On the Whistle: Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar - "Form fluctuations as minds turn to Liverpool"

[@georgehay5222]

Need some flair in midfield. Rice, Partey and Merino have the combined creativity of a weetabix biscuit.

[@i_am_Vuss]

Fucking helll 😂😂😂😂

[@zsht]

Give Merino some time. He's barely trained

[@dtrane86]

Good thing we have one of the best creative midfielders in the world on his way back

[@jojolouis]

@@dtrane86 we have 2!!! you forgot Nwanieri.

[@afcmarco]

@@jojolouisin the world? Really?

[@frogambassador]

Anyone's guess what our defense looks like on Sunday ... Even our fit defenders seem to be carrying little problems. Gotta appreciate Gabriel in these times.

[@Theclashblog]

Really seeing how special Martin O is when watching this current setup. Hurry back young man. Good to see Martinelli finding some form.

[@samgale109]

Suprised kai didn’t take the pen. Fingers crossed calafioris injury isn’t too bad. Arteta said in his post game saka hasn’t trained yet

[@janeburns7673]

I was at work today and did not think about the game once. The CL and football in general is slowly becoming as insignificant as everything else in life. I need a win against Liverpool to feel like there is some hope.

[@maccalemon]

The shine has been taken our of the CL with the new format for me, game nights don't feel so special

[@aidanhickman6621]

shaktar at home would never special, no matter the format

[@KC_Runz]

I don't want to be 'That guy' but I have never cared less about European competition, cancelled TNT, don't follow the games live at all & feel like the new version of Champions League is just the most soulless, dead behind the eyes tournament going.... ☠️ Aside from that, love the vids & love your work James 😂 All the best, safe home! #UTA

[@rld1982]

I don't care for this format, either. Still watch though, cos it's Arsenal. I thought the new format was supposed to make games more interesting. I couldn't be less bothered so far. Even the PSG game seemed an annoyance before a game against frickin Southampton!

[@totsh2056]

Thomas Partey absolutely superb.

[@thechunko6796]

Brutal watch. Concerning performance. Lack of control anywhere on the pitch bar martinelli and GabiXL and Big Willy. Worried for the weekend to say the least

[@Bhavesh060309]

Atmosphere was really flat today

[@nietzchepreacher9477]

It was so quiet. It made the boring game impossible to get into. Sometimes the fans creating an atmosphere can help push the performance too.

[@MarkHoward19]

Always is for early season midweek matches, even PSG wasn’t much better. The amount of tickets flying around on the Exchange was annoying

[@youasshole20]

I went to the game tonight, sat in North Bank, wouldn’t complain about the atmosphere, we kept on singing the whole first half fans were superb imo. Maybe looked different on tv

[@Joonzi]

Cant blame them. We played like we were down to 10 men. Its like we got used to it.

[@jonathank6121]

The bland boring football doesn’t help. Dire and so cautious.

[@sudetank1]

There speaks the voice of Costa coffee. Flat performance. I'd really like to see Arteta give Nwaneri a chance in these dead games. It looked like a training match out there and only Martinelli seemed to be willing to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. His return to form is very timely, but we are missing all the creativity on the right side now.

[@BenjaminCutting]

High Wattage in the background ⚡️⚡️⚡️

[@astrothelad]

arteta treating nwaneri like a fragile toddler, despite him being more creative and productive than anyone in the current midfield. you hate to see it.

[@DavidKeith-f9b]

Totally agree

[@Qlicky]

Why do people tend to think they know more about a player they saw play for odd 45 minutes whole season than a manager who spends every day with him? Every considered that there might be a good reason he's not starting games?

[@maccalemon]

we so miss saka and herbgarden

[@WilliamHolmes-r4b]

We can't compete across multiple fronts with poor squad depth.

[@LiiveGunner]

My observation of Nwaneri needs to improve awareness in the game, and that's key 🔑. Trust the manager is great at details

[@JonasFilberg]

I'm worried for the weekend.

[@llwyde1104]

Only clowns will judge Merino yet. Rice is slowly getting back to last season's form. Jesus showed signs of some form. Martinelli was lively. That said there was a lack of urgency that led to loss of control. Liven up boys!!!

[@steamboatWilliam8]

Our fullbacks are cursed!

[@SueMyChin]

Calafiori looked to suffer a knee injury. Hope it's not too serious.

[@spunzel2594]

If Partey plays RB we're done for. He's gotta play midfield. Also, we're bad. Sterling is awful, but we knew. Something is rotten. Arteta is stubborn.

[@JohnBatty]

Very sloppy, esp. 2nd half. If that isn't Martinellis goal, he should surely be credited with the assist? 🤤

[@prash_t]

Partey and Zinny will be our full backs on Sunday 😢

[@efosaobasuyi5243]

Trossard needs to stop giving the ball away. He switches off a lot in games.

[@naseibonsu8120]

🔴 Partey dominated the midfield in the 1st half! He has to start in midfield NOT right back! Him not playing there disrupts our whole play especailly the line and link to our forward players. Rice plays completely differently to Partey in cm and doesn't feed our creative players. Rice is concerning me in the 8 and the 6. He is not creative enough to be an 8 and his style has stiffled our creativity. As a 6 He is very rigid and lacks invention. Rice is pretty basic. Tonight showed me that Rice cannot dominate any midfield on his own. He doesn't have the brain for it. 🔴

[@PL-qe1kz]

James needs his glasses adjusting

[@CEOAMARU]

Trossard beyond Selfish for not letting Kai take penalty for Record. Also got Saliba sent off. Can't wait for him to be benched long term.

[@adventurerwannabe]

We have been dreadful to watch all season....top 4 finish is all we can hope for this season...Arteta has gone too far down the road of physicality at the expense of creative agile technically gifted players. My eyes bleed watching us evey game this season

[@goodgamewellplayed1165]

You're positive

[@Qlicky]

Is someone forcing you to watch Arsenal games? If my eyes bled while watching something I would stop doing it.

[@alexpayne1405]

I like you normally James but please stop congratulating Villa!

[@bendraper9298]

Even James 'On the whistles' have been lacklustre lately

[@Theclashblog]

Can you blame him, it's s bit dull

[@Hadahadhow25]

Arteta has built midfield wrong, rice is not a 6 as he can’t pass the ball, nor is he an 8 same thing for merino. Partey and Jorginho are old amd leggy amd we have no 10’s. We’re fucked

[@LAKASTRO]

Awful game. Never again.

[@kumarsasi1688]

Arsenal looks so bad right now. We will lose against Liverpool on Sunday. If Liverpool finish higher than Arsenal this season, I am Arteta out!!

[@goodgamewellplayed1165]

Please support another team.

[@kumarsasi1688]

@@goodgamewellplayed1165 you should follow Arteta to another team soon. This is not Arteta FC!!

[@Theclashblog]

Exhale man

[@PlayTheArsenalWay54]

go away, this club doesnt need fans like you

[@CEOAMARU]

Miles Lewis Skelly wearing earings to delay substitution. Won't make it. Thinks he's already a seasonal professional 😢