Morning guys.
Mesut Ozil hasn’t travelled to Belerus which has sparked another social media outcry. Hang on though, he’s been sick according to Unai Emery, with the same bug which kept Aubameyang out of the team at the weekend. Trouble is, we cynics are exactly that aren’t we, cynical. A one off omission through sickness would be plausible, a continuation of being left out despite him training suggests something else is going on. Whatever it is, I hope it soon gets resolved because I doubt it’s doing the squad morale much good at all.
For Ozil himself, there must come a time when instead of keep turning the page in his Arsenal career of recent rejection, he makes the decision to close the book once and for all. He, through little fault of his own, is in total control with his contract only being a year in. Train and take the money, or move, play football again but earn less. Saying that, the club and his agents could sit down, agree to cancel his contact which would allow him to secure a big salary elsewhere I’m sure.
Aaron Ramsey has a slight knee injury apparently but other than that, no new absentees to report. Xhaka is back though as is Aubameyang.
I thought Emery would select one or two more younger players than Eddie Nketiah but I guess he’s taking this seriously and rightly so. This is a competition we could realistically win and it’s one a Petr Cech wants to add to his collection before he retires at the end of the season.
The last time we faced tonight’s opposition was back in 2017 with a very different looking team to the one which will start tonight. Only Mustafi, AMN and Elneny were in the starting eleven which ran out 4-2 winners back then, Walcott scored two, Giroud from the penalty spot and Rob Holding nabbed the other, his first ever for the club. Sadly for him, and thanks to Rashford, he won’t be repeating that.
The score line might have been quite convincing that night but for the last half an hour, BATE caused us problems, enough for us to make sure we’re focused later I’d have thought. But I doubt Unai Emery needs reminding of that as he and the Europa League are no strangers.
I’d imagine we’re strong favourites tonight if for no other reason that BATE have no played a competitive match since December. Friendliest yes for fitness but they’re not the same.
BATE:
- BATE midfielder Igor Stasevich delivered more assists than any other player in this season’s Europa League group stages (six).
- The Belarusian side have lost all three of their previous home games against English clubs in European competition. They have never gone past the round of 32 in the Europa League, getting knocked out in 2010-11 by Paris SG and in 2012-13 by Fenerbahce.
Arsenal:
- Arsenal were one of seven teams to remain unbeaten in this season’s Europa League group stages, alongside Chelsea, Dinamo Zagreb, Eintracht Frankfurt, Real Betis, Red Bull Salzburg and Villarreal.
- The Gunners have kept a clean sheet in each of their last five Europa League games, the longest current run in the competition.
Stasevic is their main danger man it seems, their Mr assist so there’s one to keep a check on. Hleb too despite his legs being older than Lichtsteiner’s. Seriously, we need to be winning this one and if we can get a good result out there, one which all but the tie to bed then it’ll make life easier for the return fixture when Emery can perhaps use one or two more of the youth players. You never know, Mesut Özil might even get a run out too.
Chelsea beat them twice in the group stage so surely we can do the same.
See you in the comments guys…
Morning all.
I just can’t resist repeating a comment from a fellow Gooner because it’s spot on.
“Emery went unbeaten with a squad mainly filled with players left to him by he how shall remain nameless, yet the minute things went pear shaped, who copped the blame?”
It’s the most accurate comment made by an Arsenal fan all season.
Anyway, that aside, the Ozil saga continues.
Good morning Rico, lovely sunny day here, a bit breezy but who cares about a touch of wind? 😉
Ozil only trained Tuesday and Wednesday this week, following his illness, so shipping him out to Belarus seems pointless. Ramsey has a slight knee problem, did he injure it jumping for joy at signing his new £400k a week contract?
Don’t forget we beat them 6 – 0 at The Emirates last season.
Emery is certainly taking this competition seriously, the first leg is vital.
Perhaps you should have addressed your view to the person leaving that comment Scott.
Yes Scott, plus of course Leno, Sokratis, Torreria, Guendouzi and Lichtsteiner.
Oh and we must not forget that Wenger tried to sign Jadon Sancho before he went to Dortmund.
Morning Rico and all.
Personally, I haven’t heard many people blame Wenger except on the Internet. But, to expand the accusations and condemnations a bit wider, I couldn’t help but notice that arch-villain Stan was forgotten about and never mentioned while the team were on that unbeaten run. As soon we lost a few he was hauled before an online jury and found guilty.
Perhaps we all need to blame someone for something,
Morning Cicero, it’s the same here although no breeze at all. A bit of fog but that’s lifting.. Spring is on its way…
I’m glad he’s playing his strongest available squad, as you say, get this one won, have a two week break and then play them again…
I smiled at that Sancho one too Cicero, along with tactical advice on how Utd should have played a PSG at Old Trafford.
Morning Adam, good point. I’m pretty sure though that through our good run of results, as well as observing some of the good points, the actual fluidity of our play was questioned many time, as was our lack of ability to close the opposition down or stop conceding goals.
Rico. Yes, we certainly got a bit of a bounce in the early games. The atmosphere was different at the Emirates, the manager flew up and down the touch line, gesticulating wildly and things looked promising. As Emery has remained still and less animated, so his rather beady hook-nosed scowl has become more prevalent.
I reckon the reduction in his level of manic-ness is directly proportionate to the dearth of wins and the rise of the rather turgid and uninspired football we seem to have plunged headlong into.
I don’t think injuries have helped our cause Adam. Bellerin was exciting on the wing, Torreira was fresh and new as was Guendouzi but as the games came thick and fast, that’s when our injuries took their toll. Players weren’t getting much rest,certainly over the festive period and the results/performances dipped and the self belief was questioned I guess. Throw in the Liverpool and City results and I guess the mood is pretty low.
Little things like not having Welbeck or Holding etc make a difference.
That’s true Rico but it happens every year so, unless we want to be permamnatly using injuries as an excuse, we might hope that a solution is found.
I blame Wenger and Stan-of course.
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico, how could we ever forget that little technical wizard Hleb, brilliant approach play, could pass the ball through the eye of a needle, but but him in front of goal with just the keeper to beat and he would pass, leaving us pulling our hair out, which for me is becoming more and more problematic..
Luckily I checked back as Hleb has been spell checked into Helen…
‘how could we ever forget that little technical wizard Helen’…. er.
I did, Rico, because they were right 🙂
Cicero, 5 players isn’t a majority and I clearly said “mainly” players left by you know who.
No hint of ignoring the good signings Emery has made, and he’s on the positive side of things as far as purchases are concerned.
Long may that continue.
Tbh Rico, plenty of the Arsenal fans I spoke to or who I blogged with made cautionary comments about our play even during the 22 game unbeaten run, so they aren’t being wise after the event.
There are, of course, the Wenger fanatics who are loving our indifferent form, as you would expect and are wallowing in the ‘be careful what you wish for’ rhetoric.
Adam, one mustn’t forget to blame Gazides as well, personally I blame Wath…
True Adam. I think what they’ve done this season though is prove that those coming in to replace them are either not to be relied on, or, as in the case of the younger players, need time and our patience.
We can I guess only hope that Emery will do something about that and the board back him. He’s not going to get a bottomless pit, I think we all accept that so it’s about spending wisely rather than splashing big money on one player who isn’t really going to make a vast difference. I think that’s where we’ve gone wrong in the past.
Morning Kev. Hleb was a wonderfully gifted player wasn’t he. Honest too after admitting he wished he’d never left. Shame he left the way he did..
Really Scott? I didn’t see that comment on here so I must have missed it.
Same here Kev. Our run was great but there were problems that’s for sure.
Anyone who enjoys watching us struggle, just to fill their Wenger agenda cannot be Arsenal fans imo. Ridiculous way to behave I think.
Rico, I don’t remember saying the person who made the initial comment made it on here, so it’s no surprise you didn’t see my reply:
Not sure i have a clue what your on about Scott?
The comment you repeated on here this morning, was it left on HH or elsewhere?
Hair splitting there Scott, 5/11nths of a starting team and as both Ozil and Ramsey are only half the players they were I think that about evens things up, don’t you?
Afternoon all. Thought this was a game we could re-blood Jenkinson? Obviously not in manager’s thoughts as we move forward.
If we can’t manage to beat a team who has got a Chicken on its subs bench, then we don’t deserve anything.
Arsenal: Cech, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Lacazette.
Subs: Leno, Lichtsteiner, Elneny, Torreira, Suarez, Aubameyang, Nketiah.
Afternoon all.
Ha ha Kev, plays on the wing apparently…
A Chicken flying down the wings then Rico… 😁
David Ornstein, so reliable with his information about Arsenal, is claiming that his sources believe the player had no intention of signing the contract before the offer was revoked.
“There are a number of people within the game who I speak to who say that Aaron Ramsey had no intention of signing a contract at Arsenal,” Ornstein said on the BBC’s Football Daily podcast. “He was always planning to leave on a Bosman free at the end of his existing deal.
Auba on the bench? Strange!
Using his wings Kev, unless they’ve been clipped. 😉
He’s not long back from sickness so understandable I reckon.
Pitch looks dreadful.
Really smart from Iwobi. Should be up already 😆
Decent start by The Gunners, good chances created, with a little more efficiency in the box we could be two or three up.
Oh Lacazette, what a chance missed.
We should be winning 3-0
Hope we don’t live to regret these missed chances. This game should be out of reach by now.
Nobody quite Arsenal’s it like Arsenal….
They sure don’t. Bad end to the half.
New depths being plumbed. A disgrace so far.
Question if we had Allardyce as manager would we have leaked that goal?
We have spent most of the first half passing the ball sideways in front of the Bate defenders. The chances we have created, and missed, came about by getting behind the defence. Typically we give away a stupid free kick, in a dangerous position, and then fail to defend it. Six arsenal defenders in a static line across the box and not one of them anywhere near the goal scorer.
This is Arsenal’s worst team in the last 20 years. It does not mean that they are the worst players, but they are the most badly organized and oriented.
Does this coach not see what it was and is it obvious?
AW was often criticized by me but had soccer, not always players and quickly realized what was good and was wrong.
Potter, with the numbskulls we laughingly call defenders, emphatically yes!
Just think they should be better organised
Why did we go into this game with a back three?
We could have a back 7 or 8 and they’d still knock off and go to sleep.
We need goals and we have a team of players who couldn’t hit the side of an aircraft hanger.
…..and we are still plodding about in front of their defence if Emery can’t see what’s wrong he shouldn’t be the manager.
FFS put on Aubameyang and Nketiah, we need goals…
Auba and Torreira on for AMN and Xhaka. Suarez warming up.
Does Suarez score goals?
I know we’ve conceded a soft goal but how many chances do these players need to score?Had we taken ours, we’d be sitting comfortably…
The personnel have changed a little but the pattern of play remains the same. Slow, stolid and massed in front of ten yellow shirts.
You can blame Emery as much as you like but these players are pathetic…
Millionaire show ponies…
What is Iwobi doing on the pitch, he has been utter rubbish for most of the game.
Lacazette straight red card.
Kev, Keown said the same at half time, or something like it..
Stupid from Lacazette..
Sod this I’m off to the club for a couple of pints and a game of cribbage. ‘night all.
One of the most inept and pathetic Arsenal performances I have ever seen.
Frustration gets another Red card . The whole team has forgotten the purpose of the game is to get the ball into their box and put it in the goal. Instead we huff and powder puff . Backwards , sideways anything but be direct. I was watching ona dodgy stream but even with both Lacazette and Aubameyang on the pitch as we built up thee was no-one threatening their box. I despair. 14 th Feb , time to take the wife out and forget.
What a shame!
A team that has not played for 2 months; a team that has suffered, on average, 4 goals every time they play with Arsenal; there is no shot at the area entrance; we do not create opportunities; we make fouls to allow dangerous ball games; we have a player sent off and a player with a (stupid) yellow card; we have to run after the loss.
and … did you like Suarez? Does he add something to the team as I said in January?
utter utter garbage, absolute light yrs behind.
Tippy tappy bollox, would put ya asleep.
maybe Arteta would have been the better choice because if I’m honest I’m not seeing anything to excite me from emery so far.
What a dreadful night..
Easy bait……..that’s us again tonite !
Valentines Day and we cant even master Bate !
Come back Arsene all is forgiven ……………………….. 😆
##BREAKING NEWS##
In Eastenders, Keegan has walked in the burger joint wearing an Arsenal scarf !
I’m glad I missed it.
Bate having not played since 13th December were not fatigued ! 😆
Like to hear the likes of Lee and Herbs thoughts on this new Arsenal……………………………………………………..
To think the Spuds have more chance of winning the EPL than we have of getting 4th place and more chance of winning CL than we have of winning EL !…………………………………..how we have fallen !
Kel, if the reports were right that when we beat City a few seasons back and it was Arteta that set up the formation and tactics, I reckon we’d see a better organised defence at least.
No question we are in a flat spot and Emery has a 2 season contract so still should be given that time to build his side, imo.
Evening all.
We’re like a cotton loom, just going side to side, side tor side, a little bit forward a long way back, then side to side, side to side.
We have NO creative genius pulling the srrings or at least we have but the manager doesn’t like him so he doesn’t pick him. The other nearly creative player, Ramsey has found an escape route out and away from the crab soccer. Leaving as a free man!
We’re not in a good place at the moment, I just hope that Emery has enough about him to make the changes, find the motivation and generate a ‘new’ team that is worthy to represent the monolith that is the Arsenal Football Club….successfully in the near future.
Ho hum, I’ll suck my thumb till the new team do come!
Night-night everybody, night-night.
I wonder if Ramsey didn’t like what he saw in the new manager and not the other way around as has been reported.
Wavy, he’s certainly got a job ahead of him.
One thing Emery seems to have is strong character, so let’s hope he stands up to the test.
I’m worried that by the time he moulds the squad into his image he’ll be gone and our chances of Champions league will be gone with it.
I still say he needs more time, but he’s not impressing me much.
Looking back I wonder if it was wise to put in a manager whose footballing ethos is so different to Arsene. He was always going to take imo and money that we don’t have to make the changes.
You know that was pretty hard to listen to, God knows what it was like to watch in its entirety?
Having now calmed down a bit, it’s amazing when I read someone on another blog say that that was the worst performance he’d seen. Well if that’s true, he must be about 14 years old, because I’ve been watching these kinds of performances for years, under Bertie Mee and all who came after him.
What about losing at Winterslag, that was a classic or Tranmere at Highbury or Walsall at Highbury, or Wrexham at Wrexham that was a corker under George Graham.
Who could forget us losing 5-2 at home to Spartak under Terry Neill and who could possible not recall York in the FACup, that was a dandy. There’s got to be loads more, we all have our favourites. Mine was at the County Ground where Swindon beat the mighty Arsenal, Liam Brady and all 4-3…
There’s been people who’ve told us that we should have given the managers job to that pillock at Everton, well he’s on his bike soon and he’s been able to spend a few million unlike Emery and he’s still fcuked up.
Emery has to accept responsibility for tonight’s result and I’m sure he will but let’s not forget the players’ part in all this, overpaid big time the lot of them. I’ve watched the Chelsea and Man Utd players force out their managers and I’m beginning to wonder if our lot are doing likewise?
Well fcuk them, we need the manager to manage and the Board to back him, whoever the manager is. The alternative is no alternative at all…
As for Ozil and his team of PR spinners ‘Ya Gunners Ya’ or whatever childish nonsense he tweets, the German FA and German Press fcuked you right off, Arsenal and Emery rallied around and put their arm around you in support and all you do is put up pictures of you training and being’very professional’ whilst trying to undermine the manager. The sooner you fcuk off the better….
I’ve been wondering something similar Kev about the players. Not all but certainly the overhyped, overpaid ones with big egos. I see Guendouzi is getting a bit of a knocking by the media, pundits too but he’s been brilliant for us most of the time. He’s 19 and in his first season in England for goodness sake.
Ditto re Ozil, and it’s a dreadful situation which could end up losing Emery his job if social media has its way. It’s embarrassing I know but only because of what he’s earning. If he wasn’t earning the money he is, no one would probably bat an eyelid, just as they don’t when Elneny doesn’t play. The media who like to make a lot out of the Ozil situation are the same idiots who slate him after every game. Talk about run with the fox and the hounds.
No wonder the club didn’t give Ramsey a massive pay rise.. once bitten twice shy I’d imagine. Mind you, if Ornstein is right, he wasn’t going to sign it anyway….
Hiya Kev,
We should not be surprised social media is waging war on Emery.
It’s todays world, unfortunately where everyone is an expert.
I know we all have opinions but it still amazes me how easy people think managing is.
Özil-well, I don’t think we are going the right way about moving him on if that’s intentions but then, we don’t really know exactly what’s hapoening behind closed doors so it’s hard to really give an informed opinion but surely it’s better to play the guy so clubs remember he can actually play.
I’d hate to think any player/s are conspiring to oust the manager:
If they put their efforts into playing better, maybe we’d be better off.
Rico, anyone criticism Guendouzi doesn’t have a clue about the game.
He’s a baby and was always going to be inconsistent this first season.
I think he’s been pretty consistent Scott, as we said before, the odd error here and there but for a first season, I reckon he’s doing really well.
Social media is a very cruel world and not just in sport. I think that as good as it can be when used in the right way, the ugly side is dangerous.
Scott/Rico, there’s no doubt that Ozil will have friends in the squad, you know like Mr ‘Switched On’ Kolasinac who lost the player he was marking for their goal.
I’m sure they all talk among themselves and Ozil is certainly not going to be complimentary about the new man, especially one who took away all his little privileges via Wenger and had the audacity to substitute him.
Rico, he’s been fantastic.
Coming up a few levels, 29 years old and offers an energy any side can use.
I hope he tries on with it as he could be a mainstay for us.
Kev, I really do hope you’re wrong but no question the entire situation is having a negative effect on the squad.
Scott, I wouldn’t trust our lot, most of them are Wenger signings, they preferred the old regime, none of this hard graft from Emery, I think we’ve conceded 8 times in the last 5 minutes of the 1st half this season, you would have thought they would have learned by now?
Thank God Sokratis will be back by next week and Aubameyang will start through the middle.
We may as well go with a back four and have Xhaka, Torrieira and Guendouzi in the midfield.
Play Suarez, if he’s any good then start him, let’s see, because Mkhitarayan couldn’t score if the goal fell on his head it seems.
Question is do we trust emery with another let’s say 70 to 90m… to spend?
the defence is worse than under Wenger, January has has came and gone, I think we all agree we needed defensive reinforcements? he ignored it just like Wenger did and bought another midfielder.🤔
Ozil isn’t to everyone’s taste but fuck me ya gotta play him or at least use him, we certainly don’t have the luxury of excluding someone of his quality.
fairs fair I would rip through Wenger over that performance and the tactics or selection…
for me bottom line is whatever is happening on the training pitch with emery isn’t working.
Scott I never knew that about Arteta, i musta missed that.
Kel, it was a rumour and in all fairness, it was believable because we were damn good that day 🙂
Morning Rico and all.
Surely any new manager needs the confidence of his squad. Perhaps Emery’s stance has resulted in division. It would be very easy to think that, following recent developments and games, our squad has turned off to his ‘message’, whatever that may be. We all know that they are not good enough to compete at the top and now it seems that they aren’t very good to compete at just about any level. Last night was a disgrace, nothing less. Unless performances improve radically, which looks unlikely at this moment, the board are going to have to get involved.
Morning Adam. I’d imagine the board are already talking. The next thing we might hear is Josh Kroenke is in town.
I’d say at least 50% of our squad are simply not good enough. For some, it’s lack of ability bu5 mostly I’d say it’s a lack of footballing brain. A few, it’s both. Good players don’t need to be told to challenge for a header when a cross comes into the box, let alone great ones. They shouldn’t need telling when to move or pass either surely. I can’t believe how poor they were last night.
new Post up.
morning, I just don’t see a style of play that’s gonna be effective for us.
didn’t emery apparently blow the kronkes and gazids away during his interview with his detailed review of all the current players and how he was gonna improve them?
in other words I’ll not need much investment I’ll improve what we have…😏
well I don’t see any improvement at all.