Morning all.
Has your optimism returned? Is it a stretch too far to suggest excitement as well? Ok, let’s stick to optimism then. I feel like I did eighteen months ago when Arsene Wenger had left and Unai Emery arrived. Here we are again with new hope. Longer lasting would be nice.
Josh Kroenke has had his say.
‘First and foremost, Freddie has Arsenal DNA. Obviously he was a player here for a number of years, the supporters know him very well and he’s worked diligently behind the scenes for the past several years.’
‘My message to Freddie and the players was let’s get back to basics and most importantly let’s get back to having some fun. I think footballers are at their best when I see smiles on their faces and going out there and winning matches. That’s a winning formula to me.’
Arsenal won’t be appointing the first candidate they see fit to take the club forwards. Instead, the board will take their time to find ‘the right candidate’ said Josh Kroenke which makes sense to me. It’d be easy to throw money at someone just to get a manager in the door but our next appointment has to tick every box the club has drawn up. A quick fix isn’t what Arsenal need in my opinion but a long term plan is. Steady progress with the younger players and buying wisely in January, the summer and onwards. More, Guendouzi and Martinelli, less Xhaka and Mustafi for example. Players who can be worked with and players who put the club before the size of their salary.
As Kev said yesterday and I wholeheartedly agree with him. If certain players who aren’t prepared to get on board now the coaching change has been made, pack their bags, go next month and take their massive egos with them. No player, regardless of how good he might be, is bigger than The Arsenal.
Per Mertesacker has teamed up with Freddie Ljungberg on the training pitch and the big German will be his assistant for the foreseeable. Merts might not have been the quickest defender in the game but I’m sure his vast wealth of knowledge and experience will help sort out the defensive mess we have been in for a long time. Improvement won’t happen overnight and that’s pretty much all the time our new coaching duo have had so I won’t be expecting miracles at Carrow Road later today. But I’d like to think we’ll see some kind of improvement, even if it’s just in attitude and effort. Freddie said in his first interview that he’s not about to smash everything to pieces, but he will be making a few changes, none of which he was prepared to disclose.
As I said yesterday, Freddie was part of a team/squad who played exciting and entertaining football. Backwards and sideways passing were seldom to be seen. Everything back then was about pace, width and being able to turn defence into attack in a blink of an eye. Neither Freddie or Bobby Pires stayed in one place for long as they switched sides on a regular basis. They didn’t need telling at the time because it was all part of the plan. Everything which served Arsene Wenger well was about speed, accuracy and quick passing. Admittedly, he didn’t need to look after the defence because they looked after themselves. Each and everyone of them had been drilled by George Graham. Apart from Ashley Cole but Tony Adams sorted him out. Cole would then team up with Campbell, Touré and Lauren and The Invincibles we’re born. From the day Arsène Wenger arrived until the day the Invincibles split, Arsenal were superb.
My point? Well surely Freddie, even if he’s only the caretaker manager for now, will try and return our style of football to being an exciting one. Out with the sideways stuff, the backwards stuff too and bring back the ‘get the ball forward quickly with sharp pass and move football’ approach. There will always be a requirement to play a safety pass but make it the exception rather than the rule which it’s been now for years.
Our front players should be scoring goals for fun. Mesut Ozil should have been creating chance after chance for them but what with his lousy attitude and Emery trying to stamp his authority, the entire situation became embarrassing. It’ll be interesting to see if he plays today away from home.
The defending. If this side of our game improves today then wonders will have been worked but as already said, I don’t much change so soon other than in personnel. Luiz is doubt as is Mustafi and Bellerin so the door opens for Holding or Chambers. That’s assuming Sokratis starts but who knows, the two Englishman might be seen as a pairing to stem the tide and take us forward.
Freddie’s midfield selection will be interesting. I’d bet my last shilling that Torreira will be in there and he’ll stay there unless fitness and performances don’t dictate otherwise. Guendouzi or Willock too, maybe all three. Who knows.
That’s the exciting part. Everyone’s place is up for grabs again and that alone should kick a few of our disinterested players into action.
Good luck to Freddie, Merts and the players. Please let this be the beginning of something good.
Another ramble over..
Morning Kev, Geoff, Scott and all. Looks like we’re on a similar page..
New post up now.
Morning all.
I reckon our effort and endeavour was up markedly on recent games, but to be honest, I underestimated how well Norwich could and would play.
Whatever happens with Freddy or any new manager, we can only improve to the point our players are capable of.
We still need a DM and CB at least, to be a force.
I just read Ljunberg claims he did not play Pepe as he is unfit If this the case what have our fitness people been doing with him this season. for the money we paid he should have been as fit as any other player
It’s been about 18 months since I’ve been able to sit through an entire post match interview and press conference by an Arsenal manager.
I most certainly won’t miss the rambling of Ljungbergs predecessor…
I like Lacazette, but we’re not a position where we can carry a striker who continually fails to deliver in away games and he doesn’t hit the net very often away from the Emirates, so maybe play him in the homes games and let him sit out the always?
Yeah, our defence is all over the place and our midfield is like a colander, but maybe a bit more spotlight should be shone on our £100m attack, because we seemed to create a lot of really good opportunities in that opening spell when we played our best football and wanked them all away with sloppy finishing, maybe if we’d taken the lead it may have been a better result?
Ok, I haven’t seen the game or even the highlights, but to expect a radical change in our play after just one training session is surprising to say the least.
The confidence of our squad is on the floor, our defence and midfield are a shambles and have been for a long time. Maybe the £72m we spent on Pepe in the summer would have been better off being invested in a quality defensive midfielder?
A good performance by Leno, from what I heard, an improvement in attitude by fighting back twice and equalising.
Let me expand, as I mentioned above our confidence is zero, so to play really well in the opening spells only to concede on the first Norwich break would usually spell an Arsenal collapse, but we dug in and equalised only to concede before half time, the worst time to concede and especially with our brittle confidence, but we fought back again and despite some hairy moments held on for a draw. A week ago under Emery we would have lost about 3-0…
Hi All I think Freddie done well for his first time but we looked too slow and was disappointed that our defence kept getting pushed back instead of holding there ground for me Leno was our best player also I would to see Aubameyang take more control and yell at the players after all he meant to the captain.
I’m stunned that Freddy is copping it already on social media.
We do have some very special fans, and staunch as hell lol
Hey, he may not make it and could well fail dismally but after 48 hours and one game??
Freddie saying he didn’t bring Pepe on because he’s not been working hard enough in training.
I think so too Lc, ten years or more of dreadful defending wont be mended in 48 hours, any more than any other failing areas of our play.
As in the headline………………….there is no quick fix !………………..our defense and midfield defensive shield ( lack of it) has been a cancer rotting away for years, we really do need some experts in that field to fix it and changing minds and attitudes will not be quick and we all want it done yesterday, more of the same for quite a while imo.
But who makes these substitutions will be reading the game well? Increasingly I am convinced that Arsenal had very high expectations for the quality of the team they have.
I’m with you there Limey, 100%. There was never going to be vast improvements but let’s see where we are against Brighton and then City. Give the guy a chance for goodness sake.
A little better, the first half especially, their first goal was a lucky deflection, after the penalty shenanigansthe crowd got them up for it. To be fair for most of the second half, they were just as likely to score as us.
A fair result, as other people have said it’s unrealistic to expect things to change so quickly.
I’d like to see Torreira start, also Tierney, Bellerin and Holding fitness permitting.
I don’t care about where we finish now. Just back Freddie for as long as it lasts, get the right manager in, and be patient!
Total disappointment.
Defense is a sadness; I still do not understand how it is possible to play with Ozil the way we play: a) he is not prepared to receive any ball built since the defense; b) He does not defend c) We always play with 10 the second part and part of the first; d) He hasn’t no strength, no speed, no intensity in the game. Playing to mark corners is very little;
What had to remain a priority was midfield strength. If the coach breaks the entire midfield, the (fragile) defense is even more exposed and neither ball reaches the strikers. The best of Arsenal was Leno. Against this backdrop, I stand by what I said for weeks: Arsenal will play not to be relegate.
Oh come on guys that’s 2 points against relegation fodder in 7 days with two different managers, we’re not that bad really !
In parts, I thought there was some improvement, certainly in the first half.
I’m wondering how fit our players are, or unfit but in general, at least the players looked like they wanted to be out there.
But there’s a lot to be done both for Freddie or whoever takes over but with the likes of Xhaka and Mustafi, good luck I say because they’ll need it.
Thought Leno had a very good game thank goodness.
Generally ghastly.
We allowed Norwich 15 shots on goal. I suppose that is an improvement on some other games against bottom six clubs.
We lost all formation in the second half, but overall a pass mark I reckon.
…..and that is what we are reduced to playing against a side in the bottom three Obi.
Cicero @3:36, but it helps us not to lose the game….
We he’s not now, subbed for Torreira. How does that help us win the game, are we settling for an away point?
Why is Willock still in the game? He has added nothing.
I know Aubameyang has two goals, but he has already checked out, in my opinion. His runs are lazy and he has given up on numerous play in this game.
Agree with Scott, expecting vast changes in our performance after 48 hours is asking a lot. We’ve had defensive problems for nearly ten years, not six months..l
Back to the Emery style, Cicero?
You mean “still” after a lousy 48 hours.
Still playing out from the back but overall in defence much better.
Just shut the damn guy with the ball down.
It’s back to the Emery style, sideways, back, sideways back. Slow, slow, not quick, slow.
Scott, our defence is a shambles. Going forward we look better but the stats don’t bear that out. 8 shots, 3 on target, 1 goal and that from a penalty.
Morning all.
One thing that needs addressing is our trait of backing away when they hit on the counter, as all we are doing is inciting them closer to goal-why?
Get up in their face and THEN jockey.
Both times we did it, they’ve scored yet overall our defence has looked solid.
It’s those little details……
Happy with the overall performance, and we definitely look better going forward!!
Disappointing way to end the half..
Luiz and Mustafi, the defensive partnership from Hell.
Deja vu all over again. 2 – 1. Ffs.
1 – 1 that should bee.
Ladies finished, 11-1 not bad!
Auba has two opportunities and scores one! Stats Please?
Same old same old, a couple of chances scorned a counter attack and our defence is in ribbons.
We get a pen which Aubameyang cocks up, but a reprieve courtesy of VAR gives him another chance.
0 – 1
Nerves of steel… 😂
Don’t turn your back Mustafi…
I was excited before I saw theam sheet !……………………………………….Freddie Out ! hahaha
Us fans obviously see something the last 3 coaches dont see in Xhaka or is it the other way around ?
amazing I said before we should sell Aubameyang he score at less than one goal a game and re invest the money on another player or two and you all shot me down, know you want to sell him, ?
9-0 now after 60 minutes!
Arsenal ladies are now 6-0 up against Bristol City, after 50 minutes! Miedemar with 4 and counting.
I’ll take that against Norwich today… pity she’s not available to play at Carrow Road plus a few of the other ladies!
Freddie over to you.
Well I wasn’t expecting that line up… 🤔😮
Just been listening to Talkshite – God knows why?
The appallingly gobby Mark Saggers, the sanctimonious Danny Mills and the man who knows bugger all John Cross, what a trio of fcukwits….
Well here we go , not what I would have picked but it’s only 48 hours in and Bellerin and Tierney are carrying knocks.
It will be interesting to see if there is a change of system and attitude.
Mustafi and Luiz both picked up injuries on Thursday and Kolascinac hasn’t played a full game since his return from a hamstring injury.
Dodgy.
Subs
3Tierney
5Papastathopoulos
11Torreira
19Pépé
26Martínez
35Martinelli
77Saka
That defence scares me…..
1Leno
21Chambers
20Mustafi
23David Luiz
31Kolasinac
29Guendouzi
34Xhaka
28Willock
10Özil
9Lacazette
14Aubameyang
How much would you reckon that Madrid would want for Rodriguez then Cicero?
Because I suspect that they’re looking at close to a straight swap…
Like you, I just thought that the initial report was sloppily written and poorly researched.
Why would we sell a proven goalscorer to Real Madrid and take some showpony who they tried to flog to Bayern.
Let’s see if Barca are really interested, although with Suarez, Messi, etc, do they need him?
Todays team.
Leno,
Chambers, Mustafi, Luiz, Kolo
Xhaka Geundozi Willok Ozil
Auba Lacca
Nketiah is fit again, he played the last twelve minutes for Leeds yesterday. He’s not getting the minutes he needs there bring him back in January he’d be another lively option in attack.
The Devil’s in the detail Kev.
One way the deal reads “Rodriguez plus seventy million for Aubameyang”. Or alternatively ” Rodriguez and seventy million, minus his value, for Aubameyang”
A big difference.
The first deal would be a great bit of business, the second depends entirely on Real’s valuation of their player.
Absolutely, we should ask for £100m for Aubameyang and see what happens?
If reports in the media are right, both Real and Barca want him so bring on the bidding war. 😂
Absolutely agree Kev.
I wonder if Jorge Mendes is the agent of Rodriguez?
Yeah, I agree Rico, a straight fee for Aubameyang if Real Madrid want him, because I’m not Interested in James Rodriguez, the last thing we need is another big time Charlie on big wages with a inflated ego.
Or simply sell Aubameyang if he wants out. Take the money and reinvest in midfield and defence. Same with Lacazette imo. Invest in younger players whilst we have the opportunity. After next summer, their value will decrease big time.
Agree re bellerin Kev, my thoughts were based on him being fully fit.
I’ve not seen much of JJ’s so your view on him is much valued. Sounds like another gem with great potential.
*here* ….. sorry Adam ☹️
James Rodriguez, I’ve not seen anybody on hear make any comments about him since we were linked with him. Personally I’d rather keep Aubameyang.
Rico, I don’t know if Bellerin is fit, we need to treat him carefully as he comes back from that serious injury, but I’m hoping that we’ll see the Tierney we want to see, getting forward and putting over crosses.
John Jules is a highly technical player with the look of a Van Persie about him, he doesn’t score heaps of goals but he scores some crackers and he gets on well with Lacazette and Aubameyang.
I can see him in a No.10 role, but not the inconsistent Ozil type, but the more influential Bergkamp style, not that I should load him with too many expectations, but he is an exciting prospect.
I wonder if we’ll see a back four of Bellerin, Chambers, Holding and Tiernèy…
Would he be that brave..
Morning Kev, thanks.
Ditto re Freddie but then I do love seeing our younger players brought through. I read John-Jules has been thrown into training now so looks like he’s the next to be given some playing time.
I’d take a 1-0 too with a much improved attitude from the players.
I’m shocked Limey, Cicero – that should keep him going for a while.. lol
Morning All and Scott…
Morning Rico, thanks for another good post.
I’ve been looking forward to this game since Emery got the tin tack and Freddie was put in charge, it’s encouraging to see that Josh is over here, we need him to be involved.
Not sure if Freddie and BFG have had enough time to make too many tactical changes, so things won’t look much different from before, but the attitude of the players should look a lot better and hopefully players will be played in their proper positions.
The XI chosen will be interesting and also whose on the bench, will we see a few of the youngsters yet? It might be too soon, but Freddie can bruise a few egos if they don’t perform and it won’t make any difference, so I’m looking forward to that.
How will we respond if we go a goal down?
Our confidence is brittle, so that would be a huge test.
And how would Freddie react, both in terms of tactics and substitutions?
If you offered me a scrappy 1-0 I’d snatch your hand off.
It doesn’t really matter, just don’t get beat…
Against Pakistan Rico.
Looking forward to the match. Norwich won last week but had been in worse form than us.
Pakistan, Rico.
Ha ha Limey, who against?
Interesting re Europa, I enjoyed those early matches..
It will be fascinating to see the line up today, reports say Freddie was more involved in the early Europa League teams,so hopefully they will play with more freedom.
I see David Warner got a treble century, he can’t do it in England though!!
Hi All Does any one know how much more coaching Freddie has to do before he can become a full time coach. The one positive thing I am taking out of Freddie as care taker coach is that we will get see how he goes as a possible future coach, If he coaches as good as he played then he is half way there. Great photo above of Per Mertesacker and Torreira
Hi Scott, all.
Quiet morning considering….
Cicero, I’m tipping these players were so down on Emery, they’ll explode now.
Let’s not get carried away, slovenly football is ingrained in the psyche of many of our senior players, it will take more than 48 hours to sort that out.
There’s a terrific little pub a brisk fifteen minute walk from Carrow Road, but I’m not going to name it. 😉
For anyone going be aware that the COMPLEAT ANGLER pub no longer welcomes away supporters.
Seems Josh has been reading my comments of late 🙂
Morning Rico, morning all.