FA Cup Semi-Final: Arsenal vs Manchester City | Saturday July 18 | KO: 19:45 BST | BT Sport

[Sammy1887]

Why pep pants are ripped

@OnlyOne could stitch 2 suits out of those pants.

 

[TriniGunner]

We should be 2-0 up.

 

[krengon]

Xhaka and Laca the stand out for me.. Both been top class so far

 

[dashsnow17]

 

[Hunta]

Özil the traitor is on the City bench.

 

[Gunner D]

Pep looks so skinny. Smoking ?

He’s starting to look like a crack smoker as of late.

 

[yorch44]

Just post and scroll on a match day thread lad. Don’t take anything in. 97% nonsense.

I know but sometimes is frustrating to read so much nonsense. We are getting much much better with every game. Arteta is going great with what his have. Having a preseason and some players I know we will do great. As I said before, even Kloop required 2 years to make Liverpool working and 2 years more to win the League

 

[kofigunner]

We really should’ve been at least 2-0 up. Not the finished article, but good to see players beginning to really understand Arteta’s systems

 

[GoonerJeeves]

Very good first half. If someone out there still can't see the improvement under Arteta...get yourself an appointment with your GP. It might not be your eyesight that is the problem.

Considering how we normally play worse in the second half, it is probably City's game to win...but so far so good.

 

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

Arteta is moulding Xhaka into a more complete midfielder. He looks happier doing the defensive side of the game too- and can dictate the tempo with his laser like passing.

If we can get a Partey/Sangare type midfielder next to him, that’s the basis of an elite midfield.

 

[Oxeki]

We should be 3-0/4-0 up tbh.

We've been by far the better side.

Yet AM told me they don't see improvement with Arteta.

If this was unai....

 

[sdotzdot]

****ing immense.

apart from some individual mistakes (you know who u r b)

 

[Gunner D]

Hats off to Granit Xhaka. Don’t rate the lad but I can always count on him to turn up at Wembley. Been colossal so far.

 

[boonthegoon]

Man should have been 2 up for sure. Hope doesn't cost us like Leicester game. Enjoyed that half more than Liverpool performance

 

[kash2]

wandering in the desert...and only force of habit and faith keeping me going....and finally i sense moisture in the air .... is this hope... is this pride ... is this the return of that feeling where we still considered each match as winnable.... whatever happens in the second half, but we scored first vs Sp**s, pool and city ....and we look like a team again. hope returns... and now i cant watch matches disinterestedly anymore ...aahhhhh

 

[Trilly]

We’ve been inches, literal inches, away from Auba properly laying off Xhaka/Pepe and Laca playing Pepe through on goal.

Think we will go on to regret these moments though because they were piss easy passes to make.

 

[Gooner416]

Man those Sp**s and Brighton results really sting right now... Arteta has done a complete 180 with this side.

 

[Fewtch]

Perfectly executed first half, really impressive. Pep has already committed so many players forward like they’re chasing a last minute winner and they’re going nowhere.

 

[krackpot]

Auba had the easiest hat-trick chance!

 

[MutableEarth]

Martinez hasn't had a thing to do. That tells you how well this 1st half has gone.

The possession is much quicker and tighter, the defending of space is better and there is more commitment from our players. Only issue is that we need to finish our chances and continue to create them. That and I've got an eye on that right hand side. Pepes been decent but Bellerin and Mustafi have had a hard time so far. In contrast, left side is strong at the moment.

Good team performance.