Morning all.
Gary Neville, the man who failed in his one and only attempt at managing a football team has really torn into Arsenal, or rather half of the team who failed to impress against Liverpool.
It looked like a group of players who weren’t comfortable, like there was a disconnect between them and the manager. The manager looked like he’d had enough of them. He had that glazed-eye look. It’s instinct, but we’ve been around football for long enough to know when a group of players are disinterested.
The shape under Mikel Arteta has been really good. The back four pushes up to a really good line. They have a compact 30 or 35 meters between them.
He’s not going to be able to implement his plan unless those players from Saturday decide to start playing for them, or he gets rid of them. I doubt the first option because something didn’t feel right. I came away feeling there were real issues with a group of those players.
He was mainly referring to our front players, Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang and Ceballos. Odegaard escaped criticism as he was at least trying. Neville went onto suggest there’s a ‘mini mafia’ against Mikel Arteta which might be a result of Aubameyang being dropped for the Toots game.
If, and it is an if, Neville is right, Mikel Arteta really does have a big problem. A similar kind of problem to the one Unai Emery had around two years ago. Reaching the Europa Cup Final was relatively easy but when it came to big game, the final, a performance reminiscent to that on Saturday night unfolded. Yet only two players from that final in 2019 were in the team which lost to Liverpool. Aubameyang and Lacazette. For Unai Emery, the problems continued into the following season until eventually, he was sacked.
Player power is strong but it’s also dangerous. Footballers shouldn’t be allowed to dictate what goes on at a club in my opinion. The board and manager need to stand together against the trouble makers if there are any, just as they clearly did with other players who appeared to have ‘issues’ with the manager. Mesut Ozil was left out of the squad entirely when his work ethic dropped so I can’t see what the difference is with Aubameyang who just a week ago was running around like a man half his age whilst playing for his country.
Arsenal have to come first, not players egos. Play hard or don’t play, especially when that player is earning mega money each week. If Mikel Arteta has any hope of finishing in a Europa League position in May, or even winning the competition this year, he needs players who’ll give 100% all the time, not just when they feel like it.
I’d rather see an Arsenal team lose or draw with a group of players who want to play for Arsenal, players who at the end of the game have given their everything for the team, their manager and the Arsenal fans. At least they tried which is more than can be said about two three who played on Saturday. Not just Saturday either.
Ceballos won’t be at Arsenal next season I’m sure, so there’s no reason to play him really. Personally, I doubt Aubameyang and Lacazette will be either but out of the two, it’s Lacazette who still puts a shift in. Pepe, well I think he’s trying but just not succeeding very well and for what it’s worth, I don’t think he’ll be at Arsenal either when the new season kicks off.
Gabriel Martinelli should be though, so perhaps now is his time. If him playing means Aubameyang misses out, then I’m all for that.
See you in the comments.
Morning all.
Rico, I don’t believe there is a major problem.
Arteta knows he wants gone, and I’m sure he’s only playing some of these imposters out of necessity to give other a rest.
Right now, Europa League games are the target, and we see who plays in those.
We also saw who played and more importantly, who did not play v Spuds so I think it’s clear the direction Arteta is taking us.
Emery lacked the support of the players, the fans but most importantly, the board and that’s the difference as Arteta most definitely has their backing.
The process is there, and it moves forward but it’ll never be fast enough for plenty and that’s done, it’s been a dry old decade and a half but hopefully the next few years shows us that our patience ( I jest ) was rewarded.
Michael Owen, Ian Wright, Gael Clichy, Jermaine Pennant, Jermaine Jenas, Uncle Tom Cobbley, they’ve all had a view and an opinion on who we should sign and what we should do and they all have this opinion because they need an income and they’re not going to get that income from coaching because they can’t do it to any significant standard. Therefore it’s just noise…
Yes it’s frustrating and this season may well end in huge disappointment with Arsenal out of Europe but Chelsea lost at home to West Brom by 2-5 and nobody is saying anything? There’s been some crazy results this season and it can’t end soon enough for me.
Ignoring all the media bluster can be difficult because they’re desperate for clicks and they love a bit of a crisis, even when there isn’t one. Well they can all do one.
We have hopefully 13 more games in about 6 and a half weeks or so and maybe a trip to the Polish Corridor to look forward to but in the meantime I’d like to think that Arteta will use some of our remaining 8 League games to introduce Miguel Azeez to 1st team football because he could save us a big transfer fee in the summer. I’m sure if Freddie was still at the club that he’d be pushing his claims to be given a chance. What a shame Freddie left…
Scott, I get what you’re saying but had Aubameyang not been late, I suspect he’d have played against the Toots.
I think we’ll know a lot more after the summer. I’m hoping 2/3 of the so called big names are gone.
I have to write about something Kev. Lol
Hi Rico, you maybe right but I reckon he’s stamped his papers now.
We just need to find a buyer 🙂
Like Ozil Scott, I think it’s such a great shame that the talent is wasted.
Kev, the thing is that the above mentioned pundits are saying exactly what we are saying as well. Yes you are right that they have to say something to earn their money, however we are not earning anything….but we are all singing from the same sheet.
And yes I am am with you 1million per cent when you say that in our remaining league games players like Azeez should be introduced. That is why I keep on saying that Arteta has nothing to lose by playing Nelson and giving him 2 or 3 games in succession. Better than playing Ceballos or Willian for sure.
Just a slight correction Rico…..besides Auba and Laca in the final against the Chavs there was also Xhaka. The rest have all gone, either retired, released for free, sold or loaned.
No Xhaka for the Liverpool game though Devil, I was comparing the final to Saturdays game.
oh. you are correct. my mistake.
Well if the cat was still in the bag Rico it certainly isn’t now. I totally agree Lacazette and Pepe tried but pepe just is cut out for the PL, and when you think unai wanted Zaha where would we be now?
So are we all saying it’s mostly if, if not entirely Auba who looks to have checked out since his big money contract. I would love to see Ian Wright interview Auba now talking about wanting to be a legend!!
It’s a shame but we should cash in on Auba and give Balogun the centre forward role alongside Lacazette. I can’t think of a better outcome than where we are today, give him a decent wage ensure points tally bonus at season end is in most contracts if not all. In fact I would be playing Balogun from now on and just drop Auba get him a big money transfer.
I too think Auba has downed tools this season Mig. He has the odd better game but to me, he looks bored.
Ditto re Balogun, See if his introduction works until the end of the season and you never know, he might want to stay then too.
I understand Rico, I really do… 🙂
You are quite tame compared to some of the other guff that is doing the rounds. I don’t even get annoyed by it anymore I just shrug my shoulders a sigh because I can’t understand why any Arsenal fan should care what any pundit says about our club, I mean you can work it out for yourself by watching the games. The players don’t change that much and nor do our results – that’s a clue. 😉
DG, I would never agree with Jermaine Jenas 🙂
Retrospect is a wonderful thing Mig and it’s intriguing to wonder where we would have been now as a club if Emery had got the players he wanted instead of the players Raul wanted?
Emery wanted players I’d hazard a guess for technical reasons and to help him play the style he wanted, Raul wanted players as an investment who could then be sold at a profit if they did well.
The irony is if we wanted to sell Pepe now we would make a substantial loss – so much for a recruitment policy based on investment…
Kev, I doubt whether Jenas would ever agree with himself either.
Whenever I see him I just switch to another channel. I dont want to die of laughter. Plus it would save me from buying a new flatscreen. 😂😂😂😂😂 plus he is a dick because he speaks out of somewhere else other than his mouth and brain. Oh he hasnt got one. 😂😂😂😂😂
https://www.theguardian.com/football/football-league-blog/2021/apr/06/how-did-gillingham-become-the-only-efl-club-not-to-pay-agents-a-penny-football
This is a good read on agents.
There is adanger of going overboard on Balogun , afterall how many of us have actually seen him play 90 minutes . Like Eddie who has scored for fun in young age football for both club and country and now has probably plateaued Balogun may well be the same
.
As kids I remember Reid and Shaw , Lupoli and Bendtner , Kevin Campbell tearing the place up but only the last two did anything meaningful for the first team.
I agree that to bring him in and give him a chance is a tempting alternative but I would think that Martinelli is in front of him in the pecking order having already scored 10 times for the first team in 33 appearences as opposed to Nketiah@ 7 first team goals in 43 appearences.
I would like to find how these figures are distorted by minutes on the pitch but such information is hard to find.
As I said yesterday lets give Nelson a run of games and I would have no problem with Azeez getting time either . At some point we have to find out where these players are , it might as well be now.
DG, Jenas has a very amiable, fireside manner and that suits TV, he is a very good talker (I bet he wouldn’t shut up on the pitch when he was playing) and that suits TV, he gets on well with all the other ‘experts’ in the studio, but he’s an ex Scummer and therefore when it comes to Arsenal he talks out of his rectum.
Balogun is going to be a good striker one day, but he’s not there yet and he’s not worth the £40k pw his agent is angling for…
Nelson is a bit of a mystery, it’s makes me wonder if something may have gone on behind the scenes?
He probably should have taken the loan that was offered to him in January the same as Willock and Maitland Niles.
I did read that Preston NE were in for him.
In all honestly we have so many players that don’t suit Arteta’s style that it’s going to take more than this summer to move them on and replace them.
IMO, as far as I am concerned we have 3 groups of players.
Those we build around, those that need a chance, those that can be useful for a season or two but ultimately could be used to raise funds.
Build around.
Tierney
Gabriel
Saka
Odegaard
ESR
Partey
Martinelli
Need a chance.
Saliba
AMN
Mavropanos
Ryan
Useful but ultimately a squad player or expendable.
Leno
Bellerin
Ceballos
Lacazette
Willian
Holding
Soares
Aubameyang
Torriera
Guendouzi
Runarsson
Chambers
Luis
Mari
Xhaka
Pepe
Nelson
Nketiah
G’day all.
Yes Arsenal have a big problem!
I don’t need a bunch of over-paid. rent-a-gob has-beens to tell me what I can see with my own eyes.
In a word the problem is Aubameyang. He has given up, his attitude stinks and he’s not worth a place in the team.
The younger players look up to him, he’s been at the club while they have been growing up, but he’s letting them down now instead of inspiring them. He’s not providing leadership on the pitch, nor is he demonstrating the need for hard work and determination.
It is down to Arteta to change that attitude but I’m not sure he has the managerial nous to do so, now he no longer has a world class manager at his shoulder to back him up.
Hi Rico.. wasn’t expecting to have this conversation so soon after UE’s departure!
I was led to believe once Ozil (& the others) departed all would be hunk-dory… groundhog day???
If we don’t see a reaction from the players on Thursday, I think that’ll answer our question as to whether there’s a problem or not..
Hi Sue, blame Auba. Lol
Pepe has been the same since day one imo, good one minute, poor for the next 85.
The only player who really frustrates me is our captain.
If only we’d got Zaha instead… 😍
Potter, I believe Balogun is one of those who need a chance too. Were it not for his contract being up this summer, he could wait another season but I’ve a feeling his Arsenal career is pretty much over. Nearly ten years of bringing him up, he obviously feels unwanted, a bit like a keeper we once had I guess.
Afternoon Rico and the House.
What a weird day day in Kent
Last week it was 23 degrees today its snowing.
It’s been snowing on and off all day here Rick, just flurries and not settling. Very cold though.
What is Arteta’s style though Hobart?
Afternoon Rick, I mowed our lawn earlier in the snow. That was a first. Lol
Slava Prague’s Kudela has been given a 1game UEfa ban for abusing Kamara when they played Rangers.
He is banned for the game against us on thurs a game he would not play in
because he is injured LOL
Hi Rico
I think he wants to play a 4231, 2 passing centre backs, a high press, double pivot in midfield, 3 technical attacking midfielders, overlapping fullbacks and an all round centre forward.
Possession football, with a technical edge.
Kev
the u18.s played Soton (a) this morining finished 2-2
Goal scores Khalon Edwards and Omari Hutchinson.
Omari is making everyone take notice
7goals and 7 assists so farand there some saying he should be in the u23’s
I disagree he is a first year scholar and I think he should stay where he is
for the rest of this season at least
They should defer the ban Rick.
Hi Hobart. You’re right then, the squad needs a lot of changes..
Not exactly a 4-2-3-1 Hobart. If you have observed the trio of Xhaka, Partey, Odegaard playing together you would have noticed that whilst Xhaka stays back in a holding position, both Odegaard and PArtey attack from the left and right hand side respectively….the old inside left and inside right positions if you are familiar with old tactics. The wingers….Saka and ESR play in a slightly advanced role than the other two. HOwever when we are defending the winger come down and we get a midfield of Xhaka; Saka, Partey, Odegaard, ESR, So its more of a 4-1-2-3 with the formation becoming 4-1-4-1 when defending. That is why Auba flounders with such a formation because if he plays up front he does not hold the ball up and does not link up play until everyone is in his attacking place, whilst if he plays on the left he never tracks back to defend the LB position. And that is why Lacazette is of paramount importance to this formation. Because he can link up play and hold the ball until everyone, especially Saka and ESR take their place.
Pepe is better on the left than Auba. Martinelli is better there as well. Even Nelson.
That is one of the reasons why Auba sulks whenever he is on the left. Because he has added responsibilities which he does not want.
Rick….I agree with you about Omari staying where he is. In my own experience I never liked it whenever players got promoted to a superior age especially between 13 and 19. One of the reasons is physiological…the body of a man does not develop fully until the age of 22. If they are exposed to physical contact against adults their body will suffer more injuries and take longer to recover. We only need to look at Wilshere (JW10) and Michael Owen who both were overplayed by the age of 21 and the injuries they had took longer to recover. And they got injured frequently. Had JW10 played less in his teens he would have had better recoveries. With regards Saka and ESR that is my main concern. Yes Omari should stay where he is and be introduced to under 19 gradually, let alone u23
Decent games on tonight – come on City and Real… and darts is on – sorted!
And Emmerdale. 😜😜
🤣 no comparison hey, Rico?!
Absolutely not Sue. 😂
Who are we all cheering for tonight.
I want Bayern to win it
I’m cheering City and Real tonight, Rick!
Ditto, City and Real tonight. Any club bar Liverpool really.
Real 2-0 up, Rico. The scousers with zero shots – and look how good we made them look 😳 (makes me sick)
I’ve been watching on and off Sue, very depressing thinking back but pleased Real are winning.
Great night – thank you Real!! And well done Foden! 👌 What a player…
Devil- we do stretch the system around being in possession and out of it.
Regarding Xhaka dropping deeper, I think this is caused more by his style of play than by choice.
I think that having both available in a double pivot available to receive the ball is what Arteta wants when playing out from the back.
Frequently the defender gets grief for a mistake but often they have little choice, in space, in front of them. So end up playing a more difficult ball.
Hi Rico and all No matter what these players say I really don’t think they respect Arteta as a coach / manager.
I believe there are several reason why Arteta will not drop Auba for more than one match.
(1) Auba and Saka are close friends and he does not want to upset Saka (2) it does not look good if you drop the captain for not putting in and not strip him of the captaincy (3) he does not want another Ozil situation on his hands.
From what high lights I have seen yes we played crap against Liverpool but I think some people forget how good Liverpool were last year.
Geoff, thats cherry picking.
Plenty adore the guy and that’s obvious.
The likes of Tierney, Sake, ESR, Odegaard etc etc
Those that don’t are the players who don’t want to accept the responsibility he placed on them, so really, we are better off without them.
JAMES Olayinka will delay an operation on his groin injury in a bid to help Southend United stay up.
The midfielder, who is with Blues on loan from Arsenal, has been hindered by the injury for most of the season.
But Shrimpers boss Mark Molesley is hopeful Olayinka will still be able to play a part in his side’s remaining six matches.
“James is probably going to need some kind of intervention with the injury but we’re hoping to do that at the end of the season,” said the Blues chief.
“He had a chance of coming to the game on Tuesday but he wasn’t fit enough unfortunately.
“He wasn’t quite sprinting right but hopefully we’ll get some work into him on Thursday and Friday and see whether he can be in contention for Saturday’s match with Crawley.
“We’ll certainly be doing our best to keep him fit and then we’ll sort out that problem at the end of the season.”
Olayinka has missed Southend’s last two matches with the groin injury having previously been sidelined for two months with an ankle issue.
But the 20-year-old should soon be back in action.
“It’s something you can play on with but it can be quite sore when it’s inflamed,” explained Molesley.
“At the moment Arsenal are happy for him to play when he’s a bit more pain free and we all want to try and get him through it.
“It’s going to be on his pain threshold and he’s a got chance of being involved on Saturday.
“We’ll have to see how it goes but he will need an operation as there’s a groin issue which might need a small bit of micro surgery.”
Olayinka has scored three goals in 18 games for the Shrimpers this season.
I took that from the Southend Echo, I really like Olayinka, he’s gone a bit under the radar but whenever I’ve seen him he’s impressed me with his attitude, work rate and technique.
Putting off his op to help Southend shows the right spirit, a team player, I hope Arsenal give him a chance…
Scott how many players come out and say they hate or dislike the coach while they are still at the club, not many and not to mention how many clubs say the coach has there backing only to be sacked the following week.
If these players really cared about the coach they would give 100% each week no matter what position they are pick to play and not go missing like our players do.
As I said I will give Arteta until the middle or end of next season to prove him self.
Any young player who wants to win trophies and are playing in the senior team and the ones coming through will not stay at a middle of the ladder team no matter who the club or coach is.
Emmanuel Petit has torn into Arsenal in a scathing attack on his old club by branding their recent recruitment ‘ridiculous’ and slamming senior players for acting like they’re on ‘vacation’.
Arsenal have endured a miserable season to date and are currently lying in 10th position in the Premier League, some 10 points off the top four, with the Europa League their only chance of silverware.
Petit, 50, who spent three years playing for Arsenal between 1997 and 2000, has questioned the attitudes of Arteta’s senior players by suggesting that half of the squad needs to be sold.
‘I still believe they have some quality players available to them – do I think they have many quality players? No. They have a good group of young players, though that are still learning.
‘I think some of those youngsters can become very good in years from now – but to do that, they need to see an example being set by the senior players. It shouldn’t be at a club like Arsenal that the younger players are the only ones showing passion, fight and aggression.
‘It needs to come from the older players who should lead by example. When I look at the older players in the team, it’s like they think it’s a retreat football club, somewhere you just go for a vacation.
If you took away the name ‘Arsenal’ and looked at that group of players… average. At the end of the season, if I’m Arsenal, if I’m Arteta, if I’m on the board, to be honest with you, I think my main concern is getting half of the dressing room out.’
‘For me, the biggest mistake they have made in the last few years is their ridiculous transfer activity,’ he said.
‘They don’t have the same finances as Manchester United and Manchester City, but they’re not far behind those clubs. They still have the power to get big players in. But the way they’ve spent money in the last six or seven years… who is directing that?
‘I don’t understand the profile of players they’ve brought in – especially in defence.’
The World Cup winner believes Arteta is being too stubborn as well, and needs to be ‘realistic’ about the level of his players.
He added: ‘I really liked the first few weeks when Mikel Arteta came in, we could see instant improvements and you could see things he was trying to implement on the pitch, in particular out of possession. He set his side up very well in those opening weeks in charge.
‘But they’re constantly facing danger because they don’t have the technical capabilities to do the things Arteta wants them to do. Not only that, but they don’t have the confidence, either.
‘I don’t understand this with Mikel Arteta; you can tell he’s got an idea and he wants to stick with it – it doesn’t matter if he’s wrong, he wants to stick with his idea. It’s very similar to Pep Guardiola at Man City. But the big difference is that Man City’s dressing room and Arsenal’s dressing rooms are incomparable. You have to be realistic with the level of your players.’
“I try not to get emotional anymore when I look at Arsenal. I try to step back and put away my emotions. I try and look at them like a normal team. I have to tell myself ‘don’t expect anything special from them today.’ This is the way I am now.”
Matteo Guendouzi has been told to “shut his mouth” amid continuing uncertainty over the midfielder’s Arsenal future.
He’s featured 21 times in the Bundesliga so far this term, and Gunners legend Emmanuel Petit believes he needs to knuckle down and keep himself out of the
“I think things happened too quickly for Matteo Guendouzi at a time where he wasn’t strong enough mentally.
“He has a volcanic personality. He was called up to the French national team after a good run in the Arsenal team, but I didn’t see him have a very good game in that spell.
“He did OK in games, but as soon as he went to the national team, he changed on the pitch.
Kev, Petit needs to understand that changing a squad isn’t a 5 minute job.
We are building from a very low starting point, but as we all know, we can’t buy a squad so must build one.
Geoff, players who don’t like a manager don’t discuss the manager.
When was the last time you saw Auba speak about Arteta?
“He’s had arguments with referees, opponents, sometimes his own teammates, and I think this is something he has to control. If you want to reach the highest level and stay there, you have to control your emotions.
“He needs to realise this and adapt very quickly because I think he still has qualities and can bring something to Arsenal.
“When you can’t control your emotions, it’s very hard for your teammates to work with you, it’s hard for your fans to back you and it’s hard to keep out of the press limelight.
“But most importantly it’s hard for your manager to pick you. I remember he had a fight with Mikel Arteta and after that we didn’t see him again in an Arsenal shirt.
“You need to keep it in mind that at the end of the day you are just a player. Until you are the best player in the world, which you are not, you shut your mouth and keep working hard and respecting others.”
Petit does believe there is a way back for Guendouzi at the Emirates – as shown by Granit Xhaka.
He added: “Is there a future there for him at Arsenal? It’s not too dissimilar to the situation with Granit Xhaka a few years ago when he threw his shirt on the floor and fans turned against him.
“We thought his career at Arsenal was over but after a while he worked his way back into the team and fans forgave him. And he’s done well since he returned.
“You have the right to make mistakes, especially when you’re young. But that means you also have the right to a second chance, but you then have the obligation to learn from your mistakes.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing him back at Arsenal but I don’t think Arteta wants him back, and that’s the main problem.”
That’s not what Petit was really saying though was it Scott, he was talking about our recruitment over the last 6 or 7 years so that takes in Wenger, Gazides, Stat DNA, our scouts during that time, Mislintat, Raul, Emery, Edu and now Arteta, all whilst the Kronekes were focused on basketball and grid iron football…
Kev, he did say “the last few years” so I guess that encompasses three managers and their transfer “experts”.
Definitely some strange calls but without money to splash around, it can’t be an easy gig.
Never one to mince his words our Emanuel but he is only saying what a large proportion of supporters have been saying for some time . There is something rotten in the state of Arsenal and until it is purged there will be problems on the way.
One has to wonder how a hands on owner would face up to them unfortunately we don’t have one . Ours is an absentee owner that appoints people to keep his club on an even keel and hold it steady and seems to be satisfied with that level of commitment.
I don’t have a problem with Arsenal being self sufficient in the normal world and I don’t criticise KSE for not ploughing fortunes into the club to try and compete with the Man City , PSG model . What I do criticise them for is that on the surface they have made a series of upper management appointments that seem to have not worked for one reason or another.
In both my working life and my sporting endeavours , I know from experience that unless there is a very strong hand guiding things , certain people will find ways to do the very minimum whilst drawing the maximum.
I believe that this is where we have been since the days of Dein’s departure , we have had no driving force taking the club forward , away from the players we have had no-one take the club by the scruff of the neck and shake it from it’s inertia. Team and middle managers , chief executives , have come and gone and they have made some very strange contributions . There have been vanity projects and squabbles on and off the pitch at training and in the board room and lower.
It’s not entirely Arteta’s fault , neither was it Emerys’ whilst the Sanlehi , Fahmy , Mislintat , Gazidis , Edelman, Venkatesham , Lewis and now Garlicks of this world are weilding the day to day responsibility the magic roundabout will continue .
We need a strong hand at the top with two offices one in the ground and one at London Colney that watches and oversees the every day events. Someone that players , managers , Middle men , agents are a little scared of . Being everybodies friend doesn’t work.
Tierney has suffered ligament damage in his knee. Will be out for 4-6 weeks… what a bummer ☹
Sue, I guess that will mean Cedric at left back with Mari as backup, Bellerin and Chambers to fight it out for right back.
Four weeks equals mid May, six equals early June. What’s the betting Tierney’s season is over?
Second Covid Vaccination this morning, my wife and I were done and dusted inside twenty minutes. Excellent service by our G P surgery. 👍
Scotland have 3 games 2nd june , 6th June and 14 th June bet he ends up playing in those.
What was it Wenger said about International managers and his players, he said something along the lines of ‘its like someone borrows your car, doesn’t put any petrol in it and thrashes it leaving you the problem of getting it repaired and with them contributing nothing and when it’s fixed and running well they just take it again and do the same and there’s nothing you can do about it’
Steve Clarke is no friend of Arsenal…
should we look at selling Tierney. don’t get me wrong I like him as a player and even a possible future captain but he seems to be injury prone so the question is do we take a chance on him that his luck changes in-regards to injuries or sell him while he young
Geoff, I do hope you’re kidding.
Good morning everyone.
Geoff….sell Tierney?? Nah. I hope not. First of all I hope we sign another 15 like him. not necessarily to play left back all of them because that would mean only 2-3 games per season each player. Plus the original is always the best. But since Tierney can play at LB and CB and dare I say that he can play CDM if asked we need more like him.
Imo we should sign another good left back…..one who can deputize for him, one who can challenge him and one who is reliable and in the same mould.
Is he injury prone?? No I dont think so….I feel that his injuries are more the result of playing all the time. Football in the EPL today is very fast so injuries tend to come at a quicker rate than before. That is why we need another left back since Tierny can rotate and be allowed to rest. Especially whan games come thick and fast.
Today I read that Arsenal might be interested in Zaha again. Now I dont know if this is a rehash of old news or just click baits. But would anyone say we give exchange PEpe for him?? player for player? No fee involved. Maybe we can dupe them fully and offer them Willian plus 5 million for him and a couple of foobtalls??? lol that would be hilarious. Nah. dont think they are dumb enough to fall for it.
JM…I hope you might read this….but I need to ask you a question.
Since you are from Portugal and probably watch a lot of Portuguese games, what do you think of Julian Wiegl and Luca Waldschmidt of Benfica?? Do you think Wiegl, who can play as a CB or DM is good enough for us? I saw them only twice and they had a good game.
Devil I hope we don’t go for Zaha I think his best days are behind him now as for Tierney if he is picking up injuries because of the amount of games played should we then rest him for the rest of the season and have him 100% fit for next season.
Scott I hope we don’t sell Tierney but I am just asking the question as I believe he has all ready had 4 or 5 injuries since joining us
Geoff, if he was a few years older I could see sense in selling him, but he’s young mate.
Plenty to look forward to imo
I’m with you on Zaha.
He just isn’t that good.
Taking the Scotland matches into account Tierney played 6 games in 17 days and then broke down 3 days later . He pulled up but it’s hardly surprising . The three game international break was nothing short of insanity.
Hello Devil !
Not bad, but the price is very inflated. I think a player like Ruben Neves (Wolves) is more reliable.
Afternoon Rico and theHouse.
Anyone about or are you ball having a day off
Rico..where are you??
I liked Weigl JM. He can play CB and also DM. He is left footed and Don’t think he will cost that much.
And this is practically winning just 2 European Cups….CWC and UEFA Cup. Imagine if we had won more.
Most major trophies won by London clubs:
Arsenal – 47 trophies
Chelsea – 29 trophies
Spurs – 24 trophies
London is Red 🔴
Tbh…..for me it does not matter which cup we won. Although I always prefer the EPL above all other cups including the CL. However I would love to see us win it at lest once.
As I said earlier it does not matter which cup we won. If the club focused on at least one cup, yes even the League cup when they knew that we would not win the league, we would have more tin pots to our name. Just take a look at our FA Cup record. Since 2014 alone we have won 4 in 8 years. Imagine if we focused on the league cup as well.
Yes I always prefer the EPL above all else as its a testament to the club’s strength over 38 games. However winning around 4 or 5 of the knock out cups (FA and LC) every ten years would have not been bad at all. At least it keeps the winning feeling.
My Choice for today is…Leno; Bellerin, Holding, Mari,Soares; Xhaka, Partey; ESR, Odegaard, Saka; Laca (or Martinelli)
Odegaard is injured DG.
Agree with that team devil. I’ve seen it suggested we go with Saka at left back,Pepe or Martinelli wide left. We will see soon.
In answer to the title of this post,our biggest problem is Aubameyang shaped.He is probably hard to shift,with 2 years left on a mega contract. We want the old Aubameyang back,scoring and contributing.
COYG
I’d replace Odegaard with Martinelli in your selection.
Arsenal XI vs. Slavia: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Cedric, Xhaka, Partey , Smith Rowe, Saka, Willian, Lacazette.
Subs: Ryan, Hein, Ceballos, Aubameyang, Pépé, Marí, Nelson, Elneny, Nketiah, Martinelli, Lopez, Azeez.
Oh s**t Willian! What does Arteta see in him?
Willian???? ffs
Joel Lopez……his first time in the matchday squad
Evening rico, house. Last chance saloon for this season, let’s get a 2 or 3 goal lead.
If Auba wasn’t dropped, Arteta could never ever say he picked on form. So come on Willian, rise to the occasion. Surprisingly optimistic after seeing Arteta had the guts to drop our captain. Martinelli and Pepe to come on for last 25 and ram the win home.
Make the changes Arteta.
That went by rather quickly. Only 1 shot on target each with us edging shots off target by 3-2. we have had 2 corners to their 1 and 58% possession in our favour. We are attacking the flanks but they are attacking through the middle.
Much of the play is taking place in midfield. not too many dangerous attacks by both teams.
Get in. Pepe 1-0
1-1
highly disappointing
we have to win or draw 2-2 now
Do Arsenal really have a big problem?
Actually two , can’t score and can’t keep a lead even for 4 minutes.
Three problems….we are not that much incisive as well
the situation is like a bunny in the headlights……Arteta wants us to play in a certain way…and not all players are up to it. its a tug of war. let’s see who gets tired first.
Saka should have scored. Laca hit the post. So we should have won.
Next game will not finish 0-0 rest assured.
Another shocker
There just doesn’t seem to be any cohesion , the centre midfield looks as if it has never met the forwards . Players make runs and the ball goes backwards and when we do get our nose in front we can’t hold a lead in injury time which if it was the first time you could accept it .
Why did we sign Ryan ? He’s only played once and looked a far more accomplished keeper.
Nothing to do with game, but in case anyone was wondering, Rico is under the weather with a migraine, I’ve done her a post for tomorrow, because I’m such a decent chap, and believe me it was hard work.
Don’t have nightmares…
Wish her well , Nothing to do with a jab is it ?
Nothing can be learned from Liverpool’s 0-3.
Again, the defense, especially Gabriel, always intends to “caress” the ball before throwing it. He loses time, space and opportunity to play it simply and ends up making a mistake.
This Slavia runs, fights, puts the body, goes to the shock. They are a complicated team and have done better results away from home. With 1-0, we had to play simple because Arteta also moved late, in a team that was broken and felt that all of the individual duels were lost.
Thanks, Kev.
Rico…I hope you’re feeling better soon. I doubt Arsenal helped your migraine!! Take it easy xx
!4 games without a clean sheet
Yes we do have a problem
To quote the words of Victor Meldrew “I DON’T BELIEVE IT”
I do Cicero , I am getting more and more disillusioned day by day.
A leaderless team, managed by a novice, throwing 11 strangers on to a field.
7 changes this game….how many the next?
Mat Ryan the most pointless loan deal since Kallstrom.
Right backs at left back
Willian ahead of Martinelli
Bellerin as captain
Who on earth would expect any different?
Next up Sheffield United who have
played 30 won 4 drawn 2 lost 24 scored 17 let in 52 points14 .
Expect a tight game and a spawny 1 nil if we are lucky.
Good Morning Rico and all.
I hope your migraine has gone and you feel better Rico. Not that Arsenal did a good job in helping cheer you up a bit.
So, we did not win. but did not lose either. And before anyone jumps on me, gobbles me up and tells me that we conceded 1 goal actually I feel that the tie is still evenly balanced and we can turn it in our favour. It would have been better if it finished 1-0 or at least 0-0. But 1-1 is third best result in my opinion.
Slavia need to either draw 0-0 and that means sitting back all game which will not suit them and will suit us more. We know that if we score first (and I hope we manage to defend it) they have to come out to score at least one or 2. but if, by some miracle we score first, they get the equalizer and then we go on to score again then they have to win. and this time there will be no extra time as we would have scored 2 away.
It will be tight…..but better than losing 0-1 like we did against Olympiakos this season and last.
It is a goal which hurt us right at the end but its still half time and the tie is evenly balanced.
1-0 for us would not have been good for us as with this team we would have been at a cross roads what to do in the return leg. We needed to win by 3 or 4 goals….which if Saka and Laca took their chances would have seen us get a 3 goal advantage. And they would not have scored theirs either.
We had chances which we did not put away. Next time we might.
Its not all doom and gloom as many comments elsewhere are suggesting. Many see the glass half empty. I dont see it as half full either. I just drink the water in the glass.
I am just simply disappointed that we drew a game which we should and could have won. Yes even if we played like we did yesterday
Just a question Potter…..who would you play at left back if not Soares (RB)? Tierney is injured. Kolasinac is away (thank God).
Morning DG, Arsenal have been unable to keep a clean sheet for the last 14 games, so I read yesterday, therefore our defence clearly isn’t as secure as it was previously so I wonder if in the short term and in order to save our season that a temporary switch to three at the back is a worthwhile option?
I was seriously disappointed with Soares, I think his habit of not even attempting to use his left foot and his action of turning inside and going backwards was a serious issue and encouraged Slavia to push onto him and create pressure. That pressure transported itself onto Gabriel who is showing increasing signs of nervousness when in possession.
Saka yesterday again showed that maybe goalscoring/finishing is an issue in his otherwise impressive game, so although I was initially anti the move suggested on other sites I’m now wondering if Saka at left wing back with either Mari behind him in a back four or as a left wing back in front of a back three is the way to go until the summer?
Once Tierney returns we could revert to a back four later next month, but until then I’ve got serious misgivings about using Soares on the left again.
We will have to be “Olympiakos”: to score and play better away than at home. The team split in 2, in the 2nd part; replacements were late; the defense, especially Gabriel, continues to want to “caress” the ball when, in the end, what was asked for was to play a practical game to reduce the opponent’s mood. We could and would have scored more, but Slavia also had several opportunities.
We have a Europa League team, not a Champions team.
JM…we dont have a team. neither EPL team, nor Europa lge team. We have as Potter put it rightly 11 strangers on a field. Is it the failure of the coach??
Imo Arteta only has one failure…..he is trying to implement his tactical philosophy using players who are not up to it. Some of the players can never fit into what he is trying to implement. He needs to clear them out OR as Kev said….adapt the tactics for ‘the short term…in order to save our season that a temporary switch to three at the back.
Its simple.
until then we have to suffer less ups and more downs.
Morning all, thank you for your kind wishes.
Kev’s post is up now.
https://highbury-house.com/2021/04/09/uninspiring-arsenal-disappoint-yet-again/