The Arsenal = CLASS
Spurs = WANNABES

Not hurting at all sofa.
Simply resigned to the fact it's hard when up against a state owned side.
Btw, what would you know about hurting?
That would indicate a near miss.

I was waiting until the season was over to give everyone a chance to at least point out where the club went wrong this year but no one has me timed it so here you go.

David Raya isn’t the goal keeper people think he is.

Evidence 1 - Newcastle Away

All the talk post match was whether or not the ball went out and the infamous push in the back but what on earth is David Raya doing?

He’s on his near post as the cross comes and then hopelessly tried to shuffle back in a vain attempt to do something.

Very poor.


Evidence 2 - Aston Villa Away

Leon Bailey drives to the byline and with no more pitch in front of him he crosses it into the box and guess where David Raya is? Yep the near post.

He has completely surrendered the goal to Villa and the rest is history.

The ball drops to McGuinn who can’t believe his luck.

Evidence 3 - West Ham Away

I think you know what I’m going to say but this one is even funnier.

Jarrod Bowen is pretty much outside the pitch when he gets his cross back in but moron Raya stays on his post with his back to the play and Soucek smashes the cross into an empty net.

I’ve got no idea what he was thinking.

Was he worried Bowen would shoot from that angle? Lord he have to be Thanos with all of the infinity stones to score from there.

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What is annoying about this is that he does this every game.

Against United Garnacho fired in 2 crosses so quickly that Raya was still on his near post and turning to look at the fiejd of play as the cross comes in. If United had a decent striker they would’ve scored.

So it’s pretty clear that even Arsenal’s goal keeping coach doesn’t see this as an issue which is absolutely Fkin bizzare.

In fact you can even seen him at times with his arm extended as he’s watching the cross but making sure he’s as close to the bear post as possible…so this is something he has been thought to do!

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Unfortunately whatever benefits people think he brings it’s far be outweighed by his positioning flaw and the points he has cost us.

We could’ve be champions if we had drawn two of those games.

I’ve never seen Ramsdale do this and to be honest I think Raya has pretty much made saves I would’ve expected Aaron to have made.

I don’t think he’s the big shot goalkeeper people believe him to be had I do worry about us next season because I doubt he will fix his positioning.

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If I was Arteta I would sack the goal keeping coach and all of his staff asap and get someone more competent in because like I said this is absolutely shocking goalkeeping and it hasn’t been picked up on.

This is big man thing now…either he sorts out the goal keeping coach now or it’s him next season after Raya costs us more games and we win nothing again.

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Lol ELG,
So it was all down to Raya why AFC didn't win the League.
Yes it was harsh to dump Ramsdale but you must be the only gooner I've heard point the finger at Raya.

ELG's post doesn't mention that Arsenal only faced 6 shots on target in total in those 3 games but conceded 5 goals.
Raya not solely to blame but didn't help matters.

I wouldn't blame Raya for any of the 3 goals mentioned. I think it's bizarre that you'd blame him for any of them or even highlight them when there are plenty of better examples of him making mistakes. To say that Bailey had no pitch left is an outright lie, he could have passed the ball in at the near post from the angle he had (but there were defenders who would have blocked it). He didn't think Bowen was going to shoot. He actually tried to Block Bowen's cross. He didn't have his back to play?!! Every keeper covers the near post in the Villa/Newc situations and he was going for the ball against WH. The 3 goals were scored from point blank range in the centre of the goalmouth and you're blaming the keeper?!

In the 3 games we failed to score. A rarity but I'd be focusing on that more than the defence/keeper as to why we lost. We went thru a period of creating chances and not putting them away where we lost 3 in a row to WH and Liverpool in the cup at home and Fulham away. Then we started scoring bucketloads and went unbeaten in the league for almost 4 months, won 12/13 and drew away to City. Failed to put away chances against Villa at home too.

You can blame Raya for a lot, the goal at Spurs being the most recent example. He was almost flawless in that game after that but his mistake invited all the late pressure Spurs applied. It didn't cost us tho.

Ramsdale was poor late on last season and the decision was probably made then. I don't think Raya was signed for his goalkeeping skills primarily but he doesn't seem any worse than Ramsdale in that department.

Shouldn't have let Xhaka go. Just the type of player you want to unlock those 3 sides which all have a compact defence.
Better than Partey by a country mile.

Fixture list for new season below

first thing I read was it was a horror start to the new season, first thing however I always look at is the run, and it's great for a title run in, from April last 9 fixtures had bar two are at least comfortable on paper. Unfortunantly it's negated by City's equally soft run in. The Xmas fixtures where it's easier to drop points with the congestion, looks fairly good too though where City's are that bit more difficult, could be the difference.

AUGUST
Sat 17  Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)   
Sat 24  Aston Villa (A)   
Sat 31  Brighton & Hove Albion (H)

SEPTEMBER   
Sat 14  Tottenham Hotspur (A)   
Sat 21  Manchester City (A)   
Sat 28  Leicester City (H)

OCTOBER   
Sat 5  Southampton (H)   
Sat 19  Bournemouth (A)   
Sat 26  Liverpool (H)   

NOVEMBER
Sat 2  Newcastle United (A)   
Sat 9  Chelsea (A)   
Sat 23  Nottingham Forest (H)   
Sat 30  West Ham United (A)   

DECEMBER
Tue 3  Manchester United (H)   
Sat 7  Fulham (A)   
Sat 14  Everton (H)   
Sat 21  Crystal Palace (A)   
Thu 26  Ipswich Town (H)   
Sun 29  Brentford (A)   

JANUARY
Sat 4  Brighton & Hove Albion (A)   
Tue 14  Tottenham Hotspur (H)   
Sat 18  Aston Villa (H)   
Sat 25  Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)

FEBRUARY   
Sat 1  Manchester City (H)   
Sat 15  Leicester City (A)   
Sat 22  West Ham United (H)   
Tue 25  Nottingham Forest (A)

MARCH   
Sat 8  Manchester United (A)   
Sat 15  Chelsea (H)   

APRIL
Tue 1  Fulham (H)   
Sat 5  Everton (A)   
Sat 12  Brentford (H)   
Sat 19  Ipswich Town (A)   
Sat 26  Crystal Palace (H)

MAY   
Sat 3  Bournemouth (H)   
Sat 10  Liverpool (A)   
Sun 18  Newcastle United (H)   
Sun 25  Southampton (A)

Purely from a betting point of view, Arsenal @ 2.84 to win the PL looks very short looking at early fixtures. Away at Liverpool, City, Villa and Spurs before end of September. There will be some trading opportunity there.

Longer term Arsenal have every chance of winning the damn league this year. They were excellent in 23/24, just a few slip ups, the Villa at home being the most damaging. It will be a total cave by the PL if City not hit with points deductions and Liverpool hopefully will regress without Klopp. Villa played well above expectations last season and will do well to maintain progress. The rest of the top half teams lack consistency and fighting for the Europa League beckons.

Riccardo Calafiori looks a fine signing. Arteta bringing in a top forward is probably key.

I do hope this season is a good one, as fed up with same-old-same-old. I hope Man Utd winning with a late goal is not a sign of the season ahead...

Lol sofaking, I love how he includes Spuds in the discussion.

Last time won a league title, nobody had heard of the Beatles & JFK was still alive.

Probably Rooney's folks weren't alive either!?

The point is that neither team has won anything of significance in decades. Counting the amount of decades is nit-picking.

tough game v villa at the weekend...looking forward to that one hopefully will be a great game

Great to see Sofa so early in the season. He must be worried. He's normally blowing his mate I'm so Lucky at this early stage.

Yeah, not good form here fink.
All friendly banter is welcome imo.

That looks bad. I honestly meant blowing smoke. Apologies if any offence was taken.

what a fk idiot Rice was, deserved to be sent off, on a yellow then kicks the ball away which is a clear yellow, Arteta knew and didn't acknowledge him when coming off, even though he's said that opposite post match, cost us the match when in complete control and now he misses the NLD and will probably be replaced by Slowjinho.

Fairly routine win in the end. Even threw on a 17 year old for the last 20 minutes, which was taking the Michael a bit.

I like Postecoglou and it's clear there is respect between the managers. If he gets the support through the next couple of windows Spuds will be at least a Top 4 side. These things take time.

Important 3 points as I don't see us getting anything next week. City already look on a different level.