Rowe almost the entire year, where as when Jesus got injured people were suggesting it could derail the season. Reality is Nketiah is actually a good player and more than capable of leading the line. If we sign Mudryk then we can expect ESR, Jesus and Mudryk on top of what we already have, and ere not close to struggling

Then there are areas where we are extremely strong in. How many other teams have fullbacks of the caliber of Tomiyasu and Tierney on the bench?

Some of the cliches people rell off about Arsenal are infuriting. Do people still think we are vulnerable form set pieces?

 

[ThierryHenry14]

I think top four is secure. I'm just going to enjoy the rest of the season without too many expectations.

Same here. Enjoy the ride while it lasts.

 

[GoonerInPeace]

Not sure how he is managing it but he has been massively fortunate this season to be facing teams at the ideal moments. Brighton yesterday did not have 4 of their starting 11 players available. They also faced Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs at the time those clubs were in a bad run of form.

Where as you played Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool when they were in a great run of form?

You also got to play us without Partey

 

[Skills]

They deserve to be where they are, though I think having that City fixture delayed was a blessing for them. They're one of Guardiola's favourite punch bags, and having 4-5 put past them in October would've dented some of their momentum.

 

[Donaldo]

They deserve to be where they are, though I think having that City fixture delayed was a blessing for them. They're one of Guardiola's favourite punch bags, and having 4-5 put past them in October would've dented some of their momentum.

Except we played them off the park last season and they had to dig out a jammy winner at the end for an undeserved victory.

Things change. The caf doesn't, but things apart from it do.

 

[GoonerBear]

They deserve to be where they are, though I think having that City fixture delayed was a blessing for them. They're one of Guardiola's favourite punch bags, and having 4-5 put past them in October would've dented some of their momentum.

We should have at least got something from them from the fixture last season, ironically was played last New Years Day, only losing to an injury time winner after giving away a penalty then going down to 10 men.

I actually think despite the result the performance was one the light bulb moments that convinced many supporters that were still on the fence about Arteta that he was starting to build something, the first time we went properly toe to toe with one of the big 2 and could have deservedly got something out the game.

With our home record I have no fear of facing City at The Emirates just now, and I can't remember the last time I said that. Going to the Etihad will be different, but thankfully the home game is first.

 

[rajds89]

So, is failure to win the league from here on the biggest bottle job in history?

 

[SambaBoy]

People saying the fixture list has been kind to them haha come on, we're halfway through the season and they deserve to be top of the league in the way they have played and the results they have got.

 

[GoonerBear]

So, is failure to win the league from here on the biggest bottle job in history?

Why would that be? Teams have caught and closed down bigger points margins than 7 points with over half the season to go in the past, and you've been involved in 3 of the biggest, including Newcastle being 12 points ahead in January 96.

 

[ayushreddevil9]

Why would that be? Teams have caught and closed down bigger points margins than 7 points with over half the season to go in the past.

Yeah. City cancelled our 8 point lead in 4 games. That's a bigger bottlejob.

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

It feels further into the season than it actually is because of the World Cup, it’s only 16 games. 22 games left to go, a lot can happen. City are still favourites but Arsenal have given themselves a good chance.

 

[Daydreamer]

So, is failure to win the league from here on the biggest bottle job in history?

“You’re only leading (nearly halfway through the season) because of the fixture list.”

“Also, if you don’t beat City (with 21 goals in 15 games Haaland) to the title you’re bottle jobs.”

Yep, that checks out.