Morning all.
As soon as Granit Xhaka reacted in the way he did on Sunday, it was inevitable that the press/media would have a field day. Arsenal are feeding them their headlines followed by negative stories. How captain appointment after captain appointment has been a joke. They have a point, but never one more poignant than now thanks to Unai Emery’s bizarre decision to let the players decide who they want their captain to be. Where is his leadership?
Can anyone imagine Fergie, Mourinho, Graham, Wenger even, or any other half decent manager allowing someone other than them decide on who would lead the team on the pitch? No, I didn’t think so. Rumour has it, or rather the Daily Mail suggests it, that Emery is to repeat his pre season vote by allowing the players to decide whether or not Xhaka should continue to be club captain. If and it’s a big if it’s true, it’s a disgrace.
We are all humans, we all have emotions, and sometimes it’s not easy dealing with them. It’s time to lift each other up, not to push each other away. We only win when we are together. #COYG
Thirty six hours have passed by and not a word from the club, not a word from the player either. He’s clearly fuming and if the stuff about he and his family being abused is true, I’d be angry too but this was his chance to release a statement through the club asking fans to give him a break.
It’s not Xhaka’s fault he’s not a fit with English football and it’s not his fault his teammates like him so much they voted him in as captain. But he shouldn’t have reacted the way he did on Sunday.
Personally, I believe there is no way back for him and that’s as much for his benefit as it is the teams because his relationship with the fans is broken.
Again though one has to question Emery’s part in all this because for the last eighteen months he’s sat back and watched him make mistakes yet stood by him week after week as the rumbles in the stands grew louder. Yet Ozil has been dumped from a great height, Mustafi too to a lesser degree and Torreira. I’m not for one minute suggesting Ozil or Mustafi should be playing, I’m just asking where is the consistency? On form alone, Xhaka should not be a first team regular in my opinion, in fact Emery could have used him in the Europa League fixtures instead as he’s done with Mustafi.
The Emirates has been bubbling away since the season began when it soon became clear that despite an active summer in the transfer window, little appeared very different to the way the season ended. We’ve scrapped and scraped our way to a few rather fortunate victories, yet dropped points against teams we should beat, surrendering two 2-0 leads twice. Yes the officials have played their part but in all honesty, we’re clutching at straws if any of us dump the blame on them. The football Arsenal play is average at best, Emery’s team selections are questionable as the players who make the most mistakes still turn out for the next game. The tactical genius and high press we were promised, hasn’t been seen for months, twelve at least I reckon and were failing.
Apparently a few of Xhaka teammates went to see him yesterday and rightly so because away from the game he’s probably a nice guy who just wants to get on with his life. I think if I were him, I’d be asking the club to end my contract as no financial package is more important than his and his family’s wellbeing.
The board have one of two choices in my opinion, carry on regardless and suffer the consequences or make the change now before it’s too late. Sunday was horrid with Xhaka taking the brunt of it but I don’t think it’ll be long before it’s Unai Emery’s turn.
Do the Arsenal board really want it to come to that, can they afford to let it?
Morning Rico and all. When I look at the world around me I have a hard time thinking that this is that serious despite the wedge that the news outlets are trying to drive between the fans and the club. He has been abused for ages and that is a horrible way to treat anybody. I was hoping that this is not who we are as a club but it seems that I am wrong. People are spiteful and viciously resentful these days. We all have the internet and lap up the nonsense it serves up and we’re all armchair managers. He was absolutely wrong, but I understand his reaction though he shouldn’t have behaved like that.
I’m with Hector on this one.
Morning Adam.
I’m with Hector too.
I think Xhaka is ‘unlucky’ really. He’s the one who has born the brunt of fan frustrations, caused by the club/Emery.
Xhaka might be an average player, but as said in the post, that’s not his fault. Same as it’s not Ozil fault the club offered him the deal he took.
It’s bad management imo, pure and simple.
I’m actually starting to think that Mourinho until the end of the season wouldn’t be such a bad idea…
Rico. Then things must be bad. 😃
Xhaka should apologize and resign as skippper in order to save himself and Emery. Otherwise both should go. My choice is for Wenger to return, he knows the club better than anyone.
They are Adam. 😂
Charlie, the last thing the club needs imo is the return of Wenger…
Tongue in cheek Charlie ?. There is no point in going backwards, for all the benefits that Wenger bought to the club he was found out and his tactics had been overtaken. I am fully aware that many are still in mourning but the club has moved on and it’s time for those pining for him to do so also.
Morning Rico, thanks or the post.
A proper manager would just take Xhaka to one side and say ‘ for the benefit of everyone and the club I’m taking the captaincy away from you’ and then give it to Aubameyang until the end of the season, it might lift him out of his present malaise. Then in the summer PEA might be sold if he hasn’t signed a new deal bythen and so you go with another player as skipper. It doesn’t seem to difficult to me, but no doubt Emery will make a massive issue over it as he does with everything.
Ffs the media are utter shit.
ESPN FC are talking about the poor VAR calls on the weekend and in our game, I’ll bet not one of you could guess which situation they raised.
Not in a million years would any of you guess!!!
Ready for it?
The David Luiz goal, they’re asking how the Lacazette “push” was missed.
That’s it!!!
Not the Zaha penalty or the Sokratis goal-both calls that we’re made correctly and overturned!!!
Fukktards of the highest order and while I ask you to forgive my language, I’m sure you’d share my condemnation of these “pundits”!!!!
Morning all.
I feel better now lol
Absolutely agree Potter.
Morning Kev, Aubameyang or Lacazette seem the sensible option to me. Let Xhaka play in Europa where it’s a different crowd, but don’t throw him back into the team immediately because away fans can be cruel too…
Good morning all and thank you for the post Rico.
It’s a sad reflection of the times we live in that a two minute meltdown by footballer earns him more column inches in the national press than the parliamentary Brexit debacle.
If Xhaka truly wants to continue as an Arsenal player then he must publicly apologise to the club. It would do no harm if the Arsenal Supporters organisation publicly offer an apology, on behalf of the “fans” who abused him, to Xhaka.
Is it not time that our players, our head coach and our executives pulled together in order to heal the wounds, many self inflicted, that are draining the lifeblood from our great club?
We constantly cry out for solidity in defence and blame poor results on it’s lack, but the real problem is a dearth of creativity behind our strikers. Our most creative player does not even make it into the match day squad, Emery must bring that player back into the fold. Mesut Ozil must be part of the team.
Kev, a proper manager wouldn’t have asked his players who they want as captain lol
Unfortunately, we don’t have a proper manager 🙂
Give it to Sokratis.
At least he has fire in his belly.
Different sections in the media though Cicero although Arsenal’s woes have gone on longer than the Brexit issues.. Both are a mess really.
We don’t have a proper leader/captain either Scott.
Haven’t had one for a decade or more. Rico.
Agreed Scott.
Scott, the reason I’d give it to Aubameyang is because he’s likely to start most games and definitely the important games, I’m not sure about Sokratis, he’s not even one of the ridiculous 5 captains is he?
We don’t have an outstanding captain do we…?
The players picking the captain isn’t a new thing, Les Compton used to be the Arsenal captain back in the late 1940’s but when he got injured new signing Joe Mercer took over and then the players decided to leave the armband with Mercer as the team improved and they then went on to win the League the following season. 1947/48.
Of course the club had a great manager in those days, Tom Whittaker.
A manager who is respected is very important and we don’t have that atm.
The players don’t respect him.
The media lampoon him.
And speaking for myself I am desperately disappointed at how weak and indecisive he is, it’s almost like having the latter years Wenger back in charge, no, it’s worse than even that.
I’m looking for some strong, decisive leadership from Josh, Raul and Edu and so far I’m not seeing it and that’s worrying. It almost as if they’re prepared to write off this season, because I cannot see Emery turning things around.
Can anyone out there honestly say that they’re confident that Arsenal are going to finish top four or win the UEFA Cup, because nothing else matters, not the FACup or the League Cup.
And if we can’t get top four or we can’t win the UEFA Cup, then what is the point of persevering with Emery any longer?
I’m not confident about anything atm, Kev.
Not a damn thing lol
If all our players, I like Holding as a it’s risk skipper but he’s needs to get his place in the 11 back first.
Auba-not a bad choice, but as you say, we
May have to settle for a “not bad” choice as we don’t have any great ones.
Morning all.
Where to begin?
I think Xhaka was the arsenal boil that just burst! His misbehaviour leaving the field is borne out of many things, in and around the club, his home life perhaps. Etc etc.
I’d say for the last 4 or 5 years to the present, the club, on the field of play seems rudderless. The only plan/tactics is that there is no plan. The players clearly don’t know what they are to do, where to be, who to mark, how to mark etc etc. The lists of stuff not being done is endless. Is the manager/coach to blame is it the players? Are they not good enough? Are they not motivated well enough? Are they overpaid? Do they feel valued?
What’s to be done? Sack the players, sack the coach, find another and hope he’s better???
One thing is certain, the club are in turmoil and it needs someone special to sort it out. (I’m not referring to the poison dwarf, he’d just add to the confusion). However, it does not need to be a celebrity manager, it needs to be someone who has fresh ideas and a broom to sweep the dressing room clean, not by changing the playing staff but simply getting the best from a very talented group of players that are currently underachieving, big style.
This is deja vu all over again! The only difference is that Emery is totally useless whilst Wenger was just old and past his sell by date!
I shall be at the Emirates on Saturday for the 3.00pm k o v Wolves. It’ll be like the olden days! The crowd reaction will, I think, be very illuminating. All will be revealed.
Ditto Kev, I’d hoped for more from Raul and co. It might happen yet but if this drifts to an end, well be lucky to finish top six let alone top four..
Then watch the exodus of players. Surely blokes like Edu, Raul etc must have more to them than this s***e show under Emery.
What chance Xhaka playing on the weekend?
I’m not asking If you think he should or shouldn’t, but really, would you be surprised lol
Rico, I just emailed you something….
Nothing would surprise me with Emery..
Good day Rico. Emery allowed the players to vote for their captain. Going ahead to strip Xhaka of the captaicy without recourse to same players may cause problems among the players. If Dhaka is matured enough and loves the club, he should willingly surrender the band.
Emery has been aware of fans frustration towards Xhaka and must take the blame for what happened on Sunday. Though for Xhaka, I will just say; “you can’t control how people behave towards you, but you can choose how you react to them.” He surely reacted poorly
Hi Rico and all, thanks Rico, I bet you can’t wait to have something positive to write about !
I’m a little worried we’re mentioning Ozil a bit too much lately, Kind of, as if he will help us in any way get out of this horrible position.
We must remember the way Ozil reacted to being substituted not only once when the team needed something fresh. He was like a spoiled brat.He trudged off the field much slower than Xhaka.
We all have very short memories . I remember the fans pleading with Wenger to take Ozil off in games he offered nothing but Wenger seemed frightened to upset the German.
That is one thing I liked about Emery, he stood no nonsense and rightly substituted or didn’t play him.
None of us know what goes on behind the scenes at Arsenal , but I personally think that somebody with Ozils attitude isn’t good to have around in times of crisis.
Rico, I’m hoping that Raul and Edu are letting things simmer down a bit…
We badly need a good performance at Anfield, just to change the narrative, but until a decision is made the Xhaka thing will rumble on, much like the Ozil saga has as it casts a depressing cloud of indecision over our club.
I’d be really disappointed if we have to sell both Aubameyang and Lacazette this summer, but if they don’t sign then the club really has to react, they’ll go and then maybe we’ll sign a new hero to play alongside Martinelli. I like both players but I’m not hugely attached to either of them if I’m being honest. Football now is more of a transient beast than it’s ever been, so having a hero at your club isn’t what it used to be…
I saw some bloke on Sky Sports this morning saying we have nobody remotely looking like a leader,no shit Sherlock,tell us something we don’t know.The media just love a negative Arsenal story.Is it any wonder we have no leaders when our so called manager will not/ cannot make up his mind.
I agree with Kev, Aubameyang would be a good choice until the end of the season.Long term I’d like to think Holding would be a good captain,as Scott says he needs to regain his place first.
Tomorrow’s game becomes bigger, will Emery out a stronger team than planned.If we take a beating, the pressure on Emery will intensify.
Scott, of all the players at our club, Holding is my favourite, I just like his attitude that northern fuckoffishness, he’d make a great captain but he needs to prove his fitness and form.
It might be a bit early for him?
Maybe if Emery switches to a back three again, to arrest any possible slide, he might come in alongside Luiz – who plays better in a three – and Sokratis. That would allow either Tierney or Kolasinac to push forward and Bellerin or Chambers on the other side. Chambers could also fit into a back three…
I prefer a back four, but needs must…
With Xhaka out of the frame we could have Torrieira and Guendouzi as a holding duo in the midfield with a front three or a front pair and either Saka or Nelson or Ozil in the hole.
I’m sure that there’s plenty of other permutations but that’s just off the top of my head.
Limey, the media is having a party at our expense whilst the questions over refereeing decisions and VAR are suddenly on the back burner…
What a surprise?
I wonder if someone at the PR dept of the Premier League has been ringing around the media and urging them to move the focus away from VAR, Riley and the referees, we can’t have any possible suspicion of ineptitude among the officials of the Greatest Show on Earth can we?
The Show must go on and the cash must continue to roll in…
So let’s dig out Arsenal instead…
Hi Dan, Mike.
Xhaka in the squad for tomorrow’s game apparently. Ridiculous or genius?
Kev, wishful thinking it seems..,
Mike, re Ozil, I’ll be glad when he’s gone as his saga is boring. He’s a sucker that’s for sure but i don’t think he’s turned on the fans. Certainly not in a way Xhaka did.
There’s nothing from Emery about Xhaka being in the squad tomorrow so perhaps that news is false. Ozil is though, just the person we need on a cold and dark winters night at Anfield. 😝
I’ve seen elsewhere that Emery might pick Ozil tomorrow night to spite him,a real poison chalice.
I’m bored with the whole Ozil saga,a classic example of a player becoming much better out of the team.
Including Ozil and even playing him would be Emery sucking up to the fans and when he hooks in the 60th minute because he’s been so ineffective he thinks he will have won the moral high ground. Subsequently we won’t see Mesut again until after the election!
Cat and mouse, mirrors and smoke all to be found down at the Arsenal. The only thing I’m sure of is, these sagas will not finish well for any of the participants. The only unknown is when.
Did you see that just below your comment Limey? 😜
Seems an odd game to bring him back in..
Good Ebening and another fine post, Rico.
I should imagine like everyone else on here I have never booed one of our players at a game as it`s a total waste of breath and will not help our team whatsoever, but I do in the comfort of my armchair at home where the air will turn blue.
A big problem with managers is their stubborness, in that they do not like the opinions of the fans, it`s like how dare they have an opinion, they dont work in football, we are professionals , this is our area our expertise !…………………..well Mr Manager, if you were that clever and not deaf and blind you would hear and see the discontent of fans against certain players !………………if Emery had any clue he would have seen and heard the fans discord with players such as Xhaka and dropped him from the team to protect him.
Not only is he blind to the fans disharmony, he is blind to Xhaha`s performances on the pitch, Xhaka should have been dropped months ago, so imo the fault is the manager and above him, lets hope Josh, Raul, Edu have not got their heads buried in the sand aswell.
Sad that it has come to the fans booing that Xhaka will finally be left out, will it be a precedent now that the fans will get the players they dislike dropped by booing them ?
I`ve no doubt Emery will be the next victim, maybe like letting the players pick the captain, he should let the players pick the team, even better listen to the fans as we all pick better teams than clueless Dick !
I`d have Idris Elba as the next manager and Bond ! 😆
Rico, the picture I emailed you is a screen shot from Twitter or Instagram where fans have apparently been saying “burn his house, slash his tyres” and possibly the worst thing I’ve ever read, “rape his new kid”.
What kind of sick bastard writes that??
Now I doubt a single person with an ounce of decency would not be effected by such a disgraceful taunt, and surely his reaction is at least a little more understandable after seeing this, and it’s just two comments out of probably thousands aimed at him in recent times.
I don’t think any of us can even guess as to how we’d react in that same situation.
I’m not his biggest fan Rico but playing him at Anfield, with a bunch of kids is chucking him under the bus.Emery must really hate Ozil !
Thanks Lc, have to agree re Emery. For all the talk about how he studies the opposition and the dossier he had on our players, little he does tends to support the theory. We may not like the booing etc but it’s not going to go away as Emery will soon find out no doubt.
Just looked at it Scott and it’s vile. Surely that’s not Guendouzi’s official account?
Agree Limey, it’s a very odd decision if he plays..
Rico, the explanation I was given said that it’s Guendouzi explaining to someone what had been said and why Xhaka was so incensed.
Thanks Scott, I guess seeing just half a conversation made it look a bit odd.
Petit: “Do you know what makes me sad? It’s not the fact that Arsenal are struggling to be back in the Champions League, it’s that I don’t see the DNA of the club any more. It’s like they killed the heritage of Arsenal when Wenger left.”
‘It’s like they killed the heritage of Arsenal when Wenger left. Since Emery arrived I don’t get pleasure from watching Arsenal any more. This is Arsenal. Every time we have the ball, the opponent should be scared, but they aren’t any more. They love playing against us’.
Clubs really haven’t been fearful of us for a while now, but I do agree we’ve lost something more since Emery took over.
Bloody Hell Scott, the abuse was that bad !
Social Media at it’s finest eh.
Arsenal have had their fair share of ordinary players , eg Carl Jenkinson. A nice bloke but not a top player. The fans seemed to really like him. I’m wondering was it because he hardly played or because he used to post a lot on Social Media so they thought he was their mate BRUV !
From what I’ve seen Xhaka doesn’t use it that much. Has this not helped his bond with the fans ?
I don’t want him in the team personally , I don’t think he’s good enough. But the manager plays him. It’s not his fault, so giving him abuse is not fair really.
Nobody looks very good after this, but the Arsenal fans come out looking especially bad.
Still we have Arsenal Fan TV ……. Because that makes Arsenal supporters look great , doesn’t it.!!!!
As a few of you have said already…….. It’s the world we live in today.
Mike, it’s horrible, it really is.
I can’t be as hard as most are on Xhaka because this type of filth would possibly have been running through his mind and he’s only human-in all fairness, plenty of fans would not have realised this was happening so I can understand the reaction of fans.
Possibly he shouldn’t have been playing but he was, and though he has never settled the League alight, I can’t totally condemn him for his actions.
Just think if someone said that about your own child-I’d be ready to kill.
Social media-absolutely brilliant that people like us all can connect over our love of the Arsenal, but there’s a dark side, as well.
Yes Scott such a shame. No matter how good something is , there is always some arsehole who will manipulate it and ruin it for others.
Hopefully we have a great game tomorrow night and some smiles will be put back on faces.
What if Ozil plays a blinder and tackles everything in sight !!!!!
Ozil has to make a stand and play as best he can else Emery is justified in leaving him out.
It’s going to be hard to try and make an impression after so long out, but as long as he and all the players give it their best, we can only ask for that.
I think we deserve a bit of luck after Sunday.
I agree, Mike, but as long as he has a red hot go, I’d say fans will be happy.
‘morning all. I’m sure that you will all be relieved to learn that Captain Xhaka will NOT be involved in tonight’s match.
Morning all.
New post up now.