Suarez and square pegs…

Morning all.

It’s a win, three points in the bag however they came which by all accounts wasn’t in a convincing fashion. Shame we couldn’t keep a clean sheet but that was inevitable I guess with the amount of opportunities we gifted Cardiff. On a night when Utd dropped two points at home and with Chelsea and Totts both playing later, it’s good to have our points on the board.

At the beginning of the season, many of us on here suggested that this season was a write off before it kicked off. This was about change, Unai Emery building his own squad and the beginning of a new era. That’s certainly how I felt then and still do now.

I guess though we all have a choice, for the want of a better word and that’s to either believe we should be playing better than we are with the players we have or simply accepting that those who Unai Emery inherited simply aren’t good enough. Either because of their own footballing limitations or they simply can’t put into practice on a match day, what’s being done on the training pitch. Maybe we should accept that it wasn’t Arsene Wenger’s training methods which produced poor performances, it was the personnel he brought into the team/squad. The majority anyway and until they leave and get replaced, we are where we are.

Denis Suarez is expected to arrive at the club any moment. Even so I won’t be counting chickens just yet. Emery has worked with Suarez before so he knows him well and clearly believes he can bring something exciting to our team. A proper Emery player so let’s see what he does. There could be another yet too so it’s the same for him. If Suarez fits in well, it’s likely we’ll make the deal permanent in the summer apparently.

Suarez is expected to be the first of two before the transfer window slams shut tomorrow and then in the summer as players are moved on and others replace them, perhaps only then we will see if the Emery way is the right way for the club. His contact runs for two years, a third being an option only so it’s in his own interest to improve the Arsenal he took over.

But surely he can only do that with players he wants? Players who fit into his tactics and vision for the club. After all, right now it must feel like he’s fitting square pegs into round holes.

Stay safe in the white stuff guys, and keep warm…

37 thoughts on “Suarez and square pegs…

  1. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, I just read he was parr of the Belgian World Cup squad last year and did have 3 seasons at Athletico so he must have something.

  2. Adam says:

    Morning Rico. I used to watch Carrasco when he was at Athletico Madrid. He seldom started but would usually get on, wide right. He was in the same boat as Alderweireld. He’s a Belgian International. Another player who seemed to lose his way and ended up going to the footballing backwater that is China. From what I remember, he has class and can beat a man. He can also score a goal.
    As to his current situation, who knows?

  3. rico says:

    Thanks Scott, Adam, morning to you. Maybe this move will do him the world of good. It can happen.

    I’ve not seen any new ones re Clarke…

  4. Wavy says:

    Morning all.

    Another 3 points won. Hurrah. We bettered the mighty Cardiff City! Just……

    Ever onwards. Lacca’s goal was a good ‘un.

    No snow here….a bit of frost earlier, gone now! I’m so looking forward to the summer, warmth, sunshine and cricket😀

  5. allezkev says:

    Morning Gooners
    Morning Rico.

    Almost got Suarez, isn’t it exciting?
    I bet that Stan is sitting by his phone nervously awaiting the good news.

    Here it’s sunny and I hope it stays that way… 🙂

  6. Wavy says:

    Just a thought. The club seem to be searching for a capable, speedy winger who can provide good crosses for our predatory strikers. Surely we have one on the books already, it’s just that he’s presently on loan at a club in Germany! So, the club would sooner she’ll out a few million on a loan signing rather than recall Nelson from his loan. Why?? Have failed to understand the loan system or does loan mean loan? ( with no recourse to the player’s home club and their needs?)

    Kev will know as will Rick, but do we not have any other likely wide players who might be up to the task playing in one of the junior teams? On a similar theme, the same applies to defenders, pick one or two of the youngsters. Emery says we have enough CDs to not go out and find any replacements outside the club. We’re skint, so we’re told for what good reason can the club not use some of our talented youth? To repeat myself from a few weeks ago. If they’re good enough they’re old enough! No good ‘saving them for later’ when our need is now.

    Sun shining here, now. No snow forecast either, thank goodness.

  7. allezkev says:

    Smith Rowe is one Wavy, but he’s just coming back from an injury.
    Saka and Amaechi are both really good but they aren’t going to get a game with us chasing top four and every game a must win…

    Football is so unforgiving now Wavy, foreign owners, foreign coaches, every game is life or death, lose and its sack the manager, tbh most coaches go safety first with a bench of experienced subs, it’s difficult to see where our youngsters can find a way in, that’s why so many go off to the Bundesliga, it’s why Nelson is better off out there where he can develop imo.

    Look at Willock, the last two or three times he’s played in the 1st team he’s scored but he can’t even get on the bench.
    Nketiah gets on the bench but rarely gets on the pitch.

  8. potter says:

    My old hobby horse about the old combination. , football ought to swallow some of it’s profits for a proper reserve league. I bet it would gain just as much interest as the women’s game . There used to be fairly good crowds at Highbury and it enabled injured players coming back and youngsters breaking through game time in a competitive league and aided their development in their own clubs.

    Nelson’s last appearence for Hoffenhiem was as a substitiute on 23 /12 2018 and has not featured either starting or sub since. i can’t find out if he is injured or whether has just slipped down the pecking order.

  9. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Carrasco is another Liechteiner…
    He was good but Belguium improves when in the World Cup replaced Carrasco for someone younger.
    He was a good player at A. Madrid but was a 4-5 years ago.
    And he is another who plays for the left side…
    Our gap at the moment is in the right back. Adapting a player in that position is unbalanced the team, Never been a solution.

  10. Dick Tresidder says:

    Wasn’t Nelson dropped for a few games because he wouldn’t defend enough? If that’s correct then he wouldn’t fit in with the 100% press ideas.

  11. Le Coq Monster says:

    Afternoon all and thanks Rico.

    Shades weather here 😎

    Just play Saka, fcuk Carrasco !………………….do we really need more money on the wage bill ?………………….and wasn`t Saka man of match when he played ?………………………………..more importantly, do we need a winger more than a defender at this moment in time ?

  12. Le Coq Monster says:

    Dick……………………I think the Bundesliga is on their winter break, training and friendlies atm.

  13. Cicero says:

    Good afternoon all,

    I’ve just watched the highlights of last nights game and it seems clear that we had good chances to score more than just two goals. Yes we let Cardiff create some good chances too but I put that down to another muddled defence. One, not very good, central defender and three fullbacks. It’s clear that Emery has no faith in our young defenders.

    Monreal was lucky in not giving away a penalty but, equally, we were unlucky not to get one or two more than just the Kolascinac one. I don’t like Mike Dean, and have always suspected a certain bias against Arsenal, but I think he is just plain incompetent.

    Aubameyang was totally calm as the Cardiff ‘keeper tried to put him off, taking time for a drink on a cold and wet evening was so blatant that even the myopic Dean should have noticed, but the penalty was taken and placed in the back of the net with aplomb.

    Lacazette’s solo effort was well worthy of Goal of the Month.

    No news on the Suarez deal yet?

  14. Cicero says:

    Light dusting of snow overnight, clear and sunny all day, temperature quickly dropping now the sun has set..

  15. Le Coq Monster says:

    Dont know about any of you lot, but I`ve been in more clinical looking massage parlours !…………………not very sterile looking and where`s the masks etc`…………………..and not forgetting fit looking nurses ?

    https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1090620364365987840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1090620364365987840&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Farsenalarsenal.net%2F2019%2F01%2F30%2Farsenal-2-cardiff-1-player-ratings%2F

  16. rico says:

    Dick, I think Nelson suffered a back injury which kept him out..

    Afternoon Kev,all.

    Suarez confirmed then, wonder if he’ll face City..

  17. Le Coq Monster says:

    Rumours Eddie going on loan to Germany !……………………………….I`d prefer to keep him for FA Youth Cup !

  18. Le Coq Monster says:

    I`m glad we keep Captain Marvel !…………………………….not many of them PSG players would get in our team ………………..that league is probably a step up from the Scottish PL ! 😆

  19. Le Coq Monster says:

    Actually, on the wages he`s on I`d get rid of Dick and make Mesut player manager !…………………………….genius ! ……………………….I can guarentee you that if Kroenke reads HH he`ll be thinking what a great cost cutting idea that is ! hahaha

  20. allezkev says:

    Liverpool draw at home, Chavs lose 4-0, on top of Man Utd drawing and City losing yesterday it’s been a funny old midweek…

    Smith Rowe linked with RB Leipzig and Nketiah to Augsburg, both 6 month loans if completed.
    Nketiah is too old for FAYC…
    Surprised not to see Willock go out of loan as well.

    Suarez doesn’t get me very enthused I’ve gotta say, he might be ok but the protracted nature of some transfers these days really kills the buzz we used to get. Now it’s all rating boring…

  21. allezkev says:

    Not sure what it says about Ozil rejecting a loan to PSG, lack of ambition perhaps?
    PSG would certainly have no problem paying his wages as they’re owned by Qatar.

    I mean what’s not to like about that move?
    Ozil would get himself an easy Ligue 1 champions medal.
    He’d be swapping the Europa League for the Champions League – no brainer….!
    There would probably be a nice win in the French Cup at the Stadt de France.
    But it seems he is keen to remain in London and fight for a top four finish.
    What a hero.

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