Morning all.
The positive, we didn’t lose and we didn’t concede, the negative, we didn’t win. To say the performance was a disappointment is an understatement. Having seen a buoyant Arsenal over recent weeks, the tired looking, crab like football returned and we can’t even blame Willian or Pepe. AMN had a stinker at left back, Luiz kept hoofing the ball over the top or passing sideways/backwards and the rest of the team seemed to follow suit. When we did get forwards, we lacked the kind of pass or finish needed to take all three points. Palace hit the woodwork, Leno make a great save but other than that, Zaha was out to prove he was the best diver in the league although Vardy might have something to say about that, or Pogba.
It’s easy to say ‘we missed Tierney’ and of course we did but he’s a left back for goodness sake. We shouldn’t be relying on him to create our goal scoring opportunities. Our subs bench was Thomas Partey and then a few others who have hardly proved to be game changers this season and didn’t again last night.
Our best moments probably came just after the break, just after a stern few words from Mikel Arteta no doubt. Bellerin came very close to grabbing a goal but his shot went cms wide, Saka and Holding also missed opportunities to score, just as Aubameyang had in the first half. AMN did really well to jink past a couple of players before taking a shot on goal but his effort was straight at the Palace keeper. He was replaced by Pepe soon after. Saka dropped into left back and with it, our creativity from the right was gone. Partey came on for Ceballos, Nkeitiah for Lacazette and that was about it.
I know I seem to be defensive of AMN but as much as he struggled last night, can anyone really accuse him of not trying? How does a right footed player fill in for a left back who we’re used to seeing excel? A right footed player who barely gets any game time. In my opinion, Saka isn’t the answer either because we need him further up the pitch.
Tierney has had a scan today and according to reports in The Athletic, he is fine. However, what happens if he does suffer a bad injury and is ruled out for a few weeks? Surely Arsenal to sign a left back, even if it is on loan. Unless Bola is ready and able to accept the challenge. After all, why else would he be called back from his loan. Shuffling players around is unavoidable sometimes but having allowed Kolasinac to leave this month, there has to be a plan in place surely? We’re half way through this winter transfer window already.
Mari missed out last night as he too is injured and it looks like he’s going to be out for a few matches according to Mikel Arteta. Thankfully though, Gabriel is back.
Mikel Arteta has also been talking about the imminent arrival of our new director of football, Richard Garlick.
We lost Huss [Fahmy] at the start of the season. He had a really important role because it is a very important link between myself, Edu the technical director, the board, Vinai. We needed a person with a lot of experience, who knows the job really well, has all the connections in English and international football. As well, someone that can bring some ideas and some qualities that we believe are required to [run] the business the way we want. I am really excited. I met him. He is certainly the candidate we wanted and now we have to respect the process. He is at the Premier League at the moment and we will see when we can get him.
Well, if he can help put an end to our players running down their contracts and leaving for free then great. Equally important though is not signing players who see the club as a retirement home, or rewarding older players with huge contracts.
Anyway, Newcastle up next so hopefully we’ll get back to winning ways.
See you in the comments.
Good evening Rico, now doubt you were overcome by last night’s excitement and were forced to have a long lie in. 😉
The most entertaining part of the game was, for me, watching Zaha’s attempts to win the Tom Daley award for innovative diving. Every time he either lost the ball or had it taken off him he begged, pleaded even entreated the referee to award him a free kick. His pathetic attempts at conning the ref got up the nose of Xhaka to the extent that our midfield maestro redoubled his efforts to force the little darling off the ball…and succeeded.
Evening rico, Cicero, all. That’s a relief about Tierney. We are a few players short, but it’s so important that Leno, Tierney, Partey and Saka now remain fit as without them we are average at best.
Test, post gone missing
Evening Andrew, Cicero and anyone else.
I wish whichever player it was who held Zaha back from having a go at Luiz hadn’t of bothered… lol
Good evening everyone.
Rico…your post was more interesting to read than the game itself.
As I said on yesterday’s post…..AMN at left back is a square peg in a round hole. Granted, AMN is versatile. But not to play him in his right position in previous games and then expect him to turn it on in a position against his favoured foot beggars belief. Its easy to blame him. Kevin Campbell rightly pointed out that if he is not picked in his best position when it was possible then its to be expected that when he is picked in a different position which he does not prefer the player will not give his all. Considering the circumstances, AMN did his best. But we cannot tell him to be Tierney MK2. Even when Saka plays he still does his best (and he’s left footed) but we cannot compare him to Tierney.
This confirms what you have pointed out in the post….we need a left back TBH we need two players in many positions as the substitute incumbents are not up to scratch. RB we have two. LB we have 1 and a square peg. CBs we have three good ones, a senior citizen and rabbit in the headlights. If we get a new left back AMN can be played either as a midfielder or else as a sub right back.
Xhaka had a good game yesterday. And Ceballos was not bad either. Partey came on and did well. And we also have Elneny. I hope that Arteta tries AMN in midfield because if he does ok then it would mean that Ceballos is sent back to RM.
With regards the triumvirate Martinelli, ESR,Saka we dont really have any good back ups in their position. Pepe, Willian, Willock are not that level imo. And while Laca is a good CF who brings the best out the the previous three Auba seems like we are playing with a player less….whether he plays on the left or in the centre.
That wasn’t difficult to achieve Devil. Lol
We have a left back, he’s 22 years old and build like a brick wall but he’s either not good enough or a Arteta doesn’t believe in him. The fact that ESR, Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are our best forward players, Lacazette too at present, says a it all I think.
There may be a valid reason why he is not being picked Rico. Even Kolasinac was built like a tank/ brick wall. But he is not with us anymore and has been sent on loan. If Arteta preferred a square peg in a round hole instead of a 22 year old that practically says it all.
Morning all.
All over social media, AMN has been on the receiving end of some pretty terrible criticism and abuse and why?
Because he dared fill in a position he hasn’t played before or at least, recently, in fact he hasn’t played recently lol, and didn’t set the world on fire.
What is it with football fans?
So many seem to take the factors that effect a performance into consideration at all and just make a judgement on what they see in 90 minutes.
It’s really says more about them than it does the player imo
Give the lad a break.
He’s been pushed from pillar to post in recent seasons.
Maybe he’s not event going to force himself into the start 11 as a regular and that’s fine, we need versatile squad players, but we, as a club, are doing him no favours in recent times.
That’s my point Devil, hence imo, we need to sign one.
Well said Scott. Yes he had a bad game but the last time he played at left back, I’m sure was last season. This season he’s barely played.
Evening Rico and the House.
I hope your day wasn’t too stressfull Rico,
friday is also a bad day for me.
I have almost given up hope that AMN will be given a fair chance with
us. As you know I have been telling everyone who will listen to me
that he is not a defender ( right or left).
I honestly think he is the best Right Winger that we have on our books,
but as he has never played for the first team in that position
he will never be able to prove me right.
As for a left back I have read Zac Medley is being recalled.
He has played Left back for the u23.
Just a thought.
Evening Rick. I really struggle to understand why AMN doesn’t get more playing time. Especially when we have to suffer watching some of the guys we do.
I’d forgotten Medley is back too. Good point.
Good morning everyone 😊
Rick has rightly pointed out that AMN should be played as a right winger. Infact in his early days up till he broke into the first team he used to play there. It was only AW who turned him to a FB. And he has been playing there ever since. AMN always aid he prefers to play in the centre but he has rarely played there.
I think he will be a better option as RW than Pepe or Willian
Devil, You’d be a better option than Pepe or Willian…. lol
Morning to you and all.
ARSENAL AND OZIL HAVE AGREEMENT TO TERMINATE CONTRACT’
Arsenal and Mesut Ozil have an agreement in principle to terminate his contract at the Emirates Stadium with immediate effect, according to The Athletic.
The agreement would end the German’s seven-and-a-half year Arsenal career.
The report suggests that Fenerbahce expect the 32-year-old to travel this weekend and complete his move to the club as free agent.
Good morning Rico and all.
It’s been snowing here for about four hours but only a light covering so far.
Balogun has NOT signed a pre-contract with any club….YET, according to the Guardian, although three clubs are said to be interested.
Arteta has said he wants the player to stay and the player wants to stay. We must just wait and see.
good morning
For me, Balogun was the type of player that was needed to play in front, between defenders, against Palace.
The report suggests that Fenerbahce expect the 32-year-old to travel this weekend and complete his move to the club as free agent.
If he goes he might not be able to get back , which could have it’s advantages .
Road closures in North Norfolk this morning which I suspect is more related to surface water freezing as opposed to heavy snowfall . We only have about 3 ” here shouldn’t be enough to close roads unless there has been drifting.
Morning Cicero, no snowman yet then?
Good re Balogun, there’s still hope.
Snow has stopped, only about two inches and it’s already turning to slush on the road.
Rico, building snowpersons (shows how “woke” I am) involves going outside. With the central heating fully functional, and no kids to entertain, why would I want to do that? 😉
A new left as cover for Kieran Tierney?
Well Bayern just found a left back at Reading or are Arsenal too snobbish to look at the Football League for players?
Good afternoon Rico and all
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jan/16/mesut-ozil-arsenal-contract-agreement-terminate-gunners-premier-league
Seems that he is on his way out. Get the taxi ready Kev. He might give you a hefty tip.
Kev I feel you are right about Arsenal being snobbish about recruiting from the lower leagues. If not why did they ditch all the scouts?? I still feel that in the lower leagues there is a potential for a good keeper, a good defender and a good solid midfielder. Strikers/wingers are a different breed but and more rare. However, there is always a player similar to Lukic, Dixon, Winterburn, Bould, Linighan. Even another Tierney type of player. And while money will be put in the lower divisions they will not cost a mammoth fee. Or come with a baggage.
At the moment there is talk about Brentford’s Toney.
https://sportslens.com/arsenal-monitoring-the-progress-of-brentford-striker-ivan-toney/327291/
He is worth a shout imo. And he will not command the same wages as Ozil or Auba.
Good afternoon Rico and everyone
Kev, is your taxi ready?? Try to get Ozil to the airport. A hefty tip might go your way.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jan/16/mesut-ozil-arsenal-contract-agreement-terminate-gunners-premier-league
I agree with what you with regards the question you asked about Arsenal being snobbish regarding buying players from the lower leagues. Although there is talk about Brentford’s Toney, I still feel that if the club looked at the lower leagues they will find players of the level of Lukic, Dixon, Winterburn, Bould and Linighan. We might even find one similar to Tierney. If Bayern could find a LB in the English lower division then why isnt it good for us??
https://sportslens.com/arsenal-monitoring-the-progress-of-brentford-striker-ivan-toney/327291/
DG, Ozil can get an Uber mate, he can afford it. 😉
Just finished watching 2nd half of Wolves vs West Brom and I’ve gotta say that I think that BT cover the games better than Sky now.
I could rewind to watch the goals in the first half, can’t do that with Sky.
Also love BT’s european coverage where you can click and see a goal in another game and not miss any of the action from the one your watching.
Better artificial crowd noise on BT as well.
Like a few here I have been banging that drum for a long time . Lower league players especially English ones with the current rules are a premium . If they can be found for a reasonable fee they make good squad additions . We have tended to look abroad for players to satisfy a percentage of our fan base that want shiny new stars all the time . Those of us with longer memories remember Georges defence and where that came from.
Ivan Toney, again DG like the winger Soloman, is that what we need right now?
I’d like to see what John Jules and Moller can do first, maybe even Balogun?
Ha ha Cicero, and I thought it was us southerners who are soft. Lol
I’m a lower league fan too, there are some quality players to be had I’m sure. But, can you imagine the fan reaction if we signed a League one or two player? Not all fans I know, but a few I’d imagine.
Potter…..exactly. We all know where GG’s defence came from. And I still believe that players similar to them are waiting in the lower leagues. Holding came from there and I think we can find another couple of defenders and DM. But I still cant fathom out why Arsenal ‘have tended to look abroad for players to satisfy a percentage of our fan base that want shiny new stars all the time’. What counts for me is winning. Why should I spend millions on an overseas player just to satisfy a percentage when I can get players like Tierney or Holding? Dixon, Bould and Winterburn were not flashy players…..have we ever had a better defence?? One might poinnt out the invincibles. But the defence I mentioned went through a whole league season losing only one game. They were near as well. They are the players you need on a cold evening up north against the likes of Stoke, Villa etc. When the pitch is frozen and its icy cold.
Kev as i said….strikers/wingers are a different breed. And like you I would prefer to see what John Jules and Moller can do. However, they need to be given their chance as well. I hope that with regards Balogun there is a slight ray of light behind the clouds. I know that chances are that that ship has sailed but until he has not signed anywhere there is still hope.
Just watching Leeds v Brighton- the pitch is dreadful.
Geoff Barnett – RIP with 74
The game is dreadful Rico, I’m not sure about all this hero worship for Bielsa, Leeds are fit yeah, but they lack guile and they lack quality. Sam Allardyce builds teams like that…
That’s sad JM…
I switched off Kev, bored.
He was at Arsenal for a while wasn’t he?
Rico I was born in St.Mary’s hospital Paddington, London. A southern softie through and through. 😉
Ah yes, I forgot you’re a London boy Cicero. You’re forgiven then. 😆
Geoff Barnet signed in 1969 from Everton when Bob Wilson broke his arm. Was later No 2 when Wilson returned, Geoff stayed until 1976. R I P.
Yes it was mind numbingly boring Rico and I also turned off, also gave Fulham vs Chelsea a miss as well, wise choice. Leicester vs Soton might be good,, I’ll give that a try.
Yeah Cicero, we signed Geoff Barnett from Everton and he played in the 1972 FACup final…
I forgot that he stayed so long, 1976 eh, I would have lost a bet on that.
Jimmy Rimmer was steady replacement eventually for Wilson and we replaced Jimmy with Pat Jennings, the Petr Cech of his day…
I saw some of the Fulham game Kev, pretty drab. Chelsea finally managed to beat the ten men of Fulham.
Cripes! Glen Hoddle was behind one of the masks on the itv series.. never would have guessed him…
Morning all.
I seem to recall a lot of fans on social media complaining when we purchased Rob Holding.
Wasn’t good enough.
Club won’t spend money.
Blah blah blah.
Damn, some didn’t even want Tierney as the Scottish league is rubbish, apparently 🙂
Let’s be honest, no matter what the club do, someone will complain about it.
They simply must do what they believe is right.
Good morning everyone 😊
Scott, some fickle supporters complained when we bought Pablo Mari. Like as you said they complained when we bought Holding, Tierney even Leno. The will always complain because they are not aware of how much Arsenal can afford to spend, they are not aware of the players in question. They expect only the top 11 in the world….then they will complain that there is no competition. They will complain because we won 9-0 when they expect 10. So they will always complain. It’s their nature.
Morning Devil, all.
New post up now