Arsenal 1-3 Man City | Are Fans Worried we’ve Blown The League! (Fan Round Up)

AFTV, you're in Belgium there, I'm just saying to everybody, don't worry, it's all good. A couple of weeks ago, eight points clear. Game in hand, looking good, playing great football. Since then, it's a worrying dip, a worrying dip. And we're no longer top of the league. There is a couple of ways to look at it, the way I choose to look at it. There are maybe external factors, I don't want to make excuses for it. I'm going to try to use my words carefully, but I'm disappointed with the result, not necessarily the performance. Because I'm thinking back to the Everton game, and we played bad that game, we played really bad. And then come the Brentford game now, there were reasons why we didn't win that game, I don't want to get into it. But we played better, we played a lot better. And yeah, Brentford played well, they were a difficult team, but I think we were a better team. And today again, I think we've come here and we've stepped up from the Brentford game. So just because the results aren't going our way, it doesn't mean that the team's form is dipping. It's dipping, it's dipping, come on man. I don't see the same intensity that I saw in Arsenal a month ago. If you compare the performances against Tottenham, the way we were just on teams, I'm not seeing that right now. I'm not seeing it either. So how can you say it's not dipping? No, no, no, the performance isn't dipping. It's not a downward slope. It maybe had a down patch and we're getting back to what we were before. We're getting back to our best, Robbie. This is a good team. Man City is a good team and it goes for anyone. You have to be at your best to beat Man City, right? With a couple of injuries, it's always going to be difficult to come out and be your best. You know, I heard the news that Partey was out earlier today and I thought, God, it's going to be very, very difficult to win this game now. And you know what? As the game went on, it dawned on me that maybe the Thomas Partey replacement was under all of our noses the whole time. It wasn't Jorginho. It wasn't Fabio Vira. Maybe it's Zinchenko. Because from those games, I kept seeing Zinchenko. I laughed it off against the Brentford game, but sometimes I'm like, hold on. Zinchenko's been left back. I see him in the middle of the pitch. I see him out on the right. Maybe he needs to be advanced forwards and maybe that will allow Martinelli to have more freedom and bring the best out of other players around. And yeah, Tierney's been doing well for us as well. So maybe Tierney deserves to come in. Zinchenko can move into the middle and be the replacement for Partey. So you still think you're not overly worried? You still think, you know, we're right in this race? It was a six-pointer today and we lost it. So obviously that's worrying because I think psychologically it has a bigger effect than it does in terms of points tally because we're joint first on points with the game in hand. That's not a bad position to be in. We built up that lead so that if this happens, we'd be all right. So I'm not overly concerned with, oh, the league's gone. I'm not in that boat. I'm not in the boat of the wheels have come off. I'm in the boat of, we need to go to Villa and put in a performance maybe a little bit better than that one. And we'll be right back up there. What about you? What are you worried? Me, I'm not worried. I think Saturday we got to slap up Aston Villa and that's it really. It won't be easy. But at the end of the day, I think this was literally just a pep masterclass. He had Diaz on Urdu guard the whole time. We didn't have Partey in the midfield to actually get the ball and turn out and spread it and spray them passes. So I think that it's just one of them ones where we've got to regroup and think about what Aston Villa are going to bring to the table and just give them, give 100% like we do as usual. Do you know the ones there? But I want to say big up my guy, Per Murtazaka. You know the ones there for patterning the tickets for me and my guy, Nathan. You know the ones there, you know, we just enjoyed club level. You know what I mean? But yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I think, I think we're good. We've got a decent run of games. We've got, who've we got? We've got Leicester. We've got Bournemouth. Do you know what I'm saying? We've got Everton. So I think, I think the title charge begins today. We've got a game in hand where if we win this game, Robbie, we're three points ahead on Saturday. We've got to remember last season, we were struggling to get into the top four. So we've got a young group of lads. They need morale. They need arms around them so we can boost them. And once we boost them, just like the young ones in the ends, when we boost them, then they go and do miraculous things. It's the same thing. That's it. You've just got to boost the young ones, man. Boost Martinelli. Boost Zaka. And I think we're good. Are you agreeing with that? Get my man in here. Come round here, man. Come round here. Come round this way. Come round. We can't see you, bro. No, I just want to say I appreciate your show. I watch this when I'm in New York all the time. Oh, bless, man. We flew all the way from here, from New York. Are you disappointed with the performance? I wasn't really disappointed because I feel like I know the issue that was going on. I don't like to make excuses, but I feel like if you really think about it, I'm very spiritual. If you think about it, all the games that we didn't have Part A, we lost the season. If you think about it. FA Cup, we didn't play. Against Man U, he didn't play when we lost 3-1. When they subbed him out against Everton, they scored and they beat us. And this game, he didn't play. So I don't think there's a time for us to panic. I feel like we're underestimating these lower teams. We're looking at the title race, but there's another title race within top-bottom. So everyone's coming to die. You know what I'm saying? Everyone's coming to die and get three points, get a draw. So I just feel like we've got to also understand that this is the youngest team in the league. So right now is not the time to just be stepping on them, stepping on them. We've got to lift them up because we've seen what the crowd did. Do you still believe, though? It's all right saying all those things. Youngest team. But do you still believe? Because ultimately, you want to win the league. How about this, Robbie? I still believe we can win the league. You know why? Because I feel like we're going through our blitz right now. We're going through our little stumble. And I feel like this is good now because we were so hot. You're going to win. You're going to lose some. We were so hot. That day, we had to cool off. But I feel like now we're going to pick up form again. We're going to pick up form again. Second win. Yeah. In the second stage of the season, we're going to pick up form. And then it's going to be maybe not like every win. We're going to win, draw, win, draw. But we're going to pick up points. But I feel like we're just going through a stage right now, a transition. And we've just got to get through. OK, let me get my man there. What about you? Are you getting worried? A little bit. But at the end of the day, it's not going to be a walking apart. And every team will have a blip within the season. This is our blip right now. But we have to end that blip as soon as possible. We know it's going to be tough. But if we can get a win there, I think we're less the way after that. And then we've got our game in hand against Everton. So a little bit worried. But every team has a blip. OK. Worried? Yeah, man. I think that after that FA Cup game against Man City, we lost momentum in that game. And now we've lost confidence. And I feel like we've got a lot of players that are underperforming. And they've lost their form and confidence. Do you know what I mean? So you're worried? Very worried, yeah. Yeah, I can't lie. I'm worried, man. We need to win on Saturday. Definitely. We have to. Yeah, I'm going to say I'm worried. You're worried? I mean, you're going into Aston Villa. And I am, Ri. He wants to get back us. You just know it. Listen, let me just say. On the Villa thing, they lost to City at the weekend. And previous to that, their previous game, they got beat. I think it was at home to Leicester, wasn't it? Got four put past them. So it's not a game that's not winnable. But we've got to win. I think it's just that history. Just the fact that he was at the club. And then he got out of the door. And now he's come back here. And he wants to perform. I think if we can get a decent result against Aston Villa, we could be OK. But I think if we lose a draw, I think we'll go down. I understand Kelechi's spirit. He's happy. He wants to keep on going. But we're getting to a point where we need the signings. What about you? You worried? No, no. I wouldn't say I'm necessarily worried. At the same time, we're playing City at the end of the day. It's unfortunate that we lost. These are the teams we've got to beat if we're going to win the league. Of course. 100%. But at the end of the day, we're missing Jesus, who's a massive player. It's a big difference between Nketiah and Jesus. Don't get me wrong. I love Nketiah. He's done good for the club. But it's a massive difference. And we did play Wales today. We just got unlucky with the counter-attacks. And especially Zagiris' goal. It's unlucky. We did well. I watched the game. I thought to myself. I was like, we did well. It was just the unlucky chances. But as long as we come back and win Villa, I don't even think we necessarily need to win. We need to smack them. Because we're coming into this game. We need to get our confidence back. We need to get everything back. And as soon as Jesus comes back, I feel like we really do have a chance to win the league. And I don't think it's over at all. In fact, I think we're still strong in it. We're a game behind and we're still level with City. And we have the potential to win the league. And I fully do believe we have what it takes. I really do. For me, yeah. Worried? You look worried. I'll tell you what's worrying me. I look at his face and you look worried. I'll tell you what's worrying me, Robbie. It's the defending at home. Especially at this stadium. It's unacceptable. Giving goals away. Players not organised. Not being disciplined enough. Not marking on set pieces. But today, if you look at the intensity today, that reminded me of how well we were good at it from August up until November. We've taken from December or late December, we've suffered a dip in form. No wins in four. Out of nine points, we've got one. And we're going into the Villa game out of form. But the thing is, yeah, we're levelling on points with City. We're second. We still have an opportunity to win our first league title in 19 years. Do you think we can do it? I believe we can do it if they can get over this little blip here as soon as possible. Who to say that we cannot put a win together and City go and drop points elsewhere? Because they're not the same City as last season. The City of last season were completely... They looked good today. They were good today. Disappointing in the manner that Tommy Yassel gave the ball away. However, he didn't let it faze him. If you look at the equaliser, we deserved it. Won one at half-time. And we go into the second half, I thought the levels was going to go up a notch or two. But again, one of our biggest mistakes this evening was playing out from the back. Time and time and time again, we played into City's hands for playing out at the back. Pep Guardiola brought that playing out from the back into this country. Just like Wenger brought the nutrition into this country. Two different styles. And for me, we paid the price for it with the second goal. Gabriel should never have given the ball away by being casual. And if you look at the third goal, we gave the ball away. Shynchenko, his defensive duties have been exploited there. And Kevin De Boer clearly ran in behind him and cut back to Haaland, who's never going to miss while he's in the penalty area. So for me, I have to give praise to Man City, where it's due. They deserved to win it. They were more clinical than us. Eddie Nketiah, three opportunities. Unfortunately, not on target. Haaland needs one opportunity on target, and he scores. End of. You worried? Not worried. Disappointed. I flew in from Toronto to watch the game. So disappointed. But this is the game we would have expected to lose at the beginning of the season, right? So the games that we should be worried about are the Brentford game and the Everton game. And the Villa game next week. Not even next week, Saturday. Not even a long turnaround time. Well, I mean, the next game is what we should be worried about. We should be beating Villa. We're second. We have a game in hand. So I still believe we can win the league. Players are going to come back. Jesus is going to come back. Party's going to get fitter. And, I mean, I believe. You still believe? I still believe, yes. We'll bounce back Saturday. It's a deflated defeat today, but... You're not saying that with a lot of confidence. No, no, I'm not saying it. It's because it's PTSD that kicks in all the time, Robbie, man. But I just felt like, oh, Teta missed the trick tonight, man, with the starting lineup. Me, personally, I would have started Trossard, and I would have sacrificed Martinelli. Or, potentially, even played Trossard in that Jesus role and kept Martinelli on. So the front three is fluid. I think that's the difference. When Jesus plays, he occupies the left and the right, and he can drop into the tent. He's very versatile. But Thomas Party, big blow tonight as well, man. You could just see, when he's not in the midfield area, Robbie, the engine... Jorginho, listen, he didn't have the baddest of games today. But it's like, he's just not party, man. He's just not. When he's in that midfield, we just tick differently. And I think Xhaka missed Party tonight, man. But listen, it's not all done and dusted. I think we could... If we bounce back and we beat Villa, we still have that game in hand. We have to win that game in hand. For me, it is worrying, though. We haven't won in... It's such a coincidence. We lost tonight, and we lost against Man City. It was the first game of the run that we literally lost. But we can kick on from here, man. We're Arsenal, and listen, every team's going to have their blip. City will drop points later on in the season as well, man. We hope so. You worried? I'm still optimistic. I'm disappointed of the result of today, but still very optimistic that we can do it. The season's still very long. We have still one game in hand, and I think if Michael can pick the boys up again, get their morale back up, and we can get back to a winning streak and get the momentum going again, I think we can still do it. Worried? Not worried again. Disappointed. I think this was probably the worst time we could have played City, especially this season. I think if we played them back in November, we probably would have beaten them. I think defensively, it's just we need to cut out these mistakes if we're going to win the league. I think they're getting too comfortable in the back. I think they need to stay on their feet and play their game. The two mistakes cost us today. Also not to take a shot at Eddie, but I think now that we have Trossard, we should try playing Martinelli, maybe one game in the center and playing Trossard out wide and see how that works out. If it doesn't work, we could always sub him out, switch it up. I think it's worth giving it a try while we have Jesus out for a little bit. Other than that, I think we need to win against, and we have to win against Villa and just get our run going again and get our confidence back. Thank you. As you can see there, most of the fans were pretty optimistic, but it has definitely been a big setback tonight, but a chance to bounce back against Aston Villa.