Completely fair and reasonable assessment. This is Liverpool away FFS - does anyone seriously expect us to go there and play them off the park - jeez.

Exactly. Even when we had clearly better teams than Liverpool in our absolute pomp a win at Anfield was never a given and never easy

This was never going to get given, but in the middle of the pitch the ref gives this every single time as a free kick for Havertz. Arm in the back, contact on the back of the leg. I’ve seen cheaper penalties for far less contact this season

If that’s given on the pitch there’s no way var can over turn it

The Guardian enjoying United's woes:

"United have gone four games without a goal for the first time since autumn 1992. If the drought continues against Aston Villa on Boxing Day, they’ll have scored less out of five than the club’s hygiene rating."



https://www.theguardian.com/football/bl ... o-west-ham
'

It seemed like Liverpool totally over watered the pitch yesterday, so many players slipping. You wonder whether that was done on purpose…. I don’t recall many incisive passing moves in our last 3rd by Liverpool - it was long ball as their main tactic.

you might be right

A number of key incidents happened or were affected by players slipping.
Martinelli’s miss when Saka went through
Saka’s tackle that ended up injuring Tsimikas
Zinchenko slipping that led to the 5v2 counter
Ødegaard handball
Saka’s tackle where Liverpool were screaming for a 2nd yellow

I even recall one where Havertz slipped when receiving a throw and it led to a dangerous counter

It was a tight game we restricted Liverpool to less than 1.0 xG

Tsimikas has a broken collarbone because of that.

Thought we got a bit lucky last night. A very good point that though.

Not digging out Zinchenko but he’s not your guy at places like Anfield and I thought he was going to be subbed at half time. I know he’s an easy target but you need a warrior againest Salah. We need a specialist left back in.

Off to make Top Guns Christmas gravy which takes 2 hours so I’ll wish you folks a happy christmas.

Yeah shame for him, but I’m not sure it was even a foul. Even if it was it was a pretty run of the mill two players coming together to win the ball. Players fall and don’t break their collarbone thousands of times. Just a really unlucky one for him.

I agree defensively it would have been preferable to have Tomiyasu. Arteta put Tomiyasu at left back in the home game v Liverpool last year which was quite a novelty at the time.
But if we call out the defensive frailty we have to acknowledge the effect he has on our build up play. There was an erratic 15 mins after half time from the whole team when the pass success dropped to 70% from well over 80% in the first half but one of the big reasons we regained control was Zinchenko getting on the ball more in the middle of the park

I always find it funny how for Arsenal everything seems to be a test of mental ability or some physiological test. I understand it to a degree on the basis of our poor record at Anfield and that we haven’t won anything yet. But then you could label the same at virtually every team. Maybe they realise we’re a good enough team to win big trophies so the only thing holding us back is mental? Part of me feels the team is still being judged and asked to bridge hurdles based on historical narrative of Arsenal teams some 10 years ago - which is pretty unfair.

My guess is that our alleged bottling it for a Champions League place in the final stages of the season before last, and a similar loss of form at the end of last season for the title, is the main reason for media scepticism about the current team. The fact that late-Wenger-era Arsenal weren’t exactly known for resilience under pressure probably doesn’t help with the current narrative.

To all of them, I’d say: top of the table at Christmas. It feels pretty good.

Tackle stats for the big 5 European leagues. Zinchenko rated in the top 10 with 79% tackle success. Aim not saying this stat is the gospel and final word but there is a need to balance what you think you see with the hard stats

Sterling today has a 1v1 with the wolves gk and has two players square for the easiest pass and open goal tap in you’ll ever see. He shoots and it’s saved. At his age he just isn’t going to learn this now.

Not sure if it was commented on yesterday on here but Havertz is suspended for the West Ham game. If White gets booked v West Ham he’ll be suspended for the next game after that. After West Ham is the cut off point for yellow cards, then you have to get to 10 to get a 2 game ban.

BTW white’s yellow card was a joke yesterday

I know MOTD have a few games to get through but last night the ‘analysis’ of the match between 2 giants of the game who sat 1st and 3rd at kick off was a gushing love in for Trent, and Ødegaard handball should have been a penalty. Not a single word on Arsenal, how well we started and how we regained control. No analysis on Rice, Gabriel or Saliba - who actually got the MOTM.
Add to this that MOTD seem to have this agenda to be seen to be ultra fair and unbiased so they schedule Forest v Bournemouth as the first game. Now I know it was 3-2 so an exciting game but surely if they put Liverpool v Arsenal first up there can’t be many people justifiably raging.

In anticipation of Tierney being mentioned after Zinchenko’s performance yesterday it’s worth remembering that he’s already missed 9 games this season for Sociadad with a hamstring injury….and to be honest I’ve seen Tierney taken apart by some of the best right wingers in the world as well

Worse was Haavertz's. Warnock on BBC Radio was aghast it was even a foul as even the Liverpool fans in the pub. They are the homer decisions that happen when you are away.

Merry Christmas to all.

Happy Christmas everyone. Have a great one.

Seasons Greetings to you all from this old expat in Philadelphia

I hope you all have a great Christmas and a happy and healthy new year

Window time soon.

Wonder what the plan is (if any)

Wolves have some talent I like…Neto Lemina and Cunha
Toney and Douglas Luiz are regularly linked

We are top of the league…great job everybody…but I would have loved to see Timber,Partey and Tomiyasu all fit and available all year…more options for MA

Big plusses….Declan Rice and William Saliba…outstanding…Gabriel not far behind

Saka has been below his incredibly high standards….may need to rotate him a bit and Odegard and Martinelli must find those high levels of consistency that the very top players have….someone on here yesterday. identified Salah as the gold standard and that standard is what I want from all our team

In conclusion I bet if Mee or Bern is looking down they’d be highly chuffed to see us atop the EPL !

Happy Christmas everybody

Hi Andy
Would really have liked to see Bern and Mee's comments on Arsenal's overall achievements this season.

A happy Christmas to all.

Seasons Greetings Zed Dunno where in the world you are but I wish you well
The forum is poorer without them
I’m sure they’d be impressed but like you and me just yearning to win it all
Anyhow to other forumite legends … Cannon. Daz. Chocolate Harlow et al
If you’re out there stop by!

Merry Christmas!

Wow. My guess is they built up tough feet and the calussed feet hardened it.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=74595 ... tid=K8Wfd2

Merry Christmas everyone - we are the stars at the top of the league tree!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and safe 2024.

‘Eeeee’s beeeeeeen….

Happy Christmas everyone.

xx

Goldbridge and the guy from The Football Terrace, both Man Utd fans, but discuss EPL football have both said there is an Arsenal hate out there. One said many people do not want to see Arsenal become good and challengers again.

I wonder why?

Merry Christmas everyone. Top of the league to all of you

I could have sworn you were on the naughty list.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Do you think the 3 spirits might have visited TG and helped him see the error of his ways?

Vodka, gin, and whisky you mean?

So the best Christmas present I got was the 'not a loss at Anfield', given my other half's Liverpool supporting family are with us for the Christmas dinner.

No doubt the handball will come up in conversation, but I've got the Henchoz handball in my back pocket. Plus the Havertz not penalty; I win.

Heard a youtube commentator say Gabriel has the most goals of any central defender since 2020 (11). Rich, can you confirm?

Also heard this stat a few times. Difficult to check but I’d say it’s accurate