Morning all.
Just how good was Thomas Partey? Of course he’ll face tougher opponents than last night’s Rapid Vienna but even so, the way he covered the pitch, his energy and slick footwork was so pleasing on the eye. I think we have a seriously good player in Partey. Gabriel too was superb again last night and Luiz did pretty well again. Nketiah along with Saka had their moments but not enough. Cedric didn’t do a lot wrong and delivered a few decent crosses into good areas but there was no one in the box, or in the right place.
A cockup by Bernd Leno gifted Rapid Vienna their only goal of the game, although another rash moment later in the game nearly let the home team in again but a bit of luck went Bernd’s way. One decent delivery of a free kick taken by Pepe ended up with Luiz nodding home our equaliser before the introduction of Aubameyang and Bellerin together with a nice ball from from the industrious Elneny to start the ball rolling, saw our man from Gabon grab his first goal of the season.
The rest left a lot to be desired but maximum points away from home in our first Europa Cup fixture is a good way to kick the competition off. I don’t want to sound miserable but our football was drab. Slow, ponderous and unpleasant to watch most of the time. Conservative and lacking in imagination. Poor corners and set pieces in general really. Easy to rectify the corners I’d have thought by just having someone other than Pepe take them. We have big guys in the team in Gabriel, Luiz and Partey but they’re not going to get their head to a cross if the ball doesn’t clear the first defender.
I get it, Mikel Arteta wanted to make us less porous, less vulnerable in defence and he’s succeeded too but seriously, our attacking play is at best, sporadically good, at worst, dreadful. And before anyone starts going on about it takes time, Klopp has had five years etc etc, I know all of that. To coin a ‘catchphrase’, I’m merely saying what I see. Or in this case, what I saw.
It doesn’t mean I’m not fully in support of Mikel Arteta because I am but it doesn’t mean I have gloss over the bleedin obvious either. If Arteta really was the man to change Raheem Sterling’s game for the better, why hasn’t Pepe burst into life by now?
Where’s the passion, the speed, the slick pass and move style of football he was involved in coaching at City?
I suppose what I’m wondering is, is the answer as simple as Mikel Arteta needs different types of players to play the game he wants to play, or are we just turning into a team which defends first and foremost and feed of the scraps we create in attack?
Or, should Mikel be getting more out of the players he has at his disposal?
I’m off to find my tin hat…
Get the feeling we sold the wrong keeper?
Absolutely Neil.
Partney played well but gave us a challenge: in a game and half badly counted, he took 2 yellow cards. Hence expulsion in a game is a step.
In relation to yesterday’s game, there were players who could have taken a direct red card.
Leno has no confidence playing with his feet. However, this way of starting to play next to the goal, with risky passes crossing the goal area and above all, with players under pressure, there will be more times that will cause us disgust.
The exhibition was loose, without flame, without joy, without personality and, above all, without class.
Morning Rico. It’s surely impossible to find anything other than little sparks of encouragement after all the recent games. Yes, Partey and Gabriel were excellent last night and a few others did some good things. However, I’m beginning to worry over our negativity, inability to hold the ball in advanced areas and general sloth. The tedium of the square and backward passing is grindingly boring but delightful to the opposition. They are hoping that we won’t counter attack them from a defensive position with speed and deadly precision and we continue to oblige them. When on the rare occasion we do (like Hector last night), we look dangerous. We just never open the game up with a raking cross field ball and often have 3 or 4 players stuck in a passing huddle, gradually working the ball backwards towards Leno. Then it’s heart in mouth time. I get no sense of anyone who can unlock the game with vision. Come to think of it, Xhaka used to do that but, like his shooting, he keeps that part of his game to himself these days.
It all feels to me that ‘the plan’ stifles us and there is very little expression in our play. I can’t remember the last time we dominated a game.
Mikel has the backing of the fans, including me, but I just wish he’d let the team open up a bit. All except Leno of course who is looking more flakey by the day and seems convinced he is actually a centre half. The ball is played back, for the hundredth time, to Luiz who turns to knock it back to Bernd, only to find that he is standing next to him about 30 yards out. Jeez.
Still, we won.
Good morning Rico, I’m disappointed, I can’t find anything to disagree with in your post. 😉
Hi Neil, how’s Christine and UKIP? I think we are all agreed that we sold the wrong ‘keeper, but as Scott points out, what choice had we?
Morning all.
Cicero, like everyone, I am guessing at the exact scenario that played out but I just don’t think we’d have ended up with Partey without selling a keeper and again, Leno wasn’t a viable proposition at the time.
Rock and a hard place….
Morning Rico/everyone
Leno sure had a shocker. The thing about the Martinez sale is that we sold him so cheap – the no choice argument would make more sense if Aston Villa had paid £40m +
Hindsight is 20/20 (although plenty were saying before last night) it would have made sense to blood either the Icelandic or one of our other keepers. We are 1 injury away from having to play a rookie anyway, better to give him some experience surely.
Morning Rico, concerning the PPV fee I don’t think the FA have any input on the amount, doesn’t that come from the clubs?
Limey unfortunately yes, we sold the wrong keeper. Its high time we started handing game time to one of the back-ups as well as scour the globe for a new number one for next season.
Petr Cech is back in training, maybe we could re-sign him. Oh! Wait a minute, he wasn’t that good with the ball at his feet was he? 😉
Agree with that Eddu , Leno is too comfortable now and probably feels completely safe in his position . He needs competition for his place . I think we were looking at the Brentford keeper but they would not sell , perhaps we will go back but probably end up paying far more for him than we got for Martinez .
I fear he will too Jm. Boy do I hope we’re wrong though.
You ask some really good questions Rico, good post btw and yes it can be hard watching us at times but the answer I believe is in the quality of some of our players. We’ve got so used to and accepting of the level that we’ve had in recent years that as Adam has told me many times we’ve lowered our expectations along with the level of the players we’ve had.
Therefore when we get a top player in situ like Partey we’re blown away, it’s why Alexis was such a big favourite and a few notable others in recent times, but in general our level has dropped considerably since we moved to the Emirates – and I’m not saying that the move is connected but it does seem a coincidence.
So I think it’s going to take awhile yet before we’re good enough to safely open up and dominate because our team still contains too many weaknesses. For example can you imagine Luiz in a back four or Kolasinac or Mustafi, but Arteta developed a system to cover for their flaws and it is what we’ve been seeing recently and as frustrated as I get I still prefer it to seeing us getting carved open with regularity by all and sundry.
Morning Adam, Kev. Totally agree and yes, it’s a worrying trend both home and away. I get a defensive shape etc when we’re away at places like the Etihad etc but I always feel our players need a good shake, wake up and start moving about.
Ah, I thought it was the FA, or rather the PL Kev because I think I read that only after they’d taken their cut for the coverage would clubs get funds.
Really, why should the FA take a cut or the Premier League?
Maybe it would be £9.99 if those two didn’t take a cut?
Thanks Kev, for what it’s worth, I too think it’s the type of players and until they leave, we’re snookered as is Arteta.
I was hoping to see Willock come on earlier than he did, Nelson too and that’s purely because both of them look up and forwards. Willock might not be the greatest with his feet but his energy levels are far higher than many. Same with Reiss who at least might try and get past a defender.
I think I’ve got that wrong Kev, it’s the broadcasting companies who set the price and take their cut before clubs.
Ok Rico, so the TV companies have had their money from subscribers already and as far as I know they haven’t suffered from lockdown as people are at home more watching TV.
Football clubs have lost a small fortune so I guess you can understand them trying to improve their cash flow, TV are covering all the games as usual so why are they taking anything?
If Barca and Real can do it for €6 and their TV companies can cover it then what is the excuse of Sky and BT..?
Exactly Kev, robbing lot aren’t they. Even the FL coverage is cheaper.
I’ve drawn a line in the sand! No POV in my house for soccer. Those days are long gone. I’m paying a small fortune already for sky and Bt. No more I say, global pandemic or not. A greedy bit too far, I think.
Good fternoon all. Good piece Rico, thanks.
Thanks Wavy. You and me both. PPV can take a long run off a short pier..
Well Martinez has let in 3 now we will see how he reacts
Yes, I see that Dr Sogut the ever rent-a-quote agent of Herr Ozil has been at it again via a shit stirring ESPN article.
Well Dr Sogut is a master at spin and PR which isn’t surprising as he’s a lawyer and you can never have too many bloody lawyers can you?
It’s just a pity that he isn’t as good at getting Herr Ozil playing time as he is at making statements to the media…
Has a Mesut been following his advice up till now and it’s all gone Pete Tong, if so then that explains Sogut’s outburst because he’s pretty much fcuked up…
Leeds, appears with 3,4,5, 6 players in the area when they attack!
That’s why they score many goals. Did anyone notice?
Whoever can, let the Arsenal staff know.
Morning Rico and All
Looking at where we are now I think it’s near where the mickymouses were a few years ago I can see some resemblance in what Micky and Edo are trying to achieve raising funds for special players is a balancing act Selling players for better players when you have empty pockets is a gamble.
So your either on board or your back to thinking your in Wengerworld when it was going great and totally ignoring what’s going on the pitch like his last 5 years or so
Morning Fred, Liverpool sold better than us though. We should have been pushing for £40m for Emi, or at least I think we should. But we are where we are now and hopefully once a few more salaries are removed from the wage bill, others who aren’t in Mikel’s plans are gone too, the club will be able to sign the type of players Mikel wants.
Morning all.
Afternoon Rico.
Kev, as I remember, you’re a big fan of Dr Sogut aren’t you?
Hi Adam, yes mio amigo I am a massive fan of Dr Sogut he is the type of lawyer that makes everyone’s life so much easier and enjoyable.
There is never a hidden agenda with the Doctor, what see is what you get, he’s the type of guy who gives up his seat for a lady, loves animals and children and on his days off collects stamps.
Good point Rico, Liverpool got £23m for Brewster which is fantastic business and I bet that the Scousers also have a sell on clause.
Now if we decided to try and sell Eddie Nketiah I wonder what fee we would get?
Afternoon Adam, Kev.
Dunno Kev but should be more than Emi went for imo.
It’s about £13 million to buy out his contract , it’s got to be worth it if only to stop the publicity wagon .
Kev , Has he saved any whales lately or taken a degree in advancing world peace ?
I see that Ozil has now joined Saint Marcus at the soup kitchen , no doubt a worthy cause but newsworthy is another question. I think it’s time for ” so long it’s been so gut to know ya. !”
Weekend debate:
a) Who should we have sold: Leno or Martinez?
b) Who should we buy from: William or Coutinho?
A :- Leno
B:- Neither but if pushed Coutinho
Same answer as Potter from me Jm but I do think Willian will have some goods games for us.
One positive is the last two signings have looked class from the outset, early days of course but we can reasonably assume they were both (Party, Gabriel) Arteta/Edu choices.
I noticed on Thursday there were 7/11 players who made their debuts after summer 2018, of the other 4 one was Eddie Nketiah who I think had only made the odd cup appearance,maybe Europa League too.Bodes well for the future.
Come on Sheffield United!
a) That train has left the station…
b) That train has left the station…
a) Did anyone notice Emi pushing his save vs Leeds back into the danger area a la Leno at the Etihad..?
We need to get behind Leno now, there’s no benefit to us by giving him a rough time.
All goalkeepers go through hard times, I remember some wonderful Arsenal fans giving Seaman some stick back in the day, he was a fabulous goalkeeper but he made some big errors as well.
As i am not there to boo or hiss at him my thoughts are hardly likely to have much effect,
As a person that had a heart attack following Eboue’s push against Liverpool , I have no desire to get my heart in my mouth everytime an aerial ball is played into our box again . One trip to the Norfolk and Norwich is enough thanks.
Quite interesting to see Liverpool struggle to beat Sheffield Utd, it kinda puts our win against them into perspective.
Leicester are going to be a really tough nut to crack later today, that Harvey Barnes is looking a very good and a very dangerous player. It ain’t gonna be a walk in the park.
And City’s inability to beat West Ham Kev. We’ve beaten them too albeit at The Emirates.
New post up now