Just don't see it, Haz.

As much as we like to overhype our players, Ramsdale looked shaky tonight, Xhaka and Elneny were completely overrun, Ødegaard barely touched the ball.

Partey can't stay fit, neither can Tomiyasu or Tierney. Nketiah was one of our better players tonight but needs to be on loan in the PL but obviously that won't happen now.

I know TG will disagree but I think White is a very average defender, good on the ball but not great defensively. Does his ability on the ball compensate enough for his defensive weaknesses. I don't know.
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This season ? Yeah obviously but next? Please bear in mind before the injuries hit we would have steamrolled this

Injuries are part of the game. That is what a squad is for. After the January window, we left ourselves with 3 centrebacks and 2 strikers. We know Tierney is injury prone. It's hardly a surprise that he was out for some time. Partey has had a very patchy injury record since he joined. Wasn't Lokonga signed to provide cover (at the very least) in midfield? We don't have any excuses. We blew it.

...I had optimism a few weeks ago but the losses against Palace, Brighton and Southampton and the manner of the performances set alarm bells ringing for me. The United, Chelsea and West Ham games lifted the mood somewhat but the NL derby was a joke performance and tonight was the steaming turd on top of a great big *%^@ pie.

Injuries are part of the game. That is what a squad is for. After the January window, we left ourselves with 3 centrebacks and 2 strikers. We know Tierney is injury prone. It's hardly a surprise that he was out for some time. Partey has had a very patchy injury record since he joined. Wasn't Lokonga signed to provide cover (at the very least) in midfield? We don't have any excuses. We blew it.

I suppose the reasoning is based on the fact that Man Utd have had their worst season in PL history and Tottenham were pretty crap until Conte came in. Both clubs sacked their managers during the season so it's not difficult to see them getting more points next season. Sadly, we have blown a great chance. We've lost 5 of our last 9 games.

They were pretty crap after he came in too, they just started pressing better and Kane decided to stop sulking and play football. This narrative that Conte transformed them needs to die, or people need to actually start watching them play.

I don’t think getting rid of players in jan was the issue, it was more not bringing in players. If first choice weren’t available then a short term loan. Easier said than done of course but I don’t think some of those that went on loan help us much in the run in even just as warm bodies.

Wow, Xhaka has really thrown thrown the players under the bus with his post match interview.

Arteta was scathing in his interview.

He said Newcastle were 10 times better than us in every department.

He seemed shellshocked and made no excuses for what he described as an inexcusable performance.

Wow, Xhaka has really thrown thrown the players under the bus with his post match interview.

Xhaka - "If someone isn't ready for this game, stay at home"

I was at home and I still wasn't ready for that.

2 strikers
Wide goal threat
2 central mids
Left back
Right back
That would be my ideal shopping list

Tielemans, Fabian Ruiz, Bissouma all have just one year left on their current deal. All are 25/26 years old. With only a year left you should be able to snap up two of those for a combined £40-50m. If we shop in the ‘contract expiring’ market this summer our money should be able to go a long way

After watching that game last night I think we need a Bissouma more than a tielemans. Totally outmuscled and bullied in a game of frenetic pace. We needed to match that and couldn’t.

To be honest we need both but economics won’t allow it. The club needs to make some difficult decisions still, elneny and Lokonga are only good enough for the cup competitions, xhaka games outside of the top 4. We should sell the 3. You want to break into the champions league spots you need better than what we have. We aren’t dynamic in the middle of the pitch. Ødegaard was dropping deeper and deeper because we were not competing there and has been drawn into the criticism.

Look at some of the through balls for their 2 fast wingers our widemen just don’t get service like that.

Btw if Milan or Marseille offered 40-45 million for saliba id bite their hand off right now and spend the lot on Bissouma.

That part of the pitch needs upgrading and is failing its MOT.

Yes, but what if he turns out to be the new VVD, we'll be looking back in 3 years time and regretting the sale big time.

It's a big call but not sure if selling him just yet is the right call.

Undoubtedly it would be a big call.

I think you have to take that risk. We have 2 good centre backs, 1 reasonably competent back up and no midfield when partey is injured.

Midfield is where the games are won. Just bullied there yesterday.

Now we hope for another twist for 4th.
Norwich play their best game ever to reward their fans, and beat Spurs.
Arteta wakes up the team and we beat Everton.

One can dream but wake up to its reality

Make no mistake, the squad needs to be strengthened. The requisite depth is not there, and the absence of key players through injury has been far more damaging than it would have been if Arteta had more options. How fitting it was that Newcastle’s opening goal started with a foul throw by Nuno Tavares, in for the injured Kieran Tierney, and was then made possible because Joelinton outran Mohamed Elneny, in for the injured Thomas Partey.

Questions will once again be asked about their decision to allow so many players to leave in January, without any new faces brought in. It is also fair to wonder whether Saka, visibly exhausted, has been asked to do too much for a player of his age and experience.

All of these issues need to be addressed by Arteta, although we can be sure he will do so behind closed doors. Not even the Amazon documentary-makers, who have filmed the club this season, will see the real conversations and decisions that will follow this second consecutive defeat.

Arsenal are run by intelligent people, and they know where they are. They knew that it was possible they would finish fifth when they announced Arteta’s new contract a few weeks ago, and these past two results will not shake their faith in the manager.

It will be, however, a source of considerable concern that this group of players lacked the necessary edge at the pivotal moment. This is a new generation, a fresh collection of characters, but on Monday it felt like Arsenal were suffering from the same old problems. Until that changes, they will never return to where they need to be.

I believe the Sun is reporting Hickey a done deal for 21mil. At that price he should be a first team player.

Stranger things have happened.

Bissouma is a good call, a physical presence with decent technical ability and PL ready. Would cost £50m and do we have that to spend.

Another problem is that we have too many injury prone players......Tierney, Partey, Tomiyasu. Three of our biggest players not playing in half the games. Going forward that is unsustainable.

Would he cost £50m with only 12 months left on his deal?