Morning all.
The injury news for tonight’s trip to West London doesn’t make good reading. Sokratis remains a doubt through illness and Kolasinac isn’t due back for a while. After the winter break is says on the club’s official website and it’s the same for Reiss Nelson.
Mikel Arteta has said we’re no further forward in making any signings this month despite all the rumours on NewsNow and mobile apps. He also said we might get to the end of the month without adding to the squad which on one hand wouldn’t surprise me but if so, the club can’t in reality expect a huge cash injection which comes with a top four place in May.
Having one player for the left back position is footballing suicide, especially when that player isn’t even a true left back. Personally, I think it’s throwing him under the bus somewhat. He’s still young and as was clear with AMN, a few mistakes and football fans can be brutal. Things are marginally better on our right as Bellerin appears fit and ready but keeping him that way is the challenge.
The Arsenal board really need to give Arteta the tools to give top four a real go and there is still time because so many other clubs above us are going through struggles of their own. Also, those same tools which would give us a better chance to take our Europa League Cup journey all the way. If Saka gets clobbered, we are snookered.
Chelsea are one of those clubs who sit above us but whose results are up and down. At home especially, but then we’ve not been very good away from home either so the game itself could be pretty bland. They too have injuries with Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Marco van Ginkel all missing.
For all the good Mikel Arteta is doing, there remains a problem with concentration and self belief. Among other things of course but against Chelsea at home we switched off to gift them the victory and then again on Saturday we allowed Sheffield Utd to get something from a game which they didn’t deserve. Something which Alexandre Lacazette has felt the need to comment on:
‘They (Utd) were not very dangerous but this match summarises how we are this season. ‘We are winning the match but don’t get it over the line.
‘We are quite naive at the moment. We need to be nastier and more consistent in the 90th to 93rd minutes of matches. Especially when we can do better than this. We have the players required. It is a shame.’
Whilst I agree with his sentiment, it’s a bit rich coming from him I think. He could be more consistent in front of goal, nastier too as far as being committed to scoring goals goes. As I’ve said before, our attacking unit is letting the team down just as much as our defensive unit is. The ball doesn’t just land in our own penalty area out of nowhere does it? I know Lacazette used the word ‘we’ but it’s clear to me he’s talking about the defence. Personally, I’d rather he concentrated in playing football and improving his own performances than speaking to the media, handing them another stick to beat us with in the process and leaving Mikel Arteta to answer questions he could probably do without.
Anyway, tonight’s fixture against Chelsea is an opportunity to show we are capable of focusing for more than 80 mins and get a good win under our belt against a top four club.
Three points against one of the clubs occupying a CL place would give the squad a huge boost. A couple of goals or assists from Lacazette might do him some good too. After all, they’re long overdue.
See you in the comments guys.
Morning Adam, Limey and all.
Attwell clearly believed Luiz had no intention of going for the ball so a red card would be right as I understand it.
Their second is confusing though.
New post up now
I agree their second goal should have been offside,in what parallel universe was Abraham not interfering with play ?
In this world he was.A great point.
We now have 12 draws,win a few of those we’d be much higher up the table.
Morning Rico and all. I also thought about that penalty rule last night and to complete the queries I wondered about the second goal too. Unless there has been a rule change, perhaps that too was dubious. When the ball is fired in from wide Abraham is clearly in an offside position. Well offside too. He is directly in Leno’s line of sight thus obscuring the ball’s path. He actually swerves his body out of the way to let the ball pass him as he walks back onside.. This was always deemed interfering with play and would be pulled up. The scorer isn’t offside but that didn’t used to be the point. I may be wrong and the rule that deals with these situations might have been changed. But I don’t think Leno sees the ball until it passes Abraham. Thus he must be interfering with play while in an offside position.
I could well be wrong but nobody mentioned it at all.
Anyway, the team did great last night.
“Players who commit a foul to deny a goalscoring opportunity will no longer automatically be sent off, football’s rule-making body has confirmed.
The previous ‘triple-punishment’ rule required a red card – and therefore a suspension – as well as the award of a penalty under those circumstances.
However, players committing accidental fouls that deny a goalscoring chance will now be cautioned instead.
But deliberate fouls will still incur a red card. – Those include holding, pulling or pushing, not playing the ball, serious foul play, violent conduct or deliberate handball in order to deny a goalscoring opportunity.”
I think you’re right Scott re the red card/penalty.
What about the assist from Mustafi for Martinelli goal 🙂
Superb defensive header lol
Potter, I reckon the best are just made to be managers.
Arteta is that.
10 men after 30 minutes-its well over a decade since that occurred and I’d have been even remotely confident of getting a result against any League team at home, let alone Chavs away.
Guys, I could be wrong but here goes.
The red card was a mistake, imo.
Inside the box, isn’t it now a yellow and a penalty when a foul occurs-unless it’s dangerous of course.
Outside the box it’s a straight red as obviously it’s not a penalty….
The rule was changed because it was deemed a red and a penalty was too harsh.
Am I wrong here??
Incidents are incidents , but they ae not really the story of the night which is about the turning point of our season . Joaquim I think we may well see Ceballos against Bournemouth in the cup and if he takes his chance then he should keep his place .
As always the defence is going to be where we perm anyone from anybody Holding is back but Luiz is out , will Sokratis make it ? depends on whether Arteta is looking for a cup run , personally I would keep him back for the league with another week of recovery , Will it be too soon to risk Bellerin again or bring back Maitland Niles and should Eddie get time instead of the work horse that is Lacazette .
Who would be a manager ? Damned if you do and Damned if you don’t.
Superb management by Arteta by leaving the 10 on for so long, basically telling them to fight their way out of the hole they dug.
Psychologically this result is huge, it proves to some of our snowflakes that they can actually dig in and fight for a result.
Now let’s go and smash Bournemouth in the FACup…
Jm, just more proof of inconsistency amongst the officials. I read somewhere else that we’d be 4th now had decisions not gone against us.
Mustafi made a big mistake, but then he was imperial!
Arsenal shots 2
On target 2
Goals 2
100%
What a goal by Martinelli.
Kante goes full John Terry by slipping over… an unbelievable finish.The kid is something special.
Barca and the likes will be chasing Martinelli soon enough.
Mustafi kills me.
His general play is damn good but EVERY game, he has one or two calamitous errors in him.
It just has to be concentration, or a lack of it.
Fabulous result, the boys never gave up and basically that’s all we can ask…
We have players who aren’t good enough, we know that, but Arteta is getting as much out of them as he can, imagine what Arteta can do with a team of good players?
Arteta needs to be backed by Raul and the owners, he deserves that much.
I was surprised the ref didn’t give Chelsea at least one more penalty for handball. The first Mustafi, not sure of the second, Martinelli or Saka maybe.
Luiz made a foul early in the game. HeI was nervous and unstable. If he was smart, he had let it score (Mustafi was already on the goal line and the Chelsea striker was already out of balance). However, I question whether he was sent off well because Mustafi was ahead of him, he was not the last player and he was not in front of the goal.
Ghendouzi has to control himself (he could have been sent off, because he plays for Arsenal and the rules are different …). There were some questionable balls in the area. The transmission did not repeat the play at the end of the 1st half that seemed to me to be a hand (intentional?) And if it was, it was the 2nd yellow for the player.
It is time to exchange Ozil for Ceballos. Ozil is good with the ball at his feet and nothing else. I think it took a long time for the substitution that dislodged all the other players. Although we were generally happy with the final score. Aall the players outdid themselves.
We reached, finally the 30 points but we still at the 10th position.
Close to the relegationt and in the middle of a lot of confusion, with many teams around 30 points.
I saw the first part of the SU-MC and didn’t notice the difference between the penalty scored on Mahrez and not scored on Pepe or, the red card on Aubeymaing and not on a SU player on a foul on Stones, I think.
It feels like a win! But it was only a draw. I’m happy though. Still baby steps but generally a very good performance against a mediocre team that is currently 4th! Arteta is right with a good run with more than a few victories we could still make the CL, imo
Didn’t see that coming , but that should give them confidence
You’re misunderstanding what I mean Cicero.
Anyway, excellent point in the end.
C’mon Arsenal, one more will win it.
Martinelli what a player!
Easy to say from the comfort of your sofa. A defender’s instinct is to defend not stop and think about it when a player is going in on goal.
No Cicero, I said let him score. Which means it’s better he scores than go down to ten men. We can come back from 1-0 with a full team.
Isn’t that exactly what you said at 8.44 Rico?
If Xhaka is going to play centre back we need a bit more dynamism in midfield than Ozil is providing.
I’m not suggesting he stand aside Cicero, just not clatter into him with little intention of getting the ball.
When you’re in that position you try for the ball even if you’re nowhere near it
Rico, you might have had a few words to say about Luiz if he had stood aside and allowed Abraham to score.
Is it not just one when not serious foul play?
Luiz was the prat imo. Why oh why do that?
That’s a three match ban for Luiz. Mustafi should not put on an Arsenal shirt ever again.
Bloody Mustafi, the useless t**t a suicidal back pass leads to a penalty and a red card for Luiz.
Mustafi gets Luiz off
Dreadful back pass from Mustafi but wtf was Luiz playing at? Just let them score rather than get sent off. Dick!
Or just try and get back on the line…
Please, please, please can we have a left fullback? Martinelli is having to drop deep to cover Saka too often.
Evening guys.
Good to see Bellerin back, although I read something earlier which suggested AMN has been doing better at right back than him.
Big blow re Sokratis.
Evening all
One change from Sat team
Bellerin in for AMN
Afternoon all , thanks Rico.
Kev , I don’t think we should sell Aubameyang unless it’s a ridiculous figure. Who else is out there to take his place ?
So far , he is the only one of our Mega signings who has lived up to their reputations. Pepe is just starting to earn his money, so I’ll give him a little break. Everyone else has disappointed so far. Torreira has got his fight back lately I have to say but the team as a whole looks so ordinary.
Lets hope they prove me wrong tonight.
Isn’t Josh more involved now though? It seems to me that Arsenal is his baby now and if what he’s said is true, he wants us to be a successful club but it takes time. Under Arteta, I think we’re close to where Liverpool were when Klopp first became their manager. Although Klopp had a better starting squad imo.
Sorry Kev, I didn’t mean you re the spending.
I’ve always said that Kroenke has been too slow to react but then who was in charge of who under Wenger. My firm belief is it was Wenger pulling all the strings and Kroenke, having walked into the club when Wenger was already in control’ wasn’t strong enough to assert his authority.
Plus, there was Usmanov in the background who was saying he’d support Wenger and give him more money. So reports in the media quote him has saying.
Gazidis found himself in a similar situation because even though on paper he was in a higher position, he couldn’t go above or against the very man who allegedly employed him.
We’ve been snookered imo because Kroenke has never really had control until recently. It’s only since Wenger has gone can we really see what his ownership is about I reckon. That and the fact he’s the sole owner.
Yes, they’ve employed people (KSE) who they think are highly regarded and who can do the job, they don’t interfere and as far as we know they don’t take money out of the club.
But sometimes I wish they would interfere, or at least ask pertinent questions.
Get involved, learn about things, take a bloody interest.
I’m not bashing the Kroenkes for the money they’ve spent or not Rico, but you cannot escape the fact that since they became majority shareholders that their general disengagement with the running of the club has coincided with a decline in the performance and standing of our club.
Or it just shows how far Barca are up their own backsides Kev.
Afternoon Limey.
I’d take the cash for Aubameyang and Lacazette and reinvest with younger and more hungry players like Torreira, Martinelli etc.
The two could easily give the club £100 – 120 million to sign players Arteta needs. Same with Xhaka, Mustafi and Ozil too. Plus, if a club wants to offer anything over double what we paid for Guendouzi, I’d bite their hands off.
This squad needs an overhaul imo and the only way we can afford to do that is by selling first.
According to Charles Watts and some Spanish journo Cicero, Barcelona only want to take Aubameyang on a 6 month loan, with no commitment to a permanent transfer in the summer.
He’s our most valuable player and Barca only want him on loan ffs…
That just goes to show how low we’ve fallen in the eyes of Barca and how much respect we’ve lost in the eyes of the top clubs in Europe.
We’re just viewed as a club that can have its players cherry picked.
All under the auspices of KSE…
Doesn’t that make you feel proud….
I’ll ‘re-word that “I don’t think Barcelona could afford to pay what Arsenal should demand” €80 million.
Just why I don’t get the Kroenke bashing Kev. Plus we’ve had no CL money coming in.
The bigger concern imo is what the money spent has given us in return. I agree re Alexis and more recently Torreira, but the rest have hardly backed up their fee.
I don’t think Barcelona can afford to pay what Arsenal would demand for Aubameyang. I read recently that they are struggling to keep within FFP rules. Didn’t they suffer a short transfer ban recently? A second offence could result in a much more serious punishment.
I wonder ‘what’ you others out there think?
Btw, I’m not digging out Lacazette, he’s doing a great job for Arteta as the focal point of the attack even though he’s not really suited to that role.
I read somewhere that Laca hasn’t scored an away goal in the EPL for about a year!
(Is that digging him out?)
I don’t think that age is an issue with Aubameyang, some players keep going well into their mid/late 30’s, probably due to playing style as much as physiology.
Aubameyang is naturally a very fit lad, he doesn’t pick up soft tissue injuries (fingers crossed) and if handled sensibly could go on at the top level for 4 or 5 more years.
His game is all about anticipating situations, reading the game, he makes it look so easy, but if it was that easy then Lacazette would have double the goals he has.
If Barcelona come in with a bid we couldn’t refuse, then maybe it would make sense to sell him, but I doubt that Barca are going to bid the type of fee that I’d think would be worth the risk of selling the guy whose goals have kept us out of the relegation zone.
Personally I would offer him a 3 year deal and make him the highest paid player at the club…
With Aubameyang I feel that the goals he scores would make it value for money.
I wonder you others out there think?
Sell or keep?
And how much would you accept if we sold him?
Afternoon Rico/everyone,
Lacazette has been my favourite player of recent years,his hard work,link up play has been brilliant at times.He has never really scored enough goals though, ironically I think he scored with his first touch of the ball,all downhill in terms of goalscoring.Recently he’s become a real barn door merchant – Sanogo in disguise.Tonight would be a great time to break his dry spell.
It will be interesting to see tonight’s team.
COYG
I’ve just seen a report about Barcelona being interested in Aubameyang,it makes sense to sell if true,we will surely get enough points to survive,in fact I’m optimistic Arteta will get us some good results.
Paul Tierney is no friend of Arsenal
We constantly complain about Arsenal not being ambitious enough, that we don’t spend enough (well I do), that Kroenkes are tight fisted (but not with the LARams) but we’ve spent quite a bit over the last 6 years and where we are is where it’s got us…
Just look at this present lot, players in our squad;
Nicolas Pepe……. £72m
PEAubameyang.. £56m
Alex Lacazette…. £46.5m
Mesut Ozil……….. £42.2m
Granit Xhaka……. £35m
Skod Mustafi……. £35m
A grand total of £286.7m of ‘talent’ in our squad for those 6 players, but how many of them have actually been value for money???
To me, the only major signing in recent years, who continually repaid his fee, in big games, in cup finals and who I wish we had kept was Alexis Sanchez, a big player for the big occasion.
Referee: Stuart Attwell. Assistants: Ian Hussin, Richard West. Fourth official: David Coote. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Constantine Hatzidakis.
Afternoon Kev. I’m hopeful at least a defensive signing will come in on loan if nothing else.
Afternoon All, afternoon Rico, thanks for the post.
10 days before the window closes, although it’s interesting to see nobody else has done any substantial business.
Personally I can’t see us signing anyone and certainly not anyone who could make much of a difference, where we finish is ultimately down to the guys we have now?
Afternoon Cicero. His comments reminded me of a Billy Joel song, along similar lines to what you’ve said. Every other player who has spoken has been positive about the improvements. A long way to go yes, but keep going on about the negative and it’ll hardly boost confidence imo.
Good morning Rico, after a hard frost last night the sun is shining and the early morning fog has all but cleared.
I suspect Lacazette’s agent is behind his comments, an attempt to down play his own complicity in the team’s failings. He should bear in mind the old adage “If you haven’t got something good to say (about your own team) keep your trap shut”.
I watched Chelsea’s last game, which they lost one nil to Newcastle, their tactics seemed to be to crowd forward and play intricate passes in front of the opposition’s defence. The more passes they made the higher up the pitch their back four moved, leaving themselves vulnerable to a quick break. Perhaps we could see one of ours score a goal like Salah’s injury time beauty against Man U.