₦airaland Forum

Ihebu4chelsea:
I will remind you this quote come May!

When Chelsea wins the league with 100 open play goals and 0 set piece goal ba? 🤡🤡🤡

germaphobe:
we have scored twice the number of set piece goals through open play. But somehow they media wants to create the narrative that we depend on set piece. The fact that we mastered the act of scoring through set piece doesn't mean we utterly depend on it. The problem is our attackers not burying our open play chances, and that has made the agenda sell well. The team sees set piece as a weapon and knows that when it happens there's a chance.

That being said, we really need more creativity through the middle and not always the wings, that will make life more easier for everyone. If we can be shooting more often in such congested low blocks, there will always be a possibility of an own goal, reflection and rebounds.

People only see what they want to see.

No arsenal fan will argue that we need to sort our creativity problem. But pandering to sentiments of rival fans and naysayers just to make agenda to agenda is a no no for me.

They make it seem like arsenal has scored 30 goals out of 42 through set piece while Other teams only scored just 3 to 4 goals from set piece.

We can always have a discussion about us working around our overall creativity in the final third, but make we no dey enable people that are only pained because they've been our victims as far as set piece goals are concerned.

Ihebu4chelsea:
Keep playing 1960's corner kicks and expect rival fans to cheer your team, Even stoke city with Delap never tried such! Check how teams that play sweet football like Barcelona, Psg, man city plays their own kick's and compare!!

Shebi arsenal football club was established to play cornerkick that makes u happy. 🤡🤡🤡

Ihebu4chelsea:
I'm not against scoring via corner kicks, what I'm against is the tactics!!!

In other words we should play a corner kick tactic that satisfies your viewing plwasure as a Chelsea fan before you will stop having issues with our corner kick goals? 🤡🤡🤡

patrickmuf:
You are fixated on goals scored just like the article you referenced but that's not my point. I am rather focused on the teams attempt to win a corner kick and the seeming belief that it is more or less a chance to score. You might disagree but from the body language of the Arsenal players, coaching staff and fans, corner kicks and other set-piece opportunities have most of you expecting a goal.

Arsenal was not a team renowned for its reliance on set-pieces to create chances or score goals...That Arsenal is hardly seen these days, set-pieces should be an option and not the primary source of chance creation. Look at the number of times Trossard and Saka attempted a cross when Jesus was the CF. They did that to win corners. It is evident if you leave your biases aside. Not even Barcelona with Lewandowski or City attempt so many pointless crosses.

Whilst at it, point to the number of chances you guys had that were not set-piece related.

You didn't speak to any of the facts in my post; instead you chose to double down on insisting we rely heavily on corners without you having any data to back it up.

Sorry I can't be arguing with you over your assumption that is not the real picture of things. Because tell me how crossing the ball into the box suddenly translates to wanting corner kicks at all cost 🤦‍♂️.

The media has done a number of you guys to believe what is not a fact and you have decided to die on that hill.

Ihebu4chelsea:
No need to type too much, the simple question is why did arsenal adopt that method of playing corner kicks? That method alone should make any football loving fan dislike arsenal! Just watch your team play corner kicks and tell me if it's not irritating.

I don't get you. Arsenal scores as much as Chelsea scores from Set piece.

You guys even scored Corner kick against us in the 1-1 draw earlier in the season. Do I hate Chelsea for that ?

Why should anybody hate Arsenal for scoring corners just as other team does? Arse you saying we should stop scoring corners while Chelsea continues scoring theirs?

When we try to score you on open play and your defenders/goalkeepers block the ball from going into the net and we get a cornerkick as a result. You want us to waste the corner and wait for you to build your attack against us?

izzou:
Nobody plays with their money, so I think it will work

He even said he will come back next Monday and check. If they refuse to open, he will shut it down again for another week.

He just has to fulfill his part of providing security.

We thank God that the Christmas was devoid of killings and kidnappings

I think the fear of non state actors attacking the traders may be reason why the traders chose to obey the order. Not like they also don't like making money on mondays

patrickmuf:
First, it was all fun and games, now it isn't anymore. For the quality Arsenal possesses in their ranks, taking the ball to the wings every time in the hope of winning a corner is the stuff mid-table and bottom-placed teams are known for. Arteta's very compact system, which is heavily reliant on set-pieces, is not sustainable in the long term; when it fails, Arsenal struggles...

Looking at the quality in Arsenal's rank, I expect Arsenal to play a very expansive game with slick passing and combination play...I still maintain the Arsenal team of 3 seasons ago was the best, the team attacked with purpose and speed leaving the opposition limited time to organize their defence. Now, it is aimless passing at the back and when they go forward, they try to win a corner more than create a scoring chance. Maybe it has sunk into the players' heads that the best way to create a scoring chance is through set-pieces...

This post of yours is not based on fact, but solely based on fallacy that has been pushed by the media against arsenal this season.

1. As of 16th January 2026, when Sky sports did an analysis of goals set piece goals scored in the EPL thus far, Arsenal had only scored 14 set piece goals out of total 40 goals scored in the EPL. Man Utd followed closely with 13 set piece goals out of 36 goals in the EPL. If you look through the attached graph you will see other teams with the respective number of set piece goals they've scored in the EPL as at 16th January 2026 when the data was compiled.

How do you arrive at the conclusion that Arteta set up arsenal to heavily rely on set-piece goals when data available didn't show a gulf between arsenal and other teams as far as set piece goals is concerned.

2. If your personal opinion about set-piece goals not being sustainable is to be believed, then we can all agree that the other teams like Man utd, Newcastle, Chelsea and Aston Villa will also witness sharp decline in their goal returns going forward abi no be so?

3. Anybody who read your post up there would think maybe 70% of Arsenal's goals this season was scored through set-piece. Data available showed that as of yesterday, we've only scored just 35% of our goals through set piece which is not even far off from what Teams like Chelsea and Man Utd that don't have media focus on them tally as well.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13493842/arsenal-and-liverpool-rank-as-best-and-worst-from-set-pieces-as-premier-league-clubs-embrace-trend-between-the-lines


Yesterday match was one of our worst, but we still had shots on target that were not set piece related. I agree we have a creativity issue that needs to be sorted out ASAP, but let's not make it seem like what Arsenal has been doing all season is score corners and park the bus afterwards.

germaphobe:
Hincapie does his defensive duties well, but attack, nah!!!!!. Not the kind of LB we need for this run biko. MLS will pick up, I am sure of that. I expect to see both Timber and Zubimendi rested on Wednesday, and skelly starting. Rice and Merino won't play due to suspension, so Rice will also get his deserved rest. Saka should be rested too. Playing Norgaard with Odegaard and Eze won't hurt anyone.

What happened to Martinelli is gradually happening to Saka and there's no solution for it yet.

Yeah, Saka is definitely suffering from burnout. As much as Madueke has been off and on in his performance, Arteta just needs to act as if Saka was injured and let Madueke enjoy some weeks of constant action while Saka takes deserved rest.

Though I understand a section of fan will call for his head the moment he decides to rest Saka and the result don't go as expected (like they did vs Nottingham), I still feel it's best Saka is rested so he can be fresh for the last leg of the season campaign.

Soludo orders shutdown of Onitsha main market for Complying with Monday sit-at-home by IPOB.

He threatened to extend the shutdown if he comes next Monday and the traders still fail to open their stalls to sell.

Will this approach Work to put an end to the Monday sit-at-home order?

Cc: Izzou

Governor Chukwuma Soludo this morning ordered a one-week shutdown of Onitsha Main Market over traders’ compliance with the Monday sit-at-home order, warning of a longer closure if they fail to reopen. Security agencies have sealed the market to enforce the directive. pic.twitter.com/tqYBW7nOQx

— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) January 26, 2026

germaphobe:
We need Calafiori back.

Yes please! His constant injury this season that Lewis Skelly has decided to be shiiit is really a major issue for us.

Hincapie at LB is such a nightmare to watch. Hincapie should be made to play LCB paired with Saliba in games against mid table teams to rest Gabriel for big games.

The coach should also not do mistake of parking Hincapie with Mosquera at CB. A pairing of Gabriel and Mosquera is also welcome to give Saliba deserved rest. Skelly should be restricted to FA cup and maybe this upcoming champions league match that we already sealed our finishing position

germaphobe:
Even Wenger dey vex for our inability to influence and win games from open play. What a shitshow, whatever happened to 2023 Arsenal dynamic attack. The defence that has been saving us all season collapsed.

Make this man try rest Zubimendi and timber for 2 matches, they have tried. Almost every match timber and Zubimendi dey play, and Zubi's own is mad cus he has an alternative on the bench who is premier league tested. If norgaard can play cb and calm his cool why not play him in some matches and rest Zubimendi. Now Zubimendi can't even complete 60minutes without gassing out. Ucl game nau, he go still start am.

Saka and trossard just dey play wetin I no know, so called best legs oooo.
Arteta go dey see a pattern replay over and over and yet depends on individual brilliance and corner kicks. Yesterday, corner kicks tried but individual brilliance don die since 3 matches gone, so nothing came out.
Well sha, we have been dominant against the big 6 for 3 years with nothing to show for it, lets see how we deal with the other teams and see if we can show something for it this season.

I agree with you that Timber and Zubimendi needs to rest. Both of them had very good first half of the season, but it seems the fatigue is setting in.

Timber getting turn inside out against Chelsea was the first indication that he needs a break. He was arguably the best RB in the first half of the season stopping attack threats on the right side and always being on time to push attack up field along With Saka or whoever plays on the right wing.

Zubi's error this last match and his no-show few matches are Indications he needs to rest while he's still fit least he gets injured due to overuse.

afrodoc2:
Hahaha, You can’t understand but it is what it is.

Everywhere the guy goes he pulls crowds. He went to India, Japan, Korea, South America and heaps of European countries and it’s the same type of response.

Honestly, I don't understand anything about these things. It just seem like since post COVID-19, everything has been moving too fast with all these social media stuff.

Before u finish understanding one, another one is already trending .

Yesterday's match was a one of our worst performances in a very long time. The fact that we conceded 3 goals at the Emirates stadium confirmed how poor we were in every sense of the word. If I'm correct, the last time we conceded 3 goals should be over a year now.

Our attack was bland and the midfield was nonexistent. The defenders were also nervy all through the game, the fact that all first 3 shots on target by man united ended at the back of our net shows our defense was not what it used to be at the beginning of the season.

Arteta's nervousness was also glaring owing to the subs he made in the second half. Bringing in 4 players all at once showed how desperate he was and Man utd just cooly punished all our tactical ineptitude yesterday. He literally lost control of the match; it was a shit-show.

That being said, I believe Arteta and the boys would rewatch the match and see how they let the fans down with the scandalous performance we watched yesterday. In fact, none of the players and the coaching crew can be said to have performed better than the rest. The only thing we hope for is that they see where they got thing wrong and make amends in the coming fixtures.

As a fan who firmly believes this is our season, I only see yesterday's, match as a setback which can be remedied with spectacular performances going forward. We no waka reach here just to waka reach here; we must see this title push to the end.

Our next match in the EPL is against Leeds, I expect some key players to be rested in the match vs Kairat midweek so we can have fresh legs take us back to winning ways on Saturday vs Leeds.

I don't really understand anything about all those Streaming that those youngies like ishowspeed, peller, Carter Efe , etc are doing.

I really don't know what exactly is the end game. I mean is it that they are clowning and people enjoy wathcing them clown on live or live or what?

Is it like all those TikTok live where they get gifts from fans or what?

I used to see videos of that ishowspeed boy in the past when he would be playing video games and would call some players wrong names when he gets their player card . Then I just saw those things as clowning.

I'm surprised there's been some clout around him and seems like most content creators in Nigeria take his visit to the country serious.

izzou:
Sleep on Beloved

She should keep sleeping

If she don wake from her sleep, she should go collect form for convent. She don try!

Good luck! ✅

Well deserved loss.

We played nonsense in this match ; from defenders to Midfielders to attackers and the coaching staff.

The whole team is responsible for this piss-poor performance...

From what I've seen, Eze will never bench Odegaard.

Just lookat! 🤦‍♂️

2-2.

Come one Guys!

We can make it 3-2

Hincapie has been limiting our attacck.ins so many ways..... Good decision he's off

Wetin white Wan come do inside this match now?

Odegaard be falling down like fooool there

They were waiting for handball. Smh

Dem Don score us when they refuse to mark fully!

Nonsense!..I knew it was coming

This Hincapie is just so clumsy!

mine3112:
They had better win this game.

That's what we all want. I believe they will.

It's even good Mbeumo scored that goal. If Gabriel had blocked the ball or Raya had managed to save the ball miraculously, we would still have conto ued those useless and needless back passes.

Timber was right in his front to pass to, he chose to do nonsense back pass to Raya as if there's an instruction for the coach that Raya must have a certain number of touches in each match.

It's annoying knowing we had most of the ball and the scores is 1-1 🤦‍♂️

What the fvck is wrong with Trossard! Does he think this game is a joke?