Morning all.
One of the things I like about Unai Emery is his honesty. He’s not afraid to discuss his players performances in public regardless of whether what he has to say is positive or negative. He doesn’t go over the top either way. With Mesut Ozil, all he’s really said is that the player needs to work a bit harder on match day. Especially out of possession. Nothing new really and no different to what we the fans have said about him. Vastly talented but lacks the ability to roll up his sleeves and he’s not going to change now in my opinion.
Alex Iwobi is one of a few marmite players in this Arsenal team. Much improved on the player he was last season that’s for sure but there’s still something frustrating about his game. For me anyway and clearly Emery thinks similarly.
I am very happy and I think he is working a lot to improve and he has energy, he has quality, he has things to improve. But he can do that. “For us, we have to be demanding with him and he himself be demanding to improve the things that he can get better at in his qualities.
“When he’s getting into the attacking third, into the box, [he needs] to be calm to decide the last action with assists and scoring more. “But he is giving us a lot of attacking moments and opening space for other players when they are arriving to the ball.”
Iwobi is great at getting the ball and driving forward. I love his energy and enthusiasm but as the Spaniard says, his final ball let’s him down. Mind you, he’s not alone in that department. Emery is talking about it publicly so in private, I’m sure its the same. Iwobi is still young, relatively raw in terms of experience but he doesn’t strike me as a player who’ll rest on his laurels and accept mediocrity.
Once he’s more productive in and around the box, we could have a really good player on our hands. He and a Kolasinac are our main attacking threat on the left. Something similar, better on the right and we’ll create far more goal scoring opportunities. Denis Suarez and Hector Bellerin are a mouthwatering prospect perhaps, although we’ll have to wait until next season to see if that’s the case. Personally, I think we’ll have to wait until next season to get the answers to a number of questions many of us raise on here on a daily basis. Certainly the biggest one which is whether or not Unai Emery is the best option for Arsenal. I’m kind of on the fence, leaning towards yes. Purely because this season he’s had to deal with a vast amount of injuries to key players and of course, the lack of transfer opportunities.
Our match against Southampton was really good in parts. The first half was certainly better than the second which is a total reverse to what was happening earlier in the season. Sound obvious I know but to improve we have to find a constant level of performance for ninety minutes and not just for one half. I get it if we come out of the blocks fast and blow the opposition away and then drop off a bit to preserve energy etc, but that’s not what we’re doing in my opinion. We go from good to bad with no in between. Complacency, lack of focus, call it what you wish but there’s definitely something wrong with the mindset of a few of our players. Aubameyang was certainly one against Southampton and that’s after coming from the bench so he was hardly tired. He’s got to be more ruthless in front of goal, as has Lacazette but at least with him the commitment is there or it certainly appears that way.
When Unai Emery spoke about Iwobi and his decision making in the final third, the same can be said about Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey and others who find themselves in reach of the opposition goal. Take the chance and see what happens. A deflection, an own goal, the balls comes off the woodwork to someone else, the keeper might fluff it or just as easily, the ball might find the back of the net. Trying to walk the ball into the back of the net might look good when we score but invariably there’s an interception or a misplaced pass which ends our move and hands the advantage to our opponents.
Bournemouth are a good side despite their recent results. Give them a chance in tonight’s game and they could hurt us. Both sides need the points, we’ve got to show we need them more.
See you in the comments guys…
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico, great post…
I’m not a big fan of Kolasinac but I thought he played well against Southampton, I’m not sure if he’s the long term answer to replacing Monreal or not but let’s see what transfer business we do in the summer?
I’d start Suarez this evening against Bournemouth and have Iwobi on the bench, but we don’t want to take tonight’s game for granted and drop points because we’re too focused on the Spuds, one game at a time as the man said…
Aubameyang and Ozil to start I guess against a team that’s not as dirty as it used to be since Harry Arter moved on. Brooks is dangerous, in a Ramsey/Lampard kind of way.
Morning Kev, thanks. It was inspired by your good self. Lol
Not sure Iwobi is fit and dosnt sound like Emery thinks Suarez is ready to start.
It’s Monreal I worry about out of our two left backs. He doesn’t look like the old Nacho, more like an old Nacho sadly…
It the least I can do to help Rico 🙂.
I’m hearing that Wilson and Brooks could be out of tonight’s game.
Morning all.
Nacho with old legs! His loss of pace is obviously a hindrance but just think of all those years of experience. I think he’s still capable of out thinking the most speediest of the opposing strikers. At least I hope so as he is still one of our best defenders. But…when your legs go, your legs go! I remember it well😊
Another Costa Brava day here again. Winter woolies out again tomorrow? Hope not.
Rico, I’m always reluctant to write off players of a certain age in the hope that we can squeeze a bit more from them and as Scott wrote Koscielny has returned and done really well just when we were in serious need of him.
We don’t know if Nacho is carrying some kind of an injury or not, clubs tend to keep these things quiet, but if not then he’s suddenly fallen off of a cliff in terms of his fitness and age, he suddenly looks to have very old legs. He’s been such a great player for Arsenal, so reliable, but his form has just faded away, maybe he sees himself spending a less stressful period back in La Liga like Cazorla?
Morning all.
I wouldn’t write Nacho off yet.
Older players often take more game time to fine form, and thinking back, Monreal never was a player who’d hit the ground running, always getting better the more minutes he played so I reckon there’s life in him yet.
I read that too which is good news Kev. Solanke can be a threat though.
So do I Wavy, both of mine have gone. Not literally of course but getting out of bed in the morning is a bit of a struggle…
Kev, I’ve not given up on him, not yet. Just concerned really because if this is the beginning of the end in the PL, we need to look elsewhere. At least Emery doesn’t seem to overplay his older guys. Santa could and should have played longer for us but was managed poorly I think.
G’day to you all, another good ‘un Rico thank you.
Talking of fullbacks we’ve recently been linked with Aaron Wan-Bissaka the young (21) England right back at Crystal Palace, the downside is the transfer fee, a reported £40 million. Could we spend that on a back-up to Hector Bellerin? Doing so would spell the end for Jenkinson and probably Lichtsteiner too.
Perhaps recalling Chambers and flogging Mustafi would ease the money situation.
The problem area in our defe4nce is the left side. Despite Shearers lavish praise for Kolascinac, although good going forward I’m not convinced that he is the defender we require. Monreal as back-up would probably do for another season, but I’d like to see a good young right back brought in, one who can actually defend. How much we can rely on Koscielny is open to question, injuries, age and a likely decline in pace all militate against him, it’s one of the reasons I believe we should recall Chambers.
As to tonight’s game, Iwobi could be injured, so perhaps we’ll see a bit more of Suarez.
Afternoon all and thanks Rico for Kevs inspiration whatever it was ! 😆
Possibly an EPL record win for us tonight if the players listen to Dick.
Although very patchy with form and not knowing which Arsenal will turn up we are 8 points better off than this point last season and with my predicted record EPL score we will be 11 points better off than this time last season once game is finished !………………………..could be at least 6 hattricks tonight so place some bets !
🙂
Normal Ice Cream weather here…………………….then again as an Ice Cream addict I could quite easily live in a freezer !………………………………………Moomaids of Zennor do an unbelievably delicious salted caramel ice cream………….Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Interested (rumour) in Celtic`s FB as well, can`t remember his name so lets just call him Jock McSporranface for now !
Le Coq, there are probably better full backs in the lower end of the Championship than at Celtic. 😉
Thanks Cicero.
I can see us selling Chambers before Mustafi because Chambers is likely to make us a profit being English. Can’t see any other club paying £35m for Mustafi unless a defence minded manager/coach believes he could turn him into a much better player.
I think a few people on here said the same about VVD when he was at Celtic.. .
The exception that proves the rule, Rico. 😉
Wanyama Cicero? 😜
Another fullback rumour up here that’s been doing the rounds for weeks is us being interested in Norwich’s right back Max Aarons.
Also regarding the Chambers/Mustafi choice, we have got to be careful with homegrown players.
Le Coq – do you remember Jermaine McSporran. Saw him play a reserve match at Highbury back in the day. One of Wengers random spots.
Depends how many youngsters get promoted Hobart, we have two English defenders coming through
Why did we not think in Vestegaard (Southampton) ?
I don’t know JM, it’s all so typical of Arsenal…
What do you think Rico, so so typical?
The Celtic left back, Tierney I think, wasn’t Wenger after him a couple of years ago?
England set the Windies a remarkable total 419 in 50 overs. Amazing!
Didn’t Wenger try to sign Pele when he was a baby? 😉
What has a Japanese restaurant chain got to do with football Rico? 😉
I’d swerve saints Kev/Jm 😉
I’m watching Jm,get Gayle out and it’s over I reckon
Arsenal: Leno, Jenkinson, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal, Kolasinac, Guendouzi, Torreira, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Aubameyang
Subs: Cech, Mustafi, Elneny, Iwobi, Suarez, Ramsey, Lacazette
Oh god! 3 at the back….
Probably A relative of Jock McSporranface, Hobart.
Our Dick is rotating with a view to the NLD me thinks !
That defence looks like 3 at the to me.
Jenks back… Interesting.
Gayle and Bravo having real go. 108 off 58 balls and 60 off 55.
Not sure whether to watch this or the Chelsea / Spurs game.
Lichtsteiner injured again Rico?
Moheen Ali’s first two overs go for 31.
Bravo out for 61.
:Good heavens, it’s Ozil, 1-0….
Didn’t Lichtsteiner hurt his back against Southampton?
Let’s hope that Chelsea and Spurs kick each other to pieces and Palace stuff Man Utd.
You want to see Arsenal being ruthless for a change, we let opponents off the hook too often when we have them with their backs to the wall, when we should be smashing them –
as Man City do…
Bournemouth coming back into it, Leno has had to make a smart save.
Chelsea hit the post, sounds a good game. A bit physical, lovely, get stuck in lads… 😄
Liverpool 1-0 😴
Mkhitarayan 2-0, don’t ease up lads….
Guendouzi daydreaming, caught in possession, 2-1 ☹️
And then we concede.. bugger!
Yes Cicero, not serious though I think Emery said
How’s the cricket going Rico?
Liverpool 2-0 😴😴
You watching Kev?
Not sure Kev, watching our game
261 for 4. Gayle 137 n o
this obsession with passing it out from the back
I’m listening to the Chelsea vs Spurs game on BBC London and looking at the BBC website.
I’ve seen our goals on Arsenalist, Aubameyang did a brilliant decoy run in the build up to the Mkhitarayan goal…
It’s playing out from the back . Guendouzi has a case on foul but the ball should have been played to him in the first place
Crunching tackle from Jenks, real old school…
Potter, don’t start me in that “playing out from the back” tripe!!
Because it’s popular, doesn’t mean it’s good!!!
I hate it.
Was it a penalty on Sokratis?
Kind of hoping Emery is noticing how well Jenkinson is playing…….
I’d say bang on Kev. Pen and possible red card.
6 of one and half dozen of the other I’d say Kev. I can see why it wasn’t given.
Cheers Hobart, that’s normal I suppose, the radio are saying it’s a pen, but we never get them.
ManUtd 1-0 ☹️
Can you imagine a Jenkinson playing against Spurs, he wouldn’t need motivating…
Jenks has had a decent first half..
Gayle out for 162 off 164 balls incredible batting. 295 for 5. Windies need 119 from 89 balls. Could be tight.
Ozil and Mhiki tieng them in notts on the right. lovely build up to the goal.
or even tying….
That Gayle innings was even better, it was 162 in 164 minutes off 97 balls .
Bang bang 4-1
Koscielny
Aubameyang
Koscielny and Aubameyang make it 4 – 1. C’mon you Gunners!!!!
Keep going, we need more goals, it’s worth another point…
Come On You Eagles (Glaziers) do us a favour…
Buttlers innings was better Cicero 😂
Chelsea 1-0
Arsenal could finish the day only 4 points behind Tottenham…
Man City 1-0
Rico on for Bournemouth….
You kept that quiet… 😉
I tried to keep it quiet Kev.. 😂
I didn’t see the England innings Rico but will gladly take your word for it. 😉
Both were superb Cicero. Quality batting.. Morgan too.
Lacazette makes it a fiver
Lacazette makes it 5
How’s the cricket going Cicero?
Windies need 61 from 6 overs 358 for 6.
Koscielny crocked?
England need wickets
Not another fcuking ACL..?
Kos was trodden on, should be ok.. 🤞
All over 5 – 1. Koscielny limping heavily.
Why a dirty lot of bastards.
What a dirty lot of bastards.
Why Adam? Why?
I always ask that myself…. 😉
Rico… 😄
Chelsea 2-0
Our next two matches are so so important. If only we could win both…
Wicket Nurse out. Windies need 30 from fifteen balls.
England win… brilliant..
Braithwaite out for 50. Bishop out for nought. England win by 29 runs. Great game!
Excellent, I’m gonna enjoy MotD tonight….
Night Rico
Night Gooners
Spuds beaten 2 – 0.
Good night Gooners ….. everywhere.
Kev. There were some real X – rated tackles out there by Bournemouth tonight. Eddie Howe has been going down this route for sometime.
I can’t stand him. 😊
Night Kev, all.
How can you guys talk about cricket when the Spuddies are imploding lol Im Irish(oh you have guessed) so dont know a lot about cricket. Now need to beat the Spuddies (by a cricket score of course) lol
In my world the epitome of a perfect day is when we win and Spuds lose, only better when we beat them…………………………I`m a happy man today, but on the weekend I could be much more happier !
🙂
Cool calm finish almost Henryesque !
https://twitter.com/FrimponOnline/status/1100875560203493377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1100875560203493377&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Farsenalarsenal.net%2F2019%2F02%2F27%2Fbournemouth-preview%2F
How is it possible to pass the ball with Ghendouzy with his back to the game, at the entrance of the penalty area and surrounded by opponents? Pathetic!
The Bournemouth player who intentionally steps on the knee Kos, is not sent off? Pathetic!
Wake up you lot!!
Everyone should be leaping out of bed and bouncing through the day 🙂
I am Scott, I’ve been writing though to give you something to be critical of. Lol
New post up now
Oohhh that’s harsh 🙂