Morning all.
Another draw, another late goal conceded. Not what we needed at all but there were some positives. Saka did well before setting up Martinelli for our only goal of the game but our Brazilian will be disappointed not to have scored more. Mikel Arteta should be disappointed that others in team with far more experience, didn’t add to our goal tally just as he’ll no doubt believe more could have been done to prevent Utd from grabbing a late equaliser.
The Spaniard felt we should have been awarded a penalty but I disagree. I thought Pepe looked for it but yes, I’ve seen them given, certainly against us.
The days of one goal often being enough to secure three points are gone. To be fair, they went years ago. Yes we’ve managed to hold out on a few occasions but probably more by luck than anything else.
Mustafi was the guy thrown in front of the microphone after the game:
We have to learn a lot, but I think since Mikel Arteta came in we play better football. I think we feel more comfortable when we’re on the pitch because we know what we’re doing and we know what he wants us to do, and now it’s all about putting it on the pitch for 90 minutes and not only in parts. I think that’s where we lack the most at the moment, I think we always have parts where we play very well and what we planned before the game and sadly you lose a little bit of control and then it becomes a completely different game. I think we just need to learn how to control the matches better and to play our game for 90 minutes.
Didn’t we all pretty much agree that Mikel Arteta needed time? Didn’t we also say that pretty much all we hoped for was improvement as the weeks and months following his appointment passed?
I can’t comment on yesterday’s performance too much as I’ve only seen the highlights but I’d say we’re much improved on where we were a month ago. As Mustafi said above, we’re playing better, and we’re more organised but not for 95 minutes. There’ll be more mistakes as this season plays out and there’ll be plenty more points dropped I’m sure. But, as the fitness levels improve, concentration levels too, the periods of playing well will increase. As I’ve said before, this season is a write off and all what matters is a steady improvement.
This period of time is about Mikel Arteta working out what, or rather who he needs in the summer and who the club need to move on. It’s about the future and what the club needs to do in order to make it vastly better than the present.
Bellerin was on the bench yesterday which must mean he’s ready to get some minutes under his belt. Ceballos too must be in Arteta’s mind because Ozil can’t play through an entire match. Holding is back, although not back to his best yet and Aubameyang only misses two more matches. One of which is an FA Cup fixture against Bournemouth who are going through a worse time than us. So there are a few other positives floating around too.
There’s also twelve days left in this transfer window which so far has been a quiet one for most clubs. Then on Tuesday we go again. Against Chelsea who also suffered a late disappointment yesterday. I always did like Issac Hayden…
Catch up in the comments guys.
Good morning Rico, first the good news England mopped up the South African’s last four wickets for the addition of just one run. Enforced the follow on and……..then it rained. Ho hum.
I’ve only the highlights to go on but I thought we played pretty well. Aside from his goal, Martinelli could have had two more, Pepe also had chances as did Lacazette. Saka is proving to be a promising left winger but a left back he is not. Xhaka got booked for taking out United’s right winger, beaten for pace while covering for Saka who had gone walkabout.
Dean was never going to give the Pepe “penalty”, Not with his boss, Riley, sitting in the director’s box.
Incidentally, the BT Sport commentators were as puerile as ever.
Thanks for the post Rico, hopefully Sokratis will be feeling better by Tuesday, we can’t afford to rely on Mustafi.
Oops, my apologies to BT Sport, It was the usual crop of w*****s from Sky doing the commentary. 😉
Morning Cicero, all.
I tried a stream but it kept buffering or replaying so lost patience.
I’m not too fussed about results at the moment because the football is more important and considering the players we have and the positions in which reinforcements are required, I think it’s all pretty positive.
I’d much rather see what Arteta is doing whist results go up and down, than seeing us go unbeaten whilst playing chaotic and disorganised football.
Morning all.
Under today’s interpretation, it was definitely penalty to a Pépé and any pundit or official saying otherwise is biased.
Rico, I’m with you though, it should not be a penalty, EVER.
It was light contact but when Liverpool get one like it, Salah looks like he’s been shot and the commentators point out that contact was made, therefore it’s a penalty.
Funny how they manage to manipulate their words lol
Netball allows more contact, unless the Arsenal are involved lol
Good signs again, but at this stage, the overall quality is not there but I do think we are down on confidence.
It’s the quality more than anything else , as I said yesterday we finished with 5 players that could still be playing under 23 , some of those under 20 , yet they are not really letting the side down it’s the serial offenders that keep doing the wrong things at the wrong times .
The young ones are having to learn on the job and having so many of them at one time is not ideal, but learning they are. Saka is not a left back but the experience he gains there will add to his reading of the game in the future .It’s the same for Maitland Niles , as they both play forward they will know what it’s like to be abandoned at the back something that players like Walcott , Oxlade Chamberlain and Wilshere never appreciated in the long run it will make them better players.
Much will depend on how the club reacts to finishing mid table , we still need to revamp the squad but in the meantime we have to get what we can where we can.
Morning Rico, et al.
Whilst I agree the general level of performance has improved immeasurably and still is, the team is still not performing to the levels the average supporter demands.
Back in old mother Wenger time he never gave much thought to the defensive side the game, why should he with the likes of Adams et al to bail him out. He worked on the simple ‘busby’ principle which was the opposition could score as many goals as they liked but his team would always score one more! It worked for years both at manure and later at Arsenal until the passing of TH14. In truth we have struggled ever since. We can longer rely on out scoring any opposition as demonstrated far too often from the start of this season. Sure we have often scored first and early at that, but the number of occasions we have conceded at least one goal much later in the game thus turning a win into a draw or worse, has been mind bogglingly frequent.
I, like several other regulars on here are and have been for a very long time believers that if you have a secure, solid and reliable defence, then you will win far more games than you will lose. We need as a matter of urgency, defenders who know how to defend not a back four of flappers, which is what Adams et al have morphed into.
Beyond that the midfield has to consist of at least one player of the ‘hidden paw’ variety and acts as a shield for the defenders and several creative members who can play ‘killer’ balls to provide chances that turn into goals for the strikers. We don’t have these type of players, yet! Ozil aside that is, but even he needs a little time and space to work his magic, his midfield colleagues need to offer support and protection so he can work his magic. Currently this too is not happening!
Way to go then! Presently there are weaknesses running right through this team and, I’m loath to say it but at least half the team are just not good enough and need replacing! It will be very interesting to see who MA dumps this summer and who he acquires as their replacements!
Despite the criticisms I acknowledge that progress is being made. We are no longer losing many games but we’re not winning many either! Keep a clean sheet and score one goal and everything is coming up roses any other result is unacceptable!
Have a nice day in today’s sunshine. Make the most of it😊
I too think it’s a mix of quality and confidence. We’re lacking both.
Agree Scott, they’ve be given that’s for sure. Vardy, Kane, Zaha, they all get them. Not us though. I think Dean was still trying to recover after dishing out an early yellow card to Utd.
Couldn’t agree more Potter.
Afternoon Gooners, afternoon Rico, thanks for the post.
I felt really frustrated yesterday, especially as so many other results went in our favour.
It’s a season where good fortune has deserted us and we are punished severely for ever small error. Another deflected goal, how many more bloody times are we going to suffer in this?
To me it was a pen, our fans should have been screaming just as they do at Anfield.
The big difference is at Anfield it’s a pen all day, always has been, always will be.
As for Mike Dean, the sooner that ugly little shit retires the better.
Apparently Martin Atkinson was on VAR duty so go figure – another cheat…
I got the feeling, reading between the lines of how Arteta reacted after the game, that he knows that generally Arsenal are treated differently to the other big teams. We as a club, have zero influence at the EPL or FA, the days of David Dein smoozing at the FA are long gone.
Fergie hated it…
I have zero confidence when we have a free kick that’s within shooting range, I mean our lot don’t even get their shot on target, the minimum requirement in my book.
When we had that chance on the edge of the box it should have been Pepe.
Why did Lacazette take it? Can anyone tell me when Lacazette last scored from a free kick? Has he ever scored for us from a free kick? Never mind what he does in training…
Morning Wavy. To be fair to both Emery and Arteta, neither had a fully fit defence to work with as someone, usually more than one we’re injured.
Arteta has only who inherited and I think he’s improved them but next season, with Saliba, Holding, Chambers and hopefully an experienced top notch CB added, plus the fitness of everyone much improved, our defending will be much better.
Same with the midfield as we need another Torreira kind of player but with more height and physicality about him. Pace too.
Again though we’re left talking about the late goal conceded but what about the chances were missing? Had we scored a second, Utd weren’t coming back imo.
Afternoon Kev.
It was frustrating as you say, other results went our way.
Pepe on free kicks for me all day long, plus why doesn’t he shoot more. An 18 year old seems to know when to get into the box more than him. Auba cuts in off the wings too but as soon as Pepe does, it seems to me that he prefers to lay it off.
Afternoon Rico and all. The best I can say about Arteta so far is that he talks a good game and isn’t Unai Emery. But he is likeable for sure.
Far, far too much backward and sideways play and an awful lack of quality front to back.
The honeymoon period is dwindling to a disappointing end so the fans really need a detailed explanation from somewhere about exactly where we are regarding FFP. If we can’t spend, then fair enough but, if we can, then the board must act now. Rumours and the Swiss Ramble over-complicating things are not good enough.
Penalty all day long. But with that worm Dean in charge of his 500th game and Atkinson behind the TV monitor? Is anyone really surprised?
But with that worm Dean in charge of his 500th game and Atkinson behind the TV monitor? Is anyone really surprised?
Don’t forget Riley in the directors box. As I said we were screwed.
https://mobile.twitter.com/TvTangerine/status/1218842115557535744
Joh Jules goal
Mike Dean penalties awarded (2000-2020):
Man City: 15 in 72 – 1 every 4.8 matches
Man U: 16 in 71 – 1 every 4.4 matches
Chelsea: 12 in 70 – 1 every 5.8 matches
Spurs: 11 in 69 – 1 every 6.3 matches
Arsenal: 5 in 73 – 1 every 14.6 matches
5 down, 5 to go for England. 🙂
Arsenal Ladies 0-3 at home to Chavs. 😕
Kurzawa have attracted a lot of negativity from certain quarters, the latest being Gilles Grimandi, who has questioned why Arsenal are going for him?
Basically Grimandi was suggesting that Kurzawa has a poor attitude and isn’t the kind of player we need, so that’s some really good news for us to mull over…
Apparently PSG manager Thomas Tuchel has stated that he doesn’t want him sold anyway, which is interesting because it’s rumoured that Tuchel is close to getting the tin tack anyway!
It’s all a bit of a mess, so thank God for Joe Root, otherwise this weekend would be a total write off…
Looks like India are on route to beating the Aussies, so you better get some tinnies out of the chiller cabinet fellas, it’s only a game… 😉
Laca to Atletico Madrid gains strength …
Afternoon Adam. I think Arteta knows what he wants to do but doesn’t perhaps have the personnel to do it with.
Staggering penalty stats Kev.
Good move for him if he goes Jm.
If Lacazette goes, for a reasonable fee, we should be able to afford defensive midfielder Bruno Guimareas from Brazil side Paranese. An ideal partner for Torreira.
Rico. I’m sure you’re right but I think we are still failing to get the best out of our current crop. There’s an increasing feeling that I sense with this team that they don’t believe in themselves. The late equaliser yesterday stank of inevitability. That hasn’t changed.
I thought Bruno was off to Benfica?
I’m not surprised though Adam, not after so long of learning how to concede. It’s a vicious circle I guess. To gain confidence the team need to win a few but the confidence and self belief will only come from going on a good run.
I’m disappointed with the way we conceded the goal, but also up front. We lack real creativity imo.
Hard to disagree Rico.
According to a Portuguese report Edu has met with Guiamares’ agent, Rico.
I reckon we’ll beat Chelsea Adam.
What kind of fee is being suggested for Lacazette?
That’d be nice RIco.
Chelsea are poor at home Adam 😂
Isn’t it a swap deal Kev?
I read that Cicero, but I don’t believe it…
Time will tell.
I certainly hope it’s true.
Liverpool demonstrated how to play when just one goal up, despite having two, rightly, ruled out they didn’t panic, remained patient confident in their own ability. When Man U pressed in desperation for an equaliser towards the end Liverpool held out. Eventually, in injury time the goal came, not the equaliser we so often give away but a terrific counter attack, a quick long pass up field by the keeper and Salah ran onto it and calmly beat the ‘keeper.
Perhaps one day we’ll see Pepe score the same sort of goal. I wait in hope.
Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Liverpools current squad have taken several years.
We need to have patience, imo.
The changes are already noticeable, confidence remains low and I doubt any of us would believe this is the squad Arteta wants.
I disagree with Rico, the trip on Pepe was a penalty all day long in my opinion.
Or rather it WOULD have been it had been almost any other team,can you imagine if Salah,Mane,Kane or Alli had been tripped in the box,in bygone days Rooney and Hazard made falling as if hit by a snipers bullet into an art form.I agree it’s not right but consistency would be nice.
Great to see Tyreece John-Jules on scoresheet.
Limey, Rico did echo those thoughts in a later comment bud.
Certain clubs get them, we rarely do but today’s game does little to eradicate the dives/simulations or just making the list of contact.
I detest it more than VAR hahahahaha
Morning all!!
Making the MOST, that should
Read..
Scott,
one thing that annoys me about VAR is that referees never punish players for diving/simulation,if they started to do that maybe there would be less cheating !
How are you feeling about the Chelsea game ?
They do Limey, Saka got booked for going over in the box. Very few others seem to though…
Morning to you, Scott and all.
I think we’ll beat Chelsea. 2-1.
Morning All,
2-1 would be great. I wonder if Arteta will rotate at all. I suppose if fit Sokratis and Kolasinac come straight back.
Morning guys,
Limey, we are definitely good enough to beat Chelsea and I think we will, but I wouldn’t say I’m overly confident.
As for the diving-I just can’t get past it lol
It irks me so much, I can feel my blood boil when I see it and that includes our boys dropping too easily.
VAR-the authorities need to speak to players and fans and ask them how they’d like to see it utilised, imo.
The simpler it is, though, the better.
Hi All the only way at the moment that i can see these players building there confidents is to buy one or two top players then the rest will feel that Arteta does want them and its not just talk because he is stuck with them , but saying that even I admit that it is hard to win with so many top players out injured
Sokratis still on the sick list. Kolascinac still injured. Mustafi has had enough playing time for 2020. We must hope Bellerin and Holding are fully fit.
It’s an away game and as Ozil is such a poor traveller I hope to see Ceballos in his place.
Bet we don’t Cicero!
Ozil is MA’s luxury go to player. Actually I think he should play every game and I can’t see Cebellos starting having been out for so long. He may get a few minutes towards the end though. Perhaps even as Ozil’s replacement!
Afternoon all.
Thought that might have happened against Sheff Utd when Ozil ran out of steam.
Me too re Ceballos, I’d rather he started tonight than Ozil.
New post up now