Morning all.
Arsenal are struggling. The domestic season has been terrible and we’re stuck in a rut. We seem to be quick sand and we’re sinking fast. The team needs a win, Mikel Arteta needs a win, we simply have to stop this bad run. I don’t think it matters how that win comes either, not right now.
Forget Burnley, Arsenal are the home team so play the game which best suits the players and play well. Keep the football simple, move the ball around quickly and with accuracy. Push hard from the front and force errors. Alternatively, carry on as we’ve been and suffer the consequences.
The Arsenal fans will be in The Emirates stadium for the first time in the League. Only 2000 I know but they’ll be heard. I hope they are right behind the players and manager from the moment they turn up. I think the players have missed the fans in a big way. We’ll see later this evening because I fully expect the players to turn it on for those who have ventured out on a cold and wet winters night.
Vina Venkatesham has been talking about the lack of fans, Mikel Arteta, the local lads and the first few months of the season which hasn’t been good.
I think for us, for Arsenal, Mikel has talked about this a lot and I agree with him, because we are at the start of this new journey with him, not having fans in for that journey, where that bond is created between players, coach and fans, is a real shame. Because we started to see it at the end of last season, when we had fans in, and I think it is really important.
I think with Mikel we have got a number of things. I think you have got an individual who has extraordinary experience in the Premier League across his time at Arsenal, Everton, Man City and then back at Arsenal. You have got a guy that loves this football club and understands what it means to play for this football club, and he was obviously captain here. You have got a guy who I think is a real team player. So going back to be together, the team he has formed with Edu, and also his technical staff, is really, really strong. You have got a guy who is absolutely driven to succeed and be successful on the pitch, but doing it in a way that respects our history and traditions. So I think with him we have got a really, really powerful individual.
What about the club’s youngsters. Those from the Hale End academy who have been part of our Europa League campaign?
We have been talking about the communities of Islington, Camden and Hackney today – well a lot of our players grew up in these areas. A lot of these players have been mates from five, six, seven, eight years old, so they know what it means to represent Arsenal. Some of these boys have been playing for the club for 10 or 15 years, it is just they started at five. They know what this football club is about.
I think that’s why I keep championing for the younger players to be given more of a chance in the League fixtures. They know what the club is about because they’ve been involved with it since they were at primary school. They are fans as well as players and they want to win. Jack Wilshere and Alex Iwobi were the same. Regardless of quality, they want to succeed. Their body language shows that.
If the blokes with great talent would match the younger players passion and pride then Arsenal wouldn’t be in this mess I’m sure and Mikel Arteta wouldn’t be under the same amount of pressure which Unai Emery was under just over a year ago. The similarities are uncanny but reading Vinai’s words, Mikel Arteta is a long way away from being shown the door.
13 points from our opening 11 matches is a real shocker and worse still is it’s hard to argue we deserved much more. Perhaps against Leicester when we could have had the game won by halftime. Our home performances and results have been dire but I’m still positive that things can turn around. As Rob Holding said last week, we just need a bit of luck to go our way.
Maybe today’s the day. In front of 2,000 fans.
Catch up in the comments guys.
Morning all.
Hmm, when a manager gets the backing of the board it usually precedes the order of the boot. Let’s all hope that Vina’s praise for Arteta and Edu doesn’t turn out to be the kiss of death for the pair of them. 😕
That’s be a whole lot of pointless praise if his job is already in doubt.
Reading between the lines, I think the project is youth and perhaps that’ll be where Mikel can succeed long term. No egos, they just want to learn.
Things aren’t looking good at the moment. I can accept that we are in a process that needs time to be completed, but I’m struggling to keep my belief up in Arteta.
Cannot understand why the same players that underperform and let him and the club down keep getting game time.
Morning Rico and the gang, the dreaded vote of confidence eh?
I’m not sure but maybe the club needed to speak just so the growing storm in the media was becalmed. The football isn’t great, our Captain seems to be in a major sulk with a face like a smacked arse. When he ain’t smiling it notices…
Our youngsters are great, but throwing them all in would be a mistake as they’re not ready enough or in some cases good enough to deal with the enormous pressure.
There wasn’t any pressure in the Europa, everyone could chill and enjoy it but the Premier League is unforgiving, it can destroy even top top players.
Fostering a false sense of security while a new manager is sought? Rico.
Hobart, as Mr Micawber said, “In the hope that something will turn up”
Morning Rico and All
Repeating myself I know but Micky has to go back to what worked before and take the flack and play the only leader we have at the moment Louise bless her with Gabriel and Hold-on-minute,
or shut his eyes and throw the youngsters on.
Micky knows he can coach chances but the onion sack is not something you can’t predict hitting the back of.
I’m happy to hear Micky has the backing of the board,because if he never got that,that would have been the kiss of death.
Kev, in a season as weird as this one when the two Manchester teams can play out a totally negative goalless draw in a local derby, while they sit mid-table anything could happen. For us just a couple of wins would likely see us move up the table. Let’s face it there’s never been anything weirder than to see the Spuds on top of the league,
I couldn’t agree more Cicero, no fans, no pre season, it’s not normal is it?
If the youngsters are good enough physically and mentally they play, Bakayo Saka for example.
If Martinelli was fit he would be playing, no doubt about it, we’ve missed him.
We miss Partey, he’s crucial, it’s why we risked him and it why I’d like to see Arsenal bring in another centre-mid of his type to support Partey and cover for him.
Ligue Un produces a lot of these types and with the TV finance crisis over there atm we should cash in and see if we can get a couple of young Frenchies to bring back some more elan to our squad…
Neither can I Hobart, they let him down yet he still trusts them. Odd.
Morning Kev, Fred.
Throwing all the youth in would be crazy but the one or two might help. It’s the Nelson and AMN situation I don’t understand, both would sure give the team something more than Xhaka and Willian…
We are entering a crucial part of the season, 3 league games in the next 6 days alone.
Surely we won’t lose against Burnley, looking on the bright side we could be mid-table soon!
COYG
Burnley won’t be easy as their fighting to get out of the relegation places. I hope we match their determination that’s for sure.
2 minutes Man City women 0 Arsenal 1.
Harry Kane showing the value of getting a shot on target.
29 minutes 1 – 1.
Half time 1 – 1
It’s 15.15 p.m. and the Totts have already doubled our numbers on the table. A strong defense, a very strong midfield and 2 players at the front with creative freedom. They do not dazzle but are confident on the pitch.
rico. Ghendouzhi was not the solution.
The way we play, (and not like the Totts who play in counter attack and shoot from a distance) in which we want to score, over the goal line, we have to put more players in the area, relocate the defense and create more solutions. If we can’t (and with these players I suppose we can’t), the system and the way of playing must be quickly changed. Otherwise, the consequences will be bad.
93 rd minute 2 – 1
Er Limey..We called them Banana shots years ago.
Rico..Micky must still feel these youngsters are lacking,
he trust Saka.
I meant positionally Jm.
True Fred but so did Emery. Lol
Leno, Bellerin, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Elneny, Saka, Willian, Lacazette Aubameyang
I hope Bellerin has been taking lessons on how to make a legal throw-in.
Afternoon rico, all, oh so predictable team, except Elneny getting a deserved chance back. But Bellerin and Xhaka in on merit? Much rather see AMN or Ceballos who can run forward, and take a proper throw-in!
Afternoon Andrew. Let’s hope the 2000 fans get a response from the team.
Southend United got their first home win yesterday due to a late goal from Arsenal loanee Olayinka!
Cicero, we played with 10 !!! ???
If we win, we will go right up to….. 14th 🙂
Hard to believe really. Although, not after seeing some of our football. Watching bit of a Palace v Spuds, both teams played forward with intent. Can’t remember last time we played like that in the league. Slow and sideways for so many years now.
JM, Holding sent-off in warm-up!
Well spotted JM, you saw my deliberate mistake. 😁 Holding is the missing man.
Aubameyang looks in the mood. Or just in a mood…
What a let off.
Make the changes now , try to get some intensity
30 mins to go before a change comes..
We trying to play exactly the way we have last half dozen games, which hasn’t worked too well has it? Uninspiring. And some of the trying to play out from the back is almost comical. Gets the pass stats up I guess.
Really uninspiring 45 mins.
I’m bored so is the crowd who might as well not be there.
No continuity and absolutely no belief.
I could have easily nodded off through that. Zero energy out there.
They do not see what is obvious.
We don’t play in the middle with intensity and depth. That’s why Leicester at halftime is winning 3-0 because they have Maddison, Mu has Fernandes, city has De Bruyne, wolves have Podence, Totts have Kane, Chelsea has Punisic, etc. And when they don’t play with these, they have other solutions that replace them.
Arsenal has no one in the field to perform these functions. All players flee the area and either go to the wings.
The half time is reached and the game did not exist, it was not dominated, it was thrown aside, by chance and luck, to be able to solve the game.
Still we are heading towards the north bank now. Can’t say attacking
If Reiss Nelson cannot do what Willian does and more then I must be blind.
We are heading towards the north bank now,can’t say attacking
What a prat Xhaka is.
Kev, May I call you Stevie? 😝
Why wasn’t Xhaka immediately hauled off for Ceballos? This is so poor. And after Pepe, what idiot would touch another players head, or neck. 7 red cards since Arteta took over. 3 for next team!
Looking on the bright side, no Xhaka for the next three games. Lol
Rico, hate to say it, but Souness is right about Xhaka.
What did he say Andrew? I missed the halftime chat.
That’s Bellerin out for the next match.
Ironic that Cedric will face his old club.
And Bellerin too
Another red coming for Elneny?
Oh dear oh dear.
Arteta under pressure now
Should we laugh or cry?
And lucky not to be nine men
Yep. I can’t see how he can survive this now. He looks lost on the sidelines.
Southampton,Everton, Man City , Chelsea bottom 3 by Christmas
City is the League Cup but even so, I don’t see us getting much from those games. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Arteta replaced soon.
Think he’s got credit for the FA Cup win. But just can’t see how he thinks Xhaka and Bellerin should have started on current form.
And I’ve never thought Auba is captain material. Fine when everything is going well, but does he pick up all the players when it’s not?
What has Partey let himself in for?
Exactly Andrew. It’s not about playing the younger players just for the sake of it it’s about not playing the guys who aren’t performing particularly well. Bellerin and Willian just kept getting in each others way really. Xhaka was just stupid, plain stupid but at least he’s out now.
Goodness knows where we’re heading next..
I just called, to say, I like you.
I just called, to say how much I care.
Etc, etc, etc…..
Taxi for Mr. Arteta!!!
We got the complete unknown manager in Wenger, we kept him ten years too long. We went for Freddie the man with no managerial experience, went for a man with no record in anything but the Europa League and finally the cheap option, of a number two, in Arteta. Look where that has got us. With almost half the season gone we are three places above the relegation zone.
Can anyone see us avoiding the drop so long as we carry on with the failed team selection and tactics that are just not suited to the players in our squad?
Is it ironic, or just sad, that the striker who can’t buy a goal for Arsenal scores the one that hands Burnley the three points.
I posted here a month and a half ago, that Arsenal with this team and playing like this, was going to play not to be relegated. I continue to say that playing with Bellerin-William + Thierner-Saka is an authentic collective suicide. It only had logic, if William played in the middle, as if it were a number 10.
The results are in sight. In addition, the expelled players, the players with very low physics index (ex: Auba, Ceballos …), the lack of confidence, the pressure with which one is playing, etc.
We have always conceded goals and we haven’t scored any.
There are only two ways: a) or the change of team and game system b) Change of coach.
JM, for me it has to be option b) change the coach.
Got to be both , The players are not doing it for the manager and he keeps picking the ones that are letting him down.
Oh the Arteta out brigade are having their moment of joy.
“Told ya so” and they’re secretly loving it.
Brilliant stuff lol
Of course, our 250k a week man finally broke his drought so that’s a positive, another red card but that’s on Arteta 😉
4th is like a trophy wasn’t enough so Arsene was forced out but now it’d indeed be like a trophy bahahaha
Arteta has a massive job to change the entire culture of the club and all fans knew that, yet suddenly the enormity of that job is being ignored.
Sack Arteta and we will nosedive even further but hey, those fans will have even more to moan about because that’s what they’re best at.
Let’s just not pick on the players though, well, accept the i normal scapegoats.
Same thing we always hear from fans when things are going poorly.
Scott, who is this ‘Arteta out brigade’ you suggest are enjoying Arsenal’s troubles?
They are certainly not on here so I’m unsure why you need to point fingers here this morning. I’m hating watching Arsenal going down the pan, I’m disappointed Arteta keeps picking certain players who the game before have failed to impress.
Arteta was a risk, only a fool would deny that, but it’s not working right now.
To suggest any Arsenal fan is happy with Arteta failing really is a cruel thing to suggest.
It does not seem to me that the situation should be dragged at the risk of being too late.
We are in a League that has consequences if we are not above the last 3. Reacting late can be dramatic.
It is necessary, a very strong shake.
Rico, why is it any time I comment you believe I’m aiming up at people on here?
This is one of the most posit e groups around but it’s not the only one.
I have said this often enough to believe I don’t need to end every comment with “I’m talking about other forums/groups” etc etc
Proper fans don’t enjoy the situation but come on, don’t think for a second some don’t puff their chests out at what’s happening, I mean on other groups/forums etc etc.
JM the “strong shake” is exactly what Arteta is doing and some of these overpaid wankers can’t handle it!!!
Let’s get another manager in and just show once and for all that what the players want, they get even if on 250k a week and scoring a bloody own goal to break their droughts lol
No, it’s not just him I’m aiming up at as we have quite a few.
Xhaka-well, I defended him over the period he’s been here but that won’t happen again.
Piss him off ASAP after this one.
I read right now (elsewhere) the best comment I’ve seen in ages.
“The reason Arteta has lost the dressing room is because know he wants rid of them”.
Perfect.
So the stand off should result in us keeping failed players l, or the manager who calls them out?????
Because your comment is on here Scott, no other reason.
So I DO need to add that each time I comment 😉
Rico,
Next time I make such a blanket statement I will try and make things clearer.
Does make my life easier Scott.
New post up now
Hi Rico as you know I am not a big Arteta fan ( as a coach ) but saying that I can not see Stan sacking Arteta nor can I see what help it would be to sack him before the end of the season.
I still wonder if the way Arteta speaks to the players off camera and the fact that he has never coached on his own before has got some of the older player off side and the younger players are getting court in the middle.
It’s only my opinion but when you read and hear Arteta Having a go at Pep and Xhaka for retaliating and not having ago at the other side makes me wondering if the players feel he will not support them.