Morning all.
Agendas, we all have them don’t we? Or can you, reading this, honestly say you’re a ‘take things day by day’ kind of person? I’ve always believed there’s no point in worrying about tomorrow when today is just beginning.
A football club can’t be run in such a way of course because people at the top have to prepare for tomorrow, the next day and the months/years ahead but, whatever happens ‘today’, should be considered before making future decisions. I hope that makes the same sense to you as it did me at the time of writing. Lol.
Take Arsenal, Edu and Mikel. I think nearly everyone who contributes here on HH believe the club has and/or still is, making errors. The signing of Willian has on many occasion been criticised. The continued selection of he, Pepe, Xhaka, Luiz – insert your own player choice here, has been criticised daily. The selling of Martinez, the omission of Ozil, the appointment of the inexperienced Mikel Arteta. Edu isn’t up to the job he has either. Surf the wider internet, and the criticism goes much deeper.
An excellent performance against Chelsea will no doubt have been dismissed by certain corners of the Arsenal fan base whilst in others, the ‘I told you so’ will be running through the minds of those of us who believed Mikel Arteta needed to bring more youth into the side. Yes, that’s me so I guess banging the youth drum has been my agenda. I also believe Bellerin and Xhaka, Lacazette too, need moving on but that doesn’t mean I have to refuse to acknowledge just how good they played against Chelsea. One good performance individually or collectively as a team, won’t change my opinion but the neither does one bad one.
In life there are people who will never be happy regardless of what their day has delivered. They’ll watch a football match and pick out the negative parts instead of seeing the positive moments. Same applies to the other side of the coin though as ‘some’ people, I hate that expression, will only see the good whilst ignoring the bleedin obvious which has been bad, because the bleedin obvious doesn’t suit their agenda.
The performance against Chelsea is one not to be overly excited about in my opinion but nor should it be ignored. Optimistic though? Absolutely. With Thomas Partey and Gabriel on the sidelines, we absolutely battered Chelsea. It was them hitting and hoping with their crosses into the box and not Arsenal. When Arsenal did that recently, it was greeted with all sorts of negativity, yet Chelsea do it Arsenal were ‘lucky to get away with it’. The fact that we dealt with most things they tried is dismissed with great ease. If Arsenal have ten shots on goal but don’t score, we’re rubbish but when the opponent does something similar, we’re considered fortunate the opponents didn’t have their shooting boots on. Agendas eh!
Regardless of the circumstances which led to Mikel Arteta leaving Pepe and Aubameyang on the bench and Willian and Luiz at home, which I really hope was an Mikel Arteta decision only, it happened and proved to be a positive. What’s important in my opinion is that younger players aren’t now cast aside. Team selection has to be based on performance and attitude and not because of the name on the shirt or how he played six, twelve or eighteen months ago. We learn from the past but we live in the present. The past tells me that if Mikel needs to substitute Martinelli but doesn’t want to lose the teams energy, intensity and pressing game, Pepe is not the player to replace him with, Willock however is a different story. If he wanted to tighten things up defensively, changing ESR with AMN might have been a more suitable option than Willock.
If Mikel Arteta wants to keep Arsenal climbing up the table, he cannot afford to select players who aren’t on his side because they will in my opinion cost him his career at the club. Player power simply cannot win and nor should it be allowed to either.
What the performance against Chelsea proved is that the younger guys will dig deep and then deeper still to win a game. They want to play and they want to perform. Arsenal’s future should be in their hands and not in the guys who downed tools a couple of months ago.
If Mikel Arteta can’t see that then yes, perhaps he deserves to have his stay questioned. If Edu and whoever else is involved in our future player signings think that players at the very end of their career is a good idea then they too should be thinking about packing their bags and walking away.
High energy players, committed players, smart and simple footballing players is the way forward for our club. Men and teenagers who are more interested in playing the game than plotting a way to remove a manager from his position is the way forward. Remove the bad apples and the rest won’t rot.
Even if it took just 95 minutes against a strong Chelsea side for the penny to drop for Mikel Arteta, then thank heavens for that. However, if Willian and Luiz walk back into the team as soon as they’re next available, then it will prove he’s unable to be flexible, to see what’s in front of his nose and incapable of doing what’s best for the club and the team. Same goes for Edu if next month he makes more ridiculous moves in the transfer window.
For today though, I’m feeling pretty optimistic that inside the Arsenal squad of goodness knows how many, there’s a group of players who can, and will if selected, keep the Arsenal moving in the right direction. If the man taking us forward is Arteta, great, if it’s not then so be it. I don’t have an agenda as far as the manager goes, or the board for that matter because I just want Arsenal to do well. To be the best they possibly can with the resources available. It’s fine to be critical but it’s also fine to dish out praise too.
See you in the comments.
Morning Rico. A very philosophical piece. You are of course mostly right. If some of the senior players have an anti Arteta agenda they should be rooted out and discarded. Sent to ‘help’ the stiffs in the first instance and then offered for sale asap.
It would seem that we have some really able young players, they have to be our future. We also have a slightly bizarre transfer policy. Sell Martinez to pay Willians wages? And if rumours are to be believe Nelson will be sold either to balance the Partey overspend or they have some other old codger in mind, to replace him with. ( I do hope I’m wrong!)
The win against Chelsea was a surprise. I have to say I was fully prepared for another defeat. Although I, like a few others haven’t thought that some of our recent performances were so abject that we deserved the press the club has been derided with. However, the game against Chelsea was as good as we’ve seen in a while. Long may it continue.
Like you, I shall be most disappointed if the old guard find their way back into the starting eleven, no matter what they cost or currently earn!
Let’s hope tomorrow will be the second win of the Xmas period and we win with style, ability and successful finishing! And continue in that vein for the rest of the season.
Morning Wavy, all.
I was in that kind of mood yesterday. Lol
You know, I would even want any player not prepared to give their all for the first team anywhere near the under 23’s. Stick them on the transfer list and see what happens.
Selling Martinez was stupid, I think the same about selling Nelson, a stupid idea when so many others are getting away with what they are on a match day.
If Willian and co come back into the team tomorrow, then reap what you sow Mikel.
Hi Rico I would still keep Laca he seem to be much better with the younger players around him.
Morning all.
I maintain my opinion that the club could do nothing but sell Martinez due to the circumstances surrounding Leno, and we got Partey in no small part because of it so no issues at all, for mine.
I’m sure the elder statesmen will get plenty of game time but more because we need to nurse the kids along and not flog them to death, as doing so would only see criticism of the club for throwing them to the wolves if they copped injuries.
It’s a fine line.
On balance though, I do hope we see more of the kids than the prima donnas-they’ve shown their true colours.
Move them on.
According to story on news now Board back Arteta to buy top players and then sell others in January yet the same story say’s Kroenke will not let Arteta buy until he sells more players. If this is true and the way I under stand it no wonder we are in the state we are when the owner and board are on different pages. So what hope did Emery and now Arteta have.
Hi Geoff, I see where you’re coming from.
Scott, the solution was simple, play the guy who was in form. Tell Leno to fight for his place.
Morning rico, good write-up. Personally, while agreeing about Xhaka and Bellerin (despite very good performances against Chelsea) I’m undecided about Laca, and believe Luiz is harshly treated being paired alongside Willian.
Luiz always tried to get us going forward, certainly cares about what happens and is a dominant defender. Just the odd stupid lapses for penalties and being sent off is the problem, but I’d always have him above Mustafi, or in to allow Tierney to play at LB in a four.
Laca, i dont know, I thought he had the ability, but can’t accept the recent lack of movement until the Chelsea game where quick flicks forward helped no end. Not that he’s the only one not moving! Think he deserves another go up front in place of Auba, it will certainly be an interesting team selection Tuesday!
Rico, we needed the money.
There is no way we’d have sold the guy if we didn’t have to.
He’s gone anyway so hardly much point going back over it again, but it was a shame as his time had come, no question.
Geoff, good old transfer window rumours-they’re entertaining 🙂
We sold him because he wanted to be number one Scott, Arteta said that himself.
Morning Andrew, thanks. Luiz is one of the players rumoured to have complained about Arteta. Willian the other. If that’s true and after being dropped for the Chelsea game, both can go imo. I don’t dislike a Luiz as a player but he’s slow now. He’ll be gone in the summer anyway.
G’day all. Scott if we needed the money to buy Partey we would have got more if we had sold Leno instead.
You need only look at this from mundoalbiceleste.com/2020/12/26/emiliano-martinez-leads-clean…
2 days ago ·
Emiliano Martinez leads the Premier League with the most clean sheets as he got another one for Aston Villa in their 3-0 win vs. Crystal Palace. Martinez has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season.
Rico, rightly, points out that Emi left because he wanted to be Number one. Arteta and Edu weren’t brave enough to award him that position, now look where that attitude has got us.
Afternoon Rico, I read the first two paragraphs and though ‘Is Rico on the cannabis rock cakes again’ 😆 But then the penny dropped and tbh I am getting a bit slow on the uptake these days 😉
Well my agenda is an unchanged team at the Amex. Reward those that have performed and make those out of the team earn a recall, it’s called the non negotiables, now where did I previously hear that?
Good post btw.
Cicero, that’s where an experienced manager would have perhaps been better. He wouldn’t care who he’d offend, he’d pick the best keeper.
Morning Kev, thanks. Ha ha. Unchanged team for me too unless another so soon is too much for Martinelli and ESR. Even so, there’s other options like Nelson to replace Martinelli but the ESR role could be anyone’s really. Perhaps Xhaka with AMN in central midfield. Footballer manager is easy. 😂
Sheila, thank you.
I’m not sure if it would work or not but I would of tried to keep Martinez and leno by picking Leno for all home games and Martinez for all away games and switched the 2 around for the last half of the season so both get to play in front of the home crowed. This way both keep match fit and game time.
We’re linked to Riqui Puig of Barca and Norwich midfielder Emiliano Buendia.
Afternoon Rico and All
When Martinez got his chance he was outstanding for us.
But where was he for a decade before?
Just before last season ended can’t remember which game it was he was overheard saying
“I’m not interested in the money “
I read that as the club wanted to keep him by offering a pay rise but he wanted number one status.is that not the same as we want Ozil back in the team brigade are saying to Micky.
Tail wagging the dog,
It has to be across the board for it to be fair.
Experience players some in their thirties would be quick to find faults in a boss a few years older than them,I’ve seen it a million times in my working life,You know when the owner of a company says I’m retiring my very talented son will take the reins,You know anyone with half a brain will let him know the best way to run that firm.
Not a clue what Micky will do next regarding team selection as much as we all got that winning feeling back watching our younger lads up the tempo the game itself could have been different,with a bit more luck it could have been 6-0 or another day been 3-2 or worse.
Micky has to face the squad in training every day and be mates with all of them.
I can’t tell you how hard that is to achieve everyday,especially after the performance we got from our young lads.
One thing I do know if Micky keeps playing these youngsters his door will be banged on by the agents looking for big pay rises for their young players.
On first look it seems that Puig is talented but not particularly hard working and has not impressed Koeman. I will contact Marcelona a friend in Sitges who knows more about Barca than probably Koemann himself . Although he says he does. lol.
Arteta is the manager ffs, not one of the lads. He won’t gain the respect of any of his players if he wants to be mates with them. It will only alienate some and cause even more rifts in the squad.
A good manager in any business needs to be seen as fair and impartial.
as fair and impartial. And distant . At sales meetings , you buy the team a drink , have the meal together and then leave .
Having bugged the room first. lol
Afternoon Fred, no manager really seemed to give Martinez a chance at Arsenal and he probably wouldn’t have got it last season has had Leno not been injured but once he proved himself, imo, he should have stayed put until he made a run of howlers if he ever did.
I’m not sure if you’re saying his situation is/was the same as Ozil and if you are I disagree because Ozil clearly is about the money, otherwise he’d be showing off his skills elsewhere by now.
Thank goodness it’s all speculation Potter. Very funny about Koeman, I wonder how long he’ll last.
I did read that Ozil may go to over seas next year and play for 150.000.00 per week if this is true we should try to offer him the chance to got now for free and offer to pay half his match fee for the rest of this season.
Agree re the manager maintaining some distance between the player and himself. It’s almost impossible to give your mate a dressing down. Isn’t that where Arsene Wenger went wrong?
I read this morning that the club are in talks with Juventus over a loan deal for Ozil, with Arsenal contributing to wages.
Years ago and still in the lower leagues player/manager was a common thing,fun elements to change routine between managers and players are part and parcel of being a manager/coach.
Cant imagine any modern day player wanting to go on the Razz with Woy Hodgkin or Fat Stan.
Rico I’m talking about player power,
players wages and transfer fees are normally club and agent agreements,anyway.
Did anyone notice how similar our Smudge looked like Grelish around the pitch.
I read he’s off to Fenerbache..
The Emi issue could have be resolved though Fred, for once it wasn’t about money. Not for the player anyway.
Rico Martinez was at The Arsenal for 8 years.
But as I said I’m talking player power..
Telling the manager who should play.
Surely his performances were enough to convince the manager that he should have played Fred. That’s not player power imo, that’s doing what’s best for the team I’d have thought.
Like I said at the beginning Rico
he was outstanding for us when he came in.
Every level of football 2 keepers are needed per game,
the rivery between keepers is some times hatred,if
one demands to play and in Martinez case be the No 1
it can throw a spanner in the works,keeperwise.
Only the captain can demard to play if in form,
Micky has set his stool out,I think and will be
proved wrong I’m sure in time.hope not though.
Was it because no one wanted Leno,was it
because Martinez is 28 years old and 20mil would
never be offered again,his only made 15 apps in all
that time.
I agree with you that he should have stayed,given
how well he was playing.
But I don’t agree you pick yourself.
Everton v Man City postponed due to a Covid outbreak at City…
I don’t agree a player should pick himself either Fred. When a player is in great form though, he’s not usually dropped
We have seen many times how much keepers are rotated
League,cup games no matter what form ,Arsene was a
perfect example of that.Rico
International managers have been doing it for years
trying to keep them all happy.
I see Mark Clattenburg is back in the country and reffing the Chelsea v Villa game. Apparently he was suddenly sacked from his £350,000 a year job, training referees in Saudi Arabia.
Well Fred, I hope Arteta doesn’t rotate in the Cups this year, Runasson fills with with fear.
Hudson-Odoi Is too good to be a bench warmer imo.
I thought he’d fallen out with Riley Cicero…
God forbid Rico.
And Leno doesn’t convince me wholeheartedly either Fred.
Me neither Rico
In fact I only liked Pat Jennings if I’m honest
never mad about Seaman,with been crying out for a top top keeper since I don’t know when
If anyone can explain to me how we’d have got decent money for Leno (who was coming off a major injury at the time) then I’m all ears.
Any player demanding a starting spot is kidding themselves and if Ozil was out of the squad because he made this demand, he’d be criticised so it’s all about how people choose to spin things.
I’d have been rapt if Martinez stayed but the simple fact is he wanted a promise that no player simply deserves, and we did need the money.
How long will this topic be rehashed in coming years?
Every time Leno makes a howler, no doubt.
We seem to worry more about what we don’t have than what we do.
Strange that it’s come up just after Leno saved that penalty. Personally I still think that Martinez was the better of the two but it’s done and dusted now.
We have more important things to worry about now. First Brighton and then West Brom and the six points that go with them .
Currently we are 4 clear of Brighton and 9 on West Brom we need to keep it that way even if we can’t improve on that
Potter, let’s hope the Chavs game gives the boys some confidence and more importantly, gives Arteta faith in the young guys.
What a future they have and if we can keep them together, the basis of a fantastic team is there.
It was certainly refreshing to see and I hope that Arteta has learned from it too .
Start with the winning team and if Martinelli or ESR need to come off AMN and Nelson should come on and give us a glimpse of the future
Potter, absolutely agree.
Arteta can’t ignore the performance.
The energy we’ve lacked was there.
I hope these kids are locked down for years to come.
Good morning all, did anyone spot my deliberate error yesterday?
Mark Clattenburg was not refereeing yesterday, it was Atwell but he has been sacked by the Saudis. I was only half watching the game and some mention of Clattenburg caught my attention.
Memo to self, always check your facts. 😉
No Gabriel for today’s game he has tested positive for Covid. Both Luiz and Willian are suffering symptoms so are also ruled out.
Hahaha Cicero, Clattenburg is one ref I actually rate highly.
Stood up to Fergie when most wouldn’t forget starters 🙂
For starters, not “forget” starters…
Another one of those intentional errors Cicero mentioned 😉
Morning all
New post up now
(Panto time) Oh no it’s not!
Found it on News Now but couldn’t comment , I usually get it off of my bookmarks failing that E-mail but today keeping with Cicero’s panto , I looked behind the sofa but it’s not there either.
I’ve hidden it down under 🙂
Do you mean the post Potter?
https://highbury-house.com/2020/12/29/ex-chelsea-man-to-arsenal-six-fixtures-to-determine-our-season/