Great pod as always - I find it interesting how most defensive signings we applaud and most offensive signing disappoints us. It’s been 6 years and I’m not sure you can call any attacking signing under Mikel an unmitigated success. They are also always injured. Is something up there?

Great measures blog as always

In the cold light of day do you think that performance was much worse than most others this season, or have our attacking deficiencies just laid particularly bare being defeated by a team who scored great open play goals?

After 2+ seasons of this approach, is it viable for Mikel to take the handbreak off half way through a season, or would that undermine him/disturb his approach so much that it would be more damaging that continuing as is?

I'm not sure I've ever seen a team where the numbers and the eyes disagree as strongly as this version of Arsenal. We truly flatter statistically to deceive.

...which don't exist?

Errors happen, but the lack of attacking identity from open play is really catching up with us. You can pick whatever front 5 you want, but we look like this again and again and again - just some days we get a scabby goal and the defence bails us out... today it wasn't enough.

Such a weird flex. I started using it like 3 days ago.

That is fair, just felt like listening to the pods this season you've interpreted lots of attacking actions from Bukayo as 'Great' whereas some might say wasteful. I don't think he has been poor, I do think he is trying to force it a bit too hard, and our football does not favour attackers at all.

I don’t understand your point

Yeah, my original point is not that he’s been poor, but both Andrew’s saying our star player was excellent when he only walked away with an accidental assist and fluffed his lines on some good chances just makes it feel like faint praise. We know his final action is better than it’s been.

That’s great, you can add that to the “Arsenal top the last 3 calendar years league title” if that’s how you judge form?

It’s also kinda ironic that they posted this stat in response to an assist he made by complete accident.

We all love Bukayo but I do think we should be careful about heaping faint praise on him. “Tormenting fullbacks” is great but it’s not regularly producing output, and he is trying to force less optimal chances. Backing him 100% but being measured helps stop the trolls saying “he hates Gyok” etc

I am struggling a little with the constant focus on Gyokeres. We’ve had these games for years regardless of the players, it’s hard not to feel like he’s just a scapegoat for fans frustration at our approach. It’s not that he’s been great, but making it about him is not addressing the real concern.

I don't know how many times we can watch this team be slow, passive and pondering and put it down to individuals. I'm sure we get another week of 'Gyok isn't good enough' etc, but all our attacking players seem to flop... at some point you have to ask if its their fault or how we play.