Morning all.
Half way through the season and apart from an odd few games, our level of football isn’t really improving. We’re inconsistent that’s for sure but then we expected it to be like this didn’t we?
We lacked tempo yesterday and width and energy. Too many roast potatoes perhaps or just Boxing Day blues. Or we are what we are as a team/squad.
I thought what Alex Scott said after the game made a lot of sense. Include Mesut Ozil and you lose a hard working player. Remove Mesut Ozil and the team loses creativity. I never really thought about it like that before but in truth, his creative play hasn’t been consistent in any case. Look deeper I thought and it was there, staring me in the face. How can a player turn it on when all around him are static? Back to width, pace and movement and the serious lack of it.
The first six months under Unai Emery has been a real mixed bag but as a team/squad, we haven’t improved much imo. In fact yesterday, I’d say we were as bad as we were last season. That’s not me knocking the manager, it’s me accepting that the some of our players really shouldn’t be playing at this level. Our substitutes should be game changers, not squad players at best or even a player who is probably leaving next month. After all, if he’s not considered to be the future of Arsenal, he shouldn’t be the present either.
The depth of our squad is being exposed or rather the lack of it. Again, not Emery’s fault entirely but it will be if that doesn’t change as transfer windows come and go. Guardiola and Klopp took time but I don’t think either inherited a group of players as bad as some of ours look. Klopp had the massive bonus of selling Coutinho for huge money which seriously helped his cause, Guardiola, we’ll he’s just had a bottomless pit. I’ve no idea where Arsenal truly sit when it comes to how much money there is available for transfers but unlike Liverpool, we don’t have a £100m plus kind of player to sell.
I can’t see Arsenal having a busy January, not unless the players the club are looking at are in the same situation as Ramsey but even then why move now when a free summer transfer is better for a player? Loans are perhaps more feasible involving players who simply want more playing time than their club can offer them at this moment in time. Or player swap deals as has been mooted for Emile Martinez as we apparently are after Stade Rennais winger Ismaila Sarr. A swap involving Ramsey is another possibility or any other player Emery feels isn’t cutting it. There’s a few I wouldn’t miss that’s for sure.
I know we’ve all got to be patient as Rome wasn’t built in a day but watching Arsenal draw wouldn’t be such a bad thing if that draw was entertaining but it wasn’t. It was painful.
Next up is a trip to Anfield. We’ll need a bit of ‘89 spirit to get something from that one.
See you in the comments guys…
A thought regarding Guendouzi and Xhaka.
Xhaka has never been a defensive minded player although this season alongside Torreira he seems to have found his ability to defend. What he does really well for the team is recycle and distribute the ball. In particular linking the defensive lines with the attack with long and accurate passes to split the opponents lines.
Now Guendouzi does a similar role, but instead of playing 20 yard plus penetrating passes he tends to move with the ball and release it late after committing and passing players.
Both these approaches can be useful to a team depending on the situation.
However I’ve noticed that when Guendouzi plays he dominates the receipt of the ball from our defence.
In effect his presence isolates Xhaka and negates Xhakas greatest benefit to the team.
In essence I don’t think the two of them should be used together as they negate each other making it seem like we are playing with 10 men.
Or going back to the OP, instead of playing both and negating one of them, maybe play one of them and give Ozil a free role.
There’s certainly an unbalance in the team. Injuries aren’t helping I know. The players look knackered too.
As for Ozil, you have to accept what he is. A luxury player who when played right is one of the best creators in the game.
Wenger learnt quickly that he won’t change so if you rely on him to defend then it’s your fault when he doesn’t.
@rico I’ve already expressed my concerns about the injuries.
I think the combination of a small number of true first teasers, the lack of rotation, the Premier league physicality, the training style Emery has implemented, and the style of play we now play will be too much for players and soft tissue and stress injuries will persist.
Hopefully we can adapt to the situation.
Haven’t we all Hobart.. lol
Agree re Ozil but I still don’t think he fits into what Emery is trying to achieve. His mo is hard workers..
@rico agreed regarding Ozil and Emery not being compatible. It’s a similar power struggle that Pogba had with Mourinho. One of them has to go because neither are willing to change.
In this case I think Ozil will be moving on, but no idea how, who or what will replace him.
Although I do think that when Emery was signed or when Ozil was given his deal this should have been planned for.
Easier said than done I’d have thought because I don’t think the board were preparing for life under Wenger then. Also, Sanchez was leaving and this imo was seen as a move of desperation. Losing Ozil and Sanchez at the same time would have caused mayhem.
Morning Rico and all. It strikes me that Emery has been making a patchwork quilt of a team for a while now. This has hardly been helped by our usual injury predicament and that is a subject in itself. Fitting this or that player in here and there and presenting some with an avalanche of games that has found them running out of steam. But, watching over the weeks and excluding excellent performances against Liverpool and Spurs, I reckon Emery has tinkered as far as this squad will allow.
Perhaps what is facing the club is the decision that was always lurking in the background. He can’t rip it up and start again. There is not the time, nor the funds to do do that. So he is going to have to buy, integrate and sell his way forward. Judging by recent performances, turning this squad into title challengers is a long, long way off. If he wants to add cast-offs like Gary Cahill along the way, it’s going to take even longer.
Even a cursory look through the squad has many, many more questions than answers. From our goalkeeping situation forward, I can see only a tiny amount of players who could really push on toward any sort of real success.
One of the largest concerns for me though are his tactics and even his motivational techniques. If someone could tell me why, even after Wenger, we are still pushing everybody forward for corners and leaving the back door unbolted I would love to know. We are 1-0 up, away from home and we are still committing this footballing sin. Wenger turned this into something of an art form but I am shocked to see that we are still throwing away points week in, week out because of it. You are never going to win anything playing this way surely.
Watching us stroll to a lead last night was fine but the arrogance that we showed after that goal by sliding the ball back and forth, almost teasing Brighton with our nonsensical possession was not. They were there for the taking last night. We should have tore into them while they were down and put them under pressure by scoring another couple. But no. Essentially we played right into their hands and gave them the encouragement and the time to come back at us. Why? I have no idea what the thinking was. But is was entirely demonstrative of just what an unintelligent squad this is.
Emery should be bashing the door down to buy at least 2 proper defenders this morning. It’s going to cost big money and clubs won’t want to sell but this is what happens when you let managers go on and on to a place beyond where it makes any sort of sense as Arsenal did with Wenger because what we saw last night and against Southampton was pure Arsenal. Nonsense really.
Where is the brave new world?
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico, good post…
To me it’s all about the injuries!
Losing Welbeck and Holding seriously debilitated Emery’s options to rotate and keep players fresh.
We’ve lost Bellerin now, Monreal suddenly looks 33 and injury prone, Koscielny looks finished to me, Lichtsteiner was only ever going to be a bit part, Guendouzi needs to be rested, Torrieira looks exhausted, Leno has lost confidence – not surprising when look at our defence, Kolasinac is improving but still switches off, Iwobi is quite dumb for a footballer, AMN likewise, Ozil is just Ozil, I won’t miss him when he leaves, etc etc…
Morning Kev, thanks.
I agree re the injuries but that’s when our depth of squad has been exposed. Our first eleven when all fit is pretty good bar the way we defend but as soon as Emery had to change things, it’s gone south. Agree re certain players looking knackered, again, that comes back to options I guess.
We need players, imo and we also need to let a few go sharpish…
Morning Adam.
Really good comment imo. You’ve nailed it.
The club has got little choice to back Emery financially now as six months is enough time for him to see what’s what. Perhaps he hoped he could improve certain players and to be fair there was a glimpse of hope for one or two. Now though, I think we’re back to where we were. Our football is as you say, boring sideways stuff etc.
I get playing sideways passes and backwards ones too if it’s to draw out the opposition and then make pur move forward with pace, passing and clinical finishing but we don’t. I’m not saying Emery isn’t the right man for the job, but at this moment in time, I don’t think it’s looking at all good.
Injuries Rico, look at Man City, they’ve now lost 3 games, the same as Arsenal, now look at their injuries.
Liverpool and Tottenham have been lucky – so far…
Yesterday’s game hinges on a misdirected clearance, most of our goals are self inflicted, as Adam says we need some quality at the back, look what that’s done for Liverpool…
Rico, I’ve said it for a few years-Ozil isn’t a guy who can take a game by the scruff of the neck by himself, he relies on others do make intelligent runs and he will find them.
When we lack movement off the ball, we are terrible and Ozil looks like a Sunday pub player.
When our guys are in motion, not only does the side play better, Ozil is at his best.
When he left Real, Rinaldo was filthy because he’d make the runs, and Ozil would set him up.
To his critics, I’ve asked them to imagine him behind Thierry.
Saying all of that, I thought Ozil would be better once we got Laca and Aubameyang.
Morning all.
Injuries to a degree Kev but then one has to wonder why we played such a strong team in the league cup. That was the chance to rest players for a week a play the kids. We’re getting injuries because of fatigue perhaps…
Emery is in one hell of a tough situation.
Imo, and I know plenty disagree, he’s facing the same issue Wenger did the past several years and that’s a lack of cash to splurge.
To spend, he must sell and that’s a vicious cycle.
We lack depth, and we lack quality, and to rectify that, there is only one answer.
Why so many injuries, though?
Are the my training too hard, is the shit being kicked out of them in games,
Or, is it the lack of depth and quality?
Maybe a combination of factors.
Whatever the case, I am not sure we can truly contend until our Yank mate coughs up, or moves on.
We’ve all said it Scott. But as you say, how can a bloke like him not enjoy his game with the two strikers we have..
Pay me 100k a week to manage and I’ll tell you, Rico hahahahaha
It’s a mystery.
Time will tell re the money though Scott. We know Wenger was tight but his biggest problem was neglecting the positions we needed. So far, Emery has filled them but not with enough imo. The quality is missing now.
Like I said Rico, look at City, massive squad, best manager able to rotate and they’ve stuttered after some injuries and they’re virtually in the League Cup final…
Fatigue is an issue for sure but we’ve suffered a lot since we beat Tottenham. We even miss Mustafi as Cicero would confirm… 😉
G’day all, I’m late to the table today, been out hunting for my wife’s undelivered Christmas present. Ordered on-line for “guaranteed” delivery by 21st December, apparently its been sitting in a local depot since Wednesday last week. I went into Debenhams Norwich this morning to see what was going on, after arguing with the guy on the customer service desk, he eventually offered a refund but didn’t know how to do it. I suggested he went down to the department concerned picked up the item from the display and gave it to me. He grudgingly agreed and did so. He then had “sell” it to me at “no charge” so he could issue a receipt.
If anyone is contemplating buying on-line from Debenhams, think twice!
We have definitely seen an improvement in combativeness since Emery took over, due largely to the signing of Sokratis, Torreira, Guendouzi and Lichtsteiner. Unfortunately our defensive options have been decimated by injuries and Emery seems reluctant to use any youngsters in defence apart from Maitland-Niles. Yesterday, when Koscielny went off, a full back, Lichtsteiner, was moved to central defence and replaced by Maitland-Niles our only defensive option on the bench. The reshuffle was probably, in part at least, responsible Brighton’s goal with Lichtsteiner out of position and attempting a totally unnecessary headed interception. Had he left the ball Locadia would not have got possession in such a dangerous position. Sadly Koscielny looks to be on his last legs, maybe Thierry Henry could be induced to buy him for Monaco where he could play on in semi-retirement, the Premiership looks to be beyond his capabilities.
In our present, parlous, defensive situation I still think a loan move for Gary Cahill makes sense.
I would rather look at the lower divisions than get Cahill. We need players with sell on value.Currently we have them all coming to contract end and have no selling value to sponsor a large deal.
We are in a pickle and will be forced to sell the ones we don’t want to so that we can buy what we need. When you think of our surplus how much would they raise?
All we will have is the sponsor money , so don’t expect too much.
I get that about City and injuries Kev, honest. I guess I just see a bigger issue which perhaps isn’t there. I hope not anyway.
Even so, we need a positive and productive January imo.
Cicero, Debenhams have always been good for me.. lol
I’d rather see Medley given a game than Cahill who’d be a Wenger kind of signing imo. If he isn’t good enough for Chelsea then imo, he’s not good enough for us.
As would I Potter.
The next few transfer windows are going to be very interesting.
I’m not convinced by Leno and Cech needs replacing due to age.
Koscielny, Monreal, and Lichtsteiner need replacing due to age. Holding is out for the season. Mustafi, Kolasinac, and Jenkinson aren’t convincing.
Ramsey is off, and probably so is Ozil. Mkhitaryan isn’t convincing, Elneny is a squad player at best.
Wellbecks off and Nketiah hasn’t impressed as much as I’d hoped when he’s had his small opportunities.
It’s going to be a very busy time…
Since 2004 we have not won the League because we have invested in a new stadium, because of the many injuries, because besides the injuries, we had players that were disabled all season, because we did not have a good goal scorer, because we did not have a good goalkeeper, because we were in several “fronts” and the squad was short, by errors of AW, by little luck … what have change? what are the justifications now?
It is impossible not to have injuries and players suspended.
The team has no ideas. Which is very different. Yesterday, as I posted, the coach changed tactics 4 times. The team is affected when it concedes a goal. But more than the team, is the coach.
Notes: a) Torreira can not stop playing in the middle of the pitch and not on the right as he started playing in the beginning of the second half (2nd tactic) and then passed to the middle when Mailtland-Niles entered (3rd tactic);
b) fortunately, after 30 posts of mine, they saw that Ozil and Iwoby should not play at the same time;
c) Iwoby when he entered (2nd tactic) should have been charged to carry the game and not to lean to the right. Become he is an unknow player (why? ) and have quality to appear and get in the game.
d) The coach detected after 15 minutes that what he had thought at half-time would be a failure (beginning of the 3rd tactic)
e) .Finally, he saw that what he had planned for Ozil to start (1st tactic) could have been done by entering Ramsey (beginning of the 4th tactic), which coincided with Arsenal’s best period in the 2nd half, although he had changed the team and positioning of players.
Final note: Once again we concede a goal because of our destitution and not because the opponent is superior. In my opinion, it is not a reason to change everything but rather to correct and perfect what is less well.
AW always made the 1st substitution at 75 minutes (unless someone was injured); Emery, is disturbed with a conceded goal, not realizing when it is because of superiority of the opponent or a casual error (?) of the team.
b) — Iwoby to the left…
Oh and considering we will be losing the experience of Cech, Koscielny our captain, Monreal our stalwart, Lichtsteiner, Ramsey our best goalscoring midfielder, Ozil our best creative midfielder, and our utility forward in Welbeck for pretty much nothing.
Finances are going to be fun?
Yep, we really do need our owner to step up, but he won’t so it’s tough times ahead.
Emery is up for the fight, so that’s a positive.
I think I’ll wait to see what happens in the next transfer window or two before starting the Kroenke stuff..
Southampton 1 up
We gave them a new soul.
They’re doing well since our early Christmas gift Jm….
We could replace Ozil for Anderson…
We have to find a buyer first…
yes, and Fenerbahce is in a relegation position …
Rico, he needs to step up, or we need to give Emery some leeway, even two or three windows down the track, as Stan is the constant.
I’m backing Emery in all the way and I’m sure we’ve already improved in general, but people need to understand a manager can only do so much.
New post up now