04 Feb 2026 11:14:53
Just because it didn’t work, doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good plan with good intentions. Staying tight for 60mins, staying in the tie made perfect sense to me. The only issue I good was a desire for a bit more pace up top in the first half, to suck up pressure and counter better.
I thought Joao Pedro was excellent, held the ball up really well, before laying it off, but too often it was Delap or Cucurella finding themselves receiving the ball in areas where they just weren’t dangerous enough.
If you’re looking for a goal with 30mins to go, Arsenal are not the team you want to be playing against, and I thought Garnacho in particular could have done more to put them under pressure. I don’t want to put him down every time he’s on the pitch, but I honestly thought he was poor again and wasted some good opportunities to put Arsenal under pressure.
Still, lots to play for in three other, higher profile, competitions.
04 Feb 2026 11:50:41
J, I basically agree with your analysis mate.
04 Feb 2026 14:31:22
Agree J. Don't concede and then go for it later was the right move. For the plan to work everyone needed to have an absolute stormer – Arsenal concede so few goals generally, and they really do strangle games. If we'd have been able to start applying pressure like we did in extra time fifteen minutes earlier we might have got something out of the game, though it's notable that the only real chances we created we long-range, which Enzo duly blasted into the stands.
One thing I would also say from watching last night is that, in terms of trying to win games like this, Arsenal's physical size as a team just makes it so much harder. Reece being fit would have made a big difference, not only because Gusto was terrible, but because he's strong enough to enter into a physical duel with those guys.
That back line of Timber, Gabriel, Saliba and Hincapie – with Rice sitting in front – was scarily muscular. Reminds me a bit of us under Mourinho when the team was generally big. I thought Pedro did really well for the first hour, but tired in his battle with Saliba. I can also see why we bought Delap to bully up front, but at the moment he just doesn't seem anywhere near cute enough with it. Would have loved to see 2014/15 Costa against those Arsenal CBs, although with VAR he'd probably be sent off in almost every game.
04 Feb 2026 16:47:46
Yes, EdW, I agree re Delap, I can see the theory behind the signing and, for the fee at least, it was a no brainier. There’s just nothing deft about his play, which you need, alongside the blunt force, at this level.
That deftness also has to translate into getting under CB’s skin, which he definitely doesn’t have. I personally prefer Guiu and would like to see him afforded more opportunities.
05 Feb 2026 09:54:36
I agree J and EdW about Delap as he has performed for us to date - though one can only hope he can improve - and would like to see Guiu given more game time. For a big and tall striker Delap also doesn't seem to be particularly good in the air? Guiu seems more mobile and alert with movement.
Yet Delap had seemed v promisng when scoring bundle of EPL games for Ipswich anmd perhaps now lacking in confidence after injury and having scored so little for us.