So it was a foul throw that led to the goal.

You couldn't write it.

Not sure how that's not a foul on Guimares???

AggieRob93 said:

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Not sure how that's not a foul on Guimares???

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Been like this all match.

Atleast 3 more ignored fouls this half.

Really all in or bust mode now with Pepe on.

AustinScubaAg said:

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Really all in or bust mode now with Pepe on.

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This is where he thrives, in my opinion.

It was a really good season.

Onward and upward from here.

Keystone Kops baby!

Good grief Cedric can't even hold the offside line properly

Ag Since 83 said:

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Just not enough depth and experience at the end of the season

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Squad AND management.

Not disappointed that we are gonna be 5th. Disappointed with the inconsistency and the fact that 4th was easily in our grasps. We absolutely have to figure out how to be more consistent next season.

In my opinion, we've turned a corner. Not THE corner but a corner. Now keep working and make the right transfers and we'll get better.

I have to believe everyone would have taken Top 5 at the beginning of the season and definitely top 6 after the first three games. No depth and a young team caused us some issues but damn, I really enjoyed this season.

Ag Since 83 said:

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Just not enough depth and experience at the end of the season

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Yep. No depth and injuries.

I pray to good that a last place, relegated Norwich somehow beats Spurs and we beat Everton, but I'd also probably more likely to bang Kate Beckinsale

A very sharp corner. A U-turn even.

wangus12 said:

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Ag Since 83 said:

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Just not enough depth and experience at the end of the season

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Yep. No depth and injuries.

I pray to good that a last place, relegated Norwich somehow beats Spurs and we beat Everton, but I'd also probably more likely to bang Kate Beckinsale

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Is good the gooner god?

Totally bummed! Last two matches have been painful. Injuries, youth and weak depth finally became too much. I appreciate the the ride this season but the likely missing out on CL at the finish line is tough.

2-0. And with that, almost certainly, goes fourth.

Arsenal, in the end, just weren’t good enough. I can live with that. 5th feels about right, on balance.

But undoubtedly a very poor performance today. Poor front to back.

— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) May 16, 2022

Pepe trips over the ball and wants a foul

Yep, that is what lost 4th

nm

Can't wait to watch the Amazon documentary about this season

eiggA2002 said:

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Can't wait to watch the Amazon documentary about this season

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Ugh. No thanks.

I agree the early losses with covid nonsense still in full effect were a huge blow. Combined with the end of season challenges it was too much.

So assuming Norwich don't pull off a miracle (or we just choke again ourselves if they do), the Europa League does offer some interesting possibilities for some of our players:

• Maybe keep Balogun for the fall rather than another loan, then make a decision on how best to advance his development in January
• Similar opportunities for other youth players like Patino
• It could impact Eddie's contract situation
• Matt Turner will likely get Europa League group games as well as the Carabao Cup, giving him a few games in the fall, so a good outcome for the USMNT before the World Cup
• Good opportunities for rotation in key positions like center back which could have ramifications for Saliba

I think a key challenge for Arteta will be to recognize if a player contributes positively in Europe, is he worthy of bringing into the Premier League rotation thus helping keep the starting XI fresher

I agree with you. I think on our day, with everyone fit, we can be very competitive against the top tier teams. Our biggest problem is consistency. You never know which side of this team is going to show up. This team has the talent to where they should have been able to exert there will on Newcastle yesterday and yet we were totally apathetic. I do think if we qualified for the CL, we'd perform about as well as in the past. We'd advance out of the group stage perfectly fine and then get cut down over two legs by a more talented squad.

Guess the question will be can we add/attract the appropriate players to continue to build squad depth and the starters we need without being able to offer CL football next year and without being able to paying the crazy high wages to compensate for the lack of it.

Stolen from reddit...

Record/form since Jan...

Been reflecting since yesterday on how I think our summer will go and then saw a report earlier that claimed the lack of UCL will not change our summer plans. If true, that is good to hear but honestly lack of UCL will change what we can do because certain players will turn us down for a CL team. Below is what I think we will do this summer...

GK - Sell Leno, loan Okonkwo, Turner coming in, use a u23 or vet FA for the 3rd option
Ramsdale is the starter and gets most if not all EPL matches. Turner gets cups and EL.

FB - Sign Hickey, sell Cedric or loan Nuno
Tierney & Tomi are starters. Hickey is the super sub that can step in to start if either goes down. If we can find a taker for Cedric he is sold and Nuno plays cups & EL. If Cedric can't be sold, then loan Nuno and give Cedric his role in the team.

CB - bring back Saliba
Gabi & White are starters but Saliba given chance to rotate in and possibly take one of the spots. At the moment I think White's spot may be the most vulnerable but I also think Arteta gives him the benefit of the doubt. Holding is the cup & EL CB with whichever of the other 3 was most recently on the bench.

DM - dependent on El Neny
We are supposedly looking to extend El Neny. I don't agree with the move but I don't hate it either. If he is re-signed then I think there is no movement here. Partey will be starter. Sambi will be cup & EL DM. El Neny will be the super squaddie.

CM - depends on Xhaka
I think we add atleast 1 CM but I do not think we add a starting caliber unless Xhaka requests a move. At a bare minimum we add a young backup (Caqueret?) that can push Xhaka and possibly take the starting spot by Jan. If Xhaka requests a move, I think we add a starting quality CM that is in the 24-26 range and then the younger, cheaper CM that will be someone who can play in multiple spots (CM/AM). I also think it is possible that Sambi, Azeez, Patino, etc... get a shot at this spot in cup & EL.

AM - hold
I think it is highly likely that we do not consider any AM depth until Jan. MO is obviously the starter. I think ESR & Patino will the backup, cup & EL guys. Depending on how we sit in Jan, we could then loan Patino and bring in a legit backup.

W - sell Pepe after that depends on Nelson
Pepe is out. Not playing much and tons of rumors that the staff is unhappy with him. Nelson is having a strong loan and I could see him brought back for backup, cup & EL duty. Could also see him sold and replaced with someone with a bit more upside.

ST - several factors
1st factor is Eddie. We are supposedly trying to bring him back. He is not starter quality (yet) for a team with EL/CL expectations. So the big question becomes what level of playing time / assurances must we promise to keep him around and will it be worth it to the squad.
2nd factor is Jesus. I believe Arteta wants him and I think he will be a good option for this offense. I read 2 days ago that Jesus would be willing to join Arsenal even without CL. The question then is A) does a CL team show up and make a more attractive offer and B) does City hold our feet over the fire and demand too much given his end of season form.
3rd factor is versatility. This is probably way more my hang up than Arteta's but I do not like the idea of having both Eddie & Jesus. I think they are too similar. I would much rather sign one of them and then for the 2nd ST get someone that is 6'2"+, strong and good in the air.
I think we also keep a 3rd ST on the roster for cup & EL. The question there is do we use Balogun/Biereth or do we sign a W/ST like Gakpo. If we use Balogun/Biereth, like Patino above, I think there is a good chance we then loan them in Jan.