Morning all.
I said to [Dean Smith] congratulations to them and big credit for the way they’ve played. I’ve seen them a lot in the last few days obviously and some of the performances they put in were top drawer. When you’re not at the races and this team is at their best, they have the quality players to hurt you and I think they were really good tonight.
Credit to Mikel Arteta for being honest. Aston Villa were better than Arsenal in every position and collectively as a team. All the good done at Old Trafford was undone yesterday. Mikel Arteta’s team was shocking from start to finish. The worst since his arrival? Definitely.
When Villa cut through us in the fashion they did just after Martin Atkinson blew his whistle to start the game, I feared the worst for the rest of the game. VAR spared our blushes on that occasion, rightly so I hasten to add, but even so their move was all too easy.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had one of his better moments soon after. From the left he sent in a super ball into the box for Willian. If it were rugby, his shot would have been impressive. It wasn’t and, it wasn’t. When Arsenal signed the Brazilian, it made sense to me. Now though, I’m struggling to see what he brings to our team. To make matters worse for him and Arsenal, it was he who gifted Villa possession for their opening goal. Saka is bound to be criticised for his contribution at the end of the move but Willian could have fought harder to win the ball back and so could others before Saka bundled the ball past Leno.
Lacazette, another player underperforming this season, was the next to miss a golden opportunity to score. Tierney whipped a super ball across the box but our French number 9 couldn’t even hit the target with his header. Shocking.
Arsenal fan and Villa striker Ollie Watkins killed the game off in the second half with two good goals. He possesses everything Arsenal don’t have in a striker. Jack Grealish possesses everything Arsenal don’t have as far as creativity goes. Not that Arsenal did much to prevent either of them from having an enjoyable afternoon at The Emirates. In fact the Arsenal players didn’t do much throughout the ninety three minutes at all. The fact that Dani Ceballos was probably our best player says it all.
After the game, Mikel Arteta was brutal with his honesty:
We expect to win every game and this is the standard that we have to set. So if someone believes that winning one or two games is good enough, they’re completely wrong and I’m not going to accept that.
“I’m not going to accept that mindset at all and it’s obviously not what this club deserves. It’s my full responsibility and now I have to find a way to do it.
“I think that since I arrived here, it’s the first time that I’ve felt that we performed really under our standards and what we are trying to set at this football club. It’s unacceptable.
Where does Mikel go from here though?
Of course we need new signings for our attacking unit. We all know that and so will Mikel but he has alternatives in the squad to turn to. Nelson and Willock especially. Both will certainly bring more energy to the side and both will no doubt work a darn sight harder to win the ball back if they lose it than Willian.
What about Aubameyang, who right now looks as miserable as sin when he’s playing? When does Mikel take him out of the team and out of the firing line so to speak? Or would playing centrally just help him score that much needed goal which might see his form return? He’s quality, we all know that but he’s struggling right now.
Ups and downs this season were expected, or at least I expected them but not for one minute did I anticipate such a pathetic showing from this Arsenal squad. Hard work and commitment is what the manager and Arsenal fans want to see but there was none of that on show against Villa. Losing Partey during the game didn’t help I know but him going off didn’t change the game in my opinion. Villa wanted it, Arsenal played like they couldn’t care less. Perhaps one or two of them don’t.
Maybe in the long run it might help us because I strongly suspect a few harsh words will have been said to the players by Mikel after the game. A wake up call perhaps although no player should ever need that.
We could really do without the international break but it is what it is. At least it gives Partey time to recover.
See you in the comments guys.
Morning all.
Rico, we have everything we want and need in a striker, and hopefully when Martinelli gets back in the squad he stays fit and healthy 🙂
Auba back central-it’s definitely worth a try but he needs to show more either way.
Willian has been surprisingly underwhelming since his arrival.
Disappointing all round.
“An astounding result”. Well my wish came true but for none of the right reasons. I listened to the first few minutes on the steam radio and then relied on text updates. The result was never in doubt even when the first goal was chalked off! You’d think we’d dodged the bullet but quite the reverse I so it would seem.
What went wrong? Too much Yorkshire pudding I suppose. Can’t play on a full stomach, well not ful of stodge. And the performance didn’t quite reach the dizzy heights of stodge, it was more shite!
International break. Back to the drawing board and I think Mikel will have to make a few hard choices of who he picks next time out. There may be a few surprises.
Oh well, just another morbid Monday.
Thanks for the report Rico, it helped to fill in a few “gaps”.
Morning rico, all, well said.
Shocking performance, Villa were everything that we were not.
Nice one, Rico…
That was awful…. 46 seconds in, and you just knew it was going to be a very long 90 minutes!!
Can’t defend any of them, I’m afraid. That was our best 11 out there, plus at home, is unacceptable.
Hats off to Villa… always wanted Grealish 🥺
Oh and btw, it’s now been six hours and 26 minutes since Arsenal last scored a goal from open play in the Premier League… shocking!!!
So glad the break is upon us, by the time Elland Road (God help us) arrives, the pain will hopefully have subsided 😂
Morning Rico. Thoroughly depressing. As we search for answers we have to wonder about Willian, Auba’s contract extension, Laca’s shockingly abysmal form and yes, even Ozil, on holiday at £350k per week must factor in somewhere. We might express bemusement at Mikel’s seeming reluctance to make tactical changes during the game or why we now operate at a snail’s pace. A raised eyebrow perhaps for Tierney’s new-found reverse-gear, for Saka’s periods of isolation in the wilderness of the left wing and of course of the complete lack of any guile or defence-shredding midfield runner/passer.
If we were going to get beaten though, I reckon the pasting we took last night might, just might, be more useful than a silly defeat like that against Leicester. Mikel’s managerial education took a new step last night and I am interested to see what he comes up with next.
Yes Rico I sent you an email . For reasons best known to itself my computer froze.
I did reply Scott, but my comment disappeared. I now know how you guys feel.
Basically, that’s a lot of pressure on Martinelli who is unlikely to be back at his best until next season imo.
I agree, Rico, that it’ll take time for him to get back to his best and everyone must give him time but right now, we lack plenty up front.
Morning Adam, Andrew and all.
Too many issues from yesterday I reckon. Can’t think why after last weekend but I do hope it’s not complacency.
Big stuff for Mikel to deal with now.
Adam, you make a good point about the subs. On days like yesterday I was surprised it took so long for Arteta to get Willian off. I felt sorry for Eddie, being thrown into that situation is hardly ideal.
That was my point really Scott, he needs time rather than be expected to solve our problems right now.
Thanks Potter, I hope it doesn’t crash mine. Lol
Agreed Rico, but not only the subs. I am thinking more of real-time adjustments to shape to counter the opposition’s strengths and force them into changes. We seem tactically inert to me.
Subs too though. 😃
Potter wrote:
Looking at the official stats we had 58% of the ball with all three corners and they had eight we made seven tackles to their 14 we took 13 shots to their 15 two of us on target six of theirs the family are Aubameyang not taking one shot on her off and finally to me the most salient we were making 12 clearances as they made 26 what did they tell us that we don’t already know for the show in potence they lack an attacking force that is easy to repel they show that Villa have a defensive force that’s non-impenetrable or is it that we have an attack that doesn’t commit defenders it doesn’t take up men on always takes the easy or safe option and can’t or won’t cross the ball with any real intent.
To me it shows that we don’t cross a ball because there was no one there attacking the centre and even when there is they can’t get it on target I missed a few parts of the game last night and willing to spend 15 quid to watch it and I relied on an Internet stream which broke down for their second and third goals and although I did not see the knife going live I don’t think I missed the gist of what was happening I said that something is missing spirit wise in the squad as it seems to show itself more in the first 11 than bubbling under so it’s down to the club to identify the cause and eradicate it fast I suggest going back across the Atlantic and getting the cash to pay up the contract of the players who will not play again and get their presents out of the club
Those as well Adam. Lol
Things which Arsene Wenger was crucified for.
We are creating chances, which wouldn’t be the case if the tactics were to blame for our lack of goals imo
Our guys just can’t hit the back of the net.
When that happens, the pressure builds and builds, panic sets in, we then lose formation and we get hit on the counter all too easily.
Until our big money earners start doing their job, I don’t think it matters too much what Arteta does.
We had one attacking raid where for a minute or two looked as though we were certain to score but we wasted the chances.
Seems every time sides attack us they look likely.
We don’t.
It’s a worry.
What about shutting down the space and freedom both Grealish and Watkins were enjoying Scott?
Afternoon Rico and All
As with all teams in my opinion you start at the back defending the point you already have I drummed that into every team I was ever involved with.
Poor old Mickys been reading to much rubbish on creative football I think,
we have Uber running around like a headless chicken,Hackney gazette who at the moment couldn’t hit a Cows Arse with a Banjo,Will. I.Am playing like No.I’m.Not,Pepe playing like a Shirley and Eddy the Eagle chasing seagulls off the pitch that’s up front.
Our two wingbacks it looked like were told to get down the flanks and were to slow getting back that left Bobby struggling running backwards to contain The Villains on our right side one on one so many times shocking to watch for a gooner.
Micky will learn from this disappointment just hope some of these players will top four seems a mile away after that.
Rico, I addressed that in my comment.
“Losing formation”.
It’s also an individual issue when players aren’t doing their job.
For years the defenders have been criticised and the attackers get a pretty soft go of it which is fair enough a lot of the time, but not always.
That continues imo.
To me our players look overcoached, perhaps the players aren’t good enough but we’ve had a massive turn around in coaches, players,scouts, backroom staff,over the past 2/3 years.Only constant is the Kroenkes – better not start that argument again !
In my opinion though Arteta deserves at least 1,maybe 2 full seasons.I can’t believe the Arteta out campaign has started (not on this blog)
It’s Arteta fault why we are not performing, I think the players are not as good as we were meant to believe they are fed up of the way he is so stubborn in the way he Gets them to play he should of swallowed his pride and played ozil in the middle of the midfield He is to stupid and stubborn .. And to ruthless in the way he comes across to them. Ellen’s is ok but without Thomas he is crap. If it were ozil in there we would of played and scored ., But he is so stubborn the front players don’t get no service and they no this .. So the have no drive to run around He will lose the dressing room if he carries on in this way we have no drive to play this boring defensive system .,If Arteta doesnt change we will get even worse exactly like Emery. I hope he reads these comments us fans write about .. You must change or you will be sacked mr Arteta
Limey, well said and we all knew it was a project that’d take a few seasons to get right.
Short term pain……we will reap the rewards.
Evening Fred.
If players aren’t working Scott, why not change them sooner? It’s just my suggestion. Watching Willian huff and puff for so long is painful…
I don’t understand the Mikel out stuff either Limey. One more summer transfer window at least I’d have thought. We need the clingers on gone, I think the Ozil situation is helping no-one.
You contradict yourself Nikos, are the players not good enough in your opinion, or is Mikel the reason you think the players are underperforming?
Harsh on Elneny I think, he’s been good this season, with or without Partey.
Nikos in the last 2 seasons that 0zil has been involved he played in 56 games , he scored 7 goals with 5 assists thats hardly the stats of the panacea of all our ills .
I am well aware that this doesn’t fit the latest narrative of the Ozil camp but the facts are the facts .
Rico, I agree that changes must be made but not just for the sake of it.
They must I piece what’s happening on the pitch and that’s for Mikel to decide.
On face value we have some superbly talented and creative players but none of them are really firing atm.
Maybe they’ll take some time to get used to the new playing system but so be it-better than playing the same way we have been that hasn’t worked for years I guess.
Now we have Partey, we have the player to allow Ozil to do his thing.
I know that ship has sailed but still……
New post up now
The system Arteta is making the guys to play is what is hindering the team from playing to their full potential. I believe that it is possible to instill a strong defensive mindset in a team and still make them a strong attacking force too but Arteta is still dwelling on the defensive side of the game and i think the players are getting tired of this system plus the fact that the system is inhibiting their talents. We can make an excuse of needing to buy creative player/players in the middle but if a system is not designed for players to express themselves well, it will not improve the team, even if we buy De-Bruyne or Aouar.
Dani Ceballos is a typical example of why i feel that it is Arteta that needs to loosen up and let some players to express themselves and i say this because in one or two games that Ceballos was allowed to go and express himself, he has played well and opened the opposition to shred a little and caused a lot of free kicks etc. Let Arteta enter into a phase 2 of training and it should be on how to attack and string quick passes forward that don’t need too much delay.
Kado, sorry you were stuck in moderation overnight. The speed of our attacking play could certainly do with going up a few gears. Our lack of urgency in the opposition half simply gives them time to regain their defensive position.
New post up now