Arsenal’s Sweet Russian Dolls of Evolution are Going to Get Citeh Soon Enough

TotalArsenal

What a fab season Arsenal are having. After the painful losses against Fulham and West Ham mid-season, it really looked like this team was not going to be able to fight for the title anymore. Then came sun, sand and Mikel-cuddles in Dubai, and a rejuvenated team fought itself back to the top. Having a good season can happen to any team, but staying near the top is the real sign of progress and excellent management, and Arteta really deserves to be named manager of the season IMHO.

I am quite chilled about winning the League this time round. Arsenal are a bit like Red Bull and Verstappen a few years ago: we are getting stronger every season and we look like an unstoppable force. Man City’s hegemony, just like Mercedes’ did in Formula One a few seasons ago, is about to change; and if we don’t do them this season, we will have an even better chance next season.

I have felt for months that if Arsenal were able to beat both Spuds and Old Toilet’s finest away at the end of the season, we would become champions.

The boys have done the former, and I am so proud of them. Citeh know they have to win twice and we can sit back till Sunday. The pressure is now all on them, and they have it all to lose. It so good that this psychological pressure is not on us but on them.

A Pool win v Villa tonight would help to make the Spuddies wanting to win v Citeh tomorrow. But even if the Spuds don’t help us, which I guess we have to expect, the Hammers can still cause an upset on the last days. They are the sort of team to do something like that now and again.

Arsenal will of course have to beat the Toffees in our final game, and I am certainly not taking anything for granted. It’s just so good that it will go to the wire and that Arsenal have achieved this from within themselves. The latter is the big gain this season and it’s invaluable for the near future, come what may on Sunday.

By TotalArsenal.

Arsenal’s ‘Russian Dolls of Evolution’

34 thoughts on “Arsenal’s Sweet Russian Dolls of Evolution are Going to Get Citeh Soon Enough”

  • Since Arteta’s arrival in 2019, the last five seasons have seen us progress at a steady, predictable pace towards challenging for the EPL title. It was crystal clear what Arteta and the Arsenal management want to achieve with the team and the academies. Wengerball has been replaced with an emphasis of total football supported by a ferocious defense and a very savvy midfield. Saka’s development is remarkable considering that the cloggers in the EPL salivate at the idea of taking him out once and for all, but he’s too smart and tough for that. Arteta ball is enjoyable to watch, has elements of Wenger’s philosophy but also Guardiola’s balanced defensive and midfield strategy.

  • TA, a balanced, realistic and (yet) positive article, given the circumstances we find ourselves (a quest to wrestle the title from the juggernaut that is Man Citeh) with 1 game to go.

    I agree with you; it is just a matter of time amd the student will take over top dog role from the erstwhile teacher. Arteta, in spite of not winning the league yet, has to be counted in the European Elite managers’ category now, with how he has made Arsenal to challenge over two seasons now, after finishing 8th in the two seasons before the last two. That’s high standards, indeed.

    As for this season, I still hold out some hope for us. However, if Citeh go on to win all their remaining games, then they have earned the right to be crowned champions and we can go again next season.

    But I am certain Arsenal have been the best team in the league, this season: Best defence. Best attack. Most clean sheets. Took 4 points off both City and Liverpool. Did not lose to any of the traditional Top 6 teams this season. If there is any justice, Arsenal should win the title because we have been the “best” team in the league this season.

    If there is anything as the proverbial “footballing gods”, they should simply hand the title to Arsenal, without further ado. I am serious!

  • I Just arrived Toronto about 4 hours ago, having had a two nights lay over in the UK. I took the opportunity to see the game at Old Trafford Live (my brother-in-law gave me that treat, being a Man United fan); I felt the lads could do with a lucky charm you see, to end that Old Trafford hoodoo. You guys may thank me later. I kid.

    Look, this Arsenal team is nothing like in the previous years (especially Wenger’s latter years) when we would come to this venue to go toe to toe, with one game to go, and concede goals in the process after playing the better football. I had a vantage seat where it was easy to see the tactical set up of the teams. Arteta set the team up to get the 3 points, not perform for the fans or TV. I have read some fans express disappointment we have not gone on to destroy them (even avenging that 8-2 scoreline) in their period of weakness amid the injuries. That’s what previous Arsenal teams would have done. Not this side. They have a cold-blooded focus on the prize and knew the home side and fans will be up for it so, get the early goal and if opportunities for more do not present themselves, hold on to what you have. While Onana made save after save, I can’t recall a save of note which Raya made. That’s what happen when a team has a plan..

    One cannot but praise the manure fan base too. For a team that isn’t doing too well, I was impressed with the turnout of fans and the support, even after losing. They were still singing and bantering. Never underestimate the nerves our boys had to contend with. Having said that, our fans were equally loud and are getting into certain routines, on cue by the players. Beautiful to see. This team deserves to win something.

  • We should remain proud as ever of the boys because they did our jobs and have taken it to the last day of the season by winning the games in that “toughest of run-in fixtures” . That is all we can do. We are making good progress in points, stats, and closeness to, arguably, the best team in Europe, over the last two seasons. That’s a massive achievement.

    All we asked was for Arteta to compete with City and he’s gone on to take City to the last day. Imagine the pressure City will be under tomorrow night. Arteta has done well. With Villa drawing against Liverpool last night, Spurs still have Incentive to give City a game (only a win will help them). This is going down to the wire!

  • Those dolls are something else, Total. If I was to guess who they represent I’d go (left to right) for Viv Anderson, Perry Groves, Andrey Arsharvin, Peter Storey and Gilberto.

    Thanks for the post, oozing positivity as always. It has been a wonderful season, no matter what the outcome. We should, at its conclusion invite posts on season highlights.

    Great stuff, Eris. That is some brother in law you have. What a treat for you. I trust you didn’t get soaked on your way out of OT. A right flushing, it seemed.

  • Yeah, Stuart. I am blessed with in-laws who just look out for me (as I do them). It was a road trip from London, along with his son.

    We were well and truly drenched in the Manchester rains. Funny thing is it was all sunny and good at the start. Then it started midway into the second half. We had to brave it to the car park. I was worried my stuff may not dry up in time for my trip to Canada the next morning. Good thing they did. 😅

  • Great comments, Eris, and all agreed. Really pleased for you you were at the match.

    Could you see why Odegaard was less effective in this game?

  • Odegaard thrives when he has the luxury of players around him, when he can do combination plays. With Arsenal scoring early, the usual suspects (Saka, White, Partey; for the right side. Rice, Trossard, Gabriel and Tomi, for the left side) instinctively deferred to more defensive duties which gave Ode little to work with. Partey found himself in a CB position more often than normal while Garnacho kept White and Saka honest.

    Like I stated earlier, the boys played for the 3 points and sacrificed entertainment. That will come in Week 38 at the Emirates, after the result from tonight’s encounter at the Spurs stadium. United fans would come away feeling their team did show fight, for a change; Arsenal fans a bit more disappointed, but inwardly happy with the 3 points and another clean sheet. A Win-win, if you ask me. On another day, with the number of injuries they have, Arsenal could have wiped the OT floor with them.

    PS: That Stadium, iconic as it is, does need some major make-over.

  • Small margins. Kulusevski. Son. 😒

    Come on you Irons…

  • City are just a phenomenal football team. Any other team would have felt the pressure. Not Pep’s City. Well done, to them today. They are a proper machine.

    We knew Spurs are always going to be Spurs, however, I held out some hope because I thought City will feel nervous. But, no. They have shown nerves of steel.

    It iis now up to West ham to make it happen for us this season. But first, we have to beat Everton on Sunday.

  • To finish 2nd, two years running to a club that has cheated everyone, on an industrial scale and continues to do so, is an amazing feat.

    I’m very proud of my team, we’ve been robbed of two Premier League titles but we’ll be back even stronger next season.

  • Dear fellow Gooners and Bergkampesquerers,

    We had some very sad news from Cyril’s, GN5s daughter:

    “Just thought I should let you know that sadly dad passed away May 13th at 1:15am surrounded by loved ones and very peacefully. Couldn’t have asked for a better way to go really. Think he waited to make sure Arsenal won again Man U before eternal sleep. He thoroughly enjoyed the time he spent on your blog and the competitions he did definitely helped keep his mind off the cancer. Please let the others know. Dad would have wanted to say goodbye had he the chance.”

  • We have lost a genuine gentleman and one with the biggest Gooner’s heart. A man with great merits: the blog will be less without him, that’s for sure.

  • That is such sad news Frank, I always enjoyed reading his posts be they on BK or AA and if I recall he was also on LG back in the day.

    Thank his daughter for letting us know, as I’m sure you will or have already.

    Cancer eh, we’ve all been touched by that evil disease…

  • It is a terrible disease, Kev.

    The good thing is that Cyril had a long life and was able to enjoy life almost right till the end.

  • What a sad news to receive; he was one of the most gentle and respectful souls you’d ever know on a blog. I’d miss his contributions to this blog and take solace in the fact that he seemed to enjoy it here. I took his little competition very serious because I thought it gave him some joy. Death has taken a true gentle man.

    I pray the Lord grant his family (and those on here) the fortitude to bear this loss. May his soul rest in peace. 😭

  • Well, I just come by to share the bad news that albeit West Ham fielded a decent team against Manchester City, they managed to concede after a little more than a minute.

    However this news is nowhere as sad as the one I just read here. GN5 was indeed a gentleman with a big heart and a genuine Arsenal supporter. May his memory be a blessing.

  • What a terrible piece of news that is … When I started commenting on BK, Cyril always wrote a post about the history of our opponents of the day. He taught me so many things about English football – I think I even suggested once he should write a book compiling these posts.
    Please let her daughter know how sad I feel, F. The internet is a very strange thing, which sometimes makes you despair of human kind, because it seems to allow the darkest sides of mankind to thrive, but it can also be a wonderful thing when it makes you feel as though you had been buddies since forever, with guys you’ve never met, and might never meet “in the flesh”. That’s how I felt about Cyril, and this partition of cyberspace will miss him big time.
    There’s this song by our poet of the 1950s – 1960s, Georges Brassens, “Les copains d’abord” – “Buddies first” … “Les copains d’abord” is the name of a boat – a metaphor for the everlasting friendship between the mates she’s carrying along – whose motto is the same as the City of Paris’s “Fluctuat nec mergitur” “She rocks but is never submerged”.
    There are these lines in it:
    “Quand l’un d’entre eux manquait à bord
    C’est qu’il était mort
    Oui, mais jamais, au grand jamais
    Son trou dans l’eau n’se refermait
    Cent ans après, coquin de sort
    Il manquait encore”
    (“When of them didn’t turn up on board
    It was because he had passed
    Yeah, but his hole in the water
    Never, ever closed up again
    A hundred years later, o you malicious fortune,
    He was still missed”)
    Here’s to you, Cyril:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT7U_GzRIv0

  • Corruption pays once again – actually for the fourth time in a row

  • No doubt the City fans will revel in their success Total, not least to the United fans who’ve given them hell for years, but there is and always will be an asterisk against their leagues and cups, a tainted feel and the whiff of cheating that’ll be there forever.

    United fans can still say that they won everything fair and square but City will never truly escape the belittling of their success.

  • What a great final. This is what European football should be all about: surprise, an unexpected hero with a world class performance and great tactics. Lookman, I will never forget you.

  • Gian Piero Gasperini, may 23rd, 2024:
    “It goes to show there’s still room for meritocracy. There’s still room for ideas, and it doesn’t only come down to numbers and some Super League. Other teams can be trusted, who don’t have to have huge payrolls and budgets, but can achieve great things nevertheless.”
    Amen to that, Gian Piero, and thanks for such an evening; what a game indeed.

  • A brilliant quote, Legall. He is so right about this. I looked fwd to this final whereas I won’t bother with the CL one. Football needs to be fair and surprise is the spice of it. Very few would have predicted these finalists at the start of the season, if any at all. Both got there through merit, luck and passion. Long may this continue.

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