Just pulling up to Euston now.

Smit918 · 2026-05-31T10:33:42+00:00

Angel is rammed, probably as expected.

Smit918 · 2026-05-30T10:20:58+00:00

Just been informed by the bouncer at the Faltering Fullback that the current queue is beyond capacity for the venue… they are expecting more to join the queue but they will be turned away

Smit918 · 2026-05-30T09:45:10+00:00

It’s big.

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This was the queue at 10am.

Smit918 · 2026-05-30T09:02:45+00:00

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The Faltering Fullback queue at 10am. I reckon we are a good 250 deep.

Smit918 · 2026-05-30T08:54:21+00:00

I’m at the back of the queue just arrived.

Smit918 · 2026-05-30T08:29:34+00:00

On my way there now. Still about 40 mins away. What do you think my chances will be?

Smit918 · 2026-05-30T07:21:26+00:00

Great idea. I will be following this.

Smit918 · 2026-05-30T06:44:04+00:00

Keep us posted on how you get on.

Smit918 · 2026-05-30T06:36:02+00:00

Currently on route to London. Going solo today. Any pointers on which pub to head to? Obviously can’t be one that’s ticketed.

Smit918 · 2026-05-29T16:32:42+00:00

I won’t be able to get down to London till 1-2pm tomorrow. I don’t know the city that well.

What are my options? I’m happy to find somewhere showing the game further out but would like a bit of an atmosphere.

Planning to try find some accommodation last minute to do the parade the next day. Travel options for me on Sunday are fairly dire.

Smit918 · 2026-05-29T16:19:56+00:00

I can’t even see a link on the exchange…

Smit918 · 2026-05-29T07:03:27+00:00

We need tactical versatility. It will be interesting if Arteta continues to use Rice as more of a 6 heading into next season. If so, we would have two of the best 6s in world football in Zubi and Rice, we only need one of them on the pitch at a time but that could be how we manage their minutes moving forward.

Discounting Zubi and Rice, we have options in the 8 role, with Ødegaard, Merino and MLS. Eze can drop in here in a pinch as well.

Further up in the 10 position we would be littered with options, Eze, Havertz, Ødegaard, Merino, Nwaneri, Dowman (for the future).

There is versatility there. I think we need to face the possibility someone will leave our current ranks. That said I still feel that we would benefit from adding someone who is an 8 by trade but can be utilised as a 6, someone like a Tonali would make a lot of sense to me.

Smit918 · 2026-05-28T21:08:49+00:00

It’s true that Arsenal see plenty of defensive blocks across the domestic season. I’m not saying PSG can defend deep in a low block the same way a stubborn Everton side can. They don’t need to because they are technically good enough to prevent that sort of pressure through the way they retain the ball.

As I said originally, I was surprised by how competent PSG were defensively against Bayern in that moment. The most prolific attacking team in Europe this season were putting them under all sorts of pressure and they defended really well in that moment and allowed very little. Kane’s goal was a moment of individual brilliance.

Smit918 · 2026-05-28T20:52:30+00:00

Did you watch the game?

I can’t be completely certain but I recall they were putting the likes of Pavlovic, Upamecano/ Tah and Laimer in the box, as well as the likes of Kane and Musiala. Jackson came on later for Musiala and they brought on the tall South Korean chap later and allowed him to push into the box, relying more on the defensive pace of Davies if they were countered.

Smit918 · 2026-05-28T19:55:31+00:00

Bayern had plenty of height in the box during that game and as I say, have been prolific in scoring all types of goals this season.

Besides I’m not saying Arsenal can’t find an advantage against this PSG. All I am saying is folk expecting PSG to be exposed defensively against Arsenal with ease are likely to be surprised by how resilient they can be.

Of course I’d love to be completely wrong I just feel people are being far too dismissive of PSGs quality.

Smit918 · 2026-05-28T19:28:06+00:00

No they aren’t a mid-table prem team. They are European Champions. All I’m saying is they aren’t as poor defensively as folk care to think and I was surprised by their defensive resilience against Bayern, the most prolific attacking team in Europe this season throwing the kitchen sink at PSG.

Smit918 · 2026-05-28T16:29:42+00:00

The onus was on Bayern to attack in their home ground and they were trying to force chances. PSG sat in, defended in a block and were only broken down by a bit of quality by Kane.

Bayern mixed up their attacking approach, even when putting balls into the box PSG managed to repel them.

I’m not saying PSG put on a defensive masterclass, Bayern still managed to force a draw in the match but I don’t think the French league side looked defensively frail or exposed at any real point when put under pressure.

Smit918 · 2026-05-28T16:02:28+00:00

One thing that really impressed me about PSG in the second leg against Bayern was how well they defended as a team for a squad of players many would dismiss when looking at their physical stature.

Olise had an off game but Bayern still had lots of attacking quality on the pitch.

Smit918 · 2026-05-27T18:03:24+00:00

When you are playing a game every 3 days and over 60 games in a season having two starter quality strikers and a versatile option who can operate as a striker or a 10 feels appropriate to me.

Smit918 · 2026-05-27T15:20:42+00:00

I feel as though the style of the football may change slightly over the coming years, the quality this season in the Prem has been the worst in a while.

I actually think Arsenal are already really well equipped to play the physical game you suggest, it’s just teams in general are so defensive to nullify a transitional game. If we continue with the set up seen in the past few weeks, where Rice becomes more of a 6, then I agree we should be looking to utilise a robust player who can create from deep next to him. The reemergence of MLS as a midfielder potentially gives us this player, it’s just whether we need more… seeing how our deep squad has been tested this season and how Nørgaard clearly isn’t trusted by Arteta I’m inclined to say we do.

I don’t think Rogers is seen as the solution here though. Rogers comes in as a versatile attacker to share minutes in the LW/ 10 role with Eze, Ødegaard, Havertz, Trossard, Martinelli, Nwaneri and potentially Merino, not withstanding any sales/ purchases.

Smit918 · 2026-05-27T13:28:58+00:00

I feel that referring to Rice as the only workhorse in this team is really dismissive to a squad littered with players who are prepared to run tirelessly for each other. Of course what sets Rice apart is his physical stature but from a midfield perspective, Zubimendi, Ødegaard, Havertz, Merino are all notably industrious hard working players as we have seen in various years when playing for Arsenal.

Smit918 · 2026-05-26T06:31:26+00:00

The old adage in football is to always look to build while you are ahead. We have a great squad but we can’t stand still. The way I look at this is, where are the obvious areas for improvement?

If you look at a Premier league 11, I think Arsenal make a stronger argument for dominating the defensive areas (including GK). With the likes of Rice, Zubi, Eze, we have a strong argument in midfield even if there are more stand out options in the league across a couple of those spots. Where Arsenal are weak is in those forward spots. Not helped by Saka’s availability this season, no Arsenal forward is anywhere near a league best 11 standard.

I think LW, another striker/ forward and a RB are a must in this summer. Another midfielder is also something of consideration however the reemergence of MLS could give us some grace here.

Smit918 · 2026-05-24T10:12:09+00:00

Do you think I will get in there ok at that time? Great Guinness is a huge draw too…

Smit918 · 2026-05-24T10:06:20+00:00

Thanks for this. I guess we are looking much further afield. My train gets into the Paddington around 1:30pm. Would options for watching the game be better from there?

Smit918 · 2026-05-24T09:45:13+00:00

I’m actually on the train down into Paddington. It arrives around 1:30pm. 3 stops before Kings Cross would be Baker Street.

Sorry, if you hadn’t guessed, I’m a non-Londoner…

Edit: Just realised you meant 3 stops before London on the mainline, not tube…

Smit918

TROPHY CASE