It really is something where a top side can't really play a bunch of kids like they do now in the europa so you need to be top 8. The cl will be even worse as sides will plough under every side they can. I expect some luck of draw element and not time to rest anyone. This will imo be the end of league cup as no side thsts serious can compete in the prem and the cl. Only oil cheats could. I fully expect u21s in the league Cup from now on from anyone in europe
I am happy with the season, as long as we finish 5th. To start the season, Europa was the goal imo. The start of the season really raised expectations for people but we knew that would not last. Finishing 5th in Ange's first season is good enough for me, especially with the progress shown from last year.
Imo arsenal have improved in two ways this season A) injuries. B) declan rice. I have said many times i think Arsenal have a fine set of young players who can only get better but they have not had the start thry didn't last season as Jesus has not been fit. They have been better that the back and more consistent and imo saliba and rice are key. Other issues arose through the year where arsenal have not been really able to establish the lead they had last season but they have more consistency and crucially not so many injuries in the back line. Last season saka, Jesus and martinelli swept the league for 6 months but then it blew up. Adding rice to the mix and having the back line stability has made this title challeng possible imo. Arsenal need to think hard now where to go next as they've fallen well short in the domestic cups and fallen in the cl but have shown more desire in the league but need city to draw one to have a shot. You'd imagine arsenal should win the title in the next couple of seasons if they keep going but even more ambition should be shown to win the lot.
The first paragraph is mouth-frothing nonsense. The underlying message in the second paragraph is bang on. It's exactly what they've done.
A combination of three things: - better ability throughout the squad - better availability throughout the squad - more faith from the manager We've got a lot of low spots throughout the squad. I'm thinking Elneny, Nelson, Nketiah, maybe Smith-Rowe...we need to bring the floor up. It's significantly easier to raise the floor than the ceiling. Next season, if you want to have a crack at all trophies....you're looking at over 65 matches, possibly 67. That's with no replays in the FA Cup either. We must bring in better options. Now on availability, we have players in our squad who are not reliable physically. Partey, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko, Jesus....3 of those 4 were first choice last season. Smith-Rowe is another who seems like he's permanently crocked. Availability is massive at this point in a cycle of a team. I'm already ready to cut ties with Partey and get someone else in who may not be as good but is there more often. Zinchenko is in the if we get a good enough offer area for me. The manager needs to be more prepared to use his squad as well. He just doesn't, especially in the back end of a season. He runs players into the ground. Maybe it's a steadfast belief that some of his squad isn't good enough. He's going to have to be more liberal in his rotation throughout the season. The last point that I didn't mention was how feasible it will be to do what we'd like to do. I think on the whole we're going to see a more restrained amount of spending this summer in the Premier League. Which means we're probably not going to get as much as we would like for our sales and therefore not spend as much as we'd like on incomings. Swap out Nketiah, Nelson, Partey and Ramsdale. Extend Jorginho. That's the destination for me. How we get there, we'll have to see.
I'd have to say that players have to play to be judged. Some of your low spots are pretty good players but not top players and reliability of fitness is major. We for example are only where we are as Joe gomez was finally fit for mo lnths and months at a time when everyone else was not. The second thry came back the team looms leggy. Anyway, I agree on the transfer side. I think some are being constrained and some are just looking for days round it. I reckon bring more young academy product through would make sense for arsenal. The problem we all have is that you have to pick what you want to do now. A) go for top 8 in cl and save 2 games but be shagged out? Or play for top 24 and win the last 32 tie. B) go hard at the league and try establish as big a lead as possible to try compete C) play u21s in cups as a rule? Something now has to give clubs cannot have 30 players no matter what Chelsea say and they cannot then got for 4 competition as the games pile on.
For the sides chasing top 4 for next season, is there an argument it's better to be in the Conference league as opposed to the Europa? Only six games in the group stages instead of eight and likelier to finish top 8 and get the bye into the last 16. Also they play a play off round in August which can effectively be used as games to get into match fitness.
I don’t think so as winning the Europa gives another avenue to CL football and anyone chasing top 4 in England will have a realistic chance of winning the Europa.
+ better trips and we've never won it. Bring it on. I would still probably rather Europa to be fair but conference > no european football anyday for me.
Chelsea in Europe. Utd completely out of it. I wonder if panic is setting in for clearwater yet. The uefa fine could be massive.
