Morning all.
A disappointment to say the least. Out of the FA Cup so we’re now relying on our League performances to get us into Europe, or the Europa Cup.
Ralf Hasenhuttl took the game seriously by fielding probably his strongest side, Mikel Arteta however decided that this was the game to rest a few of our key players. Aubameyang was missing for personal reasons, ESR and Tierney were left at home with Saka, Lacazette and Partey on the bench. The decision backfired.
The players he brought into the team weren’t able to match the performance of those they replaced. Pepe, Willian, Cedric at left back, Xhaka, Eddie and Elneny – all disappointing. Willian, at the age he is, probably isn’t going to improve his performances for the team. I don’t mean effort wise, but his game in general. Pepe, well he just struggles full stop. Eddie had chances to score, he fluffed his lines but then when a player isn’t playing week in, week out, it must be tough to find sharpness in front of goal.
There was no room for Willock, Nelson or AMN but in hindsight, perhaps any one of them or all three would have closed the Southampton players down a lot quicker than others who started did and in my opinion, that was our big problem. As Southampton worked hard on and off the ball, we watched them, gave them far too much time and space.
The only goal of the game came after Elneny lost the ball out on our right when really he shouldn’t have. You don’t need me to tell you what followed.
I thought Mikel Arteta would make changes at halftime but he waited. In hindsight, too long. Partey and Saka made a difference, a big difference but even so, when the opportunities to score came along, we couldn’t convert them.
Games like yesterday just enforce what many of here on HH believe, the squad might be deep but it lacks strength. We as a club have too many passengers. I know the some of the youngsters are probably deemed inexperienced or not quite ready for first team football in Arteta’s mind but if we’re to go out in a Cup match, I’d rather we went out with a bang and not a whimper. Would Balogun, Azeez, Willock, AMN and Nelson have done any worse against ‘that’ Southampton performance? I don’t think so.
Arsenal return to St Mary’s on Tuesday in the League. The so called big guns will return and I’m sure we’ll do a lot better than yesterday.
See you in the comments.
“”Whether it’s Willian or Willock or Pepe or Maitland Niles they’ve all had enough opportunities to establish themselves and none of them have done that so it kind of tells you all you need to know about the four of them, basically none of them are going to take us to where we want to go and you can probably add Elneny and Nketiah to that group of could – have – beens…””
Or never were really . We clamour to get them a chance to prove themselves but unless they take it ,they remain where they all are on the fringes.
Perhaps they need to leave their comfort zones , when they are reportedly earning around £30,000 a week where is the incentive to push .
It’s in their psyche , Saka and ESR have grasped the mettle and are pushing themselves hard but are AMN , Willock and Nketiah , or are they content ?
Sadly I can see a career path for them similar to the ones followed by Jenkinson and Afobe plus many others a gradual lowering of standard and eventual drift to lower league football or give up altogether.
Then of course we have the Willian , Pepe , Xhaka , Elneny type players who at best are squad members . These are the ones that you trade with and swap them for alternatives looking to improve .
It seems to me that we have a group of young players that should be emerging to supplement an already formed system unfortuneately they are the system that needs supplementing .
We have to be brave and cut the cancer out and start afresh tinkering on the edges is not going to work.
a)
Mesut Özil is preparing to start a new phase of his career in Turkey with Fenerbahçe. But the millionaire salary that the Istanbul emblem will have to pay is still a problem. That is why the club promoted a crowdfunding campaign in order to support it.
Each cell phone text message for the «Mesutol Campaign» sent to the number 1907 (year of foundation) costs 2.25 euros and in just one day the club received 150 thousand.
The German arrives free after having agreed the termination with Arsenal and was able to freely negotiate his contract, which will guarantee him 75,000 euros a week, or almost four million euros a year until 2024, according to the latest news. Even so, numbers well below that earned in London: 400 thousand euros a week, 20 million a year.
Upon arriving in Istanbul, he said: “God wanted me to play for Fenerbahçe”.
b)
Benfica have 10 players with covid-19
Morning
I think it was a no win situation.
Play the first team and pick up injuries with no guarantee of winning.
You’ll get people saying you don’t no what you’re doing.
Play your 2nd choice or squad players who might get a result but didn’t in this case.
And you still don’t no what you’re doing.
I agree that the younger players might have made a difference.
Then again it could of been a heavy defeat I don’t think there was much difference in the shots on or of target and we had higher % possession, probably sideways or backward possession but all the same it was more.
And the goal they did score took a deflection to give Leno no chance of saving.
Not for a minute do I think everything in the garden is rosey.
Wait and see what happens on Tuesday with the first team. I think that when 2 teams play each other in the cup then league within a few days the results are the other way around, hopefully.
Hi Rico and all considering we are struggling to get into the top 6 we should have played a stronger team than we did
Hi Geoff, all.
The PL is definitely the priority imo, with teams above us dropping points, I think the top four is there for the taking for any club in the top half of the table. Rotation, which again I personally think was right, just highlights how certain players really aren’t that good. We were much better when Partey and Saka came on but in and around the box, we lacked a killer instinct.
Good Afternoon Rico and everyone.
Its not the defeat which hurt. Its the manner. Because as I said yesterday. Southampton did not win it but we lost it.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately we had to re-experience it.
It was not only yesterday that the chief culprits failed. It is something which we have seen time and time again.
Gabriel should not have played yesterday. Too early after having Covid affecting him. Due to the nature of my work I have to be aware of the effects of any type of illnesses and viruses. And Covid’s effects are not simply something which one gets rid of in a day or two. some side effects of this virus can remain hidden for a long time, only to emerge gradually over time. It does not affect everyone the same way but differently. Even superfit athletes are not immune to it. Infact as soon as I saw Gabriel’s name I uttered that I felt it was too early for him. And as you rightly pointed out he was rusty during the first half. Was he match fit?? Maybe yes. But he was not match sharp.
So basically we had a good GK, a good RB, a square peg in a round hole at LB, a good CB, a 90& fit CB, two mentally tired CDM, an old has been who is still finding his feet at CAM, a winger who is carrying a 72million millstone around his neck, a young LW who is coming back from two injuries and a CF who does not play regularly and was let down because he had no service.
Going through the internet comments I found it a bit galling that many were blaming Nketiah for not turning up. But how many balls were played in the box for him? was he correctly used yesterday?? Had Lacazette been playing with those above behind him, would he have fared better?? Because the team improved when Partey, Lacazette and Saka came on. Imo, had Laca been on the pitch instead of Nketiah we would have been criticizing him instead.
Yesterday’s decisions backfired. I can understand Arteta though when he said that we need to protect and encourage Pepe and Willian. He is not going to criticize them surely. But, as one might point out, he did criticize AMN, The difference, again imo, lies in the fact that he is not criticizing them due to wanting to sell them. He criticized AMN simply because he realizes that he has a good player who can play multiple positions which is good for the team and wants to keep him. Its only his attitude which he needs to arrange. Personally I would feel better off if he criticized me so that I can change, instead of telling everyone that I need to be protected. I feel that next season two to all three of them will not be with us.
It’s a catch 22 imo Potter, those you mention need playing time in order to improve within the team but they’re not getting in and even when they do, they’re out next game if they’ve not played particularly well. If Arteta is to take the Europa League more seriously in the knockout stages, a loan might suit them better than sticking around waiting.
It just means we have to win all of the remaining 19 games!! No sweat 😂😂😂
Back up plan – win EL…
Afternoon Devil, I think Eddie could have done better with one, if not two of his chances.
Nice one, Rico. Just watched the chavs win – loved the penalty save – they’ve ruined Werner 😆 Shouldn’t laugh too much though, at least they’re through 😭
Joking apart Sue, you know that if we win our remaining games we will end up with 84 points. And with those above us dropping points like flies who knows. I know its a long ask and a bit impossible but stranger things have happened.
With 84 points, where do you all think we will finish??
G’day all.
It is perfectly obvious to me and a lot of other fans plus a large section of the media that Willian and Pepe are just not worth a place in our squad.
Arteta makes the usual noises about working hard in training, getting used to team-mates etc etc, but these are just excuses for piss poor performances from them both. Yesterday we would have been better off with Nelson on the right and anybody instead of Willian. Arteta needs to bite the bullet and put them both on the transfer list.
Cicero, Arteta has nothing to lose by putting them on the transfer list. Pepe was not his buy. Honestly I believe that Arteta would not have bough thim.
Willian, although signed by Arteta, came on a free. What I dont agree with many who say that Willian was over 30 I point out to Ibrahimovic…..he is a 90 year old (39 to be exact) who is faring very well with Milan and has carried them to the top of the league. We had our fair share of players over 30 who remained good till the last game. Its more a question of attitude…..and that is something that no coach knows what the future holds in its regard.
So the Ozil departure is finally announced . Stand by for social media scrutiny now .
Yes Potter. Till the end of this season. Then from next August he will revert to type.
Thanks Sue, unlike Reading who fluffed their lines. A spectacular penalty miss.
Or AMN on the right Cicero but yes, anyone barring Willian. I wish we could offload Willian this month.
Devil… we were dropping points like flies not so long ago!! Haha..
You know for a while now it’s always been a case of so close yet so far for us.. I think top 6 is doable, top 4? No…
But as you say, it has been a crazy season. Just have to give our all. I don’t like relying on other teams to drop points!
And if we lose on Tuesday, I think I’ll lose the will to live 😂😂
Honestly, I don’t think top four is out of reach for us. If we can keep everyone fit that is. The return of European games, and dealing with them is something which might have an affect on all clubs involved.
I wish I shared your optimism, Rico. Although I’ll look forward to the day where you can say “Sue, I told you so” 😄
I just saw Reading’s penalty miss, Rico… how gutted must he be!
So do I sue, in about four months time I reckon. 😆
Shocker wasn’t it..
I dont think top four is beyond our reach either.
🤣🤣 Rico – sweet!!
So, the Mancs or the car-jackers? Who do you want to win?
I want the dippers to win. Because Manure (with 12) are the closest team to us (14) who have won most. I want them to lose. If not us I prefer City to win silverware.
David Ornstein
@David_Ornstein
·
22m
Martin Odegaard loan from Real Madrid to Arsenal agreed. 22yo scheduled to fly to London later on Sunday & have medical on Monday. Elite sportsperson exemption means no isolation via negative #COVID19 test. With
@gunnerblog
for
@TheAthleticUK
#RMFC #AFC
Neither Sue. Lol
I can’t stand Pool, Devil. I’d rather United win 😳 to then be dumped out by City in the next round!!
Haha Rico! If only hey…
Ooh so we can expect an announcement in the next couple of days then… good!
As long as City dump them out next, who cares. Extra time, red cards although I wouldn’t wish injury on anyone…
Tomorrow I guess re Ødegaard, if he passes a medical. Lol
Another day, another loss for Pool 🙂
😂
Sky Sports say Ødegaard deal agreed.
Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira is leaving Atletico Madrid and returning to Arsenal with the view of finding him a new club. Monaco are currently in talks with Arsenal and have offered the player a three-year deal. #AFC #Gunners #ASMonaco (Transfer Exchange)
Interesting, mind you, he could do a job for us couldn’t he.
Interesting about Odegaard, his position seems to be attacking midfield or wide right, I hope he doesn’t take minutes away from Saka or Smith-Rowe. A positive way of looking at it:he should take minutes away from Pepe and Willian!
That’s how I see his arrival at the club being too. Saka and ESR won’t be hindered by him.
2 steps forward, one step backwards.
The trouble is, each time we take a step backwards and critics around the internet come out in force and question whether Arteta is capable of doing the job.
Seriously, short memories is an understatement when describing a hell of a lot of Arsenal fans lol
Willian and Pepe wouldn’t be getting game time if we had a squad full of quality but the fact is we do not.
Again, overplay the youngsters, they burn out and that’s Artetas fault.
Don’t blame them, our results suffer, Arteta is at fault.
6 weeks ago we were dead on our feet.
Now, we are a genuine chance of qualifying for Europe, possibly even CL, and the cash that brings must be a priority right now.
Money is the key right now for our short term future.
The FA cup, while a bloody fantastic thing to win, doesn’t bring anywhere near the cash that Europe does.
PSG offering Draxler and cash for Guendouzi.
Arsenal have agreed to sign Martin Odegaard on loan from Real Madrid until the end of the season, report David Ornstein and James McNicholas.
The 22-year-old is set to become Arsenal’s second acquisition of the January window after they recruited Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan. Odegaard will also be their second loanee from Real Madrid this season, along with fellow midfielder Dani Ceballos.
The Athletic understands Odegaard is scheduled to arrive in London later on Sunday and will undergo a medical on Monday. The player has an elite sportsperson exemption which means he will not have to isolate before joining the squad, as long as he returns a negative COVID-19 test.
Why do Arsenal want him?
In Mesut Ozil’s absence, Arsenal were in need of a playmaker and considered several around Europe such as Dominik Szoboszlai, Emi Buendia and Julian Brandt.
Emile Smith Rowe, while very highly regarded at the club, is still thought of as a developing talent who could provide back-up and competition to a more established attacking midfielder.
The club are keen for Smith Rowe to not carry the creative burden on his own, given his age and injury history, so Odegaard’s arrival will give them more depth in this area.
Why have Real let him leave?
Odegaard joined Real amid widespread media attention as a 16-year-old but has struggled to become a first-team regular.
After impressing during his loan spell at Real Sociedad, Odegaard was recalled to Madrid.
He initially seemed to have turned a corner in his Real career, starting the first two La Liga games of the season. He has, however, fallen out of favour and started one league game since — on November 21.
Real boss Zinedine Zidane, who coached Odegaard in the club’s B team when he first joined and is now in charge of the senior side, approved the loan deal to give the Norway international more game time.
Who else was interested?
While Odegaard had interest from across Europe, Real Sociedad were the other strongest contender to re-sign him on loan.
La Real initially agreed a loan deal that was with a view to a second season. But having helped Sociedad to sixth place in La Liga, Real Madrid cut short the loan in the summer.
What will he bring to Arsenal?
Earlier this month, The Athletic profiled several attacking midfielders that Arsenal could sign to bolster their creativity — with Odegaard among them.
His stats from last season showed elite attacking output at Real Sociedad. The Norwegian scored highly on xG from shot creation and ball progression, showing he can be a creative force at a high level — despite his lack of game time under Zidane.
At 22, he also fits the age profile that Arsenal are looking to sign in order to rejuvenate a previously ageing squad.
Both
@FabrizioRomano
and
@TheAFCBeII
saying Arsenal and Real Madrid will revisit the Odegaard deal at the end of the loan. Will be an interesting one to follow. If Odegaard does well here and Zidane remains manager, can see the move becoming a permanent one.
https://www.thearsenalreview.com/article/exclusive-norweigian-arsenal-fan-provides-insight-on-martin-degaard
Hiya Kev,
Let’s hope this loan deal really pays dividends for us long term.
So many have started well, then fizzled out while others never even got off the starting blocks.
Fingers crossed as the talent is there, no question. Yep
I think that 6 months is perfect Scott, Smith Rowe will still get plenty of game time so I don’t see Odegaard blocking his progress too much. If it works out then signing him long term would be great but he’s not like Ceballos he’s seen as a big player for Real in the future.
Fortunately Zidane doesn’t like him so we need Zidane to do well and stay in his job because even loaning Odegaard next season might be beneficial?
That’s it Kev.
Zidane definitely makes a call on a player and stand by it-he backs his judgement which I admire.
This really could help us, especially if the player falls in love with the club and London.
New post up now
Morning all
Oh no it’s not! 😉