Morning all.
Two more players parted company with Arsenal FC yesterday, Mohammed Elneny has left on a season long loan to Besiktas and Nacho Monreal has return to Spain with Real Sociedad. The latter leaving at this particular moment in time might bite us in the backside. I’m not saying it will as Kolasinac on his day can be a very good defender and right now, he needs to be because he’s our only experienced and fit left back. Tierney cant be far from returning though because I’m sure the club would have waited until January to sell Monreal otherwise. I’m not sure how much the Spanish club paid for him but I doubt it will have been much. Two days to try and add Mkhitaryan and Mustafi to that departure list..
Here we are then, it’s derby day. We’ve no additions to our injury list which is good news, no suspensions either but it’s early days. We certainly don’t need to see anything stupid or reckless this afternoon either. No pushing or shoving in the penalty area either as a spot kick by Kane usually ends up hitting the back of the net.
There’s lots of things written about Unai Emery’s tactics, team selection and formations, certainly in the Mirror but games like these are won by more than just out thinking the opposition. Of course there needs to be a plan, strengths and weaknesses of the opponent need to be identified and how to deal with them accordingly, but passion, pride and commitment has a huge part to play too. Every match needs it but this one needs a little bit more. No, a lot more.
Poch will have seen how easily Liverpool put us under pressure at the back and I suspect he’ll try and replicate that kind of tactic but at the same time, whoever starts up front for us, need to be doing the same. Get on Sanchez, Lloris, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, or whoever else makes up their defence. Certainly get at Sanchez as he’s a weak link in my opinion and he’s often clumsy. Same in midfield. Give them nothing and no time to think let alone to find a pass.
If Unai Emery persists with this playing out from the back, then I hope he and his coaches have been working all week to master it because as said, against Liverpool it was a disaster.
I know it’s very early in the season but the Toots have struggled to find their form. They’ve got a manager who’s reportedly unhappy with the way the club does its transfer business, unhappy being a head coach rather than a manager and one of his better players wants out of the club. He’s also had to publicly deny reports which suggested he was set to quit. So all is far from perfect. We need to capitalise on that.
Things are far from perfect at Arsenal too. Our midfield and defence simply aren’t working as a unit. The old ‘attack as a team and defend as a team’ doesn’t always work either. Our fullbacks are being left exposed and our centre core isn’t disciplined enough. Or at least it hasn’t been and certainly wasn’t at Anfield.
In attack we have some super players. Ceballos, Pepe, Aubameyang and Lacazette, with Nelson, Saka and even Ozil behind them. Certainly enough to come out of the blocks with a zip in our step and go at them from the off.
We’re at home, The Emirates should be rocking, so I hope the players respond with a great performance and another three points firmly in the bag..
Catch up in the comments guys..
Morning all.
Are the nerves kicking in yet?
Nope..
Cold as ice, cool as a cucumber her Rico 🙂
I must say I’m getting a little excited.
A few hours sleep then up for the 1.30am kick off.
Lovely hahaha
Good morning Rico, he omens look good for this edition of the NLD. Only one enforced change from last weeks starting eleven, Nacho has gone so Kolascinac comes in, when was the last time we could field almost the same eleven in consecutive games? Not that I expect to see that happen. Torreira should start and I would love to see the three amigos, Aubameyang, Lacazette and Pepe, line up together.
I think the Terrier had his best game, so far, for Arsenal in last season’s 4 – 2 win over the Spuds.
Terrible news that a young man died in yesterday’s Formula 11 race, a reminder that motor racing is not computer game.
corrections….the omens. not a computer.
Wait until around 4pm though Scott… lol
Morning Cicero, very sad news re F2, too young to go. It’s a very dangerous sport which sometimes gets forgotten whilst the pounds are being thrown around.
Torreira has to start surely, only a fool would not play him in such an important fixture.
Afternoon Rico…
‘Only a fool’ said she… 🤔
Well for me Torrieira starts, and Pepe and Lacazette and Aubameyang, but it all depends on whether Unai goes all cautious or not?
Hopefully he throws caution to the wind and goes for it because NLD’s are not for the faint of heart…
I’d have Martinelli on the bench, he’s only 18 but he’s been ripping it up in training, he’s got pace to burn and coming on late in a game he’d be a very useful weapon. The home crowd would love him and our home crowd, as they did a year ago, should drive us on and make the difference…
Is this the stage for Nicolas Pepe to finally open his account, I think so…
Also after last weekends mad moments today is the perfect opportunity for David Luiz to mend his reputation by having a stormer and maybe getting on the scoresheet as well…
Afternoon Kev. Nice one.
I really hope we blow them away in style. Don’t let their form return at our expense. We’re stronger now than we were this time last season and we certainly have better players.
Hi Rico and all you lovely Arsenal supporters.
Looking forward to this match but am not too impressed so far with the ‘playing the ball out from defence.’
Liverpool showed that by pushing players up and pressing our defence, they normally won the ball back.
Really hope that we are nice and composed at the back…. with Torreira putting his usual shift in across the middle,
Let’s get the ball up early to the forwards and let them get some goals.
Fancy a 2-1 today.
Hi Marinello, I don’t think the Toots have the players at the same level of Liverpool’s front three but like you, I do think Poch will try and do something similar.
If we add a bit more urgency to our own game, get the ball out quicker, it’ll make life a little easier. But all this fannying around in dangerous areas really is frustrating to watch and unnecessary.
I agree Rico. Hope you are keeping well.
I am away at the moment in North west France, so need to find a bar showing the match.
Not so bad thanks Marinello, hope you well too.
You might struggle to find one now we have few French players. Lol
Afternoon rico, house. I thought exactly same last week that Torreira must start. So not getting hopes up until see teamsheet. I think it was Kelsey here saying real dislike between manager and him. Bad news if true and it affects selection.
Come on Gunners, with Manu and Chelsea dropping points, this could put some daylight between us and Spuds & Co.
Afternoon Andrew.. I’m quietly confident Torreira will start this one, alongside who though I wonder if he does…
Torreira starts, Willock makes way. Pepe, Lacazette and Auba all start too.
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Subs: Martinez, Mkhitaryan, Ceballos, Ozil, Chambers, Nelson, Willock.
Leno
15Maitland-Niles
5Papastathopoulos
23David Luiz
31Kolasinac
11Torreira
34Xhaka
29Guendouzi
19Pépé
9Lacazette
14Aubameyang
Thew rico. Best team, other than I would have had Ceballos or Ozil instead of Goundouzi. But importantly our little fighter back and a front three to try and score more than them!
1Lloris
4Alderweireld
6D Sánchez
5Vertonghen
3Rose
17Sissoko
8Winks
11Lamela
23Eriksen
7Son Heung-Min
10Kane
7Mkhitaryan
8Ceballos
10Özil
21Chambers
24Nelson
26Martínez
28Willock
18Lo Celso
20Alli
22Gazzaniga
24Aurier
27Lucas Moura
29Skipp
33Davies
Referee Martin Atkinson
Ceballos can come on from the bench Andrew, hopefully to rub salt into a wound…
Hope so, truly hope so. Is their enough creativity in midfield though? If Pepe and Aubameyang play wide, who is going to slot through the killer passes?
Xhaka 😀
Come on Arsenal…..!
Does Emery really think that Ozil can have an influence off of the bench, because he’s never done it in the past. So is that a political choice or a tactical choice?
To me it’s a waste of a place…
2 players go for the same header and we get caught on the follow through
Shocking
Then Xhaka does what Xhaka does best! He and Mustafi need giving away.
We look an absolute shambles
Please don’t mention Xhaka’s name rico!
I detest the player these days Andrew..
What is the point of Xhaka ? Hope he gets the same stick that Luiz got last week
I really don’t understand Emery’s fascination with Xhaka. He can’t run, can’t tackle, can’t pass and serves no purpose; but he’s selected whenever healthy….. unbelievable.
Great determination Lacazette.
Hopefully Emery will get Xhaka off, Ceballos on and one/both of Torreira and Guendouzi protect the back four..
Were all thinking that,just had the same conversation
4-2 anyone?
Thank goodness Laca gets us back in it!!!
Xhaka just doesn’t think when he plays!!!
Great minds Potter.
Ouch! Ouch again! Ooh! Ah! Still in the game.
We so need Holding back into our defence, just need some of the composure he brings…
Holding,Tierney ,Bellerin that’s 3 out of the 4
Wow!!!! Ceballos for Torreira and Xhaka stays on. Then Miki for Laca….. No type of game management skills from Emery. This is ridiculous.
If Luiz had committed Xhaka’s tackle, press would crucify him for ever.
7 points with Spurs and Pool out the way .Defence to come back could be worse
What’s the point of VAR ? Kane exposed as a dive but no investigation
That was quite a game of football. With out doubt Spuds have the greatest team of divers ever. Two of the worst offenders are Dele Alli and Harry Kane, but their are quite a few others.
2 – 2 a fair result?
I reckon that was hugely disappointing.
4 games and we’ve conceded 6 goals, so it’s clear where the problem is, only one clean sheet against a poor Newcastle team…
Interesting stats:
Attempts on goal: Arsenal 26, Tottenham 13
Attempts on target: Arsenal 8, Tottenham 9
For all our effort and bluster we could have so easily lost that game.
I’d just like to see a more composed, focused team showing game management rather than a crazy, trying to save the game from a losing position performance…
When will someone at the club realise that despite his array of fine passes at times, Xhaka is a bloody liability and should never ever wear the captains armband again…
Rico. With him, Sokratis and now Luiz, we’ve got got 3 of the PL’s biggest and most reckless nutters.
Haven’t we just Adam. Not sure how Sokratis got away with his rugby tackle on Alli.
Rico, I think we’ll see quite a lot more of Xhaka this season, Emery trusts him because of his experience despite what anyone else thinks.
Emery also trusted Mustafi and look where that ended up.
Mustafi and Xhaka cost us a place in the CL so you would’ve thought that a deep thinking coach would had sussed it by now.
But it looks as if Senor Unai needs to suffer a bit more at the hands of our reckless Swiss midfielder before the euro drops…
I suspect that Xhaka is in the midst of his final season as an automatic starter for us, by the end of the season Guendouzi will be streets ahead, Ceballos will have left him in his wake and as long as Emery trusts Willock then the young Englishman should’ve overtaken him as well.
Not least Torrieira if he’s played in his correct position.
That shouldn’t end the need for the club to source a top defensive midfielder next summer, not least if we lose Ceballos back to Madrid, but even if we don’t we still need the type of presence that Pep notably always has in his teams.
So if he always has a D/M then maybe he’s on to something Unai……
Kev, he’ll have to drop him sooner or later if the mistakes keep coming. Edu, Freddie will surely have something to say to Emery about him and they’re our future, not Emery.
I’d rather see Chambers in the centre of midfield than that useless lump.
You have to wonder Rico, if Chambers would have made the type of mistakes our central defenders have made in the last two matches?
I thought that Chambers was very unlucky to lose his place after two successive wins, whatever the opposition, I always think that you earn your spot or lose it through your performances and he didn’t put a foot wrong.
Saying that, I would have probably gone with Sokratis and Luiz in our last two game in any case, but I did say at the time that I thought that Chambers was very unlucky.
Midfield for me Kev. He played all last season for Fulham there and earned high praise. Less of a liability than Xhaka I’m sure.
I’ve never really seen him as a midfielder Rico, but he did do well at Fulham…
I guess I feel that anyone bar Xhaka would perhaps do better Kev. At least Chambers can defend..
Mkhitaryan is another waste of space I think.
Guendouzi man of match. Pass to Auba for the goal was a delight to see.
Since his Premier League debut in August 2016, Xhaka has conceded more penalties, five, than any other player; Ironically, he’s not a defender. How do Emery continue to trust such as player?
Same old Arsenal today defensively silly and rash Sokratis and Xhaka liabilities,
Guendouzi showed a mature performance today, Ceballos was excellent when he came on.. Pepe if I’m honest isn’t impressing me hopefully I eat my words soon.
As for emery I’m not sure he’s learning we
Keep making the same mistakes over and over again, I wonder if they’ll extend his contract at season’s end.
This is really a glass half empty blog. I wonder what we’d have given for a pulsating game and a draw after 40 minutes of play?
Sure I’m disappointed we didn’t win but all in all a positive in that we didn’t capitulate and could well have won.
And the defending wasn’t that bad, two mistakes led to goals but there was a lot of improvement overall. And we haven’t got Holding, Bellerin and Tierney integrated into the team yet. Chambers will earn his way in and Xhaka will fall down the pecking order and the team will be defined. I see great things for this season for our team.
Xhaka is too slow and too cumbersome to defend so why play him as a DM?
Wenger made the same mistake and Emery has followed.
Play him higher up the pitch or don’t play him.
Mkhitaryan played centrally for Borussia and was brilliant so Utd played him wide, we do the same and the player is crucified.
Same thing-play him central or don’t play him.
Not everyone can play various positions, and while it’s true they just might not be good enough, we aren’t giving them a chance to prove otherwise.
I’ve seen MOTD and some other highlights of the game, Guendouzi was excellent, a player developing into a real leader of the team.
Pepe did some really great stuff, not quite in the groove but when he is he is going to be one hell of a sensation.
Ceballos did some really good things when he came on, Anfield must have been a shock to him as he’s still adapting to the EPL and it’s physicality, but he’s getting there.
Elnenys gone on loan and Mkhitarayan could follow so there’s been some turnover in playing staff this summer. That’ll open up more avenues to the senior squad for the likes of Martinelli, Saka, Nelson, Smith Rowe and maybe Robbie Burton. The League Cup squad could be very interesting…
Gotta say that I thought that Alex Iwobi looked really good for Everton, I hope we don’t live to regret selling him to the Toffees?
Alex did have his moments for us.
Morning all.
Kev,
If Iwobi succeeds, Gooners everywhere on social media will be blaming Emery, conveniently forgetting their own rants about the guy when with us 🙂
Are they playing him wide or central?
Morning gooners
If Iwobi succeeds at Everton fair play to the kid, but he had a mountain of chances with us and never really produced.
Emery should have give Nelson the chance yesterday from the bench rather than miki imo. Miki is less productive than Iwobi was.
Sokratis and Xhaka both committed over 5 fouls each in that game yesterday Sokratis 7.. they both could easily have had two yellows..
Holding and willock if both fit should start in front of those two now.
Hi Kel,
I’m with you on Iwobi.
The money was too good to knock back, imo, based on what’s he’d shown.
On Sokratis in particular, no issues with the amount of fouls he commits unyielding he cops a yellow, but after he does, he needs to tone things down.
I love his aggression.
Xhaka is simply too slow in his leg speed and reaction time to okay at this level in this league.
Morning Rico and all,
Scott,Iwobi played wide left,it was noticeable that he worked hard defensively,and was switched on defensively, something that was lacking with us.Perhaps Arsenal just don’t bother with defensive coaching.
A comeback draw is always satisfying, but that is a game we should have won.
I just don’t get it with Xhaka, so he has experience, experience of what ? Helping his team drop points ? Nobody more experienced at that.
Oh well,we are well placed in the league with a reasonable looking run of fixtures.
The Iwobi sale was not only good business but also a shrewd move as far as the youngsters are concerned. Iwobi was given an enormous amount of playing time but never showed signs of becoming a vital part of the team. He was merely a roadblock to the progression of players such as Nelson, Willock etc. I hope he does well at Everton but I, for one, won’t miss him.
The chance that Mkhitaryan could move to Roma will remove another obstacle, surplus to requirements is the nicest thing I can say about him.
Morning Limey, all.
New post up now