Not by Rico.
In the summer of 2018, when Unai Emery was appointed Arsenal head coach, he’d have known that the three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups together with the same number of Community Shields won under Arsene Wenger were quite special for the fans. The latter years weren’t at all good but no one can take away our trophies.
Arsenal are the record holders when it comes to the best domestic cup there is with 13 in total and for us, there’s been many special finals over the years. Charlie George, Alan Sunderland, ‘It’s only Ray Parlour’, Ramsey’s winners. This season our first test is away against Blackpool or Solihull. (depending who goes through)
Arsene Wenger had a terrible record in European competitions with Arsenal and despite so many years of qualifying, the best he managed in the Champions League was one final. We suffered some awful defeats during those years in the competition too, some embarrassing to say the least. The 10-2 aggregate against Bayern Munich will be etched in our minds for a long long time.
Unai Emery hasn’t ever lifted the Champions League either, not even with all the riches of PSG, mind you, neither has Pep Guardiola with Man City. Yet. What Emery has done though is to find success in the Europa League with Sevilla three times. The best in my opinion was against Liverpool just a couple of years ago.
With the big trophy won, Emery upped and left for PSG where he won everything on the domestic front but that wasn’t enough for the clubs big wigs so off he went again. To Arsenal. So here we are, desperate for a return to the Champions League with a manager who’s been there, got the t-shirt, and the trophy.
The biggest threat to us in this competition right now is Chelsea, a team who has already beaten us in the league, but were thrashed by Totts just a few days ago. Both Liverpool and Totts could yet drop into this competition should they lose their final CL match. As much as I believe in our team to beat most sides in the league right now, over two legs with away goals taken into consideration, getting through to the final is an enormous task.
Now, let’s get back to Unai Emery. Under his coaching, the Gunners have won 57% of their Premier League outings, which at the moment matches Wenger’s 57.3% overall success. But, the thing is, Wenger had managed a much larger number of fixtures obviously. 1228 games across all competitions compared to Emery’s 18.
Some might suggest that the Spaniard has a long way to go before his appointment can be considered as a very good one but my answer to that would be, can it get any worse for him or his team than when he first arrived? I strongly doubt it as the players were all but on their knees in need of new ideas, leadership and direction. His arrival has been a breath of fresh air, just as his match day enthusiasm and interviews are. Even as he’s asked about the upcoming fixtures, only one is on his mind. The next one.
As we’ve said before, if by chance we can secure one of the top four spots alone in May then this season will have been a success as we’d be back in the Champions League which brings big bonuses with it. Financial ones I mean which should be reinvested in the squad.
Win the Europa League Cup and it’ll be even better especially as we’ve improved in the final third by scoring at least one goal in seventeen of our eighteen competitive fixtures this season. Furthermore, the Gunners have notched a minimum of one goal in twelve successive EPL matches with an average of 2.17 goals per game, which is the second-best scoring record in the English top flight.
As things stand, Arsenal fans have every reason to dream big, as the new era started brighter than anyone could have expected.
One reason for Wenger’s removal was not his win percentage over his complete tenure but that of his last 3 seasons which was just over 50%.
As I have said previously time to judge will be when the season ends however it has to be said at the moment it looks to be heading in the right direction.
Morning…
Seems like Holdings season is over..
This time next season will tell us a little bit more I think, after two transfer windows.
Well it’s hit the fan this morning . A pre season nightclub team bonding session has hit the papers. \\\\\\what I want to know is 1 Who leaked it , ? 2 Why has it taken until now to creep out ? 3 Which snide journalist has held on to it for so long ? 4 why release it now ?
Could it be that things are going to well for Emery and that the team are showing a spirit that someone wants to upset ?
If it was my team it would have engendered a them and us situation . I hope that once the journalist is identified , he gets a Ferguson like ban from any Arsenal building.
Rant over.
But pre season? Who really cares..?
Truly bad news about Rob Holding, a ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, will keep him out for up to nine months, minimum time is likely to be six months, so as Rico says, it’s season over either way. Bad news for the squad as well of course.
It might be an opportunity to give young Zech Medley a game or two, particularly as Mavropanus, Koscielny and Monreal are also still out of action.
Pre-season it may have been Rico, but three of our most senior players should no better.
When will professional sportsmen realise that their every move is scrutinised, whether at a private party or in the full gaze of the general public, anything untoward will inevitably end up in the tabloids.
Options for the Rob Holding ‘crisis’
(it’s not really a crisis, but you know how it is after reading to much NewsNow rubbish).
Go with what we have, focus on getting Mavropanos and Koscielny fit and back into the squad and work on Jenkinson who could come in for a few cup ties?
Use Elneny, Monreal and Lichtsteiner as emergency defenders in a 3 whilst Kozzer and Mavro get back on their feet?
Recall Calum Chambers – if we can?
Sign a centre back in January, maybe bring forward a deal we had earmarked for next summer?
Take an experienced centre back on loan?
Promote one of our academy prospects like Medley, Osei Tutu or Ballard?
Mustafi and Sokratis are both one caution away from a suspension.
Afternoon Gooners
Afternoon Rico
Surely with the squad rules if Holding is out we can drop him from our roster and promote someone else to the squad . Whether that is from within or bringing in another player is up to our triumvirate . Certainly buying in would end Chamber’s interest in the club.
Julio Pleguezuelo also did ok when he played a couple of weeks ago, another option in a back three?
I think you can re announce your 25 man squad in January during the transfer window, so yeah, Holding drops out until next summer I suppose, leaving a space temporarily, the youngsters don’t count in the 25…
Afternoon Kev.
Monreal and Mavro are due back any time apparently and Koscielny is highly likely to be in the squad on Thursday, if not tomorrow.
Chambers is already history imo.
Cicero, honestly, I don’t see where the problem is other than gifting the media a story. As Potter said, I’d be more concerned who leaked the story to the press because it’s likely to be one of the players of a close friend of theirs..
Rico, gifting the media the story is precisely the problem. Another stick with which to beat the club. A private party in a London club, a magnet for every hack in town. As to what leaked it, anyone of the club staff, waiters, receptionists, cloak room attendants. Take your pick.
I get that bit Cicero, but it’s a long time ago now and it’s not like they’re committed any criminal offences. All they’ve done is been naive imo.
The Sun have been sitting on that story for awhile I reckon Rico, just waiting for us to lose a few more games then putting boot in…
Feck ‘em…
That’s a big shame for Rob Holding. A bad challenge from Rashford.
Or upset our good run Kev…
Reminded me of the one which put Debuchy out Adam..
That was an Arnautovic shove while Debuchy and the ball were already out of play I think Rico.
No action taken despite the serious repercussions on Debuchy. It essentially ended his Arsenal career before it even started.
Those sort of tackles are often overlooked while a player removing his shirt always draws a yellow.
I thought it was in play Adam but regardless, you’re right, this kind of tackle needs to be stamped out as they’re dangerous. I still can’t believe Rashford got away with it, not that it helps Holding though.
Aaahhh, but the damage a shirt being removed can’t be compared to a season ending challenge, Adam lol
You make a bloody good point.
Morning all:
Terrible shame for Holding, as he was showing his capabilities but then, it’s never a good time to get this type of injury.
Rico, I’m ecstatic with what Emery has done already, and can’t see him doing anything but improve, to be honest.
I’m never comfortable with the comparisons to Wenger as there is no relevance at all, imo, but I guess it’ll always enter the debate.
He’s doing brilliantly, so I’d rather just enjoy that.
Emery seems very, very comfortable at the club, and the fans love him.
It’s all positive.
No league title in 57 seasons
No FA Cup success in 27 seasons
Over a decade without any sort of trophy
Tottenham’s continual portal of themselves as one of English footballs elite clubs is no more than a fraudulent claim.
They are an average sized club who have not seen any real success for decades. 2 League Cups 27 years is not the sign of a successful, elite club.
The media continually use the phrase Big 6 to describe Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham. It is supposed to be an all encompassing phrase, grouping the teams as one, raising them above anything else in English football.
But the phrase is odd, because why are Tottenham actually in the Big 6?
They have no recent success whatsoever to boast about. They are the only side in Big 6 to have not won a trophy in the last decade. The fact that the media highlight the likes of Arsenal for not winning trophies, but defend Spurs lack of silverware shows that they do not see Arsenal and Tottenham as equals.
When it comes to league titles, Tottenham are 15th in the list of most wins. They are behind the likes of Everton, Aston Villa, Sunderland, Newcastle, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds, Wolves, Huddersfield and Blackburn.
The year before their second and last league title, Burnley won their second title. The year before that, Wolves won their 3rd.
Currently they sit on the same amount of league titles as Preston North End, Derby, Burnley and Portsmouth.
And yet they position themselves as equals to Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool – who have 51 league titles between them; and Manchester City and Chelsea who have won 8 of the last 14.
They have neither of the historic success, or recent success, to call themselves an elite club.
But they have finished top 6 consistently over the last 10 years. Well done. But just because you finish in the top 6, does not put you on par with the other 5 sides.
We have already seen how far they lag behind in terms of silverware, but lets also look at the other barometer of success the media often use. Finishing top 4 and making the Champions League.
Tottenham have qualified for the Champions League just 4 times in their history. This weeks victory over Inter Milan means they have now won as many Champions League games as Nicklas Bendtner.
Scott, did you read the first three words of the post? Lol
I’m a huge Emery fan too..
Love that Potter..
one more player with the season finish
Nothing happened. Nothing happened. No one is penalized.
Every year, there are Arsenal players who get their season finished early.
Some have never been the same again: Eduardo, Diaby, Van Pierse, etc. Others, like Ramsey, were able to recover.
The losses to the Club, at all levels, are high.
In my opinion, they may have already cost Arsenal titles.
Two Jm, Jordan Nobbs too.
I wasn’t disagreeing with you, Rico.
JM, all players we lost over the lost decade and as you say, cost us titles.
Especially Diany, imo, who was the best of the lot.
Imagine that beast in the centre of the park for a few seasons when we finished top 4?
Such a waste.
Jm you mentioned Ramsey but I have never been convinced that he is the same player. He gets criticised for flicking the ball too often but I believe that is his reaction to the injury and he moves it on quickly when there is the thought of contact.
I believe that he is still a good player but I think he would have been even better had the Shawcross incident not have happened.
Guys. Is there a link somewhere on the Rashford tackle on Holding. I said straight away that he had DONE Holding, but haven’t seen it again????? Any help would be appreciated.
I was being ironic Scott. Read them and you’ll see why 🤣
I’ve not seen one Vcc.
New post up now.