Morning all.
The next two games are ‘crucial’ said Mikel Arteta. Probably because both are at home and his team need another six points. But not only that, we need to keep the confidence high and only winning will achieve that. Plus, our home results have been pretty grim until now so that’s also something we need to change. Make our home our fortress between now and the end on May and the season will have been a lot better than it looked like is was going to be pre Christmas.
After the two league fixtures, the FA Cup returns and we’ve been given a tough one. Away to either Southampton or Shrewsbury. I’m not sure what’s happening with that tie though as the Shrewsbury squad has been hit by Coronavirus but if it can’t be played soon, I guess Southampton will be our opponents.
Mesut Ozil continues to hog the headlines which I suppose he will until he finally packs his bags and says his goodbyes. Even then there’s no guarantee his name and Arsenal’s won’t be written about during the weeks and months which follow. His every footballing touch will be assessed by the journalists, with pen ready to tell us all how well he’s playing for Fenerbahce or some team in the MLS. On Twitter, Mesut said he’ll never regret moving to Arsenal. Of course he won’t as Arsenal have made him a very rich man, but in terms of football, he enjoyed his time pre Covid under Mikel Arteta. Personally, I enjoyed watching him during the Alexis Sanchez period. The two gelled so well. If only that pairing could have continued for longer than it did.
Things went south for our number 10 though when the laid back approach Arsene Wenger seemed content with was replaced with Unai Emery. A coach who wanted more from his players. More effort, more pressing, more of everything. Mesut clearly didn’t like that idea but over time, it was clear that very few others did too. It was far too easy to down tools, get the head coach the sack and hope another ‘Wenger like’ manager would walk through the Arsenal gates. That didn’t quite go to plan did it as Mikel Arteta is just as tough a taskmaster as Unai Emery, if not tougher. I personally think the players downed tools again because they hoped for another change but if I’m right, their decision seriously backfired. The board stood by Mikel Arteta, certain players were eventually dropped or in Mesut’s case, left out of the squad altogether and finally, things are improving.
Our attacking play is now more about Martinelli, (fitness allowing) Saka, Lacazette, and ESR than it is Willian, Pepe and even Aubameyang. Heck, even Xhaka offered more in attack in our FA Cup fixture than Willian. Our defence is about Holding and Mari than Luiz +1. Once Gabriel returns to full fitness it’ll be interesting to see what decision Arteta makes but splitting a central pairing which has performed so well would be harsh on either Holding or Mari. If the Martinez saga taught us anything, it was that current form doesn’t always count when Mikel makes his choices. Actually, you could add Willian and Pepe into the equation because how many games and dismal performances were they afforded? If Mikel Arteta had been as ruthless with the entire group of players as he’s been with Ozil, perhaps the bad run we were on would have ended sooner but then again, if our own assessments of the squad are anything to go by, Arteta wouldn’t have been able to field a full team. Lol
Finishing with Mesut, I hope he gets his move away because his talent is being wasted. His footballing career is nearing its end and if he loves the game as much as he says he does then just go and play. Forget about the money because once those boots of his are hung up for good, no amount of money in his pocket will make him ten years younger.
See you in the comments.
I have no sympathy for Ozil whatsoever. When it was obvious that he didn’t fit, he would have had the opportunity to play almost anywhere on a loan deal, with Arsenal making up his wages so he would have not lost any money. This has happened regularly with other players at other clubs, but he decided to sit where he was, not play and just count his money.
I think America will be favourite, as I wonder how Galatasaray players will treat him in Turkey.
Brian
Too right you can’t buy time , even now in my seventies if I drive past a football pitch with the nets up , something triggers and I wish I was out there. That keepers of his line and the top left hand corner is inviting.
When I was selling around south London I used to pass the cricket club on Mitcham Common . I could never work out that as soon as the lights went red , the umpire called over and teams changed ends, I can’t actually remember seeing a ball bowled
.
I guess what I am trying to say is that team sport as such is in your blood , which is why I can’t understand how Ozil can sit out a season and not want to play . Perhaps he gets his jollies from the training with the first team and playing in training matches , so perhaps we should have curtailed that early and cut him off altogether .
It does seem that there is a new wind blowing through the club and as you say even the Xhaka’s of the world are getting caught up with it . . Let’s hope that it continues because we do need these players as although the young ones have instigated this momentum they will blow out eventually and we will need the others to come in and keep it going.
That’s the balance that Arteta has to find , he knows the ones that were downing tools on him . He knows who needs to go and it’s over to Edu to persuade their agents that they are better off elsewhere.
Rather not discuss Ozil for all the reasons above.
I think this year will go down as the time when Arsenals player power was dismantled and normal service was resumed. I am certain it’s a mix of the senior players who’ve been with Arsenal for years and one or two new senior players with too much time on their hands. But they arrive with a well publicised history of fallouts with previous managers. So it’s looks as though it’s taken a strong manager to tackle this and ensure it has no place in Arsenal’s camp.
I do believe that we need to still bring in a ATtackibg Midfielder and there’s some very promising names being mentioned to team up with ESR. I think he’s now established himself as the next holder of the no.10 shirt snd it couldn’t go to a more deserved player.
Morning all.
Potter, when we went through that poor run, I did not comment much because I believed people would just think I was defending Arteta as I was pretty vocal in my support of him, and that would have been understandable.
I did say we’d need to hit rock bottom before we could begin to climb again, and I’d say we did that.
I really believed he was giving players every single opportunity to prove themselves one way or the other, and that at some stage he’d make the calls required to weed them out, and by allowing them every opportunity, there can be no excuses and no second thoughts on them.
Ok, we might see some of them play a cup tie or a game in Europe but I reckon once the trust is gone, their League days are over.
We will still take the odd step backwards, but in general, we are headed the right way.
I could be wrong, but that’s my take on the past 2-3 months.
Ozil will be off the payroll in the summer, others too. I don’t agree with prolonging the agony over another 3 years, as has been suggested.
Obviously the best thing now, would be if he leaves now. I don’t actually blame him if he expects his contract to be paid up, most of us would expect the same. I blame the club or rather the people who awarded the contract in the first place.
Moving forward Arsenal need to fill their boots in the next two matches, because then starts a nightmare run of fixtures,which lasts into March, I am hopeful that we can keep up results, I don’t see any unbeatable teams in the Premier league.
Ditto Brian.
I’m similar Potter, cricket, hockey, tennis or football. I start watching the folk at the local park and I start wishing I was younger. Money will only take you so far in life…
Love that story about the traffic lights…
Neither do I Limey, every team is going through peaks and troughs, hopefully we’re through our bad time and we can really go for top four. Unlikely I know but who knows..
Following on DG from the previous post and Ozil’s concerns about getting paid in Turkey, remind me, isn’t he a multi millionaire with a shed load of lucrative endorsements?
I’m afraid the ‘I’m concerned that I won’t get my Fenerbahce salary’ won’t wash with me, no mate he wants out now because it suits him but he’s not prepared to take a hit on the 6 months + bonus payments that Arsenal have to pay him. Well Mkhitarayan tried all that old baloney when he was engineering his move to Roma and in the end he had to accept that he couldn’t have his cake and eat it and I trust that Arsenal will be as unbending with Ozil and Sogut this time around. And let’s not forget all the negative propaganda we’ve endured from the Ozil camp in recent seasons, we owe them no favours at all…
Thanks for the post Rico, so Mesut did a Q&A……. really, does anybody other than his fan club give a sh*t because I most certainly couldn’t give a toss about what he thinks on anything, I don’t care about what his future is and where he wants to play as far as I’m concerned he isn’t an Arsenal player anymore and my thoughts concerning the club do not include him in any shape or form…
An interesting cup draw not least because John Jules at Doncaster and Ballard at Blackpool are still involved, good luck to both of them.
Hope they get a bit more coverage than the average BBC here’s the goals bit . It would be nice to see a bit of them and how they are playing.
Always a pleasure Kev, and a bit of a chore these days. 😂
As said before, I’ll be glad when this Ozil saga is nothing more than history. The future is more important for Arsenal.
I saw the Blackpool and Oldham cup ties on Saturday on BT sport, I just flicked between them, Doncaster wasn’t covered. Ballard had a decent game against Premier opposition, he headed away most things and his work on the ground has improved, he looks a bit like a young Tony Adams and would probably do a job for us, maybe another year on loan at say a Championship or lower Premier club and he might be ready? Blackpool are a decent team for Division One.
Harry Clarke played in a back three for Oldham, he started as the left of the three and finished on the right, Oldham kept it tight and were 1-1 up till half time but Bournemouth blew them away in the 2nd 45 and it ended up 4-1, probably should have been a lot more. Hard to judge Clarke in those circumstances as Oldham aren’t a great side but they do try to play proper football.
TJJ played centre forward for Doncaster according to the BBC and he played the entire 90 minutes.
I think you do a wonderful job Rico all things considered, your dutifulness to the job is to be admired. 🙂
😅 Kev.
Martinelli injury not serious which is great news. He’s expected to be back in training in a few days. Phew!
Rob Holding contract extension confirmed too.
Plus, Mikel Arteta has said we’re probably going to sign a keeper this month.
Great news regarding Martinelli there Rico, I’ve read that he might even be available for Newcastle next Monday?
Holding contract extended until 2024 with a one year option, so basically 2025.
Chambers, Nketiah, Lacazette, Elneny, Kolasinac and Guendouzi all have contracts that expire in 2022, so basically one year from this summer…
Do Arsenal extend, do they sell or do they just let the deals run down and with whom?
Smith Rowe has a contract that expires in 2023 but I’d get him on a new longer deal now.
Reward him for his performances…
Sure is Kev. Great to have a full squad for the second half of the season. Be glad to see Partey back.
Definitely extend ESR contract, ASAP I think. Tough re the others but I think if offers come in, they might all go.
No more letting contracts run down, it’s embarrassing for a club like ours to be losing money in such a way.
After the Orient game got cancelled, Spurs fans bought over £20,000 worth of merchandise to help them out
Now that the game with Marine is behind closed doors, Spurs fans have bought virtual tickets worth over £100,000 to compensate for a loss of revenue
Absolute class. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Credit where it’s due.
Excellent news about Rob Holding and also Martinelli. I think we need to be careful with our young striker, give him time to get over the trauma of his injuries and regain confidence in his own body. At the moment every knock will remind him of the hard work of rehab.
I agree with Rico, reward Emil Smith Rowe with a new contract, or at the very least give him the number ten shirt and a pay rise.
Morning all.
Potter, due to Covid, players can’t swap
Shirts after games so Spurs also took a full squad worth of brand new kits to hand over.
Ok, not something that cost them a fortune but the thought was very classy imo
I just threw up in my mouth a little bit but these are funny times 😉
I am not enjoying all these positive stories about Tottenham, can you all stop please…
Looking forward to seeing Thomas Partey playing for us again even if it’s from the bench, LANS…
Kev, in all fairness, a few acts such as these are the highlights of their decade.
morning all
First trip booked for 2021, off to Iceland in February. If that goes well we’re looking at Asda in March and Tesco in April. 😉
Cicero :- We have Just been arguing the case on this , according to the radio it seems that a distance of 5 miles is being mooted as to how far from home you are allowed to wander in lockdown . This causes problems for me because our nearest store should we turn right is Caister 8 miles away and straight ahead Stalham 6-5 miles or left Wroxham 9.8 . I wonder if these civil servants have ever ventured outside the M25.
Afternoon campers , I’ve got a say Cicero you did have me going there for a minute, I thought what the hell was he doing going to Iceland.
Good afternoon everyone.
Praising the spuds?? are you all fraternizing with the enemy?? What have you been eating?? or smoking?? has the cold gone to your brains??
Ozil has said that if the spuds were the only club to offer him a contract he would prefer to retire. What the hell is that?? he is already retired and collecting his pension of 350kpw
Potter I’m not sure the 4/5 mile limit applies to essential shopping, medically needs etc. If it does the idea that octogenarians are being sent by the NHS on 45 mile trips for Covid 19 vaccinations is ludicrous.
Seems that Balogun is off to Leipzig , shame but at least it’s outside this country.
That’s not good news re Balogun but yes, I’m glad he’s going overseas if he’s going.
The good thing about Balogun leaving is that it sounds like he will go overseas
The bad thing about him leaving is we will miss him and the other club get him for free
Morning Geoff,
Nothing the club can do mate.
They e been trying to sign him for a while now.
The good news is his agent will surely get a nice payday.
Such caring people, player agents.
Morning Geoff, Scott all.
What cheeses me off, and it was the same with Ramsey and many before him, all we hear is that ‘the player wants to stay’ – well if they wanted to stay, why aren’t they? Someone is fibbing because if any player really wanted to stay, they would.
Rico, it’s the “I’m leaving it in my agents hands” that pisses me off because agents make money every time a player changes clubs!!
As far as I’m concerned Ramsey had agreed to stay (you know the rest) but even he made that famous comment.
Players should come out and tell the truth!!!
There’s a need for agents Scott but they are like solicitors, they are driven by money without sentiment or care for their client.
Even with Ramsey, he might have agreed to stay in principle, but just sign the bloody contract when it’s offered instead of squabbling over what to us, is like a few quid. No doubt Ramsey’s agent pushed for a few extras which is probably why the club pulled out of the supposed done deal.
Imo, players need to grown a pair and tell their agents what they want and not the other way around. Assuming that is what’s happening in the game.
There’s only i – F – in Fulham . well done last night.
It does seem that agents see Arsenal as a soft touch , Get Arsenal to give them an apprenticeship develop their skills and then fill your boots.
Oh not Ramsey again, I thought that subject was dead and buried.
Good Morning Rico and all
I have always found agents to be both frustrating and some of them go as far as to get under my skin. And some of the players are dorks as well. They just seem to milk it all and bleed the cow dry.
Just now read a hilarious post……that the dippers have been offered the chance to sign Papasthouplous now for a small fee. Much as I wish it he does sign for them and we get some money deep down I know that that is not going to happen. not even in fantasy leagues let alone in real life.
Stranger things have happened though.
BDW…..seems we are after some wisdom which is to be found in Shaktar……we are on the track of Solomon. A winger.
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/elite-project-group-limited/beraterfirma/berater/5620/plus/
Their other clients ….. Worrying
Perhaps Balogun just wants to play first team football. He’s been given what about ten minutes over two games in the Europa League? Maybe he can’t see how he’s going to break into the first team at Arsenal.
I think so too Potter.
And there’s no problem with that at all imo Cicero plus he must think if he can’t get a chance when the team are losing and not scoring goals, he never will. It’s all the crap which goes with it that irks me. Why not just bring a bit of honesty 8nto the game.
Morning Devil.
New post up now