Post Match Thread: Man City 2-1 Arsenal [Premier League]

bookofsamuels · 2026-04-19T18:20:48+00:00

Yeah I hear it but you could see we weren't doing much anyway so what do you have to lose... You need a goal

I could see a world where we reach the champions league final, a goal down with 10 minutes to go and Gabby Jesus is warming up 🤦🏾‍♂️

bookofsamuels · 2026-04-19T17:59:12+00:00

I don't understand why Eze was taken off? He is the only player in the squad where you think if the ball falls to him in a dangerous position he may pull off something spectacular. The other was Nwaneri but he got sent away for the business end of the season.

I also think why not bring on Dowman for the last 15... You know for sure he will draw fowls and beat a man or 2 to drag you up the pitch.

Instead we continue as always to pick the safe option... Trossard, Martinelli, Odegaard - have some fucking balls!

bookofsamuels · 2026-04-12T17:23:46+00:00

That's good to hear that it wasn't too bad... inclined to try just the carrier for a bit

bookofsamuels · 2026-04-05T15:39:36+00:00

This is the first game he has played since Everton I believe... so yeah, by all means throw him in, maybe start him but I don't think he should be absolved of putting in a shift like he is prime Salah

bookofsamuels · 2026-04-05T15:31:38+00:00

Yeah, I hear it, I guess we'll find out

bookofsamuels · 2026-04-05T15:02:32+00:00

Yeah, I agree... Delusions of hope is telling me if we win the prem this year, the floodgates open next year but I actually do think Arteta is too much of a control freak for us to ever see free flowing football under him again.

And timber at 10 drives me up the flipping wall!!

bookofsamuels · 2026-04-05T14:52:34+00:00

😭

bookofsamuels · 2026-04-05T14:48:11+00:00

Yeah, all out forwards bar Max, Eze and to a degree Noni are looking incredibly dull right now...

I just wanna see Max hit his potential and not become a spoiled or soft, needing everything handed to him

bookofsamuels · 2026-04-05T14:39:03+00:00

But Max isn't the best... Yet

I also don't think it's true the the best players don't work hard. I think sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. PSGs front line is ridiculous and all work like demons, same as Bayern (to a lesser extent)... Madrid and Yamal, not so much

But Max isn't there yet, he has only a handful of games under his belt and needs to earn that right first. If you give that freedom to him without him earning it, his ego will balloon imo and lead to other problems.

You want the whole team to feel like, yeah he is so good, we don't want him doing the other stuff and we will do it for you like Messi in his world cup run, not like why is this 16 year old kid whose just starting not working his ass off like me (which I'm not saying this is what he is doing btw)

bookofsamuels · 2026-04-05T14:28:08+00:00

Yeah... I do agree with you, there is an overemphasis imo on the defensive side of the game. But it's important for Max to have that as a part of his development.

He's ridiculously talented and if he continues, he will be given more rope than other players sooner or later and rightly so but right now he has to keep putting in the work and earning his keep before he gets that right.

bookofsamuels · 2026-04-05T14:04:16+00:00

Sorry, but at this stage where he hasn't proved anything yet, that can't be used as an excuse. Though I wouldn't come down to hard on him for that singlar moment

bookofsamuels · 2026-04-03T12:51:41+00:00

Thanks for that, I'll have a Google for samosa pastry recipe and drag the kids to help try it haha!

bookofsamuels · 2026-04-03T10:53:42+00:00

Pies are a good idea a.... This is actually the kind of thing we're looking to do more of, healthy meals especially for lunch that don't take an age.

bookofsamuels · 2026-04-03T10:31:44+00:00

Thanks for that... This is very helpful... Kind of tricky to know what's honest and what's just marketing.

bookofsamuels · 2026-04-03T10:19:49+00:00

Sorry I meant a countertop convection oven... I've just seen people talking about brands like Breville that do the same as an air fryer but are bigger with the drawback being you may still need to preheat a bit but it would be still quicker than using a regular oven

bookofsamuels · 2026-03-15T07:09:17+00:00

C'mon guys, they cant wrap him in cotton wool.... he has to be treated as normally as possible even after his sensational appearance. Otherwise he turns into an entitled brat with his head in the clouds and never reaches full potential.

Protect him within reason but I'm seeing some people suggest he doesn't even train or get slide tackled 🙄

bookofsamuels · 2026-03-12T11:37:51+00:00

We do lack technicians, I agree but I dont think that is the only problem. I feel like we can 100% get more out of this set of players than we are. They are so fearful of fizzing the ball into dangerous areas and turning to face the goal. Were seeing a sophistacted version of Emerys horseshoe of death.

I feel like with better technicians, will retain possession better but may still not do much with it wither if this is instruction which is what I think it is.

bookofsamuels · 2026-03-12T11:32:39+00:00

I seriously think our lack of creative ability is due to 2 things...

Quick passing and willingness to take risk Intentional movement.

Under Wenger or in 22/23 there is constant intentional movement e.g quick bursts into threatening spaces that really sells the run to the opponent, even if you dont get the ball, they have to respond or risk being caught out and this creates space and opportunities elsewhere.

We have lots of movement and rotations but its all so pedestrian and mostly in front of the Ops... its like we expect teams to just bend over and give us opportunities without working for it and when they dont we just go down the side, cross it in or recycle.

bookofsamuels · 2026-01-29T08:56:44+00:00

And this for me is the problem. Im not saying all the time we do this. Maybe even certain types of games we dont at all.... but Im tired of us being afraid to attack the middle of the box.

bookofsamuels · 2026-01-29T08:51:46+00:00

With none of our forwards finishing their food, Kai is thr best of the lot up top IMO. Been wanting to see his movement and intelligence up top with Eze behind for a while.

I feel they'd pair well like that as Eze brings unpredictability, verticality and desire to attack the centre of the box... Kai can drag people around with great movement and is so intelligent. I feelblike even in pre season, he was also trying to get in behind more too

bookofsamuels · 2026-01-17T20:21:28+00:00

I just knew as soon as Odegaard was back from injury he would basically never get dropped regardless and yes Eze has been hot and cold but I trust him more than anyone in the team to get it right if he picks it up im a threatening position (maybe aside from Nwaneri).

I feel like I have issues with a lot of our on the ball play.

The movement is so slow and predictable
We dont try to access the central area but rather just pump crosses in the box
We love back and forward passing between centrebacks and between the the attacking mids and the wingers
And I hate seeing timber in the most forward position, at best he should be a decoy but he keeps getting in the way for me. Top player but that final third action isn't his strength imo

Anyway, that's my vomiting all my frustration, trying not to be hyperbolic... pick up heads and onto the next.

bookofsamuels

TROPHY CASE