Morning all.
I love Thierry Henry for all he did for Arsenal football club. He’s probably one of the best players the Premier League has ever seen, the best Arsenal ever signed. But sometimes, I just wish he’d keep his opinions to himself because honestly, I think they can do more harm than good.
Why on earth would he think Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is above being substituted let alone go on to suggest there’s a problem between him and Mikel Arteta? Perhaps his very short managerial career was the disaster it was because of his failings to spot the bleedin obvious.
One doesn’t need to be a football managerial genius to see that Aubameyang isn’t the player he once was. Nor to see that his efforts for Arsenal are simply not good enough anymore. Football isn’t about keeping ones favourites happy, or applying different rules for a captain, higher paid or big name players at the top of the team-sheet. It’s about a squad full of players where the best and most hard working get selected. For a player it’s about being part of a group, understanding and accepting that sometimes, someone else is a better option. Or that when you’re not at it during a game, it might be your number the fourth official holds up when a manager wants to change things. Bad management is to leave a player who is struggling during a game on the pitch, hoping that his luck will change.
Aubameyang didn’t just struggle against Man Utd as he’s been struggling for a long time now and he himself probably knows that. Does it mean there’s a problem between him and Mikel Arteta? I doubt it because if there was, I strongly suspect our captain would have been dumped long before now. If anything, I think Mikel Arteta has been far too patient with him, certainly more patient than he’s been with other players whose performances haven’t always been particularly good.
What Henry said on Amazon Prime on Thursday night will do neither Arsenal or Aubameyang any good whatsoever. Nor Arteta, who’s now had to respond to the media’s stupid questions about the probable nonexistent rift. He’s quoted in the Daily Mail as saying:
I can guarantee you that there is not a rift. You have to respect their opinion (Henry and Shearer’s) but what I can tell you is I have the relationship I want with him. When I make decisions with 15, 20, 30 minutes left, or in the line-up at the start, it is done with one intention and that is to get the best out of the team.
When asked if he thought it was humiliating for Aubameyang to be withdrawn at such a crucial moment, he added:
That is the last word I would use with my players because if that’s humiliation, imagine what it’s like for the ones left out of the team.
I’m 100% behind Mikel Arteta here. To suggest it’s humiliating for Aubameyang, or any other player for that matter, to be substituted during a game is stupid. Damaging, and simply wrong. Henry professes to love club but these kind of opinions don’t really support that. Yes, I think there’s a problem with Aubameyang, a big problem but it’s of his own making in my opinion. It’s certainly not Arteta’s fault that our captain seldom leads by example on the pitch, or misses sitters when they fall at his feet. As said after the Utd game any many more times before then, if Arteta is guilty of anything related to Aubameyang, it’s having too much belief in him.
Anyway, let’s hope Auba tucks away a tidy hat-trick tomorrow night against Everton because Arsenal need three points and I’m 99% sure he’ll start.
Good luck to the Arsenal women today who face Chelsea in the FA Cup Final.
COYG’S
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico.
You are 100% right. I saw a post somewhere can’t remember where it goes as follows
If we can trust Saka to run the left wing of our attack and trust Smith Rowe to run the right wing, we can also trust Martinelli to run the center of our attack.
I personally feel we need to clear off Auba and Thomas and give way for proven players from the Premier league to replace them.
I hear Arteta is trying to bring in Yaya Toure to the club, don’t know what capacity but his influence will be much welcomed.
Morning Mexzy, all.
At least we know Martinelli’s time is just around the corner, if not before. With Auba heading off in January, he’s likely to play a lot more.
I saw that in the Daily Mail about Yaya, shame he’s not ten years younger. Lol
Granit Xhaka is very close to returning to full fitness.
How is it possible to take your top goal scorer, your captain while trailing 3-2 and replace him with Nkhetia a player who doesn’t have premiership minutes this season, who clearly stated he does not want to be part of this team.Thats the only problem.
Good morning all, Here’s the gist of what I read this morning, from the Sunday Mirror “Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he is open to former Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure gaining coaching experience with the Gunners.
It’s not just Henry’s punditry that’s harmfull, I’m sure that there has never been a more annoying or irelevant group of people than football pundits.
Must watch for all Arsenal supporters today, 12.30 BBC 1 Women’s FA Cup Final Arsenal Vs Chelsea.
C’mon you Gunneresses.
For sure Cicero, ex Arsenal players too but right now, as Arteta is trying to build something better, I personally would expect better from Henry.
Now I really want Arteta to succeed, seems there is some form of gangup against him as I saw another report quoting Pires saying Viera should take over at Arsenal from Arteta.
I think these old players should know better, support and encourage the club or keep quiet.
At the heart of it is perhaps ex players wanting a Daniel Ek takeover.
Morning Rico and all
The only problem I have with Arteta taking Auba off, is that it was not done before the match started.
Rico After the way Thierry Henry spoke I recon if EK does buy Arsenal then Arteta is gone.
Morning Geoff. I don’t think Ek has a chance of buying the club really but yes, if he did, it’s quite likely there’d be a change of manager depending on where the club is at the time.
You’ve just nailed it Rico, I was a big fan of Henry during his playing days, Vieira too and many other invisibles..However for some time, I feel pissed off by these so called former players, Henry on top of that list, trying to make headlines through unfair criticism to Arteta. I am not saying that the arsenal boss has made it, no! Arteta is also having his own learning curve..As @Rico has said, there’s a reason people like Henry never made it in coaching, and probably never will..Henry should just needs to come to terms with the fact that he was a top player of his generation, however he shouldn’t indulge in matters pertaining club management..
What’s makes the so called former players turned pundits, especially those of the invisibles era, think that one of them must be football manager?
Ladies lose 3-0. Sadly totally outplayed. Most untypical Arsenal display. Oh well that’s last years final out of the way, now on to this years 😊
A horribly disappointing WFA Cup Final, Arsenal lose 3 – 0. From minute one to full time we were never at the races. I suppose credit should go to Chelsea, they knew how to milk every tackle exaggerating the effects and time wasting with, seemingly, the connivance of the officials.
Does that make me sound like a bitter, bad loser? It should do because that’s what I am. 😕
They all have their own agenda Kyalo.
Could have been 6-0 at Wembley by halftime, Arsenal weren’t at it at all.
If Tottenham win their game in hand then they’ll move above West Ham and into 4th and that’s where the true implications of this Arsenal team continuing to bottle it when they’re in a prime position to move away from the pack and settle into 4th just behind the Big Three really hits home…
Kyalo never feel sorry for a manager after all if the can not stand the heat then get out of the kitchen,
it’s going to look worse if we loose to Everton and he plays Auba who fails to score again.
New post up
Perspective and expectations.Kev.
Comparing us with our near neighbours . If we win tonight we go 5th one point behind West Ham and if Spurs then win their game in hand later inthe season we drop to 6th . which is about where we should be . We are in a fight with those two and Man Utd for 4th , 5th , 6th and 7 th as the top three are miles away
I am not sure that finishing 4th and Champions league is a good idea until we have discovered how to score goals , a series of crushing defeats against middling European teams will do us more harm than the ones we suffered against Bayern .
I think we have to accept our position and look for gradual improvement , if we can maintain that the chances of keeping our young players will be stronger . If we send them out to realise just how far behind we are , the bids for Smith _ Rowe , Saka and Martinelli will be landing on our doorsteps all the time.