Morning all.
Corner turned? No, of course not. It’s far too soon to be thinking all that was wrong is now right. However, two big wins on the bounce makes a refreshing change. Apart from Lacazette dropping to bench, allowing Aubameyang to return from injury, the starting eleven was the same as Boxing Day.
The tempo of our game didn’t match that of the Chelsea game but considering Arsenal haven’t beaten Brighton for a while, perhaps there were a few nerves. Brighton defended deep, Arsenal reverted to playing safety football first. Boring to us perhaps but let’s not forget the run we’ve been on. The last thing we needed was to go behind, chase the game and then get hit on the break.
Honours even at halftime despite the home side enjoying a bit more of the ball during the latter stages of the half.
Arsenal came out after the break in a different mood. The tempo went up a gear and with it, more chances came. The best fell to Aubameyang but Perez got his knee in the way of the shot. Around the hour mark, Mikel Arteta made his first change. Off went Martinelli, understandably as he needs looking after since returning from injury, and on came Lacazette. Within twenty odd seconds he’d scored the only goal of the game. Great play from man of the match Saka down our right, a lovely pass into the box, one touch from our number nine and then bang, in. Game over. Three points back to north London. Thank you very much.
Whatever Mikel said at halftime worked which kind of dispelled the rumours of him losing the dressing room or the belief of the players. A dressing room which doesn’t have Luiz or Willian in it right now. I know I’m perhaps putting two and two together, but it’s funny how since they’ve been declared ‘ill’, our performances have gone up a level. Even Aubameyang was playing with a smile on his face which has been a rare sight this season. Saying that, I don’t think he was involved enough. He runs around a bit but doesn’t press the defence in the same way Martinelli does, or Lacazette for that matter. He’s out there, but he’s not ‘really’ out there. I know he’s a different kind of player to Lacazette but the latter seems to come alive when the younger guys are playing, he works hard for them and they him. His post match interview suggested he loves being part of their Arsenal career even though they make him feel old. All tongue in cheek of course about feeling old but honestly, I think he’s enjoyed the last two matches, just like he seemed to enjoy playing alongside the younger guys in the Europa Cup.
To come off the bench and do his job shouldn’t need to be applauded but the way things have been going, it can be left unmentioned. His whole attitude was spot on and the big decision now for Mikel is when we face Big Sam’s Bullies, who will he choose. Plus, does he risk Saka, assuming he’s fit after last night? You can bet your bottom dollar Big Sam will have his card marked. The there’s Martinelli and ESR, can they start a third on the trot?
The youth is great but you need the senior people and the senior players around them to guide them, to control them and to give them support as well. We’ve been playing with young players since I arrived here. We have given opportunities to many of those and now they are maybe becoming more highlighted because of the results we had in previous weeks, and now the results we are having with them a little bit more involved. But as well, I would like to really respect the senior players and the work they’ve done for us through the year. – Mikel Arteta.
Depends on the senior players though because I think the last two matches have shown us which senior players can perhaps be relied on more than others. Time will tell of course as this mini revival is far from proving anything other than with the right personnel and personalities in the tram/squad, Mikel Arteta’s job seems to be a little easier.
See you in the comments.
Good Morning fellow Gunners
I loved reading the match report Rico. Just as much as I have enjoyed seeing the last two games. Personally Io prefer seeing Lacazette kept because he is more suited to a 4-2-3-1 formation than Aubameyang. And it is tailor made for Martinelli, Smith Rowe and Saka. Smith Rowe is a proper no10. I simply hope that Arteta does not bring back Ozil. Not for pride’s sake. But simply for the benefit of Smith Rowe.
Morning my first match watching on Premier Video excellent quality but I prefer sky’s shows and their pundits.
I was concerned about Auba coming back in the side. You’ve touched on it in your comments and the thing I noticed I think, but would like your take on it Rico, was with Auba (in his current form) the movement off the ball the runs the positional link up play was not as natural and flowing as with Lacazette. That’s what I think was the main problem with our performance in the first half and when Lacazette came on it seems to gel the attacking play more.
For me the off the ball movement is the best way to open up defences but I also thought we could have been braver and taken the ball on more tried to beat players the main ones doing this were Saka, ESR and Gabi. But we need to be more courageous I think that was why we beat Chelsea they were holding back after indifferent results.
Well well, welcome back Devilgunner and morning to you Mig and all.
Agree re Ozil, ESR is the future, Ozil is history.
Mig, only my option but I think Auba wants everything to be perfect ‘for him’ whereas Lacazette works hard to try and make things happen and seems far more willing to do so when younger, more energetic players are around him.
It’ll be interesting to see how things are when Willian and Pepe come back. If they do anytime soon.
Thank you for the compliment Rico.
For the past two games we had Holding plus Mari combo. I hope that they keep their place and together with Gabriel we get three good CBs. I would love to add Chambers to that three but he needs to prove his fitness first. Hopefully Luiz and Mustafi leave asap. Unfortunately we have to keep them till end of season. But I hope they leave earlier. I dont trust either.
Devils back!!!
Hello mate, great to hear from you and hope all is well with you and your family!!!
It’s been too long 🙂
Rico, each game has Arteta a step closer to knowing he wants to keep at the club, it’s also another week of experience for him so it’s all positive for mine.
Devil, I think Chambers might benefit from a loan until the end of the season but he’ll possibly be used in the Europa fixtures. Saliba is the one I hope we soon get to see but that looks less likely by the day.
Good morning Rico and all.
The first green shoots of a recovery? I hope so.
I thought Aubameyang was poor last night and was the reason why we didn’t fire on all cylinders in the first half. As you said he wants the ball in his favoured position with the result that ESR, Tierney and Martinelli, while attempting to satisfy his demands, were unable to play to their own strengths.
With the arrival of Lacazette ESR and Tierney had more, and dare I say, better options.
On a different subject, pressure is building on the Premiership to call a halt to the season for a “circuit breaker” in the face of increasing numbers of positive Covid tests being returned by more and more players and staff. It seems that the recovery time for players actually with the infection is far longer than was previously thought.
I think so too Scott but I’m surprised it’s taken him so long.
Morning Cicero.
I too read that about the two week break. If I was a cynic I’d say that’s just enough time for the City players to recover, isolate etc. Lol
Afternoon Rico /everyone
Realistic summing up. I’ve noticed that Leno looks more calm in the last two games, not so much playing out from the back, two no nonsense centre backs, Holding and Mari have been outstanding.
It looks like Nelson might be on the way out, which would be a shame. Rumours about AMN and Nketiah, Balogun too but that one might be out of our control.
I’ve just seen Big Sam wants a circuit break, nothing to do with his team losing 5-0 and a break might allow him to bring a few new players in.
I do not think that the corner has been turned yet. Not while the old culture remains. Players like OzilLuiz, William, kolasinac, Mustafi, Sokratis and dare I say even Pepe and Aubameyang should be sold or released. Yes we need experience but that comes in the form of Lacazete, Xhaka, Bellerin, Leno and Elneny. The whole mentality needs to change.
I never blamed Arteta because 85% of the players were there before Arteta came. The only fault I could find was that he tried to adapt his players to his tactical philosophy overnight when it is clear that they are not capable of. When he played to the players strengths he succeeded in getting good results.
The squad needs an overhaul. But not with old has beens.
And honestly I believe that in certain situations boardroom politics are influencing team selection and transfer policy
Hi Rico and all Laca looks much better with the young player around him and with out Auba in the team.
But I can see Edu telling Arteta we need to play Auba other wise it looks like we never learned from the Ozil Issues.
Afternoon Limey, I wasn’t thinking that about Leno last night when he was playing ‘keep up’ right in front of their player. Lol
But yep, far less of this mucking around at the back.
Devil, similar for me as many of the players are the same who flopped under Wenger, Emery and even Freddie.
A well balanced post Rico, let’s stay humble and focus on the next game, we’re not that good but maybe we aren’t that bad either…
Arteta is taking the political by praising the older players as he doesn’t need anymore factions in the dressing room. They Samba twins will probably come back at some time we have to accept that but the lift the youngsters have given to some of our other senior players is palpable, even Aubameyang was smiling again and Lacazette is obviously loving it, so the path is clear.
In a way I was a bit disappointed when I saw us linked to Isco, he’s 28 and probably looking for one last big pay day and we really don’t want anymore of that type. On loan for 6 months, yeah that’s do’able but signing him wouldn’t be the direction I’d like to see us go, another big timer on mega wages with no sell on value. I’d rather try Nelson through the middle if I’m honest…
I think Arteta is still influenced by his time under Guardiola. Splash out on mature, expensive players who can easily fit into his system. Sell on value has never been a consideration at Barcelona, Bayern or City. Very few of the City first team have come out of their academy.
That can’t work at Kroenk’s Arsenal.
Thanks Kev. The links to Isco are lazy journalism surely, same with Costa. I think the club will have seen what ‘damage’ Willian has done and move away from ageing players. At least I hope that’s the way forward. Old at Arsenal needs to be 25/26 imo.
Isco has had very few minutes for Real Madrid over the last two seasons. A bit like Ceballos, is there room for both of them even on loan? I must say I’ve lost confidence in Ceballos this season, I’m not sure what role he’s supposed to be playing, I’m not sure he does either.
Seems Mikel Arteta has lost a bit of faith in Ceballos too as he’s not starting games, yet at the end of last season he was very good.
Ha ha re Leno Rico – he’s the best we’ve got though. It’s scary to think we are an injury away from the Icelandic. In fact thinking about it surely one of the other keepers on the books would be a better bet.
If we could find a homegrown keeper in January we should, we’re under the quota for homegrown.
We still have Macey Limey, he can’t be any worse than Runasson surely, at least he’s got height on his side.
With all the talk about our youngsters being sold, our homegrown quota will drop dramatically I’d have thought.
https://www.justarsenal.com/arsenal-medical-agreed-as-first-january-signing-close/268573
That “circuit breaker” I mentioned earlier just came a step closer.
The Fulham Spuds game has been postponed due to the high number of positive Covid tests at Fulham.
£600,000 for a defender? That’s less than two weeks of Ozil’s wages. A bargain! 😉
Rico, in my opinion Arsenal should go for players in the 20-23 age bracket. Trust me there are a lot around Europe who are worth a good look. There is Rafael Leao (21) at Milan, Saelemakers (21) at Milan, Matheus Cunha (21) at Hertha Berlin. Giovanni Reyna (20) at Dortmund. Sven Botman (20) at Lille. Zeki Celik (23) at Lille These are players making great strides forward. I am sure they will fare better than some of the seniors we currently have.
With regards the old age bracket of around 26 there I beg to differ a bit. Players like Lacazette, who seems to have found a new lease of life with the youngsters around him need to be kept. Even Xhaka to that matter. Because whilst both of them are slow they can link up play. Xhaka is a good player if he is surrounded by the right players. Put Partey in the equation and the young players will respond and have the same effect as the ones introduced by Alex Ferguson at Man.Utd.
Personally I think that Aubameyang and Pepe can give Arteta a good sum of money which he can invest in younger players. With Aubameyang the onus is on him to score. Without him the whole tactical play shifts onto everyone. Remember Wright?? Remember Henry?? when we had them they scored the majority of goals. Personally I prefer to have 5-6 players who reach double figures in the EPL than have one 30 goal a season player. Imagine having five players who score around 12 goals in the league…..that would amount to 60 goals. Better than a single goalscorer who gets around 25-30 goals and gets the golden boot. That man can easily be marked. Having 5-6 players who score regularly will be difficult to mark agains.
I don’t know any of the young players you mention Devil but are they better than the ones already at our club?
I can see the season being halted again Cicero and not just for two weeks.
Devil, for our younger players now, and those coming through, we’d need older heads to play around them, hence my suggested age. They’d still have a sell on value after a couple of years.
I think one thing we all agree on is no more players at the end of their careers unless they are special and still up to the right level.
Cicero they are good. Especially Leao. I also forgot to mention Antony Santos of Ajax.
Are they better than the ones we have?? Not necessarily. What I meant was that those young ones will not replace the young ones we have…..rather I would have bought them to replace players like Luiz, Willian, Kolasinac, Aubameyang, Soares, Pepe, Sokratis and Ozil.
Hey Coach, good to see you back in situ…
Pablo Mari and Rob Holding, an unlikely partnership and not a duo that many fans would have picked in an era of tippy tappy central defenders. But they’ve been very effective in a very olde English way, reading the game is a very unappreciated skill and both these lads, not blessed with pace, have to compensate by anticipation and reading the game but have proved so far to be well up for the task.
At least it’ll save us from Luiz/Mustafi stressed out challenges when the going get tough and they want to bale out…
It feels nice to be back Kev.
I would love Mari and Gabriel together. Would be a good partnership as well I feel. Those two and Holding can grow and go on to rotate between them. Who will be the 4th choice remains to be seen. Saliba might not get a game even though he cost 27m. Chambers still needs to prove a lot. I hope that the club gets another no nonsense defender as you pointed out. Very few had heard of Magalhaes before we were mentioned that we were watching him.
Rico I understand you with regards the experienced lot for the youngsters. But we dont need more than 5 players. An experienced keeper. An experienced CB, an experienced CM, and experienced AM and an experienced striker. And maybe one or two more who can fill up here and there. But certainly not more
Certainly if the old ones are Ronaldo and/or Ibrahimovic or even dare I say a James Milner type I would not complain. However not Willian, Luiz, Sokratis, Ozil or Soares.
Reading around the Internet Kev, as one does when killing time, the signing of Mari has been ridiculed from the day he signed. I like him. Not flash, doesn’t try to be clever, just does his job.
We’ll have to agree to differ on that one Devil. Sounds familiar eh? Lol
Gabriel and Mari are both left footed so not an ideal pairing imo.
I like the fact that Gabriel turned down other clubs and more money to join us which means he joined Arsenal because of Arsenal. Perhaps Edu too. Lol
I like Pablo Mari as well. Do you remember Gabriel Paulista?? I guess we would do with him right now. Better than Luiz and Mustafi for sure. It still rankles with me that he was sold. I guess he would have done well under Arteta.
yes both are left footed. you are right. its a detail which escaped my attention
I liked him too, a bit of a brute. Trouble is, he let Costa lure him in and he bit.
There’s Mavropanos (spelling) to consider too. Does he have an Arsenal future. Then we have McGinness coming through who looks pretty good. Not sure how Medley is getting on on loan.
Zech Medley has featured in about16 games for Gillingham this season. But I dont feel he is ready yet. McGuiness looks good yes but is still raw. But MAvropanos is a very long way away. even behind Saliba. I dont think he will cut the mustard.
With regards the Isco rumours I am with you Kev. tbh I do not think that a club of Arsenal’s stature should go for loans. So I do not agree with the Ceballos deal either. Not even Coutinho if he is to come. Like you I would prefer to keep Nelson and try him through the middle.
Ibrahimovic once told AW that he would not do auditions. and I feel that a player on loan is like an audition. on trial.
Hi again, two questions which I read recently but am no wiser to the future. First is why isn’t AMN and Willcocks not starting more PL games?
Second, if as suspected Luiz and Willain are the villains who’ve been buzzing matters of discontent in Edu’s ear, makes some sense as all Brazilian what do you think will happen to them now. I would guess either frozen out like several other players right now or welcomed back into the squad. I guess that depends on whether they have learnt their lesson?
Raw isn’t a bad thing though Devil, as long as he knows how to defend. I thought Mavropanos was doing well.
I don’t think Arsenal have had much choice but to loan players because of the lack of money available and because our wage bill is far too high. Things should be so much better after the summer once a few big earners have gone.
Mig, I don’t understand the AMN situation either although he has played recently. I just hope he’s not on the sale list as he’s far too valuable to the team imo.
Most supporters prefer “ one of our own “ when it comes to young players breaking through.
I want to see AMN , Nelson, Willock ,Smith Rowe get the chance before investing fortunes in the likes of Pepe but that’s got hindsight getting in the way . Now we have another crop out on loan and when it comes to centre backs the boy at Blackpool Ballard is ripping it up and getting good reports from Northern Ireland as well.
Future captain is Ballard, Potter.
Get your cash on 🙂
Rico, I think that a lot of the negativity online directed at Mari is more to do with his agent than anything else, but if he continues to perform all that nonsense will ebb away.
Coach, I think that Chambers did very well for Arteta when he first arrived from Man City, in fact most thought that he was set to stay at Arsenal and Holding was on his way out. Of course injury changed all that, but both can do a job for now, long term, who knows?
Omar Rekik is a centre back whose on the point of joining us and we have several promising youngsters out of loan and few highly regarded academy lads who could make the grade.
Rico, I think with Mavropanos it’s always a case of his fitness and all the injuries he’s picks up on a regular basis.
Hiya Kev,
I read the other day that Mavropanos’ current manager is rapt in him, reckons he’s an absolute beast and wants him to stay so maybe there is hope for the lad.
Kev, and the fact that he was cheap and unknown, another played judged before he stepped foot on a pitch for Arsenal. Same as Cedric.
Just read Kolasinac is taking a big salary cut to return to Germany next month, that’s what Ozil should be doing imo.
As would I Potter but sadly I think one or two could be sold next month. I’d rather sell Pepe than Nelson, or Willian. Better still, both.
We could do with the Newcastle keeper though.
He might not be Arteta’s cup of tea though Kev.
Good Morning Rico.
I feel the reasons that Arteta pressed hard for Luiz to stay were the recovery periods for Mari and Chambers. Had both of these been fit, I doubt that Luiz would have stayed. Maybe both Sokratis and one of Mustafi/Luiz will go in this transfer window?? In that case I feel that AMN would not be sold as someone needs to cover for Tierney who can play both CB and LB. Soares will stay and also Bellerin.
That would give us a defence of Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney…..backed up with….Soares, Chambers, Mari, AMN. With only Saliba as an extra that would leave us very light as at least two more are needed.
Morning Devil, all.
You might be right re Luiz. Still, I guess it’s all water under the bridge now but just hope the club learn from the very expensive mistakes they’ve made. Or at least the ones some of us think they’ve made.
Kolasinac leaving should mean AMN stays as we don5 want Saka playing back there, he’s too good.
New post up now