Morning all.
It’s fair to say that we could talk about Arsenal and the Villa blip, at least I hope it’s a blip, until the cows come home but it’ll get us nowhere. We can guess what’s going on with certain players, the board and even the owner but the reality is, it’s just a guess. Patience and time will answer questions which perhaps run through the minds of you and I.
I saw the remarks made by Tony Adams about Jude Bellingham and how Arsenal were very close to signing him but somehow, Edu got in the way and the deal failed to materialise. Edu joined Arsenal in July 2019 as technical director. Sven Mislintat was the guy Adams suggests had the deal ‘kind of done’ but as he departed in February 2019, the deal fell because Edu, who arrived in the July of the same year, didn’t know who he was. I find this little story hard to believe. Not the spotting of Bellingham but the deal being done before collapsing because of Edu. Wasn’t Raul capable of following any such deal through? Probably not because as Mislintat later declared, his signing were agent driven rather than by data and good old fashion scouting.
Sven Mislintat wasn’t at Arsenal for long, just over a year I think but even so, he’s been credited for Arsenal scouting Aubameyang, Leno, Torriera and Guendouzi, although I don’t think Aubameyang needed a scout to tell any club how good a striker he is. The other three, I’ll leave you to make your own mind up about them.
Since Raul left, Sven too, Arsenal have brought in a number of new players. Not all will have pleased Arsenal fans I’m sure as one only has to read the headlines on newsnow to see how Cedric and Mari were pretty unpopular at the time although I personally don’t agree. Cedric hasn’t really done a lot wrong when he’s played, neither has Mari but to judge them before they’ve even kicked a ball for Arsenal was harsh. Elneny is proof that the coach can do wonders for a player’s career. No club can have 22 top top players in its squad in my opinion. Not every signing can be the quality of Gabriel and Partey. Or Aubameyang and Tierney for that matter.
Just the first eleven though. Eleven players who have the right work ethic, are very good at their job and have pride in the shirt they wear. Right now I think Arsenal are two or three players light in that department. Funny enough, in the creative department and funny enough Tony Adams has had his say on this too. A simple solution, bring back Mesut Ozil:
Ozil, for me, is one of the best creative players in the world. What he struggles with at times is the defensive side of the game. To win the league we need great players, I asked Dennis Bergkamp now and again to get back in, get behind the ball, do a little bit and make it a little bit difficult for them. That’s all Ozil needs to do. When you’re putting him on the sides and you’re asking him to go with runners and full-backs he’s not got that. But what he has got, if he played in this team now, is someone like Partey who can cover.
The times Dennis let people go and Patrick [Vieira] just slid over, or Emmanuel Petit, great leaders, great team players. That’s the stature, and Partey’s like that. When you’ve got players in your team like that, I’ve always said Ozil is the cherry on the cake without the cake. We didn’t have a cake for so many years.
But now we’re getting some players in the team and there’s some stability there. There are signs where you can put the cherry [Ozil] on and pull strings for Aubameyang down the middle. I don’t think the other guys are working at the moment. Like Dennis fed Thierry Henry, I think there’s loads of similarities there. I would love to see Ozil in behind feeding Aubameyang all day long.
Someone needs to that’s for sure, although I can’t see it being Ozil.
See you in the comments guys.
Our midfield is not working as it would, aubameyang and lacazede are struggling because they need someone like ozil who will feed them upfront to bang the goals
Morning Adam, Kev. Thanks.
I think you know the answer Kev. 😂
Nice post Rico, isn’t it odd that both Bergkamp and Adams have had very average careers since they retired, are they both still out of football and why is that?
Morning Rico. I tend to agree with Tony about Mesut but I understand that’s a generally unpopular opinion.
I can understand why ‘some’ believe bringing Ozil back would solve a few problems creatively but in some ways, I think when Emery tried that, it was his downfall.
I’ve been saying exactly that about Ozil, and I’m sure big Tony saw my comment on here from a few days back suggesting I’d like to see him alongside Partey, but it won’t happen 🙂
Morning all.
Kev, Dennis has not managed a side so how do you judge him as average post football?
He’s been a coach, not a manager and realistically, only Ajax players would know what influence he’s had on them.
Rico. I understand all the arguments but today’s Arsenal are a different club with a very different set-up and as part of that journey I’d like to see him given a chance. I’m not convinced he’s the answer, who could be?, but we’re in the wilderness at the moment and not really looking that good.
True Adam.
Rico, Emery wanted Ozil to defend.
Whether we like it or not, that was never going to work and an U/6’s coach would know that.
And so will Arteta Scott. He’s far more demanding than Emery in my opinion.
Rico, better to not play him imo.
It must be difficult to make such a big decision Scott and to be fair, I doubt we’d be having this conversation if we were better in attack but, and we all do it, the alternative often seems better than who is playing. Sometimes though, it perhaps just takes a tweak on the training pitch. For Arteta’s sake, I hope he soon solves it because it won’t be long before the ‘Arteta out’ headlines are in full flow.
Not here I hasten to add, he’s only just beginning imo.
If Ozil came back into the post January squad and a revival took place Arteta’s place would become untenable . The I told you so merchants , pundits , media would be all over him like Keown on Van Nistelroy . He would be caught in a storm of opprobrium from which he would never recover .
There may be a need for a more decisive midfielder to supplement our attack but I am not sure that an Ozil style player floating around is likely to be any better than a Ceballos
. A Merson or Rocastle type that burst through defensive lines either with or without the ball would be much more effective. The need to pressurise is far more important than trying to thread passes through infintesimal gaps .
Agree Potter, I think the Ozil ship has well and truly sailed. Willock could yet be the type of midfielder you’re talking about. If not this season then perhaps next. Or ESR if he can stay fit.
Rico, I’ll back Arteta.
We don’t know what’s happened behind closed doors, but if I’m sure if Ozil was doing everything right, he’d be given his chance and as much as I think he’s do well alongside Partey, long term, it’s better he doesn’t play.
On one hand I’d love to see it, but on the other, it just can not happen.
He was given a chance Scott. When Arteta arrived back in December, Ozil was played a lot if my memory serves me right.
Imo, he’d not ever play alongside Partey but perhaps instead of either Pepe, Willian or Saka.
Unfortunately, we’ll never know. But what we’re seeing is very concerning. To me at least.
It is to me too Adam but is it Arteta or the squad he has at his disposal? I know we’re not creating as many chances as a team should if it’s to be a success but when we miss opportunities early in a game, I think it sets the tone. An early goal can change a game and how an opponent plays against us.
Perhaps with our more secure defensive set up and Partey bossing the midfield Ozil could be fitted in. Certainly in place of the underwhelming Willian but as Rico says, that ship has sailed.
I haven’t posted anything but here it goes:
Ozil’s entry, would be the end of Arteta. I hope the bells have ringing after two consecutive defeats at home, with 9 goals in 8 games, 10 goals conceded, 4 losses, without creating a goal opportunity, a team without strength, without speed and without energy. It is not enough to have “violin players” in the attack. The evidence, among others, is that there are too many touches and fewer shots. Let’s wait for the next game to see if there are any clicks.
Jm, I agree with us taking too many touches. I don’t think Pepe, Auba or Lacazette can hold onto the ball for long as they lose it. Quicker passing, more movement between the front men and who knows..
Afternoon Rico and All
I know big Tone is a little bitter that The Arsenal never found a roll for him,Boudy,Freddy,Massage,Keown,Denis,now Micky & Edu the list goes on.
4 games is a lot to lose so it’s easy for a lot of I think our younger fans who would never believe what football was like 30 years ago and longer 4 managers in a couple of years is something we older fans would never have believed possible.
I always prefer to go by what I see on the pitch and watch mostly live mainly tv these days so what I see is a manager who is learning how to deal with people he has shown us he can beat the big boys with the players we have,in coaching terms defending is a lot easier to coach than breaking teams down attacking wise,as we can all see for those who want attacking football it’s risky without the right players on board,going back to the villa game I’m 100% certain Micky could have gone for a sneaker 1-0 but I think he was guilty of complacency and that must of rubbed off on the team.
Afternoon Fred, do you think Arteta knows what complacent means? Irony of course but I’m not sure he£ allow players to be complacent. He certainly doesn’t talk as if he does.
It’s already up and running the get Arteta out campaign has started .
These are comments from the daily mirror following a piece largely positive on Arteta .
1 day ago
1 :-Something doesn’t click right with me and what is happening at Arsenal, Arteta and Mezut Ozil. Is it political? or a personality problem? maybe a religious problem? How can you leave a skillful player who is desperately needed in the team, and being paid such a vast weekly wage to sit at home doing nothing! Somebody has got to intervene and sort something out! Is Arteta a little bit like a School Master, if the player’s are a bit unruly does he feel compelled to expel them? Arsenal is not a school, it is a football club, and it doesn’t need a headmaster, It needs a top class coach who can get the best out all the players, not favour some, and not others! I think Arteta’s future will end end up on a very rocky road.
2 :- I agree something is wrong through the club
We have great players
We now buy good players
But something is wrong on the pitch when lesser equipped teams score goals and win games Arsenal surrender.
Arteta has made some progress but no denying the results are worse than before. We need an experienced manager to fix this.
3 :- As I understand this article
Arteta arrives
Doesn’t change much
And
Facts
Lowest In League 11th for decades
Fewer wins
Fewer goals
Fewer points
What are we missing this is clearly worse with the same players. Must be the manager .
Although here we are largely supportive the media narrative is being stoked.
Internet trolls are everywhere Potter. I haven’t read the comments on LG yet, but I’d imagine patience has already worn very thin there.
I don’t think so Adam, performance is key and get that right, results will naturally follow imo.
Another interesting debate today that just goes to emphasise that results are everything.
As for Arteta being finished if Mesut returns? Can’t see it myself.
Well Scott, I guess the fact that since leaving Ajax that Dennis hasn’t been inundated with new offers, as far as we know, he’s done some unpaid coaching at the club where his son plays, Almere City, but that’s about that.
There were some rumours back in August that he might replace Ljungberg but none of them were substantiated and Arteta has said nothing despite the reports stating that ‘He wanted Bergkamp to replace Freddie’ – I couldn’t find any quotes.
Look if Arteta brought him back to Arsenal as a coach then I’d be very happy about that, but despite getting the sack from Ajax what has he done?
Rico know what you mean….
complacency happens,it’s only afterwards it hits you
Micky was quick to take the blame straight after the Villa game
True Fred, honestly, I can’t see us playing as badly as that game any time soon. As suggested yesterday though, we really could have done without the break. Hopefully Arteta sent them packing off on international duty after a rollicking.
I tend to agree with Adam, if say Ozil returned in January for whatever reason, as unlikely as that seems to be, then I don’t think it would mean the end of Arteta, not unless Ozil played like a God between January 31st and the end of the season – and if my experience of Herr Ozil is anything to go on then that’s not going to happen.
Adam I think that if he back tracks to Ozil he will be completely undermined both within the club and the media pressure will heap up against him
If as I suspect there are cliques within the dressing room then an Ozil return would give his supporters in there the upper hand. I have seen it before in sales teams that a new manager comes in and the old members of the team do not appreciate new methods and subtly work against them and eventually the manager goes or the older heads do.
Until Arteta gets his own group we won’t know but as I said earlier the natives are being whipped up and are getting restless and he might not get the time that he requires.
Just imagine what it’d be like for Arteta if fans were in stadiums.
I still believe that until a few leave, any manager would find managing Arsenal difficult.
RIP Ray Clemence, Des O’Connor too….
Kev, his asking from Ajax was over a clash of personalities though.
That was the story at the time it happened.
At this stage, it’s impossible to judged where TA has had a few gigs and done nothing of note in any of them.
Axing….asking…..phone sucks lol
R.I.P Ray Clemence and Stepney boy Des
Phone sucks ? Just as well it didn’t get that mixed up
Guys, have any of you had comments go missing today, or the page reloading half way through typing a comment?
Nothing like that Rico, but yesterday the comment box disappeared for a while.
Not today but yesterday and Friday were a nightmare
Ditto for me over the past few days but better today. Thanks guys.
I have been having trouble since last wedensday.
This morning openedup to h/h to a post dated 19aug 211.
The headlines said
Arsenal propagando it never rains but it pours.
It was writen by a StevePalmer and had over 200 comments.
He commented o Gervinho 3match banagainst Barton and Song 3game ban for stamping on Barton
Just 3 names I know Rico Adamand Kev.
Dont know how I got This postand Ihope this dosnot get lost
Just weeks Scott? 😆
That’s weird Rick…
Rico, I’ve had trouble for a few weeks, but the past few days it’s been perfect-work that out lol
Potter, same here 🙂
Oh that’s just harsh, Rico, and if it weren’t true, I’d be offended hahahaha
Morning all
Ha ha Scott.
New post up now
Ah, the good old days Rick, Wenger in charge, Arsenal in the CL, 200 comments before everyone disappeared to Twitter, no Covid, no lockdowns, no Uber, things were simpler then.
Morning Rico and ensemble.
Morning Kev, Wavy and all.
I hope the five subs return, makes sense to me.
Ditto re Saka Kev. Too much playing time and he’ll suffer. He’s still a kid really.