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Hot on the agenda today is more chat about Unai Emery. I think the Arsenal space at the moment is in a weird reorg phase. The walls of the great Wenger divide have been demolished and now people don’t know what they’re getting upset about.
My view on Emery isn’t a negative one, I’m not campaigning against him, I’m merely putting him under the same scrutiny as I would any coach.
I think the man is a better coach than Wenger, I think he’ll bring a more modern rigor to our preparation and I think he’ll instil a different type of energy into the club. My overarching worry is he looks a touch safe against the competition. I’m just not sure where the special sauce is going to come from, and in a league where we’re competing against the very best, I think that’s important.
As I wrote in the summer, this hire was so unbelievably important because of how far we’ve regressed. If we’ve got this signing wrong, Arsenal run the risk of falling into obscurity. Champions League football can become a distant memory pretty fast, which makes it harder to replenish the squad with the talent you need to take things to the next level. Stan K doesn’t have the pockets or the desire to do what the chaps at Liverpool have done. That’s why we really do have to hope Emery kicks us on this season.
I’ve gone back and forth about expectations this season. I know I’ve said in the past that you have to write this year off. Now, what I mean there, is you have to write off challenging for the league. What you can’t do is say that 5th this year is acceptable. If Emery can’t better Wenger by a chunk in his first year, that’s a problem. The goal of the Spaniard has to be hitting the top 4.
I’m not saying he won’t do that. I think we saw enough in that Chelsea game yesterday to be very excited about. But we have to be critical as Arsenal fans and we have to look for real positives, not: ‘well, Wenger didn’t do that’ hot takes.
When I say that, I’m talking about people like me celebrating good subs. Sure, that’s great, but it’s table stakes.
It’s the same with shuffling the starting 11. Ramsey being on the bench would be unthinkable under Wenger, because he always played his best 11 because he wasn’t really strategic. It’s not bold, it’s not brave, it’s just part of being a manager in 2018.
I’m more interested in the things he’s getting right and wrong on the field. So far, we should absolutely be celebrating the visionary decision to start Guendouzi. I thought he’d get games this year, but damn, it’s balls out to play him against Chelsea and City.
A negative might be some of his tactical decisions. Choosing Mesut Ozil as the player to track Jorginho for 90 minutes read like he’d never seen the German play before. The guy has no interest in that side of that game. As someone mentioned in the comments yesterday, Alex Ferguson would have Danny W take on jobs like that back in the day.
Then you have the persistence of playing Granit Xhaka for two games in a row. He yanked him on 70minutes for Torreira when we were playing for a win, which is kind of humiliating. Then he pulled him off at half time against Chelsea for the same reason. I have no emotional connection to the Swiss, but I’d say that’d be pretty embarrassing for him. Now, I’m not being a little cry baby here, I’m all for being bold in the moment… just for me, in this moment, it looks like he’s made a bad selection twice. One we could ALL see. How does that come across to the players? Ruffling the feathers of your senior players like that early doors is either inspired or not very smart.
Another area we need some sharp refocus is the defence. It’s unacceptable that we’re looking so ragged. We’re 2 games in, but we were shite at the back through the whole of preseason. The manager needs to get to grips with the basics very quickly. He made his bed when he signed a very slow centre back to be the lynchpin of his new defence, now he has to work out how to make the best of the situation. I love Lichtsteiner, but it’s starting to look like a wonky decision to hire in a right back of his age when he’s understudy to a young player who has looked disastrous in his opening two games. I know it’s not just him, Sven has had a role to play here, but even the fact that the two of them combined appear to have misunderstood the pace requirement of the league is a worry.
That should be helped by starting with the best 11. Granit Xhaka has been terrible the whole time he’s been at Arsenal. There will always be someone telling you the things you see with your eyes might not be right, but in football, if it looks like someone is consistently terrible, it’s because they are. Xhaka has been piss poor twice in a row, he needs to start on the bench and LT has to make his full debut. There are fans arguing that we struggled in the second half without the creative spark of Xhaka, but I don’t buy that. Guendouzi and LT have a good range of passing and look far better built for the rigours of the PL.
There also needs to be more cohesion on the pitch. The team two weeks in a row has seemed to give up on the game plan at halftime. Last week, Cech reverted back to hoofing, this week, the pressing discipline seemed to fade. That’s something I’d expect to eradicate over the next few weeks as the players start to understand the ideas.
Hopefully, some wins will remedy the issues. I think the thing Emery has to be careful is overkill in a panicked response. Double sessions, laborious video analysis and flip-flopping with the starting 11 isn’t going to help settle the players. The next 3 months are going to require strong leadership and a lot of faith from the players. Emery has 8 games to build belief in his players and a head of steam that’ll take us to 100% through the festive period. It’s all very exciting, but things really must improve fast if we’re to move beyond praising table stakes adjustments Sam Allardyce would have made.
Fingers crossed the manager and his team have the minerals to make this work.
Gambon
You talk about agendas but post stats comparing a player with 185 minutes played against another with what? 110 mins (75+45)?
You’re also being utterly conclusive over a two game sample.
You’re right though, agendas at work.
There needs to be a lot of rotation for Emery’s pressing system to work. We looked knackered in the second half which is natural considering all the grilling he’s putting them through, it will takes me time for the conditions for pressing to become established. We will be the better for it. He does have trust his squad and rotate this weekend. Sp Spuds used to look tired in the first year of Poch’s tenure when he brought similar tactics in. Emery has to start with at least 5 new players against Westham…with Leno as well. He needs to keep… Read more »
If Josh Kroenke is the answer to the many questions and uncertainties then god help us.
Our club will never prosper while his greedy old man, Sleazy Stan is the owner. It is a franchise to him – like a tacky branch of McDonald’s. He has no interest in football has never invested a single penny in the club. More important, he does not share any of our footballing values.
“I have to agree with Dissenter, buying Auba when we did was a massive massive fuck up on IG and SM. We needed a wing forward and with that money we could have bought ANY wing forward not named Neymar“
This.
I stated this at the time despite the novelty and got dogs abuse because Lacazette was “trash” apparently. It was the Ozil signing Mark II, top talent but independent of the clubs needs at the time.
We should’ve bought Mahrez and finally had a winger that could beat a man and create a spark all on his own.
My apologies for my spell check/auto complete. It’s been horrible today. Can’t even read some the new words I’ve invented.
Charlie
The stats are per 90mins, so completely objective.
Gambon
Well that’s not true given Xhaka hasn’t completed 90 minutes is it?
Dissenter and if auba loses form or gets injured then we are short up front. I agree we should have brought in a winger but I’d have looked to lose ozil or Ramsey or both for whatever I could get for them.
Lacazette has looked good recently
Pedro…I think you have lost the plot.
Most fans who have seen our decline are NOT expecting the new manager to get us into the top 4 this season.
Secondly…. “ Wenger would never have benched Ramsey because he always played his best 11”
What are you talking about??
This comment goes totally against what you and many others have been saying for years ie that Players need to be more accountable.
Maybe you also think Ozil and Xakha should not be benched either…
Fucking hell Charlie, never realised you were so thick.
Xhaka has played 116 mins, Guendouzi 180 mins.
So multiply Xhakas involvement by 1.55 and the stats balance out.
We should’ve bought Mahrez and finally had a winger that could beat a man and create a spark all on his own.
This was a no brainer . Mahrez had Arsenal written all over him but we messed it up. As for Aubameyang regardless of the rights or wrongs with respect to if we should have spent that much on another striker, well he is here now, we would have also moaned if he had moved to say Chelsea and we kept Giroud
Charlie
Completely agree mate. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to Wenger latter signings. Just square pegs and no wider plan
It seems the opposite with emery and hopefully that will bear fruit with a bit of persistence and patience.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11475371/unai-emery-warns-mesut-ozil-every-player-must-defend-for-arsenal
lol is he serious ?? I don’t think he talk to the right player…
Arsenal’s biggest mistake is not keeping Ramsey, it was giving Ozil a new and unbelievably stupid contract.
Those that sanctioned this decision, should be shot.
Gambon Precisely my point. You have to extrapolate which anyone versed in stats knows isn’t reliable by any stretch. Especially in a data sample so small, and even moreso when dealing with football that in itself throws up more in game trends than you can count. Like Guendouzi having more defensive actions and not citing the fact he played 45 mins in pure defence mode 2nd half vs Chelsea, Xhaka wasn’t there to boost his stats in that department. I mean honestly, you think you’re the resident expert with numbers because you have a job. Do me a favour, you’re… Read more »
Charlie
Sorry youre completely wrong.
Every football analytics department of every team in world football used per90 stats, literally every one.
Dissenter
Surely the debate here is what’s more important: tactics or players.
Players for me everytime.
Lacazette and Giroud is a better duo than Laca and Auba for me. Provides more options and there’d have been room/money to add a wideboy like Mahrez to the picture.
Can’t say that transfer has made any sense to me despite the fact I rate Auba highly. We’re a queer bunch, always seem to go for marginal gains on ‘good’ players (Ozil>Cazorla, Auba>Giroud) instead of eradicating the weakest elements of the side.
Your Comment Here
ES: “The hard facts are that whilst Emery may be a decent coach he is not a great one with the same pulling power as those at Man City and Liverpool.” For Pep anyone would agree, but guy is a genius and everyone wants to play for him. For Kloppo though?! I wouldn’t say that you can add him to the “great” managers. In a SEVENTEEN-year coaching career has won the German league twice and won their cup once. A big streak of losing finals. Something a “great” coach would not allow. Emery’s three Europa league Cups, in addition to… Read more »
442 for me.
Aubameyang, Lacazette up top.
Ramsey, Torreira, Guendouzi, Mkhitaryan ,centrally.
Lichtsteiner, Sokratis, Mustafi/Mavropanos , Monreal, at the back.
Gambon
I’m not dismissing that, I’m dismissing your use of Xhaka over a two game period where he failed to complete 90 mins on both occasions. It’s like taking a player recovering from injury and getting a handful of substitute minutes you then turn into per 90 data, just isn’t accurate or fair at all.
It’s totally dishonest and you know that working with numbers (I think I’ve read this, but my mistake if wrong).
Just pulling up the “agenda” bait you hung out there, and turning it back on you where most maybe not notice.
alexander
Of course players are more important.
I think we are seeing an improvement from where we were last season, but the players we have are nowhere near capable of scoring 85+ points in this system we’re playing.
We will need 7 new first XI players at least, and probably £200m-300m spent to make a competitive team.
Charlie
I made it very clear that the stats were “so far”.
We will see what happens.
I think Xhaka is absolute garbage, so not expecting much……but at no point was my post “utterly conclusive” like you said earlier.
For some reason you get very very angry whenever anyone doesnt hold Xhaka up on the same pedestal as you.
Very strange that you are so attached to one player. He must be your new Wenger.
Tits
“Win or lose, it’s exciting watching Arsenal play gain due to the unknown”
Couldn’t agree more.
Regarding the tactics/player debate I think both are equally as important within reason. We say Real Madrid in the galactico era fall to Barca because they had no footballing philosophy City, United and Chelsea all underachieved with top quality squads at different times and sides like Leicester and Porto and Everton over achieved with lesser players. Even our youth project fared quite well considering the quality of player we had in the side due to our team tight tikka takka Philosophy. Obviously you’ll do nothing (to quote Connor McGregor) with pure shite in your side or the square peg for… Read more »
Gambon
‘I think we are seeing an improvement from where we were last season, ‘
I know I’m party pooping, but let’s get some points on the board first.
Gambon It’s nothing to do with Xhaka, it’s the lack of measurement and the blatant scapegoating attitude that is abhorrent to me. I defend Xhaka because he’s the principle recipient of it, it’d be Welbeck if he were being flogged so unnecessarily. There’s no attachment from me toward ANY of the players, which is a bit sad and maybe telling of the times a bit. But I don’t care what changes are made in pursuit of a bigger picture. That type of quip is a standard on here from folk like you who immediately defer any kind of opposition voice… Read more »
gambon
7 new players!!!
85+ points!!!!
3 or 4 max.
What planet are you from?
There’s no either or when discussing players/tactics. You simply don’t win without one or the other.
Wenger could’ve had maldini and his defence would’ve still be porous because he paid no mind to tactics without the ball.
But it’s the same reason Leicester won the title, their tactics were efficient and supremely effective for a season.
Gambon We will need 7 new first XI players at least, and probably £200m-300m spent to make a competitive team I disagree. We have two quality forwards Two potentially quality additions to mf Two quality additions at the back A new GK Mainland and Nelson coming through and iwobi looking to have more purpose and direction under the new regime I don’t think Bellerin is unsalvagable. We will need a left back. A centre half. A winger and maybe one more central midfielder. And we are then competitive again. I think xakaha could excell in this set up too. Emery… Read more »
Pedro, can’t disagree with the assessment of Emery’s thinking on the defence. But there are other issues here too. You said that on Saturday the “pressing discipline seemed to fade”. WTF? Where was this pressing? I have not seen any example of the team pressing correctly as a unit in the two games. You can’t say it seemed to fade when it was never there. That was brutally exposed in the first 20 mins when the team looked like a bunch of strangers. Another issue is where on God’s earth Emery got the inspiration for including Xhaka as one of… Read more »
Wenger could’ve had maldini and his defence would’ve still be porous because he paid no mind to tactics without the ball. But it’s the same reason Leicester won the title, their tactics were efficient and supremely effective for a season.
Cc
My point exactly
Inside right
Our first goal was as a result of pressing
Our second was due to the passing philosophy he’s trying to implement
It was more a Chelsea mistake. There were passing outlets but he got caught. A single man pushing up got lucky, but that isn’t indicative of a pressing game. Chelsea had us chasing shadows because we left so many passing options open.
Talk about a winger/forward, we already have one: Reiss Nelson
Inside right. Well I noticed the press.
It was inconsistent but it was there. It’s just that xakha ozil miki and auba don’t appear to appreciate that side of the game. I’m sure emery will have other ideas though.
Biggest mistake in the 2nd half when under pressure was not slowing the game down ie Lacazette instead of making the awful pass that lead to more pressure and their goal, should’ve held onto the ball and drawn a foul whilst there was no decent pass that was on. At worse, lose the ball in that area rather than giving Chelski a ‘forward’ pass contribution ♂️
Most of us knew it would take a season or 2 for the rebuild.
Didn’t we lose to Man city in the same fixture last season?
Wasn’t the game against Chelsea at Stamford bridge a close one last season?
+ve s for me so far –
1. Xhaka subbed twice.
2. Ozil subbed for tactical need or being shit. take your pick.
3. 19 yr old shining and showing promise.
4. Ramsey not starting every f**king game.
5. Responding back after being 2-0 down away from home?!!?!?!
To be frank, Un na naai, if 40% of your outfield players are not pressing, you’re not playing a pressing game.
“2. Ozil subbed for tactical need or being shit. take your pick.”
Both ??
Great Post pedro. Quality is there nigh on every post
CC Yes, but there’s a theory on here – propagated by Pedro – that arsenal can challenge for top honours by ‘out thinking’ the opposition tactically, even though there are a number of highly experienced, tactical heavyweights currently managing in the PL. I’m not so sure. Also arsenal will be ‘smarter’ in the transfer market owing to our new backroom team, and will be able acquire top quality players for less money than our rivals spend. I’m not so sure of that either. Look, I don’t know. It could work but if it’s not Emery, we’ll need a fantastic manager… Read more »
It took 1 passage of play to see the fraud xacka is. Gets ball with a decent amount of time, in his own half. Could become a dangerous area if lost. Predictably loses it, gets angry and puts in a realky bad tackle to collect a yellow. Pathetic angry man hack. People protecting him for his passing range… Fuck sakes he’s spreading wide! That’s it. In 2 games guen has shown to be a much more ambitious player between the lines. He opened up Chelsea with 1 ball on Saturday. Torreira guenfouzi for me, depending on where he wants to… Read more »
I reckon 90% of the goals we conceded(not official stats by the way) came from our right flank.. AW didn’t address the issue and now it’s the same if not worse.. At least we have defensive midfielders who should be instructed to help covering. It’s obvious all teams will target our weakest spot time and time again.. Something radical has to be done with Bellend.. I know he dosnt get help from the likes of ozil and mikhi, but man, he is really awful in his positioning , decision making and one on one defending.. Sort that out and we… Read more »
pedro
special sauce ?? apart from pep which manager in the league has special sauce ???
on the other hand, make pep manager of arsenal and he may look average with out a cheque book…
I said from day one.. We will never be a pressing team (from the front) with ozil, mhkitarayan, lacazette and aubamayang so it is pointless going down that road.
All it does is waste energy for our strikers running around like headless chickens in a forlorn attempt to make it look like they are carrying out the managers orders
The sooner Emery ditches this tactic, the better….to make it succeed he needs to change the personnel but that will take millions of pounds to achieve and that aint gonna happen is it.
Emery took over a bloated lopsided wage heavy squad.
On top of that he had 15 years of stagnation to get out the system.
The defence and passing out from. The back is a shambles. And unacceptable.
The rest though will take a fuck load of work.
We have no wingers, and 2 10,s who have to play wide.
Balance isn’t there.
come January, we really need to go for a winger…
Ozil is a relic of a bygone age as a 10
You need a fuck load more production than he delivers to get a free ride any time we don’t have the ball
“Torreira guenfouzi for me, depending on where he wants to play rambo”
Ramsey is going so forget about him… Guendouzi is already showing that he is a better midfielder anyway… And he plays with discipline.
encouraging to see two of the youngest players – Guendouzi & Iwobi – doing so well in a big away game.
interesting to see posters trying to gloss over the fact our attacking threat almost totally dried up once Xhaka was yanked. that said, if Guendouzi can replicate his passing range the Frenchman will be Torreira’s long term partner in the middle.
In a team that is struggling Ozil and Xhaka are virtual passengers. At the moment we can’t afford to have poor players defensively. Emery is working on introducing his systems and we have new players to incorporate. While this is happening we need to be as solid defensively as we can be with this squad. There is an argument that Xhaka could be an asset but only if the back line is solid and there is a DM doing the hard yards. That doesn’t exist right now (or any time soon) and his deficiencies get exposed. He’s a left footed… Read more »
Hello everyone, I lifted some of the moderation rules on here and it’s predictably turned into a shit tip.
Stop abusing each other… shadow banning will be enforced if I see it.
Pete
I would say youre certainly looking at 7 new players to get where Emery will want things. These days managers dont tend to adapt around the squad, they tend to have their own system, and bring players in to fit that (See Mourinho, Guardiola, Klopp). Even Sarri has immediately brought in 2 of the worlds best passers to implement his overly possession based game. If the system we have seen is to remain, lets be honest about what needs to change; – New GK needed (no idea why we bought Leno, as clearly the manager doesnt rate him) – 2… Read more »
Depressingly true Gambon…
It is complete bollock to say that xhaka could this and that if and if…
Get this. He is a nr6. A nr6 is a player who dictates the flow of play both ways. It is ridi ulous to say that xhaka needs this and that to make his play work. He is the one that is supposed to make things gel, solidify the defence and link it to the forwards. The fact that people even come up with these excuses for him is the simplest proof that he is incapable of filling his position properly on this level
The squad has been built in recent years without any form of system or play style in mind. We should not be sticking with that composition or that style. Emery is absolutely right to build now in a certain direction, if players like Xhaka, Ozil etc cannot play that way they must slowly be shown the door or the bench if they cannot be sold. We have plenty of players who can play the way Emery wants or have done in the past. That’s how we should be building from now on. We need a RB if Bellerin does not… Read more »
I have to agree that if we had put those chances away, the feeling around Arsenal and Emery would be different.
Those misses were criminal, as was our defending. Again, Emery has a massive job on his hands hence why I’m not reading into him too much.
Howver, if he continues to make counterproductive team selections then he deserves all the smoke that’ll be coming his way.
“interesting to see posters trying to gloss over the fact our attacking threat almost totally dried up once Xhaka was yanked. ”
Bit of a reach to suggest they are in any way related.
You could also say we have conceded 4 goals in the 120 mins he has played, and 1 goal in the 60 mins he hasnt.
Therefore Xhaka being on the pitch makes our defence 100% worse, which makes him an unbelievable liability.
When is he going to send a message to Bellerin? I think we can all agree West Ham is must win, so why not start Licht and Monreal as the fullbacks? Pretty damn sure Licht can give as much going forward as Hector (hector’s dribbling, crossing, and control are wank) and actually defend. Ozil probably isn’t too big of an issue against West Ham. Wilshere and Noble aren’t going to terrorize us. So whether Unai starts Ozil or not this game matters little to me, and might be good to try getting him on some form. You would think he’s… Read more »
T
It is the same as Ozil, if this, that and the other happens they will be great. The list of demands they need to be great is ridiculous. They basically need a totally balanced and well oiled system to succeed even though they are not part of that system and sort of parasitically latch onto it and use it for cover so they can do the one or two things they like to do.
We don’t have the time or money for those types of players and modern football doesn’t want them either.
Cesc appeal
That about sums it up mate 🙂
The biggest critics are us the Arsenal fans, if we lose we try to tear the team apart limb for limb, scrutinising every aspect even down to the smallest detail of each and every player, yet… when we win we somehow (not all, but most) overlook all of the flaws of the players “No athlete is immune to criticism and pressure. Yet how you respond to pressure is what separates great athletes from average ones” How have most of Arsenal’s players responded to their criticism? The young Guendouzi shows the right mentality we need as a squad on the pitch.… Read more »
gambon
“Bit of a reach to suggest they are in any way related.”
bit of a reach to suggest a link between the guy mainly responsible for getting the ball to our attackers getting subbed and our attacks drying up?
Joffey, I admire that you slam Arsenal fans for having an opinion then drop an epic critique
Amen Gambon
Ozil probably isn’t too big of an issue against West Ham. Wilshere and Noble aren’t going to terrorize us. So whether Unai starts Ozil or not this game matters little to me, and might be good to try getting him on some form. Zfree No. It won’t be worth playing him agaisnt West Ham because he’s even more uselss than he ever was since his Germany-turkey debacle. He’s walking round sulking with his best victim, poor me face on. And let’s just say he looks a little more interested agaisnt West Ham, then I’d be even more pissed that he… Read more »
don’t think Leno not starting has anything to do with not rating him. I mean i have tried to explain it on here but it’s clearly not a popular opinion, Cech is a respected professional who has worked very hard to improve himself for this season , He is not just going to be dropped right from the off neither do i think it is fair on him to be dropped Leno has played 300+ games in the bundesliga so i doubt we spent 20+ million on him just to decide he is not rated after training sessions. Leno will… Read more »
Receding
Cech was the single worst performer at Arsenal last season.
To go into a new season with last seasons worst performer still on the pitch sends out a pretty negative message.
Joffrey
good post.
I think there was that 15 mins of play in which we nearly scored 4 goals, then it ended up quite stagnant, bereft of ideas.
Emery needs to be bold and utilise a system that, first and foremost, benefits us defensively. Imo, that means playing a 4-3-1-2
Ozil OR Mhk playing in the #10. With Guen, Torreria, and Ramsey as the MF. Then playing BOTH Auba and Laca
Cech was the single worst performer at Arsenal last season.
In your Opinion ..you forgot to add that.
And i disagree he was not our worst performer
Mustafi last season seemed to forget how to play football
Bellerin last season was horrible
Ozil was so bad everyone was surprised he made the world cup squad
Guess what ..all these three are still starting games and out of all of them only Cech has shown improvement .So no i am not buying that narrative thank you.
Can we summon Wenger back to stand trial?
Only joking.
Cech was responsible for the most errors leading to a goal of any player in Europe last season,
So yes, I would say he was the “easy win” in terms of making an improvement.
There is nothing wrong in just coming out and saying i want to see the new player. Nothing at all.
Just don’t insult the existing player while doing that. I still remember very much your posts Gambon when we signed Cech, you called it a game changer ….well you will soon tire with Leno or i assume you already have as you have a brand new spanking goalie as one of your new requirements
So yes, I would say he was the “easy win” in terms of making an improvement.
How many errors has he made leading to goals in the last two matches???
pedro
Stop abusing each other… shadow banning will be enforced if I see it.
finally, this site was turning into WWII but with words…
Receding
I thought Cech was a good signing, not a game changer.
I was wrong.
I thought Ozil was a game changer for various reasons. I was wrong, he is a lazy castrated, depressed social media star that pretends to be a footballer.
“In September we will start playing Sunday and Thursday. We are going to play more matches and I think every player will get chances to show us his performance for the team.”
Unai Emery
Every single player on that squad is going to play , and play good minutes too, we have only played two matches, today is the 20th of August. I mean come on ….
“How many errors has he made leading to goals in the last two matches???”
Youre happy with conceding an average 2.5 goals per game?
Guendouzi has an old head on young shoulders.
Make him Captain.
If it was based on leading by example, he wins it hands down.
“Ozil was so bad everyone was surprised he made the world cup squad”
But he did score against Saudi Arabia in a friendly when called up.
And you walked out of the room and did a fist-pump to celebrate it.
Cech was a good signing , a signing we would have looked stupid not making. I still don’t share this disdain for him, he has been a model pro. Ozil was a great signing, football actually goes beyond the pitch these days, rightly or wrongly, he was our first superstar signing in a long time and most Arsenal fans still remember the exact moment we learned he signed. And he has had good games for us, you can pretend he was always rubbish, but that would not make it true. Lately though he seems to have lost his drive, that… Read more »
But he did score against Saudi Arabia in a friendly when called up.
Wow….still holding on to this for dear life? You have a problem dude
That registability guy on twitter and yourself share a lot in common, you both think you are football gods
Youre happy with conceding an average 2.5 goals per game?
How many of those goals were errors by Cech…don’t dance around the question
gambon
Re: Your take on Ozil.
Spot on.
Someone also needs to remind him he’s on £350k a week.
Give the man some time,so many things were wrong with Arsenal before Unai took over,Mentality,game plan,tactics,desire etc when he gets it going we will be ther or therabouts,noone ever climbed the Mount Everest in 24 hours.
Receding – You’ve deserted poor Ozil. He was wonderful before the World Cup supposedly, now you’ve ditched him after he made you look like a tit.
No loyality or a case of unintentional ‘flip-flop’ disease that seems to afflict a few select posters on the site.
He hasn’t lost any drive by the way. He’s just waiting until we play some open, mid-table team at the Emirates.
I would imagine that ozil knows exactly how much he earns
Gambon
You know RH is right. Cech has played very well when called upon this season and he wasn’t close to being our worst player last year. We had some horror shows last year who are still starting for arsenal.
Give me Petr Cech over ozil or Ramsey any day. The man is a legend and probably the only vocal leader we have in our side now. The rest are like mice
Pierre they keep repeating how much he earns as though he has forgotten
Craig Burley was foaming in the mouth on ESPN about how much he earns which by the way he says is 300k a week, some on here say it’s 350k a week, so at the end of the day only Ozil and Arsenal know how much he actually earns
Paulinho don’t you have some anti Ramsey posts to go after??
‘they keep repeating how much he earns as though he has forgotten’
They repeat how much he earns to reinforce the expectation level of him, he is our highest paid player, the second highest paid player in the league.
Simple question, do you think he plays like it?
None of the ‘he didn’t give himself the contract’. Yes or no, do you think he plays like the second highest paid player in the league?
Pierre
Your not a stand-up comedian by any chance?
I’m sorry but cech was absolutely one of our worst players last year
He Mustafi and xhaka were the triangulate of calamity on a regular basis defensively. Kos, a player who I’ve always liked, was also a fucking shambles last year. Bellerin too. Frankly the entire defensive unit was a complete disgrace apart from monreal
Outside 2 or 3 quite unbelievable misses by (apparently) top quality players and we would have won that one on Saturday. I know it feels low to lose your opening two, but there are positive signs for me, the most positive is that the improvement coming is an unknown; with Wenger at the helm, you would have know that was par for the course and as good as it was going to get. In a way, I would have been more worried to be the Chav scum, they were 2-0 up and should have cruised, instead (with some decent finishing… Read more »
Last year cech cost us more points than he won us. Who honestly cares how great he used to be a long time ago for Chelsea?
He was fucking awful last season and unremarkable for us in the season before. He’s not a top level keeper any more and I don’t care how vocal he is when he’s not actually that good.
None of the ‘he didn’t give himself the contract’. Yes or no, do you think he plays like the second highest paid player in the league? He was playing like that when he was offered the contract by a human being or even worse a group of human beings, so yes he did not offer himself a bumper pay ride, the people in charge of our affairs chickened out and offered him a contract he did not deserve. What was the expectation, that paying him more will somehow teach him how to tackle?? Or how to influence games against top… Read more »
“Now had there been lichty as rightback he might have used his experience and craft to resolve that but poor bellerin fell into the trap completely 🙁 then again he was simply fokllowing emerys instructions on 1on1 pressing” I have a different understanding of high press. It involves our forwards and midfielders to press the opponent ball carrier to made mistakes. The defense organization is what Emery talked about. No way should Bellerín chase William to the center cycle and opens up his wing completely. Bellerín is thinking too much on attack. When ever we recovered the ball, he starts… Read more »
Never bought into the Cech signing. I thought he was one of those signings that still left us chasing our rivals.
He was over the hills then, and has been ever since. I remember some people saying he’d be worth 15 points a season. Outrageous prediction based off of his form playing behind and amazing Chelsea back 4.