Leeds only had 3 shots all game and we let one in. So we weren’t that lucky. Leeds didn’t deserve a draw. It’s more that we should have put them away more convincingly.

As for Pépé……

North London forever. I think it might become a regular fixture. It grows on you.

https://youtu.be/agxpawc2Jb4

Honestly I had never heard of it but loads around me were singing it.

I think one of the good things about this forum is that the overreaction to poor performances is less extreme than others. But it does happen here as well. It wasn’t too long ago that some didn’t want Nketiah anywhere near the team. Look at how quickly that’s changed. Elneny is rightly being praised now. That hasn’t always been the case.

I think it’s reasonable to see Pépé as a poor signing, even though the cost of the transfer wasn’t his fault. I feel he has the attributes in terms of skill and pace to be a top player but has never quite showed it at Arsenal, at least consistently. But words like abomination are way over the top. Criticism can be expressed in far less extreme terms than that.

Overall I feel there’s too much overreaction to recent form. A fine performance doesn’t make a player brilliant or world class, just like a bad display doesn’t mean a player is rubbish or useless. As I say, it happens less here than on other sites. But it does happen.

Well it is understandable - he is so used to being at the top table...

If we qualify for ECL we should try to get Ronaldo for 2 years - the guy is still a great. London deserves to see him in a London shirt.

No way. It’s the polar opposite of the direction we should be taking.

Also the system we play requires an incredibly active forward.

Thanks TG - that's the one.

New to me too. Not exactly a toe-tapper, is it?

Dirge sums it up. Horrible.

Does anyone know why George Graham , Bob Wilson , Charlie George and a few others were at the game yesterday?

I rather like it. Just bought it on iTunes.

Weird seeing George back at Arsenal. I wonder if that’s the first time he’s been back. I can’t recall if he was at the Highbury farewell

Hi DD

I was in the bar at HT and I saw the screens but I didn't hear any commentary or announcements.

I surmised that it was the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Double which should've happened last year but Covid got in the way.

Now that Norn Iron is back in the spotlight, it occurred to me that I haven't seen anything of Niall for a while now.

Anyone know anything?

Hopefully this will be the case.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailys ... 906895.amp

He looked like he had really aged.
Understandable as many years have passed!
Forever a legend for what he did for us in 89 , 91 , 93 and 94.

Thanks DHD.
That makes sense.

I didn't realize that if we win we lock up top 4. Given that info, I think we will do no worse than a draw. For the last couple months we play well against any side in the top 5 or 6. Even in a losing effort, we made a good account of ourselves.

51 years since Arsenal won the double.

Just hope whatever player lineup Mikel chooses aren't also dead nervous by Thursday.

Hi David
Can't see a draw at WHL beneficial, a la Spurs match at Anfield. Spurs needed that win there more and just let it go with a draw. Advantage Arsenal the Leeds win. Maybe going into Thursday's match at a higher advantage points-wise, but only a win will suffice. Any draw no matter the number of goals will not do obviously. Just hope Burnley can be fired up enough to get a decent win against Spurs. Can't see Norwich doing much as already relegated.

Just saw Rich's post after I posted same. Tielemanns is young enough to pick which club he chooses. Being in the media quite a few appear interested. Left to be seen if any go all in and pay £40m with a year left. Still time.

Sterling being linked too now

Sterling, Jesus and tielemans would be some summer.

I think Arteta persisted with Lacazette for so long because he rated his hold up play so highly for the attacking midfield talent we have. Lacazette was effectively there as a guy to allow the play to progress in to the final third. The idea must have been that Nketiah couldn't do that and that it was essential for our play. However, what Nketiah has shown is that whilst his back to goal and hold up play might not be as good as Lacazette it is good enough and the other attributes he has far outweigh this - running the channels, attacking the box, pressing, finishing etc

Nketiah has a knack for timely runs, being in the right place. You can't coach that. If he had Fabregas or Özil behind him, he'd be lethal with a bit better finishing which hopefully will come with experience.

...Ødegaard will do. I think they could develop a very good partnership. Once they get to know each other or rather Ødegaard gets to know his runs, how he moves, I think we will see a lot more passes to Nketiah from him.

Not sure how he works out they’re playing catch up. The sanctions happened outside of the transfer window so they couldn’t sign any players anyway. The sanctions didn’t stop them scouting.
The only thing it may have impacted is the ability to offer new contracts to existing players

Clickbait I would imagine.

If we win our last 3 games we would have won only 2 fewer games than the invincibles. Currently we’re only 4 fewer than Liverpool.

We don’t do draws do we? Only 3 which is the least of any club in the division. Remarkable when you consider just how tight so many of our games are.

Win. We're there. Draw and we need 1 more. Lose and we need to win the last two. It's in our hands.

I quite like the new song, it definitely has that anthem feel about it. I think some of the lyrics could do with tweaking a little bit but fundamentally it does have the basics of a real spine-tingling tune.

Hi AG,

His movement is excellent and, as you say, he does have that knack of finding time and space in the box. Like with most out-and-out goalscorers the ball seems like a magnet to him in those areas.

Whether his all round game can reach the standards of a team that wants to challenge for titles I don't know but he's still very young with time to improve both physically and mentally.

I suspect it's all a bit academic as he will move on in the summer.

No really fancying us to win a WHL.

Spurs are probably the best equipped team in the league to hurt teams on the counter-attack and to get something out of games without playing well, as we saw versus Liverpool.

I haven't seen the stats but I'd guess the ratio of goals to chances for Kane and Son is very high.

I'd loved to be proved wrong but I see a few chances falling to Kane and Son and them hitting the back of the net at least twice. We need to be right at the top of our game but also clinical with the chances we create.

I agree. It doesn’t feel forced like Roger Daltreys Highbury high claptrap

I think if you changed the lyrics it would then feel forced as ultimately the song is about the gentrification of north London and not Arsenal but like YNWA it is adopted by the fans. People have said it’s a bit emotional rather than catchy however the singer has had suffered some difficult times (he was apparently with Ben Kinsella when he was tragically murdered) so it’s probably understandable.

I don’t know if the plan is to play it at every home game however if they do I think it will catch on and become an anthem

It was in the Telegraph

I’m seriously considering returning some overdue library books on Thursday night or going to the pictures or something even if it’s to watch a Jennifer Aniston film or something

Going to be horrendous watching that might better served avoiding

If you do, leave your phone behind. The urge to check constantly is irresistible and it becomes an instrument of self torture on such occasions. A least when watching the game one gets some pleasure/relief when Arsenal are in possession a decent distance from our goal.

Same. I genuinely don't believe I possess the emotional constitution for such games anymore. I may do something else then just look up the result and get one hit of joy or disappointment without the high blood pressure, nausea and sheer terror that accompanies such games.

It didn't help that I had a dream last night that we lost 3-1 with Lacazette getting an 88th minute consolation. It was so real too. Awful.

Arteta will offer a £30m bid for Tielemanns. But will only be possibly accepted if Arsenal get in CL.
No matter. Arsenal now trying out for wrenching Sterling away from City. Lots of media on that as well.