TUESDAY DEBRIEF: TOXIC POSITIVITY TIME
I’m still feeling a little uncomfortable about this Manchester United result, mostly because it’s hard not to get caught up in the emotion of a Premier League season, and because we refuse to look at patterns around us.
The main fact keeping me anchored is that regardless of the noise, we’re top of the Premier League at the end of January. Complain all you like about how we got there or what you think about the mentality, no one else has been better than us this season. If we bounce back from the blip, hopefully no one betters us and we tasted glory.
I spoke to my dad earlier and explained that other clubs are having problems scoring goals and his response was “I don’t give a fuck about anyone else,” and I thought that was a fair response.
Man City players flumping out in front of goal still doesn’t make me feel better about our open play challenges. We should be better on that front. Saka is playing well, but he’s not playing great. Trossard has been in and out. All our striking options have been poor. I will say it until no one reads this website because they’re so bored of me saying it: playing the season with a 9 who can’t do the basics has been a big factor in open play numbers. How can our creators get G&As to top class levels if the person in the middle can’t hold up the ball, turn, or make space to finish? Saka has created the same amount of xA as Fernandes, but he has less than half the assists. If you are impotent through the middle, no amount of “stretching” defences is going to make up the numbers.
That is why I am partial to a little bit of change as we head into an absolutely critical week of football. Martin Odegaard has failed to show up for two Premier League games in a row, and I hate to say it, but he didn’t look interested in battling in both of those games. He was yanked for shirking the duels against Forest, and he didn’t enter the final third against United to avoid that. Time for something new. That could be the combo of Eze and Merino, one that worked so well against Spurs and Bayern earlier on in the season.
What we have going right now isn’t working. Jesus wasn’t it against United, which is a touch unfair because no one was it against them. But if we’re going to change things up, I can’t be seeing Gyokeres bouncing back into that starting 11 like what he offers is somehow better for the team. If Jesus gets benched, then I want to see Merino, or heaven forbid, the return of Kai Havertz.
“This is going to be the mindset and where we’re going to put the energy. I’m just hoping that everybody who is related to this club, especially our supporters, jump on that boat because this is the way that we’re going to live the next four months because we deserve to live like this.”
Arteta said this. As fans, it is our duty to dust ourselves down, dial up the toxic positivity, and go into the final stretch with absolute belief. We are where we want to be, at the top of the Premier League, competing to a high standard, rarely playing a bad game, with a fully fit squad. I know you want us to win every game, but we’re in the richest league in the world where every team is a threat, and those mega runs just aren’t as likely as they used to be.
So, ignoring my dad for a second, I do think it’s important to flag that Arsenal’s dip in form has been matched by every other team in the top 6. No one is flying off with outrageous form. Everyone is having stumbles. Is that because everyone is rubbish? Or is it because the big teams are wrestling with loads of games and it’s really hard to match teams with more rest in the Premier League these days?
We also need to counter the ridiculous comments about character or mentality.
We suffered our first Premier League defeat at Emirates Stadium since last May (v Bournemouth). Today was just the second home league game we had trailed in at any point in this season (also v Manchester City), while 38% of their league goals conceded at home this term occurred in this match (3/8). We conceded 3+ goals in a match for the first time since December 2023 (v Luton), ending a run of 121 matches across all competitions without conceding more than twice.
121 games without conceding 3 goals, and we haven’t lost at home since Bournemouth last season. Are you really questioning mentality, character, and leadership? This idea that unless you are delivering perfection you are broken in some way is just ridiculous and totally underestimates how hard the Premier League is these days.
Arsenal have the opportunity to put some minutes into returning players like Hincapie, Calafiori, and Kai Havertz against the worst team in the Champions League. We can give Dowman a run out, get Madueke delivering some output, and maybe get Marli Salmon on the pitch.
You’re also going to have to give up on the idea that we’re going cancel this style of play and move towards a more open game because you need to be entertained. Where is that football being showcased this season? La Liga - where the English teams are ragging those teams? Who is playing the way you want them to in the Premier League? Liverpool? No. City? No. Villa? No. The game has moved on. Arsenal want to overwhelm, they want to squeeze space, they want to lean in on set-pieces, and that has worked incredibly well so far this season.
Sometimes it’ll come undone, like it did in the United game, but that’s what happens in football. 3 shots, 3 goals, from less than 1 xG is the rarity. Arsenal are still creating around 2 xG a game. We’re doing all of this without one of our attackers in beast mode.
My view… United was an aberration. It was a wake-up call. The players will be on call to react, and they’re going to chase down this league title and bring it home. There is no other option. There won’t be any forgiveness in the system. But we have to do our jobs. Fans in the stadium sitting down groaning doesn’t help. People like me online throwing darts doesn’t help. Having a mental breakdown on YouTube every time something bad happens is a weakness we need to fix.
This is a big week for the club. 15 games to go. Time to rectify some issues, take advantage of the rest game against Kairat, then we go again on Saturday in a big game against Leeds.
Have a lovely day! x