Morning all.
This season has been mixed. Some really good performances mixed in amongst a number or really awful performances. Odd team selections matched by far too many individual and collective errors. We’ve played really well against the top six sides, City and Liverpool away aside but we’ve also embarrassed ourselves against Palace, Everton, Wolves and Leicester.
There’s been positives for certain individuals though. Welbeck looked in great form before injury cut his season short. Same with Bellerin and Holding. All three being fit would have definitely made us stronger, as would Torreira and Sokratis not picking up unnecessary red cards, or a ban for too many bookings. The Ozil and Ramsey saga didn’t help either. The Mustafi and Xhaka penalty area blunders alone cost us a top four spot, but laying the blame entirely on them would be cruel because up the other end of the pitch, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Ozil, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan and co, were missing golden opportunities to score goals.
Question marks remain over whether or not Unai Emery has what it takes to improve us to the level required to really make a challenge for a league title. I did say challenge as competing with City’s finances is virtually impossible but it doesn’t mean we can’t match them tactically and it doesn’t mean we can’t be as organised or as quick either. This summer Emery has to inject some pace into his squad, either by bringing players in or promoting from within. We need speed, width and quality. With Ramsey gone, our midfield needs an injection of pace too, and creatively and lastly, the team/squad as a group simply have to be more organised defensively. If Emery doesn’t greatly improve the latter, they’ll be no third season for him surely. I’d go as far as to say he’ll struggle to see out a second.
For now though, he has who he has at his disposal and there’s a chance of ending the season on a high. The Europa Cup is Emery’s baby, It’s what he’s built his reputation on. It’s probably why Arsenal employed him, believing it’s our best chance of returning to the Champions League. Arsenal have been in Baku for a few days now, training and preparing for this final. Chelsea however didn’t land until yesterday.
Tomorrow is a big day, for this season, the summer and of course, our future.
See you in the comments guys…
Good Day. Quietly bricking it now. A win is so so important
It’s too early to be bricking it… wait until five mins before kickoff. Lol
Match fixing in Spain apparently. Eleven have been arrested by Spanish police…
Good morning Rico who, or what, is the late arrival?
A word of advice for you Chrispy, sit crossed legged on the floor, use a cushion if a certain medical condition makes sitting on hard surfaces painful, grasp your left wrist with your right hand and repeat the word “Omm” slowly for one minute. Repeat this procedure whenever the feeling of anxiety washes over you.
Morning Cicero. Chelsea arriving late to Baku…
https://metro.co.uk/2019/05/28/petr-cech-reveals-major-reason-chelsea-won-trophies-arsenal-time-england-9707546/
Interesting comment on the comparison between Arsenal and Chelsea.
Kind of confirms what many of us have said over the years.
Afternoon Rico and everyone,
interesting article thanks Potter,makes me 100% sure Cech has the right big game mentality,he even saved a penalty
in the 2012 CL final, and he is terrible at penalties.Still it must be tempting for Emery to play Leno,we will need him next season,Cech will probably be employed by Chelsea !
Petr Cech is saying what we’ve all said. But then he was surrounded by players with a winning mentality. Our teams under Wenger during his last ten years at least didn’t have many, if any of that kind.
It’s little different now. Where are the leaders in our team? Since Paddy left, we’ve not really had one. The closest was Campbell imo. Fabregas captain material? Never, Koscielny? Not for me either. As for Ozil, Ramsey etc etc, no, no way.
Hi Limey..
Hello Rico,
five captains but no leaders.Sokratis,Lacazette seem to have the right mentality but the rest just go missing when the going gets tough.We do Ok in the big games,and Emery is a Europa League specialist,so fingers crossed
And toes Limey, all of them…
New post up now.