₦airaland Forum

Exits

Trossard
White
Martinelli
Nwaneri
GJ


Possibly
Norgaard
Kepa
Havertz


Faves to grab IMO
Kroupi J
Morgan Rogers
Tonali
Livramento
Musiala
LW open

Arteta has to use style to move from the Odegaard era. Concerns are on Saka now. We only hope he's going to go lethal next season with Timber behind him.

We may get a CM, DM, RCM and still have Merino. But I'll rather not see Merino and Rice together sha. It will be funny if a CM and LW arrive and they form new and strong chemistry with Gyokores on arrival.

Our midfield let us down. Meanwhile, it's unacceptable that MLS had more forward passed than Odegaard and Saka combined. He also had more completed passes than the two combined.


This was unacceptable. 😤😤😤
Eze came on and was a passenger too. Rice brougt his own top game mentality and the other 3 with experience could not even best MLS. It is why the drop of Kai to midfield was a reckless decision too. That's w foolish one too.

There's a lot to learn from this final, on an individual basis and overall, mentality basis even if we did well for 120mins. That well we did is even about holding off PSG attack and not about our attack which was abysmal aside the terrible calls by the ref. As damola and Roland said, the 2006 set were 10men for 70mins and still attacked way better than this 2026 set. I wonder why we didn't simple use the Atletico template as that would have added some intensity to our forward threat. Kai's goal as only shot on target in a final?!!
Well well. I do hope this doesn't repeat itself sha. We have the personnel to do better. Enrique spoke about how we have mentality but extracting the peak of individual effort towards the main goal was not there for us.


E fit be Barca next season.

mostob:
Dave P Na you be Pythagoras of Nairaland. Help me check if this math is correct. 😂

Leave am. Make e dey use the nonsense figures dey beat chest. 13years without a league trophy since SAF left. E go soon reach 20 and eye go clear

mostob:
I dey look for Berta's video 🤣🤣
He is on the bus too.

That man acts like he wanted ro escape the serious atmosphere at ATM and he's gotten just what he desired🤣🤣

Berta searched for better ATMosphere.

BlueRayDick:
Come to think of it, I never believe Havertz had it in him to score that type of goal he netted yesterday with the pressure and all.

In fact, when he hit that shot I thought he side-netted. At the open air sports arena I watched the match, we were all in shock when he hit that ball. We couldn't decide if the ball hit the back of the net or if it was just a case of side netting. It was when the replayed was shown the reality hit us all.

I believe yesterday's match was a lesson for all members of the team and the management Sha. Mosquera has definitely learnt his lesson and would time his tackles wella going forward.

I'm proud of the team for how far we've come over time!

i was telling my guy that typical Kai loves ground shot and the keeper didn't expect him to roof it atall. That was unusual and sweet to see.

I hope they all tke the lessons. Especially Eze.

mostob:

Nobody is more locked in with us than Josh Kroenke 😂😂
Glad I caught him pic.twitter.com/gUVmKCM2hu

— Leo Dasilva (@SirLeoBDasilva) May 31, 2026

Josh 😂😂

I love how the parade went ahead regardless of this ucl loss. It will help them all before the world cup a least. Josh na party starter normally sha😂😂😂

A three lions gunner went to dig up some comp of Eze Pks in the past years and now they're all crashing out that he dare not near any PK at the world cup.


Guy missed all with the exact technique but still keeps using it. Be like he no know say video analysts go see am and use am for their Gks. He needs to change technique totally. Asin totally. He has such fiery budeh for leg and he dey do that yeye pazamezo atilogwu steps everytime before he misses? Arsenal fans can forgive him but 3 Lions?? He better change technique for the better.

Roland17:
2006 guys played with 10 men from the 18th minute of the 1st half. Wetin be these ones excuse, if not Haram approach from the 1st minute?

Asinnnnnn.

Roland17:
I thought Gyokores should have come in sooner than he did. Havertz was already spent and could barely stay on his feet.

His exhaustion was buttressed by overhitting simple passes inside the box that had Saka open and constantly dropping to the ground during duels.

Also, I am disappointed it took conceding a silly foul that led to a PK for Arteta to finally remove Mosquera. Mosquera should have been subbed as soon as he copped that yellow. Kvara attacked him even more after that yellow.

Kvara was ghost until he saw that juicy yellow. My my.


Somethings need to change after tonight. One of them is this stale possession for any finals we've been in. If we want to win the ucl, we need to control the game and not sit back without a creative plan to counter like Cr7 real madrid team under Zidane.

On one side, consolation go wan dey say na pk. But on the other hand, this team will regret not having more possession of the ball especially AFTER the top threats of PSG were subbed off. That was the cue to change the entire dynamics of the game. We had the exact personnel on the field to change the dynamics and hold onto the ball more. Were we locked in mentally?Arsenal my my dear Club!!

Im proud of the guys sha. Twas a nervy affair. Seeing Hincapie do that even when Injure and Martinelli being a brother at arms to him, they really played great for each other. Upfront we just didn't impose enough to change the tide. 800passes by PSG.... Cheiii

Roland17:
Winning the EPL will mask or save a lil face but we have to admit, this style isn't going to get us more silverwares.

This isn't about getting over the hump or mentality thing for me. We went 1 out of 4 this season which is a poor return for the quality of this squad.

We could have won the UCL today, I mean we were right there until the end and we will forget how we won it but this is a recurring theme for Arteta and it bothers me.

Still can't believe Kai's goal was the only shot on target tonight. That compared to almost 18(9) by PSG.

I agree with you. A lot needs to change.

Me dunno why he planned for pks sha. I don't understand his strong faith in that process when its not like he has a track record for that.


Saka
Odegaard
Eze

They didn't come through today atall. But from the subs, the mess up began when Kai with tired legs was made to drop into middle to play with Gyokores. 😫😫


Slowly, it might become a theme across days that even if he has the personnel, he will use yeye tactics to make them look average.

Roland17:
I don't think this is about trusting his players more. It is more about him.

I don't think anyone remotely expects us to match PSG or go toe to toe but the stats of this game are damming.

I mean look at these stats!

The ratio of the passes as at 67th minute was ratio 6:1.

That was totally unacceptable to me sha. For a huge grand final game.

Roland17:
Eze's was even more disappointing. He took too long in his build up to the kick and ended up pushing it wide.

I hate pks like that. Just chose your angle and bury it. All those nonsense step up and pause and whatever, leave am for Mbappe and Maitland Niles abeg.


Devastating and cruel night this is.


Can't even imagine discussing where exactly Arteta got it all wrong right now.

😤😤😤😤😭😭😭

Eze and Gabu whyyyy?

Pk.
This game mehn!!!

iamoyindamola:
He will soon come off for merino
He won't do shitt there

Eze it is

Na 2 subs sha

This man dey plan pk ni?

My chest. These psg counter lone man attack were scary. Mainl from errors and Saliba wing all 6

iamoyindamola:
He will soon come off for merino
He won't do shitt there

We have one sub left 4/5 don enter. Between Merino and Eze, who go enter?

This Kai drop to midfield for make sense if Kai still get ginger for body. He doesn't. But we'll win this. We will.

yinkeys:
How would Arsenal handle Kvaradona, Dembele & Vitinha ?
Is Hakimi is still injured
Timber is injured 🤕
PSG firepower
Imagine having 2 weeks to prepare for Arsenal
They beat Inter Milan 5 nil last season

The fact is since the counter tactic worked before, we might even be more aggressive than the last time we met them. Their CBs were at ease last time. Bayern have exposed a large part of how to approach them. If we bring the aggression vs Atletico, they'll fall under that. As for their wingers, lets just pray the plan to defend and deny them space works. They don't do wel under intensity. Timber is fullybback and cleared to play. They might start with Calafiori side cos he has a weakness. But Hincapie will come even more prepared.


From that 5-0 to 5-4 with Bayern. Their defense is open for who wants to take it and tear it apart. If na dark arts, Arsenal sef get their own.

mostob:
Timber may not start due to his recent return. Zubimendi or Mosquera might start at RB with Timber coming in later. Arteta might go with Odegaard due to pressing ability as Eze can sometimes be casual. Hincapie vs Calafiori depends on what Arteta intends to do from the get go. I really wish Havertz can start but mehn..

Im hearing Timber must play 60mins max as this will be like his 1st top game since injury. Dunno how Arteta will do this sha. My own na make we counter their yeye 316 approach. Such boldness mehn.


I still pray for a Martinelli solo run goal😂😂🙏🏾


Morale high right now.


I also hope nobody is thinking of stretching this to extra time and pk sha. Let's wrap this under 90.

Shegzdave:
I hope he finds a way to counter Enrique style of the goal keeper playing the balling to throwing to start their attack from the throw in

I believe Arteta has a plan for that already. The main issue is that Enrique peak plan was totally exposed for the world to see vs Bayern. Using a 316 approach is daring and was juicy, but Bayern still got 4goals through and through. Arsenal are more solid that Bayern no doubt. We can decide to sit back and soak up or we just go all out and shock everyone the way we did to Madrid and Inter and Atletico during group stage. That 316 is daring. Using 2 to pin fullbacks and making it hard to stop and overload.


Martinelli and Timber were culprits for the losses we got from PSG due to loss of concentration. Timber got more aggressive on Kvara the last time we played.

PSG no dey do all man fall back and that will be something Arteta will relish.

mostob:
My Brock Lesnar. Make he show them pepper. Havertz should sit down somewhere with his yoriyori football.

Our corner kicks will be a big advantage. How i wish we can find a way to have Big Gabi, Merino and Havertz in the box at the same time

The corner go too sweet if all dey true true. My own na how coachie wan do the starting xi now that merino is back? I know Timber and Cala go start. Odegaard and Trossard go start too. The rest i dunno. He fit wan start Merino join or Kai.


The doubling up style that Enrique used successfully against Bayern, Arteta go definitely work to counter it. That means runners with defensive contribution will start. Two blue each on fullbacks na hin style. Means forwards have to track back. But with Brock powering vs those CBs, card and fouls won up high go plenty. That's enough to disrupt rhythm for Enrique.

Catch them young. Or is it direct?

Jeremy Monga just like Bakayoko but feints like Thierry down the wing.

Their CBs enjoyed heavily the last time we met last season. This time, they go pass through wetin those Atletico Madrid CBs pass through.

These guys have been in Budapest since na. Why dem dey post today? 😆

BlueRayDick:
Tottenham a.k.a dirty Spurs are as stagnant as stagnancy. Things no really get better for them between last year and this year.

they suppose go down. But that's over 600m in championship in investments. Won't be surprised if the business side helped to make them stay in. 😂

Amedino99:
Italy's latest friendly list. Features 3 nigerians; ahanor, ekhator, and koleosho. Young players too but kayode once again is yet again ignored. If only we can just use this opportunity of all these ignored call ups to pick him. although even if we reach out, he might still be passionate about the italian senior team since he has/is still playing for the youth team.

Kayode and Aina as full backs under Chelle go be real gas cooker. If Nwaneri kon switch for that RW again....


The issue now is the midfield is ageing and proper replacements are yet in sight.

Cos of 1 controversial +1 they wan kon dey disrespectf our Igwe. Lol.


I pray we have such a player to do epl boot b2b2b again.

Salah denying Kane and Haaland the chance for treble like Igwe🤣🤣🤣🤣

Alan Shearer doing it at 2 clubs b2b.



Meanwhile see the biggest climbers and droppers. I hope we can steal one Forest player at least.

Italy wan use indigenous managers to further bury their league. They just dey rotate all the top clubs like say dem be better managers of anything. Delulucoins plenty for Italy abeg.



https://x.com/i/status/2058904657594888547

Despite calls after Remo won the NPFL last season, for NPFL and clubs to work on digital footprint and presence, they didn't.

The winners of the Southie league and also the Caf CL combined attracted over 4m live views online, while the npfl winners couldn't even attract 100k for any level.


If they keep thinking that "Nigerians are football lovers. They'll come around" they go just enter gutter. They need to upgrade the Community Relationship in a Modern way, enforced, for npfl clubs.
They don't need to spend much. They can start with time giving. Kano Pillars and Shooting Stars are the two i cam beat my chest are doing that averagely well.

It's the older Generation that are NPFL lovers. If they don't find new gen z ways to capture the young ones, and things go fully digital one day, o pari.

iamoyindamola:
Incoming....

The woman and the short fuy, who are they really?