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What a rollercoaster its been - and I don't think we're done yet with surprises.

I guess we would all agree that the PL this year has been very underwhelming - though that is only when compared with our recent standards.

Overall, with 2 games to go, a chance of winning the league and a domestic cup double in the bag, I look back on the year and feel really mixed emotions:

- can't believe we're here vs where things were looking back in December
- I'm still really angry at Pep for some of the stupid/shit dropped points

I know there will be many who hark back to when we were shit and say 2 win a domestic cup double is amazing, and that still benig in a title race is testament to how shit Arsenal have been, but in the context of a club with our ambitions for the last 18 years, can we be pleased with a transition season well navigated and a fantastic 12 months in the transfer market, or are we still ready to see Pep go?

I'm just about on the 'pleasantly surprised' side of the fence currently. I can't yet see what Pep's new masterplan is, I don't think this squad will be breaking any records any time soon, but on the whole the inane sideways passing has gone, and hearing from Semenyo yesterday it's heartening to hear Pep's told him not to change (which makes me wonder if there's been any possibility of a change of view on Grealish next year)

So many questions

I’m so torn.

The league wouldn’t hurt as much if we didnt go on that run to get it back in our hands. I’d conceded it well before that.

The cups are brilliant but obviously league is a priority. Throw in a woeful champs league and it’s been emotional.

Overall I’d say half full as we’re mid rebuild and won two trophies with a decent attempt at the league. Was looking grim a few months back and now it’s been a really good year and trophies should never be taken for granted.

It's not a coincidence that since he's stuck with a solid back 4, the same defenders each week, we've gone on our run. He also went through a period where he wouldn't start Cherki, again, once he started him we went on our run. Hopefully he's learnt, we'll see.

I'd also argue Hugo Viana has saved our season - Semenyo and Guèhi in January massively changed things and I don't think we'd be sat where we are if it wasn't for them.

Mase wrote:It's not a coincidence that since he's stuck with a solid back 4, the same defenders each week, we've gone on our run. He also went through a period where he wouldn't start Cherki, again, once he started him we went on our run. Hopefully he's learnt, we'll see.

I'd also argue Hugo Viana has saved our season - Semenyo and Guèhi in January massively changed things and I don't think we'd be sat where we are if it wasn't for them.

Yeah I saw Stones mention that the reduction in rotation in his interview on BBC, and I think Pep himself mentioned it when talking about the players he had to leave out. There's definitely been some positive changes in his outlook, which I'm glad to see as I honestly, like most here I think, thought he was beyond redemption.

Agree on Viana also - one thing Viana has done from day 1, is not fuck around in January windows, he's had the balls to act twice now when everyone always says there's not a lot of value around. With the exception of Marmoush, they have all had a massive impact and we didn't get our pants pulled down.

Txixi and co had their eye off the ball after the CL final, massive fuck up from the club leadership not doubling down then - although I guess it depends of the talent is available - doubling down on a win hasn't worked for Liverpool, we dodged some bullets there, and I wonder how much of that was down to Viana also.

The big + for me I think is that even if Guardiola were to go this year, we've got the bones of a squad now that we know with some tweaks (and a replacement for Bernie) a decent coach can come in and have no real excuses not to challenge for the league.....and should only get better with age. A year or so ago the future was looking a bit fucking bleak!

Im_Spartacus wrote:

Mase wrote:It's not a coincidence that since he's stuck with a solid back 4, the same defenders each week, we've gone on our run. He also went through a period where he wouldn't start Cherki, again, once he started him we went on our run. Hopefully he's learnt, we'll see.

I'd also argue Hugo Viana has saved our season - Semenyo and Guèhi in January massively changed things and I don't think we'd be sat where we are if it wasn't for them.

Yeah I saw Stones mention that the reduction in rotation in his interview on BBC, and I think Pep himself mentioned it when talking about the players he had to leave out. There's definitely been some positive changes in his outlook, which I'm glad to see as I honestly, like most here I think, thought he was beyond redemption.

Agree on Viana also - one thing Viana has done from day 1, is not fuck around in January windows, he's had the balls to act twice now when everyone always says there's not a lot of value around. With the exception of Marmoush, they have all had a massive impact and we didn't get our pants pulled down.

Txixi and co had their eye off the ball after the CL final, massive fuck up from the club leadership not doubling down then - although I guess it depends of the talent is available - doubling down on a win hasn't worked for Liverpool, we dodged some bullets there, and I wonder how much of that was down to Viana also.

The big + for me I think is that even if Guardiola were to go this year, we've got the bones of a squad now that we know with some tweaks (and a replacement for Bernie) a decent coach can come in and have no real excuses not to challenge for the league.....and should only get better with age. A year or so ago the future was looking a bit fucking bleak!

Agree with all that. We're in far better shape than when Ferguson left the Rags

It’s ridiculous to be too upset after winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup while still having an outside chance of the Prem with two games left. But watching City this season hasn’t been an “on the edge of your seat” experience has it !? — it’s been fucking boring half the time. That just goes to show excitement is just as important than simply winning. We won the FA Cup, and the game was shit to watch.
This season has been weird with a capital W.
I still wouldn’t be gutted if Pep left at the end of it — life moves on and new beginnings and all that — but I also wouldn’t be upset if he stayed.
Go figure.

carl_feedthegoat wrote:It’s ridiculous to be too upset after winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup while still having an outside chance of the Prem with two games left. But watching City this season hasn’t been an “on the edge of your seat” experience has it !? — it’s been fucking boring half the time. That just goes to show excitement is just as important than simply winning. We won the FA Cup, and the game was shit to watch.
This season has been weird with a capital W.
I still wouldn’t be gutted if Pep left at the end of it — life moves on and new beginnings and all that — but I also wouldn’t be upset if he stayed.
Go figure.

Pretty much my thoughts. Was saying the same yesterday. We've been a hard watch a lot of the time this season and given the chance of going or not, I'd happily sack it off and stay away. With the squad we have and a couple of new faces, I'd like us to take the shackles off. Split 50/50 on good or bad it has been good with the 2 cups but we and Pep were shocking in the chumps league. Think we see Pep again next season so i will wnd optimistic!

I always thought this would be a transactional rebuilding season, considering the big turn around of core players. So from that respect, I'm very happy with two (perhaps three) trophies. I do agree that we've been very frustrating for large part of the season, but I do also see signs of a new great squad being built, that can dominante domestic football for the coming years.

2 domestic cups and probable 2nd place in league a good season.
I think we threw it away , Arsenal are not a better team but Arteta didn't fuck about too much
Champions League was very poor.
Signings in Jan helped big time. Played some great football when the pace was upped but we still look ponderous for 60/70 % of the time. Most of the time we don't play to Haalands strengths and suffer for it.
Hopefully next season we will

salford city wrote:

carl_feedthegoat wrote:It’s ridiculous to be too upset after winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup while still having an outside chance of the Prem with two games left. But watching City this season hasn’t been an “on the edge of your seat” experience has it !? — it’s been fucking boring half the time. That just goes to show excitement is just as important than simply winning. We won the FA Cup, and the game was shit to watch.
This season has been weird with a capital W.
I still wouldn’t be gutted if Pep left at the end of it — life moves on and new beginnings and all that — but I also wouldn’t be upset if he stayed.
Go figure.

Pretty much my thoughts. Was saying the same yesterday. We've been a hard watch a lot of the time this season and given the chance of going or not, I'd happily sack it off and stay away. With the squad we have and a couple of new faces, I'd like us to take the shackles off. Split 50/50 on good or bad it has been good with the 2 cups but we and Pep were shocking in the chumps league. Think we see Pep again next season so i will wnd optimistic!

Yeah agree with all that from you both, v strange season all round.

The cup final felt like 2 teams who seem to have lost their way. What I found most strange, was that in spells, City's pressing was exceptional for a few minutes, and then they seemed like they just couldn't be arsed and started backing off again.

We all know Guardiola's philosopy about winning the ball back in the first x seconds, but it seems like this squad collectively don't seem to have that in them for more than a few minutes at a time, if its fitness it can be fixed, but if it's motivation that's a whole different issue.

I wonder if the fitness coach leaving is part of an attempt to change that up.

Any season with a pot on the sideboard is considered a successful one for my money. And we have two of them already and with two games to go, are still in the hunt, albeit with an outside chance, for the PL title. And given the start we made to the season that’s a remarkable achievement

In terms of the squad, that is shaping up very nicely. The January signings were fantastic and slotted in almost immediately, which is rare for most teams, let alone a Pep team. Yes, there are a few players leaving but Stones has already been replaced and I think we have ample cover for Silva. And if we manage to offload the likes of Savinho and/or Marmoush we have plenty of options. And we are likely to recruit in the summer as well.

So for me, the glass is very much half full and is getting filled rather than drained

Pleased as punch we have at least won the double, it could have been more but it's still a great season. The only disappointing part of the season for me is the lack of information about how we as a fan base are going to say goodbye to Stones and Bernie I get the distinct feeling that goodbyes aren't for the fans it's just for the club and the players with a tidbit thrown in when a photoshoot arises and they involve someone from the fanbase so they can market it.

Cynical yes but that's the feeling I get now.

CBEM wrote:Pleased as punch we have at least won the double, it could have been more but it's still a great season. The only disappointing part of the season for me is the lack of information about how we as a fan base are going to say goodbye to Stones and Bernie I get the distinct feeling that goodbyes aren't for the fans it's just for the club and the players with a tidbit thrown in when a photoshoot arises and they involve someone from the fanbase so they can market it.

Cynical yes but that's the feeling I get now.

Last game of the season is a home game and both Bernardo and Stones will be there. There will be something there no doubt. What sort of information do we need?

CBEM wrote:Pleased as punch we have at least won the double, it could have been more but it's still a great season. The only disappointing part of the season for me is the lack of information about how we as a fan base are going to say goodbye to Stones and Bernie I get the distinct feeling that goodbyes aren't for the fans it's just for the club and the players with a tidbit thrown in when a photoshoot arises and they involve someone from the fanbase so they can market it.

Cynical yes but that's the feeling I get now.

Last game of the season is a home game and both Bernardo and Stones will be there. There will be something there no doubt. What sort of information do we need?

Scatman wrote:Last game of the season is a home game and both Bernardo and Stones will be there. There will be something there no doubt. What sort of information do we need?

We don't do anything when players leave for the most part, they leave go somewhere else etc. The information people need is obvious isn't it? If fans need to be a a certain place for an extended length of time the club need to let fans know so they can mitigate any personal life issues that get in the way.

Sort of proves my point that the players and club genuinely believe it's all about them and fans are a passing thought.

Looks like goodbyes have already been said, on the last day of the season there won't be a big goodbye just the normal end of season corporate spiel.

CBEM wrote:

Scatman wrote:Last game of the season is a home game and both Bernardo and Stones will be there. There will be something there no doubt. What sort of information do we need?

We don't do anything when players leave for the most part, they leave go somewhere else etc. The information people need is obvious isn't it? If fans need to be a a certain place for an extended length of time the club need to let fans know so they can mitigate any personal life issues that get in the way.

Sort of proves my point that the players and club genuinely believe it's all about them and fans are a passing thought.

But surely if there is anything it will be at the end of the game at the ground when nearly 100% of the fans in question will be there anyway?

Those things AI mention don't give any indication that the occasion is going to pass without mention.

Scatman wrote:

But surely if there is anything it will be at the end of the game at the ground when nearly 100% of the fans in question will be there anyway?

Those things AI mention don't give any indication that the occasion is going to pass without mention.

That's my point though mate I have lost all confidence in the club and even the players allowing the fans to commemorate anything at all, most of what we do now (And most other clubs) is done for optics or for a media presence.

There would have been a waving ceremony after the Villa game like there is after every other last game of the season at home, I can guarantee this will be no longer than it usually is and believe me that saddens me because the players and the club are becoming every more distant to us.

CBEM wrote:

Scatman wrote:

But surely if there is anything it will be at the end of the game at the ground when nearly 100% of the fans in question will be there anyway?

Those things AI mention don't give any indication that the occasion is going to pass without mention.

That's my point though mate I have lost all confidence in the club and even the players allowing the fans to commemorate anything at all, most of what we do now (And most other clubs) is done for optics or for a media presence.

There would have been a waving ceremony after the Villa game like there is after every other last game of the season at home, I can guarantee this will be no longer than it usually is and believe me that saddens me because the players and the club are becoming every more distant to us.

I'm not so sure. They're both massive legends and I expect the red carpet to be at least partially rolled out for them. There will be some time reserved just in case there is a trophy ceremony, and as that won't be happening they will be able to fill it with some Barnardo and Stones Love-in time, possibly Pep as well.

I don't quire share your cynicism just yet. After all, Rodri got some quite special treatment after the Ballon D'Or.

Having said all that I cannot remember at all what happened with any of the others. I can remember what happened with Pellegrini though, and it wasn't the club at fault with that one.

The send off for Kev last season was fantastic- practically the whole stadium stayed behind, there was a video of current, ex and international teammates paying respect.