Morning all.
Firstly, despite the many many years of fierce rivalry between Toots and Arsenal, the home fans showed a bit of class yesterday when Bukayo Saka came on from the bench. Cheers not jeers rung around the stadium for the young Arsenal man who’d been subjected to some ghastly comments on social media not so long ago. Credit where it’s due.
The game was pretty grim to watch, Arsenal’s performance lacked in many departments. A few nice passes here and there, a few opportunities to score created but not none were really clear cut.
If yesterday’s performance was a taste of what’s to come, it’s going to be a long old season. However, I’m hopeful yesterday was a slow and boring affair because it was a friendly. That no one gave 100% because they didn’t want to pick up an injury before Friday. The goal Toots scored should have been ruled out for offside and would have been if VAR was in operation but regardless, Pepe should have found row z instead of trying to be clever in a dangerous area. The defending which followed Pepe losing the ball was awful.
Our new signings continue to impress. They were the bright spark in a dull old game. Ben White just seems to get himself wherever the ball is, he’s the kind of defender we’ve needed for so long. In my opinion, his £50m transfer fee will prove to be money well spent. Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares, well, hats off to Arsenal for finding them and bringing them to the club.
Last season was the worst Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has had in an Arsenal shirt but I’ve a horrid feeling, this coming season will be even worse. He’s simply not at the races at all. He clearly needs a new challenge in his football career, a career which doesn’t have that many years left in it. There’s still time in this transfer window for him to move.
Interestingly, there was no Willian in the squad yesterday, nor Joe Willock but AMN and Sead Kolasinac did make an appearance although I’ll be very surprised if both are Arsenal players come the 3rd September. Mikel Arteta wouldn’t talk about Joe Willock much after the game about the reports suggesting both Arsenal and Newcastle had agreed a fee for him. I think it’s safe to assume his Arsenal career is over and I wish him well.
Pre-season hasn’t been good for Arsenal at all. We’ve not looked at all convincing on the pitch and we’ve lost Thomas Partey for a few weeks. Eddie Nketiah too who for the first time since being involved in the first team, had looked strong and more decisive with the ball at his feet. Arsenal could have done with him against Chelsea and Toots because had he played well he’d have caught the eye of a few more other clubs. His injury is a bruised ankle so that shouldn’t put any suitors off.
Arsenal have a lot of work to do before the close of the transfer window. Eddie, AMN, Nelson, Kolasinac, Runasson and Torreira all need their future sorted out. On top of that, the club need a keeper and another midfielder at least.
Mikel Arteta has a bit of work to do on the training pitches too because in just four days time the season kicks off. I’ve got my new oversized cushion ready already….
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico.
If we start this season as badly as we did the last Arteta, who is already under pressure, will be out of the door before Christmas.
A bleak prognosis I know, but true I’m afraid. 😕
Good Morning Rico and all
Thanks for the post. I still have to search for it in NN instead of finding it in the HH homepage.
Barring any signings in the goalkeeping and defensive departments I have a feeling that the defence and defensive midfield for the game against Brentford will be LENO; CHAMBERS, HOLDING, WHITE, TIERNEY; XHAKA, SAMBI LOKONGA. Finally. an entire back line who can communicate in English. I hope we get Ramsdale and I would feel happy about it.
If it were for me I would go for an advanced midfield of Pepe, ESR, Saka, with Laca leading the line. I will make sure that Auba will lose his car keys at his home and cannot turn up for the match due to lack of transport. Then I will fine him two weeks wages for disrespecting the club. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hi all,
My take on Abaumeyang:
Lost a yard of pace and can’t take on defenders.
We don’t create enough chances anymore, he’s not a great finisher but had multiple chances so he sloted 1/5.
Passing game instead of counter attack creates no space for him to run onto but needs close control and ability to find tight spaces.
None of those will change so he will struggle going forward.
Morning Devil, Cicero, all.
I fear you might be right Cicero.
Devil, do you have a WordPress account? If you’re logged in, the post will show up. I’m not sure why that’s changed but it must be something WordPress have done.
Add in lost confidence too Brad.
Morning , I too can see no alternative to the Xhaka , Lokonga combo for the first few games but the question for me is what happens when Partey comes back . If we keep Xhaka then I fear that the season will be repeat of the last two .
For too long we have needed drive from the midfield that has been missing since Ramsey left ( Scott ?) .
My feelings on Xhaka are well documented , he is a better than average but limited midfielder somewhat similar to Arteta himself .Esr goes forward as does Saka they are lauded because they are exciting . Arteta , Elneny and Xhaka are safety first and safety first gets you mid table and that’s where we are likely to finish.
Bradley that’s what Malaria does for you. You recover to a point but not completely.
Selling Willock and keeping Xhaka has pissed me right off!!!
Good morning all!!! 😪😪😪
You and me both Dexter.
Morning Rico. Was Spurs goal offside?
When Partey is back fit, surely the midfield will be him and Lokonga? Xhaka and Elneny should be nowhere near a starting eleven when everyone is fit imo.
Morning Adam, I think so.
Rico. Just watched it again. Can’t see an offside.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t-5aSR1zby4
Prior to Pepe faffing around with the ball instead of just letting it go out, the pass was offside. Had that been given, the rest doesn’t happen.
I’m sure there will be a flurry of transfer activity right up to the last minute of the window closing. So I’m not getting myself in too much of a flap!
I reserve the right to be apoplectic with rage and angst September 1st right up till the winter window opening! 😪
Not convinced, but fair enough as it’s irrelevant now. Least of our problems at the moment though. Things will ramp up quite quickly I think now the phoney war is coming to an end.
The commentary team said it was offside too but you’re right, it’s irrelevant this morning. I hope the pre season performances aren’t a reflection of how we’re going to play this coming season.
Agreed. As Arsenal fans we’ve learnt to always hope for the best while ignoring the obvious. We’ll know soon though.
The offside was in the build up , the way VAR was operated last season it may well have been called but I looked for replays but they don’t go back far enough to show it .
Still pre season and not really important . There are a lot more things to worry about i think.
Potter, Aubameyang was crap long before he caught Malaria.
In view of the structure in your back garden, shouldn’t you change your name to Miller? 😉
Potter. Thanks. I’ve seen it now.
The YouTube clip I posted does Potter.
I’m really worried about our attacking game. More so than the defence.
It’s the pass at about 2.30 that was contencious.
Cicero, my guess is the location is behind the name Potter. Lol
DG, I find searching highbury-house.com followed by /2021/month/day/ in numbers is infallible.
For me Eleneny is just a no in dat squad.. We need completion for slots on d squad.. That’s what improves players… Willock and AMN are even better than Eleneny… He has not positive contribution rather than passing backwards and running a around the whole place without any input.. Chambers also for me is off the pace… Get these guys out of our wage bill.. William and bellarin as well… Not happy
Morning all
Yesterday’s result was disturbing not because we lost but because we didn’t score and never really looked likely to! If the chances are not created then the strikers have little or no chance of scoring. Yesterday’s game could have been any one of last season’s performances, with the same depressing outcome.
A shame we’re losing Willock is he another ‘Martinez’ I fancy he may be! Xhaka or Willock? The future or the past? Success or failure? We’ll see! Not a good bit of business imo.
Malaria or not, he’s not worth playing anymore and costing quite a large salary.
Willian the same story, can’t take on a defender, lost pace but at least can still cross a ball but no one on the end of it.
On a striker, we will be stuck with who we have as neither are wanted. Martinez is either going to Totts or no where as Lukaku looks to be a done deal.
So same old attack and Midfield so far.
Morning Rico and Gooners, it feels all very deja vu…
I honestly don’t get the hate for Auba?
He is a class act and will score goals (as Laca will), provided he gets the service.
We don’t have enough of a threat from elsewhere…. certainly not central midfield. Which makes selling Willock even more effin bizarre.
Dexter, with Auba starting matches the win % is 50%, with Auba and Laca starting together the win % is 58%, with Laca starting match and Auba not in the first 11 the win % goes up to 66%.
Need I say more?
If I named myself after the windmill it would have to be financial black hole or millstone round neck or even potential disaster waiting to happen. 10 years ago I hired a cherry picker and tried to fix things but it needs doing again and there is no help from council, windmills trust , ancient buildings society or national lottery. We’re it owned by the national trust they would be over it like Martin Keown. However my wife inherited it and We are stuck with it.
As for Auba hate is too strong a word.I just feel that we have seen the best that we are likely to . I think he needs a new challenge in a less competitive league where defenders have yet to learn his tricks ,as he slows his cut inside and bend it into the corner is getting easier to read .
Afternoon Kev, it does doesn’t it.
I don’t think there’s a hate for Aubameyang Dexter just huge concern. Last season he was right off form yet we’re hoping, expecting him to return to his old self this season. Can’t see it myself.
Not hate for Abau, there’s no sign of it coming back and the worry for me is that. Arteta persists with him as he did with Willian.
I still think we don’t have the players to be Man City light nor the Liverpool high press defence.
I worry we need to sell too get a number 10 and or a striker. Priority at this stage is probably a keeper.
Hi all, been a while … hope you have all been well.
Pre-season: honestly cannot see any change which is hugely disappointing. No discernible style/patterns of play that would suggest Arteta is making any progress. There seems to be no spark, almost as if the players are going through the playbook without any passion/enjoyment for the game. My only hope atm is that being bad in pre-season is a false indicator and when season starts we will hit the ground running…
Willock: if we have not got a buyback clause than this could be a serious mistake. The kid has lots of potential and I think if he commits and shows the right attitude (which looks likely) than he will be a top player. 40m to 50m in a couple of years IMHO. But he needs the break and he needs the magic to happen, which at Newcastle with a manager/coach that is sensitive to his needs could be the place to grow.
My preferred line up against Brentford (4-2-3-1):
Leno
AMN – White – Mari – Tierney
Xhaka – Sambi
Pepe – ESR – Saka
Lacca or Auba
The addition of Tavares looks good, and Ben White has been a player I have admired for a long time; genuine class, so I think defence is sorted. The GK situation is a bit worrying… we need a worthy backup to Leno and my ideal choice would be Onana. Ramsdale would be good, but expensive. I would only be buying him if I had plans to sell Leno at the end of this season, which would make sense IMO. So buy Ramsdale only if Leno is in his last season. RB is a problem if AMN does not accept his destiny … if he does, and he gets his head down and works, he could be an outsandting RB… If he does not, than Soares/Chambers is a disaster due to their lack of pace/positioning intelligence. AMN would be my first choice RB all day long if he can get his head switched on. Recall his outstanding performances at LB a couple of seasons back….
In midfield we need Partey fit and Sambi Lokonga looks like he may be the real deal if he can find his legs and his body can handle the ‘battering’ that it will inevitably get playing in the PL. The ideal partnership would then be Partey and Lokonga IMO… but risky given its Sambi’s first season.
If we can get rid of Xhaka and replace with a Bissouma that would be SUPER AWESOME and I pray it happens. Then we can play with 2 of Partey, Bissouma or Lokonga… rest/rotate as needed.
Attacking midfield I think we are alright with Saka, Pepe, ESR and Martinelli to return. I don’t think we need a Maddison…
I said it last season: our main problem is the strikeforce of Auba and Lacca. Both are just not right for the system we play… neither can play link-up football at elite level, decent, but not world-class. Too many attacks flounder because they dont make the right run, find the right space or their touch/pass is not great. They fit best in a counter-attacking team with ‘acres’ of green grass to run into… we are not that type of team.
My ideal preference would be Vardy, but he burned that bridge… so that leaves Martinez from Inter. Not sure we can get him though… if we can pinch Jesus from City that would be pretty decent alternative IMO.
TBF we have a very good squad of players… and that leaves my #1 concern: ARTETA himself.
I just do not think he has the man management and charisma to take this bunch of players and forge a team of genuine challengers. Arteta consistently makes basic man management mistakes that undermine any esprit de corps that may be forming. Its so hard to create a genuine ‘band of brothers’, fight for each other that is REAL. Its easy to fake it in pressers by talking a good talk which Arteta invariably does…. but its also easy to kill it by saying the wrong thing, isolating players and being hot-and-cold…
Anyway, its the beginning of the season, so my hope is at a maximum….
PS watching Palace and Vieira closely to see how they do. He was always my first choice as Manager
Devil
Sorry, that stat in isolation proves nothing mate.
You cannot use that as ‘evidence.
You can say he was wY off form last season. BUT there were extenuating circumstances and IF things don’t I.prove with regard his form, fitness and goal scoring this season, then YES, I’d say he wouldn’t warrant a starting spot.
Aubameyang has been rubbish ever since Edu and Arteta handed him the “Golden Handcuffs” of an extended contract and an unaffordable high wage.
I can see no reason for saying he will be any better this season than he has been for the last two.
Raka, if only AMN would knuckle down and change his ideas. He’d be able to make that RB position his own I think but it seems as if he’s not happy too. I think he’ll be following Willock out the door before the 2nd September.
Just why I don’t like stats Dexter, two players performances can’t be compared imo unless we play against the same side and with the same other ten players in the team..
Rico and Dexter….my stats in the article I posted a few weeks ago show that even in his first season Auba had that stat. It was not spread on last season it was spread over all his time with us.
Rico… agreed AMN needs to accept RB and make it his own. Not sure who is advising him, but being a world-class RB versus a journeyman CM is no comparison really.
Especially in today’s systems where having elite level fullbacks are critical to manage transitions. Hopefully he reads this blog… and comments. Honestly think AMN can be an elite level RB on a par with Lahm, Kimmich, Cafu, etc… has the engine and speed, just needs to add the intensity of those greats.
Last season AMN played in central midfield at West Brom. He had probably his best ever season so far. Why would he want to revert to a position that he doesn’t like playing in?
In my opinion, he’s not good enough to start in central midfield for Arsenal, he doesn’t want to play at right back so why not move him on?
Although I do want to see AMN establish himself in the first team I have to go with what Cicero is saying….he is not at the level required for Arsenal’x midfield. Neither him nor Elneny. So AMN needs to be moved on. If he enjoys playing at RB and gets his head down and works hard then keep him by all means. But he does not….so best to sell him. I hope we get over 20M for him…..then sell Torreira and with the money reinvest it in Maddison
Devil, it’s clear Auba hasn’t been in form regardless of stats.
Raka, maybe he hasn’t got the right attitude? Something has clearly gone on at Arsenal with him as he was dumped like a hot potato last season.
Exactly Cicero, and the club need to raise some funds if we’re to believe what’s written.
Hi Rico.. Nice read! I was impressed with White yesterday. Comparing him to our other defenders (naughty I know!) it’s obvious why we splashed the cash, a large sum, I know, but I think he’ll be worth every penny – our rock at the back!
As for Willock, always thought he’d be sold. I guess it’s a bonus we got that amount for him. Let’s face it, there’s hardly a queue of potential buyers after our players is there? Nobody seems interested in our players…
Who else in the team would fetch that much? (Besides Saka and Co)
I hope it works out for him with the barcodes…
Hold up!
AMN had his best season so far at West brom??? Says who?
Even Walrus face Alladyce said he should get a grip and play as a RB for Arsenal. 😪😪
And I hope we hurry up and buy a bleedin’ goalkeeper! Starting to worry me a little now… No urgency is there? On or off the pitch 😆
Hi Sue, thanks. Totally agree re the keeper, before Friday I hope.
It’s was always going to be some of the younger players being sold wasn’t it because bar a handful, no one would be sold for big money.
Dexter, big Sam just said to accept playing in any position for Arsenal, not just right back. I think he was just trying to say that if he wants to stay at a club like Arsenal, play anywhere.
Rico
You’re kinda splitting hairs.
The only position Arsenal want AMN to play is as a full back!
Michael Oliver is officiating on Friday. Could’ve been worse..
Not at all Dexter, I was just saying what Big Sam said.
Could be a lot worse than Michael Oliver.
Evening Rico and the House
Good report Rico with some good comments to back you up.
I cannot beleive that some fans are saying that £25 million is a good deal for Joe
This transfer will come back to haunt us , it will be worse then Gnabry.
Evening Rick. I too have a feeling we’ll regret selling Joe Willock, but hope we wrong. He’ll be great for Newcastle I think.
Rico you know what I think of AMN afterall I have made my thoughts clear in a number of comments. The club have made him into a jack of all trades and master of none and I think like you he will leave this month.
I think his probleme started a few seasons ago whe he and Arteta played together
and since then Arteta has looked on him as being a right back.
He will never think of him as any thing but a right back which I think he will never
be.
Michael Oliver is about as good as it will get from a refereeing perspective, I just hope that we’re switched on to the new interpretations of contact and that every touch doesn’t mean a free kick if you go down.
We saw this in the Tottenham game and Lokonga picked up on it straight away and put in a few crunchers whilst many in our team just looked bemused…
I had a chat with a mate this afternoon and he thinks that Arteta is under huge pressure, like a pressure cooker and if that is the case then his mood will transmit itself to the team and they could all be well wound up as well. It’s worrying…
Kev
I think your mate could be right.
The touchline incident incident with Holberg made him look
uptight and not really in control.
Ditto Rick, I’ve always liked AMN too but there’s definitely something about him Arteta doesn’t like, certainly as far as playing in midfield goes. I still believe he could replace Bellerin if he wanted to but if his heart is set on midfield, then yep, like you I think he’ll soon be gone.
If Arteta’s stressed already, it doesn’t bode well. Get a few wins under the belt and he’ll soon relax.. lol
I would not be surprised to amass a whole 2 points from the first three games . Then Arteta will be on thin ice
Rick, that’s what my mate highlighted, it was a nothing incident but Arteta reacted as if it was a major assault and went right off the edge.
He’s like a coiled spring and you can see how stressed out our team is under his constant coaching and arm waving from the touchline, he really needs to sit down and let his players play because in the end if they aren’t prepared when he sends them out then they’re either not good enough or his coaching is flawed?
I think two points from the three opening games we have, this season, would be a good return given the quality of the opposition and the problems they’ll set us…
Rico, Arteta may well be stressed out but not anymore than me!
Martinelli is back at London Colney but is training away from the squad due to the covid protocols, Nketiah is injured and Willian was absent from the squad at the Spuds game, so that’s three of our forwards out of action ahead of Friday’s match. All of which means we are likely to see a front three of Pepe, Lacazette and Aubameyang. Perhaps Balogun will get some minutes from the bench as Laca seldom stays on for the full ninety and it has not been unknown for Aubameyang to get hooked off as well.
Rico.. I hope you’re heading out today 😉😆
Messi flew into Paris yesterday caught the Euro Star and headed to London Colney where he passed his medical and signed a three year contract at £150,000 per week…….what’s that ringing sound? Oh! It’s the alarm clock, yaaawwwnn! ‘morning all. What a lovely dream. 😉
Good morning everyone
I think we will get more than three points from the first three games. Yes it might all seem to be chaos and same old stuff but Brentford have problems of their own I am sure. And for them it’s the first game as well.
Plus I think that Arteta has been keeping some cards close to his chest….so expect a different lineup than the ones we saw in the games.
Personally I would go for the following line up….
Leno
Chambers, Holding, White, Tierney
Lokonga, Xhaka
Pepe, ESR, Tavares
Laca
2nd half I would introduce Saka for Tavares, Auba for Laca and Elneny for ESR
Holding is 1m .88 , Mari 1m.93 , White 1m.82 . so with Brentfords forwards likely to play Toney 1m.79, Da Silva 1m. 84 , Mbeuno 1m. 71 ,we should not get caught at the back from corners and set pieces but I bet we do.
We will beat Brentford comfortably!
Honestly, have a bit, a fraction, a miniscule molecule of hope people!!! 🤣🤣
Morning all
Of course we should beat the Bees! But will we? We are the club that like to keep giving!
All the angst surrounding Arteta is not helping. If he is over anxious them that anxiety is easily transmitted to the players, who become tense and brittle when playing. The team should enter the fray in a confident but relaxed state of mind and body. We’ll drilled in the art of defending, dynamic and progressive in mid field and lethal up front. But to quote Potter, ‘I bet they aren’t!’
Arsenal to win 2-1 but it won’t be pretty nor will it be a new dawn it may however, be professional. Let’s hope so
Has Willock gone yet? When he does he will become another member of the ‘Martinez discarded talent movement’. What a waste!
😀 Sue, sadly not. I’m a bit under the weather..
Morning Gooners, it’s a beautiful day out here in Essex.
Morning Rico, not well? That’ll be the pre match tension… 😉
Morning Kev, I wish… 😆
Rico 😀
Me too…
Messi signs for PSG 😴
Wavy
What anxiety??? More than Arteta’s usual in game hyper qctivity?
I still have faith in Arteta, he is a rookie coach/manager and is likely to fuck up. But because of our expectations and hopes, alongside the green eyed jealousy monster he won’t get the time to develop and sadly I think what’s gonna happen is, the fans along with the media will get on his back to the extent his job becomes untenable.
He will then get the sack, but he will gained enough experience to take that into his next job and show us what we’re missing! 🤣🤣🤣
I’m bored with the Messi stuff Kev. If footballers weren’t so greedy and clubs didn’t throw money around as they do, he’d have finished his career at Barca. Reap what you sow I say…
Dexter. How long do you think it will be before Mikel has enough experience to make Arsenal a success?
Barcelona are Rico, according to Balague (?) around €1b in debt, how on earth do you come back from that, how on earth do you do anything but sell players, how can you be a billion in debt and still look to sign players?
Exactly Kev, but it’s all of their own doing. Real Madrid too. They have always thrown money at getting the best players and it’s finally caught up with them. I have zero sympathy for any club who suffers because of its own greed.
Inexperienced rookie maybe but he’s believed to be getting £5 million a year. Chicken soup that’s not. It’s time he started earning his money
He is isn’t he? Much work has been done on clearing out players who aren’t in Arsenal’s plan, plus the contracts of players like ESR, Balogun, KTH etc have been extended. I’m not convinced by Mikel Arteta but he and Edu are imo, building for the future.
Oh no! Take it easy, Rico and you’ll be as right as rain before you know it 🙂
I’m sat in front of the TV Sue, watching the Hundred. 😀
Messi has signed for PSG for two years. And he is all smiles. He is happy then. His bubble is created by money. don’t know why but I keep thinking of crocodile tears.
I am betting my bottom dollar that in the CL P$G will draw out Barca somewhere along the competition.
I wonder if he will give it his all.
How Barca and RM are allowed to compete when so many billions in debt is beyond me.
Adam
He won’t get it, but this season.
Messi’s tears are exactly that Devil Gunner, CROCODILE, as in a right Croc of bull shite!
He could have stated their for free! The amount of cash he has. Its all personal ego and greed.
When I talk about wages and transfer fees it shows how totally obscene and out of touch with real people football is.
The pandemic has made it even more prevalent and clear to me.
Dexter. So, if he gets through this season he’ll lead Arsenal to great things. But you say he’ll be sacked before that happens.
Just the job, Rico 🙂
Imagine what PSG’s annual wage bill is! Sheesh! Crazy money…
What a mouth-watering line-up though. I’ll definitely be tuning in to see how they fare!
I shall savour every defeat😢
PSG’s that is!
Sure is Sue.
Old Poch must think he’s gone to heaven managing the players he now has. Bit of an upgrade on his previous squad. 😂
Pocchetino might win a trophy at last – then again…
Perhaps FFP might sort things out Kev😂
Haha Wavy.. they’ll expect to win everything with that line-up, so it will be rather amusing if they don’t!
Poch and trophies – bet he never thought he’d see the day 🤣
Hahaha, Rico… hell of an upgrade!!
It’ll be interesting to see if Poch can manage all the egos Sue. I don’t know where FFP stands these days or if it even exists anymore.
FFP Adam, what does that even mean anymore mate?
Fake Financial Play…
Kev. You’re a cynical man. 😂
But probably right.
Adam
Well looking at comments on line Arteta has already been judged already regardless. If that transmits to the ground and the ears of the owners he will be a goner.
If he can last out the season, I think he will improve the team and performances. Ffs he’s already won more than the last 15 spuds managers put together!! 🤣🤣
What can I say, I’m an optimist usually! Although I didn’t share that view about Emery, as it seemed clear he was not able to communicate his ‘vision’ to the players.
FFP
Fantastically Fraudulent Practices
🤣🤣🤣
Man City and ffp……first Grealish £100m next Kane £140,000m earnings from doped sponsors…… as much as you like….. we’ve got oil to burn ( not for much longer, but I suppose they can always cash in their fine art collections! Etc etc)
FFP yeh right!
Hey Kev, what’s the journey time from Liverpool Street Station to Sadlers Wells on a Thursday lunch time and back in the early evening?
Dexter. I see where you’re coming from and don’t disagree with all of it. Most of the criticism I hear from friends centre on the idea that they aren’t seeing any progression on the playing side. We are still toothless in front of goal and are often split open with simple balls over the top. The results will decide his fate I think.
I have found that the vast majority are desperate for him to succeed and only occasionally have I heard criticism that seems unjust to me.
But I have to agree that we must see something different and more progressive on the pitch and until then I’m not sure I see Mikel as a future super coach/manager. He’s made too many bad decisions and though a lot of these were understandable at the time, they are costing him now.
Actually Rico, how many has he cleared out? Torreira and Guendouzi have gone but only on loan, Willock has been sold but is that a good thing? Some youngsters have gone on loan. But we are still stuck with a host of, dare I use the term, dead wood.
I am Adam I am a massive cynic and a huge misery guts, other than that life is sweet. 😄
Adam
Cheers for that response mate.
It’s going to interesting one way or another this season!
Cicero, if it was me I’d get the Tube to The Angel and walk 5 minutes to the theatre from there.
If you need to get a cab I’d allow a good 25 to 35 minutes in case the traffic is all messed up. Normally, and that would be pre- Sadiq Khan, I’d say 10 to 15 minutes.
Thanks Kev, I think we’ll get the tube unless it’s raining.
I think Torreira is still on the books Cicero.
I suppose Ozil was the big one but the cleanup goes beyond exits. The youngsters and Tierney have committed to the club which is extremely important I think. Ridding the deadwood seems easy on paper but we all think they’re poor, yet expect other to pay for them. Arsenal are imo, still trying to clear up the mess AW left.
Ramsdale not in Utd’s squad tonight.. #justsaying
Yeah, I think as much as I’m disappointed we haven’t added to the squad and STILL have the likes of Xhaka, Kokasinac on the books.
The club have done well in extending the deals of Saka, ESR, Balogun and Tierney.
Unless people are now gonna say they ain’t trying coz they’ve got fat contracts??!!??!! 🤔🤣🤔🤣
Oh Rico.. Ramsdale not in their squad 😫
If, and I hope, you’re feeling better tomorrow, please stay at home 😂
We’re wearing our 3rd kit on Friday. Have you seen this clip? Love it…
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1425019093590056964?s=20
Bola has joined Rotherham on a permanent deal and Osei-Tutu on loan at Forest…
I’m not sure why Ramsdale gets loads of stick? Not just here. He seems a decent keeper.
I wonder if it’s based on perception and misinformation?
Henderson was lauded when Sheff Utd had an excellent debut season in the PL, while Ramsdale is getting tarred with the shitty relegation brush?
He had good seasons with Bournemouth and the Blades. Well, according to my indepth research! 🤣
This for instance…
“After an impressive breakthrough season at Bournemouth, Ramsdale returned to his boyhood club in 2020 going on to shine despite the Blades’ subsequent relegation from the Premier League….”
I’m sorry, Dexter, whenever I’ve watched him I’ve always been unimpressed (like a poor man’s Pickford). I believe there’s better out there, especially for how much the Blades are demanding.. hell I’d even take the one from West Brom 🤣
Super Cup tonight; Tuchel v Emery.. 👍
Ha ha Sue, I’m home all day…
Morning all.
New post up now