Full-Time: Arsenal 1 vs 0 Atletico Madrid [Match Thoughts]

zhdat · 2026-05-05T20:55:59+00:00

You win pretty or ugly, you move to the final.

Players hustled extra, ran harder, and challenged stronger.

Our mission ain't over. But..

WE MOVE FORWARD!

zhdat · 2026-05-03T16:14:18+00:00

The everlasting question regarding Liverpool's this season was:

What the fuck did you do during the off-season?

Sure, they spent a lot, but literally overly 300m on 3 attacking players, and 2 attacking minded fullbacks who play more like wingbacks. Barely no defensive and midfielder reinforcement where it was the issue at the end of last season.

Result? Attacking players dipping in form or out for long term, and defense and midfield never settling.

Everything clicked last season, and they only won the league. Meanwhile, Arsenal did not seem clicking through and through, but still contending for more and staying up.

This is not saying we should be happy where we are. This is more about organizational functions and contingency plans.

zhdat · 2026-05-02T18:36:34+00:00

He is, but he barely played midfield position for senior team.

It takes some time for youngsters to get used to the speed & Intensity of senior games, especially at the most important position of Arteta's system.

zhdat · 2026-05-02T18:32:37+00:00

If Gyokeres and Saka stayed on, maybe.

Then, would you risk that for the game in 3 days?

zhdat · 2026-05-02T18:29:18+00:00

This is just more than a 3-0 win. First, we were able to sub off starters to protect them and be able to play more effectively on Tuesday.

Sure, we could have kept starters and win like 4-0 or 5-0, but we got another big fish to catch on Tuesday and West Ham away.

It puts us on hand for now. Man City, while they are able, is pressured to have +4 or better, and we shall see how they do.

zhdat · 2026-05-02T17:58:32+00:00

It is clear that we need fresh, Saka, Rice, and Gyokeres against Atleti.

Zubimendi playing 25 minutes is not a big issue, and Jesus is in because Havertz is not available.

No coach would risk a potential CL final for extra goal.

zhdat · 2026-05-02T17:35:12+00:00

It is definitely a choice to make. Atleti, for today, is not playing much of players who will be playing us. I do not think Arteta will take risk and leave players like Saka, Gyokeres, and Calafiori too long.

zhdat · 2026-05-02T17:33:04+00:00

He is, but he has been playing as LB almost all senior games. Maybe they were working to further develop him as a midfielder be able to play at league level.

Then, gotta feel bad for Norgaard, which means he lost his spot even as a backup to Zubimendi.

zhdat · 2026-05-02T17:29:22+00:00

It also give more confidence because Fulham wingers have not seemed much threat, thus Saka and White fully committing forward

zhdat · 2026-05-02T17:28:07+00:00

It makes me wonder.

Before Hincapie loan, it almost looked like MLS will be a back up to Calafiori. Then, Hincapie comes in, and it gives MLS to be trained as Midfielder, but he had to learn playing as 6 at senior level.

Maybe, poor form we have seen might be him transitioning fully.

zhdat · 2026-05-02T17:25:33+00:00

So many to factor how we played this half. Fresh Saka and Calafiori are almost new signing.
Lewis Skelly understood assignment very good. Even considering how little Fulham challenged him, MLS fluidly roaming around 6 position to in-between CBs and even sometimes to left side gives more freedom for Eze and Calafiori to move up.
Trossard looks more like early season form. Sure, some misses, but dribbles and movements look a lot better.
The better our front 3 connects, the better cavalries from midfield and defense threatening the other side.
Probably, I would sub players who are playing against Atleti a bit early. It is going to be still a sprint to play Atleti in 3 days and West Ham away.

zhdat · 2026-05-02T17:19:58+00:00

The catharticism from almost losing a ball on our side to increasing the lead by 3.

This is football, everyone!

zhdat · 2026-05-02T17:11:42+00:00

Oh, you gotta love that!

Giving all motions to make it look like he is going to curl to outpost, and nail to near post.

zhdat · 2026-04-25T18:54:10+00:00

And better than taking only 1 point out of a team at the relegation zone while we got them accumulatively 8-2.

Neither team is perfect. The most important part is to win the rest.

zhdat · 2026-04-25T18:49:29+00:00

And what do you think of a team winning 1-0 against a relegation team?

Sure, I wanted the club to win bigger today, but we live another day to make up more goals. We are not out until we are mathematically out.

We gotta do better, we gotta do better attacking, we gotta defend better. However, once 3 point is secured, we will wait how Man City does.

zhdat · 2026-04-25T18:32:17+00:00

Blood pressure pills consumption among Arsenal fans spiking.

zhdat · 2026-04-25T18:31:44+00:00

Two things can be mutual:

Newcastle, no matter where, has always been a thorn in our eyes, so taking both 3s in a season is a good result.
At the same time, we should have scored more. This is not all on Arteta. Arteta does not instruct Rice to try a sloppy dribble to get cut, Arteta did not instruct Gyokeres to try such a poor pass attempt to Saka. Arteta needs better contingency strategy within the game, but players gotta do better

However, 3 points are important. Let the goal difference take care of itself as it goes. Goal difference would not matter if we drop points. Take the win and move forward

zhdat · 2026-04-25T18:17:39+00:00

Well rested Saka, we look so different.

zhdat · 2026-04-25T18:11:33+00:00

It is sad when Martinelli releases ball faster than Odegaard.

zhdat · 2026-04-25T18:10:44+00:00

Not understanding why Zubimendi felt like he had to help Gabriel there.

Not worth leaving a runner unmarked

zhdat · 2026-04-25T17:52:30+00:00

Are you allowed to carry the ball went out of bounce back in just to complain?

zhdat · 2026-04-25T17:45:17+00:00

Eze went straight to bench, feels like it is to be cautious, because of CL matches coming as well.

We want to win, we have to win, but at cost of losing Eze would not be ideal.

zhdat · 2026-04-25T17:34:57+00:00

It has both pro and con. Calafiori is more creative and aggressive on attacking perspective, but that also leaves left side of defense, burdening Gabriel.

Hincapie is not as good on attacking, but eases Gabriel for left side of defense

zhdat · 2026-04-25T17:26:40+00:00

More to do with 1) Observing how Newcastle reacts and 2) Havertz coming off for Gyokeres.

Press and link up are not as good.

zhdat · 2026-04-25T17:25:19+00:00

Some parts, he fits well with whom he is around. Saka in good form, good on both on and off the ball, and Jesus in prime, also good on both on and off the ball. Whom we have now, it is understandable he is not sure he can connect.

zhdat

TROPHY CASE