Morning all.
The one thing I believe most Arsenal fans agree on is the media being a bunch of rascals. Yes, I’ll keep it polite. Actually, make that two things because I don’t know anybody who thinks Unai Emery can turn the teams fortunes around on the pitch. But as far as the media go, they feed off fan/players negativity. All it takes is a few repeated comments suggesting player x, y or z is dreadful or unhappy at Arsenal and they’re on it in a flash.
If headlines on NewsNow are to be believed by the time the end of January comes, we’ll have half a squad left. Slight exaggeration perhaps but I’m sure you get my point.
Xhaka is heading out on loan because he’s unhappy with the fans and Emery according to the Mirror and Ozil is cheesed off with Emery too for freezing him out. Aubameyang has no intention of signing a contract extension, Lacazette is pondering over his future and Torreira wants to return to Italy with Napoli. True? Goodness only knows.
Granit Xhaka, who is on international duty with Switzerland, has used social media to take a swipe at the club and its fans saying:
‘Happiness is when you are satisfied with yourself and don’t need the confirmation of others.”
Things like this don’t help either but for him, it all started when fans took to the same platform in order to express their dissatisfaction with the player so we can’t complain really. Yeah yeah, he’s under contract and all that but if you can’t take it, don’t give it out is my opinion and it’s not like he’s been rude. He’s simply glad to back home with his mates and playing football in front of fans who perhaps appreciate his efforts more than we do. Also, who started this Xhaka fiasco in the first place? Not him that’s for sure.
Players have been critical of Emery’s tactics. After the draw at Watford Bernd Leno said – “In the second half we completely lost control of the game. I think the distance between the midfield and the strikers and to the other players was too big.” Aubameyang said that the team were “gifting goals away’” whilst Xhaka made a huge gaff by telling the world that we were ‘scared’ – probably true though. Then we have our younger players admitting they turn to Freddie for advice instead of their head coach, possibly because they risk a clip round the ear from Emery taking the pee out of him. As if!
As mentioned a few days ago, Mkhitaryan has blamed Emery for his poor performances and then yesterday, the Mirror published a no quote/factual story explaining why Koscielny left. Being overplayed whilst struggling with his Achilles problem and the lack of confirmation over him continuing to be the captain we’re the reasons he wanted to return to France. They suggested he was earmarked to become part of the coaching team. Again though, there’s nothing to support this theory.
The same newspaper reports that ‘long-serving members of Arsenal staff feel that the club are losing the values that they had under former manager Arsene Wenger.’
‘The DNA that made Arsenal the club it was has slowly but surely drained away. ‘Appointments have been made – both before and after Wenger’s departure – that either didn’t work out or aren’t working out.
‘Long-serving members of staff have been shocked by what’s happening to the club.’
My answer to that is The Arsenal we all know and love began to fade away fourteen years ago. What we see now hasn’t happened overnight or since Unai Emery’s arrival. Or Raul Sanllehi’s either. Still, I suppose it’s suits to make waves right now rather than at the time.
It’s all out there that’s for sure and if we can see it, you can guarantee everyone at the club will be reading all the online negativity too. How could they possibly miss it?
While the likes of the media speculate about who wants to do what, Raul and co will know if Torreira wants out, they’ll know if Aubameyang has no intentions of staying or any other player who has reservations about their career at the club and they’ll certainly know if Unai Emery has lost the dressing room. Josh Kroenke will know too and I doubt he’ll like it. He probably checks his mailbox each morning wondering if there’ll be a second letter of complaint addressed to him sat there. He made promises of exciting times ahead. Those promises aren’t being delivered. Yet.
Cue more press speculation, or truth perhaps as The Mirror are one of a few newspapers to report that Unai Emery has a month to save his job which equals eight games. Southampton, Eintracht Frankfurt, Norwich, Brighton, West Ham, Standard Liege and Manchester City. Every single one of those fixtures are winnable with the only one which ‘should’ concern us being Man City on December 15th but even so, we’re at home and City are beatable.
But our last eight games were winnable too, perhaps more so but we won two including a last gasp victory over Vitoria in Europa. Worse than the results were the performances, although typical from this group of players under the current coaching regime.
Home – 12 points won out of a possible 18. (Inc Toots)
Away – 5 points won out of a possible 18. (Inc Man Utd & Liverpool)
Expecting something different, more exciting, more organised or more rewarding is fanciful in my opinion but stranger things in football have occurred. I just need to think what and when. Lol
Whatever happens over the next few weeks, eight if the reports are true, something is likely to change. Something has to change. Either Unai Emery turns things around, or someone else could and should be taking us through the second half of the season.
So it’s not all doom and gloom is It?
Think of Arsenal like going on a much awaited holiday. You know your final destination but the motorways are closed because a couple of HGV’s have had a coming together. No one is hurt but your only option is to take the next exit followed by back roads all the way.
The journey is boring, slow and seems to take forever, but you get there in the end.
As will Arsenal, I’m sure.
Enjoy your Sunday guys, don’t forget to tune into ‘I’m a celebrity, get me out of here…..’ at 9pm tonight. Watching Wrighty should be entertaining..
Bugger Rico you and I don’t agree on a lot things but this story I agree with most of it, Hope fully the board and coaching staff are having a big meeting to discuss what’s happening and what is the best way forward for the and also the coach and players we can only hope. I don’t know what you all think but I wished Arsene wenger had step down a couple of years earlier and took up coaching one of our youth teams while we test out a new coach. I would of selected Klopp back then
Sorry people left out the club should have read the best way forward for the club also the coach and players
We had to agree on something eventually Geoff. Lol
Rico, I don’t know what is happening with my beloved Arsenal right now, but in the words of D:ream – Things can only get better.
Emery obviously isn’t the right man for Arsenal, but it could be worse – we could have Poch or Ole as our coach/manager!!!
Afternoon Rico and thanks for the post…
I forgot about Alex Scott although tbh I’m not too interested in her dancing, but her football analysis is always interesting and fresh. 🙂
I can predict that Wrighty will will popular, that he’ll cry a lot and that the Jungle will drive him mad as it did for Phil Tufnell a few years ago.
As for the media and Arsenal, it’s all bollocks Rico, it always has been and it always will be.
One disgruntled employee at Arsenal has a moan and it’s a crisis.
Arsenal in crisis sells newspapers and generates clicks, the press are fantasists, full of wannabe journos trying to be the next Harry Harris. News Now is becoming a cartoon of itself, full of click bait sites living off each other, there’s rarely anything original or newsworthy on there, but I still have a look and maybe click on one or two so I am to blame.
As for the players accepting responsibility, you must be joking, that would never happen.
Look at the mob at Chelsea, they drove out Mourinho and the Italian nut job, none of them ever held their hands up, so is it any wonder that Lampard has frozen a lot of out since taking over and gone with his youngsters?
Maybe Emery needed to do the same, but he’s too negative and too cautious.
I’ll be sorry if Torrieira leaves, same with Aubameyang and Lacazette, but if they do leave then Raul needs to get his skates on and sort it this January and in the summer, we’ll get over it.
Personally I’d forgotten about Koscielny and Ramsey and Mkhiitarayan etc, so what they say now about the club has no effect on me, it’s irrelevant.
But it’s been encouraging for me to see that Nelson, Smith Rowe, Saka, Greenwood, McGuinness and a few others have had good performances for their international teams.
I might even go to the Southampton game next weekend, just to gauge the atmosphere and take in a match for the first time, or maybe Frankfurt, I’ll have to see what’s available first.
That should be fun…
Morning Rico aand all.
Scott summed it up in the last post no real direction on or off the pitch at a club once called Arsenal.
I believe Torreira and Kolsaniac will go in January as will Xhaka to Itally not on loan to Newcastle as he just can’t play for us again. Ozil who knows but he still has 20 months on his ontract.I sincerely wish him well as on his day he has more vision than anyone in the side.
We haven’t improved one iota this season and spent a vast amount of money.
How long will Kroenke waits if he even cares.
Afternoon Kev, I’m always of the opinion that if players want out, so be it. Just get the best price for them that we can.
What cheeses me off is when they walk for free.
Europa football has been the bright spot for me as I loved seeing The younger players get their chance. Martinelli is s real find.
There’s a rumour going about Kev that we’re going to swap Xhaka with the Borussia Mönchengladbach CDM who is also Swiss.
We’re interested in a central defender too from Villarreal I read…
Hi Kelsey, I know you lean towards negativity right now and I can see why but as much as the football is bad, one change and things might improve as I said yesterday. I’m keeping my glass half full in hope Raul has a plan.
It must be Stan’s fault surely.
On a serious note, I get the impression Arsenal is in the hands of Josh now..
But Josh is Son of Stan Rico.
Exactly Adam, so blame Josh, not Stan.. lol
I do Rico. 😃
I don’t Adam. 😂
To plagiarise Shakespeare, “Now is the winter of our discontent, made even worse by this son of Stan”.
If you dont know…………..Arsenal Women Vs Spuds …………..freeview on BT Sport 1 now.
Yes Rico, Zakaria (?) isn’t it, apparently he’s Xhaka’s midfield partner for the Swiss, but with a defensive brain.
Torres, Villarreal, but I doubt we’ll get him as Man City are interested.
That’s them Kev.. I didn’t see City were sniffing around the defender, that’s us out of the running then as you say..
Doubt we’ll get the midfielder either, not now Xhaka has spilled the beans this week.
Spuds nil Arsenal two. But spuds make history with largest ever crowd for a WSL game 38,262. Of course the media ignore the fact that a fair proportion of the crowd were Arsenal fans. That’s the impartial press for you. 😉
At least the women put Toots in their place..
Rico, it’s the Aussie coach, surely 🙂
Morning all.
North London is Red !
Well the Arsenal Ladies are the first Gunners team to win at the Spuds new stadium.
Now they can go home and do some housework…
I’m off…. 😆
Damn Kev,
I eagerly await Rico’s reply to that one hahahahaha
Ban him, Rico lol
You’re going to hell mate 🙂 🙂
Scott 😁
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MyCuegrzAKw&feature=youtu.be
A view on Steve Morrow from Tifo Football on You Tube
Interesting stuff, Kev.
You’ve earned a reprieve 🙂
I watched the Arsenal Womens game yesterday, great win, but not as intense as the usual NLD mens game …………….none of the usual handbags ! .
No LC it was not fisticuffs or wild kicking. Too much lippie and powder for my liking!
But, they play good attacking football, and unlike the men they know how to, and can thread passes together with unhesitating accuracy.
I think I prefer watching the women/ladies play than I do the men. I wonder if Joe is on the candidates list to take over the men’s team? He’d be a great loss if he left, the ladies that is.
Morning Rico and all.
Wavy, we were discussing an Aussie as the next manager the other day-different guy though 🙂 🙂
Morning all.
Well Wrighty got off to a good start on I’m a celebrity… saying he wanted to lose weight but not me thinks on the first trial. 😉
Hi All with all the talk about sacking the coach and players, one player I believe is flying under the radar at the moment is our keeper bernd Leno. So should we keep him or sell him and buy another keeper to me he is a good back up keeper.
I understand our back line don’t help him at times but to me he seems to lack confidents when he gets a chance to think, were if the play comes quick and he has to react with out thinking he seems much better.
Nothing we dont already know, but it is Ornstein:
“Arsenal completely reject suggestions they are looking at potential replacements for Emery.” “Whether or not that’s true, they can’t say anything else.” “Internal conversations are possible, but not necessarily true, but they wouldn’t admit that to the media.” “We know the club are behind Emery but we don’t know what it would take to change that.” “Anything other than victory over Southampton would feel grim, but there are so many factors to these situations like the dressing room, circumstances, contracts, project etc.” “As for the January transfer window its probably still a bit early to say and a lot can change before then.” I know the plan was not to use January unless absolutely necessary.” “Despite Arsenal’s defensive troubles, I still don’t sense a centre-back will be recruited in January given the numbers they already have and the arrival of Saliba next summer.”
Surely, until we have a coach who can set up a defensive unit, selling other than the obvious would be a risk. Leno was good when he arrived after all.
Hi Wavy. All.
Back again!
Scott, 11.05. Yep I know you had a discussion about ‘Ange’ and how good he was/is. Just at present I would give a blind dead donkey a go, as it could not perform worse than Dick is just now. However, I picked out Montemurro because he has got our ladies playing a brand of football that is pleasing on the eye and even better on the results! AND, he’s an Australian, and that was the real link, I suppose. He’s a man from way down under, and that is, perhaps, qualification enough.
We have to look at the Saturday game and see if we win …
Lol Wavy,
At least Joe proves we have some knowledgeable football minds down here and that’s pretty important, I reckon.
We have our share of boring, tedious coaches as well, and plenty with no right to be in the position at all but I guess that goes for all countries and Leagues.
I’d never heard of Joe until he arrived at the Arsenal, so he flew right under the radar, even here in Oz.
Xhaka scores for Switzerland in 6 – 1 win over Gibraltar.
That’ll add few euros to his value…
Milan sniffing around Torrieira, €40m is the quoted price, we should be asking for €60m.
Interesting comments from Ornstein regarding any January business and baring in mind Saliba joining us in about 7 months time.
Of course, if Edu can come up with a gem or two from Brazil then that has to be a plan.
I’d like to think that Arsenal are also scouting for young prospects in the Championship etc, apparently Leeds have a really talented midfielder whose turning a few heads (name escapes me).
We shouldn’t turn our noses up as a few months ago nobody was talking about a Norwich midfielder called James Maddison and he turned out pretty good.
So there’s gold in them there hills if we care to look!
Agreed, Kev.
There will always be gems to be found.
It’s just knowing what to look for.
Not sure if I’ve told this before, but a kid at my sons school, 25 years old, tried out for our A League youth system, not good enough.
Tried a level down-not good enough.
Real Madrid took him over for a fully paid trial.
Not sure what’s happened but the fact is Real would have a decent idea of what it takes, surely 🙂
Hi Reco With all these so called roomers that Arsenal are looking at buying some new players in this years mid transfer window does any one really know how much we have to spend Thanks
Geoff, we had 45 million in the summer, apparently, we spent a lot more but actually only paid out around that amount up front so I’d say we will be paying for a few players for a year or two yet, so unless we sell, we won’t be buying, imo.
Hi Scott that’s what I thought because last time we had to beg and borrow to get players even then we had to give one back for 12 month. as Josh said big things are coming I guess he did not say what year
Geoff, I think the board believed top four would be a reality this season and to be fair, it should be with the squad we have. Re the transfer money for January, like everyone else, I haven’t a clue but if we’re selling Xhaka and Torreira or anyone else, I sure hope the club spends whatever comes in on replacements.
Morning all.
‘Beg or borrow’ is harsh on the club imo. We asked them to invest and they have so perhaps we should be thankful for that.
I don’t know any other club which pays cash for players these days, other than City, Chelsea and Utd.
‘Give one back’ – another harsh view imo opinion Geoff. This kind of deal happens a lot, especially with a young player. What would have been the point in him sitting on our bench at best?
Morning, Mr Positive here.
Now Mikkitarian slams Emery a few days after Torreira and Elneny and evening Martinez.
They can’t all be wrong and remember they are all still on our books.
It’s a sad state of affairs and finding it hard to find any positives at the moment.
Scott is right about the money owed as the players bought were payments made in yearly instalments over 3 to 5 years but I think we will lose a few first teamers in January because they want to leave and we might have to take a hit before we start to rebuild and hopefully the background staff will act in unison which appears not to be the case.
‘ morning all. The Saliba deal was very good business, we bought him young and cheap. The very fact that we had signed him raised his profile and his value. Sitting on the bench and playing only in cup games wouldn’t have done him any good.
Already, Real Madrid have enquired about him, we could make a healthy profit by selling him in the summer without him ever pulling on an Arsenal shirt, but we won’t sell.
Mustafi and Sokratis are not getting any better nor are they getting younger and Luiz was a stop gap purchase. Next season it will be down to Chambers, Holding and Saliba to fill the void in our defensive line-up.
Cicero if there is a profit to be made on any player Kroenke will take it as that would be a prioritise to actually winning anything. Why did we ever get into bed with this man.? Why buy players send them back on loan and then sell them the next season.Is that the way forward, surely not ?
We’ve already had Mohammed playing in midfield, now it seems that we’re being strongly linked with Jesus, God bless him…
Is there a player out there called Buddha who could play DM?
Gott mit uns…
Didn’t George Graham do that with Alan Smith?
Who is selling Saliba Kelsey? There’s nothing to suggest we are so what’s the point in thinking that way?
I’m with Cicero on this one, big time. Saliba was shrew business, the kind most of us wished we’d been doing for a while now. Same with Martinelli.
Also, if Kroenke is all about making a profit, why have so many players left for free?
😂 Kev re Elneny etc.
New post up now