Morning all.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been offered a way out of Arsenal by Saudi club Al Nassr. I hope the player says yes and this whole sorry affair is put to bed.
Arsenal are changing, we’ve moved away from signing big players on huge wages to signing younger players who can be moulded into the way Mikel Arteta wants to play and because of their age, will have a sell on value if they want to move. We’ve needed this for a while and credit has to go to Edu, Mikel and anyone else involved in this change.
Even if the club sign Dusan Vlahovic for big money, if he continues to perform at the rate he is in Italy, his value will only increase. Unlike Pepe, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Xhaka, Mustafi to name a few – the list is far too long.
Finally, the ‘who will get to Wembley in February’ question will be answered tonight as Arsenal play Liverpool in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final. During his press conference, Mikel Arteta had special words for the fans who have brought The Emirates alive for perhaps the first time since we moved from Highbury.
The [fans] are able to change the energy, the momentum of the game, give a massive lift to the players and give them confidence so if they can drive the team the way they have been doing recently, that would be incredibly helpful to give us the best possible chance to get in the final. When you have your people next to you, and the way they have been, how encouraging, supportive, loud, it really creates a bond with the team and makes a huge difference. It is one of the best atmospheres I’ve seen for many, many years at the Emirates and I’ve been in a few of those so I can just thank the fans for their support that they are giving the team.
Fans want to see footballers play with commitment and pride and that’s just what they’ve been getting at home this season. Away from home, it hasn’t always been rosy but having seen the way the team battled at Anfield with ten men, perhaps that’s changing. Between now and the end of May we’ll see.
The media seemed more interested about Arsenal postponement request last weekend than tonight’s game, as Mikel Arteta was asked question after question about it through his press conference yesterday afternoon. Arsenal didn’t have enough players. 100% true. Move on. But they didn’t….
Talking about the history of the club being disliked by others:
Absolutely, and we will defend our club with teeth and nails. We are not going to get anybody damaging our name, or trying to lie about things that haven’t occurred. We will make mistakes, and we will put our hands up, but we will defend our club in a really strong way.
I liked that.
Just who is and isn’t fit for tonight’s game, only they and Mikel Arteta know as he wouldn’t give anything away ahead of the game. Rightly so too but Martin Odegaard, Aaron Ramsdale, Granit Xhaka, Rob Holding, Gabriel Martinelli, Alex Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah, Charlie Patino, Ben White and Sambi Lokonga were all captured on camera by the Arsenal photographer as the trained yesterday. Youngsters Tyreece John-Jules, Anass Salah-Eddine and Ryan Alebiosu trained too. Alebiosu Is a right sided player who’s comfortable in defence and on the wing. John-Jules you already know about I’m sure, Salah-Eddine too.
Granit Xhaka sits tonight’s match out because of suspension, which leaves us short/under strength in midfield but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Thomas Partey back in the squad. Best way to get over Tuesday’s defeat is to play again and win.
Jurgen Klopp will field his strongest team tonight, of that there is little doubt. As will Mikel Arteta I’m sure as every manager wants to take his team to Wembley for a final. But Liverpool won’t have their 12th man, Arsenal will and they can and hopefully will, make a difference. Liverpool will probably be considered as favourites to go through but that’s because of our previous results against them which for a while, haven’t been good.
Tonight is a good opportunity to change that…
See you in the comments.
I don’t see how to challenge Geoff’s pattern recognition.
In some of that Arsenal is innocent, as both Arteta and Edu “don’t talk about other clubs’ players until a deal is finalized”, so mostly the rumor mill generates the daily gossips, but the club is indeed associated with dozens of players already.
And it’s not uncommon either to do last minute deals. A few of them are shrewd business from day one, but on most the jury is still out.
Last TW was no exception.
Ramsdale and Tomiyasu has already proved to worth their price (forget about last night), while Odegaard, Lokonga and Tavares are fine players (on different level – but that was already incorporated in their price. I’m convinced they will all prove fine investments, but that is not a fact at the moment.
I also hope that Ben White will be our star defender leadership- and performance-wise alike, but so far his huge pricetag was not justified.
Yes Rico, I’m wrong again.
Amazing how often it happens!!!
Geoff is probably referring to this month Scott.
RIP Meatloaf…. 😢
Potter, could be something to do with your settings but I’ll look into it.
Ten days for Arsenal to get two players, otherwise it’ll be a hard slog to 6/7th place imo.
New post up now
Geoff, check out who we bought in the summer TW then explain that last post lol
We bought bloody well, we bought early and we got great value so how can you come up with that?
Arsenal transfer rules.
(1) Get associated with at least 250 different players.
(2) Talk to about 50 players and there agents
(3) On the last day buy player wanted in Morning
(4) If section 3 does not work and all else fails just sign any one for twice there value.
Well after watching 90 minutes of an Arsenal team trying to score without any forwards to speak of I guess we shouldn’t be surprised by the scoreline at the end, a by-product might be some urgency from our recruiting dept because we’ve had almost three weeks to complete one of the two transfers we need and months to prepare before January 1st…
A striker and a midfielder btw…
I look at my nephew’s boots and wonder where they give support and protection . No wonder there are so many metatarsal injuries . Gone are the days of mouldeds in the dry and six studs for the mud.
Bad night for all the reasons others have stated. Not much to add it was men against boys once they took the lead , they controlled it and we had no idea how to stop them apart from kicking it long to an often triple marked Martinelli.
Looking at the bench we are down to bare bones and now have Burnley without Xhaka or Partey.
Rico it’s been two days . I have tried all that I know turned it on and off . Opened it up from the email , tried the normal bookmarked link but it’s only on my I Phone. Everything else works on every other site or messenger and Whats app . Just Highbury House .
I will get my 8 year old granddaughter to take a look . However suggestions on a postcard will be welcome
Another bad day in the office, at least it’s not part of the home and away season.
These new boots are more about looks than practicality, lot more players slipping and ankle injuries.
I assumed he landed yesterday and not today but I was wrong. He obviously wanted to play and felt ready to do so.
Very flat performance.
Partey was silly, but the first yellow was very soft.
Took a gamble playing him, it backfired.
Just messy all round.
As much as I thought Nketiah would make it with us a few years back, bringing him on to win a game hardly offers much inspiration.
Lots of work still to be done.
I was amazed to see Partey on the bench let alone actually coming on as a sub. He played yesterday then took what must have been a ten hour flight arriving in London at midday. He then has to sit and watch Arteta’s demented tic tac man impersonation and get wound up and sent on the stiffen up the midfield. Unbelievable!
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry!
Well, if he would have made a positive difference Arteta would have seen as a tactical genius, and the early departure of Ghana would have been interpreted as ‘fate’ from hindsight.
Unfortunately neither apply.
Naive of Partey having just been booked.
Disappointing night.
Two players who slip with the ball lose it and two goals.
Another game ending with 10.
Partney was out of rhythm (which is normal after 3 games in Africa+travels in short time) why did he play?
Well, that was disappointing on many levels.
I was satisfied with Martinelli, Odegaard and Lokonga, but the others didn’t really show up.
And even after the heroics of last week we only could have stood a chance if everybody preformed around or beyond their best, which was unfortunately not the case tonight.
You cannot win a game with 5 key passes, and honestly, you shouldn’t…
It’s kind of both funny and sad though that despite his early arrival from AFCON, Partey won’t be available against Burnley at the weekend.
And a red card just for good measure [anyone place a bet?]. What a thoroughly miserable night.. I don’t know why I expected any different. I almost threw up when the commentator said Odegaard and his family support Liverpool 🤬
So close yet so far.. after everything we did last week!! Unbelievable..
All our eggs are in one basket now…
Disorganised and frantic tonight unfortunately.
Saka is definitely having an off night.
Or 3 Sue. ☹️
The wait goes on, Rico. I’ll be surprised if we score once let alone twice tonight, Rico..
Our right flank is surprisingly ineffective.
Tomi is yet to find his old self (easy to understand after an injury), but Saka in uncharacteristically poor tonight.
But even one bright moment could level the score…
Two years I think Sue.
We need some magic from someone in red and white that’s for sure..
What a chance. Super from Sambi
Ages ago then, Rico 🤣 We need a moment of magic from Gabi
7-14 Potter, is today the first time you can’t access HH on your phone?
Pbarany, I’d imagine Europa is the minimum. I don’t think we’re ready for CL football anyway but of course the money helps. Arteta has constantly said there’ll be bumps so I guess we have to expect, or rather accept it.
Agree re the studs, too many slipping over.
I agree, Rico. And it indeed should be a May judgement season.
Not sooner – for obvious reasons – but not later either.
Mikel was given a transfer budget unprecedented to his predecessors, and there are no distractions from Europe (or from the FA Cup either). So there should be no excuses if the expectations are not met. Which could be different from one fan to another, not to mention the board and the owners. I personally would like to see the club in the 3rd-4th place and 70-72 points, but maybe Arteta could keep his job if he guides back Arsenal to the Europa League
Frustrating. Longer studs needed.
Lacazette needs to be careful, Atkinson won’t hesitate to bring out another yellow card.
Pbarany, I think this season is a May judgement because the owners have backed him in the transfer window.
The year they switched off after winning the league I think Sue. At the Emirates.
Can anyone remember when we last scored against them?!!!
Three defenders and not one could stop it… ☹️
I agree with Kev on the fans turning phenomenon, although there are some “let’s sing Arteta for 20 years” hardcore fans, and the other extreme that would like Mikel to fail and replace him with someone with the highest pedigree. But the majority is probably constantly forming their opinion. Maybe not reevaluate them after each game, but after a fortunate or unsuccessful run of 4-5 games.
I tried to propose that we can skip this if we formulate a year-end target at the very start of the season, but interestingly nobody supported coming up with quantitative expectations. Either they are fine with game-by-game opinions, or simply prefer subjective indicators like team character, dressing-room atmosphere, making the right calls, improvement of the squad, etc.
Such a poor goal to concede..
Blooming heck!
Thanks Sue.
Blimey, Atkinson has given us a free kick.
I don’t know, Rico. Don’t watch a great deal of the MLS only occasional highlights. Some say he’s pretty solid and has had a good couple of years.. he’s 27 and is also the US national team keeper
Good to see they’ve all made a recovery..
Coyg’s!!
Well it’s as good as we have available , the salient bit is the strength of the bench .
Any way good luck people , lets hope for a good result . I will not be able to comment during the game because for some reason my phone has lost the ability to do it and I can’t see the screen from my computer. However it is only on this site. ???
Ha ha Kev, indeed we have. 😂
Very good news re Auba Sue.
Is Turner any good?
Arsenal subs: Hein, Holding, Alebiosu, Tavares, Partey, Patino, Salah-Eddine, Nketiah, Biereth. #afc
Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Lokonga, Odegaard, Saka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Lacazette. Partey on bench, Leno not in squad.
Nice 👌
He was poor at West Ham, Obi, but has been on fire at Ajax! Funny how things turn out..
It’s amazing what confidence does for a player. I have said before Pepe’s problem is not skills or ability but rather mind-set. He looks like a totally different player with Ivory Coast. And BTW, I have been watching this guy Sébastien Heller at Ajax the entire season, he reminds me of a young Anelka, he’s one to definitely watch. I didn’t know he was Ivorian international until the Afcon.
That’s interesting I did read that we’ve got Michael Oliver tonight, anyway you’ll be glad to know that we’ve had Atkinson twice this season and lost twice.
Yes Rico I think many fans do, you only have to visit one of the major Arsenal blogs after a disappointing game to see it, you know that anyway we’ve joked about it enough.
Look mate, we all get niggly after a poor result it’s normal. 😉
Pepe’s at it again – great goal
Auba has confirmed his heart is “absolutely fine” great news!
We’ve put a bid in for New England Revolution’s GK Matt Turner… Leno to the Barcodes?
And more importantly let’s stuff the carjackers!!
Referee is Martin Atkinson tonight. Oh goodie!
Kev it’s not just a case of we loose sack Arteta it’s about the way we loose and some of his team selections or change during the match that don’t make sense as well.
No matter what I hope don’t become the same as the other clubs and change our coaching staff every year.
Afternoon Kev, do you think fans swing they opinion that much with Arteta? I’m not convinced they/we do. Like any manager of the club, i always want them to succeed but I think when ‘we’ criticise him, those who are very pro him, think ‘we’ think he should go. That ‘he’ being Arteta in this case.
Saying that, I’d have quite gladly seen the back of him after the Utd and Everton games. 😂
Afternoon Rico, afternoon naysayers, I think our emotions in general always seem to swerve between ‘Arteta Knows’ to ‘Arteta Out’ based purely on each result, that is a win and he’s a champion but if we lose it’s sack him and get in *flavour of the month*…
That seems to be, at most clubs these days, the modern day football fan, taking the long view has pretty much gone now, it’s why managers like Klopp, Tuchel, Guardiola and such are still criticised by their own fans besides being the best in the business.
I’m not sure what we all expect?
Arsenal haven’t won the league title for 18 seasons, if that doesn’t tell you anything it should tell you how difficult it is to succeed in this modern era. We have an owner ship that has be reticent to spend until it saw off Usmanov and now we’re trying to make up for many years of fallow whilst the ersatz clubs have pretty much hoovered up all the trophies. That gap isn’t going to be closed yesterday and it’s unrealistic to think it can be.
If Arsenal fail tonight, and there’s an evens chance they will so put a bet on it with Xhaka, then it’s not the end of the world, because top four is the ultimate aim this season and I’m confident we’ll get there. So don’t lose your shit if we get beat and try to take a slightly more long term view than Burnley this weekend (or is it Brentford?)… 🤔
It doesn’t matter what Arteta is doing correct or not of the field, at the end of the day it’s the result that count. Arteta has no excuse if he fails With all the support He has received from the owners. As I said any team can make it to the top 4 but staying there for more than one year is a different thing all together.
Afternoon Geoff, I suppose that depends on who Arsenal bring in this month and whether or not Arteta thinks one or two of the youngsters are ready to step up.
Afternoon Rico and all
I said the other day and I say it again I recon we have trimmed our squad to much, all we have to do is pick up a few injuries and we could be in trouble.
Scott, you wrote that Arteta is getting everything off the pitch right, Pbarany is just disagreeing. Why the need for such hostility?
Pbarany, I do think things look better as far as recruitment goes but we dip in and out as far as performances go. One day very good, the next awful.
Pbarany, the fact you even mention an “instant achievement” suggests you don’t get it.
Try again, and maybe read what is written before commenting and criticising.
I agree with Rico.
I don’t think anybody would question Arteta’s commitment or loyalty to the club. But this great game is kind of result-focused (sometimes maybe more than ideal), and when it comes to performance Arteta is not the clear winner of many comparisons.
Just the fact that he replaced (in the process of replacing) the majority of the team, doesn’t make it an instant achievement. It really depends on the quality of players we gain, the quality of the players we lose, and the cash-flows around it.
There are a long list of obvious success stories behind Mikel (the FA Cup 2020, Ramsdale, victories over Tottenham and some big clubs, Tomiyasu, some great mid-game changes, etc.), but there are a long list of failures and mismanagement (releasing valuable players on a free, losing out on European football, FA Cup 2022, the decline of Aubameyang, neglecting Saliba/Mavropanos/Guendouzi, some terrible – or lack of – mid-game changes, etc.); so it’s kind of subjective which list would you consider longer or more important. I don’t think there would be any manager without a single bad decision, but suggesting ‘he’s done everything right off the pitch so far’ or ‘things are headed the right way’ are somewhere between overstatements and being plain wrong.
Exactly. Why didn’t we just wait before doing Mourinho a favour!
I saw that re Xhaka this morning and looked at some video clips. He certainly tried hard enough to get himself booked but in the end, had to revert to time wasting.
That’s why the complaints have been so loud . We let players go and then complained that we had nobody to play.. From the outside it does look like we bought it on ourselves.
Looks like Fatty Moss did Spurs a favour last night . From reports they held up 5 minutes and Spurs equalised on what should have been the final whistle and then he added a further 2 minutes for the celebrations and a disputed penalty claim.
I only heard this on the radio reports so don’t know if it’s exactly how it went down.
On another subject Apparently out of €66,000+ placed on a player to be carded in the Leeds vs Arsenal match market, €63,000+ was on Xhaka alone.. Which of course he duly obliged with 3 minutes remaining for time wasting .
So was it him or the ref ? ( Andre Marriner )
Morning Andrew. I’m surprised no one has been added to the squad by now too. Just as surprising is letting AMN go without someone having come in. This is why Arsenal are being criticised for postponing the Nld, or certainly partly so. Kolasinac, AMN and Mari gone yet we can’t field a team.
I always say that if players don’t give the officials a decision to make then they can’t make it.
Rico, each to their own, but I can’t see what he’s done off the pitch that hasn’t been spot on.
It doesn’t matter, the important fact is for once our owners are making the right calls and backing Mikel.
Things are headed the right way.
Morning rico, all. Would be nice to see Partey, depending on when he arrived back, but not seen rumours suggesting before Burnley. Seeing importance of tonight, and had we had to play Spurs, I really thought we would have brought someone in, especially after Xhaka’s foolish tackle. Three weeks of transfer window and still short CM, although accept you can’t just snap fingers and have the right player. But we saw in the Forest cup game, throwing Patino in alongside Lokonga just didn’t work. It’s a worry tonight, who we will play there. Still remember Arteta’s mistake of untested ESR as a CF, but without Elneny anyone else hasn’t been tried and tested.
Anyway, we played short in first leg and survived, let’s make that performance meaningful by getting the job done tonight.
Following last night’s results we are now in a 5 team fight for 3rd 4th and 5th. , looking at games in hand Spurs are favourites to get 3rd and we are level with Chelsea for 4th.
Of course it can’t happen like that because all the teams will play each other at some point on the way , so the maths are not simple.
But at least we are in it and it’s down to us how we respond to the challenge .
We have invited a lot of the criticism with the events surrounding January , loans away from the squad have made for the torrent of rebuke from all and sundry . However it seems that this is enabling Arteta , just as George Graham did all those years ago to pull the squad together and build that “” Them and US “” scenario
.
Don’t think for one moment that Klopp’s bleating and the reaction from the media will not be featured in the pre match team talk and also don’t doubt that Liverpool will be looking to get into the heads of our players to get a sending off . They will and once again Michael Oliver will be the referee for Arsenal’s semi-final on Thursday night against Liverpool.He will be assisted on VAR by Darren England. So Oliver for the 8th time this season and I believe he’s not really a friend in need , then again I don’t know of one that is.
We need to be positive but not careless . It’s not just a case of playing our game we need to be aware and street wise at the same time.
Morning Cicero. Yes, I’m the same as there’s a long way to go this season. This is ooh opportunity to get back into the top four but if we don’t, I think questions will be asked. After tonight, well have just League fixtures to focus on, unless we win of course. Lol
Ditto re the Vlahovic stuff.
Good morning Rico. I absolutely agree with you re Arteta and the squad. We need to wait and see before going overboard with the praise.
I fast losing patience with Vlahovic and his agent. The player isn’t exactly busting a gut to join the Arteta revolution despite reports of a huge wage on offer and no serious interest from other clubs. The club should put a deadline on the deal, sign up by midnight tomorrow or the deal is off. We can’t afford to be hanging around on the off chance of the player agreeing to join when we so badly need to get a striker in. Two weeks is not a huge amount of time to fill the vacancy.
I think people are acknowledging what he’s doing Scott but we’re far from perfect imo and Arteta has his faults imo. The best way to look at the club imo is that we’re heading in the right direction. There are still concerns for me though. I’m not sure he’s done ‘everything’ right off the pitch either.
Rico,
I think he’s done everything right off the pitch so far, and his on pitch tactics/decisions will continue to improve.
We are a totally different club to 2/3 years ago, which everyone wanted so imo, we all should acknowledge it.
Arteta’s credentials can be questioned imo because his time in management is so short. I doubt many people will question his commitment though. I don’t think he’s built a fantastic squad either, not yet but hopefully will in time.
Imo, no true Arsenal fan can question Artetas credentials or intent, but I’m sure some around social media circles will.
Then, plenty of Arsenal fans still support that scumbag from AFTV who’s been rightly thrown in jail, so that says it all.
Mikel is the man.
He’s built a fantastic squad, and will continue to improve it, and the clubs culture is better than it has been for a long, long time.