Morning all.
Mikel Arteta’s team have a lot to do tonight but if Arsenal can keep a clean sheet, progressing through to the final will be made a little easier. The last thing we need is to not be at it from the off. Anything other than 100% commitment and discipline and Villarreal will make us pay I’m sure. Their front players are dangerous which I’m sure the players and manager know already.
Thankfully, Arteta has a few strikers to choose from tonight so there should be none of this ‘false 9’ rubbish unlike in Spain when that tactic failed dismally.
The above is how Arsenal lined up in The first leg. Why Mikel Arteta opted to play this way instead of deploying Martinelli, Nketiah or even Balogun as the striker only he knows but it’s fair to say his decision backfired. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Tonight though is a very different story as Arteta has Lacazette, Aubameyang and Martinelli followed by Balogun and Nketiah to select from. Fitness permitting.
Captain Aubameyang was the hero two years ago with his hat trick against Valencia which saw us through to the final. He’s been talking to Arsenal Media:
Definitely it was a good performance [against Valencia] and it was a big game as well. Yes I think it was my best performance since I’ve been here at Arsenal. It was really great game, hopefully I can do it tomorrow again! I think I was really motivated in these types of games because a few times I have received some criticism of not being involved in big games, so I wanted to show people that it’s not true.
This is why I am really excited to play this game tomorrow because it is a big game and it’s a big moment for all of us. Hopefully we deliver again. For sure it will be one of [the biggest games of my Arsenal career]. Definitely this season is the most important game and we know that we have to win this game. It is a big opportunity for us to get to the final, we play at home and this is maybe the biggest game of my Arsenal career.
If Aubameyang is up for this one, which he and every player should be, the better it is for the club. Mikel Arteta can prepare them the best he can but the players need to deliver. Aubameyang is our captain so lead the way.
Either side of our central striker should be two from either Martinelli, Pepe, ESR, Saka or Odegaard. No, not Willian Mikel, not Willian.
Our central midfield is likely to be Xhaka and Partey with ESR, Saka or Odegaard in the so called number 10 position.
With Luiz suffering an injury at the weekend I reckon we’ll see Mari, Holding, Soares/Tierney and Chambers/Bellerin in front of Leno.
There’s an argument for Ryan starting, perhaps Gabriel too but I think Arteta will stick with the same defence as the first leg, barring Xhaka at left back IF Tierney is fit. Even if he’s not, Saka or Soares is a better option.
In the first tie, Arsenal were 1-0 down within five minutes, 2-0 down before thirty minutes had passed and I feared we were in for a pasting from Unai Emery’s team. As said yesterday, it was largely thanks to Bernd Leno that we didn’t concede another. Pepe’s penalty gave us hope and late on, Aubameyang was denied an equaliser by the Villarreal keeper.
I’m not sure Mikel Arteta’s career will be decided by tonight’s result or even the final should we happen to make it through and nor should in my opinion. There’s more to a season than one or two fixtures and when it comes to the manager staying or going, many things have to be considered by the board. If the direction were heading in is right in their eyes, then Arteta will be going nowhere despite the Express suggesting Sarri is being lined up to replace him. Ridiculous story even by their standards.
Last season, when it came to the big cup fixtures, Arteta and his players delivered big performances which is why and how we won yet another FA Cup. As far as big cup fixtures go, this one is right up there.
In some ways, it might prove to be a blessing in disguise that were trailing going into this tie because before, when we’ve been ahead, it’s almost as if it was ‘job done’. Well it’s not and the players need to know that. Arteta can’t afford to let this game drift if things aren’t going right and with five substitutes available, he’ll have plenty of options available.
For once, I’m going to guess the team:
Leno
Bellerin/Chambers Holding Mari Tierney/Soares
Partey Xhaka
ESR
Saka Aubameyang Pepe
I’ll have my fingers, toes and everything else crossable, crossed.
See you in the comments.
COYR’S
Hi Rico and all, I agree with Rico about Arteta if he is to be judged it should be judged on the whole season and take into account the number of wins, loses and injuries.
If Auba plays hopefully he lets his scoring boots do the talking
Good morning Rico.
Talking in the Telegraph this morning, Aubameyang described his fears about contracting malaria and its after effects. He admitted to being only 90% fit which is a worry if Arteta is going to start him.
In my opinion Luiz is a risk too far, he has had too many setbacks and we are not desperate for him to play. Holding and Mari should be the starting pair in defence, with either Chambers or maybe Bellerin with, hopefully Tierney at left back.
I’m 50/50 on Leno and Ryan, but I do want to see a bit more of our Aussie ‘keeper of only to see if he is a long term prospect as number one.
Morning Geoff, Cicero, all.
If Luiz injured his hamstring on Sunday he won’t be fit anyway. The one thing I’d like to see next season, regardless of who is the manager is a settled back five and core. Every good team has this imo. If we’re not in Europe next season, a settled back five/core for the PL fixtures is crucial I think.
Forget that re Luiz, he’s clearly fit as he was training yesterday.
George Graham recognised the importance of a settled defence and stuck with it whenever possible. Arsene Wenger did not understand the concept of defending and did not sufficiently accept it’s importance. A glance at the majority of so called defenders he signed only goes to prove the point.
Morning Europas, Wenger did sign Sol Campbell, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure, Lauren, Silvinho, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesaker
Rico, in how many games recently, after being declared fit, has Luiz limped out of with yet another injury. The sight of him slumping to the ground and sitting waiting to be subbed has been a regular occurrence far too often.
He should be on the bench only as an absolute last hope.
He also signed a lot of defensive dross and some quite average types as well.
I guess it shows what a lottery the transfer market is.
…and a host of donkeys to many to mention, a prime example? Sylvester!
Was that Victor Sylvester?
I don’t know Cicero, yes he signed some duffers but a few quality defenders came in too but yes, defending didn’t seem to be his priority.
But will Arteta feel the same about Luiz Cicero? His long ball passes might be just what we need to beat a Villareal defence.
The story behind Stepanovs signing was hilarious Kev.
Apparently Paul Onuachu wants to move to Arsenal. Having a 6’ 7” striker (wiki) might help with our high or wayward crosses. 😂
Slow, slow, not quick, not quick, slow. Kev
Yes Rico, it’s one of Ray Parlours staple tales and he tells it as only Ray can… 🙂
I’ve never heard of Onuachu Rico but with Balogun signed up and Martinelli we don’t really need him do we, but don’t let those insignificant facts get in the way of some agent generated bullshit and there’s a lot more where that came from…
That sounds like the Hokey Cokey there Cicero…
After the ESL fiasco I thought the idea of break-aways was dead in the water. But no, now the blokes in funny trousers who walk around a field with a stick and a ball are starting one. Will they never learn?
Ha ha Kev, nothing like a made up load of poop to get hits.
Kev another striker could be on the cards if Arteta is considering selling Laca or Auba.
HARRY Clarke will return to Arsenal a better player for his time at Oldham Athletic, according to head coach Keith Curle.
The Latics boss has been in regular contact with Gunners officials about the 20-year-old’s progress at Boundary Park, ahead of the final game of his deal at home to Forest Green on Saturday.
Clarke was initially signed by Harry Kewell last October on a season-long loan and went straight into the team for the visit of Carlisle United a few days later.
The defender went on to score his first, and so far only, goal to secure a 2-1 win against Cheltenham Town, who have since won promotion to League Two and could secure the title on Saturday.
And under the guidance of former defender Curle since March, Clarke has gone on to develop his game even more – progressing from a central defender to, more recently, a right wing back role with Curle looking to capitalise on the youngster’s pace and willingness to get forward. And the Latics chief has praised Clarke for not only seizing the opportunity to tackle his first spell away from The Emirates but also the way in which he has developed and shown his versatility and willingness to learn.
“I think Harry Clarke has come in, first loan away from a Premier League club, he’s enjoyed himself and he’s got a good understanding of what’s required, both as an individual and also the level he’s playing at,” said Curle.
“Part of his development upward curve is he needs game time. The pleasing thing is he wanted to go out on loan, he wanted to go and test himself, which is always a pleasing thing to do.
“You do get some players who stay in their fold, stay in their comfort zone, and don’t test themselves and unfortunately then sometimes their careers can pass them by.
“Coming out to, some might say, a lower level their development can be accelerated by having game time.
“He’s got versatility and he’s got a very good personality. He doesn’t get fazed by things, he’s not over critical of himself, but he understands when he’s made mistakes. And good players make less mistakes.”
Clarke has made more than 30 league and cup appearances for Latics, and Curle added: “The important thing for Harry is to finish the season on a high note.
“I like Harry. I’ve been in contact with Arsenal, with Ben Knapper (loan manager) from Arsenal – someone who I’ve been in contact with before when I was at Northampton.
“We took James Olayinka from them and got a play-off appearance out of him so trying to forge links with Premier League clubs is always good.”
Another striker Geoff? Maybe, the guy from Celtic has been strongly linked, the thing we mustn’t forget whilst considering all these rumours is that we only have 17 spots available for foreign players, it’s probably why we’ve been linked to Aarons of Norwich, but why should they sell and they won’t sell cheap if they do. Then there’s the young left back at Derby who we’re linked to, only 20 and the perfect understudy to Tierney.
Of course, we might still come to some arrangement with Lacazette, but as he’s on £182k pw that’s going to be difficult.
I’d rather not sign anybody to play up front if it means he’s going to obstruct the development of one of our promising youngsters, you know, like the signing of Willian has killed Reiss Nelson.
Foloran Balogun is going to really take off next season, I’d rather see him given the minutes than some other geezer on big wages who the manager has to play to justify his salary, you know, like Willian…
We have John Jules returning to the club after a year on loan at Doncaster, let’s see what Arteta thinks of him in pre season?
Moller will be a year older by next summer, he’s had a tough season playing in a really poor side, but he’s managed 6 goals in 17 appearances, not prolific but not bad. Put him in a good side and see how he goes. I’d like to see him given a chance in say the League Cup next season not some big time Charlie.
For me the priority signing has to be another partner for Partey next summer, then we have three quality players who can be rotated without the level of the team dropping as we saw when Elneny played against Everton and was terrible. That’s not good enough if we want to compete.
Cover for Tierney and a quality right back are next for me.
After that it’s the toss of a coin…
Always good to read a positive feedback from a loan manager Kev, I wonder if they’re hoping to keep Harry for another season.
Ditto re a striker by the way and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see one or both of Lacazette and Aubameyang at the club next season.
I also think two full backs is the priority and definitely another midfield player in the mould of Partey. That is we don’t have players coming through the academy which from Reading yours and Ricks comments, doesn’t seem to be the case.
Bola, Lopez, Osei-Tutu spring to mind.
I know Daniel Ballard has been getting good reviews playing in defence but didn’t he start out as a defensive midfielder?
Harry Clarke has played in midfield for Arsenal U23’s Rico but I don’t know about Ballard?
Maybe we’ll send a different player to Oldham next season, seems as if we trust Keith Curle to look after our lads? Doncaster is another club we send our lads to.
Not sure that we’ll let any of our lads go to Charlton after the way that Matt Smith has been sidelined since their recent change in manager.
Bellerin starts, Aubameyang starts, looks like Xhaka at left back again, Tierney on the bench, Laca on the bench.
COYG’s
Good evening Rico and all
Good post boss. But I dont feel that we will win tonight.
Not much optimistic
Agree Kev, some loans turn out to be a pointless exercise and I bet Arteta gets cheesed off when they don’t play..
Maybe I got it wrong re Ballard.
Evening Devil, thanks.
I’m not overly confident but always hopeful.
I hope Bellerin is up for this, both our fullbacks are there to be run at I think.
Xhaka out injured in the warm up, Tierney in.
We should be showing more intensity. However it might be that its a plan from Arteta. If we were to get an early goal Villareal put us under extreme pressure. And 99 times out of 100 they would have found the goal. So maybe getting to half time without conceding is part of plan.
We shall see in 2nd half. Hopefully we will score and they dont.
Watch this referee, he’s right dodgy
Need to do much better in the second half
Aubameyang’s just not at the races. Let’s get Martinelli on now.
Martinelli on.
Season over!!!
4 English teams in the semi-finals and only one doesn’t make it to the final
Season over
Gone with hardly a whimper
The internet is going to be toxic tonight . Played the first leg without a forward and ended the second with the lot and still can’t stop passing and not scoring.
I thought that was a penalty on Pepe, but overall Emery out coached Arteta.
I guess it saves us from the heartbreak of getting smashed by Man Utd in the final.
Sweating on the UEFA Europa Conference Vase now I suppose.
I wonder how much financial support KSE come up with now or is this their cue to sell up?
We lost in Europe with Olympiakos and Villareal, whose 2 coaches, not having the same quality of players, gave Arsenal a tactical and team-building lesson.
Can anybody really argue that we put Villareal under any real pressure in the two games . That was a semi final played at a comfortable pace with absolutely no urgency.
It will be interesting to see which of our top , top internationals decide to move on or just whose contract is too good to leave behind.
Our income for next year will be hit drastically, No European football, and as a mid-table side we will get less tv exposure and revenue.
As you say Kev, that maybe the pin that punctures Kroenke’s balloon, Will Daniel Ek take advantage?
Aubameyang and Willian should be first out of the door. Arteta’s position will be up for discussion.
Did I hear right or did Arteta just say that we deserved to win it.
Now I know that i was watching a different gasme.
The only hope I have left for this competition is that Villarreal absolutely smash manure on the 26th. But I’ll have to relearn how to smile again.
An abject performance considering what was at stake. Perhaps if the silent syrup sells up a silver lining may be found. Time will tell.
Another record tonight.
The first time EVER we’ve gone 10 home games in a season without scoring.
HOME games this season:
L 0-1 Leicester
L 0-3 Aston Villa
L 1-2 Wolves
L 0-1 Burnley
L 0-1 Man City
L 0-1 Olympiacos
L 0-3 Liverpool
D 0-0 Man Utd
D 0-0 C. Palace
D 1-1 Southampton
D 1-1 Slavia Prague
D 1-1 Fulham
L 0-1 Everton
D 0-0 Villareal
14 games 0 wins 4 goals
Nicked this from another forum.
…
Shocking is all I can say
Little urgency, few shots on target, their job was to keep a clean sheet, ours was to score. How on earth did we deserve to win? Outplayed in both legs. I’d like to find a positive from that performance but am unable to.
A clean sheet? Andrew.
Morning Everyone.
I would love to have said GOOD before morning….but its not good. And it will be a long time before we feel good about a morning. Even if, and its a biiiiiiiggggggg IFFFF, we win the remaining 4 games in the EPL.
We had two jobs…keep a clean sheet and score 1. We achieved 1 but failed in the other. Just a total of 5 shots on target over two games. Quite impressive I must say.
Yesterday I said it at half time….we had no intensity. Too many times it seemed that some of the players were simply going through the motions. Even when taking corners they were walking to the corner flag instead.
And now what?
Kroenke has to realize that with his attitude and mentality he got us to mid table and no Europe for at least a season. So from over 20 years in the CL we go 4 years in the Europa league and now no Europe.
In a way that has its own benefits……Our playing purchasing powers will have to shift. We will not get top players. Maybe young ones from our academy will be given a chance. Maybe Nelson and Willock and even Maitland Niles will be kept. They certainly offer more than players like Torreira, Kolasinac, Willian and till he stayed…Ozil.
Maybe we get to see Guendouzi staying….though if Arteta stays I doubt that.
We shall wait and see
What Villareal have done over two legs boils simply to one thing….It was not Emery who was at fault for our demise. It was player power. Yesterday it was evident from the player’s lack of hunger to play. And in the first game it was as well. They made fun of Emery when he was their coach….even yesterday Ozil did as well on his twitter account. they still take the piss on Emery.
Emery has won the Europa Cup three times and been once a losing finalist (Arsenal). Yesterday he has gone again to the final and knocked Arsenal out. Emery was hang and strung at Arsenal. Player power? Administrative power? the fact remains that our club’s mentality is rotten to the core. And it needs to be changed because it is reflected in the players’ attitude.
Do I blame Arteta for the team’s showing??
The only thing I blame him on is signing players like Willian and Odegaard and Ceballos. We lost with them in the team. We would have saved a lot of money by playing Nelson, AMN and Willock. We would not have done any worse because with the former 3 we lost. so we could only have gained by playing the latter three. Willock and AMN are turning it on for their loan teams no?? Maybe we get to keep them next year. We would not lose anything by doing so.
Maybe with the fee we paid RM for loaning Ceballos and Odegaard and their wages coupled with the wages we paid Willian…….we could have continued to pay AMN and Willock and still KEPT those staff who were made redundant because of COVID19
Good morning all.
Last night I commented that Aubameyang and Willian should be the first out of the door. Having slept on it, given it due consideration, and questioned my over hasty reaction to last night’s fiasco, I have come to the conclusion that my first instinct was entirely correct. Aubameyang and Willian SHOULD be first out of the door.
Cicero….I have been banging on that door that both should be out ASAP for a long time.
Wait till you see the stats on Auba and loss percentage ratio I am compiling. you would be amazed.
As for Willian…….his contribution percentage is insignificant. His detrimental effect is enormous. No need for statistics there.
I don’t think we’ll see a lot of changes regarding the senior players with their water tight contracts.
Ceballos will go back to Spain, as will Odegaard, Lacazette will probably leave as will Bellerin, Luiz is 50/50 imo.
What to do with Leno is a serious question, if we got a decent offer from a German team do we cash in and go with Ryan for now?
We have to try and sell quite a few Cicero but Aubameyang and Willian won’t be among them this summer.
If Arteta stays he has to try and integrate Saliba and is there another chance for Willock, maybe even Niles?
To me Arteta looked she’ll shocked yesterday and I’m really worried about the teams reaction against West Brom this weekend, lose that and he could be in shit street…
Morning all.
I think we deserved to win, purely because we had 3/4 chances to score but failed. That doesn’t mean we played well because we didn’t.
For all the ‘This is a big game blah blah blah’ from Aubameyang, he had a stinker. As did Odegaard.
Anyway, new post up now.
https://highbury-house.com/2021/05/07/what-now/
I think he already is Kev , If not with the upper management / ownership but definitely with the fans . They have had to suffer in silence throughout this whole debacle but soon they will be back in the stadium .
I have no doubt that the tickets for the Brighton match will be allocated by some kind of ballot but we all know where the noise is generated within the stadium and the red and silver members will not be at the front of the queue .
Personally I subscribe to the theory that Arteta will have a period of grace to start next season but if by a given date things have not dramatically improved he will be ousted . Quite who we get to replace him I have no idea , however the club is a basket case going round in circles with one foot nailed to the floor. and I can’t see a top manager wanting to take it over
We might see an Eddie Howe type figure who brings a few more years experience of failure than Arteta or maybe a Rafa Benitez looking for a last pay day but there are no guarantees that changing the name on the door will achieve much on the pitch.
There is something rotten in the state of Arsenal and until that is identified and eradicated we will continue to be a lower to mid table club and i fear players that have grown up with us and love the shirt will , like Willock , AMN and eventually ESR and Saka will be tempted away .
I see a bleak future .