09 Jan 2026 04:25:08
Ed001
Other than the glaring need for a CB (2 for me) would you say the team lacks energy or drive from the wide positions or a combative midfielder the most?
I honestly think the team misses Diaz more than anything he was a constant threat, sometimes bsllsed up too, but he was an energy we lack badly.
Coupled with Mo having a stinker of a season so far, it feels like we lack cutting edge from the flanks?
What's your thoughts? I would love to see Olise or Barcola join we need someone exciting as it's all very lethargic at the moment though I thought we were really good 2nd half last night.
{Ed001's Note - we have two very good attacking wing-backs that have spent most of the season shackled in defence that can give us some energy and drive out wide. We do not have bite in the midfield. It says a lot that a player as weak as Zubimendi was able to give them a battle. That guy makes a wet paper bag look tough.}
09 Jan 2026 07:07:07
I'm not convinced Slot wants to play with conventional wingers going forward, I suspect that might be why we didn't go for Semenyo. Of course Slot might not be here next season, but Kerkez and Frimpong providing the width as full backs looks to be the future.
09 Jan 2026 08:08:52
I thought we won the midfield battle comfortably Ed. Zubi and Rice were just getting frustrated in the second half because they couldn't get the ball off us.
Macca was much better, Grav was much better and Szob was his usual Duracell bunny.
Grav and Macca weren't back to last season's levels but given how poor they've been for the last 3 months it was a big step in the right direction.
I do think some fans have gone so far down the Slot Out route that they can't just give credit where it's due.
{Ed001's Note - no, you are just so deluded you see things that don't happen. Mac Allister was so much better I never realised he was on the pitch until he went down feigning injury towards the end of the first half. We were awful in the first half when Arsenal took the game to us, but in the second half they just sat back and we offered and created nothing. All very well passing the ball around, but the idea of the game is to put the ball between the white sticks and win, not play out a bore draw with neither team having the bottle to go for the win. Waste of an evening watching that.
As for the snide dig at the end, stop that, I am sick of these petty little childish digs because you can't handle someone having a different opinion from you. It is that kind of prickish behaviour that really ruins any chance of a decent discussion.}
09 Jan 2026 08:26:35
I agree, PB. SLot simply won't play that way. It is what it is. For me, we played the way we always play esp. with no CF's (even tho, Chiesa could have played there cos he can play there) . With Arsenal? They did a bit in the first 20 mins and put us under pressure which was expected. However, they seemed to run out of ideas from then, on.
In the second half, Arsenal sat back hoping we would pass it around, make a mistake and pounce hence, they stopped pressing us. We handled that well and Arsenal seemed to run outta gas and looked tired. We were almost no threat to them overall and that is frustrating BUT we got a result so hats off to the players and Slot.
{Ed025's Note - you know you harp on about about teams parking the bus and the low block against you Oli...how do you feel about Liverpool in that first half mate?, you parked more buses than Arriva so im interested in your view on that..
09 Jan 2026 08:37:28
Sorry but it was an abysmal game and we were pretty poor but shows how poor the premier league is this season if Arsenal can win title with ease. If Slot had anything about him not only would we be challenging but we would comfortably win the premier league and this is the problem.
Poor fitness poor tactics and Slot has doubled down on these mistakes. Only my opinion but it's pretty glaring.
{Ed025's Note - and these are 2 of the top 4 sides in the country Coul, it was pathetic mate and they are kidding the public..
09 Jan 2026 08:40:48
A lot of Arsenals best play goes through Saka, no surprise with that as he's a good player. Once we nullified that better second half it was easier together hold of the game. The final ball has been lacking most of the season, and was again last night, but obviously without Ekitike it made things harder to convert anything.
I thought we defended well, and although it wasn't exciting to watch I took something out of seeing improvement in that side of our play, better performances from Kerkez, Konate, and VVD.
Zubimendi doesn't look anything special in any of the games I've watched tbh, including last night.
09 Jan 2026 08:51:21
Ed, it's very obvious that the midfield lack bite. But, is it just me that feel like the team as a whole is just soft? The opposition could just bullied and shove our players and nobody will do anything about it.
{Ed001's Note - yes, we are very soft. It is frustrating to see us get bullied, despite having some big guys who should be able to put themselves about.}
09 Jan 2026 09:04:13
Agree with Oli. Hats off to Slot and the players for a solid performance, though not exactly pretty to watch, I agree.
And I agree with Sean's last paragraph, so I expect a torrent of abuse as well!
09 Jan 2026 09:11:32
All in all a poor game from us, no attacking options. Gakpo should be a sub at best. Frimpong on 2 occasions should have gone on to shoot atleast. Chiesa should have been brought on for last 10 minimum. Too negative, just like arsenal played against us at home. Macca was woeful barring 1 piece of skill where actually took on 3 players and was brought down. This is slots tactics? Poor, playing for a draw or a lucky draw 1 nil is Crap.
As for arsenal, huffed and puffed for 25 mins then disappeared. Bradley hitting crossbar made them sit back, Get it though, a point for them is a good result, even though they should have beat us really. A point when you're going for title against a top team is a good result. A point for us isn't for me sorry, pathetic boring system. Sooner lose and play for a win with attacking football myself. As for martinelli what the heck man.
{Ed025's Note - spot on for me Magico..
09 Jan 2026 09:31:08
"We were almost no threat to them overall and that is frustrating. "
Ed25, did you miss this part? Obvioulsy. Also, when have I ever harped or complained about teams parking the bus against us? You are aware that I have NO issues with teams playing this way and used to criticise Klopp whenever he complained about it, right? You must have mistaken me for the manager who complains about that all the time we don't win. Teams play the way they play and it is our job to figure it out.
Also, you think I was happy about the way we played in the first half or even in the whole game with NO shots on target? I have been the one slamming the manager for being scared of his own shadow all season to let our players play on the front foot yet you come on here asking if I was happy with the first half?
Again, you must have me mistaken for the manager.
{Ed025's Note - you have certainly complained about the "low block" in the past Oli, maybe you have forgotten mate due to your resentment of the manager?. i do agree that it is awful to watch though even though you actually played better than Arsenal last night..
09 Jan 2026 09:35:28
Disagree Magico. I don't buy that "rather lose and play attacking football". It was not a poor game from us. It wasn't exciting, for sure, but we defended well, which made a change.
I enjoy our banter on chat, when I'm not at the game. We never agree with one another, but that's what makes the chat enjoyable.
09 Jan 2026 09:44:38
Last night, first half was " we aren't conceding". Second half was better . But we are going from a low base saying that.
09 Jan 2026 10:08:15
Ed25, I never did that. That is not true. Resentment for the manager? Mate, I used to hate it when Klopp complained about it. Why would I complain about something that I criticised our great manager in the PL era for complaining about? If Klopp could get it then, Slot ain't getting a pass at any point from me.
You've had a 'mare here, mate.
Let it go.
{Ed025's Note - come clean Oli...you know you want to mate.. :)
09 Jan 2026 10:18:44
I find it very odd that we play a team who are 6 points clear at the top of the PL, at there place were they have only dropped points once this season (to Citeh) and all the fans can come up with are pages and pages of criticism about why (in their opinion) we aren't any good.
Considering the Oracle predicted a 6 - 1 loss I think it's fair to say that the team exceeded the miserable expectations of the nay-sayers. And yes, I accept that we are still not playing well but without our three best attackers we are a little hamstrung up front.
09 Jan 2026 10:47:08
WDWIV, I agree with you 100%.
09 Jan 2026 11:27:43
I don't know, I think Macca played quite well? Is it just me? At least he didn't look like he was a liability and a hindrance to the team like he has on certain occasions this year. I thought Grav was really good too.
I wouldn't go as far as some folks on here calling that a great performance but we have to remember that most people on here were saying we were going to get smashed and Arsenal would want to make an example of us after City dropped points. We didn't concede on a set piece, we gave them nothing in terms of big chances, and if we weren't so disjointed in attack (and we have been pretty much all season) and Frimpong delivered one or two better balls when he had the chance, we would have won that game. We do everything decently well until we get to the final third usually.
I think the players didn't disgrace themselves out there, they could leave the pitch with some pride. One could say it was a weak and conservative performance but from another angle it could be said that we had the mettle to weather the first 20-25 mins, forced our way into the game gradually and eventually imposed ourselves enough to boss it for periods of the game.
09 Jan 2026 11:46:12
I agree WDW I just don't understand what people expect.
We have been awful at times this season so to go away to Arsenal and be as comfortable as we were is a huge step forward and should give us confidence going into the second half of the season.
Ed1 I wasn't having a snide dig I genuinely think that is the case. There's been so much noise about Slot needing to go I think it's hard for some people to admit that we actually did ok.
I've said myself that Slot should go, especially after the PSV game but I'm not so arrogant that I can't admit that we actually played ok last night and he is showing signs of getting us set up better defensively at least. that's not a dig at you or anyone else it's just how I see it and I welcome your views if you think I'm wrong which is what having a decent discussion is all about isn't it?
09 Jan 2026 12:03:43
I take your point wdw and Rome…. i get we played well in the defensive department of the game, and why haven't we been doing that all season I have no idea, however you don't win games playing this way normally. reminiscent of Burnley against us.
, if we'd of had thrown Rio, Chiesa and even jones for Macca on mate I'm more likely to change my mind, and we could of won that game. In hindsight 4 points off arsenal in a season is great. But I'll never change my mind on slots woeful tactics sorry.
09 Jan 2026 14:01:04
May i ask a question to all the liverpool fans who think that was a good performance.
Title winning team, added half a billion to it, over 97 minutes did not register a single shot on target an entire game, and call it a good performance?
09 Jan 2026 14:47:39
You could use that argument every game we don't win and say the same thing, you wouldn't even need to actually watch the game or any of the games before or after it. It's easy, I see the talksport graphics and other such memes on social media every day.
09 Jan 2026 14:47:47
I thought it was a good performance, dio1989. Not exceptional but good.
Arsenal are the form team playing at home where they don't let in goals, riding the confidence of being top of the table. They had a full squad to choose from and thus played their strongest eleven.
We had lost 3 first team forwards and are trying to build momentum after a dire loss of form in November.
Arsenal too spent an absolute stack over summer and only registered 2 shots on target all game.
On paper we should have gotten spanked (by as much as 6 goals according to some on here) but our defence held strong and were arguably the better team over all. A goal and a win would have been nice but with 3 missing goalscorers (the leagues 2 highest scorers last season and our top scorer this season), a draw away from home was a decent result.
09 Jan 2026 16:32:37
Dio, we did not add half a billion to a title winning team. We lost players and had to replace them.
Arsenal have added £300m of players to a side that's finished 2nd for the last 3 seasons without losing anyone and it showed with the strength of their bench compared to ours. Strictly speaking they should walk the league this season.
09 Jan 2026 16:57:28
dio1989, that wasn't a title winning team, last night.
TAA, Robbo, Diaz, Salah would have all most likely have started last season. With maybe Elliott, Nunez and Jota featuring from the bench. I'm not sure about Jones.
And when you talk about adding half a billion's worth of talent, you conveniently forget about the £200m+ of talent that left in the summer.
09 Jan 2026 16:58:20
We never had an out ball, we could of literally just gave Frimpong the ball an he would of gone past Skelly every time, he had him, lack of players in the box, that first half we lined up 5-5-0, Wirtz is a different level player, it's clear to see, he has nothing in front of him to pass to or play through, we need a manager who plays front foot, movement based, in behind the last line style, we have wasted this new squad we have this season, played right and without the side / backwards passing we would be in a much better position.
Slot has turned stubborn, he clearly see's his style isn't up to it, like Amorim it has become his downfall, I hope we get a forward thinking coach in asap and let's this talented squad off the leash, we could upset a few in the CL if we are smart and brave enough.
09 Jan 2026 22:18:24
@Dio, of course you can ask.
Of the roughly 430m we spent, roughly 230m was unavailable through injury (Isak, Ekitike and Leoni) . You also failed to mention that our opponents, top of the PL had a greater net spend than us in the summer transfer window.
You could also add that our strike force consists primarily of Ekitike, Isak and Salah, none of who, were available.
As has also been said, there were a number of players in the title winning squad that left, so saying we added half a billion to a title winning squad isn't quite true
I'm not sure how many times people have said this but, once more, we are not playing well, and we are not meeting fans expectations (which is quite a different thing) .
Hope this helps?