Morning all.
By the end of September 2016, he’d won all of his first 10 matches in charge and his team were top of the Premier League table with a four-point advantage over second-place. He lost his first match against the team in second place just before the international break but remained in top spot.
Next came four more matches without a win including a 1-0 defeat to Man Utd, a hefty defeat to Barcelona in Europe and draw with both Southampton and Everton. A few more wins, a 4-0 defeat to Everton, yes, an average Everton, along with other odd results before the end of May left his side pot less. Nada, nothing! Rubbish!
Yet this was the great man himself, the man who’d won everything as a manager before arriving at his new club. He’d had a disaster of a first season by his standards. Yet no one criticised him, certainly nowhere near the way Unai Emery is being criticised. Yet our Spaniard has lost just one match, one bloody match against the manager who had that disastrous first season as described above. And guess what, he too had had just the one summer transfer window to bring in a few new faces. Not loads, but I guess like Emery, he wanted to see what he had before making wholesale changes.
Perspective guys, perspective. That’s all I’m saying.
We face Chelsea on Saturday evening. The first League game away from home against a side who like us, are undergoing changes. The butt chewing Sarri is Emery’s challenge and again, it’s not an easy fixture by any means. In fact if I was an old cynic I’d say the FA pulled these two out for the start of the season on purpose, just to make things difficult for Arsenal. Sarri won his opener after a much gentler opening to his new career at Huddersfield. Ok, I’ll admit it, I’m an old cynic.
Chelsea have lost Courtois to Real Madrid and Eden Hazard wants to follow him apparently so all is not perfect over in West London. Joining Sarri this summer was Robert Green, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Hopefully we’ll get to see Torreira make his full debut with he and Kante, two like for like players, hoping to boss the midfield. We could have done with our little terrier from the beginning of the game last Sunday but I guess returning late from the World Cup put pay to that. At least he got some playing time though. Nacho Monreal is back in training which is a big boost but Danny Welbeck is nowhere to be seen in the photographs of the guys training.
No doubt it’s been a busy week for Unai Emery and his staff as they try to right the wrongs which were on show last Sunday. But as said, perspective is required right now and as much as we all want to see a quick fix, it isn’t going to happen. It might not happen under Unai Emery, who knows but at least he’ll give it a darn good go.
In any case, a quick fix seldom lasts long. Talking of which, I need a new fridge/freezer after less than a year. It seems putting foil into the warming system which prevents excess icing, won’t last long but it was the only thing the engineer could do because no one else would at his company would listen to him. A bit like the so called football experts, they all thought they knew better, despite being nowhere near the problem…
Mainland-Niles out for 6-8 week with fractured fibula
Elneny linked to Marseille
Ospina to Napoli
Two sales to cut the wages apparently.
Perfecto…
I watched the Maitland Niles incident a couple of times as I was watching on am american stream . They only showed one angle from behind where it seems that Walker’s left leg crosses over and rakes AMN’s achillies . They didn’t show it again so I was interested to see Kev’s assertion that Walker did him. I suspected it but did the incident get shown again on Sky ?
How right you are! If Emery didn’t know the hatred associated with our club or the pressure cooker atmosphere surrounding the manager – he sure does now! It is pathetic that the reaction to losing our first game has even had some ‘experts’ calling for Emery’s resignation!! Time to adjust to new training, backroom staff, tactics and finding the right balance of players takes longer than 90 minutes.
I think Sky showed it a few times Potter, it’s probably available online somewhere.
Thanks Mexzy
You’re right Db, calling for his sacking is absolutely stupid, as are the comments in the media. Perhaps Gazidis warned him of the media/press Arsenal hating mob and I’m sure he’ll handle them with ease. Didn’t he take some heavy criticism at PSG too, especially after failing in the Champions League?
Morning Rico reading that just made me die a little bit inside. It’s like we just can’t win can we??? Klopp and poch haven’t done anything major yet they don’t get this much hatred. What did we ever do to these media guys?? I mean the same thing they are lauding toteham and Liverpool for was what they beat us (arsene Wenger ) for all those years ago. Oh we are a top 4 team haven’t won the league since 2004 yet when poch and klopp does the same thing they are heros. Something is just not right. That’s why I still believe we have the worst fan base ever. You ‘ll think things like this ‘ll galvanize the whole gooner base but noooo we have like Spanish gooner gobing off on Twitter. It’s a shame it really. Depressing times we live in.
Hi potter. I was convinced Walker “did” AMN whilst watching live. I’ve watched it back a few times and I haven’t changed my mind. He knew exactly what he was doing.
Under Wengers reign our players would offer a hand or pick the opponent up after a coming together. I hardly ever see this from an opponent when we play an EPL team.
We need to get ruthless. I’m sure Dick will see this, and get our house in order.
It’s ludicrous the media and all and sundry are mocking Dick, some even suggesting he is not a very good manager ( Big Sam? ) hahaha don’t make me laugh.
Give him time. Get behind the team and back our new Manager. He has been left a S— pile of dross and it takes time to get rid of players.
In Dick we trust.
COYG
Morning Goonie, I wouldn’t let all the negativity get to you, I don’t. Only time will tell how things go, and meanwhile the idiots will still being paid to spout whatever their agenda is…
Rico I don’t care about them. It’s our fan base that gives me concerns. We ‘re the worst ever. We fall for every bullshit the media Puts out there. Heard some were goading cech at the Emirates over the weekend?? Can you imagine what the players must think about us all. Just get on Twitter and you ‘ll almost want rip your eyes out. The amount of negativity on there is mind blowing. Shame people like that call themselves gooners.
Why is it so hard for us to sell players we don’t want Ospina why loan just sell him ffs. Imo selling Elneny good squad player and was one of our more consistent players last season is a mistake. Why do we have to trim wage bill? Our parasite of an owner first gives Emery a piss poor transfer budget especially for a new manager now this. Is this the sign of things to come? What other big club acts like this?
Steveyj grim times ahead mate grim times. Well let’s see what the next Window brings. Then may be we can all freak out. Am still positive though. It ‘ll take a while for every piece to fall into place.
They are probably the ones who wanted Wenger to stay Goonie. Emery wouldn’t have been my first choice if I’m honest but now he’s here, he’s got to be given a chance.
I must confess that followingbour defeat, good post Rico btw, that I was a little concerned about Emery after his first team selection last weekend. I felt that we went into that game with too many players who don’t always step up to the plate and left others who I would have preferred in the starting XI on the bench.
Maybe Unai was being conservative or maybe he wanted to look at certain players early in a stressful situation?
He is sure to have learnt a lot…
His substitutions were early and tactical, which is progress, but I want to see a more resilient line up this weekend, nevermind about reputations we need a result…
Stevey, I don’t get the wage bill problem either, seems odd to me. I wouldn’t sell Elneny either, not now after the window has shut. We’ve a lot of fixtures to get through, we’ll need him.
Re the transfer window, would it really be wise to splash enormous amounts of money in the first transfer window? Maybe next summer, once Emery knows more about the players he’s inherited, he’ll do more.
Bielik has been loaned out to Charlton.
We have a lot of rebuilding to do guys and we ‘ll be needing almost 400m or more to do that in the next 3 Windows. The nucleus of that team ‘ll all be gone or fallen from favor in 2 season. Auba ‘ll be 31 then, mesut 33, so ‘ll mkhi and sokratis. Laca ‘ll be 30, so ‘ll ramsey. So that leaves bellems, AMN, torriera, gwen, holding, mavro etc. So which means we have to replace the aforementioned. 2 new strikers ,a winger etc that ‘ll cost a ton. That might take 3 to 4 Windows knowing our owner probably take longer.
Afternoon all and thanks Rico.
I`m taking it that the manager you are talking about in the beginning of the post is Pep as no name is mentioned !……………………………big difference is the money Pep(if it is him ) has had to rectify any teething problems he had in first season…………………….Dick, will not be afforded such a luxury !……………………..Pep is the best manager out there ( so Adam persuaded me ! 🙂 ) and alligned with the best bottomless pit of money you have a winning formula !…………………………..not knocking Dick, but he is on a hiding to nothing with the resorces he has in comparision and the same as most other normal clubs……………………CFG are not a normal club, so most of the rest are playing for scraps.
Obviously I agree with stevej22 above …. 🙂
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DktUE6vX4AE-oh0.jpg
Rico emery didn’t come to mind then because he was at PSG back then. I remember rooting for nagelsmann, sarri and hassenhuttl but I ‘ll gladly throw emery in there too. He worked wonders with limited budget at both Valencia and sevilla. I think he ‘ll come good just that he’s underestimating the epl. We needed a winger and a towering bastard in the middle. We could have gotten both with 70 odd mill but we went for a CB and a keeper. Let’s see what happens with Chelsea at the weekend.
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The reason we can’t sell unwanted squad members is the high wages Wenger awarded to mediocre players. Why would any of them want to take a pay cut and, possibly move down a league, when they are comfortable where they are.
Apparently Arsenal will get €1m from Napoli for this season, with an option to make the move permanent next summer.
Hopefully Napoli will be paying all of his salary?
Arsenal have laid out a lot of dough over the last 12 months on big salaries to Lacazette, Aubameyang, Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Leno, Torrieira, Lichtsteiner, Sokratis and new deals for Xhaka and host of others at the club, I know it seems crazy but because we live within our means unlike a Man City/Chelsea or have enormous income like a Man Utd or have sold a player for over £100m like Liverpool, we have to balance our books for FFP… I know, I laughed when I typed it. 😄
When our new sponsorship deals come on stream next season, we’ll be able to spend a bit more, but until then it is what it is and all the moaning and dooming from Cocker won’t change that.
So we cut costs by loaning out Ospina and maybe selling Elneny and we reinvest, maybe with Ramsey and Nelson or with new business in January.
Hopefully Bielik will have a great season at Charlton on loan, in his proper position of def/mid and Emery will have another player from within the club?
I thought my dooming was quite upbeat today !
😆
Oh PLEASE LC pep had messi ronaldinho etc barca won loads with them then moved to Germany and picked the biggest and richest team. After 3 failed seasons he did the same thing in the epl joining a cash rich middle eastern owned club. Please even my nana ‘ll do better with 700m in 3 seasons.
I said last week that I would not be tearing my hair out if we lost both of these openers but 1 point would be a bonus .
Elneny is being let go because of whats coming behind him . We are over subscribed in the midfield and someone has made an offer ( Marseille ) I believe and the squad needs paring out if Smith – Rowe , AMN , Willock , Nelson plus are going to get playing time .
Emery has 2 years to get things right , his decisions will be made with that time period in mind. Anyone that thinks it is an easy fix is deluded , wasnt’ one of Arsene’s favourites ” Judge me in May “” well it’s May 2020 for Emery , I wish him luck.
buena suerte Unai .
The end of the world is nigh…. 😀
He won the Bundesliga every year didn`t he Goonie, is that a failure ?………………………if Dick wins the EPL 3 years in a row I wont class that as a failure !
😆
My Nana will do better with £700M in 3 seasons as well Gooine and she`s been dead 30 years !
Sunny here !…………………how is it for the rest of you miscreants ?
🙂
I have a message for anyone who doesn`t agree with me !……………………….obviously apart from Rico !
😆
https://twitter.com/IwonaN14/status/1030028279586148352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1030028279586148352&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Farsenalarsenal.net%2F2018%2F08%2F16%2Fwelcome-to-a-state-of-the-art-cockspur-up%2F
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The Ramsey situation looks like a stalemate. So far he hasn’t agreed a new contract, there’s no queue of Scottish or European clubs lining up to sign him and he’s out of contract next summer. Unless the club are willing to take whatever we can get for him in January he’ll leave for nothing next summer. Having a somewhat cynical nature it seems to me that he wants the best of both worlds, sit on his high Arsenal salary and be free to move if a better offer comes in.
Lc anyone’ll win the bundesliga with Bayern lately I mean they steal the best players from every team in the league especially Dortmund. Yes it’s 3 failed years because he couldn’t deliver what the Bayern faithful wanted…the old big ears. Don’t get me wrong he’s a brilliant manager but always tend to go the best team in the league. Let him manage Everton to the title then he ‘ll get my vote. Cheque book manager him and Maureen. If I was to have my pick I ‘ll pick jardim over him.
Le Coq Monster on 16th August 2018 at 1:01 pm
My Nana will do better with £700M in 3 seasons as well Gooine and she`s been dead 30
Well put LC😁😁😁 couldn’t have said it better.
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Le Coq, Bayern Munich winning the title in the Bundesliga is almost akin to Celtic winning the Scottish League. It would have been a huge surprise if they hadn’t won it. Did they win any of the major European competitions under him?
I don’t think it was even that Goonie, my heart was set on Allegri.
Glad I wasn’t drinking a cup of tea when reading that about FFP Kev… lol
Thanks by the way and ditto re Bielik, seems like we’ve been waiting for him for years…
Lol didn’t we all Rico didn’t we all?? Still think we could have nabbed him had arsene quit a year earlier. Oh well water under the bridge Rico. It’s unai emery’s time.
12-55 Potter, good points made re the guys coming through.
It certainly is Goonie and time is just what he needs…
Listen Guys, I have said for years that my deceased Nan could win the the league with Mansours Billions and even though Adam persuaded me that Pep is a great manager, I too have said in the past could he do it at Arsenal with Kroenke`s two shillings and six pence !………………………………..Mansour City will become the new Celtic……………………unless Steven Gerrard`s fortune in dodgy HubCaps takes Rangers to a new level !
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Lc you nan and mine ‘ll make a fearsome duo. They ‘ll take the epl by storm😂😂😂 but seriously I think pep is way overrated and always had. Give emery that shitty team and he ‘ll do the same. Shame we stagnated while others pulled ahead. Would have loved to see a different manager with that 2007/2008 team. My what we could have achieved your theovanasrigas in 2010/2012 too. Bummer.
Still think that Simeone with his disciplined defense would have been the best manager for Arsenal against the City wealth, but hey lets all get behind Dick for rest of the season at least.
He deserves his chance, but that doesn`t say we cant be critical of some of his decissions if things are not going to plan………………..still, first game against the best EPL team ever judged by points total………………….next, the second best EPL team ever judged on points total !……………….fcuk me he`s had a hard baptism !
🙂
Love to stay and chat but I have to go down the gym and workout on my Kroenke mannequin !
Emery ‘ll be fine. He lives breathes and eats football. Wenger left a shell shocked limp arsenal team behind him after years of neglect and incompetence. Like I said earlier it’ll take 3 to 4 Windows to sort out this mess. We just need to unite behind him and stop falling for the media bullshit. A United fan base can go a long way to us reclaiming our lost heritage…the EPLtitle that is.
Cheers OF see you around 🙂 top man.
*LC
In A. Madrid there is no place for players like Ozil.
Does not defend, is not a team player, is oblivious to the game. See and compare the difference with eg Lemma. He gave himself totally to the game, has different orientations that he had in Monaco and unites the group.
To continue playing with Ozil is to play with 10 and always try to see where it is to give you the ball. is what makes having a star in a team with a very different salary.
Goonster
Brudder!
Brudder!
Monreal definitely back for Saturday then..
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Rico, if Nacho is back, then I would like to see Lichtsteiner replace Bellerin and Nelson in for Mkhitaryan who has been less than impressive ever since he arrived.
Cicero, sounds a good idea to me. I’d leave Ozil out too as Chelsea away isn’t the kind of game for him imo, we need players who’ll roll up their sleeves.
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Good morning all. Stand by for another tsunami of criticism tomorrow in The Telegraph. This morning they are advertising a column for Saturday headed “My concerns for Arsenal’s new look” by the entirely biased Jaime Carragher.
You have been warned!!!
Another pundit I can’t stand Cicero.
Afternoon…
Afternoon Rico and all. I can’t (under) stand him either. Ghastly bloke who we saw the true nature of in his spitting episode. Yuk!
Afternoon Adam. Horrid bloke. I wonder when he’ll go into management? Lol
I kind of admire Stevie G and Lampard as at least they are giving management/coaching a go, unlike the other idiots.
Using Carragher is scraping the bottom of the barrel.
They do though don’t they?
The paps don’t seem to care who they use though, as long as it fits their agenda.
New post up.
Be kind, I didn’t write it. 🙂 🙂