**** get Martinelli on. Somebody who'll run a defense

Lacazette really can't figure it out sometimes

Yay 30 extra minutes.

Not sure why we subbed Willock on for Bellerin. Should have put AMN back there that actually gives Pepe someone to overlap.

Saka has put us under pressure several times this half.

We just look lazy and tired

And Mustafi does his hamstring in. Sokratis on

Should benefit from Martinelli's energy.

Auba! Goal! Insane scissor kick!

Now defend

Crap!

Well ****

Bleeep.

Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again

That about sums up this season.

Classic. Poor defense once again leads to the team's demise, and only reasonable opportunity to CL football next season. No way this team can make it happen through the EPL, not with this defense and a midfield that gets bossed around way too easily. And a forward group who go into a shell for halves at a time.

Well it was fun watching Auba in the red and white for 2.5 years. Granted I think we can make it up to a CL spot in the league. Other than Liverpool and City, no other team has shown any consistency and we're only 7 points off 4th.

That said, without some major investment, we'd get ****edout of the CL so fast you might as well not go

Still don't understand how Auba missed at the end

wangus12 said:

---

Well it was fun watching Auba in the red and white for 2.5 years. Granted I think we can make it up to a CL spot in the league. Other than Liverpool and City, no other team has shown any consistency and we're only 7 points off 4th.

That said, without some major investment, we'd get ****edout of the CL so fast you might as well not go

---

You still get that CL money though and CL may be our best bet to convince a few guys to actually join us over another team.

With MCity getting a ban we only need 5th to may CL. That is by no means a guarantee but we are only 4 pts out and the teams in our way (MU, Spuds, Wolves, SW) are beatable. The key though is that we absolutely have to take care of our own. Need more wins and ideally zero losses.

I am a bit torn on what I think we should do in the summer. Part of me wants to sell everyone 30+ along with a fw others and rebuild with a younger group. The other part of me wants to keep a couple key vets (PEA in particular) rebuild a couple positions and see what we can do next season.

I mean, imagine next season with...

--------------- PEA ----------------
Saka -------- Ozil -------- Pepe
-------- Xhaka --- Partay --------
Tierney - Mari - Upa - Bellerin
--------------- Leno ---------------

Find a LB & RB that can push for minutes
Clear out the dead weight at CB
Find a heir at CAM

Nods along in agreement...then sees Ozil in ideal XI for next year...everything you said is now wrong! Just messing with you; but I really really want the ozil enigma gone.

I do to. Just don't think it is gonna happen. So being realistic, he is playing well. If we can't get rid of him might as well use him and spend less money on a guy that needs a year before he is 100% ready to take over.

I think he fits better in Arteta's system. City play with an effective #10 as well so its not quite dead in the sport. We don't really have anyone that backs him which is tough. Based on ESR performances at Huddlesfield, he'd be the likely option next year. I just don't see the creativity from Willock who reminds me of Ramsey more than anyone. If we want to keep that system, we're gonna have to replace Ozil sooner or later and I'm not sure who we'd go after for that.

Going forward, I'd bench the hell out of Lacazette. He just doesn't have it this year. I'd also be tempted to start AMN over Bellerin who has looked out of sorts and really has lost his pace. For the record, ACL injuries can really take close to 2 years to fully get back, if it ever happens. We need a RB who will overlap with Pepe and Bellerin isn't doing that currently.

My lineup currently would have Auba up top and Martinelli on the left until Tierney is fit (he is now in full training again). Then move Saka to LW and drop Martinelli.

Almost all the teams in front of us in the league have European duty still so hopefully we can take advantage of the extra rest and start to turn the screw. Gonna take some luck, but hopefully it can happen. The really hard part is Arteta trying to motivate the players after yesterday. You could see how bad this loss was for them after the match. Could definitely break their mentality

49, 49 undefeated....

Welp. 10 minutes in and Portsmouth have possibly broken Torreira's ankle. Being stretchered off.

Mike Dean is a ****. Not even a foul for the scissor tackle on Torreira and now Guendouzi gets a yellow card for slamming the ball down,

Also the official ruling is correct. He was booked for sarcasm.

Where is this streaming?

ESPN+.

Or here : http://cyclingentertainment.stream/events/2020/portsmouth-vs-arsenal/

1-nil Sokratis off a nice little volley

Sokratis! 1 nil at half.
Bummed about Torriera.
Watching on ESPN+

Eddie!

two pretty goals so far

Nice to win and advance to quarterfinals. Pablo Mari debut was positive.

Anyone else thinking AMN may be done at Arsenal?

Have a feeling that he told Arteta that he doesn't want to play RB because he views himself a midfielder (he has openly stated his preference for and view of himself as a MF in interviews) and Arteta doesn't rate him in MF.

Just came to post the exact same thing. When Papa is getting started in front of him at RB, it's over.