Morning all.
Josh Kroenke has been talking to Geoff Shreeves of Sky Sports. The interview is being broadcast before Arsenal kick off against Watford.
- Arsenal are not for sale.
- The club receives offers to buy Arsenal quite often.
- The Kroenke family are only just getting going after the 100% takeover in 2018.
- The Premier League title is the aim.
- Do we have to rethink how we’re going to go about achieving those goals? Absolutely. This summer that really played out. We weren’t breaking any transfer records but the net spend was very high.
- Young players, talented players with the right mentality is the plan. Let them grow together while continuing to sprinkle in talent throughout the squad.
- Arsenal fans should expect the best. That’s what they’ve expected throughout their history and that shouldn’t change at all.
- We had many areas we needed to address on the pitch, those were addressed with players of a certain quality, of a certain age, and I think what gets left out quite a bit is, we needed to change a few mentalities around here. We needed to get mentally stronger.
- Do we feel good about where we are? We feel better about where we are, we don’t feel good. Our fans still deserve more.
- We need to get back into the top four, we need to start qualifying for the Champions League regularly, and with that Champions League qualification comes a different level of how you can recruit players. The best players want to play in the best league in the world, which is the Champions League, outside of the Premier League.
I’ll leave the chewing over of the Josh Kroenke interview for the comments section. We have one of two choices though, believe him or take his words which a huge pinch of salt.
He’s right about one thing though and that’s feeling a bit better about what’s going on at Arsenal. After the huffing and puffing to earn a draw against Crystal Palace at The Emirates, Arsenal have been good. Tougher challenges than Palace were to follow, or at least that’s what was being written in the back pages but as Man City have since learned, the media too perhaps, is that Palace themselves are a tough challenge.
This League isn’t like it used to be. No fixture is easy and no opposition are a walk over. The Palace game was the first fixture after the most recent international break.
Crystal Palace ➖
Aston Villa ✔️
Leeds (Cup) ✔️
Leicester City ✔️
Two wins out of three. Seven points out of the nine on offer during the period following the international break which is pretty good but there’s still one match left and Arsenal cannot afford to take Watford lightly despite their up and down performances under Claudio Ranieri. At Leicester City, Ranieri won the Premier League by playing counter attacking football at speed and I fully expect him to set up in a similar way today at The Emirates.
During this period between international football breaks, Watford have won just one fixture. Beaten by Leeds, thrashed 5-0 by Liverpool, beat Everton 5-2 but suffered another defeat in their last match which was at home against Southampton.
Arsenal are in a good place right now, you/I can probably sense that from the players body language and effort on the pitch. Aubameyang sets the tone up front with his pressing and Lacazette is right behind him. We’re not seeing our captain just jogging around trying to look busy anymore. His efforts are real now. We’ve started the last two fixtures with high energy and it’s reaped reward with early goals. Partey and Lokonga are busy in midfield whilst Saka and Smith Rowe just go about their game with little fuss. At the back, we’ve looked solid at the back but I think there’s still room for improvement. Not giving away free kicks in a dangerous area is one.
For me if I have to define our identity, it is one word now: unity. The past that we had in recent months, it is only one, unity. Without unity you can’t achieve what we want to achieve and unity means every person that works in the organisation, it’s our way of playing, it our way of transmitting, our way of playing, it is our way of transmitting our values, our way of connecting with our fans, our ownership is everybody, uniform, thinking in the same way, with the same purpose, without any individual agendas, without any egos, just that’s the task. That’s what we want to get and a big part of that [I am] I am going to push the boat very, very fast. – Mikel Arteta on Arsenal.com
I absolutely agree with the manager here because in my opinion, there’s nothing worse than watching a big name player playing with either a chip on his shoulder or an ego greater than his effort/performance in a match. No doubt that’s why Mikel Arteta had a bit of a clear out of the squad. Every manager needs players who want to play and want to perform well for the club, his teammates, his manager and the club’s fans.
In the past we’ve all seen Arsenal teams turn up on days like today probably thinking a win is a foregone conclusion but 90 minutes later, they’re trudging off the pitch with points having been dropped. As said earlier, no opposition is easy to beat anymore. Only hard work will get a result and credit where it’s due, Mikel Arteta does seem to finally have his players doing that.
First of all, [what I want for everyone is] the feeling to be privileged to represent this club and be in the position that you are, every time you come through that door. If that is lost, you have to go, get in your car and drive home and come back the next day with a different thought, because we’re not going to move the club the way we want [without that] and that is the purpose, and without a real purpose I don’t think we’re going to achieve what we want. – Mikel Arteta on Arsenal.com
Not sure about getting in the car, going home and coming back the next day. I think it’s more likely to be get in the car and keep on driving because I don’t believe Mikel Arteta will give too many chances to those who don’t put a shift in. Not anymore and why should he?
So, I don’t expect to see a lacklustre Arsenal today. Totally the opposite. We’re flirting with the top four places and need to stay there or thereabouts. Yes we’ll drop points, but most other clubs will too but at home against Watford, anything other than a win would be a disappointment.
See you in the comments.
Good morning all!
Come on Arsenal !
Morning Rico. There’s no denying that things have changed. I look forward to Josh’s interview but I like what I read and this feeling of unity within the whole club that seems to be flowing must be a good thing.
The recruitment strategy is much more focussed too and the fans are getting behind the whole deal because they can see the performances and results are moving in the right direction.
Long may it continue.
3-0 let’s go Gooners!
Morning Adam. I’m tempted to believe in what Josh says and I understand what he means about only taking control in 2018. I liked what he said about the mentality around the club needing to change because it was clear to see people were getting an easy ride.
The recruiting has improved vastly. We’re now signing players for a reason and not just because some rogue of an agent is on the phone offering a player.
Welcome Ben, that would do nicely.
Jm, what do think about Nuno Tavares these days? Lol
Morning Rico and all.
It’s going to be interesting to hear what Josh says especially about the secret meetings to do with the super league. But at the end of the day, action speaks a thousand words.
One of our big test this season will be, how we respond after a loss, at the moment we are doing very well and the teams above us loosing matches that they should have won has helped us a lot.
Morning Geoff, he’s already spoken about the super league. I thought he made sense as to why Arsenal put their name forward. He regrets it now though.
I think that I am going to listen to the interview before commenting too much . Like everone else I have read the gist of what was said but what I want to see is the way that it is said , the facial expressions etc.
The thing with Josh is he is not his Dad although obviously subservient to his father he comes to the business from a different angle. Stan is and always has been about making money , Josh doesn’t have to do that because it’s already there
. His jollies come from a different angle to his fathers . Josh has been handed a few toys to play with and I believe that he has the soccer franchise .
Daddy I think is more invested in the traditional American sports and his shopping malls but Josh might not be content to just sit back and watch the balance sheet he might be watching league tables as well.
It is interesting to note that Colorado Rapids are currently 3rd in their MLS table 1 point off the top . My friend an Arsenal person that lives over the pond says that the Rapids are Josh’s baby , he ( my friend ) also has no time for Stan .
Which to me speaks volumes.
Rico Josh may have spoke about the super league when It blow up in there face but will his story still be the same now that things have calmed down and all punishments handed out.
Josh said he wants Arsenal to be run like the Rapids so maybe we’ll soon be third too. Lol
Geoff, his comments on the super league were part of this interview so more recent than those he made right after it all blew up.
Only time will tell how much Josh does care about Arsenal
AMN in for Partey who is not on the bench. Injured? Sick? Dropped?
Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tavares, Sambi, AMN, Saka, ESR, Lacazette and Aubameyang
rico: Fortunately, that Tavares evolved by transferring to Arsenal.
As I said earlier this week, when you consider the investments and the commitments the Kroenkes are making in their American franchises especially the Rams (NFL franchise), I find it hard to believe that they have allowed Arsenal to regressed until the last transfer window. So I am of the believe that Josh might be speaking the truth about more investment to come. Its crazy but the investment in the Rams is unprecedented, they possibly have 4-5 “All Pros” and have trade away first round picks for 3 years.
Let hope Arsenal is next.
Potter to answer your question which I missed, the spending restrictions, trade deals and player regulations are much more tougher in the NFL than anything in World Football, and they have managed to make huge strides even with those rules.
Please no more Auba penalties
I don’t like the way this game is going we’ve had one goal ruled out for offside and Aubameyang’s poor penalty was saved by Foster. All in all a fairly low key, lacklustre performance so far.
So far Arsenal 2 fouls 2 Yellows Watford 11 fouls 2 yellows
Make it 3
The crowd are quiet at the moment and might get restless if we don’t show a bit more intent in front of goal.
Watford are clocking up the fouls with their rotational fouling.
Disappointing
Apart from the ref playing into their disruptive play, two major things Saka’s goal should have been scored by Aubameyang nd the penalty should have been scored by Aubameyang
Very disappointing first half. Should be two up though.
Sometimes that’s all it takes Jm.
Excellent finish ESR.
White and AMN 👏👏
ESR, ESR, ESR. 🔔 1 – 0.
Watford like to dish it out but don’t like it back at them.
With Watford needing to try a little harder up front we need to catch them on the break.
Agreed.
Off goes the toughest forward for a softer option against the niggliest nasty bunch
How did Rose never even get booked?
Auba, just leave it!!
How does Aubameyang not realize he’s in an offside position and two the shot by Odegaard is going in… but he stay on the pitch and Lacazette is off. The guy is costing us the game.
6 minutes!
Auba: no more penalties.
With Laca in the line up , between others, why Auba?
So many yellow cards!!!
Gripping stuff nothing is easy and always comes with controversies.
That’s the Arsenal for you
Wtf is Ranieri moaning about?
And Martinelli at the 90+3 ????
He’s moaning because we didn’t give the ball back when one of their players that had spent 80 minutes kickiking 7 shades of “” sugar “” out of us took a rest on the pitch because they had lost possesion .
Biter bit comes to mind.
Reap what you sow I say. Dirty horrid lot.
Don’t think Ranieri was happy with the AMN challenge either. Too bad..
West Ham 1-0.
ESR’s goal moves us out of negative goal difference for the first time this season.
One goal, a clean sheet, a few bookings, no red cards or injuries and up to fifth in the table. Just another day at the office. 😉
As long as he’s unhappy that’s ok. A ghastly team aided by a shocking ref.
On stat that tells a story, fouls committed Arsenal 6, Watford 19.
One, not on.
In the words of Sean Wallace…..
Funny that Dean Smith has been sacked. Kind of…
So you’re into tv quiz shows Rico.
I am Cicero.
West Ham 3-1 up.
Liverpool are definitely beatable. Lol
Hammers 3 – 1 up.
They hang on to win 3 – 2. No Invincible title for the Bin Dippers. 😉
Excellent.
Nice win, we could have won by a few more goals with a bit of luck. But A win is a win and at the moment I will take every win we can.
Down side Our main striker Auba failed to score again and his penalty shot was so easy to read it’s not good enough.
Morning all.
A very good performance that really should’ve ended up in a bigger win, but I think that was more bad luck than anything.
I know it’s easy to say after the event, but does anyone else feel a distinct lack of confidence when Auba stands over a penalty?
I really do.
AMN is our best.
If the more regular players, Laca or even Odegaard should get the gig imo.
Saying that, AMN showed what he’s capable of in spades.
Fantastic performance.
New post up now