Morning all.
The signs have been there but the results have perhaps papered over many things. Certainly the mess at the back. No, the mess that is our defending as a unit. What happened at Anfield yesterday is a true reflection of where Arsenal are in my opinion. Miles behind behind a team challenging for the league. I don’t even think a top four spot is within our grasp either. In reality, I don’t think it ever has been.
Yes we miss Bellerin and Holding but I’m not entirely convinced they’d have made much difference. Liverpool went through us open easier than a knife goes through butter which has been left out of the fridge overnight. If they didn’t go though us, they went around us. Thank goodness they didn’t go over us. Actually, they did. It was all too easy.
Two soft penalties helped them, Mane not being sent off didn’t help us but then we can’t moan about that too much considering Xhaka escaped a second booking for kicking the ball away. We should have been awarded a penalty late on when Clyne caught the foot of Lacazette but hey, I’d be seriously clutching at straws if I believed that would have inspired a comeback.
Yet we started so well with a good move which ended up with Iwobi delivering a great bal across the box for AMN’s to score. His run was perfectly timed, his finish superb. And then it all went south.
As did the Arsenal team with its tail behin it’s legs no doubt.
What I really struggle to understand though is why our defending remains so poor. Our problems have been evident for years now yet no one seems to be able to do anything to rectify them. I know Rome wasn’t built in a day, you can’t teach old dogs new tricks and you can’t polish a stone etc etc and I know Unai Emery needs to be given time but seriously, not one of our players are so bad that they make school boy errors time after time. Or are they? That’s the question Emery needs to sit down and think long and hard about and the only answer he can surely come up with is yes, they are that bad. Or at least when they all play together they are.
We need a leader in our back line, a beast. Tall, strong and a calming influence like Kompany was for City in his prime, Ferdinand for Utd back in the day, Adams for us and yes, VvD for Liverpool right now. Only money will get us that kind of player, if there’s one out there to be bought. The same applies in midfield in my opinion. I like Torreira and Xhaka but they’re not enough to stop a team like we played yesterday.
We need more pace up front. I don’t mean a striker, just pace in our play. We need to be moving the ball around with more bite, more conviction. Quick, short and sharp passes which do to defences what Mane, Salah and Firmino did to ours yesterday.
Our style of play looks too rigid. We don’t interchange like Bobby and Freddy did in attempt to confuse their markers. We’re static and dare I say it, quite predictable.
Much of above might be because some of our players are struggling to shake off what they were used to for a while before Emery arrived. I don’t know but right now I’d say we’re a long long way off from where we’ve got to be if we want to start competing again.
As for the 5-1 defeat. Well, it’s pretty much what I expected really…
Unai Emery was honest in his post match press conference. He acknowledged its his responsibility to improve the way we defend. Too many mistakes were made he said. The positives were Iwobi and Maitland-Niles. It’s back to the training pitch to prepare for the visit of Fulham he said.
Finally, rumours are rife. Gary Cahill is close to moving across London on a six month loan at Arsenal. Can’t say I’d be impressed if it’s true but he’ll see us through until the summer I guess. It could be worse, the deal could be a three year one…
I look forward to the comments today, that’s if you’ve come out from behind your sofa yet…
The Cahill situation reminds me of Silvestre. Hope it doesn’t turn out that way.
Also anyone know why Jenkinson doesn’t get a sniff in the first team? I know he’s not the second coming but he’s strong, mobile and will give 100%. To be frank he couldn’t be worse than Lichtsteiner.
Not sure Jenks would fair any better Hobart. Have we not got a right back coming through?
Arsenal getting in loan players??
That says it all.
Well done Stan!!
If we get down to the simple facts, we don’t have enough money to buy a squad and that’s what is required because nobody builds one any more.
However, the squad is not as crap as we’ve showed lately, they’re tired and we need replenishing.
We also need a defensive coach.
Morning all.
I don’t think he could do worse. He’s got nearly 100 premier league games under his belt, played youth international football and got a England cap. He suffered massively from injuries but now they’ve cleared up. At one point people were seriously debating whether he was a better prospect than Bellerin.
He’s never going to be first team now, but as a back up to Bellerin I think he ticks boxes. Frankly I’m also irritated watching Lichtsteiner trying to cheat his way through games because his legs have gone.
Good morning Rico and everyone, I feel our defensive issues are more psychological.. we need to make clear statements in the aspect of fixing our defense, not just pashy signings but huge signings..
Nearly all the PL managers have said signing players better than they have is difficult in January Scott, I think blaming Kroenke for something which hasn’t even happened yet is a bit odd.
Bring back BFG 🙂
Rico, I’ve been blaming Stan for years now,
And you know that.
If Wenger was the reason we didn’t spend all of those years, what’s the issue now?
Of course, I could be proven wrong in January, but I don’t think so.
During the summer, what was our net spend?
Bugger all at a guess.
One, excellent Champagne cork moment to open the scoring, and then,……. it went flat.
Like you Rico, I thought we’d get hammered by four or five and might(?) squeeze in a couple but, WHERE was our so-called, defence?
They are truly farcical.
I agree Hobart, where was Lichtsteiner and what WAS he doing? He’s not good enough.
Koscielny too, out of position and seriously lacking in pace? He is not good enough either.
We are just gifting goals to the opposition to nullify the lead (sometimes) that our forwards give us.
Think I’ll have a Valium……only kidding!
Have a memorable night tomorrow guys, and just hope we can get it together on NYD?
Thanks for the blog. But setting aside all you’ve mentioned, the Head coach (UNAI) should check himself. Poor team selection, poor tactics, these being evident in the games of Brighton and Liverpool. He should also check his Morinho behavior of being against some star players in the team as he is doing with Mesut, Lacazate, and Elinen . When he arrived at the club, he promised us possessive and PRESSING football. But i can’t see the pressing football instead, i am seeing defensive football whereby the head coach fields nine defensive players and only two attackers not even a single creator in our mid field. And now my question is, is Unai the wright man to lead us back into champions league football? Or Ateta would have been a better option for us?
Jenks is a right back and there’s a lot of sense in playing him, he’s mobile , not slow , tall and has to be better in the long run than the Swiss who lets face it was bought to be nothing more than a cup and occasional back up player that has come from a well oiled Italian league with bags of experience but must be totally confused by the lack of defensive nous being shown here . Individually we can look at each player and see good things but as a collective ??? . Where’s George’s bit of string when you need it. ?
As for Cahill really ? he had his chance to join us many years ago but declined and went elsewhere . We should’nt sign him up now because he’s bored , old and wants a last pay day . He’s not the answer and he will only put back the need to buy in the future . In the words of our brexit negotiations “” it’s just kicking the can down the road “”.
We have already amassed 38 points , so we are not going down , we have a foot in the Europa League but if yesterday told us anything , we won’t have as soon as we meet a top team and there are a few of them scattered in there. Emery needs to start looking to the future and quick as his tenure at the club might well depend on it. If he is the coach that we were told upon his appointment then it’s time to ditch the ones that will not improve and build a team from the ones that can be coached.
Kawooya, superb comment.
A mate asked me earlier why Emery has alienated our two best players, when at their best, in Ramsey and Ozil and I have no answer.
Morning Rico. Sane? Polishing a stone?
If Cahill wasn’t good enough 7 years ago, how can he be anything other than a stop-gap? It might do some good I suppose.
Emery won’t get the time to fully re-build but a top manager surely sees the problems and addresses them. He obviously hasn’t bothered up ‘til now. I hope he starts soon.
Oh yes Scott. I know that you have…
Rico, I hope I’m wrong on Stan.
He’s given absolutely no evidence to suggest I am, but let’s hope he pulls out his credit card and allows Emery to do what’s required.
Jenks is certainly an option I guess and maybe a better one until we sign another or a player comes through the academy. Kev or Rick will know more about who we have…
You too Andorra, have a great NYE..
Welcome KW. What has Emery done wrong in the way he treats players? We criticised Wenger for playing his favourites and now Emery is doing what he believes is right for the team, yet still getting it wrong…
As for team selection, tactics etc, it’s easy for us on the internet isn’t it..
Morning Adam. My error, Mane, not Sané. The polishing a stone must be a local thing.. lol
Rico. I thought so. 😃
Rico if Emery believes omitting Mesut is right, tell me of any mid fielder Arsenal has that has created more scoring chances for the last three seasons than him and now that you have prolific strikers in Laca and Auba if Mesut plays behind them can utilise his chances and score for us goals like nothing. Trust me Unai just wants to frustrate Mesut and Laca. It’s in Emery. He dosen’t like. big name players that’s why he even left PSB because of Neymar
Good morning Rico, an easy post to write?
On the back of a pretty comprehensive defeat calls for reinforcements are echo around the blogosphere. One thing for sure is that Stan Kroenke won’t be putting his hand in his pocket to fund any purchases. A couple of months back Sanllehi and his sidekick stated that “any purchases must be paid for out of revenue generated by the club”. I think that’s pretty clear.
In my opinion neither Mustafi or Koscielny were fit enough to have played any significant part in such a high-level game as Liverpool at Anfield.
Emery would have done better to have started Zech Medley alongside Sokratis and played a back four with Lichtsteiner and Kolascinac as full backs. Instead he seems intent on playing a back three regardless of the lack of fit centre backs.
Emery really needs to make up his mind as to which formation he prefers and then coach the players to effectively play that formation and stick to it. Constantly swapping, particularly during matches, only leads to confusion
Yesterday we got what we all expected, a hammering from a vastly better team, high in confidence and playing at their peak. Even snatching an early lead, with an excellent goal by Maitland-Niles, wasn’t sufficient to knock them out of their stride. Even discounting two soft penalties, would a three one thrashing have been that much less painful?
Cicero, 3-2 if we converted our penalty 🙂
You’re right, a loss is a loss but we didn’t deserve to lose 5-1 imo, as average as we were and I don’t believe Liverpool were anywhere near as good as most so.
Every single thing went their way.
Rico, there was never any issue with people criticising Wenger on tactics, selections etc etc
Emery needs to be supported by the board, and by Stan else he is a dead man walking, as was his predecessor, and will be his successor.
As sad as that sounds, I believe it’s the truth and I reckon Emery has it in him to be a fantastic manager for us, given a fair chance
I think we haven’t got a decent defender in the squad so no amount of coaching will change that.We haven’t had a leader for years and there is nobody obvious in the squad.If we currently haven’t got a defensive coach then what does Steve Bould do?I thought our midfield was completely overrun yesterday and people like Xhaka gave up way before the end of the game.What has the super Chief Scout bought so far Goalkeeper who is no better than what we had ,a right back who is passed his sad,a centre half who spends more time with his arms around opponents than tackling ,a19 year old who might be good someday and a central midfield player who completely overrun yesterday
Afternoon Gooners
Afternoon Rico
Cahill on loan until the summer, it’s not ideal but the player/players we want may not be available until the summer. Cahill isn’t the future but he’s played in a team that knows how to defend and win therefore he will hopefully bring some discipline and organisation to that rag tag of a defence of ours…
What’s the point in going out and signing another Mustafi type this January, overpriced and unreliable, because selling clubs will know our predicament and will rip us off this January and that could leave us with another idiot on massive wages eating away at our FFP requirements.
As much as I’d like to see some of our young players given a chance you have to pick and choose their games carefully or else you’ll destroy them.
I actually thought that Iwobi and Maitland Niles had half decent games up there despite the car crash going on around them.
Now a bit off our team to match officiation.Is it in the FA’s or League committee’s constitution that Micheal Oliver should always take charge of all fixtures between Arsenal and Liverpool as he has consistently been bias with Arsenal in each match and only taking all decisions in favour of Liverpool. Take a look at the last three seasons. Believe me Oliver is becoming another Mike Dean to Arsenal.
Not at all Cicero, The gap in class was what was worrying., admittedly the somewhat biased refereeing didn’t help but that is only a mask on the truth.
Where does he start ? It’s something I levelled at Wenger as he tried to shoehorn players into his system , is Emery doing the same ?
He seems to have decided that Leno is his number 1 so with that in mind and as Martinez is quite capable of being two it would seem to be goodbye to Cech. That’s the easy decision.
Back four/ three. . Are we at the end for Koscielny , Monreal , Litchsteiner due to age and injury and are we saying that Mustafi and Kolasinac are just not good enough. For me Kolasinac is ok as a wing back going forward but not in a back 4 where he has to be more diciplined and Mustafi plays better in a four
Decision time :- What formation ? then practice until they get it right and do not alter it until they do.
Defensive middle :- Torriera , Guendouzi wants to run with the ball going forward so although his athleticism gets him back he is not the sitting interceptor Torriera is. Elneny is neat and tidy but really we need another.
Creative middle :- Ozil , no-one else
Ball carrying midfielders , , Guendouzi , Maitland Niles , Smith -Rowe ,Willock ,Iwobi add Nelson to that mix and you have a group of willing young bit part players then there’s Ramsey that is leaving and Mhkitarian and Xhaka who frankly look as lost here as everyone else.
Forward Aubameyang , Lacazette and Nkeitiah . Given service they can all score . However Auba on his own up front doesn’t work so you have to play two.
So do we bring through the kids / Try this for size https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTtajGASa6U.
More promise but needs time and that is something Emery does not have.
For me he has to pick a system and work on it , perfect it , and those that fit it – keep , those that cannot have to go . We can’t go forward changing horses every half hour . The players can’t settle and it feeds the idea that he does not know what to do.
Kw, I guess it depends on where we as fans sit. Personally, the last player I would be for a tough game is a bloke like Ozil.
Welcome Nick, sorry you were stuck in moderation.
😀Adam.
Afternoon Kev, Cicero.
Cicero, I could have made it easier. ‘Same s**t, different opposition’… 😜
Scott. I think if you recall, those or us who criticised Wenger also made reference to the player signings, saying that only once Wenger has gone will we know more.
All I’m suggesting is see what the next couple of transfer windows before banging the Kroenke drum again.
Kev, I thought AMN and Iwobi stood out too and neither were brilliant. But they tried and did a lot of good things.
Rico, yes, still early times for Emery, but what about his recent selections and substitutions? Everyone is raging at AMNs, but he contributed to Liechtetner’s abject performance as he did not support him in the defence.
With our defensive performance yesterday and the comical ways we conceded, it has to be said that these defenders should not play for any premiership side – as they lack intelligence.
Watching Liverpool run rings around our players, what is this statistics that the arsenal team run the most in the league?
From Southampton to Burnley, to Brighton, it has been a harvest of poor performance. Emery’s team is not dominant and they do not create enough.
Finally, I hope Emery’s relationship with both Lacazette and Ozil will not be toxic to the team. Ramsey has behaved so far, but these must be professionally handled
Emery has tried to make the players fit his system and this requires youth, energy and ball playing skills, unfortunately we don’t have enough of those players. Perhaps a more pragmatic manager would have changed the system only as new players come in to the club.
Lack of funds has forced him to buy less expensive older experienced players who are not suitable to his high intesity system and this may be partially responsible for injuries. Even if this isn’t true we don’t have a bench repleat with top class players ready to come on for injured colleagues or those who have simply played too much.
Emery needs money and time, but he has neither
Daniel, are we really in a position to question Emery’s selection? He’s the one who trains them every day. We might have our own preferences but as I said yesterday, it’s easy on the internet.
As said, I’m waiting to see how the next two transfer windows go before moaning about lack of money etc. It could be the board back him 100%.
We’ve got youthful players full of energy but they’re just not quite ready yet…
Afternoon all and thanks Rico.
I`ve been sitting back and watching this “new” Arsenal and other than a few signings and a new manager we might aswell be talking about our performances under the last manager, yes we went on a run, but many of them wins were fortunate, only in a few games that come to mind ie Fulham and Spuds did we look like worthy winners, so to me nothing has really changed and it wont as we need a major defensive overall and that will undoubtably take a lot of money which will not come from any other funds other than self sustaining ones.
You were right in saying Bindippers are also a self sustaining club, but they hit it lucky with some big pay days for out going players and bringing in some talent in areas needed with the proceeds.
Man U are Man U and will always have funds to eventually sort out their problems……………………Man C are as we all know ridiculously rich………………………Spuds just happen to have had a great run of cheapish buys coming good, but will go backwards soon when players leave and they have too pay for stadium doubling costs, in a way it`s great that their greatest ever team will possibly win fcuk all !
Chavs will be much the same as us imo………..not as wealthy as Man C and Man U…………..and although Bindippers may win the league I feel as though they will also eventually be on our level, the two out front in the future will mostly always be the two mancs !
We may hit it lucky one year and do a Leicester or Bindipper or even Spuds, but imo we are resigned to being just a top six club at the best for a long time unless Kroenke goes and we are bought by a Man C type owner !
The mess could take years and without the investment I fear that Dick will also be removed by fans resenment when it doesn`t go according to plan.
Happy New Year to all of you.
PS………………I like Kawooya Henry`s comment………………………indeed what happened to Dicks philosophy of pressing ?………………………..left it at Sketchleys ? 🙂
Hows your wife doing Lc?
Touch wood, OK, Rico………………………had some scary momenys like sending her from Kings College Hospital in London to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth in the back of a Mini Cab !!!…..fcuking unbelievable !………………………I could make a list of the inept amaturish mistakes that have plagued her treatment over the last six months and yo would be flabbergasted !……………………the op was brilliant but pre and after care have been almost “comical” if it wasn`t so serious !
Glad her recovery is doing well Lc, the rest of it though doesn’t sound much fun…
Morning all.
LC, good to see you back, mate, and glad to hear your wife is on the up so fingers crossed.
Rico, Stan will always be relevant, but I’m hoping he doesn’t have too big an impact and you’re right, time will tell.
Emery has a massive job ahead, but we all knew that.
I hope he didn’t underestimate it 🙂
Wife moved from bed near nurses desk to one at the window waiting for a biopsy, another woman then moved into bed near nurses desk as she was in need of more observation.
Porters then came in and started to move the woman in the bed nearest to nurses desk to take away for biopsy, luckily my wife who is still as sharp as ever told the porters that they might be taking the wrong patient……………….it should have been my wife !……………………..just one in a long list ! 😯
Hi Scott !
Is it NY eve yet in Oz ? 😀
Hello!
– If Jenkinson does not play when we do not have defenses, I don’t understand what he’s doing on the squad. With the overload of games, if you have to keep Liechteiner, it is becauseJenkinso only serves for training.
– Kos is for the Arsenal as Kompany is for the City. Is life.
– What does Steve Bould do in Arsenal?
– My opinion about Ozil is public. Ramsey does not make Ozil but appears as second / third forward in the area. However, he lives in the shadow of Ozil. He’s more of an underplayer.
In relation to yesterday’s game:
a) Moustafi and Kolosinac played because it is preferable to play at 60% than any replaces. Of course they would not play the whole game.
b) In addition to the lack of ideas and solutions, playing with Liverpool and MU is always very difficult because they play with more players on the pitch. Just watch the game of yesterday and today.
Out of interest Scott, what would you like to see from Kroenke?
Didn’t Jenks play CB in the Cup Jm? It’s possible he will again against Blackpool…
Le Coq Monster. Sounds like a nightmare. Keep us in touch with the progress of your wives recovery. Healthy New Year to ALL at HH.
Will do Vics.
What would I like to see from Kroenke ?………………………………Billions spent on the team, if not…………..his epitaph ! 😆
Indeed it is LC.
5.48am and all is well.
Of course, exactly 24 hours ago, I was in tears 🙂
Rico, the back of him.
My question was serious Scott and the back of him isn’t happening right now or any time soon..
rico, is it enought ? he was at the bench in any game? I didn’t remenber
I’ve not seen him on the bench Jm, not that I can r3call anyway..
Rico, what makes you think my answer wasn’t serious?
You asked what I’d like to see from him-leaving is no.1 on my Wishlist.
If not, spend.
Invest.
Help.
I knew you were being serious about him going but I hoped you’d answer with something different.
How much do you, or Lc for that matter, think he should invest?
How longs a piece of string?
Anything would be better than what he’s previously invested though.
It’s all hypothetical because we know he won’t.
Any idea how much he’s made from the club-what would his profits be if he sold up now?
I asked because I wondered if you wanted Emery to simply have a bottomless pit like at City etc..
Not sure but one heck of a lot of money but it’s only relevant if he sells his shares and there’s no sign of that happening.
If he sits back and let’s the club slide though, that valuation of his shares will go down.
No, Rico, not at all.
I’d never endorse the Chelsea or Citeh methods.
My question on his potential profits was aimed at formulating an answer on how much to spend.
If he’d invested 10-20% of his on paper profits each season, it would be a nice start, I reckon.
Well all we can do is wait but Raul has already told us that the club won’t use his money as we don’t operate that way. Same as most of all the other clubs in football I guess..
Yep, it’s a stalemate lol
Cross the fingers and hope our guys can find a few more diamonds in the rough.
Shockingly bad defending,groundhog day.. Our worst players,Lichsteiner,Sokratis,Torreria,Leno,only joined in the summer, so we can’t blame the previous regime.Torreria has been mostly excellent,so can be forgiven,Sokratis & Leno to a lesser extent too.Lichsteiner though has no excuse,I totally agree with others here that Jenkinson cannot be any worse.
I also think we may as well give some youngsters a go,Medley,Mavropanos,Smith-Rowe,Willock,Saka – it’s always been the Arsenal way!!
Welcome Limey. I’m all for giving those you mention some time in the first team too. Not all at once obviously but certainly from the bench. I really want to see Medley play again. FA Cup I’d imagine.
But to play more youth players, I think the club/Emery would have to tell us that’s the way they’re going and we’d have to be patient. The latter is the hardest part because football fans in general don’t have a lot of patience. Or is that a sweeping statement… lol
Evening Rico and the House.
Just 1 more sleep and then we can say goodbye to a very bad year.
I have not had much time to post comments for a some time now but I am hoping
things will change in the new year.
Saying this I have made time to read your and Kevs great Posts in the last few weeks ,
and I must say some of the comments have also been good.
Like you I want to see some of the youngsters given more playing time and I will give you my opinion in the next few days.
I have had a very long day so I will say good and wish you and all your readers a very happy new year
Should be Good Night.
Evening Rick. Happy New Year to you too and I hope it’s a better one for you…
Hi Rick, glad you’re ok, notice how Saka is getting on the bench now, in front of Nketiah and Willock, that kid is gonna be special.
Also fit again Xavier Amaechi – the FACup perhaps – fingers crossed for the lad…?
I’ve got high hopes that Mavropanos will solve one of our gaping wounds in the defence, if he can stay fit and get a run of games he could save us millions and that could be diverted elsewhere, like full back…
Cocker, glad to hear that the Mrs is on the mend, she’s a lot more important than the bloody Arsenal…
With Man U and Chelsea finding some form as ours goes over a cliff the lure of the UEFA Cup becomes ever more alluring…
Emery working a miracle in Baku next May could be our best chance of participation in the CL next season.
It’s so exciting… 😐
Guys, I just saw a list of top players coming off contract at seasons end-you’d put a side that’d be competitive in any League in the world together!!
Anyway, one name stands out.
Emery is off Rambo, quite obviously, and a certain French Midfielder he recently managed at PSG is on the same list.
He’d come at a hefty salary, so rambo leaving frees things up.
Ok, I’m adding 2 and 2 together to get 17 but Adrien Rabiot????
Scott, Raboit is listed as earning €60m a week so perhaps he wouldn’t demand too much, certainly not anywhere near what Ramsey allegedly hoped for. A swap deal was discussed on here a while ago as imo it would be the best outcome for us. Seems Barcelona are close to signing him though..
Morning Rico. Sixty million € a week’s not too shabby is it? 😃
Morning Adam. Much less than I thought he’d be on.
New post up now…
😂