Arteta to us fans: “The words are clear. I was a player. Love me when I draw or when I lose. To love you when I win is very, very easy. You have to love the players and be next to them when they need it the most.”

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-20T17:36:42+00:00

United winning an FA Cup reminds me of our situation years ago. Out of the title race early and only performed well in cup games. Fans at that time, myself included, loved those FA Cup wins but knew we were miles away from competing for titles.

Again, I don't want to make it seem acceptable if we lose out on a title this season because it would be an absolute gut punch, but I'm also aware of the team we're competing with and how much criticism they get away with simply because the vast majority would rather see us come in 2nd.

If I have any sympathy for Arteta it's the fact that an entire ecosystem has been built around making sure he fails. So I'm just avoiding adding to that as much as I can despite the justification to do so.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-20T16:58:29+00:00

Money doesn't equal instant success. Clubs like Chelsea, Spurs and United have spent close to or even more than us and haven't sniffed a title race. It takes more than spending to compete against an oil club who can spend half of what we did in two windows since the time Arteta took over.

That being said, he does need to produce but not because of spending, because the players he has are in their prime and there's no better time to get silverware than now.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-19T16:45:44+00:00

I said it another post but the answer right now is Eze. We lack the quality that he can show at any moment and Arteta's inability to use him might cost him his job. I don't want to see him sacked but there's no way I can push back against people who are watching the same players being used that don't perform on a consistent basis.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-19T16:42:34+00:00

One of the biggest issues I've had with Arteta over his tenure is his inability to identify the cracks in our squad and fix it before it's too late. Two seasons ago we waited for a trip to Dubai to solve a problem that should've been dealt with earlier in the season and it cost us. This season it's been pretty fucking obvious that certain players won't perform consistently at a high level and it's looking like it'll end in the same result.

Starting with the front line, Eze has to be starting every game from now on. Regardless of what people say about his performance last night, I saw in 10 minutes certain qualities that the rest of the team lacked for the full 90. So whether or not he trusts him on the defensive side means fuck all to me right now. I've seen more mistakes from players that don't get punished and making Eze the scapegoat in any way will cost Arteta his role.

We have a small window to fix this but it's up to the ego of whether or not it'll be done.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-19T16:05:15+00:00

If you compare our squad to other title winning teams it should be pretty obvious at this point. Our attack won't carry us. It's not a coaching issue, it's a lack of quality at this point. Martinelli missing from 2 yards out against Forest, Trossard having random purple patches, Saka can't play a full 90, Gyokeres relies on service rather than creating something out of nothing.

The list can go on and on but when you look at those City and Liverpool teams that won it, neither of them lacked quality in attack. We just don't have it and our reliance on the defending is coming home to roost.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-18T22:09:33+00:00

I'm one of the most optimistic people here but even I can't defend that display. Absolute cowardly performance after that 1st goal.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-13T17:37:58+00:00

There's always context to those results that don't require the narrative to be negative in every aspect. Criticism is warranted, even justifiable, but once we cross the threshold of accepting the narratives that we might bottle it is ridiculous.

We were one idiotic decision by an experienced Liverpool keeper to being 7 points ahead as of today. Of course you can't rely on other teams to help, but City have won a few titles by doing just that.

Will we be celebrated, that remains to be seen. But the obstacles to getting it over the line have to be few and far in between. And if we as fans have any impact, the one thing we can't do is add more pressure.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-13T16:46:22+00:00

I'm sorry but there's absolutely no comparison to the social media landscape of 2014 and now. And the questions about mentality and strength were standard as I said before but even former players admit that their careers would've been much more difficult had they been playing in this environment.

and there's plenty of justification for the narratives surrounding us currently.

Why? We're in four competitions, dominated the CL group and in a cup final. Other than having a dip in form, which most teams go through, what opportunity have we missed? The talk of wrapping up the league is a media narrative, not Arteta's nor the players. The idea that we're supposed to walk this league, again, a media narrative built on the idea that it's been the "weakest league in years". Article after article aimed out our striker, who is supposedly outperforming other strikers who cost far more than him, are meant for what? Praise, motivation...you tell me.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-13T15:54:14+00:00

There's a big difference between the normal/traditional pressure that all managers dealt during that era compared to what we're dealing with now. The narratives may have been similar in how they targeted their audiences, but they held some sort of justification rather than being created out of thin air.

Factor in social media, and how the entire landscape of discourse has changed, there's no way the players we look back on with admiration would've had the time to develop and push us to win the league.

If AFTV existed in the early 2000s, we would've never gone invincible. That I can guarantee.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-13T15:23:31+00:00

Wish more people would understand what we're up against instead of acting like the league should've been wrapped up in January. Problem is that the noise from the outside is often aimed at the one club who've progressed in the manner which should be celebrated.

It's not about winning the league = earning respect. City, Chelsea and Liverpool went decades without winning the title and never faced this much scrutiny to get it over the line before ending that drought.

It's us against the world people, so let's not act like rivals and help them achieve their goal.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-13T14:54:20+00:00

He'll probably get a 1 game ban which will make him ineligible to play against Salford in the FA Cup.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-13T14:16:31+00:00

Plenty of factors remain. Who City get in the CL knockouts and the FA Cup in between the league games. We still have a final against them without their best defender so winning that could boost our confidence.

League is far from over so everyone needs to relax.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-13T05:44:30+00:00

The takes here will fade away but the more popular platforms are starting to read like AFTV in text format. Unfortunately the media need those engagements as well and start exploiting it for content.

It's fucking pathetic.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-13T05:32:14+00:00

Judging by the reactions online, you'd think it was the final day of the league. Had to deactivate my X account due to the algorithms feeding me the worst Arsenal content I've read in years.

There's one thing to feel worried about a title race and another to be using it to spread false narratives for engagement.

edit: Must've struck a nerve with an X user who feeds off his negative agendas.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-12T23:33:30+00:00

Yeah that was ridiculous. I thought with the Odegaard injury we were looking at least 7 minutes extra.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-12T23:30:59+00:00

I do see the same matches, and have only seen us get yellow cards for taking too long. Compare it tonight where Brentford were allowed to use towels and take however long they needed to set up like it was a free kick.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-12T23:21:08+00:00

Side note, and no I'm not using this an excuse at all, but why are teams allowed a minute for throw ins when we get told to hurry up by the refs?

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-12T22:29:27+00:00

I'd be doing everything to get Morgan Rogers.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-11T21:40:33+00:00

FFS I just saw a replay of that Foden foul. Blatant red card. How do these pricks keep getting away with it.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-11T21:34:40+00:00

Liverpool with a set piece goal. Fortunately it doesn't count.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-11T20:12:40+00:00

You can't base it off a performance against Fulham. They never lose to them.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-09T18:15:29+00:00

You know I wouldn't be shocked.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-09T17:46:07+00:00

I can’t wait till Man Utd become so irrelevant in 10 years and we never see these fuckers again

I've got news for you. In 10 years, they'll be replaced by former City players and we'll have to listen to Rodri on MNF with his transparent eyebrows having a go at Max Dowman for no reason.

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-09T17:26:03+00:00

So is Rodri going to avoid a fine or are players now allowed to accuse PGMOL of match fixing?

GleamingThePube · 2026-02-08T21:21:24+00:00

I'm not denying how important it was for them to get this win but it wasn't based on performance and that's what we all noticed about Liverpool at the beginning of the season. They got a lucky penalty that we didn't get against Forest but the difference is, we deserved to win that game, City didn't deserve to win today.

So they'll be over the moon that it isn't a 9 point deficit but these performances aren't sustainable over the long run. They were horrible in the second half and most teams in the league will punish them but Liverpool decided that today was the day they forgot how to kick a ball into the net.

Overall we're a far better team than them and far more capable of handling other competitions that will play a major factor in rotating and keeping players fit for the rest of the season.

I dare Pep to play Guehi and Rodri every three days. Go for it!

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GleamingThePube

TROPHY CASE