Morning all.
Jamie Carragher couldn’t wait to tell the world that Arsenal were bullied when Brentford scored their second goal. Same old, same old he said or something like that, the glee in his voice obvious. A better pundit would have highlighted how Bernd Leno was being grappled as he tried to do his job. A better operator of VAR would have taken a second look, just as he/she/they would have when Folarin Balogun was tripped in the box. Did the ball cross the line before Xhaka cleared it? I don’t know. If there’s any same old, same old, it’s the officials are poor and the pundits hate Arsenal. Even so, Arsenal’s defence should have done better on both goals.
Still, let’s all kick Ben White too for not being the game changer! Or Balogun and Martinelli for scoring half a dozen goals between them. Pff!
Honestly, I didn’t expect us to beat Brentford so I wasn’t surprised when we didn’t. Disappointed of course.
The season is already over now Arsenal have lost their opening game. Of course it’s not but it hasn’t started how you or I hoped. With Chelsea and City up next, I suspect we’ll be rooted to the bottom of the table.
Mikel Arteta spoke to Arsenal Media after the game:
On our performance?
“Well, we are very disappointed to start the way we did this season. We had really high hopes and we didn’t get the result that we wanted or the performance we wanted.”
On whether we conceded soft goals?
“Yes.”
On Aubameyang and Lacazette’s absence and how long they will be out for?
“I don’t know, but I certainly don’t want to use any excuses. We had a team that we put out that’s good enough to play the way that we wanted to play and capable of achieving a different result.”
What he would say to the fans?
“First of all, I want to thank them because the support that they’ve given to the team, all the travelling fans that were here, and after that apologise for the result. We know that we have to improve. We have two big games coming up and we need a different performance to get a different result.”
On if a performance like that creates a sense of urgency in the transfer market…
“My focus is on the players that we have – to make them play as well as possible and get the best out of the team, finding the way to win football matches, and certainly the next one.”
On if Friday’s performance creates any more urgency in the market…
“We are very clear of what we wanted to do, what our strengths are and where we can improve. I don’t think today’s performance shows anything different to what we’ve already seen.”
On what’s being done to address Arsenal’s play in the final third…
“I don’t think that tonight’s game is one to analyse [overly] given the circumstances we had on the day.”
If by circumstances on the day means both Lacazette and Aubameyang missing, then I’m not convinced the latter would done much but yes, Lacazette might have made a bit of a difference. Even so, Arteta is right, last night’s performance was reminiscent of many we’ve seen before. The question so many fans will no doubt be wondering is what can he do to change things and can he?
Reiss Nelson, Gabriel Martinelli and Flo Balogun all struggled to make a real impact on the game but then so did many others who’re more senior so let’s not give them a hard time. If a team doesn’t create clearcut opportunities to score, they won’t. Arsenal had 22 shots on goal according to the stats, bossed the possession figures too but the shots were mainly off target and the possession doesn’t do much good if a team doesn’t make it count.
I still think we’ll see a few players brought in very soon. Ødegaard is back on the rumour trail, as is Freddy Woodman but if the back pages are to be believed both Aubameyang and Lacazette could depart.
Finally, good luck to Joe Willock who finally moved to Newcastle yesterday on a six year deal. I hope he does really well and goes on to have a great career with both club and eventually, country.
See you in the comments.
I hope the Willock decision does not come back to bite us. Martinez decision already has
Let’s hope for a couple of decent innings Rico.
Arteta has a week now to get things sorted before the next game, in reality I can’t see us making much of an improvement in that time, so get ready for an avalanche of bashing from the media.
I don’t think Arteta’s pitch side antics are helping the team. His anxiety is being communicated to the players and is affecting their confidence. He needs to calm down and restrict his lectures to the dressing room.
Good morning Rico and everyone.
As I’ve said a thousand and one times about Arsenal our reputation has been bashed so much by Wenger’ s late years and bad decisions by the management. We can’t keep complaining about officiating even against small clubs. Respect isn’t given, it’s taken. Arsenal will continue on the go on the decline till the club take drastic and eccentric decisions in order to gain the respect back because we have non currently.
I don’t think Arteta can do the job, he is too new and no radical enough, more than half of the team need to go, the atmosphere is shitty, we still act like losers.
We need a radical change, we need to bully others and make statements by kicking out players that don’t man up to the challenge.
If this is not done we will see ourselves drop from mid table position to a relegation battling team.
Morning Rico and all
I recon Leno was held for there second goal but that’s no excuse he has enough experience to know how to get the upper hand.
Our biggest issue was, we had real striker to finish when the ball in
Everyone in the media hates Arsenal but we are truly woeful. Difference is, with crowds in the stdiums, Arteta wont survive another run of form like pre Christmas last year.
I really wanted him to succeed as I bought into the ex-player, young coach new ideas thing but we continue to go backwards. I dont even blame the Kroenkes anymore as we have funds it seems but good players are becoming worse and I fear for the few gems we do have.
Without sounding over dramatic, defeat to a promoted side and form on the floor, could our top division status really come under threat if this carries on……?
You can’t blame the owners. We have some money but they won’t play for Arteta. He really is utterly clueless. Can’t get a jelly to wobble. Players looks disinterested apart from a couple and that is Arteta’s fault. At least Auba and Laca had the good grace to throw a sickie. Players seem to get worse when they come to us. Again, has to be the manager. I’m an Arsenal supporter since 1971 but I hope we get repeatedly beaten until they have to fire this idiot. He was average as a player and he is barely average now. When he is fired they need to pay up for a proven winner. Emery, Arteta did anyone really think they would be winners with Arsenal?
Morning Mexzy, Geoff, all.
I hope so Cicero. The two B’s are going well. Could do with them both staying put all day.
The officials were poor but I’m certainly not blaming them for our defeat, that was very much down to the players and Arteta. Didn’t we all say before the game that Brentford would be buzzing? Didn’t we say that attacking players would target Leno and the defence?
So no, I’m not surprised we lost because were so easy to play against.
Chrispy, I think you’re right about fans. This season could turn nasty but I hope it doesn’t get to that. If Arsenal can get three in before the close of the window, things might turn around. But it is only week one.
Hi Rico… Carragher is such a bellend! I was raging more listening to him (especially after the first goal – had to be a former Pool player) than I was at our performance!
All I can say is… I’m really disappointed!!
2 of my family have gone to Old Trafford, they’ll be happy with Bruno just putting them 1 up!
Hi Sue, isn’t he just. Honestly, I detest the bloke. He’s probably still sulking about Arsenal bullied him back in the days of Vieira, Henry etc.
I’m disappointed too, although I expected us to lose. It’s what we do against a team like Brentford.
I’m still baffled as to why Saliba is out on loan.
I don’t like Arteta I feel he lacks man management skills but for people to call for his sacking after one match is ridiculous we have new players who have to adjust to each other and Arteta’s game plan after all it’s only round one let’s rate Arteta coaching in the middle of the season
Geoff, trouble is it’s not just one match really, it’s the last 18 months.
That’s us off the bottom of the table, Leeds losing 5 – 1 to Man U.
S**t, Bairstow out for 57.
I find that I am watching games looking for mistakes and as they are not hard to find I am getting more and more critical especially to the ones that keep repeating them .
I try to balance the club’s situation against the group we have and yes I had hopes that Arteta would have the playing experience to see and rectify how and when they are being made .
However some of them are basic , they are things that we were taught not to do at about the age of 13 or so
.Don’t pass across the front of goal , Protect your keeper , The biggest defender to attack the ball at set pieces a running man gets higher than one from standing, Follow your man if he goes past you and try to get touch tight at corners.
We don’t keep to any of these edicts and I have to say that with the players that we have zonal marking and playing out from the back is our downfall.
Last night we were playing it long and crossing to a 5 foot 10″ forward against a keeper that came and caught the ball, ( can you remember them ) and two centre backs one 6 foot 4″ and the other 6 foot 6″ .
Did anyone watch them pre season ?
All of these things are basic and taught at school but maybe not at La Masia where the short passing Xavi and Iniesta style originated . It’s what he is trying to reproduce just as Wenger did but where it suits La Liga and internationals , it just doesn’t work in the rough and tumble of British football.i
Century for Root. 💯
All’s well then Cicero. 😜
Bairstow walked right into that Indian plan..
You know what Potter, watching Arsenal now is like watching them during Arsene Wenger’s last few years. Same mistakes being made and nothing done about it.
Caught hook, line and second slip.
Afternoon Rico and the House
Rico its very hot in Kent but it has been raining at London Colney
Raining goals that is
Our u18s have beaten Aston Vills 5-3 in the first league game of the season.
Just like Carraghar Villa fans have been mouthing off about ESR and the G/K situation, and this may shut them down for a while.
Flores3 Edwards and Sagoe scored the goals
Just like you I expected us to lose last night and all I will say
is there are worse thing in life then losing the first game of the the season
theres still 37 more games to play.
I see Diego Costa has left Atletico Madrid for £ 40 million . Does that mean they now have the cash for their long term target Lacazette ?
Iwould rather they took Aubameyang though.
I expected a defeat (deep down!) also, Rico. I’d say it’s what we do against most teams 😆
Some game at OT.. Luke Ayling’s effort the best of the lot. I love that guy, can’t we bring him back? Best RB in the league for me! 👌
Afternoon Rick, excellent re the under 18. Nice to shut the new noisy ones up at any age group.
Yes, I can think of a lot worse things. Haven’t we a bit of history of losing the opening game.
I doubt Auba works hard enough for Atletico. Lacazette however..
He certainly doing well at Leeds Sue.
I thought Diego Costa left Atletico in December (personal reasons) and has been without a club since?
Arsenal up to third from bottom, c’mon Watford get one more against Villa and we’ll be out of the relegation zone.
I hadn’t seen this website before but thought I would like to get my two-Penneth in. Carragher is the most unprofessional pundit on tv or radio…bar none. Plus, he spits at people out of his car window. That’s just the sort of guy he is.
I will always believe Wenger did a wonderful job for us and we were far too quick to get rid of him when we did.
Of course his job got harder as the years went on but he was then competing against mega money but still winning other trophies for us when the league total was so much harder to obtain. He was bound to have a couple of bad years at some stage (over a twenty two year period) and got sacked as soon as that happened.
That was very poor and the start of the club getting its reputation tarnished because of various decisions since Wenger left.
I have the impression that Arteta is not a good man-manager. Nor can he get the players to perform.
There are some decent players in the squad and, I firmly believe, that if we had a quality manager the players we have had over the last couple of years would have performed much better that under Arteta.
Obviously I wanted Arteta to succeed. Ex Arsenal player, decent bloke, neat and tidy with good manners. But it isn’t working and even the success he had, early on, was probably more down do Emery.
I’m thinking that Edu is also to blame. The first real clanger was selling Martinez and, then, spending so much on Pepe. I also thought it was odd that another centre half got to be a priority at £50m! Sure we let in some stupid goals last season but, overall, the defence had a pretty good record.
I watched the Marseille game, last week. Saliba and Guendouzi were decent and they came back from 2-0 down to win. What is going on with those two is anyone’s guess.
After last night any hope I had for this season has gone.
Aston Villa have become my most recent club to dislike so I’m happy Watford stuck three past them.
Welcome Paddo. I thought Arsene left too late and wish he’d gone after after lifting his last FA Cup. What he left was a very mix and match squad which needed a different direction.
The selling of Martinez was bonkers but through the grapevine, I heard he wasn’t prepared to fight Leno for the number one position as he wanted to be outright number one. Selling him was obviously down to a Arteta and Edu, however, Raul was the one who signed Pepe when Emery was at the club. Emery didn’t want him though, he wanted Guendouzi, Torreira and Saliba were also brought in by Raul. I get the feeling Arteta wants his choice of players and not just those he inherited. Guendouzi shot himself in the foot with his silly behaviour but Saliba and Torreira even, remain a mystery to me.
Much of what you say Paddo is relevant, but I can’t agree that we replaced Wenger too soon. We should have bitten the bullet at least four seasons sooner.
Best get used to it, Rico 😁 Villa are a one-man team, and that man is now in Manchester!
I reckon he wanted to outdo Fergie Cicero.
C’mon you Canaries put three unanswered goals past the Bin Dippers and we will move out of the relegation zone.
I bet Delia’s on the lash as we speak 🤣
Maybe Rico but the decision shouldn’t have been left to him.
A couple of stiff G & Ts before kick off topped up at halftime. Sue. 😉
We have a first innings lead Rico. 😁
Absolutely not Cicero, but he was in control of his own destiny really. Wrong though.
Are you two suggesting Delia will be half baked already? 😜
Stewed more like. 😁
Mind you I can’t talk, I’ve just enjoyed a tincture myself. 😉
Anderson bowled off last ball of the day. England all out 391. A lead of 27.
Joe Root 👏👏
Yeah, magnificent one hundred and aaaiiiittteee!
😂 Cicero!!
Urgh, I haven’t missed those teeth!
Delia’s passed out 😂
At the end of todays games it is pretty clear (to me)that the promoted teams
know how to look after themselves and are not afaid to put the foot in.
In the case of the brentford C/F Tony I gather he played along side White for Peterborough ..I read he has stated he enjoyed the kick around last night and I feel he needs to be put in his place.
White or Tony Rick?
Toney would be buzzing today , although they had a plan I doubt they thought that it would be so easy . His bullishness is understandable but we need to make sure that they don’t do it again when we play the reverse fixture.
Glad I didn’t come on here earlier as I feared I might hear about the Test😀 as we need some diversion from Brentford!
Watched Essex in QF against Yorkshire most of the day, but just caught up with England, how superb was Root?
That was a worrying performance in the light of day. I appreciated Arteta’s interview accepting we were bad, but so much looked like last season at its worst. The big four look like they are going to pull further and further away even if we do steady the ship. Can’t see us even getting close to the Leicesters to be honest. Hope some good news from somewhere, maybe an inspired signing. Much as I like Odegaard, I can’t see him making much difference. Although just maybe if he and Partey click and stay fit, things could change. But we will still play out across our goal and make silly mistakes.
We aren’t in any of the relegates places after the 1st leg! Good!
See we are already climbing the ladder, let’s see who we pick up and sell in the final piece of the transfer market.
Morning all.
New post up now
Just to say, Cicero, you are a hard person to please.
If we got a new manager that took us to 4th position, this year, and won the fa cup I think most supporters would be delighted. If he then followed it up with the cup again plus 3rd position the following year, 2nd position the next year and 5th position in the next year with, yet another FA cup you would want to sack them for not winning anything in the following year?
I think that is what Wenger did for us in his last few years, on a shoestring compared to some of the clubs we were competing with. And we then sacked him a year later, which you think was later than it should have been.
This was a man that gave us several titles (one unbeaten) and qualified the club for every full year he was in charge.
As with politics, some in the media, including a, so called, Arsenal supporting channel drive public discontent.
We are a long way off getting back to Wenger’s standards.
That should have read qualified for Europe every full year he was in charge, of course ☹️