Horrible, just horrible.

Morning all.

I’m at a loss really. Losing 1-0 to BATE the way we did was embarrassing. We stated brightly and created enough chances to not only take the lead but to pretty much put the two legged tie out of reach. Had Mkhitaryan buried the first, who knows what might have followed but he didn’t and we lost after conceding from a set piece. Monreal gave away the free kick and Arsenal defended it in typical Arsenal fashion. Badly.

From then on, everything got worse, not that it was that good in the first place. There was no fight, no passion, no movement, no pace and no width. It’s often said in life that when things aren’t going well, they have to hit rocket bottom before they improve, well I wouldn’t say we’re quite there yet, but it’s feels like we’re not far off.

If the kind of performances this team are dishing up was a year or two into Unai Emery’s reign at Arsenal, I’d be thinking his time was up but for the time being, I’m hanging on in hope. Hope that with player changes, vast improvement will come. A different mentality will arrive as changes are made. More of the spirt Torreira, Sokratis and Guendouzi bring and less of complacent, lethargic and casual too many can’t seem to shake off.

It’d be harsh to blame Emery for our players missing goal scoring opportunities, just as it would to blame him for Monreal giving away the free kick which led to their free kick or Kolasinac for not showing more conviction when challenging their goal scorer but somehow, he’s got to instill a bit more determination into the players. Our tackling in general and our aerial challenges are weak.

I don’t know how he can change the attitude or aptitude of some of our overpaid and overrated wimps, but if he doesn’t, or can’t, fans will be calling for change. Then we’d have to start all over again. But if that’s what it takes, I guess that’s what will eventually happen.

Our general play reached levels as bad as some of the performances we’ve seen in the last ten years. The second half was perhaps worse especially when one considers who we were up against and the fact that they’ve not played a competitive game of football for a couple of months.

The pitch was awful and yes, it was the same for both teams but BATE are used to it. Not an excuse, just an observation and we know how much some of these highly paid footballers like the perfect surface to play on.

After the match, unai Emery spoke to the media.

I trust in our players and I trust in our stadium and supporters,” he said.

“There are two matches. Tonight’s match is important but we can’t [be knocked out in it], we are going to play a second match next week. 
“I trust in our work to prepare for the next match and to have a different result at Emirates Stadium.

“I respect [BATE] and I know about them because we watched matches they played. An organised team, defensively a good team and good at transitions. We worked to stop them in these actions but they scored one goal and in the transitions we worked well to stop another situation defensively for us.

“Then in the attacking moment we had the chances, more than them, but the goalkeeper and the last action for us was not efficient. But we did our all to win the match.

“It’s the first 90 minutes. I know it’s more difficult here as we [didn’t] take a better result, but the next match at the Emirates we are going to continue our work today and I want to work to take better attacking moments with more efficiency and to win the match.”

Arsenal.com

The defending is a concern, especially when Germany’s very own Bambi on ice plays and with each match he plays, AMN shows he’s not a right back. He’s far better further up the pitch imo and for last nights match, I really don’t understand why Carl Jenkinson didn’t get the nod. Our attacking play was limp too, certainly after the opening few chances were spurned and all the time Mesut Ozil remains on the sidelines, the media will have a field day. Our corners were diabolical, period.

There appears to be absolutely no understanding between the players going forward at all which proved to be the case as pass after pass went astray. It was horrid to watch.

The final moment to forget came for Lacazette who was shown a straight red card for swinging his elbow into the face of a BATE player. I guess he was fed up with being pulled from pillar to post. Even so, he shouldn’t have reacted and he said as much himself after the game at the same time as apologising. Funny how the BATE player didn’t even get booked for the initial foul though.

All in all a pretty miserable night for Arsenal and there’s a lot left to do in a weeks time if we’re to progress any further.

There’s a lot for Unai Emery to do full stop.

45 thoughts on “Horrible, just horrible.

  1. Adam says:

    Hobart. I know exactly what you mean. All discussion seems irrelevant in the wake of the sort of pathetic nonsense that the manager and team are dishing up. The board will be forced into action I think. When it all becomes unacceptable, what else can they do?

  2. scottfromoz says:

    As the Europa League is our only chance at silverware, we should be going 100% at it and that means starting Özil and Ramsey, imo-if fit.
    I’d like a little wager they’ll both start in the second leg.
    Morning all.
    All isn’t lost, but let’s hooe we get our if this flat spot-I’m being generous-pretty damn quickly else the entire club and it’s supporter base will become toxic very quickly.

  3. andorrabyte says:

    Just watched the highlights this morning. Not a great morning guys I am sorry to say, and am almost speechless with rage.
    The Mit opportunity I do not rate as a miss, as the ball was hit cleanly and he was so close to the keeper anyway who smothered the shot, BUT, How did Lacazette miss that sitter of a header?
    Has anyone ever seen Lacazette score a headed goal?
    Now his petulant actions have deprived the team of someone who can’t head the ball.LOL. Pathetic!
    THEY scored because Lacazette was in front of the guy who jumped to head the ball, but he didn’t contest the ball AT ALL as both feet were firmly planted and, then Xhaka did exactly the same.
    Unbelievable?
    Arsenal, like a lot of the PL sides are used to playing on surfaces groomed like snooker tables so that’s a drawback when playing sides that have dodgy surfaces but even so, they swarmed all over Bate in the first half, and should have had a hatful of goals, locked up and thrown the key away.

    It was an utter disgrace.

  4. Hobart says:

    I started by thinking Emery should have at least his full two years, but if we keep having nights like last night. I wondering if we should trust him with the transfer budget.

    Supposedly his choices for the last window were Banega (30), Perisic (30) Suarez (25), (Carrasco (25), Nzonzi (30) and Nkunku (21)

    We got Suárez and as far as I am concerned Emery doesn’t get a penny more until Suárez looks like more than a lightweight Jimmy Carter.

  5. potter says:

    We seem to be getting linked to players of a standard obviously within a budget. However I remover the mid 80’s we were linked with buying the dregs of the England midfield Dozzell, Hodge , etc. Instead of paying out we chose to promote Merson Davis Rocastle Thomas perhaps instead of buying Hobart’s list of never was’ it’s time to release some of our might be possibles ’

  6. kel says:

    morning,

    Hobert that’s my concern atm can we trust him with 70 to 80m for example? the players that were being linked have no resale value, I personally don’t think that’s a very smart plan.

    didn’t emery apparently blow the kronkes and gazids away during his interview with his detailed review of all the current players and how he was gonna improve them? who has improved?

    in other words I’ll not need much investment I’ll improve what we have…😏

    Truth is we’ve stagnated again or maybe we’ve regressed a little the next month or two will tell us.

    still though he did sign Torreira and Guendouzi do that’s a positive.

  7. scottfromoz says:

    I think every new manager has a honeymoon period where players and fans alike are axcited, and usually, it equates to some positive results.
    Obviously, we are past that and have hit an almighty flat spot, but let’s see how Emery responds and give him his chance to show how much fight he has in him, because we have all laughed at Utd and the Chavs for the quick sacking of managers which brings no stability to a club.
    Of course, if Emery fails, shouldn’t the board fall on their sword as they’re the people who hired him?
    Wouldn’t that be nice 🙂

  8. kel says:

    who falls scott gazids is gone already and if josh had any say in emery well sure he’s the owners son and possibly future owner himself so he ain’t going.

    no accountability at Arsenal hasn’t been for a long time m8.

  9. allezkev says:

    Morning Gooners
    Morning Rico, a good but depressing post.

    Last season we went to BATE with a team made up of fringe players and youngsters and scored 4 goals. Chelsea went there after us and narrowly won 1-0.

    Our players were complacent and you can blame the manager of course you can, but it comes from within and this lot were like this under the last manager and 10 of the starting 11 yesterday were Wenger signings.

    I’ll tell ya what Hobart, I wish we’d had Banega and Perisic in our team yesterday, but what we need are defenders, but don’t think we’ll be going for £40 or £50m defenders next summer, we can’t afford it, we don’t have the financial support that Man City and Man Utd have.

    Potter, I make you right, this current crop of young players in our present financial situation are vital, we need to encourage them not slag them off on Twitter and Emery needs to grow a pair and play them.

  10. kel says:

    I wonder if emery had have said during his interview I’ll not be playing ozil as I don’t like him or rate him would be have got the job.

    you’re right scott honeymoon period is over, performances are what it’s all about now, I’d say he’d better give mavrapanos, and Ozil a start soon as imo he’s gonna get himself sacked.

  11. scottfromoz says:

    Hahaha Kel, I know nobody from the board is going, but I’ve always found it funny that BOD’s will gladly sack “failed” manager after manager, yet I’ve never seen anyone quit for employing the wrong man.
    Heaven forbid 😉
    I agree with everyone saying play the kids.
    It’s what we lack-players who are playing for the right reason and that’s pride in the shirt.
    Jenkinson fits the mould and can’t get a gig yet we keep giving others who wouldn’t get themselves dirty, let alone put their body on the line for the shirt.

  12. Wavy says:

    Morning all.

    I’m not sure Scott, about, players not playing for the shirt. I think most of them play as well as they are able to! Sadly their levels of engagement, anticipation of situations and their ability to pass to another member of their team, is sorely limited. Can’t be arsed to go through last night’s team trying to identify or even enumerate their individual failings…..it would probably take up the rest of my day! Just a little taster then. Mikki likes nothing better than pretending to be a spectator. He loves watching his team mates run around him or the pitch working hard at his expense! Iwobi, he just likes running into opponents with the ball at his feet and either giving it away or turning back on himself and passing the ball back to where he has just carried it from! An so on, you can find faults in all the team and fill in the gaps that I haven’t been bothered with…..yet.

    Something has to happen at the Arsenal and something that will be designed to improve these players and quickly. Whether it’s all down to the manager/coach or the lack of motivation of the players, or their engagement or lack of it, or, to his post Wenger methods.What ever the disconnect is it needs to be resolved pdq, otherwise he’ll be getting his P45 sooner than he’s planned for it!

    This seems like deja vu. I feel I’m writing the same pessimistic stuff as I was this time last year. Far from this being a brave new world it is fast becoming Arsenal’s ashes!

    I’m off in search of some positive news, there must be something good going on in the world somewhere…….Nope, there isn’t !

    On the plus side, we have azure skies here again and the frost has gone. It’s warming up nicely. Perhaps I’ll finish pruning the roses and plant a few onion sets. At least it’ll get arsenal off my mind. Diversionary tactics! I’ll send an email to little Dick about how to change one’s mind set😀 in order to move on……?

  13. Hobart says:

    When Emery took over we were decent going forwards but weak at the back. Now we are turgid going forward and still weak at the back.

    To solve this we have bought in Suarez.

    At the same time we have the number 2 chance creator in the Premier League and the 3rd best chance creator in Europe last year sitting at home playing Fortnite.

    Something just doesn’t make sense.

  14. allezkev says:

    Whilst looking through You Tube for highlights on the game yesterday I stumbled on a segment from BT Sport discussing the aftermath of Winterslag Mk2 and there among the ‘experts’ was Joe Cole, whose efforts to say something worthwhile even made Martin Keown look nonplussed – where on earth do they dig these pillocks up from – another Michael Owen in the making methinks….?

  15. Paddywhack says:

    I would not give Emery a penny to spend in summer. Another David Moyes. And tell me what do Raul and Bould do exactly. Have they actually got a job. Also Suarez back to Barca in the summer we have kids who are better.

  16. andorrabyte says:

    Well Paddyw, that is open to debate and, the kids aren’t in the team and Suarez is….for the time being. I’ve seen him play, live, in Barcelona but I’m not paying for your ticket so you can see for yourself.

  17. Adam says:

    Paddy. I agree. I don’t know how the board can possibly give Unai another penny if they are judging him on results and performances. They surely can’t afford to let this saga drag as they did with Wenger. Make a strong decision and start again I would think.

  18. Wavy says:

    I’m rapidly coming to a similar conclusion, Adam PW.

    Only thing is who will be the next lamb to the slaughter? I hear some kneeled old timer called Wenger is available and looking for a new challenge😊

    A conundrum within a coach’s tracksuit!

    Ho, hum!

  19. micko says:

    Adam, I know if I was on the board I’d be bored , they couldn’t give a rats arse !

    Hobart, a light weight Jimmy Carter, that’s funny mate, how many times was he on the winning side for us btw…..not very often if memory serves.

  20. Rick says:

    Evening Rico and the House.
    The u23’s are away to the Spuds tonight.
    Joe Willock has scored in the first min. 1-0

  21. Paddywhack says:

    I like Emery as a bloke. Just dont think he is the right man for this job. Give last nights team to SAF even now would he have accepted a 1-0 to a pub team. No he wouldnt. I would have that bloke at Keeds over Emery. He must play that lazy shite Ozil. Ozil would have ripped that pub team apart with his passes. As I have said before dont give Emery money to spend in the summer. Much as I like him he is not up to the premiership. That bloke at Leeds or the bloke at Wolves would do a better job.

  22. Le Coq Monster says:

    With Arsene`s leftovers (who plenty thought were a good squad !) and limited self sufficient funds compared to 2 Mancs and Chavs…………………….and no investment from owner, Dick has a near impossible job.
    Some said he needs 3 transfer windows to get his ways in place………………………….he`s had 2 already !
    We are years behind and with the ownership of Kroenke , who some said lets give him a chance and see what he does once he ……….1) gets rid of Wenger and …………2) fully owns the club !

    Personally like a few on here, I`d rather play the youth than buy(waste money on fees and wages) 30+ years olds !

    Hands up who think the U23`s who are spanking the Spuds currently would have done a better job last night ? hahaha

  23. Le Coq Monster says:

    Got to love Freddie !…………………………………..4-0 up and he takes off a defender and brings on an attacker !

    😀

  24. Le Coq Monster says:

    Freddie takes Illiev the goal keeper off and replaces him with Tom Smith …………………………………..no idea who Tom Smith is, but wouldn`t it be great if he was a striker too as we need more goals ! hahaha

  25. Rick says:

    Finished 4-0 a great performance.
    LC Tom Smith is a 16year old keeper who is yet to play
    for the u18’s. Ilieve went off injured leaves us short of youth
    team g/ks.

    Re your 8.22
    There are 4 of tonights team who ( in my opinion) should be given a run in the first team.
    They are Tutu (r/b) Dinos 9(c/h) Eddy ( at no 9) and Joe Willock in place of Guendouzi.

    Joe has scored 11 goals in 16 games this season and is in great form at the moment.
    I have always thought he was the best of the 3 Willock brothers has a lot more in his
    locker then guendouze.

    But saying all this I think there is no way that Emery will play him.

  26. rico says:

    Great result for Freddie’s team.

    Rick, do you watch their games or listen on the player? I tried to watch but couldn’t find a link..

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