Morning all.
”We have a completely different squad with the number of changes that you just mentioned. You can tell that is unheard of. Now we have the tools that we believe are going to give us the best opportunity to compete in the way we want to compete and build what we want to build in this project and now we have to make it work. We have to glide it together, we need to create relationships, chemistry, understanding. We have to adapt and we have to do that really quickly.” – Mikel Arteta on Arsenal.com
So, there we have it, right from the horses mouth. The tools are in place and with a fully fit squad, Arsenal are in the best shape possible to kick on. I don’t believe in the ‘the season starts now’ stuff because it doesn’t. The season began when we travelled to Brentford. As has been said before, by Mikel Arteta too, having so many players missing for the opening three games is no excuse for limp performances Arsenal produced. Every single player in the squad should have a “never say die” attitude regardless of what level of footballing skills they have. Clearly, they haven’t.
Performance or result?
“I just want to focus on that because the performance will lead to the result. Everyone is going to talk about winning but you have to earn the right to do that and unfortunately in the last few games we have done basic things that haven’t allowed us to compete in the games like we want. If we do those right we will be much closer to winning football matches and that will bring momentum and everything will change.” – Mikel Arteta.
Absolutely agree. Remember that 22 match unbeaten run Arsenal went on under Unai Emery? The points were great but the football, well, it wasn’t the best was it? I don’t know about you guys but I never felt confident before a game back then any more than I do now. Then the wheels fell off and there was to be no recovery.
Recovery is still what’s needed now. Not a sticky plaster, or an odd good performance but a full blown recovery. We need the new and younger guys to push the old guys all the way. Then further or out. We need partnerships, units and a settled team. Injuries allowing. We need convincing performances and by that I mean something to convince us all that Arsenal are ready and willing to kick on under Mikel Arteta. To believe Mikel Arteta is the right manager to kick Arsenal on.
I’m sure we all want to see him actually do what he thinks he can with this group of players. His players. His team. His ideas. His game management.
Can the young players we’ve bought can help right now?
“Yes, I think we have tried to explain the project and the decisions I have made over the last few months in the transfer window, the amount of changes in two years is almost 30 players. Edu explained it like I tried to explain it. We have all participated, trying to create and build this project, led by the owners, and it is a project we believe in, that we have to assemble because it is the only option that we believe was best for the future of the club. We all take responsibility because we have all been involved in the decision and we have to make it work. The complexity in football is that you want to build a medium to long-term project with immediate results and we have to embrace that, because there is no other way in football and you are going to have to get results and we are ready to do that.” Mikel Arteta.
I can’t believe the club have made thirty odd changes since Mikel Arteta walked into the club. Has another club ever gone through something similar in such a short space of time I winder? I doubt it and ideally Arsenal wouldn’t have needed to either but because of the way the squad has been managed over the last ten years or so, it was needed. Personally, I think more change is needed yet but it’s likely they’ll happen naturally as contracts expire.
Until then though, Arsenal is about who we have and Mikel Arteta getting the best he can out of all of them. Yes, all of them.
See you in the comments.
What is it this incompetent little man suddenly shall be able to do that he haven’t shown for 20 months? Wake up all you Arsenal fans! Look at Chelsea (Tuchel), look at Tottenham (Nuno) what experience and competence is – Mikel Arteta have nothing of that. He’s just a bullsh*ting wannabe who try to talk himself to some more time. Against Man City “it was men against boys” as it use to be called… But men don’t play football. It was big boys vs small boys and that was embarrassing enough. Just ONE shot in the whole match (MC 25), 21% ball (MC 79%), less than 200 passes (MC 750), no cormer (MC 14). It was a bl**dy striptease!
I’m glad there is Tom Brady. NFL started last night. No more EPL. Kronky-Monkey, Arteta and Arsenal can go to H*.
I am not a pious man and would dearly like for legohead to be THE MAN- but I fear he has shown us his clear limitations in strategy, tactics, man management and nous. I do not believe he has the credentials to do the job- not now and potentially not ever. I am equally ‘meh’ about Edu.
Thankfully Project Youth part 2 means a fertile patch for a good manager to develop a style and panache similar to what we used to have – The worrying element currently is both Eduuuuuuu and Legohead quoting the 5 senior ‘leaders’ as the pros to guide our young team forward. Bernd Leno, Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
With respect – Leno looks shaky and wants to leave, Xhaka is a liability, desperately wanted to leave and shouldn’t be at the club, Auba has misplaced his fire and pace (maybe permananently) and was never the personality as a choice for captain, so only Partey- a quite man who has suffered an injury nightmare and Laca- a top pro but one also in last year of contract are ‘leaders’
I will support whoever wears the red and white but I have very low expectations from the current set-up. The owners have ‘backed’ the club in the form of loans, not investment and they are an unsuitable franchise company who have no real passion for the club or the game – just the money growth attached. The manager has shown us nothing to indicate he has the creds to deliver a long term improvement – in fact we have gone backwards since Emerys much needed departure. The Director of Football has done some interesting work – yet I do wonder what Misintlat might have achieved. The use of super agents suggested Edu was uncomfortable in his own abilities- not withstanding missing out on Jude Bellingham cos he didnt know who he was is a real eye roll moment.
Pure speculation maybe – whats clear is that the current mob wont work long term.
Good Morning Rico and all
Arteta wanted change. And boy did he manage to do it. As you said in the above article (which I enjoyed reading) 30 changes since he came in. I never imagined that.
I feel that Arteta tried to do the best he could with what we had. But here I ask two questions…..
1) Would Tuchel, Nuno, Pochettino, Mourinho, Klopp, Allegri, Guardiola…..have managed to work with the players and attitude at the club? Answers on a postcard. Conte gave a very polite reason when asked about the Arsenal job. He said a firm no. And that spoke volumes. Because he is not daft enough to work with what we had.
2) Had the team won more than 5 points in the first three games do you all honestly believe he would have been given all that money to revamp the squad? Maybe the board would have said….you are winning points and playing well so what is the point of changing the players.
I think the above two questions are enough answers to the first two simpletons who posted above.
Rico, you said……We need the new and younger guys to push the old guys all the way. Then further or out…..I would prefer that the new younger guys push out the old guys here and now. Put them on the bench and tell them that that is the way to play. And leave them there watching.
I just hope that tomorrow Arteta has the balls and guts to put Ramsdale in goal. And put out the following team
Ramsdale
Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney
Lokonga, Partey (if fit)
Saka, Odegaard, Pepe
Aubameyang
ESR is sick. so maybe Norwich is too early
BDW…..Karl Hein had another impressive match against Wales. I saw highlights of his performance. I just hope that club ties him down to a long term contract.
Hassle Andersen…..just remember one thing…..in 1971 (if you are old enough to remember) Arsenal lost 0-5 against Stoke. And they were double winners.
Just another reminder…..in season 1996-97….Man Utd went to Newcastle and lost 0-5. Six days later they went to Southampton and lost 3-6. And that was in October. And then went to Chelsea on 2/11 and lost 0-2 . Three games lost in the space of 12 days.
Yes we lost the first three games. There are still 35 more to go.
Got that off your chest then Hasse ?
None of that has told us anything that we didn’t already know . The club is going through a process of change and is about 75% done . The past is just that and now we have to look at the future, .
The proof is in the pudding so they say and now is the time to get it out and serve it up. If signs of progress are there people may be more inclined to give it more time but a win against Norwich will only serve to keep the wolves at bay until the Tottenham game .
If we lose that badly the knives will be out again , his moment of peace may well be short lived.
It is concerning that he has hung his hat on the players that remain from the old regime but you can’t help wondering if that’s because he couldn’t shift them rather than they being part of the great scheme .
Still onwards and upwards , at least for this season we can’t go any lower than we already are.
Lovely comments Potter.
I think that the old regime are still there because he couldnt shift them. And also because the amount of money available to Arteta was around £150M. After that he had to move other players in order for Arteta to buy new ones. So I feel that the next TW will see Arsenal move between 1-3 players and get in 2…maybe a midfielder and a striker depending how AMN fares with Lokonga and Partey.
Karl Hein kept Wales and Bale’s at bay.
Hasse, I’m sure Mikel Arteta and the players are glad to have ‘supporters’ like you.
Seriously, do you not think their might be a chance that the new signings, injuries returning etc etc, won’t make a difference?
I said yesterday that there are three types of Arsenal fans. I know which category you sit in.
Iain, I’m not convinced Mikel will turn things around either but I do believe the additions, A full squad etc might improve our performances. All I’m suggesting is let’s see what he can do with the squad he’s assembled.
Morning Devil, Potter and all.
Yes Devil, regardless of results in our first three fixtures, I think the club was always going to make big changes this summer. The squad was too old, too relaxed and totally unbalanced imo. The new players, all very young, is part of the process we hear about. It’s been a long time coming.
Karl Hein vs Wales
Hasse. You must be rolling around in onanistic hysterics after that stream of unpleasantness. The vainly attempted humour diluted whatever point you were trying to make and actually said more about you than anything else.
Potter, I too think that had the club been able to sell more of the older players, they would.
You have a great way with words Adam. I’d imagine Hasse is googling a few of them. Lol
On a different note…..with the Jack Wilshere situation and Arteta offering him to train with the club…..what do you think if the club gave him a contract till end of January on a pay as you play? Or is my imagination stretching too far? I mean…he could rest players like Odegaard, ESR and Saka during games, coming on to play the last 10-15 minutes. Yes I know he gets injured quickly but he is a product of Arsenal, loves the club, knows the club and surely will help the players. I would have him and Cazorla back in the blink of an eye…..to help the players with advice and also to rest the players during the last minutes of certain matches. We paid Ozil for practically a whole year just for sitting down. So cant we do the same with Jack who can play, rest and rotate our 1st 11
Thank you Rico😀
I think it’d be nice if Jack Wilshere trained with the team for his fitness etc. Who knows where it might lead.
Adam’s comment was short and straight to the point. Great way to put Hasse in his place.
But your comment on googling a few words had me laughing my head off Rico.
In the 92/93 season both arsenal and man United lost their first 2 matches.
Can’t remember who against, man United went on to win the league and arsenal did the first-ever league cup / fa cup double.
Therefore I honestly believe (and have done for some time) that if Wimbledon play an under strength team in this year’s league cup the domestic treble is still on.
How about that for being positive.
Good morning all and thanks, Rico, for the post.
I suspect from the tone of his comments Hasse is probably not an Arsenal supporter at all. From his near illiteracy, he could almost qualify for the Tottenham fan club.
Not quite a full squad, Elneny is out with a hamstring injury.
Norwich signed nine new players in the latest transfer window.
Morning Rico and all
Rico thanks for the link. It was a good read and in a sense the way I understood it. It’s what I was trying to say, yes we all know we needed change and I was trying to see it through a players eye. Arteta comes in with no coaching experience as the senior coach and then with in months he is now moved from a coach to the manager and then he and the board start sackings people left right and centre and any player or official at the club no matter how good they were got dropped, sacked or left for no reason.
I still believe that Arteta would have got more respect and a better result out of the players if he just stayed as a coach and treated the players with more respect than just acting like the school bully and let Edu and co take care of everything else.
I kind of got that impression myself Cicero.
Jack Wilshire is interesting, I mentioned near the end of the transfer market about Jack.
If he is cheap and fit and their is a spot I recon Jack could be worth taking the gamble for several reasons (1) he builds our English born players list (2) he is Arsenal through and through and will give all on the field (3) this would be his best way to retire as a Arsenal champion so he has everything to gain
Morning Geoff, I suppose to become successful as a manager one has to be a bit selfish and demanding but perhaps when a manager has the kind of history and trophies Pep has, he can get away with it. Much tougher for a rookie who needs to earn respect..
so Devil ; I am a simpleton am I – for having a wider or different point of view than your own? The irony is delicious – lets try debating without the need for insults shall we..
You seem to support Artetas performance thus far as you think he has been handed a crap hand with the job lot team he took over – fine, I would agree that was mainly very true and you are welcome to that belief. But – that he arrived coming up 2 years ago and the current squad cost allegedly £495.95m to assemble. Thats on a par or more than Bayern Munich and Juventus. He has also had three windows now and bought in his own people so I think it fair to say we should have expected to see a style or direction for his ‘process’ long before now. I dont see that.
I judge with my eyes and after 50 years as a supporter, I see a man out of his depth or at best, a man ill suited to the crazy rebuilding necessary after many years of poor club management. And yes to answer your narrative – I do believe a more experienced hand would have got a better tune out of this misfit squad. Tuchel is just one example as he obviously got more out of that bunch than Lampard could – But given were we are maybe a better example would be Moyes at West Ham.
I am with you Rico – yes lets see what he can do with the new squad he has assembled- but everything we have seen so far would suggest it may be better but not good enough in the long term to drive us up into the vaunted Top 4 Trophy positions. I would love to be wrong. Nonetheless I will support the team on the pitch in every moment.
Iain….its very very ironic that you should say…..’lets try debating without the need for insults shall we’ when you were the first one to throw insults Arteta’s way by calling him Legohead. With that adjective you yourself asked to be called a simpleton. Even though I may not agree with some of Arteta’s methods and decisions, I would never resort to calling him by something else other than his surname, or the manager or the boss.
You threw the first stone mate. And with that gave me, and anyone else for that matter, to throw stones at you.
but it seems you did not like it. So next time do not throw the first stone. Just be polite….like any one else.
Anonymous was Mog not that it matters as I don’t comment that often.
The 3 loses will hurt us but the season still has a long way to go for Arteta to prove he has what it takes to be a coach or the board to sack him but either way Arteta has now used up all his get out of jail cards and as been said before this is Arteta and Edu’s team.
Iain. I agree with many of your points.
When begin your assessment by calling Arteta Legohead perhaps it diminishes you a little though. It might even show a condescension that is ill at ease with a few words later when you claim you really want him to succeed. But I wonder if that isn’t just your attempt to be seen as even-handed.
Like you, I have thought that Mikel is out of his depth and indeed lucky to still be in a job and I’ve felt that for the best part of a year. Tactically I am with you too. It doesn’t feel right to me and the debacle in the semi of the Europa League looms large in my memory every time I think about the Arsenal manager situation. I also think that he has borrowed, perhaps inevitably, a lot of Pep and when you peel back those layers there are now a lot of less admirable things about Guardiola’s self-centred approach that just don’t work for a rookie, especially at Arsenal.
But we are where we are and the narrative is that tomorrow is something of a fresh start after the difficulties of the opening games. The pressure is really on him now though I completely agree. Perhaps it’s too much stress but, if ever he needed the players to really get behind him, it is surely now.
As far as Edu missing out on Bellingham, perhaps you remember that Wenger missed out on Messi, Ronaldo, deBruyne etc the list of World Class players is endless that were nearly Arsenal players.
11.39 Mog, that is positive however, I think the League is very different now to what it was. Even the lower league teams are hard to beat these days.
I too think he’s out of his depth Iain but until now, he’s not had the squad he has now, nor has he had a fully fit squad. The positive is imo, whatever happens with Mikel and yes, I hope he can prove his doubters wrong, the squad looks a lot better than it did when he took over.
Rico I was joking about domestic treble.
Top half of the league would be a result the way things are at this moment in time.
But that’s the way the 92/93 season started so I guess anything is possible.
Agree the teams are better than they were 30 years ago, I had to change it to 30 from 20 that I originally typed.
How time as flown by it was a 2 horse race back then.
Phew Mog. Lol
I can still see us finishing in a Europa League place.
Adam – Fair enough – Perhaps it was disrespectful to inject some jocular humour about Arteta’s hair into my point – and you are right – it does intimate a condescension: as I have grown tired of the soundbite narrative – so in odds of what we are seeing.
He is a consummate communicator and a great orator – but for me it has become ever more like noise and a litany of excusing away responsibility. Trust ‘the process’ – which is as long as you want it to be. Noone expects an over-night transition to glory days of old- but if you held a vox pop on here do you think you would get a majority agreeing that there should have been progress by now? I am both feet in that camp.
No- I wasnt simply presenting an even perspective on wanting him to succeed; I was, like many, genuinely excited and really hopeful when he was appointed – but I think you have hit the nail on the head – I agree that some of the ‘Pep’ learnings, especially attitudinally – dont suit, or work, for someone so lacking in experience or indeed gravitas. If the players dont buy into it – you end up where we are now and hoping that the new influx are junior enough to be bent to his methodology. We shall have to wait and see.
Poor old Wenger missed out on a raft of generational talents.. but generally it was because he ‘lost’ them to better deals, clubs etc – I mention the Bellingham thing because I was told it was nailed down, but Edu and his entourage of agents didn’t pursue it because they didn’t know who the player was. Which is a little different. That said wont be the last time the ‘next’ Messi etc slips through the net.
That said this years lack of super agents and youth buying from international markets suggest Edu may be growing into his own skin in the role. Lets hope so.
Devil, with respect; firstly you arent the policeman of others and I would remind you that it was commonplace on here for regular posters to take the piss out of Emery’s English so dont be so holier than thou on me being obtuse about Arteta. What I enjoy on here is a conversation – not uppity trolling so thanks but no thanks with your ‘stone throwing’ bs.
Rico – yes the squad now looks infinitely better – Can Arteta and his team herald the changes we would all like to see – My doubts remain if I am honest but let the Renaissance start tomorrow.
Iain. I’d say that was an excellent comment and I can’t disagree. I got quite uppity after the MC loss myself. Not only the loss because they all hurt, but the nature of it really got to me. You’ve seen many Arsenal teams, as have I and I bet that you hate our capitulation like that.
But, things have a momentum of their own and we are rumbling towards either a new beginning or a sad end for Mikel. The last column on the right is a great leveller.
I would imagine that Arteta has gone through the emotional wringer too and knows exactly what’s happening. So, let’s hope he can turn it around now because the alternative would mean goodbyes and more upheaval but that’s the way of football now.
Iain…I never ever said anything disrespectful nor took the piss on Wenger, Emery, Arteta or anyone else for that matter. I am not using a holier than though.i respect your opinion but would never stoop low enough to call someone by anything more than his name or title. And I am not policing anyone….Adam told you the same thing in a more erudite manner than I did.
Afternoon all. I think we are forgetting one fact, Arteta managed to win the FA Cup in his first season. We didn’t say on here he was out of his depth or incompetent then. Did he inherit organised and skilful players from Emery but then cause it to go downhill? I don’t know the answers, but suspect certain things going on behind the scenes have contributed. Arsenal talk of being all together, but that certainly hadn’t transpired on the pitch. We thought certain departures would solve this but little changed. Maybe Arteta’s man management is poor, certainly we have lost some promising players after fall outs. I think we all agree, talking a good game from those in power has to turn into positive performances quickly.
Devil, to be fair, you suggested the two early comments were left by ‘simpletons’ which started things.
You and Iain could perhaps agree to a cyber handshake and move on.
Andrew, that’s what make the current situation even more bizarre. The performances to get us to Wembley and then win the final we’re something to really build on but instead we’ve gone backwards quicker than Usain Bolt went forwards.
rico 😃😂😂
I sometimes wonder if certain players are sulking still because of the likes of Ozil, Mustafi and Martinez etc moved on – I can’t be bothered to name them all.
4-06 Iain, I won’t hold my breath but yes, I hope I and many other are proved wrong.
In that case….Iain is right and you are right.
We move on
Indeed we do Devil. 😂
rico, on this form, maybe you can be peacekeeper for the club😀😀
Let’s bring back Guendouzi, Torreira, Saliba…..
I’d have to take my broomstick with me Andrew. 😆
Soon have that lot whipped into shape I’ll tell you. They’d wish they were at a boot camp after a day.. lol
How sweet everyone getting on, so I will say nothing as I will upset everyone 😊😊😊
Where’s Scott when he’s needed ?
Today’s the day , sink or swim .
Good morning all, I might head for the Aylsham Ex Service club this afternoon. They will have the game on live. I might get lynched if we win though. 😉
THE K.A at next village with a very vociferous lot or at home at the computer with a bottle of red ?
HMM what to do ?
Morning Potter, Geoff, Cicero, all.
My advice, stay at home. Lol
I’m trying to muster up a few words for a post….
New post up now