🇨🇦 🇹🇳 🇵🇸🇿🇦TheTorontoGooner

@MaxRadwan You lot watch us every week and think the GK isn’t a massive contributor to how we build our from the back? How many times was Ben white in space today and kepa simply didn’t make the pass?

David Raya breaks this deadlock front 4 press by pinging it the right back or midfielder in behind and commanding them for the ball. Kepa kept passing it to saliba and Gabriel like he thought man city front 4 would change their mind 😭😭

It’s correctly being highlighted that we struggled to play out & through City’s press in that second half. If you can’t play through, you can try to play over the top of them… in which case you need a keeper with Raya’s level of distribution. Kepa made a mistake, anyone can & in some cases he’s being scapegoated but dismissing the impact of his selection altogether is just as wrong.

Will say this from a technical level absence of Merino, Odegaard and Eze was a dream come true for Man City. Makes starting Kepa even more of a bewildering decision. Frankly international break could not come at a better time. Time to reevaluate+find solutions. #Arsenal

It wasn’t Kepa’s fumble that cost us. It was his distribution, or lack of. It killed our game.

It’s not just Kepas error for the first goal that bothers me, even though he should COMFORTABLY catch it. His general play cost us. He doesn’t have the passing range Raya has, and he took significant periods of time on the ball to allow City to recover energy and THEN press us. Mind blown.

@TorontoGooner They knew Kepa wasn't nearly as good with the ball, hence the 4 man wall blocking our midfield. And once again Arteta stands there and does nothing

And for Kepa it was not even the fumble that led to the goal it was about his inability to play balls around the press. Raya would have lobbed balls beating the four man press. The game was lost there.

Frankly unless Kepa starts another game not concerned about the PL. Even if Eze fit no chance Arsenal win this game with Kepa. Entire structure of #Arsenal game based on Raya pin point, often swift passing from the back. Kepa can't pass 5 yards, Man City just pressed at will.

Don't blame the players. Benching Raya is akin to benching Gabriel or Saliba. Team simply does not come close to peak level minus said players. No Raya killed ball progression from the back, Arsenal instinct based built on Raya ability. Were losr in his absence. #Arsenal

@YankeeGunner If you see city they done kepa over he doesn’t have the composure to pass through the lines and city cut our supply and made us play it wide and we lose it

Kepa vs Man City a shocker of a decision. Instead of the best GK in the country passing from the back, to a GK that can't pass 5 yards. Not a chance in hell Man City can pull off such a intense press from the front if Raya starts. #Arsenal

Before the game it was obvious we had to start our best team. You don’t take chances in finals. I’ve been saying it for days. During the game it was obvious we needed a change. We needed composure at the back. Raya had to come on. Instead we persisted with Kepa and it’s cost us.

Raya absence immense. His ability to pass from the back massive miss. Man city just pressing Arsenal deeper and deeper as Kepa useless moving the ball. Hate to say it but Arteta got it badly wrong today. #Arsenal

That's why you must start your world class 1ST choice GK in a cup final. #Arsenal

As this weekend approaches, this was the lowest low, walked out when he brought Iwobi on because enough was enough & their performance on that day was disgusting. When people spent a year slating Emery for breathing shortly after, it’s because they were hiding from this reality, the damage was done long before he came as a quick fix. On Sunday; when you’re watching it, love him or hate him you should be thanking Arteta for saving this club, we are now THE club & if you went through this and are running a gimmick where you can’t enjoy it now, maybe football isn’t for you, this is why we cause insane headloss, rivals want this Arsenal back. Roll on Sunday.

Barca highline is a trap for sucker managers. Suck you into a trackmeet with chances they concede, fools likes of Eddie Howe into believing they can beat Usain Bolt because he's slow out the blocks.

Eze’s goal from every angle

4 unsung heroes tonight who wont get the plaudits are Raya, Hincapie, Gyökeres & Zubi. All 4 fantastic tonight and put in a solid performance for Arsenal. When teams actually try to play vs us, the boring Arsenal football narrative dies a miserable death. Unbeaten in Europe.

The fanbases who are calling us boring are either getting slapped in Europe as I post this or not in Europe at all. We move.