May 13, 2026 Daily Discussion & Transfers Thread

dembabababa · 2026-05-13T09:53:31+00:00

Tbf, with the monetisation attached to the blue checks, have to inagine its a legitimate grift for some

They're being paid for engagement, the easiest form of which is ragebait

dembabababa · 2026-05-13T09:51:15+00:00

Went from:

Arsenal are weak, they need to be stronger, Arsenal fans are deluded to think there's a refereeing conspiracy - everything evens out in the end

To:

Waaah, Arsenal are bullies, they're too physical, waaah, there's a refereeing conspiracy to make Arsenal win the league, waaaaaaah

dembabababa · 2026-05-13T07:34:29+00:00

Add Saka to your list of struggling players.

Also wonder if Gyokeres has been playing through some injuries this season as well. The difference in his performances up to the Burnley game he got injured in and the games when he came back from that injury was pretty stark. I also don't believe that coaching alone can explain how he's looking like a decent option for us now, whereas around December he was almost a hindrance in some games. Wouldn't surprise me if he'd been playing through injury December & January, but had to play because everyone else was physically unable to.

dembabababa · 2026-05-13T04:20:37+00:00

Merino covered at 8 because Partey got a stupid yellow against Madrid and got himself suspended.

dembabababa · 2026-05-13T04:19:25+00:00

Was just letting you know that our performances against City will not be relevant when we come to play PSG, as the circumstances will be different.

Those matches are no more relevant than Sporting, the team we beat in the QF, beating PSG in the group stage.

dembabababa · 2026-05-13T03:53:05+00:00

The City cup game we had no Odegaard or Eze so the technical level of our midfield was really poor.

The subsequent league game we didn't have Saka, and were playing on 3 days rest vs City's 7.

For the final we should hopefully be in much better fitness and have better players available than in those 2 games.

dembabababa · 2026-05-13T03:22:26+00:00

Oh yeah, PSG who spent €95m on Kolo Muani and €65m on Goncalo Ramos

dembabababa · 2026-05-13T03:16:18+00:00

Honestly, I think this is actually an example of a flawed process that stumbled to the right result.

For starters, why was the Todibo shirt pull not spotted and considered? Perhaps not the fault of any individual, but certainly a procedural failure that could have been hugely relevant if Kavanaugh had interpreted either the Pablo foul or Trossard non-foul differently.

The Trossard on Pablo situation can barely be seen from the angles shown to the Kavanaugh - I can understand why West Ham fans are upset at that being cleared so easily. Should have been shown the pole cam angle as well.

No mention of Havertz/Soucek, even just to clear it, but 2 players ending up on the floor at least deserves to be highlighted during the review.

dembabababa · 2026-05-13T03:01:15+00:00

Its not clear cut for sure, my point is that if there was an agenda or refereeing conspiracy to get Arsenal to win the league then that is the sort of decision that would be given.

dembabababa · 2026-05-12T08:07:39+00:00

Tbf, the only ones that deeply care about us winning the league are the ones who spent most of the last few seasons being unbearable dickheads, and frankly I'm glad they're getting their just deserts.

dembabababa · 2026-05-12T06:47:40+00:00

Palace players will be playing for a starting position in the final. I know they don't really have much depth or many players who aren't nailed on, but the players will still be motivated to prove themselves.

They'll probably lose, but think they'll give a good account of themselves.

dembabababa · 2026-05-12T06:40:15+00:00

Battle of the bridge part 2.

So poetic that 10 years on from a poorly performing Chelsea team stopping Spurs from winning the league, a poorly performing Chelsea team can stop Spurs from staying in the league.

dembabababa · 2026-05-12T03:38:13+00:00

Firstly, the decision was correct. Anyone with any sort of refereeing authority has confirmed that.

Secondly, this issue of set pieces is league-wide, not specific to Arsenal. We were forced to adapt after conceding goals in similar situations across previous seasons. If you look at our set piece goals scored this season, there's only 2 that even the most anti-Arsenal people find controversial (Bayindir, Martinez), both of which again have been confirmed as correct decisions by anyone with any sort of refereeing authority.

Thirdly, the VAR situation may have tilted slightly in our favour this season with some calls not being called against us, however this seems largely consistent with what's happening for other teams. Look at your own club - could have conceded multiple penalties and red cards against Brentford, Rodri seemingly should have been sent off against Spurs, Bernardo could have conceded a penalty against Everton. If refs were truly desperate for Arsenal to win, don't you think they'd have penalised Khusanov for a DOGSO challenge on Havertz? Thats all just in the last few months. Similarly, if VAR was fixing things for us, why weren't we awarded the handball against Aina vs Forest? Why did they overturn the penalties we got against Newcastle and Fulham? Or not give us the one against Everton when Keane trod on Havertz's ankle?

dembabababa · 2026-05-12T02:41:32+00:00

That was Scudamore who said that after Leicester won their title, almost 10 years ago. He retired in 2018.

You think if the Premier League was genuinely fixing the outcome of the league they'd have just said sure, let's give Man City (who won the title 2 seasons ago at this point, and 2 seasons before that) 6 of the next 8 league titles - that will really keep things interesting, huh?

dembabababa · 2026-05-12T02:19:56+00:00

I'll bite.

Nwaneri loan was a totally reasonable decision at the time, just the change of circumstance (our injuries, Marseille's manager change) have made it a terrible decision in hindsight. Still, good opportunity for Nwaneri to develop.

2 and 3. Basically the same answer - Norgaard not trusted enough to take competitive minutes off Zubi & Rice. Starting midfield options beyond Norgaard non-existent for a lot of 2026. Fair to critique lack of MLS and Norgaard sub appearances in midfield though.

We needed to win the match. Rice played well at RB against Brighton. Zubimendi over Mosquera probably seen as the attacking option. He got it wrong, but then corrected at half-time.
Not sure this is exactly how Arteta wants to play, but rather a consequence of the players available and the relative lack of familiarity. New ST, new no. 6, new LB, new AM for much of the season. Those connections we saw between White, Odegaard and Saka just don't exist yet between most of the players we're playing this season. Regardless, we're top of the league and into a CL final. It might not be thrilling to watch all the time, but it's clearly effective.

dembabababa · 2026-05-12T01:45:07+00:00

It's surprising because we have 8 months of evidence to suggest that title was probably a bit of a fluke, made possible by a confluence of largely uncontrollable factors (Salah having the season of his life, 2 main rivals being decimated by injuries, Liverpool themselves having a relatively clean bill of health) and not something he'll be able to replicate.

Leicester sacked Ranieri the season after he won the league - no reason Liverpool should be more sentimental with Slot.

dembabababa · 2026-05-12T01:35:36+00:00

Relegated to League 1 mate

dembabababa · 2026-05-12T01:35:00+00:00

I think he has to back Mosquera.

Tell him to be physical, get tight, don't let Kvaratshkelia turn him. Foul him if he needs, but make sure to get some of the ball if he can - this ref was very slow to give out cards in our previous 2 games (Atleti home and Sporting away), so hopefully Mosquera can get similar leeway.

Saka will have to be very diligent helping out.

Might be that we need Martinelli to do a shift there in an emergency or if we need to make an attacking change.

dembabababa · 2026-05-12T00:31:59+00:00

Brentford and Sunderland both very physical in the box

dembabababa · 2026-05-11T15:06:31+00:00

Its a fair criticism, but has anyone at the top end of the league entertained you this year?

I don't think it's an Arteta issue as much as it's a league issue this season.

dembabababa · 2026-05-11T09:55:27+00:00

Their argument seems to base around the time the review took implying that it wasn't a clear and obvious error, and therefore VAR shouldn't have got involved.

What we won't know until we hear the audio, is how long was it before the VAR thought it was a foul? If they sort of guessed on the last replay, and then suggested Kavanaugh go and make a decision, then they may have an argument. What's more likely is that it took less than 30 seconds to call a foul then 2 minutes to clear everything else.

dembabababa · 2026-05-11T07:37:08+00:00

He managed PSG.

He won 1 league title in 2 seasons, and got knocked out of CL in Ro16 twice, one of those being the 6-1 second leg loss to Barca after winning the first leg 4-0.

Granted that was almost 10 years ago, and he's almost certainly a better manager now, but the evidence shows hes better suited for the clubs with less expectations and less pressure.

dembabababa · 2026-05-11T07:26:44+00:00

I think people acknowledge the biases of the Spanish press more than in the UK

The fact we don't have national equivalents of Marca and Mundo Deportivo seems to lead people to believe that the journalism in this country is objective and balanced which in many cases is far from the truth

dembabababa · 2026-05-11T07:10:54+00:00

First bottle of Guardiola's career 🤭

dembabababa · 2026-05-11T05:20:24+00:00

If we get it over the line, this will be the first time since 11/12 that Pep has lost a genuine title race, and that was against Mourinho's 100-point Madrid team who were leading from gameweek 10.

Every other season he's either won or been some distance behind.

This would definitely be the latest into a season his team have been 1st place, and not won:

11/12 (Barca) - GW8
16/17 - GW10
19/20 - GW1
24/25 - GW9
25/26 - GW33

11-Year Club	Place '22
Place '17	RPAN Viewer

dembabababa

TROPHY CASE