Morning all.
It’s Christmas Eve, with a difference this year as there won’t be much partying going on. At least there shouldn’t be where I live anyway, not being stuck in Tier 4. There’s little point in moaning about it though as moaning wont bring change. Sounds familiar eh.
No sooner Santa and his reindeer’s work is done and dusted for another year, a New Year will be upon us and with it, the January transfer window. You know what’s often said just before Big Ben strikes midnight? Out with the old and in with the new. How apt those words are right now for the Arsenal.
Arsenal’s squad is full of oldies. Aubameyang, Ozil, Sokratis, Cedric, Willian, Luiz, Lacazette, even Kolasinac, Mustafi and Xhaka are no spring chickens really and the way they’re performing, none of them deserve to be at the club. Finally, it seems Arteta has seen sense to play AMN so the club can move Cedric, or better still, Bellerin on. If Barcelona really want Bellerin, Mustafi too for that matter, take the money and thank them kindly.
January certainly isn’t the best time for transfer activity full stop but, that’s not to say it’s impossible. Even Arsene Wenger managed to secure a few winter signings. Emmanuel Adebayor has to up there as one of Arsenal’s best winter signings. Theo Walcott at the time was also considered to be a super signing, Andrey Arshavin, Nacho Monreal and of course, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang too. There’s been some stinkers too with Kim Kallstrom, Denis Suarez and good old Francis Jeffers sitting firmly in that category. Saying that, had Kallstrom arrived fully fit, his short Arsenal career might have been very different.
Arsenal can’t afford to sign anymore stinkers. Nor older players who are cheap for no other reason because they’re not particularly good. We’ve enough of them already. Arsenal need quality now, quality to mix in with the younger players and get a the good football back.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=a8mDsg6uBUc
We’re rumoured to be after 20 year old Vinicius Junior next month if Real Madrid will release him on loan until the summer. True? I’ve no idea but the rumour is spreading like wildfire on NewsNow so I thought I’d join in.
Edu is taking some stick on the Internet. Understandable really because Willian has been a disaster signing on a long contract and Runasson is nowhere near being good enough to be Arsenal’s number two keeper, let alone challenge Leno for the number one shirt. And to think we let Emi Martinez go. Bad decisions for which Edu and Arteta made. Decisions which aren’t the sign of a ambitious club.
Arteta said a few weeks ago that he wants to keep hold of Balogun, tie him down to a new contract. Well, the way to convince him to stay is by playing him in. Especially in a League Cup fixture and for more than ten minutes when the game is already lost. I know he’s only nineteen years old but he’s a beast. He’s bigger, stronger and in my opinion, offers far more of a threat to the opposition than Eddie Nketiah. Lacazette and Aubameyang too the way they’ve been playing this season.
How old was Fabregas when Wenger gave him the opportunity to play, or Wilshere and even Bellerin?
Some of the decisions Mikel Arteta makes has left me scratching my head. I honestly don’t understand why we’ve not seen more of ESR, of Nelson and as mentioned, Balogun. Why has it taken a one match suspension of Bellerin to see AMN reintroduced to the team when only a few months ago he was not only a first team regular but was playing really well too. Nelson has been nowhere the squad for yonks but why? Yet week after week we’ve dropped numerous points because we’ve just lacked something. Something different, extra or a bit quicker. Willian and Xhaka won’t give any team speed. Bellerin won’t suddenly focus on defence rather than attack, nor will his recovery pace return to what it once might have been. Aubameyang won’t suddenly take his head out of his own backside and realise there’s more to the Arsenal than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
But the longer Mikel Arteta persists with these players, the more likely it is that he’ll lose his job. Edu was part of a team which played great football, so why isn’t he encouraging Arteta to make some bold decisions? Then go and support him by getting the old and disinterested players out of the club. Use whatever money we get on buying quality footballers who want to play the game and want to play for Arsenal.
Another thing I’ve been wondering is why has Mikel got Ryan Giggs Wales sidekick as his own? Surely there is someone out there better suited to the than him. Someone far more experienced in the Premier League who’ll offer a few words of wisdom to a struggling Mikel Arteta. I think Jesus Perez is out of a job. Lol!
Whatever you’re up to later, enjoy Christmas Eve the best you can during these strange and challenging times. Covid-19 doesn’t seem to be going anytime soon so stay safe guys.
See you in the comments.
Good morning all.
Traditional Christmas rhyme:-
Christmas I coming
The goose is getting fat
Please put a penny
In the old man’s hat.
2020 version:-
Christmas is cancelled
Covid saw to that
And I’m locked down
In my tiny council flat.
Jesus Perez is out of a job is he?
Jesus Christ might be a better option, he may be able to raise a few of our players from the dead. 😉
Haha Cicero.
Just to compound things we have flooding in the village this morning . Perhaps now that we appear to be leaving the Brussels beaurocracy our farmers and councils will be allowed to pull the dyke drainage system again . You never know clear the drains and give water somewhere to go and it might start working again. We could even return to hedgerows and trees but I mustn’t get too excited.
As for Arsenal , I am not sure that we are top heavy but stodgy definitely .
There used to be a chant in the Graham period to the Plastic Ono band that went “” All we are saying is give us a goal ” pretty apt now as well you would think and maybe the second verse should include ” Give youth a chance ”
We know what certain players can give to us , we don’t know exactly what Nelson , ESR ,AMN , Balogun can bring to the table but we have had glimpses of the way that the Hale End kids have combined in flashes . Start them surprise the opposing managers , Allardyce will set up to battle the tried and tested he will have a plan .
So change it.
We need the points against Brighton and West Brom more than those against Chelsea. Although they would be handy we are unlikely to get near them in the league but slowing down the ones below us makes our position more secure.
Avoiding relegation is now the first priority and shuffling our player pack should be a major part of our armoury . We have to keep our opponents on their toes and also take away the security of players positions and they might start to produce on the pitch and if they don’t , they are sealing their fate.
Well said Potter. The element of surprise can sometimes be all what is required. Take away our predictably and we just might start picking up points.
Talking of predictability Pepe has only one trick, get to the corner of the box and hit a left footed ball to the far top corner. Trouble is nine times out of ten he looses possession before he can get the shot away and on the odd occasion he keeps the ball he misses the target. Nelson offers a different option on that side and is more unpredictable.
I see that Tuchel has been sacked by PSG .
Cue the rumours starting up .
I read something last night that I desperately hope is false:it said Reiss Nelson is fit and available, the club don’t want to risk him because a sale is imminent.
Before Pochettino could be linked to Arsenal, PSG anticipated it.
I am always very skeptical about the players, who were great “stars” in a Club and disappeared in the dark after a transfer. This is the case of this R.Madrid player. I always understand that there is a strong reason. In my opinion, players without “ballast of fame” are always the best option, even economically. Example: Kovalenko (Shacktar)
Pochettino said last week that he had no desire to come to Arsenal . That is no surprise because in our current state who would.
Arteta got the job because he was an easy sell to the fans , he was a cheap option and because of his inexperience he was controllable .
The bit I don’t understand was the promotion fron coach to manager unless it was an effort to be able to shift the blame when things went wrong.
Now we have Allegri and Tutchel to be bandied around by the press and unless these rumours are quashed immediately the players that appear to be giving 60% have no reason or incentive to give any more than they have to.
Afternoon Rico and All
Do we want No Pots Pochettino?
Not convinced about 2nd in a one horse race Tutchel either.
Maybe Micky is stuck,he wants to be known as a top coach and
play keep ball/attacking football his proved he can beat the top
top teams…Agree…other than Arsene 15years ago we have to
go back to GG.
I loved what Micah Richards came out with the other night
about sections of Arsenals so called supporters giving Micky
stick what ever football he plays.
If Arteta and Edu sell Nelson then my support of them is over.
Afternoon Fred.
Personally, I don’t think either Tuschel or Allegri is the type of manager the club would go for because both I imagine, would want a lot of money for transfers. Said the other day that we’re probably more likely to get someone like Eddie Howe.
Potter, I don’t get the need to change his title either. Especially so soon after his arrival.
Atlético Madrid are rumoured to be in for AMN next month.. pff!
I don’t trust this gutless board to buy anyone. All we ever hear is excuses of how hard it is to buy players in January. We maybe in serious trouble.
If we sell AMN then you have to wonder what the f##k is going on. It’s like we are permanently stuck in a transition loop.
Kreonke needs to take control or just F-off. Preferably the latter.
Imo if Arteta plays Mustafi or Kolasinac again he should be sacked. These players don’t give a f##k. I’m starting to think Arteta is a coward. Foolish notion of playing these players because of their experience including William has not worked. Grow a pair and try out saliba, Smith Rowe or Balogun. Surely it worth a crack. There’s a saying Fortune Favours the Bold.
Merry Xmas everyone.
Mad, mad rush with work of late and thank goodness it’s over but here’s to a bigger and better 2021 for us all.
Enjoy the festive season and stay safe!!!
Cheers Scott have a good one
Merry Xmas Rico and the House
I hope we all enjoy a healthy and safe new year.
Rico Ihope your Mums xmas pressi was as good as mine.
I’m intrigued Rick.
Merry Christmas to you to you too.
New post up now