Morning all.
Pre-season came to and end last night with a defeat to Barcelona. A narrow one though I hasten to add with Barcelona needing an own goal to draw level after Aubameyang had opened the scoring. Then right at the end of the game, Suarez popped up with their winner. The own goal was just one of those things, it happens but I doubt for AMN it’ll happen again any time soon. Their winner though highlighted our defensive troubles yet again.
Other than that though, there were plenty of good things going on during the game. Willock and Saka being two. I think both are more than ready for the Premier League. Nelson and Martinelli too. They should all get plenty of minutes that’s for sure, especially Willock in my opinion.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UE99bJOJDHU
Mustafi hadn’t been on the pitch long yet still his introduction and his lack of positional sense, gifted Suarez his opportunity to win the game. For the clubs sake, and his own, he really needs to move on before Thursday’s transfer window deadline. He might think Arsenal is the best place for him financially etc but another error strew season is going to do him more harm than good. Certainly mentally because the fans will be on his back, as will the media. Everyone has a breaking point and I don’t think Mustafi is far from his.
Granit Xhaka is another weak link, a player not fit to wear the Captain’s armband. I’d give it to Sokratis myself, or Monreal. Like Mustafi, Xhaka really should have moved on by now but unless they want to go, we’re stuck with them. Doesn’t mean Unai Emery has to play them though, not when the season gets underway. Certainly not Xhaka as we have a glut of midfield options. Chambers is one, possibly a better one. Mind you, he’s a better option than Mustafi in defence too as proved last night whilst playing along a strong and more disciplined Sokratis. So much so I have to eat my words on Chambers because suddenly he’s become a very important player for Arsenal. Or at least I think so. Ozil was good though from the bits I saw of the game although he still has a tendency to slow the game down as he makes up his mind on where he should play his pass.
So that’s it really. No more friendlies, just ten months of hard work as we fight for a top four spot.
Four more days of this summer transfer window.
See you in the comments guys…
In response to Ivan
Thank you for that good reply, re Umtiti, exactly what I wanted to know. Now i just hope we get him. Raul is good, but this will be a real test if he can swing this one
Sorry Don’t know how that got on this site
You put it here Sohara, that’s how. Lol
Mustafi, xhaka, mkhitaryan, all three players dont care about there performances.
Emery doesnt have the balls to drop xhaka for some reason
Mustafi is there just for money as is mkhitaryan
If emery had any sense he would give xhaka a space on the bench
As for the other two they should be made to train with the reserves, they cannot be called upon and we should have youngsters on the bench
Emery though wont do that, he is also part of the problem
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
Rico, A fair summation of the game, but your second sentence had me scrstching my head for a minute. Not that I’m any better as a typist.
I to am excited about our Young Guns. Many of them seem to have have more potential and promise than some of our ‘senior’ players.
As for Mustafi, this should give you a laugh, or maybe a cry, and some ammunition against Scott and his statistics;
http://www.sportbible.com/football/news-stats-mustafi-had-better-individual-stats-than-maguire-last-season-20190803
I totally agree with your statement.Xhaka should not be near the starting line up as he is error-prone
See what I mean. “scrstching” should be “scratching”. Oh well, back to the blogger’s sin bin.
CG, I actually Emailed those exact stats to Rico yesterday.
Is Mustafi under rated, Maguire over rated or both?
One thing’s for sure-Maguire isn’t worth 80 million.
Scott,
I thought that post might rouse you from your winter torpor Down Under.
How are things in ‘The Land of Wonder’, you and the family? Are the dogs winning any races?
Good points about the youngsters Rico, they’re my shining light for the season ahead.
We need to support Mustafi, if he stays, there’s no mileage in destroying him.
But Chambers and Sokratis have to be our go to centre backs, maybe Chambers will improve playing alongside our Greek god..?
Emery needs to be brave, a protagonist even, he has to look beyond reputations and go with performance, so if Saka is more effective than Ozil then Mesut is on the bench. Simples…
If Emery bottles it for an easy life in the media or Twitter, then maybe he isn’t the man for us long term. This season will really be when we will see if he has what it takes or not.
Morning Cg.
Barcelona needing us to score an own goal for them. AMN little error.
Scott,
As for Mustafi, I think it is the individual blunders/mistakes that he he makes in between those stats that make the BIG difference between him and Maguire. Too, too, too many Ainsley Maitland Niles moments. Although I’m sure AMN wont repeat his so soon.
Me too Kev re the younger players. I like what they’re doing right now, they seem to play without fear or pressure. They’re embarrassing the likes of Mkhitaryan imo.
Scott, I haven’t received that email about Mustafi..
Rico,
I think FC Farcelona (sic) were taking the game a little too seriously. Some of their tackles were just a touch on the thuggish side. I see Cebellos will be missing practice for a couple of days. Here’s hoping that it is nothing more than that, because I want him to put some real fear of competition into Ozil.
CG, we have a red hot one named Rocastle who’s had a few issues so just eating from him to race.
Hopefully soon:
A few just being educated so the next year or two should be busy.
All is well here.
Just keen for the season to kick off, as we all are.
Mustafi Seems to make big errors that cost us.
I think this estate say more about Maguire then they do about Mustafi, to be fair.
AMB is no full back so I hope we aren’t destroying his confidence atm.
Family are well.
Sean’s still loving his football, wife still a cranky little bigger so nothing’s changed hahaha
Hope you’re well!!!
Rico, I realised I sent it from a different email address so it may have hit your junk mail but it’s just what CG posted.
From the little I saw, I didn’t think much of Barca tbh Rico…
As you say, if Niles hadn’t cocked up we might have even won!
I wouldn’t risk a Lacazette this weekend at Newcastle and I’d leave Pepe out of things, maybe put him on the bench so he can get a feel of the intensity of the Prem.
Emery needs to trust the youngsters because if he plays all the old wankers and we get done then that’s gonna stretch the patience with him.
Scott,
‘Rocastle’ – who would have thought you would call one of your canine companions that? LOL!!!!
As for the “cranky little bigger”, I hope she doesn’t visit the House or look over your shoulder as you could be in the dog house with Rocky. Good to hear all is well though.
Did you get any snow this year?
Kev,
I see you are allezkev this preseason; not Reverend Kev or Braindead Kev. That is a good omen for the new season, as you are in a positive mood. On to victory (Victoria Concordia Crescit)!
As for the Mustafi and Maguire comparisons, that just shows how fallible stats are, I know who I’d prefer lining up in our defence and it’s not the World Cup winner!
Hi CG, I’m sure that I was ever Braindead Kev, but other might disagree… 😀
I think it was Brainwashed, but this season I am mostly Positive Kev, with all that positivity rubbing off on me from Adam…
CG, it never snows where I am-the odd frost is the worst we get lol
I did speak to Rocky’s sister beforehand about the naming, and I waited until I got a top pup before using it.
Fingers crossed he holds together 🙂
I’ll check Scott.
Kev,
Between your Brainwashed persona and the House’s Blonde Adonis in full negative drive, some preseason’s were hard to bear. I’m pleased to hear that you are Mr. Positive.
Player acquisitions and preseason games performance, especially from our Young Guns give us much to be thankful for. Now, if our executive can acquire an experienced center back by Thursday we’ll be all set. Bring on the Barcodes.
Barca certainly aren’t the team they used to be Kev, without Messi they’re nothing much I reckon. Once he retires, they’ll struggle to replace his input.
We aren’t stuck with Monreal, the club took up the option to extend his contract,so presumably the manager wants him.Our best defender is Sokratis,backed up by Chambers.Beyond that it’s scary.
Even Stevie Wonder can see we need a centre back so you have to hope something will happen.
I agree with Kev,if Mustafi stays we should get behind him.I still hope he goes mind you.
Also Mikhitaryan, seriously what’s the point ? Saka, Nelson,Martinelli ,John-Jules all better options than him.
Not looking great in the cricket.
Newcastle away, bring it on !
CG, I reckon we’ve shopped pretty damn well considering the budget.
I don’t know how w emanated to feet such quality in with staggered payments buys it’s a job bloody well done!!
The kids showing up is the cherry on top but I reckon most knew we had some good ones coming through.
It’s great to see them given their chance.
That wasn’t a dig at Rico about Monreal.
I just think he’s far from our worst defender.
One of the reasons I like this blog is its OK to have different opinions.
Rico, It’s unfortunate that their ‘winning’ goal, after AMN’s gracious gift, was scored by Hanibal the Canibal. I would be less distressed if it had been any other FCB player, even their goalie.
I happy about Holding’s imminent return, Chambers is good, he needs support. Defense isn’t our challenge if Emery will look beyond Mustafi. For me, Holding-Socratis, Chambers-Socratis, Mavropanos-Socratis. Xhaka needs to step-up. My line-up vs Newcastle: Leno; Maitland-niles, Chambers, Socratis, Kolasinac; Martinelli, Willock, Nelson; Aubameyang.
Then, pair Torreira-Guendouzi at the middle.
The problem with Mustafi is his arrogance which in a great player is essential but in someone who needs to learn the basics is a problem. I suspect he thinks he’s a Beckenbauer .
Ainsley M-N is not good enough as a Defender, Winger or Midfielder yet. Hasn’t got the noodle.
Willock has been great for at least a year and needs more first team game time please.
Mkhitaryan for me when he refused to go to Baku no longer deserved to wear our shirt. A coward in life is a coward on the pitch.
Scott, It is great to see the team spend some money, for a change, to acquire some quality players. The downside of the staggered payments is it could limit our buying power in future transfer windows if we don’t receive additional income (e.g. player sales – Mustafi, Ozil, etc. or Champions League game fees).
Limey, Monreal is a good left back, as well as a good emergency center back. His main problem is that he is fast approaching his ‘Best Before’ date.
CG, I must say, the thought that the staggered payments could hinder us in the next few years has crossed my mind, but now, my feeling is that we have a relatively young squad, have a potentially world class CB next season, the attack is sorted, so we may need minimal new blood anyway.
Let’s hope so lol
CG – spot on about Monreal.
Jos Buttler nooo.
Neil Lennon is saying he expects another bid from Arsenal for Tierney,
Also, it seems a deal for Rugani MAY not be dead. See the following article, but skip right to the final section;
https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/transfer-news/daniel-rugani-arsenal-transfer-paratici-16683927
Remember it is NOT a real transfer until it is announced on the club website.
With that I’m off to bed as dawn sprang a little while ago and I’ve had a very long ‘day’. Have a great day or good evening, as appropriate, everyone!
I completely agree with A (10:18am) re those three players.
Apart from Xhaka’s deft footwork against Angers (once only mind you) he gave it away again on the edge of our area.
Captain? What a joke!
Several of our defenders didn’t know what to do with the ball around the area, and then, lost possession. I would rather they just hoofed it into touch – not pretty but it works.
However, it does demonstrate that some of these ‘defenders’ (LOL) of ours do not have the ability or, awareness of who is around their immediate area. Friend or Foe?
I focused on AMN, Mustafi and Mkhit., and they typify what I consider to be a lack of professionalism. In it for the money and just trotting around. Does UE not see that, surely he’s not that blind?
Suarez score a lovely goal (as did Auba) but neither Chambers or Mustafi picked up on his run or, were close enough to jostle him a bit.
Probably thinking about the hot shower they were about to have……..
Great to see Tyreece John Jules signing a new contract, maybe that’ll allow Emery to loan out Nketiah if Eddie pushes for a spell at another club and regular football. Of course I want Eddie to stay, but he had a wasted year last season so I understand him not wanting another!
John Jules could get the games in the League Cup and Europa that Eddie would have got and in 12 months we could have two really good young strikers jostling for a spot up from among Pepe, Saka, Laca and Auba….
Now ffs, sort out the defence…
€60m bid for Upamecano of Leipzig.
Apparently turned down?
12.59 Limey. As do I. Hence the captains armband.
At least it looks like we’re serious about getting a defender…
Love the fact that Tyreece John-Jules is the nephew of someone from Red Dwarf.
I think that the underperformance of Mustafi, Xhaka and Mkhitaryan is not due lack of effort. I have seen all of them bathed in sweat and looking beat in and after a match.
Why is Aubameyang’s goal against Real Madrid brilliant and Suarez’s goal due to a defensive error? I believe that the players named are not as good as we need but to bash them for lack effort is unfair. While they are Arsenal players, as someone remarked we as fans need to support them. My point is to say that they are not good enough is OK but to tear them down is not imho.
Probably because the errors are so frequent Reg.
1-0 to the Aussies 🙂
Nice news to wake up to and the swings and roundabouts of test cricket is what makes it great.
Palace have snapped up Gary Cahill…
Question.
Did our defensive errors cost us more points last season than the easy goals we missed?
Probably impossible to work out, but really, we missed a hell of a lot of simple finishes last season.
Just saying that a defender makes an error, the resultant goal is remembered by all but a striker messes up and we tend to forget it more readily.
Good point Scott. Aubameyang’s missed penalty against Spurs was a 2 point swing which cost us 4th if not 3rd place. No one is moaning about that. And nor should they but that is not the point.
Reg, for all the goals Auba scored, he could easily have had another 10.
That’s certainly not meant as a criticism, but a lost goal is a lost goal at either end of the park.
I still would rather Mustafi go as he makes schoolboy errors but just think defenders in general are hard done by.
I don’t think anyone has forgotten the goal scoring opportunities missed last season. I know I haven’t. Aubameyang against City and Chelsea especially as had they gone in, we’d have had a very different start to the season.
But surely as a defender, if you’re getting caught out of position time after time, the problem goes much deeper than just missing goals? Even the best strikers don’t score from every opportunity which comes their way.
Notts Forest are trying to sign Jenks according to Sky Sports.
Scott that wasn’t my point. I just meant to show the impact missed chances as I thought you pointed out.
of missed chances.
According to the Guardian, the top six from last season have had, up till now a very mixed window…
Man United are the ‘big spenders’ laying out a respectable £140m.
By comparison Man City have had a net outlay of around £34.5m, but it’s still early days for them!
Liverpool have really tightened up to almost Scrooge like levels actually making a profit of around £28m.
Which makes Arsenal’s net outlay of £90m seem like the last of the big spenders.
Even Tightwad Hotspurs have laid out net an unbelievable (for them) £42m…
5pm Thursday is the deadline for these figures to change…
Just beneath the top six, is the top six wannabes and they’ve, mostly, been busy.
In the vanguard is Leicester City where Brendan and his sparkling choppers have actually made a £2m profit, the sale of Maguire paying for some early summer business.
Wolves have dabbled as they did 12 months ago, the EPL shop window for every super-agent around, the Wanderers have a net spend of £73.2m, that’ll do nicely…
Everton, the club expected to spend like Vivian Nicholson has actually spent net around £17m, almost balancing the books like Old Arsenal.
West Ham have shown a lot of ambition if not very good judgement in recent times, backing Pelligrini to the hilt and this summer is no different but only a net spend of £20m
Have they done enough to make top six?
Not for me…
Allezkev, I have a feeling that Everton could be the dark horse this season.
For some reason, the top six wannabes became the top four, so just below them these are the clubs throwing money at it, in order to hopefully secure a long term Premier League future.
Top of the pile is Aston Villa, this summers Fulham (whatever happened to them?) where money seems no object and therefore the Villains have paid top of pops at £146.3m
It would have never happened in the days of Deadly Doug.
Brighton is lovely place to have a weekend, one of my favourites and meanwhile their football club has also caught that holiday bug by spending more than they can probably afford and by laying out around £60m net.
If they go down it ain’t gonna be pretty.
Sheffield Utd have gone for broke by spending a whopping, for them, £44.5m net.
Southampton are on £28m net and
Newcastle, yes Newcastle, have done £24m net…
I’m not sure about that Reg, I think the top six are secure
Finally we the clubs who would make Arsene proud…
Bournemouth have spent net around £8.5m, but considering their size that’s perfectly understandable.
Burnley are always sensible, their outlay is only £6.5m net
Norwich are next, an outlay of only £1.1m and almost certain relegation I suspect.
Then we have Watford, still smarting from their FACup final humiliation, they’ve actually made a profit on transfers of around £12.5m
And finally the club that Gary Cahill joined today and where he can share a dressing room with a very grumpy Ivorian winger – that’s it, Crystal Palace, with a profit of £42m burning a hole in their pocket. At least they can look forward to a few penalties this season…
Reg, of the top six, I reckon that Chelsea could be the most vulnerable, Lampard is an unknown quantity despite doing well at Derby, if he goes with the youngsters and they lose a few then it could go Pete Tong very quickly…
I think that Liverpool, City and the Spuds are nailed on for the top three, it’s between us and Man United for 4th or 5th I reckon, and that could go to the last day of the season.
So it seems that Koscielny has rejected Emery’s attempts to keep him for another year and that he is in Bordeaux whilst Mustafi is rumoured to be in Monaco either lining up a transfer or drifting aimlessly on a yacht ( he’s good at that ! drifting aimlessly ).
I don’t know Potter, I also quite like drifting aimlessly, it’s not all bad you know!
I reckon that we’ll try with Leipzig again…
Allezkev I think you are correct about Chelsea. However If we get at least one decent defender with Holding and Bellerin returning we could pip Spurs for 3rd. Also Chambers is starting to look decent.
Looks like Kos is on his way to Bordeaux
Do you know the the way to Upamecano?
Keystone Kos off yet Must-gaffi still here…..
Morning Rico, Brudder and all. As the transfer window begins to creak towards its close, surely the central defence must be addressed. I find it quite scary when I consider the proposition of Sokratis, Chambers, Mustafi and Holding sharing the responsibility in the middle of our defence. Surely, if the club went big to get Pépé then they simply have to do the same to fill a place that has been an open wound for years. I can’t really see that they have much wriggle room here either. Leaving it this late and with selling clubs fully realising our plight very likely means that the fee will be big. But, buy right and in a few years the player (whoever he is) could well seem reasonable, money-wise.
Looks like the club have been proven right to hold out for a Koscielny fee.It makes the need for a centre back even more urgent.
Morning Adam, all.
Good to see the club holding out for a fee for Kos. Can’t say I’ll miss him.
New post up now.
Adam, I reckon they will. But I’m an eternal optimist…