Morning all.
Three Arsenal players could, and should, have done more to stop Brighton from scoring their opening goal. Sokratis, Luiz and Willock (I think) but no, not one totally committed to clearing the free ball. Their second really highlighted how poor David Luiz is as the simple task of defending a cross was beyond him. His positioning was all wrong, his attempt to beat his man to the ball was pathetic. He’s proving to be an absolute waste of money. That’s without mentioning his continual long ball up the pitch to no one. Sokratis has had his day too, as has Ozil who might have earned rapturous applause for his fancy flicks at 3-0 up and five minutes to go but when your team needs goals and points, keeping it simple and keeping possession is more important. His little episode after the final whistle was odd. Frustrated he might have been but had he have put in a lot more effort during the previous ninety minutes then perhaps his moaning would have been justified.
In fact there was too much moaning at each other during the game full stop in my opinion but this is where Arsenal are. A group of individuals not playing as a team, all looking to blame someone else for the problems going on.
Arsenal has a squad full of too many big egos, old has beens and substandard players. Players who clearly don’t give a toss about the club, the game itself or the fans.
I’d much rather see Chambers, Holding, Willock, Martinelli, Saka, Nelson, Eddie etc on the pitch because as a group, at least they’ll probably try and play from the start of a game instead of twenty odd minutes in the second half. I’m not suggesting they’d get better results, but at least there’s a chance they’d be committed to the cause. You know, like Brighton, Sheffield Utd, Wolves, Southampton, Norwich and Crystal Palace. Every single one of those teams/squad turned up to play us as a group of players united as one with a job to do. With pride in what they do and who they do it for. With a work ethic we Arsenal fans can only wish for right now, a togetherness we haven’t had the fortune of seeing for a long time.
If it was easy to do, I’d sell half of this current squad, if not more. Sokratis, Luiz, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Ozil, Mustafi, Torreira, Xhaka and even Bellerin. Take the money and reinvest in a very different kind of player.
The kind of player who wants to battle hard in the way opponents have against us. The kind who are proud to play for Arsenal football club and all it stands for.
I can’t see Freddie turning our fortunes around, mind you, I’m not sure anyone could. Not unless they rip this squad apart and start again…
More rant than waffle today…
The rant was warranted, Rico.
Still, we play out from the back, and I can not work out why.
So many negatives but I do have to add this-I only watched the first half, but why is it Lacazette cops a forearm to the back and in the box, it’s play in, yet our player puts a hand on an opponent shoulder with no weight at all, player falls down and it’s straight to VAR?
No, it’s not an excuse for how we played but ffs, rules are rules and we’ve not copped a fair go for years now.
Again, no excuse, we didn’t deserve to win but my dad said it-he hardly even watches replays any more because of the bastards diving all over the place and would rather watch the women’s game any day of the week.
I’m truly not trying to deflect attention from our performance and the result but it just adds to the frustration.
Good rant Rico, and on the right track.
I said as much last night, and wondered who was responsible for buying David Luiz ( pathetic) and, for continuing with most of the bunch you mentioned above.
“They want to do well and they feel the pressure” – Quote from Freddie.
What a lot of bollocks, a lot of them don’t appear to care, which is very much in evidence.
Someone in this club needs to get the entire squad assembled and give them notice, that unless they can demonstrate their willingness to up their game and their effort for the club, then they will be shown the door.
I agree Rico, bring on the youngsters, they’ll think they’ve won the lottery and, imo, they won’t do worse.
We have five penalty shouts Scott, two of which I thought was clear and obvious but I didn’t want to sound like I was using them as an excuse. That first half of football was up there with some of the worst I’ve seen.
Morning Andorra and thanks.
Who is there to read them all the riot act though? This bunch of egos won’t take it from an interim guy imo. They need someone like Simeone to do that, or perhaps Raul, Edu or the owners.
I have to now accept I’ve been wrong about how a change of coach will bring a change in attitude as it’s as bad now as it’s ever been I reckon. Players don’t give a toss, or at least that’s how it looks from some of them.
Morning Rico and all
I just don’t know where to begin…………so, like the players, I’m not going to bother.
What a shambles from Board room to ball boys. Someone at the club needs to do some proper shaking up of the whole “franchise”. But where do they begin?
The only thing I’m sure of is this state of torpor and malaise has to be rooted out and some form of engineering is done to improve performances in every aspect of our currently failing club! It seems a complete overhaul is needed but, what, who, when and where?
I’m off to drink coffee, got to find joy in something because what’s happening just now is really unedifying and extremely disappointing.
Rico, so even more shouts than I saw?
Damn.
It wouldn’t change the fact we played like crap but why can’t we get a fair go?
Hi Rico and Sott Good news foam balls dont break tv’s, As I said before I only watched highlights and that was bad enough but it gets worse when you read about the players arguing with each other on the field the captain having a go at a young player then the captain walks off for a toilet break and as I have said before and been shot down a number of times I think Aubameyang is over rated still less than one goal per match is not good enough for a striker. I am with you Rico maybe its time to sell the older players and restart with our young players a new coach and look for one player to come in just as a good leader on the field that the young players look up to and want to be on his side. 2 Aussie’s rip arsenal apart a Aussie coach winning with the ladies team got to admit Ange Postecoglou looking good as new coach
Morning Wavy. I’m lost for words too, new ones anyway.
I think so Scott. Not saying all should have been given but when Bellerin put a soft hand on their player he got booked and a free kick awarded, yet Lacazette was tugged and pushed all over the place.
Morning Geoff.
Rico, the problem is the bastards don’t even take a look lol
Or just ignore what they see Scott. Moss was on VAR last night.
I know it shouldn’t take a ref decision to give us hope but an early penalty and goal might have been just what was needed to lift the players. They’re low in confidence, that’s clear but we are where we are because too many poor decisions in the transfer market, sticking with Arsene Wenger and then Emery for too long. Now we’ve either hit rock bottom or are close to doing so.
Can’t see us getting much from the upcoming fixtures either. We could be in the relegation places come 2020.
Good morning all, thanks for the post Rico your headline says it all.
I’m too depressed to talk about Arsenal, I’m just going out for a walk….I may be some time.,,,
The referee’s are deliberately not using the VRA hopeing the EPL will get rid of it as it is showing just how bad our referees are, As I said to my mate there are certain referees that when we get them we are all ready one goal down before the start of the match
Morning all, depressing but totally honest report rico. I really wished I hadnt suffered whole match, what with penalty shouts, inept performance, same tactics, same story. I’m actually wondering which team we could beat at the moment, it’s laughable if it wasn’t so sad. I think Sanchez and to a degree Ramsey’s running, papered over the cracks for ages. I mean, do we have a defender even as reliable as Monreal? After all the crap playing out from the back, Freddie keeps it. Willock I thought was poor against Norwich, but he started again. Just soooo much wrong.
That’s not factual though Geoff unless you know something we don’t?
Can’t disagree there Andrew and I don’t think there is a team who wouldn’t cause us problems right now.
Rico, you’ve said it all . Thank you!
I’m not going to the Emirates anymore, it’s just too painful.
I would swap every Brighton player for ours at the moment. Bunch of winging self important selfish prima donnas.
Rico just watching pay tv and more than once they have mentioned that a lot of referees behind the seen don’t want VAR as they fill it is taking there job away and making them look bad when they miss or turn a blind eye to some tackles or off side rule’s But I do wonder how much better soccer would be if they get rid of the
off side’ rule.
as for starting one goal down under certain referees look at how many time they have got VAR wrong against us or refused to use it.
I don’t blame you Mike, seems like you’re not alone either as many empty seats again last night.
What worries me is whose responsible for our future signings? I hope we don’t see a big named played bought 8n for a while. We need some grafters imo.
Aubameyang really cheesed me off last night, his reaction to Willock when he played the ball into the box to no one, was not warranted imo. Perhaps if Aubameyang had moved a bit more or thought a bit more, he’d have been into that space which was gaping…
Geoff, it’s still only an opinion. Var is here to stay.. imo.
Rogers has signed a new contract at Leicester.
Everton have made an approach for Pochettino
We can blame VAR we can blame referees bias but the basic truth is the players are letting themselves , Freddie and the fans and the club down.
Individually they are all capable but as a unit they just fall apart as soon as anyone says boo to them.
We all and i include myself ,thought it was Emery but now i know IT WAS THE PLAYERS ALL ALONG. They are all looking at it from their own individual stand points. There is no acceptance of self responsibilty they all want to point the finger at someone else.
I agree Rico it’s time for a cull , what difference does it make if the under 23 s get stuffed by Man City , we all know the current lot would too , at least there would be a sense of enjoyment watching a youth team unleashed to play with their hearts instead of the dross that we are being served now.
Thanks Rico,
That sums it all up, as someone said in happier times.
Thing is the effort was there, even Ozil was closing down and tracking back. Not when it mattered though, we must be the easiest team to play against in the Premier league right now.
The chuckle brothers should never play in defence, ditto Xhaka and Ozil in midfield.
Pepe is a must to start, I’d like to see Martinelli on the other side, Auba as central striker, Lacazette in the number 10 position.
I give Bellerin a pass because he is coming back from serious injury. Tierney should rbe first choice left back.
I disagree with Geoff slightly, without Aubas goals we would be in the relegation places already, as opposed to in a few weeks time. I do think he will be sold, January or Summer depending on how deep in relagation trouble we are.
No. Arsenal’s problems began when they did not find a replacement for Cazorla. Arsenal have had good teams and good players in recent years; Now there are good (or almost) players, but no team. The team doesn’t work because it doesn’t “spin” around a key player like Cazorla, Fabregas, Rosicky, etc. They were players who guided the game, defended, coordinated the whole team. Accompanied by quality players, they made a team strong, title contenders and in the “big six”. These are distinguished from the other teams by the quality of their performers and by being a team of 11 fighters, who give the maximum on the field but lose in technical quality. City has De Bruyne and Silva(s); Chelsea Perisic, Totts Erikson, etc. Arsenal at this moment has no one. Ozil has no pace, intensity of play, to “catch” the team. Failure, with crash, defense-attack communication. The best of each player is lost and there is no collective. Two years ago, I proposed bought Bruno Fernandes (Sporting) and a central defender (eg Turkish defender Leicester). Arsenal will be, in my opinion, a candidate for the title.
My arms are firmly raised in submission too Potter. And I totally agree re City etc. Why not see our future learn, rather than our past..
We would be snookered without Aubameyang’s goals Limey but we’d also be much better off if he didn’t miss so many. Same can be said of Lacazette and as Kev said overnight, our midfielders simply aren’t contributing to our goal tally at all.
Martinelli for me too. His attitude is great which shows what young and hungry players will give to a team..
We’d need four snookers and a free ball Rico!
Although he is such a frustrating player.
I think what we are seeing now are the consequences of a club where the players are running the team, Emery tried but failed to wrest control of the dressing room whilst not getting the support he needed from those in control, who basically hid behind him as Gazidis hid behind Wenger. Freddie isn’t in a strong enough position to take on the cliques in our dressing room.
Casting my mind back to 1977 again, Terry Neill had a clear out of the big timers like Alan Ball etc, just as George Graham did when he got shot of Stewart Robson, Tony Woodcock and Paul Mariner when he took over, Bertie Mee’s first job was to sell George Eastham and Joe Baker!
I don’t think Freddie can do this but we need a manager who can and that manager needs to be 100% certain that he has the support of the owners and of our rather tarnished Director of Football….
Our new manager also has to have more influence on transfers and the club need to actually get him the players he needs and not who Stat DNA think is a good bet for us to buy cheaply with an eye to sell….
Ha ha Limey. Aren’t they all frustrating?
Limey, we have a team full of players who are actors, they put on this act, an act that makes them look as if they’re committed, that they’re working hard closing down when in fact hardly anybody actually gets touch tight and makes a challenge.
I know that diving and simulation are endemic but if you practice and if you are good at your job you can still time a tackle, as Mertesaker so expertly did when he was playing, you don’t have to dive in, you just jockey your opponent and time your interception, but we have David Luiz, a player who stands off, gives his opponent space and when that opponent scores he’s adept at waving his hands in the air in order to deflect attention from his own shit defending.
Mustafi is the same, so is Sokratis and so is Xhaka, these guys are just monumentally poor at defending and they are the core of our team.
Fouls per yellow card not including this week.
Arsenal 4.14
man u 4.62
Tottenham 4.80
Watford 5.10
Bournemouth 4.17
Man City 4.41
Wolves 5.83
West Ham 5.24
Everton 5.82
Sheffield United 5.64
Burnley 5.73
Norwich 5.48
Crystal Palace 6.92
Chelsea 4.83
Aston Villa 6.61
Newcastle 5.45
Brighton 7.05
Southampton 8.16
Liverpool 11.75
So are we getting a fair shake ? Or do the cards come out qujicker for us ? Figures suggest yes .
( figures from the Daily Cannon )
Liam Brady has had some interesting things to say about Ozil, a player whose performance in last seasons Europa League was in stark contrast to his opposite number Eden Hazard.
Hazard made the difference in that game, Ozil did not.
People say he is our prime creator, the man who makes us tick, well I reckon that’s the least we should expect from him for the £1.3m per month he gets paid in wages!
No surprise to see the media favourites Liverpool being given an easy ride by referees.
As a club we are weak in this area, dropping PR bombs and shifting attention to the officials and in particular Mike Riley, who was on thin ice awhile ago but is clinging on.
Kev a fact-check! Eastham and Baker were sold by Billy Wright not Bertie Mee but I suspect you have the reason correct..
And it was noticeable last night and also against Norwich that some of the players were having a real go at each other. I have never seen anything like the fallouts of that sort from arsenal players, never. There is something very rotten in the state of all things Arsenal! And like the play I’ve just misquoted from the ending will be the same. It will end in total carnage.
JM I cannot fault a word that you have written. You are absolutely spot on. The club would be very well advised to take your suggestions seriously. They may make a bit of progress if the do!
Ok Wavy, I bow to your knowledge, but yeah, I think it was a decision to take a toxic influence out of the dressing room.
Agree Kev. Freddie is in limbo going into the transfer window and I’m totally against the board signing players who any manager has little to no input into signing. After all, when the poop hits the fan, it’s not the board who get sacked..
Getting rid of our ‘toxic’ players is pretty much mission impossible bar Lacazette and Aubameyang. Who is going to offer a good fee for Xhaka, Mustafi, Sokratis, Luiz, Ozil etc and match their wages?
Rico, could we be in for a January version of Supermarket Sweep?
Depending of course on the available spaces in our squad?
Of the 25 spots in our squad we have 3 available spots in the 17 ‘foreign’ squad.
And 2 spots available in the 8 ‘home’ squad.
So without moving anyone on we could bring in 5 players in January.
Whether these would be permanent signings or loans, I don’t know?
If we continue to slide, the club may have to push the boat out…
A couple of big, horrible centre backs and a defensive midfielder the size of an American fridgefreezer should do the trick.
I read we’ve no budget Kev. Mind you, we’ve a few we could sell to generate a few pounds…
I’d be all for those type of signings and I know I’ll sound like a broken record but I’d look to the Championship for one. Someone like Dunk etc.
I think the plain truth is Rico, the bean-counters won’t disagree with you over any offers for those named players, bar the first two. What will be will be, and there are occasions in life when you have to accept the inevitable financial losses to exorcise the cancer of incompetence and a negativity in motivation.
The club has to be brave and use the scalpel, figuratively of course!
I wouldn’t miss either Andorra, in fact I wouldn’t miss any of them really.
Evening all, how are we this evening ? 🙂
Got a tune for your title, Rico !
If you want a proper opinion, then I suggest you ignore Kev and his not too flattering name of talkshite, but listen to talksense when Keown is on !…………….what comes to my attention of listening to him is it`s all about communication………or the lack of it !
He always talks about the defence needing a shield in front of it and also how we defend too deep .
Listening to him it`s apparent that the defenders dont talk like they did in his time when they constantly chatted to each other and there was even competition between the right sided defenders and the left sided ones in that they took great pride if no goals were scored from their side of the defense.
Gilberto said to Keown that he still has Keowns orders ringing in his ears………………..and Keown still has Grahams words ringing in his ears………………………..they chatted all the time in defense……………….communication and leaders/generals organising all the time, it flabberghasts me to think that no one at Arsenal gets these players like Keown , Adams, Dixon etc in to talk to the players…………………………..if Freddie is willing to let Per be his temp` assistant then why not get the best defenders we ever had in ?…………………
Evening Rico and the House
Its half time at Boring Wood and the u23s are beating Blackburn 3-0
Coyle, Medley and John Jules the scorers
Smith Rowe looking good assists in Coyles and John Jules goals.
JJ goal a real rocket.
Kev Mavropanis and Medley are the Centre backs and I think its the first time
they have played together.
Mark Mcguinness is on the bench first time this season.
Sods Law all three back from injury and Harry Carke misses out with injury.
I think I already know the tune Lc.
I suspect Freddie’s hands are tied as to who he can bring in to help him. That would probably change should he get the job permanently
Evening Rick, how are our two young CB’s playing?
Evening All,
Kev I make you absolutely right……Re players looking like they are making an effort but actually doing bugger all !
We can barely afford one person doing it but we have a team of actors.
Martinelli deserves a bit of credit, he chases everything, Bellerin ok has been injured, Kolasinac showed a bit of heart but everybody else were utter utter crap. We didn’t have a midfield, One or two passes and Brighton were in our area.Then they only have clowns to beat.
Can we please buy a player who isn’t scared to head a ball,PLEASE.
Agreed Rico, we really need grafters, no more pretty players, gutsy brave people.
Mike I think with all the publicity about demetia resulting from heading footballs, players are just not prepared to take the risk any longer. I suspect that heading has been all but removed from training sessions and will eventually be banned in the game entirely.
The way things are going, what with diving and VAR, the game will become a non contact entertainment rather than a competitive sport probably played indoors with frequent refreshment breaks to allow for TV advertising.
Rico Game finished 3-1
Smith Rowe was withdrawn after 60 mins game changed.
I think it was planned.
Mcguinnes came on at 65mins and we had 3c/backs each over
6ft 4 inches tall at the same time.
Mavropanis is looking better each game he plays and the other two look rusty.
By the way after a slow start the boys are top at least untill tomorrow
Cicero, I think you could be right.
Even though balls are half the weight these days.
Don’t get me started on diving mate, I’m starting to hate footballers. Most are cheating, greedy buggers these days. I watched a kids game on Sunday. I think it was under tens and they were diving and rolling around!
It’s turned into a cancer of the game.
Mike/Cicero, diving has been becoming increasingly prevalent in the game for years and it’s probably too late to reverse the trend.
When our boofheads were done for ball tampering last year, I asked why it was such a big deal to people when in every football game, you’ll see players diving which is cheating, no matter how you spin it.
Saying it’s “part of the game” is a cop out.
Same with professional fouls-it’s cheating, but because it happens every second challenge, it’s accepted and by mangers, it’s encouraged .
FIFA have ignored it for years and yes, it’s happening more and more in kids games.
If my son did it, he’d be hauled out of the game.
If a coach asked him to do it, I’d change clubs.
It’s a bloody disgrace.
Oh, and to touch again on the cricketers, it was such a big deal because cricket have never accepted it as “part of the game”.
Part of the game, my arse!!!!
Maybe Arsene can do something about it lol
So frustrating Scott, Must be even worse for you if you watch Ozzi rules. Now they are hard no nonsense guys. I wonder what they and Rugby players really think of our football players?
I can’t believe footballers aren’t embarrassed when they watch themselves after a game.
I suppose the obscene amount of money helps.
Mike, League slowly, slowly is having players lay down after copping a brush to the face in a tackle, so the video ref checks the contact and gives the penalty, but it’s nowhere near as bad as in football.
Aussie Rules-barely see anything of the sort mate.
However this sounds, it was brought into the game from certain nationalities and that’s a fact.
I’m with you-no matter how much money is involved, I don’t know how these clowns look their family and friends in the eye.
Notice you hardly ever see anything of the sort in women’s sports, Mike??
Cocker I also listen to TalkSport (sometimes 😉), the ads and constant jingles drive me crazy, and the utter click bait radio they turn out is in general is an insult to your ears, I mean, please don’t tell me that you take anything serious that they broadcast when Adrian Durham and Darren Gough are on…
And as for the Moose, what a total dick that geezer is, but all the same he was pissing his pants laughing at Arsenal as he reported from the Emirates after the Brighton game.
We play his team next, so what goes around eh?
As for Martin Keown or any other expert, well put your knowledge to the test if your so good, you know, like Gary Neville.
Yeah Cocker I listen to TalkSport, but I know what it is and what it thinks of it’s listeners. 🙂
Hi Scott Hope those Bush fire are staying away from you. FIFA will never act on diving Just look at how slow they are when it comes to fair play rules or other charges under investigation. I am hoping that The VAR will get used more one day for diving to stamp it out. It’s only my opinion but I would love to get rid of the off side rule just think how many more goal would be scored.
Scott…….Here what you mean about certain nationalities mate. Not allowed to say it though, even if we all know it’s the truth.
Mike I’ll say it.
Look at the “best” divers in world football and where it started-South America!!!
Their 15 years olds do a weekly session on how to win penalties ffs and that’s a fact.
Italians are good.
Spanish go ok.
Ronaldo is Portuguese and though he’s toned it down, he was brilliant earlier in his career.
It’s now entrenched in the PL.
Zaha is as bad as anyone.
Even some of our guys have done it recently.
Someone needs to make a stand and state it publicly.
I really hope Arsene uses his new position to do so.
Ange won the J League, Geoff.
‘morning all, according to the Mirror Aubameyang has pulled out of contract renewal talks with the club. The first rat to leave the sinking ship?
It should be compulsory for any player receiving a knock to the head to go off for a concussion assessment by an impartial doctor. It’s done in Rugby Union and is widely accepted by players, coaches and fans as a necessary precaution.
Not only would it be sensible to check on the health of the player it may also help put an end to the many instances of simulation that we see on a regular basis.
I see that Everton have appointed Big Dunc as caretaker manager. For those who don’t know who, or what, he is Google Duncan Ferguson/Steffen Freund photo.
Big Dunc in his first press conference has demanded “Blood and Thunder ” from his players. Good luck with that.
Arsenal in contrast already have our own version in “Thud and Blunder” otherwise known as Sokratis and Luiz. 😕
Cicero I believe The Mirror claim that Aubameyang and Lacazette were stalling on the there contracts and would not sign until Emery was gone that’s why I said last week if what the media reported is correct I would shove the contract in the face and say emery gone as you wanted now sign it. and if they refuse to sign it come out and say it to fans and media what was said and let the players hang out to dry. The problem we have is so many managers now start stories of there player linked with other club to get them massive pay rises.
Cicero, I’m not really bothered if Aubameyang , Lacazette or any of them go to be honest. Lets not keep players who don’t want to play for us. We need to sweep the club clean of these half arsed attitude players and get some fresh committed players in who are honoured to play for us.
Sell them.. 😂
New post up now…
Morning…
Sorry Guys, Good Morning! Or evening or night, whatever it is in Australia now!
Scott, with the diving thing…..We are on a hiding to nothing. We have pundits openly saying, “he bought that foul, he waited for the touch and went down cleverly “
They should be saying “The cheating arsehole was barely touched and he threw himself on the floor “
Nobody Does!!
When a player collapses to the floor holding his face when he’s barely touched, it’s “he made a bit more of that than there was” NO ! He is a cheating piece of crap, trying to get someone sent off.
We have more than our fair share of divers at Arsenal I know but I have to say Torreira winds me up when he rolls around.
Rant over.