Morning all.
All I can say is thank heavens for that. The thought of our now not so noisy neighbours winning the Champions League, well, it matters not as they lost. Not for one minute does that justify us losing our Europa Cup Final but at least salt won’t be rubbed into our already sore wounds.
Four English clubs in the finals and both matches were awful I thought. So bad I’d imagine UEFA won’t let that happen again in a hurry. Last nights match was the worst in my opinion, so much so, I reckon we could have beaten either side. Yes, I’m being serious.
Well done to Klopp and his players though, although it pains me to say, no one can really say they don’t deserve the victory, not after the way they beat Barcelona in the semifinals against the odds. For the Toots though, well its business as usual. They’ll earn a few pounds more than us which they’ll need having overspent building their stadium, but next season, well, we’ve simply got to put them back in their place. As far as the head to head battle went though, we won that hands down. Excuse the pun.
The funny thing is though, the media have been raving over them for the last few seasons yet what have they got to show for it? Nothing. Meanwhile, we’ve have a few years of penny pinching, a manager who was on the decline rather than at his peak and now, the managerial change, yet we’ve pretty much kept up with them, just as we have Chelsea and Utd. In fact we’ve done better than the latter.
But, it’s now that Arsenal need to act. To push forward by changing the mindset, toughening up and improving the way we play the game. If we don’t, we’ll probably fall further behind both City and Liverpool and those are the only two clubs we should be looking at. The way they play, the understanding between the players, the attitude on a match day. That takes hard work, boring repetitive training methods and self motivation as well as managerial motivation.
Unai Emery on Twitter:
“Not easy to find the words to describe how we feel today, but here is an important one: Proud… of our team, our club, our fans, of the huge effort of all of us since day 1. Proud to be part of the Arsenal family. Today we start building next season’s Arsenal. Forward together!”
Unai Emery is enthusiastic, he’s methodical too according to those who know him well but we know that’s not coming through onto the pitch. Personally, I think his views/ideas are falling on too many deaf ears. Which is perhaps why he said that some players might have to leave. If that is the case, it must be so frustrating for him. Head, banging and walls spring to mind. That’s where I think Raul and co need to back him. Emery needs to be telling them that x, y and z need to move on and they in turn should make sure those players get the message. Tell them in no uncertain terms to find another club. If a player wants to move, all they need to do is submit a transfer request, sulk if it’s refused at first but almost always, they get their own way eventually, so surely it cuts both ways?
Arsenal can only change things if they change things and that means changing the players. Let Emery have a season with people he chooses and see how we get on. If nothing improves, then Raul and his merry men will have another big decision to make.
There’s lots of rumours as always and they’re not going to go away, in fact they’ll get worse as the media try and spend our rumoured £45 million for us. £4 million for Eder Balanta, £25 million on Thomas Meunier, £2 million on Dayot Upamecano who’s only 16 years old and 19 year old Ferran Torres.
But if we as a club can move the passengers on, that £45 million could easily double, maybe even quadruple…. Ok that’s pushing it but apparently, according to TalkSport, Ozil, Mustafi and Mkhitaryan are off. If Xhaka’s reluctance to suggest we’ve improved since Emery took over are true, then he might join them…
Have a good Sunday guys…
Last night’s final was poor but we wouldn’t have beaten either team. They both had shape, structure and strong players. Our defence would have been like bambi on ice as usual. I hate to admit it (especially with one of them being the Spuds) but how many of our players would have gotten into either side?
Morning rico, good post to give optimism. However, if the first person he decided to move on was Ramsey, I have my doubts in his judgement. Yes, too many flicks, not always on top of his game, but who else has his drive and movement (Laca excepted), and knack of being on the end of many good moves.
Goodmorning Rico and everyone, been a while, been really busy…after all said and done we are back to thesame spot we are all familiar with, I’ve been an arsenal fan since 2005 and I know what this means, the coach will say the right things, the management will say the right things but when it’s time to take action is same old shitty decisions and players.. I really hope we do things differently this summer, if by the end of the summer there is no significant move and statement made by the club I would become a passive supporter and do other things that make me happy.. I love Arsenal too much for them to keep doing this to me… Wish us the best this summer.
Morning Mexzy, Andrew and all. Thanks.
I get the Ramsey decision Andrew. Makes total sense to me.
Re last night, with all the ex-Liverpool pundits spouting drivel over recent years, and Suarez mockery, I dislike Liverpool more than Spurs. But I knew that life would be intolerable should Spuds win, so, although I rarely gamble, placed £10 on Liverpool to have some interest in the game. Glad I was out and only watched second half, but they won me £8.50!
Welcome Mike. Aubameyang and Lacazette might have caused more problems though. Perhaps a CL Final might have been deemed a big enough match for certain players to raise their game. Europa clearly wasn’t…
I can’t recall seeing a worse CL final.
Rico, you mean you understand Emery deciding to get shot, or my thoughts on it?
Good morning Rico. While I’m happy to see Spurs put in their place I only wish it had been by a team, any team, other than Liverpool, I detest them as a team and I detest their supporters too.
The idea that we are going to offload a sizable number of our weaker, less productive squad members sounds good but it will take a wheeler-dealer of epic proportions to make any significant money out of the transactions.
Our two most saleable assets are Aubameyang and Lacazette, the toughest to move on will be Ozil. Unfortunately we need to keep the first two and dump the third.
Lovely morning here in Norfolk, dog walking duties shortly followed by a full English brunch.
Back later.
Similar for me Andrew. The Toots gloating was the only reason for wanting Liverpool to win. Barca V Ajax might have made much better viewing..
Morning Rico. Finals are often like that though aren’t they?
Harry Kane must have dived about 5 times last night which was around half the times that the appalling Rose did.
Spurs have been a long-ball team for ages so it made me laugh when Jenas said that they might consider ‘Elbows’ Llorente as a sub as “It would allow them to be more direct”
More direct?
What had he been watching?
I can see Pochettino targeting the Tottenham High Road Fried Chicken And Housing Association Cup next season for his first trophy.
Morning Adam. I can see Poch leaving. Agree re the diving, low tactics to drop to but then that’s part of the game it seems. Ozil has mastered the dramatic fall any time someone goes near him.
Thought Liverpool were a long ball team last night too, nothing like their usual kind of performance.
Rico. Agreed. Last night was hardly a midfielder’s game was it?
Morning Rico and all.
That was some spectacle last night…lol
Glad the season is over. For me it was a disappointing failure. We achieved no more than last season after a fair investment this summer.
Emery still has one more year grace from me but he’s got a huge task on his hands. His style of football seems diametrically opposite to Wenger, and to get a similar squad to play a different style is a big ask. Normally it would take a few windows with big funds and he has neither.
So I’m not expecting miracles. However it does ask a question of why he was chosen to follow Wenger. That question falls at our senior management who I have very little faith in.
Roll on the window and I expect the massive changes we need to be adjusted to tweaks. Man City and Utd will spend big, so we need to do better than Liverpool and Tottenham over the summer.
Can’t see it happening but will wait with hope.
No Adam, far from it… lol
Morning Bt, I feel I’ve been robbed of 90 minutes of my life. I might even report the incident to the wooden tops 😝
Ditto Hobart, glad it’s over too. Looking forward to the next one though, if we have the much needed changes made…
Good Afternoon Gooners
Afternoon Rico, good post, actually a very good post and exactly what needs to be said – I’ve not read the comments so this is just me…
When George Graham arrived, back in the day, he had the full support of David Dein and the Board – the Owners of the day – and he set about a clear out.
Of course it was different in those days, no FFP or EPL regulations, but within a year Graham had outted the old guard, the England mafia, all those big wages earners who were coasting and ghosting through games, out went Woodcock, Marriner, Caton, followed later by Sansom, Nicholas, Anderson and maybe a couple I’ve forgotten, in came Adams, Keown, Quinn, Hayes, Thomas, Rocastle, Merson et al, plus some thoughtful signings and we had one hell on a team, full of motivated and energised players who in the main loved the club and played for the badge.
Now I know that society has changed and players also but we currently have another great clutch of young players waiting in the wings and another 1st team of big wages earners who are coasting and ghosting through games – we know who they are.
To me it’s set up for another major clear out and another major change of direction.
I just hope that the fans stay with the manager and the youngsters because next season could be a rocky ride…
Excellent article Rico. Very true and honest.
Many fans won’t like it but Emery has done well
It we was always going to be difficulty to and havefans are disappointed how andthe rebuild season ended but if we are all honest, who thought we would be there challenging for top 4 with the state of our squad. It means being ruthless this summer and selling players. I have always loved Ozil but he has to go. Wilock did more in 15/20, in the final, than Ozil did all game. Get rid of Ozil, Mustafi, Elneny and then Cech, Lichsteiner, welbeck and Ramsey on frees. Unfortunately I can see Lacazette going,y by his choice. Hope not but if it’s true Barcelona want him to replace Suarez, then swap them.
Bring on the summer and new Adidas kits. At least we’ll look good 😂
Afternoon Kev, thank you and good comment yourself.
I’m hoping the reports about Ozil, Mkhitaryan etc are true because suddenly we’d have reduced our wage bill big time. Especially adding in those who have already gone.
I’m not fussed about how much a player might cost, we need five Ray Parlours imo, blokes who want to play for the right reasons.
Thanks Richard. When you say Barca want to swap Lacazette for Suarez, if you mean Denis, then no thanks. I don’t think he’s the kind of player we need at this moment in time.
Swap Lacazette and Suarez? 😅
Denis Suarez?
Nah, that train has long left the station Rico, as for the biter, he’s on massive wages and the last thing we need, we’ve been there and it doesn’t work.
Let’s just focus on outting the big earners, as for Lacazette, he’s under contract for 3 more years so never mind the agent inspired rumours it’s all rubbish – unless Barca come in with a major offer, Aubameyang on 2 years is more of an issue for me as we don’t want him walking for zilch in 24 months time.
Personally I’m not attached to any of our players, they’re all passing through, they all have a value and we, as a club, need to learn how to sell at the optimum time.
I’m sure that many Liverpool fans were dead against selling Coutinho, but he financed Van Dyke and Allison and that’s where we have to go, to learn how to sell well and not get too upset about it, the players don’t give a shit and nor should we…
Has anyone seen that vid of Giroud sitting on the Chelsea bus with the Europa Cup and saying “Thank you Arsenal”…?
Yeah, that’s the guy that the Arsenal crowd were serenading a few weeks ago, what mugs they must feel now….
So no, I don’t get attached to players, if the price is right – bye bye….
That’s how I feel Kev. They all have a price…
I didn’t bring Suarez name up though, honest. 😆
Thanks Rico.
Nice from The Ox.
https://twitter.com/afcstuff/status/1135155690484506624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.givemesport.com%2F1480158-alex-oxladechamberlain-said-once-a-gooner-always-a-gooner-after-winning-the-cl
And also some real class from Liverpool FC in allowing the Arsenal squad to participate in bus parade around Liverpool to celebrate the beating of the Spuds !
Unlike Giroud Lc…
New post up now