Morning all.
What can Mikel Arteta and Edu do about our lack of goals when the transfer window opens in January? Sign a striker, that’s the simple answer but who? Newsnow headlines lead us down the Dominic Calvert-Lewin v Ollie Watkins path. Calvert-Lewin has more than three years left on his Everton contract, meaning Everton would have all the power when it comes to naming their price and it’s the same with Watkins as his contract expires in 2025. Watkins is an Arsenal fan, we know that because he’s talked about it after we played Villa last season. After he’d scored against us!
Goals scored by Watkins so far this season: 4 in 12 appearances.
Goals scored by Calvert-Lewin so far this season: 3 in 3 appearances.
Do ‘goals scored’ stats really tell the whole story about a player though? I don’t think so. Goals matter, of course they do but there’s more to a strikers game than that. He has to be strong, be able to play with his back to goal, keep possession of the ball, have good vision and of course, press hard from the front. If a striker isn’t scoring goals himself but notches up a few assists during a game, that can be just as important in my opinion. Saying that, twenty goals a season should be achievable for an out and out striker. At least really, as one goal every other game isn’t too much to ask is it?
When was the last time any one Arsenal player scored twenty goals or more? The 2019/20 season, Aubameyang.
Last season, Arsenal scored 94 goals in all competitions which consisted of 58 fixtures. And funny enough, that’s the same number as the goals we conceded. 58. So far this season, we’ve conceded 20 and there’s still six months to go. Goals scored is 28 which wouldn’t be pretty good, if 11 of them hadn’t come in the EFL Cup.
I think we’d all agree that defensively, Arsenal look better. More organised that’s for sure but on paper, with the figures to back it up, we’re still conceding far too many goals. But that’s not wholeheartedly down to the defence in my opinion as defending starts from the front and there’s half of Arsenal’s problem I think. Pressing from the front means exactly that and not just running around chasing a ball as it gets passed around the defence, usually two paces behind the action. That’s not putting pressure on defenders in a way which could force mistakes. I could do that for ninety minutes, although I’d need a breather every few minutes. Lol
Liverpool are good at pressing hard from the front and they do as a pack. Palace and Brighton did it against us, Leicester City too during the second half of our fixture. But Arsenal don’t, not really and certainly not consistently. Lacazette does, Martinelli does, and ESR will give it a go too but when/if they don’t play, we’re too kind to the opposition I think. I love Saka, but he’s not a warrior, neither is Odegaard, Aubameyang, Pepe or even Partey, not really. Basically, I think Arsenal are too ‘nice’. Up front especially.
It’s been said before in the comments section, but Mikel Arteta really might be one of a few managers who’ll benefit from the ACON in January because he’ll be forced to make changes which perhaps he might not otherwise be comfortable making. The club might be forced into making decisions too, certainly if offers come in for Nketiah and Lacazette. Whether Everton or Aston Villa would part with their striker in January though is another question, especially Villa under a new manager and very much in the chase for a place in Europe. But money talks, and if Josh Kroenke wants to back up his words spoken just a few weeks ago, Arsenal really do need to back the manager in upcoming transfer window. After all, it could be the difference between finishing in a European spot or not.
See you in the comments.
A big no no to Ollie Watkins.Not good enough.DCL way too expensive.Johnathan David is the man.Half the price & younger & faster.
I saw the links to Jonathan David. Don’t know anything about him.
Good day Rico, Calvert-Lewin is currently injured. Everton are in a mess with their manager under fire, Moshiri will not be willing to sell one of his prized assets while he is trying attract someone to take over from Benetez.
I know only that Jonathon David has no Premiership experience.
Morning Rico and all
If Everton are in such a mess, then there is no excuse if they beat us.
Hi Cicero, Geoff. He is injured, I’m glad he’ll miss Mondays game. Just hope Rafa isn’t sacked before then..
Aw c’mon Geoff, Auba will get a double hat trick and get MotM match for his intense pressing, Tavares will get a shot on target and Partey will boss midfield without once falling over or giving the ball away. Ooh it just went dark, a whole herd of pigs flew past the window. 😉
Cicero Their is more chance of pigs flying and cows jumping over the moon then Auba scoring a double hat trick.
I just told Santa All I want for Christmas is Auba scoring 1 goal per game,
Santa response, would you like a Arsenal shirt as I can’t perform miracles.
I don’t know about Arsenal being “too Nice” Rico but we need to get a bit more street-wise. Get a few early tackles in, up-field, to avoid cautions. We also need a “nuisance” player, someone to get up the defender’s noses, someone to wnd them up and cause them to make some rash tackles.
Perhaps you’re right after all Rico, we are too nice.
Looks as if Man City are moving for Vlahovic now, that’ll end any Arsenal interest – if there was any – and most certainly knock Juventus out of the picture.
I finally saw the goals on You Tube and I’m not sure that Odegaard fouled Fred, in fact it looked more like Fred stretching his leg back and falling over as soon as he felt contact.
Still Riley will be satisfied…
Hammer leading Chelsea 3 – 2 90 mins.
Kev, I don’t doubt Riley’s happiness but Odegaard gave the ref the opportunity to make up for allowing ESR’s goal.
3 – 2 full time
Are we too soft ? without a doubt yes !.
Will we do anything about it ? without a doubt no ! .
Our players are either developed or else bought in because they have the same attributes of passing and moving playing in boxes and using skill to get out of trouble and yes it is really pleasant to watch on occasions . But those occasions are only half of the story when it comes to football . We are very nice to watch when we have the ball , but when we don’t ?
Where is the hard man that shakes up the opposition , the centre back that screams and pushes the defence out or the midfielder with the crunching tackle or the centre forward that leads the line ? not at Arsenal that’s for sure .
Throughout the ages every successful team has got at least two of them but I can’t think of one in our present team in the squad there is Holding that will enjoy a push and shove and has the guts to stand over the likes of Mane when they cheat and dive and make it obvious to all and sundry . Big Tone when his arm wasn’t raised for offside often gesticulated when a player dived , it’s all part of the psychology , let the other team know that your on to them and 7 times out of 10 they cut it out.
Look at Van Nistelrooy after Keown called him out , that’s what’s missing .a driving force .
Other teams used to say that the tunnel at Highbury was where they lost the match , It goes back all the way in my experience , even in the 1966 world cup final Eusebio said he could not shake Stiles off and that he was waiting for him outside the dressing room door when the came out for the second half .
We need some of that .
I think we’re too nice Cicero, not soft, just nice.
Finished now 3 -2 . Those points at Old trafford have become ever more important now.
To be fair to Atkinson, he didn’t give it at first. I thought it was a penalty though, clumsy from Odegaard, but more importantly, Var and Atkinson missed the dead cert penalty on Takehiro.
West ham beat Chelsea not a good result for us, now it makes it more important that we beat Everton.
Yes, we certainly missed a trick at OT.
Afternoon all and Rico,
We are a bit nice yes but not how we used to be, passing the ball back to the opposition if they had tripped over a blade of grass. I have seen more determination in our game AMN had a good tussle btw why didn’t he play instead of Elneny? And we’re missing Xhaka the aggressor. Holding yes won’t take shit and enjoys the aggressive side. But we are a young team and something mines it takes time to mature and start to throw your weight around. Ramsdale is much more aggressive than Leno is. I just think our team will develop this side of their game as get older.
As for a striker we should be going back in for Lautaro Martinez or splash the cash for Robert Lewandowski. It sounds like he wanted to move to the PL in the summer but it all happened too late. If we mean business then let’s go all out for a top goal scorer who can nurture the best from Balogun. Then there is Havaland whose friend and Norwegian team mater Odegaard may have some sway. Now Solskar has moved on he might like a decent challenge.
As for DCL I wouldn’t say no he’s up with the best of Euro strikers whereas OW is more a false 9, is not a natural striker he runs with the ball a lot, and creates chances mostly from counter attacks, and we already have those types of players. We need a strong striker who can hold the ball up link with the other players and can turn and shrug off defenders. If the right one isn’t available leave it until the summer. Now Martinelli is looking like he’s getting back to where he was he can also perform as a striker and he’s a real handful for defenders.
As it stands West Ham are a better team than Arsenal.
Afternoon Mig, I too would rather the club get it right in the transfer market and if that means having to wait until the summer then so be it.
However, I imagine that any players the club are thinking of signing in January, if they are of course, will have been planned for a while and talks are already in place. Perhaps even someone we missed out on back last summer.
Perhaps much depends on who leaves in January and whether or not another club makes an offer for Lacazette etc which is too good to turn down. Judging Arteta/Edu on last summer alone, I can’t see them panic signing or bringing in someone who won’t fit into the system.
But do West Ham have a better squad than Arsenal Kev?
They have a manager who us had what two seasons more than Arteta to sort out the shambles he inherited? We appear to be stuck with unsaleable players and those who want or need to move on. Aubameyang and Pepe in the first category and Lacazette and Mari in the second. Of course we still need a midfield beast just as we have needed for the last decade or more.
True Cicero, Moyes has had longer to sort his squad out than Arteta.
New post up now
Saying or saying something nonsense, luckily we are free to do so. Agree or not.
Regarding Auba, I have already written several months ago what my opinion was. Many more are having my opinion now; Partney – Fails when trying to pass the ball. If they let it start, no one stops it and they’re comfortable playing this way; how are you defending; the worst is the pass quality. Calvett-Lewin is 23 years old; how old is Balogun? Why is one prepared and the other not? I must see Balogun play
You might soon Jm, if Lacazette and Nketiah leave in January.
Arsenal are all over the place…