Morning all.
Remember the ‘Arsenal don’t like it up ‘em’ comments or the ‘southern softies’ which usually came from the likes of Pulis, Big Sam – or any manager of a club based up north. The pundits loved it of course and would often join in on a match day. Well, scrub that label these days because Mikel Arteta has build a squad which doesn’t roll over – apart from one of our three Brazilians who tends to go to ground a little bit too easily. I don’t know what Pep will be telling his players before he goes head to head with his old mate at the end of March or indeed what Frank is saying to his players before the weekend but I very much doubt it’s along the lines of ‘get at them and they will crumble’.
I’d even go as far to suggest it’s Arsenal these days who are the bullies but we do it through our football. We don’t need to be overly or unnecessarily aggressive in challenges because invariably we’re in control of the ball. Don’t get me wrong, out of possession, Arsenal can be brutal in the way they press, harry and apply pressure and it’s that which regains possession – legally.
Arsenal have recorded high possession statistics in many games for a little while now but it’s only since the break in Dubai that we’re turning possession into goals. I don’t agree with Thierry Henry though about our weakness being our defending. We’ve conceded just two goals in 2024 so why he thinks that I don’t know. Newcastle Utd, West Ham and Liverpool aren’t exactly short on goal scorers yet between them, they managed to breach our defence just three times. That’s not to say we won’t concede goals in the future but for how, we’re not conceding many because our defence and our defensive work has been good.
There was something the commentary team on Sky Sports said on Monday night which rang true. The Ramsdale/Raya has silenced. Perhaps it has been because he’s not made any bloopers and his teammates in front of him have been fantastic. Like, absolutely fantastic.
We’re in the best form we could be and I doubt there’s a side in England which really fancies playing us right now. We have players coming back who will make us stronger as a unit with a deeper bench for Mikel Arteta to turn to. Partey, although his rustiness was quite evident on Monday night, is a terrific player to have available at the ‘business’ end of the season, not to mention Tomiyasu who can play anywhere across the back line. Timber too when he returns which might be after the international break.
This time last season, injuries had derailed our Premier League challenge, maybe this time, those returning will make the difference. Not necessarily because they’ll drop straight into the starting eleven but because they can if they’re needed. And they will be needed, especially if we get past Porto in the Champions League.
I’m certainly not trying to such Mikel Arteta has cracked it or that his team will go unbeaten until the 12th of never, but we’re doing well. Too well for things to suddenly go terribly wrong surely? Can we win the league? Of course we can but whether we will is another thing altogether. City and Liverpool have been here before, we as a club haven’t, not with this manager or this squad.
This weekend we play Brentford. This time Ivan Toney, a player many an Arsenal fan hoped to see move to Arsenal during the transfer window, will be up against us. The footballing world will be watching how our defenders deal with him. Yes, they’re just waiting for us to limp out of the title race.
We won the away fixture earlier in the season but boy, did we make hard work of it. Ramsdale was in goal that day, just as he will be on Saturday because of Raya’s illegitimately so all eyes will be on him too. Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game back in November after he’d come on from the bench but these days, he’s a starter rather than a substitute. A bit like Jakub Kiwior really as he too has gone from sitting on the bench to being a vital cog in our defensive wheel.
Much chatter relates to Arsenal’s Dubai break which, don’t get me wrong, I’m sure all the players benefited from, but a tweak in personnel has played its part too I’m sure. We’ve seen more of Jorginho, a lot more of Kiwior, yet very rarely has a ‘striker’ been in sight.
Catch up in the comments…
Good morning Rico, Southern Softies? Let’s see how the Northern Jessies cope with our swarm defence tactics. Sheffield United certainly did like it. 😉
In an interview with the Telegraph Declan Rice has credited the Dubai break with bringing about our 2024 surge. He said the whole week was concentrated on the upcoming Crystal Palace game, and boy how well did that turn out.
I couldn’t help but laugh when I read that referees were “confused” by Mark Clattenburg’s role at Nottingham Forest, where he is employed as a consultant assisting with advising the players on the Laws of the game and how referees interpret them. After Tierney’s horror moment in the Forest /Liverpool game the phrase “confused and referees” takes on a whole new meaning.
Morning Cicero.
I’m sure the Dubai break played a huge part in our current form but, I don’t think we can dismiss the changes in the team. Our defence is better imo because we have a player at left back who puts defending before attacking but attacks as well. White is the same on the right. It’s made us better imo.
Adding Jorginho has made a difference too and without sounding cruel, we’re better without Jesus or Nketiah.
The southern softies label was horrid although deserved in many ways. We were soft, but were certainly not soft anymore….
Morning Rico and all.
Lets hope Ramsdale is not too rusty, and he has a blinder of a game, so his value goes up just incase we sell him.
So some are trying to compare Saka and Foden, claiming Foden is better because he has 6 trophies to his name, the big difference, Saka worked hard in a team that was a mess and are now winning the hard and fair way, while Foden won his trophies with more older and experiance players around him, while his club has over 100 charges of breaking rules.
Rico, have you been watching Dads army, wasn’t that the saying of the old butcher – They don’t like it up them, must admit, that we have been bullied by other clubs for year, but now we slowly turning into a team that bullies other at last.
Morning Geoff.
The Foden and Saka debate is ridiculous really. Why does one need to be considered better? They are both top players surrounded by different players in a different team.
I watched Dads Army first time around. Loved it Geoff..
Hello Rico and everyone. The stand out for me today@Rico from your wonderful piece is the phrase “…softies” which we had become so accustomed to-sad but true! I used to suffer seeing so many similar technical, who when the going got physically tougher at Stoke or Bolton and what have you, they’d almost all go into hiding. No wonder that even one Troy Deeney once figuratively referred to Arsenal as “lacking cajones!” So I like the present balance( both the technical and physical, without forgetting the ultrapress!) that MA has introduced into the team. I never knew I’d one day be able to watch such a balanced, enjoyable Arsenal play!
Oops, my comment disappeared!
Morning Rico and Co.
The problem we have in schools, universities, government depts and now private organisations is the cowards running them. This ‘culture war’ nonsense has exposed them as weak, indecisive and fraudulent because they’ve shown themselves inadequate when a strong position has been needed.
If you’re a teacher and one of your kids identifies as a cat, you don’t give them a litter tray you put them on detention and your head teacher and the school governors should back you not threaten to sack you.
So all this bollocks has come from above and has exposed those in charge as being clearly out of their depth and nicking a living…
We are creating and pandering to a clearly psychologically disturbed generation of weaklings who have no boundaries because the adults have failed to create and guide them and a lot of big big problems in the future.
Hi Kyalo, it’s been long overdue and Arteta has rebuilt a much better and stronger squad not only in terms of quality but in being more robust on the pitch too. About time too…
Morning Kev, I’m staying away from the subject just in case big brother is watching. I have my own opinions which these days, I’m not permitted to express. Ridiculous…
I guess that Saturday will be Ramsdale’s goodbye appearance at the Emirates, the crowd will carry him through and we’ll overcome Brentford just as we overcame Sheff Utd and Burnley and Newcastle etc, with a raucous crowd cheering the boys onwards.
Porto is where we’ll need our A game because they’re a bunch of football bandits with a manager in the spoiling a game mould of Jose M.
Rico, it’s like we’re living in the 1930’s Soviet Union with the NKVD spying on your every word, but yeah, I get it from your prospective.
The people running social media are a major symptom of our current societal malaise.
You’re confident Ramsdale will go then Kev!
I hate today’s world Kev, very little of it is kind, good or just decent.
Hmm, good question Rico?
I guess I’ve kinda accepted the narrative that he’s not going to want to be the goalkeeping gooseberry whilst Raya is taking the flowers and that Arsenal will do the decent thing and sell him next summer.
But again, there is a scenario where Arsenal cannot get full value in the transfer market due to his salary and our transfer fee demands (realistic demands btw) and he stays because we can’t find a buyer?
I’d prefer to see him stay if I’m honest…
I don’t hate todays world but I hate a lot of people in it, more than I ever have in my entire life, we are surrounded by people who have no depth of character or morals and many of them are in control of our lives, maybe more do than ever before.
Then again maybe I’m just a Luddite 😄
That’s kind of my thought too Kev but we’ve not actually signed Raya yet have we? I still think if we need a keeper, there’s better out there than Raya.
That’s what I mean Kev, it’s people who make the world what it is.
If I look at the squad we presently have and it’s potential and how much we may get selling certain players and how much we may have to spend to replace them – without any guarantee of improvement – I’d actually be quite happy to keep most of our players this summer.
Great point Rico, personally I think Raya is a done deal and I’ve warmed to him now but yes I do agree, if Arteta can find another goalkeeper who can improve us then he’d not hesitate in brining him in I reckon.
Very well said Kev, maybe a bowl of milk would be ok though 🙂
The southern softies & Men against boys mantra was trotted out AFTER the ‘ invincible period’ by those who couldn’t wait to have a dig at Arsenal.The Northern mafia media etc.It came about as Wenger was putting out v.young,juvenile sides,who played superb football but because of the lack of maturity did not have the Physicality.Hence the likes of the Orcs( stoke,Bolton etc) saw a chink in our armour that could be exploited.So it became’kick em off the park’.Bully them.This was perpetuated by the media & condoned by the PGMOL.
Now the pendulum has swung back & they don’t like it.Not one little bit.Hence the celebration police.
I’ve been pretty consistent in that Cedric Soares is the only player I actively want to see leave Arsenal, no hard feelings Rico, he’s had a good ride but he’s not anywhere close to the level we require, so now off you go.
But I can see an argument for all the others to stay even if that’s unlikely.
I really like our squad, even those that flatter to deceive at times like Vieira.
Milk is good Andrew, but in a glass 😉
Great points Pete
I’m worried that Martinelli has more than a cut and Arteta is playing his usual games as far as giving out no info, or misleading info. If Martinelli can’t start a game, I’d consider Reiss to have some pace in then front line still, but will probably be Trossard.
I only want to see Jesus as a sub from now till the end of the season. I feel strongly about this. We are not as fluid with Jesus in the team. Sometimes the play becomes all about him, and often ends up in a foul losing fluidity, a dive, or a badly missed attempt. Without him, our players get creative and find a teammate and a different angle of attack. A better attempt.
The more I read, the more I believe the lunatics have taken over the asylum.
In Italy, the left win government have enacted a law that allows any one to change their gender at will. This has resulted in a growing number of police and military personnel declaring themselves women in order to access the higher rates of pay and better living accommodation available under the same government’ drive to increase the numbers of women in the services. Women are also given accelerated promotion.
One police officer, who has taken advantage of the new law, now lives in an exclusive one person apartment with its own bathroom instead of a shared to with communal washing facilities down the hall.
He/she wears a women’s police uniform but has grown beard, as unlike in the men’s section where beards are banned, there is no ban on beards in the women’s police force.
Unbelievable, but sadly true. 😕
Kev, Elneny, Soares and Klein will probably go because they’re out of contract and bearing in mind Nketia has been left out for a false number 9, I think his time is drawing to a close. He has to look after his own career and if he wants to get back in the England squad, he needs to move. Same with Ramsdale if he’s not going to be our longer term number one. Partey is another who is done I think.
Absolutely Pete, Arsenal can’t win either way. The bias against us is so clear to see but no one gives a hoot. In fact it’s totally the opposite.
Ha ha Kev, you say that about Cedric as if I’ll be sad. Errrr, no. 😜
Nigel, I feel the same about Jesus, and Zinchenko.
If I identify as Kylian Mbappe, can I have half of his wages?
No. 😂
That’s harsh Rico 😁
Honest though Kev… lol
Congratulations to Arsenal Women, a four nil win over Aston Villa takes them into the League Cup Final. A Blakstenius hat trick paved the way and Maanum added the fourth before halftime. 🔔🔔🔔🔔
Morning Rico and all I agree with above too many idiots with no respect have too much say. now back to football.
I agree Kev and Rico that Raya deal is done and dusted unless he get a major injury and we back out.
I guess the question is, if we don’t get what we want for our players do we sell them cheaper to get them and possible their high wage bills off the books or do we make a stance and say no deal and keep the players to show clubs in the future that are no longer selling our players cheaply.
If other clubs are not paying the high wages that we do then why are we paying so much
Afternoon Rico and Co
Geoff, interesting point, are we paying too high a wage to some of our players?
Probably yes, but why is that?
I believe that Nketiah and Nelson have the same agent as Saka – and Balogun as it goes. There could be a connection there, you know, look after Eddie and Reiss to keep the agent happy and a happy agent means a happy Bakayo?
Just a thought – probably wrong but hey…
It wouldn’t surprise me if the same agent represented Nwaneri. Just a thought?
From a salary perspective I believe that our wage bill is considerably lower now that it was when Arteta and Edu took total control.
A lot of dough was going into the pockets of Mustafi, Ozil, Kolasinac, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Pepe, Luiz, Sokratis and few others with little return and no transfer value.
That has obviously changed and although Reiss and Eddie are probably on a lot more than they should be, given the returns – and Cedric for that matter – we’re still in a much healthier place and below City, United, Chelsea and Liverpool and marginally above Tottenham.
Selling on players and the difficulty we might have is really a result of the Premier League’s wealth and the sudden appearance of PSR.
Good points Kev. It’s almost depressing to think about the players we were spending so much on. But then I think about our squad now and I feel much, much better.
Afternoon guys.
Wages are too high in football full stop imo. Compare ours with Chelsea, Utd, City, Utd etc, they’re probably average but compare them with other clubs, they’re probably high. However, at least every player earns their money these days, unlike years gone by…
I think Pepe will be a sore point for many more years, at least untill Auba last year or two at the club, we did get some return from him.
Morning Rico and Co.
I’m sure I heard on a Podcast a week or so ago that Arsenal only recently made their last payment for Pepe and that in total, all monies considered, that Pepe cost Arsenal a whopping £150m.
All transfers are a gamble , Pepe came despite not being Emery’s choice . We will never know if there was a little cloud over the deal that Sanhelli did for him, certainly other agents commented that it was a strange deal and that they thought the price was high . Hope it wasn’t another Lyderson deal.
Hi Kev, all.
Dear old Pepe, like Torreira and probably Guendouzi, should never have moved to Arsenal. Still, we got Martinelli and Tierney during those days so all wasn’t bad.
Mikel Arteta has won the Manager of the Month award… Never in any doubt really..
Hello Rico and all long time but looking forward to tomorrow
Ramsdale is very emotional, Raya doesn’t show any emotion . Not sure if there is much between them as they are both about the same height at just over 6″ but a defence has to have confidence in it’s keeper and the other way round.
Arteta said openly we had two number one keepers when in his mind Raya was going to be his first .He still dithers with the ball at his feet and has a habit of standing far to far out from his line but all keepers like Number No 9s come under scrutiny.Time will tell in the next really important matches.
Hi Kelsey. Out of the two, I prefer Ramsdale. I think Ramsdale is more passionate of the two but both are capable of making great saves. Bloopers too.
Just over 2 inches is the difference between the two by the way.. They count 😜
I prefer Ramsdale or should I say I am not convinced yet about Raya. Our goalkeeping coach, Arteta and Raya all come from the same region so who knows.,
Kev that number of 150 mil is disturbing when we see it … but we can keep in mind it’s added up in a way to look as bad as possible. What I mean is that any player signed about 5 years ago for 70 mil would end up costing at least that amount overall. United, Chelsea have been full of players who disappointed, and were on higher salary than Pepe. His performance was actually much better than guys like Sancho, Pogba, Anthony. If we knew the numbers on Kepa for Chelsea we would be amazed. Huge fee, 7 year deal, 8m annual wages for a player that gave them nothing except disappointment. How many average keepers have had to spend money to buy since?
… this all makes me feel less bad about Pepe.
There’s a YouTube of all Pepe Arsenal goals and it’s impressive. He just would never have been able to live up to a record signing expectations. Unfortunately, even with his skills, he was exactly the opposite style of player for the football Arteta was instituting here. Pressing, passing instead of dribbling in crowds, and defending. I’m glad that chapter is finally over.
Cana could be gone in the summer as his contract expires. I think we’d benefit from a different keeping coach.
Nigel, me too re that chapter. We’re signing players for the team/squad now rather than one mate doing another a favour.
Mornig Rico, yes Cava’s contract is up in the Summer and his English is awful. I hope we see the same team tonight though there is a doubt about Martinelli though Brentford have more or less their whole back line injured or not available.
I hope Ramsdale gets huge encouragement from the crowd and lucky for my daughter as she is going as she still teaches English to players in the London area in the PL and Timber she has told me is a rarity,a really nice guy and is having Spanish lessons, as she usually teaches Spanish and Brazilian footballers who want to learn English (which Wenger made obligatory)
Morning Kelsey. I’m sure Ramsdale will be given huge encouragement from the fans, players too as they did in the away fixture. I think he’s well liked by everyone..
New post up.