Morning all.
Football throws up strange results over a season, after all, who’d have thought Arsenal, with a number of injuries, would have beaten Real Madrid as comfortably as they did? Who’d have thought Man Utd and Totts are set to finish nearer the bottom of the league table than the top, or indeed, Liverpool winning the title in Slot’s first season in England? Totts v Man Utd being in the Europe’s League Cup final wasn’t something I saw coming, even less so bearing in mind how bad they’ve been domestically but as said, football is seldom predictable.
What was pretty predicable was Arsenal being hit by injuries and not just because of last seasons hectic schedule but because we started the campaign not only with a small squad, but one lacking in depth as well as strength. In addition to that, the officials were always likely to ruin things for us. Perhaps another “predictable” was the way we play the game and the struggle to score goals.
January came and went without adding to an injury hit squad despite all the positive spin from Mikel Arteta and the alleged offer for Watkins very late in the transfer window. More injuries followed, our Premier League results suffered and yet somehow, we’re more than likely to finish second in the league. Don’t get me wrong, finishing second is nothing to celebrate but the money it brings into the club is crucial The same can be said of the Champions League really as every penny counts.
Domestically, I think Arsenal have been underwhelming. Too many draws have cost us too many points and mostly, we’ve been the orchestrators of our own downfall. Sloppy moments at both ends of the pitch, especially in attack. Actually, we’ve not always been brilliant in the creative department either. But, it’s hard to be the best when a number of our best players aren’t on the pitch.
Injuries are part of the game though, not having the squad depth to cope with them has been our problem. Something which Mikel Arteta has been open and honest about.
The rise of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly has been one of the highlights of the season in my opinion. Both were exciting prospects but now they’ve proved they have what it takes to play at this level. The form of Declan Rice has been amazing, his goals against Real Madrid just brilliant.
Thomas Partey being present for the entire season has been a bonus too, if not a miracle and despite his concentration levels seeming to dip in the last couple of months, his body must be knackered. Likewise, William Saliba who has hardly missed a game. Ten months of football must take its toll, especially for Partey who hasn’t managed to achieve that for a couple of years now. Is anyone really surprised that Saliba is our latest injury casualty?
Another surprise has been Jakub Kiwior who for so long, has been sat in the bench, probably wondering why he’s seldom been used to give Gabriel a rest. Yes, he had a little run at left back last season but I even his harsh critics would now agree that he’s an excellent central defender. Had it not been for Gabriel suffering a long term injury, I’m pretty sure the “sell him” comments would be all over the internet right now. The only question in my mind though is why on earth didn’t Mikel Arteta see what we’re all seeing now? Gabriel is a terrific defender, of course he is, but he’s not the bionic man and just like every player, his body needs a break every now and then.
As written above, the breakthrough of Lewis-Skelly has been great for him and the team but what surprises me is just how much football this young player has played. Kieran Tierney is a really good left back and I’m amazed he’s not played more during the second half of the season.
Whilst I know that when injuries occur it gives other players a chance but surely it’s better all round if those players are given a chance before others get injured. Heck, it might even prevent the injuries in the first place, especially as most of the injuries have been hamstrings. We can talk about Mikel Arteta not having squad depth all we like but surely, if the players are good enough to be in the squad or on the bench, they’re good enough to be on the pitch from the start?
The tactical side of Arsenal’s football I’ll leave to those who actually know something about it but when it comes to squad rotation, I think it’s obvious that next season, Arteta needs to be better at it.
Catch up in the comments.
With an annual salary in excess of £6 million per year, on top of the signing on fee, the agents fee and the transfer fee, it makes Jack Grealish quite an investment and not one I could see Arsenal making.
I’ve always liked him, to me he should play more inside where his quick feet and ability to win free kicks would be an asset to any club, stuck out on the left wing he’s just wasted. Fitness and finance would scupper any move to one of the big clubs but he’d be great at Leeds, maybe on loan, or at Everton in their new stadium, again on loan.
Man City are in a funk, I can see them going through another average season in 25/26.
Both City and Chelsea are going to find it difficult to move on some of their expensive toys this summer!
He’s a diving cheat imo Kev. Lol
You don’t like him then Rico? 🤔
Great post Rico. Agree 100% with you on squad rotation. I wasn’t surprised to see Man U and the spuds in the Europa League Final. Now that third placed teams in the CL no longer drop down into the EL, the standard in that competition is absolutely dire!
Strange coincidence in Spain that indirectly might affect Arsenal . We apparently are after Joan Garcia from Espanyol who has a release clause of 25 million . Should however they get relegated this goes down to 15 million according to El Mundo deportivo.
Only one thing can get Espanyol relegated that is if Leganes beat bottom of the table Valladolid (where Hein is on loan )and Espanyol lose to Las Palmas who are second from bottom
Both games kick off at 5.30 on Saturday , Could be interesting.
It seems that Emery is also after him should Martinez leave , so a bid of £20 million plus should help if Villa try to stick to the release clause.
Whatever gave you that idea Kev?
Thanks Anthony, I’d forgotten that part of the CL, good point.
I’d like to think that if we’re really after Gracia, a deal has all but been done by now. Perhaps even as far back as last summer.
Could Marquinos return as a back-up for Saka?
There is no point in playing any of the squad who are carrying injuries or are knackered, in the Southampton game. Obviously Saliba and Timber should be stood down, Declan Rice was holding his left shoulder on Sunday and was totally spent by the end of the game. Saka will probably be alright but why take chances. It’s when players are fatigued that injuries can often happen.
Havertz and Calafiori, who both returned from injury, should be fine in a game with little in the way of pressure on the result.
I read his loan club want to keep him but with the obligation to buy, depending on how many games he plays, removed
I suspect the squad for Sunday depends on what City do tonight. If they win big, I doubt we’ll see much change against Southampton.
Just repeating what I said earlier, Rest our good player now the season is over and keep them safe for next season and not risk an injury in the last match,
Can not stand Jack Grealish and I hope we stay well away from him, can you imagine him taking dives like he does, the ref’s would have a field day at our exspence.
they other thing to thnk about is what players out on loan are due back who we have to off load as well. looking forward to the transfer market.
Me too Geoff, much has been said/written about signings, let’s see who we get. But I’m also looking forward to see who comes into contention from the academy. Dowman is expected to make the step up, but there are a few more who could be involved more next season.
I can’t see any situation where Arteta won’t pick his strongest team, Rice will want to play as will Saka, Arteta won’t want to lose at Southampton either, even if City drop points tonight.
We might see a youngster or two come off of the bench depending on game state, I hope we do, but Stirling, Tierney, Jorginho, Havertz and Nwaneri are the more likely substitutes to come on.
It’s frustrating as we all like to see youngsters getting 1st team exposure but he’s coached us to three successive runners-up spots in the last three years so he kinda knows what he’s doing.
But this is the kind of situation when trying a few of the younger players make sense surely? In many ways, it’s a dead rubber.
I agree Rico, I totally agree and anyway why use players who you won’t have in your squad for next season rather than give a young player who might be around the squad a run out instead?
I mean why play Stirling at all or Jorginho or Tierney, as they’re all leaving? I can only think that Arteta doesn’t see enough potential or quality in some of our youngsters in training to want to use them?
I think if he could that Arteta would play Dowman, but he’s exceptional and at the same level as Myles and Ethan, I’m not sure that Kacurri is or Rosiak or Henry-Francis…
That said I’d love to see all three of them get a game.
Hello Rico.
Hello Kevin, you are very forgiving of the third highest paid manager in world football, and exceedingly generous in your praise, if I may say.
That old familiar feeling at Arsenal of so nearly that we’ve had for decades, very briefly interrupted by Graham and then Wenger, but since Terry Neill in 1976, compared to our rivals it has largely been a very under-whelming journey
We finished miles behind Liverpool playing boring football after a five year project and about £700 million spent.
Arteta’s challenge is to prove he’s more than a cheque book manager who was only hired because he and Pep once shared the same breathing space
Exactly Kev but I suppose I think, would Lewis-Skelly got his chance had we not had injuries? Or Nwaneri? Sometimes, players are better in a game than they are in training. Stupid as that might sound.
Hi Alan, I’m with you on the football. Apart from the CL fixtures I was bored watching a lot of the time. Perhaps that says a lot about the opposition.