Morning all.
What a weird end to the season this is turning out to be. Not one of ourselves, Utd or Chelsea seem to want that precious fourth spot. Or third it seems as we’ve all been given the chance to do so. Only to blow it. I thought after our rather fortunate victory at Watford, it was going to be us to take advantage this weekend, especially after Utd and Toots lost their matches. But no, we flunked too. Those three results let Chelsea in as a win last night would have seen them into third spot, albeit for just twenty four hours probably, but they two dropped points at Stamford Bridge against Burnley. A point was enough though for them to overtake us albeit having played an extra game.
Arsenal:- Wolves, Leicester and Burnley away. Brighton at home. Toots:- Brighton, West Ham and Everton at home. Bournemouth away. Chelsea:- Utd and Leicester away. Watford at home. Utd:- City, Chelsea and Cardiff at home. Huddersfield away.
The way results have been going of late, it’s impossible to predict where points will be won or lost. As much as I hate to say it, Toots don’t look as if they’re likely to drops points at home and I very much doubt Bournemouth away will pose them many problems either. A two legged tie against Ajax is sandwiched in between their fixtures.
Chelsea have a tough run in as anything could happen in any of their fixtures as all the clubs they face are in good form. It’s the same for us too although I’d like to think we could beat Brighton at The Emirates. I know, I thought we’d beat Crystal Palace too! Both Chelsea and ourselves have Europa fixtures to contend with too. Chelsea definitely have a deeper squad to deal with both competitions.
Finally Utd. They are all over the place right now but with just top four to chase, they might just spring a surprise. At least one of them or Chelsea will drop points when they go head to head. A draw would suit us best right now.
As it stands, top four is still in our own hands. Just.
The team selection on Sunday backfired on Unai Emery but even so, it was basic schoolboy errors which lost us the match. Actually, Mustafi cost us the match regardless of the team Emery selected. I’d like to think he’ll learn from his mistakes but I very much doubt he will. He’s a liability, a player we all anticipate will make at least one mistake in a match. As Kev said yesterday, giving Mavropanos what would be only his third start of the season tomorrow night might be a risk, but it’s a risk worth taking perhaps especially as Sokratis should be by his side. The Greek is vocal and I’m sure he’d help him, just as he did Rob Holding when they were paired together. Anyone but Mustafi is how I feel right now.
Moving away from the Mustafi headache and all the top four fuss, I wouldn’t care where we finish if we win the Europa Cup. To achieve that would be pretty special I reckon. Fans love a trophy, I know I love a trophy and the Europa isn’t one to scoff at. It’s a tough competition to win for many reasons. Ok, the opposition might not be as strong as the Champions League but even so, there’s always a few top clubs to overcome. We’re two matches away from a final and as much as Emery says he takes things one game at a time, he must have the Europa Cup in his mind. 2nd May is our first match and it’s at home which I personally prefer to it being away and we’re at home in the league the following Sunday too which makes a pleasant change. Then it’s off to Spain three days later before a trip to Burnley on the final day of the season.
Finally, hoorah I hear you say. Well, anyone who has carried on reading this far. The Mail printed this at the weekend.
Martinelli? Would that be shaken but not stirred?
See you in the comments guys…
Morning Rico and all.
“Anyone but Mustafi”.
Couldn’t agree more. I am struggling to think of a worse buy for Arsenal, though no doubt others can. I wonder if we can sell him and if we can get any money for him. The idea of him at the club next season is appalling.
Morning Adam.
I wish Emery would be more brave. Mavropanos, Medley or Ballard are proper defenders. Raw yes but so was Holding but look how well he progressed. Give me a proper raw defender over a clumsy and slow and mistake ridden guy every day of the week… I’d rather Jenks at CB to be honest.
Rico. I sincerely hope we never see Jenks in the shirt again personally. He is nowhere near Arsenal level, though he’s not alone in that respect. The folly of not buying a proper CB/defender in January has bitten us. When I mentioned a 5-month loan for Cahill the response was underwhelming, which I understood, but in the latter stages of the season it’s dog eat dog and he would have come in handy.
I’d still rather Jenks than Mustafi Adam. Alongside Sokratis he’d be ok I reckon and at least he’d give 100%. He may not have the talent, but would Zaha have gone past him as easy as he did Mustafi? I doubt it.
We’re we not snookered financially in January?
Not so snookered that we couldn’t afford Dennis Suarez apparently Rico and what a success he’s been. I know you like Jenks but I think he’s a massive liability. On the other hand I think just about every Arsenal supporter, worldwide is sick to death of Mustafi.
I don’t buy the scare stories about the transfer funds. If you want to challenge for the big prizes, you need the squad. That’s all there is to it. You don’t hire Raul etc if you’re going to play the pauper and I doubt he would have come if things were that tight. To me it’s all a throwback to the ‘poor us’ days of the previous manager.
Emery has some serious managing to do right now.
True Adam re Suarez. I think Cahill can be a liability too though. He got away with a lot for Chelsea, certainly against us but there’s little doubt in an Arsenal shirt, he’d be penalised.
I guess there’s a difference between having money, which I too believe we have is masses, and spending it. Wasn’t it Raul himself who said we couldn’t spend in January and wouldn’t be big money spenders?
Personally, I think many questions about those running the club will be answered this summer. The sales, signings etc. Especially as our new Adidas deal finances kick in.
Good morning Rico, good morning Adam. Good news from the Mail this morning, one of the first names on the summer for sale list…Mustafi!
I too thought we should have taken Cahill on loan, he would have made a big difference to our goals against stat.
Rico. True, but Cahill is an experienced defender so perhaps he might have been an improvement. I guess we’ll never know. I don’t know who said what about the finances but it’s become something of a mantra at Arsenal to plead poverty while charging the highest prices. Attendance figures this season are not great though.
As ever, we will wait and see what happens. I fear not a lot, but then I am in a negative frame of mind where out management is concerned. When you are losing there always seem to be more and more issues I suppose. 😃
Morning Cicero, I think Mustafi is on everyone’s for sale list. Lol
Didn’t Cahill want a permanent move only? His wages would be a huge risk imo.
I’ve just looked up the Chelsea wage bill and if it’s correct, only Hazard earns more than most of ours. I’m surprised. Those who negotiated our players contracts have a lot to answer for.
Adam, it’s unlike you to be negative…. 😜
Re Cahill, I guess I think along the lines of if he’s not good enough to get into the Chelsea side, he’s not good enough for us.
I think Cahill had a couple of occasions when he could have joined us.When he was at Bolton we apparently upset them by putting in a fatuous bid for him and when told to up it – we refused , and of course we tried to get him from Chelsea on loan whilst Koscielny was injured . The ship had sailed by then but I don’t doubt that from the players point of view the original valuation we put on him probably put his nose out of joint and he did not want to come because of that.
I think that we will do well to get 6 points from those last 4 games but think 4 more likely. Valencia and then Chelsea in the final is our only hope . A long injuy to Hazard would be handy at this time.
Hi all.
We’re all agreed, Mustafi must go but……….who on earth will want to buy him? I wouldn’t wish him on the Orient, as they prepare for life in Div 2!
Could Shokdran be trusted with cleaning the club’s boots? Do you know I doubt it, I suspect he’d keep dropping the brushes or missing the bits on the back etc etc.
Will we be eaten by wolves tomorrow or will we be the kings of the West Midlands? Given last night’s result a draw may be enough!wrong attitude that but I feel I’m being a bit realistic given our continued away form!
Warmish but dry albeit a bit dull here today. I’m really looking forward to the torrential rain event tomorrow!!
I think the one we might struggle in is Burnley away. The others are winnable if we’re up for it. A lot depends on who’s fit though and whether Mustafi plays I guess.
Inter want him apparently Wavy. They can have him..l
Morning Gooners…
Let’s twist again, like we did last summer.
Let’s twist again, like we did last year. Etc (I don’t know the rest)
Morning Rico, good post.
Yes, Adam can do a good Chubby Checker impersonation when playing his banjo, I’ve been majorly impressed when visiting his lovely home and witnessing his snake like moves as he boogies across his front room in his slippers, it’s a scene to behold… 😃
Morning Kev, thanks.
Chubby Checker was a bit before my time. 😜
Rico and all, maybe English football is just too intense for his skill set – whatever that might be?
You don’t, after all, get into the German national team regularly, if you’re a complete and utter useless pillock, so maybe he’s just more suited to football in Spain and Italy?
I hope he is seen as a really decent defender from those interested parties abroad because then we’d get a decent price for him, so let’s not totally rubbish him and his value as we did with Denilson, otherwise he will eventually leave and we’ll get zero value for him…
To me Mustafi plays on the edge too often, if the game gets too intense, as it did vs Palace, he seems to panic and almost throws his hands up in exasperation as if to say ‘I cannot cope’ and then passes the responsibilities onto someone else as he did for the goal Zaha scored when he left Leno exposed and then tried to blame him…
It’s quite noticeable that Mustafi doesn’t have these episodes in european competition, well not that I can recall…
The Premier League is unique, it doesn’t suit everyone, look at Sokratis, German fans of Dortmund thought we’d wasted our money when we signed him for £17.7m – and that he was washed up, but he’s been an absolute revelation in England, well I think he has…
Now what’s to say that Mustafi could not go to Inter and have a great career in Serie A..?
Anyway I hope the Italians think so and that we get a good price for him…
Unfortunately Rico, he wasn’t before my time, but I’m wearing well… 😉
If I have one criticism of Unai Emery – and in general I think he’s been like a breath of fresh tactical air blowing through our club – I’d have to say that he seems too reluctant to trust our young players and that has kind of left him hamstrung, because if he’d given Nketiah and Willock and Medley and Mavropanos more minutes in games earlier this season, then I think he’d have more options when it comes to rotation now, when he needs some fresh legs.
As we’ve seen with Mavropanos recently, throwing him in at the 11th hour, with zero preparation in games, has really seen our young Greek getting hung out to dry and it’s not fair on him because fans will judge him and judge him too harshly…
That’s how I feel too Kev. He’s just one of a number of players who don’t suit the PL. perhaps it’s too quick and his brain, nor his feet can keep up.
I hope he goes and has a great career elsewhere.. same with others who leave.
😆 Kev, you certainly are.
No disagreement from me re Emery and the younger players. Other clubs seem to trust them more. However, I suspect his first thoughts were to stop the rot, get the fans back and go from there. Devil and deep blue sea spring to mind.
Had we not got to where we are in the league I think he might well have been more adventurous with the kids but when you are actually in a position to get 4th caution takes over. We have to hope that he sees enough of them in training to make a judgement .
Good point Potter, although I think that there has been a few occasions this season when he could have given our youngsters a few minutes at the end of games, but then I suppose politics and squad harmony come into it…
There are times when I would have thrown Nketiah on for 10 minutes to change the system but usually when he’s on the bench Iwobi gets to come on. Pecking order I suppose.
Me too re Eddie, the young winger too. Even it’s it’s just five minutes to start with. Build them up both in confidence and playing time. Willock is another I’d have liked to have seen play more.
Mind you, the under 23’s need him too I guess..
Seems that Emery is talking up Mavropanos, so that could mean Dinos starting at Molyneux alongside Sokratis, allowing Koscielny the chance to rest and that makes a lot of sense to me, all Unai has to decide is does he go three at the back or a back four?
Could mean a back four of Monreal, Mavropanos, Sokratis and Mustafi, pushing Maitland Niles into midfield if Xhaka doesn’t make it?
Mix n match…
And yes, that was Mustafi, playing him at full back is less of a risk than playing him at centre back which is a big fat no, not unless there is absolutely no alternative.
Xhaka has a hip problem, Torrieira has a groin issue and we really don’t want either of them joining Ramsey in the treatment room, so I wouldn’t risk either of them, we’ll need them for Valencia…
What does everyone think about the Edu rumours?
Seems that he could be joining us next July…
Rico, I’ve heard that Willock is injured ffs… 😕
Afternoon all, Sun’s up finally and hopefully that’s a good sign for tomorrow.
Gerard made a massive, rather costly mistake in 2014 which cost Liverpool against Chelsea and ultimately the title chance, but that was a rare mistake, from someone eminently better than Mustafi.
Mustafi reminds me of Mertesacker, both German ex-internationals who didn’t have the pace to be up for first team football.
Any forward worth his wages could easily outpace and, outwit both of them, which is what Mustafi’s problem.is, and however much hand-wringing EU does won’t change that fact.
I see a huge wave of open dislike and distrust of this man in the comments, and although it won’t have any impact whatsoever on team selection, I’m adding my criticism too.
My opinion of EU has also taken a negative direction – all the games from Wolves onwards, are massively difficult, and goals will be hard to come by but we don’t need players who are building a reputation for not being up to the task.
I do not rate our chances tomorrow so I hope I am proved wrong.
What must the youngsters, like Mavropanos, Medley etc, think to see Monreal at centre back. They must know that their chances of getting on their pitch are next to zero. Will they want to hang around the academy next season in the hope that they’ll get the odd few minutes. I don’t think so.
Edu and a young Brazilian Kev, it’s in the post. 😜
Not read that about Willock, not a bad one I hope. I suppose if Mustafi has to play, right back is less dangerous than centre back but I’d rather he was on the bench. In Regents Park!
Andorra, Merts had a footballing brain though and could read a game. Slow yes, but I’d rather him than Mustafi even now…
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/8873211/arsenal-transfer-window-stan-kroenke/
I hope this article has some substance rico. Would be nice, but it’s the Sun so I’m not holding my breath.
Great post btw.
I remember “Lets twist again” By Chubby Checker very well rico.
At 11 years of age, I entered a twisting competition, dancing to that song, at a Christmas party at Ford Motor Company’s Christmas do in Dagenham, Essex. Big turn outs at the time they were too.
I was well chuffed as I won my age group . LOL……… I won a space gun, how about that….. LMFAO.
Won F— All since…….!!!!!! lol.
Thanks Vcc.
Not sure I’d take anything from The Sun seriously either..
Ha ha re Chubby Checker you, HH’s very own John Travolta eh.. 😜
You’re right Rico, about Merts that is. I think Regents Park would be too posh for Mustafi but I DO like the idea….LOL!!
Nice to see Stan making some extra dosh but will The Emirates see it?
Fingers crossed and hoping the Wolves will be toothless tomorrow……….
First one to come into my head Vcc other than Hyde Park and I think there’s been trouble there.
Brighton held them to a draw at the weekend so surely we can go one better..
Evening all and thanks Rico.
My only concern is Spuds winning CL, I dont care about the rest of the top 4/EL permutations and I`m not the only one as listening to Perry Groves last Friday on TS he was of the same opinion and all the Arsenal callers/ texters/tweeters apart from one caller were of the same opinion too…………………….they would all rather not get EL glory or top 4 if it meant Spuds losing CL final !
If VCC was to try and dance like Chubby Checker now his missus would have to call out the Fire Brigade to untangle him from his zimmer frame !
Brave Brighton couldn’t quite hold out against the Spuds, an. 88th minute goal means a one nil defeat for the south coast club.
Lucky Lucky Lucky Lucky Lucky Lucky Lucky Lucky Spuds
Sadly, very very sadly I see St Totteringham’s day slipping away.
Sweet dreams everybody.
He only ever really peeked round the curtains and had he materialised it was always because of their failure rather than our abilities. As always we have to look at ourselves to win games rather than hope for others to fail.
My hope is that their Champions league campaign goes no further and that a few of their big hitters decide to go to pastures new which should slow them down a bit and drop back to our current level .
Trouble is Potter, their big hitters will generate big money to reinvest, ours on the other hand wouldn’t. Unless we sell some of the youngsters who are showing great potential and I wouldn’t want us to do that.
Morning to you and all.
A few words from Unai Emery concerning Mustafi, “he has the quality to play for Arsenal”. “We need him for the rest of the season”.
My question is does that mean Arsenal’s quality his not high enough? Does the second quote indicate that he’s not needed next season?
Where are my manners? Good morning folks.
I wouldn’t read anything into his comments on Mustafi, translation isn’t always good. Lol
New post up now