Morning all.
A factoid for you. A human being will remember more if she/he is he told less. Overload a brain with ideas, tactics, instructions etc, and there’s a high chance that the important things go in through one ear and out the other. Make of that what you choose.
Mikel Arteta made three changes. Ben White was ruled out of the game because of Covid, Aubameyang returned to the squad whilst Calum Chambers and Flo Balogun dropped to the bench having both started at Brentford. Cedric, Rob Holding and Bukayo Saka were the three replacements.
The game went much as expected yesterday, at least as much as I expected. Lukaku would bully his way through Arsenal’s defence and he did. Oh to have a striker in Arsenal colours with the ability to do the same.
Of course we’re all bitterly disappointed that Chelsea beat us so easily but as I said in yesterday’s post, there’s a huge difference between the way both clubs are run. The much experienced and successful Thomas Tuchel had a glut of experienced and talented players at his disposal, whilst Arsenal have an inexperienced manager with a squad of players who’re young and still developing. It showed.
Even so, could Arsenal have been better prepared?
Our left hand side, which has often been our strongest, was overrun with Reece James enjoying far too much freedom. Much of Chelsea’s play went down that route or through the big fella and Arsenal had few answers. Our right hand side of defence seems very much in the air. Bellerin is clearly leaving, Chambers played once and dropped, Cedric wasn’t brilliant which leaves AMN as Mikel Arteta’s final option. Take it Ainsley, just take it and make it yours.
Emile Smith Rowe was Arsenal’s best player in my opinion and had his legs been a couple of inches longer, he might have scored. Arsenal had a shout for a penalty but it was waved away by Paul Tierney. Saka forced a good save out of Mendy and Holding spurned a great chance by heading wide when the top corner was gaping. Leno made a great save to keep Lukaku’s strike out.
Mikel Arteta:
It’s another defeat, the second one of the season which is really tough to take. Chelsea deserved to win, I think they were the better side overall. We had moments at the start of the first half and at the beginning of the second half. After conceding the goal they started to manage the game exactly how they wanted. When we had them in good areas and without the ball with our press they still managed to come out with the incredible quality that they have. They showed in moments why they are the champions of the Champions League. What I liked about the team is that at 2-0 they never gave up, they tried right up to 90 minutes. With our limitations, because at the moment we are missing eight or nine players. I’m sad, sad for the fans because we really wanted to give them something special today. Even though we know the circumstances we have with the team at the moment, and not being able to do that and enjoy this moment with them is sad.
I agree with him. This wasn’t an Arsenal defeat in which having gone 2-0 down, the heads dropped and the performance slumped. Arsenal kept going right until the end. The reality is though, Chelsea were just the better team on the day because their squad is so much stronger than Arsenal’s. They had players on the bench who’d walk straight into our first team. Kante being one of them.
Arsenal need Partey and Gabriel back and soon because that should mean Xhaka and Mari drop to the bench. We need White back too because I truly believe there’s a lot more to him than what we saw against Brentford. Same goes for Lacazette, but if he’s leaving this summer, he certainly needs replacing, preferably with similar qualities to Lukaku. Strong, bullish and a goal getter.
Next up is West Brom in the League Cup and we need a win.
See you in the comments.
I like your optimism that Xhaka will drop to the bench , I don’t think that Arteta has that in mind at all . Halfway through the second half as Xhaka ‘s tackles became more and more late and desperate , Silly little shoves and petulance I thought that if he got a straight red , We would have 3 matches to solve our midfield problems.
I have no problem with a deserved defeat, my issue is in the fact that the football is way too boring, no right, neither grit, yesterday’s “improvement” is barely noticeable…
Why can’t Lacazette be used and turned into our very own Lukaku? He plays in a similar way strong with back to goal and excellent at link up play with Martinelli and Auba either side this would be a good attacking lineup. Laca is strong and a handful and is aggressive all the qualities we need and he’s ours.
I agree the team’s missed Laca, but I also feel that we need a big Laca, who can bully opposition defences, such as it was during Giroud’s era..
far too many softies in the team & no leaders apart from Tierney plus team has no ID or defined tactics …Arteta seems clueless how to manage a team during a game
That’s all it is though Potter, I think we all know Xhaka is Arteta’s favourite.
He’s not strong enough Mig. Any player goes near him he goes over.
Kyalo, that’s why I hope we’d get Abraham or as Devil has suggested, Calvert-Lewin.
Exactly! I personally admire Calvert-Lewin..
But, also, do you think Arteta is taking the club forward? because, I have witnessed much lesser clubs putting up a good fight when playing the so called big teams… While historically arsenal has always faltered when playing the same top 4 clubs, having said that I strongly feel that it’s becoming evident that currently, it’s not more of the players’ incompetence but the Arteta’s tactics, I think his inexperience is getting exposed each passing day!
Morning Rico, yeah all the Chelsea subs would have been starters for us, we had to take Aubameyang from his sick bed, but that’s where we are in the food chain we simply cannot compete without an owner whose prepared to subsidise the team, we’ve not got that, Chelsea have and they’re Champions of Europe , Man City have and they’re EPL champions.
Mind you the Kroenke’s have spent serious dough, it’s just that the people they’ve had in charge previously haven’t been up to scratch. That’s on them!
I did wonder awhile ago what Tim Lewis’s role was at the club, but now I see that he’s the middle man between Edu and Stan and he can approve (advise) on signings or I guess veto them.
Our season starts on September 11th for me, we will have to beat Norwich and then it’s a case of catch up as our sick and injured return and our new guys bed in. Fortunately by then we’ll only need to face Chelsea and Man City once more each because they’re clearly a level above everyone else.
Yea, I don’t know why Arsenal since Wenger days, likes to recruit shorter players, considering the physicality of the EPL
I’m not trying to take anything from Lukaku’s quality performance, however I hate to hear comments like “Lukaku was unplayable, yet arsenal’s incompetence is the main factor…Why do teams seems to gain form when playing Arsenal? This has got to do with the historical poor mentality of the current players at the club..from the later part of Wenger’s days..
If Tammy Abraham was the answer Chelsea would not have splashed out on Lukaku .
Bul in the China shop centre forwards are hard to find in this present form of keep it on the floor pass pass football.
Our attacking is too one dimensional at present depending on centering with no-one getting to the ball .
We have spent big on Oodegaard so he will want to play him which means someone has to go out to fit him in .
Interesting to see how effective our spend is going to be.
Kyalo, I’m not convinced by Mikel Arteta. I see no difference between last season and this so far.
Morning Kev, yep, Chelsea and Man City were and are ‘we need a miracle’ kind of games but having seen Toots beat City, why can’t we?
For Chelsea maybe not but Arsenal don’t have £100m to splash on a striker imo.
I’d imagine, based on last season, Martinelli will be the one sacrificed for Odegaard with ESR pushed out left, Saka on the right. It’s all very well having creativity but where the hack are our goals to come from?
Good morning all, I hesitated before saying “good”. 😉
Apocalypse now!
A glance at the sporting media this morning is depressing in the extreme, as far as Arsenal are concerned.
The worst start since 1947. That’s seven-five years!
Played two, lost two, goals conceded four, goals scored nil.
In 118 seasons in English football that is the first time it has happened to Arsenal at the start of a campaign.
No Leaders on the pitch.
Men against boys.
Too strong, too skilful, too well organised and too competitive. That’s Chelsea not Arsenal.
Comment on Lukaku’s performance, dominant.
I won’t go on it’s too painful.
It’s 2 games for gods sake lol
Hey Scott, did you see the comment on Lukaku, I hate to say it but “I told you so”. 😉
What did he do that was special???
We made it easy for him-hardly makes him a superstar mate.
Exactly, for other teams, it seems playing against the arsenal of the recent times, is like a springboard/step-up in their careers… that’s how low the this once a mighty club, has fallen!
Made our central defenders look like pussycats, Scott? That’s apart from scoring one and making one.
They played that way.
Geez, how can you criticise our players, then talk up opponents making our “poor players” look poor?
Explain lol
Morning Rico and all
My biggest concern is, were are our goals going to come from as we cannot rely on Auba or Laca, I am still not convinced by Arteta but saying that it would be hard for any team to win when there 2 main strikers are out.
According to the daily mail Arteta had a go. At ESR which doesn’t make sense to me when he was best player, if this is true then no wonder our players are confused with his game plan
Man city will be a big task but after that we should be able to get some wins
I really admire ESR’s devotion to arsenal’s cause
The biggest problem I sore in regards to Lukaku was we kept playing behind him and allowing him to stretch his arms out and not only prevent our players from tackling him it also allowed him to turn left or right depending upon were the ball is. Which allowed him to either take a shot at goal or set up a goal. We needed another player to stand by and run in to block the pass to Lukaku.
I was feeling quite cheery Cicero. 😂
I’m surprised it was Mari tasked with ‘stopping’ Lukaku and not Holding.
Morning Geoff, really? Was there a suggestion of the reason why?
Agreed, Rico.
Had a few technical problems..
The thing that keeps running through my head is what is Arteta’s plan on the pitch? We’re not defending very well so far, nor are we attacking well either. Can anyone honestly say that they can see a plan coming together or a style of football Arsenal are trying to play?
I can’t.
Rico apparently Arteta wanted ESR to play higher up the field but I recon ESR was our best player he looks like he has more confidence and is a bit quicker, I like the way ESR and Saka work together.
We win in the usual: fouls committed, yellow cards and sometimes in number of corners and % of ball possession.
This does not give points or score goals.
I’ve posted a long time ago that we have a team to first avoid be relegate and then try to reach the best possible position.
There are physically bad players (ex: Saka), if possible, we have to sell or lon load players and if possible, buy a right defender and a center striker who is not afraid to shot with his right foot and with his left foot, play with his head and impose hisselff physically.
Probably because for much of the time we were out of possession so he was working to get the ball back Geoff.
The problem with having any meaningful discussion about Arsenal at the moment is that every single topic that might be put forward soon becomes the thin edge of an ever-thickening wedge. I have found that those debates have become utterly pointless and rather soul destroying.
This ‘new’ Arsenal in its sad nakedness is so far from anything I have experienced in my many years of support, yet the arguments as to Mikel’s future are horribly familiar to me. ‘He’s only had 2 games” is an absolute show stopper I think.
Bad decisions have a nasty way of catching up with you and crystal balls apparently only foretell the future.
In all fairness, the officials gave us absolutely nothing.
Ok, who do we replace him with and how long do we give him?
The revolving door begins.
Arteta almost has his own squad, so a new guy is entitled to a few windows to assemble his, should we wait til he’s 90% done then call for his head?
Seems the “plan” of many fans.
Rico I agree Arteta keeps talking about we are rebuilding which is fine but when we play it’s like all our players are all over the place and it’s hard to understand what his game plan is.
Some times it feels that he has a plan in his mind but doesn’t know how to execute it.
I see a lot of fans already calling for Arteta to be sacked and I must admit I hope we don’t do anything until mid season and give Arteta and our new players to chance to improve unless we loose the first 6 matches then I might change my mind
Not really sure I understand your comment Adam.
Absolutely Geoff, there seems to be no structure whatsoever.
Hi all,
Pretty sure it was Lukaku targeting Mari after last week’s game as opposed to the plan being Mari mark Lukaku.
I was worried about their flying wing backs but thought it would be Soares and not Tierney the problem.
I would’ve liked AMN a chance in Midfield as being more mobile and a good tackler but Tierney injury changed that idea.
Lastly, I don’t see where the goals are coming from. Abaumeyang does not suit this style, Lacazette was never prolific for us, Pepe only has a left and ebbs and flows in games. The rest will be lucky to get 10 goals between them.
You can’t put a time scale on a manager imo, it’s about what happens on the pitch. Improvement is key to any decision making I think.
Rico. It was a little ambiguous I think. I can feel that thin end of the wedge though. We were horrible yesterday and that an Arsenal team can be so inept and uncompetitive against any opponent is shameful. Like you and some others I have no idea what Mikel is trying to achieve on the pitch but I see the team caught in a loop of bad habits with no in-game flexibility whatsoever. Bad decisions from top to bottom at the moment and way too many of them. If you’re trying to change the trajectory of the club then perhaps try not to do the same thing. If you see that your opponent is destroying you down your left then do something to counter it. That second goal was exactly what the team deserved for the manager’s pure arrogance. Not just a lapse in concentration, unfortunate though that might be but an on-field epidemic of bad thinking.
Tuchel had Arteta on toast yesterday and it was painful and embarrassing to witness.
Adam. I understood that one. Lol
Like you, I couldn’t understand why Tierney was not given support but it’s not for the first time an Arsenal manager has watched on whilst a player is getting caught out. Tuchel is head and shoulders ahead of Arteta and it showed.
Rico. He has a better team for sure. But I don’t think that his cadaverous head needed to work overtime yesterday.
You’re probably right Brad about Mari. I like him but it seems he’s gone downhill.
No Adam, we did make it rather easy for him.
I’ve reached the conclusion that the only plan MA has is no plan!
For sure no opposition manager can legislate or plan to play a side with no plan! So, Tuchel did very well to spot the ‘weakness’ down our left.
Actually I’m wrong in suggesting there is no plan. There is one. From the kick off the ball goes to the centre back who hoofs it up into the left channel for Saka to chase, if he wins the ball (unusual) he gets to the by line, crosses the ball, no forward in sight. Next meaningful attack of a similar type may occur again several times in the game reaching the same outcome. So far this season we have not even come close!
This is rapidly turning into a Bruce Ricoh, Billy Wright sh*t show. I kid you not. I really want Arteta to succeed but I can see no sign of anything changing, except things getting worse.
Rioch ffs
I always laugh at our opening moment from kick off Wavy. Has it ever been successful?
swap Auba for Lukaku 😉
No!
But they have come close, but were short of a cf to perform the ‘tap in’. Twice I think?
Your memory is better than mine then..
Moan moan moan, that’s all I hear on here, moan moan moan, and it’s why I enjoy coming on here, because I too enjoy a moan.
West Brom on Wednesday to a certain degree is more important than Man City, crazy as it seems Arteta needs a win at the Hawthorns so at least we’ve got something positive to take into the International break.
I mean can you imagine the atmosphere if we lose both games this week?
Don’t even suggest that Kev!
Rico, it’s also about what’s happening off the pitch and that’s something most fans can’t seem to grasp lol
Sorry, but this is crazy talk imo.
Once the entire squad is available and we have a run of games, this talk is ridiculous imo and fans following the game for decades ought to know better imo
The club was a mess-years of neglect caused it, and people seem to expect the entire culture to change in 18 months?
I never did.
3/4 years.
Look at Utd.
Liverpool.
The examples are in front of us and we ignore them, because we choose to and don’t try and tell me those clubs were playing good football while undergoing their rebuild because that’s just not true.
Utd aren’t even at their peak yet and they’ve been at it for 5-6 years.
Klopp took 5 years to win the league.
Crazy stuff but also fun to watch lol
You guys seriously can’t see what’s happening?
All signings of a young age, building an entire squad around a similar age and there’s no plan?
Come on guys.
Whinging pommy hahaha
Nah it’s good to discuss things, get them off our chests, but then we must dust ourselves off and get behind the club.
Don’t you think we all know that Scott? We’re not stupid.
New post up now