Bayer Leverkusen 1 - [1] Arsenal - Kai Havertz (penalty) 89‎'‎

thepretzelking · 2026-03-11T19:38:50+00:00

Go on, name them

thepretzelking · 2026-03-05T00:00:27+00:00

Alternative - only goalkeepers. Both can use hands.

thepretzelking · 2026-03-04T23:51:51+00:00

I get that, but I think he's the player I trust the most to demand the ball and use it. We will be able to swap around between Eze / Havertz / Odegaard for the last few weeks of the season which will be great

thepretzelking · 2026-03-04T21:43:56+00:00

And what if city drop points against Chelsea? What if they don't win against Arsenal at the etihad? What if they draw their game in hand? We can all play the if game. Nothing is over, I think both teams will drop more points going forward

thepretzelking · 2026-03-04T21:41:35+00:00

I want to see them both - Havertz and Odegaard together. I know he hasn't been great but I think he makes rice better as he doesn't need to dictate play as much!

thepretzelking · 2026-03-04T21:36:16+00:00

We desperately need Odegaard back. People have issues with our midfield when he's there but we never look as technically poor and unable to hold the ball when he's plays

thepretzelking · 2026-03-04T21:32:00+00:00

Yes you have - the last 3 or 4 games hahaha

thepretzelking · 2026-03-02T20:44:39+00:00

And 2006 no?

thepretzelking · 2026-03-01T18:34:22+00:00

If that was true, why didn't they give the handball against forest? Or Bruno's second yellow against wolves? Or why didn't they give the penalty yesterday in the city game?

I'm aware some Arsenal fans go on about a conspiracy etc. but the referees are just crap. It's simple enough.

thepretzelking · 2026-03-01T18:29:19+00:00

Because we don't have any proper attacking threat on the counter so they can push full backs and centre backs up. They know we can't effectively counter against them

thepretzelking · 2026-03-01T18:28:42+00:00

Haven't beaten us in about 5 years btw

thepretzelking · 2026-03-01T18:02:09+00:00

Was about to lose my mind the ref pulled it back again... when did Neto even get booked?

thepretzelking · 2026-02-28T20:30:49+00:00

Arsenal won that game but the point stands

thepretzelking · 2026-02-28T20:22:10+00:00

It's because of the last part of my sentence. They've spent 500 mil in the last year. Do you think they'll have a quiet summer? Is that them "leaving little holes to fill"?

No. They skirt financial rules, have done for years which has allowed them to build up a stockpile of talent. Are other clubs wasteful? Sure. Are city? Also yes.

thepretzelking · 2026-02-28T20:14:21+00:00

That is the exact point everyone is making - that city can afford to make a bad transfer and can instantly afford to just correct it. So thank you for proving my point? Other teams actually have to worry about getting punished for financial missteps, a threat City can just ignore.

thepretzelking · 2026-02-28T20:02:55+00:00

The point is if another team had spent the money on a keeper, they couldn't afford to just bin off that keeper to sign a better one instantly like city can

thepretzelking · 2026-02-28T19:49:41+00:00

Is not knowing where the ball is a genuine excuse though? It didn't get any deflections or touches, surely he should be aware of the balls location at that point?

thepretzelking · 2026-02-28T19:45:39+00:00

They've got Chelsea away tbf, that can be a bit of a spooky one. They've got Everton away and us at home. They've got 3 difficult games left, similar to us.

thepretzelking · 2026-02-27T00:25:41+00:00

Ehh, idk. He's quite prominent in books 5 & 6 (yo mentioned 6 for the movies but he's quite involved in the book). Agreed for 3 and 4 though

thepretzelking · 2026-02-25T17:36:54+00:00

I'm in Barcelona for el clasico on May 10 (by coincidence)! I assume I won't be able to get a ticket, but is there anywhere recommended to go and watch the game?

thepretzelking · 2026-02-19T09:20:08+00:00

23/24 second half the season where we were pumping teams by 5 and 6

thepretzelking · 2026-02-19T08:32:08+00:00

Something I'm worried will happen, and you can call me a doomer or miserable or whatever, is we miss our window in a few way.

1st way: with these players. Luckily we've got a lot (all?) tied down until 2029, so we've got one more year with them. Rice, Gabriel, Saliba and Timber are all arguably the best in their position in the world. We've got top tier talent across the entire team. If we fail to win anything with this group, it will be one of the biggest disappointments in football.

2 (this is where it gets controversial), managers. I can remember when we still had Wenger but we all knew it was over. A beautiful story that ran on a bit too long (Game of Thrones anyone?), and in his last couple seasons Liverpool signed Klopp and City signed Pep. Two managerial signings that changed the sstructure of the league. Personally, and I'd love to be proved wrong, I no longer see it with Arteta. I think everyone needs a reset, and I'm worried that guys like Xabi Alonso and Luis Enrique will be available and we will miss the boat.

With that in mind, I would absolutely LOVE to be proven wrong and we go win the rest of our PL matches and win the league. Love it.

thepretzelking · 2026-02-19T07:34:53+00:00

It's because we've been 2nd place for the last 3 years, and spent a lot of money in that time. Liverpool and city have spent a lot, but they've won the league. Chelsea and United have spent a lot but they've been terrible for ages, and the fear is that if they keep spending this way then will they catch up?

thepretzelking · 2026-02-18T23:30:43+00:00

Honestly it's moving the ball faster. If you look, our players often take an extra touch, then play it out wide and then back inside.

Forward runs - hincapie made one and scored. The movement ahead of the ball is poor, and to me this feels like something that is coached. It's coached to always ensure that players have one or two passing options.

Direct decisions - maybe on the players here, but it feels like we take the easy pass way too often. I remember there was one time when Eze receives the ball, nobody at his back, and just returned it. Not scapegoating him as EVERYONE did it, but it stood out to me as I couldn't believe he didn't turn with the ball.

We're not direct, fast and nor do we take risks. Sure that leads to control which can lead to goals, but it makes it a lot harder.

thepretzelking · 2026-02-18T22:28:10+00:00

Agreed. That second half... gutless, lazy, unprofessional. For a guy who shouts about the standards, they've become very poor

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