General Premier League Thread 2023-24 Mod Note in op 27/6/23 And 21/05/24

The fella's come on in leaps and bounds this season, been really good. He has such a huge impact on games, both directly - a goal or assist every 92 minutes - and indirectly through pulling defenders around for someone else to have space. Rather than someone to be worried about, his improvement is one of the reasons they're in the title race.

That's kinda semantics though, right? I think the point being made is that not one challenge, of which there were many including some very cynical ones, resulted in a card.

Lets not pretend City didn't commit a number of yellow card fouls themselves

Gotta say I was very surprised that Alvarez didn't get a run out, he can score from the edge of the box which is exactly what was needed for City I think.

And why Havertz was left on the pitch confused me, he was invisible for most of the game.

I wouldn't bother responding. The same person was saying we were playing conservative because we were starting 4 CBs, despite those 4 CBs playing in the "best periods" he's seen this year against Newcastle. He can't seem to figure out that Treble winning Man City might be a better side than Newcastle. If you read through the last few pages it's been constantly about Arsenal and how they're the worst of the current Top 3 despite being them being Top of the 'Top 3 Mini League'.

If Arsenal aren't holding the title in May, it won't be because they took 4 points to 1 against both Man City and Liverpool.

Taking a win and a draw against title rivals is a good return for any team. There are much more sensible places to shine the spotlight if Arsenal come up short again.

Not sure if this should be in the humour thread or here. Massive amounts of irony.

Nobody beats City at the Etihad, so what Arteta did was totally justified in the end. A draw was better for Arsenal. That's unequivocal.

I think fans are frustrated because they've been conditioned to City/Liverpool matches for top of the table clashes. It was never going to be that. And Arsenal don't have to pander to neutrals of all people.

I think also, some fans have been irked by some of the hype around Arsenal, so they came into it wanting them to actually show them something really noteworthy. Going full Mourinho wasn't really what many thought was going to happen when the team has been hyped as being City's equals and certainly better than Liverpool.

Bottom line is, Arteta did what he felt he had to do. And it worked. Some neutrals fooled themselves into thinking this would be a statement performance from Arsenal, and are being critical because they didn't get it. Even though City were as bad. People just think because City had the ball that they were controlling it. They were as riskless in possession as Arsenal were out of possession.

I see Pep publically berated Grealish after the final whistle, Grealish not looking too happy about it but refrained from arguing back. Pep then set off as peacemaker between Haaland & Gabriel.

Villa have all 3 to play too and the one who should probably be most worried are Liverpool since that’s the one at Villa Park (even if we have become a little less invincible there than we used to be).

spurs are top of the mini league of the current top 6. Drew away to arsenal, didn’t lose. They’ll take points off all 3 next month potentially

pity the top 3 don’t play each other in the run in. United will kick themselves that they aren’t closer to villa and Spurs cos those 2 have tough finishes

I didn’t see the game yesterday as I was at Croke Park. I’m glad I went by the sounds of things. Arteta did the right thing for Arsenal. It’s puke football but sometimes it needs to be done. Newcastle did it to Arsenal last season that’s the way it goes sometimes.

Arsenal have lost home and away to city in the league for the last 6 seasons. 4 points is a damn fine return

It's almost like the same players can play, but have a different plan / role within the game. And that comes down to instructions from the manager.

There are countless examples of players playing one role within one game, and then playing a different role within another. Kyle Walker made his name for Spurs as a full back who bombed up the field as an overlapping full back, and started that way for Man City, In some games starting playing more conservative and more like a 3rd CB at times, whereas next week he would nearly be a RM. He could switch roles in different games but he would still be called a RB on paper.

It's clear that Arteta had his players play differently in the game at the Ethiad than they had in previous games. But I think he went too extreme in his switch and didn't retain any of the periods of sustained pressure. Calming down the attacking play a bit is fine, but he did a full 180 switch on it. That was intentional and I think it hurt Arsenal as Man City have shown this season that they can concede when put on periods of pressure. Arteta missed a trick here.

I see Stones is struggling to be fit again for the Villa match. City are feeling the effects of that last season, their treble exploits and a WC as well. Haaland, KDB, Alvarez also struggling. Keeps the league interesting.

Villa are missing a few players now - McGinn, Kamara, Ramsey, Watkins. It's a good time for Arsenal & Man City to play Villa while they are depleted big players.

Spurs - Forest was originally on Monday night but moved back to Sunday because of train strikes iirc.

All of those bar Kamara should be back for Arsenal. It’s City who hit the timing jackpot

Villa looking like they could be about to go on a selling spree if thats in any way accurate.

The other interesting aspect is the new PL proposals on cost caps are based on squad cost rather than overall profits/losses I believe - similar to Uefa (70/80% for next season, can't remember which). So even just looking at wages, a lot of PL teams will struggle under that cost cap. Interesting to see what Villa will do if they make the CL - or even how they comply with Uefa for this season in the EL.

Big saving on De Gea and Ronaldo wages for ye as well for this season which woul be in the 2023 figures.