Morning guys.
It’s not official yet but all the sports outlets have in the last day or so, reported that Mikel Arteta has agreed to stay at Arsenal for another three years. Stability is a good thing, especially these days in the game when managers are fired left, right and centre and especially after Arsenal have just won the Premier League for the first time in donkeys years.
I’m sure there are groups of fans who are thrilled by this news and others who are perhaps not. Tough if you’re in the latter camp eh…. Reality is though, as is the case in most things Arsenal related, it doesn’t matter what we think but it does matter what the owners think and they must be happy. More than happy. They took a chance, a big risk even on a novice and he’s turned Arsenal from being a bit of a laughing stock to Premier League Champions.
He’s brought fans back, given them/us a reason to be believe again and taken the club to a penalty kick or two within winning the biggest trophy in the game. Somewhere along the line, he’s also overseen the introduction of a proper club anthem in North London Forever, an anthem to almost rival that one heard at Anfield. Donna Summer’s Hot Stuff or Elvis’ The Wonder of You never really worked did it?
If it wasn’t for the dreadful performance at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, this season would have started perfectly, certainly as far as results go. Now Arteta is staying for another three years, somehow, and together with his players and coaching staff, he has to find a way to make sure such a performance doesn’t happen again. As many of us have said many times, it’s not the loss which hurts, but the manner in which that loss came. Arsenal are better than that, much better. That kind of performance doesn’t deliver success.
Yes we moan and groan about many things, tactics, signings, team selection, training, substitutions, suggesting players not at Arsenal would be better than those who are even though there is a chance they might be not as good. You name it, we’ll moan about it but as I’ve said many many times, if you and/or I were that good, we’d be in Arteta’s seat and not on an Arsenal forum talking about him.
But, we all have opinions which is why there are so many footballing forums around today. So I’m sure I’ll carry on moaning, especially when Havertz, Saka or any player misses a goal scoring opportunity which looks harder to miss than score. Or when defenders turn their back on a shot, or drop off allowing the opponent to shoot/score and don’t get me started on the number of times our players get caught offside.
My moaning comes from frustration though because when Arsenal are at their best, they can be brilliant and I just want them to be at their best all of the time. Whether Mikel Arteta staying for another three years brings more success only time will tell but I’m pretty sure he’ll do everything he can to ensure it does.
Catch up later.
New post up now.
I was quietly confident you wouldn’t be celebrating him staying Dennis. Re the spending, I think this will always be a subjective topic as fans have differing opinions. Also, is it not a group of people at the club who decide on transfers? I don’t think Arteta can be solely blamed when it comes to whether or not spending has been good.
I have to say, after Brazil’s defeat to Norway at the WC, it was a bit concerning to see how easily Gabriel was exposed by Haaland. He’s had a bit of a shaky start to the season too.
One to keep an eye on, he is quite prone to defensive lapses.
A teaser and a conundrum for me, Rico, as you might have guessed.
Mikel Ateta is still a bit marmite.
I will always maintain that he probably should have won the PL in a shorter/quicker timeline (although with City’s charges, maybe a couple are incoming).
He was clearly the chosen one, and the Kroenke’s have practically given him so many advantages financially they made it impossible for him to fail.
He hasn’t always spent well, but has eventually arrived at having a rock solid defence (although we could be one David Raya injury away from a crisis), and a world class set of DM’s.
We do however still lack an X-factor, we do not have enough invention and dynamism going forward. It stems from the tactical set up, which rarely allows for free-flowing football, it’s all very structured and methodical, and a bit too predictable.
With the money spent on every area to upgrade the squad, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that we could and should have the most formidable strike-force in the PL and across Europe.
Putting together a cohesive lethal attacking force has been a real blind spot for Arteta and Arsenal.
In summary, Rico, his lack of attacking intent and inability to identify a potent number 9 to fit his system makes me reticent to say his extention is what Arsenal need.
Cesc Fabregas is doing exceptionally well at Como in Serie A, and since we’re unlikely to get Luis Enrique, he could be the future (unless Alonso is sacked at Chelsea).
Still two weeks to Leeds, aaargh!
Going stir crazy already.
If City appeal and lose the appeal the should throw the book at them and set an example for keep appealing by dropping them 4 divisions and 12 points deduction then let’s see how ow many players and sponsors say good bye
I am flabbergasted that it took this long to find Man City guilty. If people would remember, this whole thing started with UEFA, and they found Man City guilty. Man City appealed and got off, not because they were innocent, but they won the appeal because they challenged UEFA’s procedures on the handling of the case. So if you are found guilty again, what is the basis of appeal to independent arbitration? Procedures again?
Rumours abound about what the results will be , Possibly a points deduction coupled with a transfer ban and a fine . The money won’t hurt but the other two may put them out of the title race and I heard someone suggest that points deduction should be enough to stop them winning anything for 3 years . i.e 40 a season for 3 years. ‘
Who knows ?
Guilty of 149 of the 150 charges. This is going to run and run and run zzzz.😟
So Man City have been found guilty of most charges,Premier league say we now enter the appeal stage. Don’t expect anything to happen soon,and even when it happens I wouldn’t be surprised if they just get a fine,and maybe a very small points deduction.
Hope that I am wrong but we would have 2 false 9 s one over 6 foot and the other just over 5 . and we pass , pass , pass .
16 year old Jaden Maghoma seems to be showing the potential to have that gift of being in the right place to finish, you know tap-ins which look easy but only a few players have that nose to be in the right place at the right time to make it look simple…
Just give it a couple of years… 😉
Of course again, if he starts at Leeds and goes on a streak of goals then who knows?
I hope not Rico, but if he does go he might go to Atletico on loan and we’ll take Alvarez on loan?
Yep, and he’ll be gone in January I suspect.
Well if Merino gets the gig , then we know that Gyokeres future is on the line.
Morning all.
Hopefully it’s a cunning plan to get Havertz back to Arsenal. The challenge looked to be a knock just above his knee.
Better start working on them there set pieces again…
Looks as if we won’t be seeing Havertz again for a few weeks, maybe Bayern next month, now if Gyokeres gets a knock then we’re really up the creek?
We could be seeing Merino getting out his superhero cloak again!
A lovely memory, Potter. Sadly the Mackeral shoals aren’t what they used to be. Three summers ago I was staying with a friend in Kingsbridge, South Devon. He took me out in his boat around the Salcombe area and we got just the one fish. There are some pretty well fed seals around those bays…
Afternoon Rico and all
Signing Arteta shows stability which is great but will he learn to drop some of his favourite player when not performing and also use the interchange sooner then waiting until 15 minutes to go.
Stuart when I was about 8 or 9 years old I used to go on holiday to Padstow with my family and an RAF colleague of my father had a fishing boat .About half a mile out of the channel there was a sand bar and we used to fish for sea bass .One day we got over a shoal of mackeral and they were like lemmings in reverse virtually jumping in the boat .When we got back to harbour and landed them I think that half of Cornwall had fish for dinner.
I might Stuart. 🍷
Let’s hope Gyokeres doesn’t pick up an injury then if Havertz is going to be out..
Reports suggesting its a hamstring , Vik plays tomorrow
Try the dry white by itself, Rico: Camel Valley Bacchus Dry is a starter with a dash of elderflower.
It was a clumsy challenge, hopefully just a precaution taking him off.
Havertz replaced because of the subsequent injury.
Being vegetarian I won’t be trying them Stuart. 😜
JT’s brother just got a yellow card for smashing our Kai.
Thanks for the post, Rico. Stability is something precious indeed and, while Gabby M might not agree, we have it at Arsenal. The owners are just about the best in the business, Mikel is in his prime and add a top striker and we have possibly the best squad in Arsenal history.
My son lived in Padstow up until a year ago, lovely spot with access to some really nice beaches, the mussels at Treyarnon steamed in white wine are a real treat.
I have a book in my library, “We’ve only got one song” which records the songs and chants from Arsenal’s history. It’s a treasure, very funny, nostalgic and doesn’t spare on the sheer joyful crudity which defined some of its inclusions.
Yep, and there were loads. Some really very good too.
Watching the surfers off Newquay ?
My favourite is North London Forever for the very reasons mentioned. It’s ours and only ever will be ours.
I too hope a few of the youngsters push on and up with us, just why I hope Nwaneri’s loan in Germany is a huge success.
Afternoon you three.
PL and FA Cup is my preferred double. I know a lot of fans would love to see us conquer Europe but it’s a lottery and much depends on who uefa want to win imo.
It’s certainly been a lovely day here Cicero, a Mr Whippy on Fistral Beach went down a treat. lol
Certainly North London forever is way more suited to the club than any previous song . Maybe the Jimmy Hill penned Good old Arsenal came close but I still like the Eton Boat song parody that used to be regaled on the terraces before the seats came in
.At least it belongs to this club and has not been bandied around between a couple or more . It was written by an Arsenal supporter and not lifted from second world war American musical.
There used to be many an amusing ditty sung at matches most of which would be frowned upon in this day and age.but we still sing a few as us old codgers drive the 120 miles to the ground
Not much news to talk about today , a bit of transfer speculation but nothing to get wound up about.
Afternoon Gooners, afternoon Rico, a post from the beach no less…
What is the greater achievement, winning the league and reaching the final of the League Cup and European Cup or winning the league and the FACup? I would think the former and only eclipsed by the Invincible’s who almost reached the European Cup final.
I can’t think of any previous season when Arsenal got to a European final and won the league?
G’day Rico, have you tried a dip yet? Don’t suppose you’ll be tucking into a Tiddy Oggy will you?
I’m pleased with the extension of Arteta’s contract if not quite over the moon. I believe he now has, almost, his own squad. So a further three years of relative stability seems guaranteed and with more and more youngsters coming through we won’t have to break the bank for replacements quite so often.
I’m sure there will be some tinkering with the playing style, but that will be a a gradual process rather than a cataclysmic bombshell.
Results, trophies and titles will decide what happens in 2029.
Enjoy the fine weather Rico. 😎 and thanks for the post.