Khan Gunner

Rewind about a month and Havertz was loved, Gyökeres hated. Now it's the other way around. In a month from now, it'll likely change again. Do you realise what's wrong with that? How that way of viewing the world is incredibly reactionary and overly emotional? Please, wake up.

I am beyond calm about Arsenal from here until the end of the season. Last night's emotional outburst from the masses was predictable, but also predictably illogical. In moments like this, true analysts comes to the fore and the weak are separated from the chaff. The charlatan's reveal themselves in broad daylight. Unfortunately, they take up 99.9% of the population. Anybody who complained about Arteta's system, the balance, certain players not succeeding because of the coach, or even those complaining about certain individuals not being up to par are almost all completely mistaken. We learnt nothing new about Arsenal last night. Not one thing. From a tactical or player-based point of view. The reality of the situation is that Arsenal came up against the most in-form team in England and played a rotated team due to injuries. This is not an excuse, as Arsenal should still be beating Southampton, but losing to them becomes less of a surprise when considering the context. Arteta's selection was incredibly balanced. I only saw one other analyst on this platform say this, and he is correct. Completely. Yet he is being 'dragged' for it. The first half performance proved that to be entirely correct, too. Arsenal were dominant against a Southampton team who didn't press. However, Southampton did have some moments. Why? Because Mosquera, White, and Gabriel all made unforced individual errors which negatively impacted the flow of the game. That's football, and it can happen, but it certainly happened far too often last night which made the game basketball-y. Then, as the game wore on, Arsenal got weaker due to their injury situation. It was 1-1 at the time and Arsenal had Dowman in the #10 - a role that is instrumental to organising Arsenal's press and exerting control on the game. As good as Dowman is going forwards, his non-existent attempt at a counter-press for the first goal conceded, lack of defensive intensity, and immaturity to organise the press is why he will only be used as a wildcard late on in games against deep-lying defences or when Arsenal need a goal. Right now, he is a total passenger defensively. Then, to make matters worse, Gabriel came off injured and Havertz came off as well (no doubt to manage his load). Arsenal were simply not as well co-ordinated as they typically are defensively as a consequence of these factors all taken together. Arteta picked a rotated team which got weaker as the game went on. The second goal summed up their issues. Southampton kicked long from a goal kick down Mosquera's side, he failed to win the initial aerial duel, and instead of Arsenal having one of Rice, Merino, or Havertz to compete for the second ball on the left, they had Zubimendi, who also failed to win the duel. From here, Southampton scored in transition. Would that have happened if Arsenal didn't have injuries or need to rest Gabriel, Rice, Merino, or Havertz? No. But it did happen, and knockout football is ruthless. One loss and you're out. But does a rotated and injury-hit Arsenal team losing to Southampton mean that the club are in crisis mode? Or that the system is fundamentally broken? Or that there is genuine concern over the Premier League title race or the Champions League situation? Not to any attentive viewer, no, and here's why: In the Carabao Cup final, City surprised Arsenal tactically. Mikel and his staff should have come up with solutions at half-time, but they did not. Players also could have helped on the day, sure, but they suffered too. But, like I said at the time, would Arsenal rather be surprised tactically in the Carabao Cup final or in the league game against City? The answer is so obviously in the cup final. Now, when the league game comes around, Arsenal will be prepared to face that likely City set-up. Trust me on that. Plus, despite losing to Southampton, the balance in the team was excellent. We saw that in the first half. Just because individual errors and a weakened performance as the game went on may skew that notion does not mean that Arteta's system is flawed or that any individuals are not up to par or anything ridiculous like that. Remember, none of Raya, Timber, Saliba, Hincapié, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Saka, Trossard, and Gyökeres started. That is quite literally Arsenal's XI outside of Gabriel, and he came off injured too! Realistically, the argument being thrown about regarding the defeat to Southampton is that because Arsenal's second string XI lost, the entire season is in jeopardy. I mean… come on! What a lot of nonsense! Remove emotion from the situation. Zoom out. Realise that Arsenal are 9 points clear in the Premier League with 7 games to play. City have a game in hand, sure, but that game in hand is against Chelsea away. Plus, Arsenal have to play first in the Premier League against Bournemouth at home, giving them the opportunity to extend the lead to 12 points with 6 games to go. Arsenal are also in the quarter finals of the Champions League against Sporting Lisbon. The weakest team left in the competition. If you said this was the situation to any Arsenal fan at the start of the season, they would have bitten your hand off for it, and rightly so. Plus, I don't buy into the notion that Arsenal are in bad form as they enter the business end of the season. What a whole load of contextless nonsense that is. City sprung a tactical surprise in the final. Arsenal will be better prepared for the league game. Plus, against Southampton, Arsenal played their second string XI. They are one off occurrences. The only legitimate concern Arsenal have at this point is their injury situation. The likes of Timber, Gabriel, Hincapié, Rice, Saka, and Trossard are key figures who Arsenal need to be fit and firing to see out the season. Plus, knowing the freakish nature of these guys, I don't expect them to miss too much football from here on out. They are almost all athletic freaks and mental giants. Outside of that, I couldn't be more calm and confident about the situation. Plus, on a personal level, last night revealed that my mission on this platform is far from complete. I still have so much work to do to educate the masses. So, so much work. I feel outnumbered in this moment, but I will not waver. I never have. Not since 2017. And I am not about to start now. Signing out, EBL.

@MoArsenal86 He was given lots of chances this season where he was average. Complete player? Are you kidding? Guys,you just need to understand that these young kids need to be managed properly, and they need to respond properly in and out of the pitch. Saliba should be taken as an example

Bringing in a player from the cold and expecting him to magically not miss a beat is harsh to say the least. Lewis-Skelly is an unbelievable talent that should have played WAY more this season. A top technician and a complete player. Arteta got this one badly wrong. Huge shame.

Dust settled time, long one incoming, the joys of the blue tick, read it or don’t. It’s easy to see where it’s gone wrong in the last 2 games, this season has been built on defensive solidity, even when not playing well, we’ve got results because the defence held us up. It’s not hindsight because I said it on the day, when Timber got injured, he should have started Raya, you can’t take 2 key elements out of the defence & be the same, Kepa was always starting yesterday which just added to the risk of this happening again. The defence has looked shaky in the last 2, if you look at all 4 goals, they have come from defensive errors & instability, White & Kepa been poor but so was Mosquera yesterday & Hincapie in the final after his YC, Gabriel also looked shaky without Saliba at times yesterday, the keeper makes a big difference to how we build & how secure we are, the midfield also didn’t protect them yesterday, they were too easy to get at, this is easily fixed with personnel. We started yesterday quite open, rivals called us boring but playing more attacking leads to basket ball games & leaves us open as a result, they first goal came when we had too many bodies forward & Odegaard stupidly gave it away, when the defence ain’t rock solid, it looks ropey. We need to go back to basics on Tue, get Raya & Timber back in, choose a LB; Calafiori for more attacking intent (hopefully Gabriel is just a precaution) forget being entertained, just get over the line. Go back to what we are good at, we aren’t here to please rivals or pundits, it’s easily fixed, if you get sucked into twerking for them, you’re an idiot who don’t deserve anything anyway. The last 2 games have been of our own doing, Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Rice, Zubimendi & Gyokeres have all been the foundation of the team whether you like it or not, if they are being run into the ground, you saw why yesterday, that’s why they needed the 2 week break, this team below will not see the light of day together again, on Tuesday, only a fit Gabriel & maybe Odegaard will start who started yesterday, he effectively made 9/10 changes like he did in every round so no need to do the doomer gimmick acting like this is the team that ends the season. We got what we deserved, own it & move on quickly, the team will, as will Berta in the Summer, some of them sealed their exit. And stop being baited about the Quad, no one has done it before, we’ve blown a treble but we are always going to be judged on the 2 big ones & we are still in a good spot in both, we haven’t won the league in 22 years & sacked a legend for just winning FA Cups, yesterday & the league cup are not defining this season & it was never going to be easy, stop allowing people to force you into moving goalposts, be stronger, don’t be weak. Spurs, United, Chelsea & Liverpool fans are not the fanbases you should be lil bro’d by, they’d all swap in a heartbeat, only City can talk. Buckle up.

@Alarsenalnews_ We're all gutted, but don't be so dramatic.

"Arrogance Personified". I am totally devastated right now. This guy played his MF set of mentally weak fringe players by leaving most of the top players on the bench or at home. His best player on the pitch today was a 16 year old boy who played like a "MAN" trying to create chances and take the ball forward absorbing so much physical pressure and managed to play whole 90 mins. 🤷‍♂️🙏 Mikel Arteta is losing all respect now. He got famous in coaching as an Assitant to Pep Guardiola but he is not that talented to be honest. With the way he is moving forward in his career and has made choices game after game in every season, he will end up like next Sam Allardyce the day he is sacked by Arsenal. Total responsibility on him for today's embarrassment.

@_Ventfull_ Stupid take again. Have some shame

What a fucking insult it is to have a shit CF at midfield instead of MLS or Nwaneri.

@Salibasexual02 Odegaard needs to get back to his best quickly

Raya Timber Saliba Gabriel Calafiori Zubimendi Rice Saka Eze Trossard Gyokeres To the very end, no excuse not to now. He’ll probably play Odegaard instead of Eze but either way, it has to be the strongest team in every game no matter what. Win our 4 homes games and 1 away & this is still the best season in 22 years.

@Salibasexual02 Not sure about Trossard though. Eze LW, Kai as CAM maybe.

@Salibasexual02 The team needs to bounce back. Those fans who were screaming for Arteta's head for not starting MLS, Norgard, etc, have some shame now. Support the team, the coach. Don't be weak, and fall for the media's agenda and other club's fanbase bs.

We will still win the league, City fucked it against West Ham & Forest, if they are perfect we need to win 5 out of 7 games, if they aren’t, it’s less. They have trips to Chelsea, Bournemouth, Everton, play Villa on the last day & have to play their own bogey team in Palace while squeezing in the SF, I doubt they will go perfect, winning our 4 homes games will probably be enough, we don’t need to be perfect, they do. The 11 today will not play together in the PL, that you can be sure off, today is not setting the standard, he prioritised Sporting & Bournemouth & rightly so. Today was shit, deserved to lose because it all felt a little unprofessional but they need to keep their eyes on the prize & the humbling won’t be a bad thing. Win the PL & it’s still the best season in 22 years, the CL is just a bonus now, winning both would still make it the greatest season in the clubs history, the Quad was a dream, no one has done it so perspective is needed. The home fans have to play their part and get us over the line with the team, if the fans bottle it, you can’t slate the players for doing the same, if you got tickets for the home games, it’s time for you to step up. if we only won the FA & league cup we’d all call it a failed season, eyes on the prize, we’ve blown 2 chances, probably the chances you’d prefer to lose over the other 2. Goodnight.

@ArsenalN10 Stupid take. Shame on you

Winning the Premier League alone is a failed Season for Arsenal.

@Salibasexual02 Kai was not a problem. His role was. Both Gyokeres and Kai can play together

Everyone was demanding Norgaard & Lewis Skelly to play, both didn’t show enough, everyone demanded Havertz to start over Gyokeres for months, that can finally be put to bed now. People need to start respecting Zubimendi, Rice & Gyokeres & stop with their agendas because their favourites have let them down.

Israel ARRESTED this 13 year old Palestinian girl. According to the law just passed, she could now be executed “legally” in the prison. Please don’t let them kill her. Repost this.

@_Ventfull_ Shitting your pants already

If you're going to give Arteta a new mega money contract atleast do it after we actually have a league title in our hands Cuz right now City are looking spooky

@FtAshane @HarveyDiamonds How much did he cost?

@KhanGunner @HarveyDiamonds Woltemade was not a superstar

Such an obvious solution to Arsenal’s lack of frontline pace and directness. Yan Diomande is the truth, 18 G/A in his first season at RB Leipzig at the age of 19 is seriously impressive - this could be #AFC’s Jeremy Doku + is better in larger spaces. Fully worth €75m.

@HarveyDiamonds So was Woltemade?

@KhanGunner So was Haaland?

@HarveyDiamonds Not even worth 50 mln

@Ramsgoat3 Are you retard or what?

This guy is genuinely just a prick. The total lack of disregard for his players’ health and future careers he shows. You can point to at LEAST 5 players in the squad who have physically deteriorated because of him. He’s rushed players back, played them injured MANY times

@29Havertz43802 It wasn't his knee

Bukayo from the moment he recoverd from knee surgery injury last season, he has dropped alot and he looks alot predictable.. If a bid of £100M arrives in the summer, Should Arsenal Cash in to create space for Nwaneri and Max Downman? Yes or No

@Prime_afc He's a bit raw thgh. During the season i noticed several times when his lack of experience, pace and composure left him exposed, which is not acceptable at the highest level. It can hurt the team and himself as well. He's exceptional which is obvious and Arteta knows it

Find it hard to sympathise with Arteta over any tactical issues when there's such clear solutions within the club Lewis Skelly has to be getting midfield minutes soon even if it's off the bench. You can't have a talent this good as a 3rd choice LB