Emery started playing him there, then bizarrly moved him to a kind of false 10 thinking he could help with a high press. Arteta started him in his first few games but (probably rightly) decided we needed more physicality at the base of midfield. I'm not convinced Torreira suits the league - Emery wanted Nzonzi who is almost the complete opposite of Torreira - what a messed up period that was for us, zero direction or collaborative thinking

I'm pretty sure thats what happens.

When we used to be in Europe before last season and there were no behind closed doors restrictions, didn’t we used to get seven cup tie credits (or was it six) for the FA Cup and the Champions League or Europa League? The League Cup wasn’t covered by the season ticket.

When we got knocked out of the FA Cup and Europe early enough to not use the cup tie allocation (whether it was seven or six), the value of the unused cup games used to be knocked off the season ticket for the following season.

I can’t imagine the same principle won’t apply to the 2022/23 season ticket renewals.

Looking at the table, it just dawned me we won a lot of games. Tied with the scum for 3rd most games won. Yes, we lost a lot but we started off losing the first couple months.

Can't wait for the documentary. Hoping some questions are answered and hoping to get some insight into things that were happening.

The corollary is that we drew hardly any. It seemed like if we went a goal down then we rarely battled our way back into the game. The points gained from losing positions was pitiful.

We need to learn to rise above it.

Inexperience

I don’t know if you watched the Newcastle game but sky had their cameras in the tunnel pre game and they were focussing on the Newcastle players who looked proper blokes pretty mean and up for it then panned to show a baby faced Martin Ødegaard leading us out who probably looks the same as he did when he was 12. I just thought uh oh. We need a mobile enforcer in the middle of the park. Just too lightweight

That would be my reading of the situation too.

And yes I did think just the same when viewing the Newcastle tunnel.

The corollary is that we drew hardly any. It seemed like if we went a goal down then we rarely battled our way back into the game. The points gained from losing positions was pitiful.

We need to learn to rise above it.

[... Also being young is not necessarily always the same as being inexperienced. You can be both young and experienced.

Indeed - Paddy had won The Double and World Cup at 22 and the UEFA Championship by 24. Cesc the World Cup and UEFA Championship by about 23. Pele of course made those guys look like veterans.

Pitt the Younger and Alexander the Great also come to mind

Hadn't realized that Mourinho has won all 4 of his European cup finals (not only the EC/CL for the pedants). Impressive.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61563232

Based on how we started the season, is the number of losses a surprise? It shouldn't be. Reducing losses is a given. A glaring need that the most casual football can see about us.

To get to 3rd most wins is the more significant of the two (comparing number of wins and number of losses) isn't it?

Reducing losses is a given. A glaring need that the most casual football can see about us.

True but he is still a knut.

It shouldn’t be? Well the number of losses was a surprise to me.

The opening three games were a mare in terms of the opposition, covid, and not having completed the transfer window. We recovered well from that but ultimately suffered some further losses that a more experienced side wouldn’t have done.

I am hopeful that we will build on that.

The players (those who stay) will of course all be a year older next season than they were this. So it’s an issue that should hopefully sort itself out naturally in due course. Also being young is not necessarily always the same as being inexperienced. You can be both young and experienced.

You may very well be one of the few fans who thought we fully recovered from that horrible start. The sperz win was a brief respite, but maybe I am remembering the forum differently but did anyone think we turned it around? Really?

We were always fragile the whole season, especially given the fact we didn't do much in January. We lost Aubameyang, arguably he wasn't doing much but he left us bare. Blocked people aside...lol...(winks at the peanut gallery) who was talking 4th after January? Out of the cup by Forest.

The mood on here and other forums was doubtful...at best... at that time, but again, maybe I am remembering things differently. But..ah..ok.

Paddy would have made a great Emperor. Come to think of it he was an Emperor of midfield. Increasingly difficult these days to decide who was my favourite - he, Dennis or The Immortal Frank.

Bukayo Saka
2020-21 5 goals and 3 assists
2021-22 11 goals and 7 assists

Emile Smith Rowe
2020-21 2 goals and 4 assists
2021-22 10 goals and 2 assists

Gabriel Martinelli
2020-21 2 goals and 1 assist
2021-22 6 goals and 6 assists

Got these stats from Twitter, all 3 took a step forward in their development and output this season. Repeat that or improve it AND crucially add a centre forward or two who can score 20 goals a season and it starts to look quite good.

Insightful! The most casual football knows its stuff!

I agree. Stop losing matches and we'll win the league.

Elneny has officially signed a new deal

https://www.arsenal.com/mohamed-elneny- ... eague-news

This is interesting. So our league position is linked to the number of points we get which is linked to how many games we win.

Now we know this we should be able to do better

What are you on about? At what point have I ever said that ‘we fully recovered from that horrible start’?

There is nothing about your summation above that I disagree with. We are fragile.

Where this discussion started was when you took issue with my point that we we largely unable to recover from going a goal down. That’s it really. Nothing more to be said. No point in ‘arguing’ at cross purposes. Top Gun understood the point perfectly.