Ozil pulls a sickie, again + Emery bags win with painful structural issues on show

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Unai Emery continued his assault on the culture of entitlement at Arsenal when he dropped Mesut Ozil from the squad. The official line is that the German was ill, the smokey rumour is he found out he was being dropped and decided he wasn’t going to show for the squad. Either way, it says a lot about the challenges our new manager has with our most expensively remunerated player.

If he really was ill, that’d be the 7th time in 20 months. A quite staggering amount of sick days to pull when you don’t ride public transport, are fed and watered with outrageous precision, and you exercise almost every day of the week. Healthy adults who are athletes simply don’t get sick that often. The manager went all in on quashing the rift angle.

“This information isn’t true. I don’t know who started telling this information,”

“You ask me or the doctor of the club – he was sick.

“I spoke to him and the doctor and we decided he would not play. He left training to go home because he was sick. Today, I said to him come in if you feel better and today he feels better.

“Before the match he was speaking with me and the team. There is no problem with the player – ask the doctor and he will explain it.”

The manager has to deny the rift, he doesn’t want to be seen throwing players under the bus, but at the same time, he doesn’t want players leaking to the press that Mesut gets special treatment. My big question is this… if he’s too sick to play, but not sick enough to be at the ground in the dressing room, what sort of illness is this?

The game was a real mixed bag again. Arsenal went a goal down early on, our defence was utterly shambolic, and West Ham were taking great joy with the ease they were having getting in behind our unstructured high line. Their goal came when Anderson drove through our midfield from his own half unchallenged, he set up a one-two at the edge of the box with Arnautovic driving home with precision.

No one can say the game wasn’t entertaining, there was a real end to end battle going off, just a shame we looked so disorganized every time the ball came into our half. Hector Bellerin might be finding joy moving forward this season, but his defending has regressed to dangerous levels of awful. Time and time again, average players breeze in behind him. On a different day, the final score could have been very different.

Thankfully, we did pull a goal back very quickly, Hector broke in behind down West Ham’s right side, he drove a low cross into the six-yard box, with Monreal at the back post ready to take a touch and squeeze his shot in.

The second half came with Emery’s customary preseason-like realisation that he’d made a starting 11 mistake. Lacazette was once again needed to help Arsenal have any edge in attack. The Frenchman has the ability to bring people into the game as well as ferret out opportunities in and around the box. The goal was all about him, Aaron Ramsey fought the sun to head a loose ball back into the box, Lacazette brought the ball down on his shoulder, turned and crossed at Issa Diop who bagged himself an unfortunate own goal.

The manager also brought off the exciting, yet error-prone Guendouzi, replacing him with Torriera. It added a little more stability to the midfield, allowing Xhaka a bit more freedom to float the ball around like the distribution wizard he is.

We weren’t finished. The ghost of Arsene Wenger haunted the players for the last ten minutes, in a moment of madness, we’d committed all our players forward leaving Anderson to make a powerful driving run at our box, fortunately for us Lucas Perez was the recipient of his pass and he gashed the ball wide.

Emery gave WELBZ a little run-out, the Englishman fresh off the back of scoring a training ground goal from behind the goal, took time out to pick the ball 6 yards out, pirouette, and smash home for our 3rd of the afternoon.

The scoreline was a touch undeserving, but I’m not really in the mood to care, Emery has his first three points on the board and the players can take confidence in the methods and move onto the next game with a smile.

Emery was realistic about what was served up.

“It was very important to win, and we showed that we can win in difficulty, after 1-0 in the first half,” Emery told BBC Sport.

“We suffered with the transition in the first half, but we improved in the second half and controlled it more like we want.

“We need to improve in this transition to get the balance.”

I think the balance came in midfield, having Torreira on the pitch gave us bite in midfield and a bit more focus. Xhaka was free to cause problems without having to do the dirty work. I also thought Auba out wide with the more industrious Lacazette through the middle helped change our fortunes.

The big worry for me is that we don’t really have the players to carry out the manager’s dream. We don’t have much in the way of pace or directness to be a true counter-attacking threat. We also have a number of round pegs in square holes. Ramsey isn’t a number 10 for me. He’s great to lead the press, but he’s not really suited to creating the way we want. I also think Bellerin is becoming a huge problem for us, namely that he seems to be our only attacking outlet going forward, whilst being a huge liability at the back.

Our defence overall is a huge disaster at the moment, we have slow players trying and failing to implement a high line and something that looks like an offside trap. I appreciate this is all new to them, but it needs to improve and fast if we’re to break top 4 this season. Sokratis made some strong tackles yesterday, but he also looks off the pace. Oh what I’d give to have Koscielny back in the mixer.

All in all, a good day for Emery. I think the fans are fully behind passengers like Ozil being shown the bench when they deserve it, and I think everyone is enjoying how the side is starting to shape up. I don’t mean to be a gloater, but it does feel good that a new manager has come in and all the things we thought we were seeing with the German are the things Emery is fighting hard to address. Just a shame Ozil isn’t fighting for a new deal this year, think his behaviour might be a little less bratty.

The biggest takeaway: Ideas need to sink in a little faster and the defence needs to get into shape quickly, because if West Ham can open us up on demand, Liverpool are going to obliterate us in 7 games time.

Right, that’s me done. See you on the other side. x

 

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Paulinho

Charlie – Exposing your laughable logic again.

That’s what it has to do with it.

Off the ball runs have been the trademark many of the top central midfielders over the years and it is one of Ramsey’s main qualities, so taking it out of his game and rating him independently of that it sort of daftness only you could introduce into a discussion.

He’s still a better passer than Xhaka anyway.

Un na naai

Steve

You are defo a chav supporter….

PessimisticPat

Hmmm I do mention our old manager,might be that lol. I’ll try write it a different way. Cheers charlie

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Your Comment Here

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Chelsea get their obligatory away penalty…

champagne charlie

Ramsey is a better passer than Xhaka….. lol the delusion stretches far with you I see. Ramsey nearly snapped Xhaka and Monreal against West Ham because his weight of pass was criminal. He’s not got a long pass in his locker, his short passing is mediocre at best, and he’s not talented enough to execute the passes he sees in the final third more often than not. You live and die by his ability to make runs despite a CM needing to contribute ball retention, passing, defensive input, and combativeness almost every minute of the game. Ramsey is falling woefully… Read more »

Paulinho

“Ramsey is a better passer than Xhaka….. lol the delusion stretches far with you”

Charlie, educate yourself. There is some nice music as well to keep your interest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1QBj5JHhTM

Marko

Paulinho do you think Johan Cryuff was talking specifically about Ramsey when he said that?

TR7

I dislike Xhaka as much as the next guy but Ramsey is often very ponderous on the ball .He takes a lot of time to pass except when he is in the opposition box where he is generally instinctive. So I can’t quite agree with you when you say Ramsey is a very good passer of the ball.

James.wood

Some of those tackles down the back of the ankles of Hazard should have seen red those are the ones that really do -do damage.

champagne charlie

good lord…..

A youtube compilation video as a rebuttal!?

😀 le grove you outdo yourself.

Paulinho

Charlie – Proves the point.

He can play ‘Xhaka’ passes in his sleep, but also brings a whole lot more.

TR7 – Ramsey has potential to be good central midfielder, weighing it all up in terms of what he brings versus his flaws. Xhaka will always be bog standard.

Always baffled when people constantly put them in the same category or discussions when one is clearly better than the other.

Cesc Appeal

Marseille still after Elneny apparently, would be good to establish some sort of agreement or goodwill there to go after Sanson either in January or next summer he is a midfielder going under the radar right now.

Leftsidesanch

Lol comment section is hilarious, ive never seen steve say anything but disparaging remarks about AFC but is on here defending Chelsea like anyone cares.

Vic still on here chattin shit too

champagne charlie

“Always baffled when people constantly put them in the same category or discussions when one is clearly better than the other.”

Wtf.. that’s literally what you did earlier when asked about Ramsey, you turned it on its head and dragged Xhaka into it. You’re having a mare here.

Oh, and can I do you a favour going forward in life? A youtube compilation video is never something that “proves the point”.

Marko

Ramsey has potential to be good central midfielder

He’s 28 in December ffs I believe that the potential argument is long gone

Marko

CA Morgan Sanson would be a good signing.

Cesc Appeal

Marko

I like Brozovic as well, both are under the radar at the moment. Spurs are apparently interested in signing one of them.

Paulinho

Charlie – You can’t have a conversation about Xhaka without bringing Ramsey into. Neither can anyone else apparently,which is why I just cut to the chase. You were clinging onto Ramsey like life-jacket to divert discussion away from Xhaka a few weeks back during and after the City game, so yeah, a massive lack of self-awareness from you again. You can actually garner a lot of from youtube clips. It was from watching Xhaka’s ‘best bits’ that I noticed and predicted what a struggle he would have against the press. Maybe if you paid more attention and educated yourself about… Read more »

TR7

Paulinho

Elneny is an ordinary player and still I think he is better than Xjaka, don’t rate the Swiss at all. Ramsey of course better than Xhaka in every aspect of the game but I don’t think he is good enough for us if we are aiming higher than fight for top 4.

champagne charlie

“Always baffled when people constantly put them in the same category or discussions when one is clearly better than the other.” You can’t say the above and then come out with the following: “You can’t have a conversation about Xhaka without bringing Ramsey into. Neither can anyone else apparently,which is why I just cut to the chase.” Just makes you appear a slimy moron. You have ‘reason’ for every misstep you judge of others when you carry out the same actions, thats nauseating. You’re also incredibly dishonest in how you’re attempting to frame any reference to Ramsey/Xhaka from me. I’ve… Read more »

champagne charlie

“You can actually garner a lot of from youtube clips. It was from watching Xhaka’s ‘best bits’ that I noticed and predicted what a struggle he would have against the press” I hear most elite scouts are heavy into youtube… “Maybe if you paid more attention and educated yourself about his flaws before putting your foot in your mouth about him – proclaiming him as the solution to our midfield woes” Have never suggested he’s the solution to our midfield woes, have always maintained he’s got the ability in his locker to be a good CM for us. Massive difference,… Read more »

Paulinho

Charlie – I’m reacting to everyone else being incapable of talking about one without the other, so no, not slimy at all. Just saving time.

The rest of your post is subjective nonsense, and it never ends well when you go down that route.

champagne charlie

Yea Paulinho its ‘everyone else’, you should hear yourself. Wouldn’t play the intellectually superior card you like to flirt with at times, can give it a go if you like but you won’t like how it ends

Paulinho

“have always maintained he’s got the ability in his locker to be a good CM for us”

Which you’ve already been proven completely wrong about, so as I said, the subjective route never ends well,,,,,,,,

champagne charlie

Paulinho

“Which you’ve already been proven completely wrong about, so as I said, the subjective route never ends well,”

Are you trying to be as ironic as possible? Your opinion, or the opinion of a blog, isn’t proof. Xhaka is playing for Arsenal and what he brings to the table under Emery is yet to be seen – therein lies the proof.

By your same standard you’re proven wrong about Ramsey surely? He’s utterly dispensable in the eyes of many, and you’re unable to give feedback on what makes him so valuable. Potato, potato amirite

Paulinho

“By your same standard you’re proven wrong about Ramsey surely?”

2017/18 fans player of the year.

More goals and assists than Ozil last season having played 300 minutes less.

Another epic fail.

You’re referring to fans on here, shall I refer to the glowing words of praise from Ljungberg and Lampard?

Pierre

Ramsey will probably end up being a key player for Emery if he signs due to his willingness to chase lost causes .. Couldn’t quite work out what position he played yesterday ,I presume he was the link between midfield and attack, ,he gave the ball away quite often but he did battle well and went close a couple of times and was unlucky with the offside goal…he didn’t really create much ,tended to get in the way if you ask me. Mhikitarayan should be played as the link between midfield and attack but is not one for chasing lost… Read more »

Pierre

Paulinho
Ramsey did have good stats last season but in all honesty,for the amount of time he spends in the opposition box you wouldn’t \shouldn’t expect anything else.

If he played how a centre mid should play in a 2 man midfield,his stats would be completely different.

Marko

2017/18 fans player of the year.

I mean it was our worst midfield group in our worst two seasons in 20 odd years. That’s nothing to be proud of they were all shite

champagne charlie

Ozils won the last 5 German player of the year awards or something daft, don’t expect to be taken seriously with that nonsense. Xhaka Bundesliga player of the year previously too… or is it just the in-house Arsenal awards that count? Isn’t Ozil shit by your reckoning? Why’s he now being held up as a measure of success for Ramsey? How about comparing Rambo to De Bruyne and co.? Ahh an appeal to authority, that’s not logically fallacious at all is it.. As I say, you’re all over the place when Ramsey is discussed. Clawing desperately to assemble some alternative… Read more »

Pierre

It appears that Emery has recognised that Ramsey is not a central midfielder and is trying to play him further upfield.

Marko

Paulinho don’t want to feel like I’m joining the pile on here but if Ljungberg and Lampard rate him so highly why did you say he has potential to be a good midfielder?

Redtruth

It will be Arsenal’s most successful season for well over a decade if Emery can manage 15 points from the top six.

champagne charlie

“I feel some sympathy for him because his position has changed over the years at the club. Sometimes, because they’ve had so many attacking midfielders, he’s been dropped further back. On the other hand, I accept there maybe doubts over whether he performs consistently enough. He is class when at his best.”

I’d probably proof read before copy/pasting something you try and use as ‘evidence’.

Lampard states he’s an attacking midfielder and NOT a CM. He also says Ramsey doesn’t perform as consistently enough. Pretty much what people say on here consistently, but you have great issue with that.

Paulinho

“Xhaka Bundesliga player of the year previously too” Is that a lie Charlie? Or do you mean the great team of the year that has included the likes of Kolasinac over the years? “Isn’t Ozil shit by your reckoning?” He’s not shit by yours is he though? Another player you’ve tried to distance yourself from recently, but was one his main defenders just a few short months back. Another fail from Charlie. “Ahh an appeal to authority, that’s not logically fallacious at all is it.” And you’re guilty of appeal to consensus. At least I’m referring to completely objective figures… Read more »

Paulinho

Post the whole lot Charlie…. I’m an admirer of Aaron Ramsey and Arsenal must try to secure his long-term future at the club,’ Lampard told the Evening Standard. ‘Ramsey has just over a year left on his contract and once again Arsenal have got themselves in a position where one of their key player’s deals is running out. ‘It will probably come as no surprise to people that I like Ramsey. Like me, he makes late runs in the penalty area and he showed that with aplomb for the second goal at AC Milan last week. ‘One wonders if he’s… Read more »

Paulinho

I’m an admirer of Aaron Ramsey and Arsenal must try to secure his long-term future at the club,’

Must? So he thinks we must, why you are claiming he is dispensable and no big deal if he goes or not. You need to read the whole source.

TR7

I think emergence of Guendouzi makes Xhaka’s role in the side even more redundant. He can do everything good that Xhaka can and much more.

Paulinho

‘It will probably come as no surprise to people that I like Ramsey. Like me, he makes late runs in the penalty area”

Someone should’ve asked him:” But Frank, take away the midfield runs……”

champagne charlie

Correct, I meant Bundesliga team of the season aka another fan poll, just trying to discover what is and isn’t canon. See now you’re trying desperately to be slippery with Ozil and confuse my pov with Ramsey. I rate them both, but I can call a spade a spade and its the fact you cannot which I (and others) continue to point out. I’m not appealing to any consensus, you’re continually trying to subvert whats being asked or stated until you can argue something other than Ramsey. It’s woefully transparent, and made all the worse with your embarrassing commentary like… Read more »

champagne charlie

“He’s not shit by yours is he though? Another player you’ve tried to distance yourself from recently, but was one his main defenders just a few short months back.”

Just like to make it clear i’m not distancing myself from Ozil whatsoever, he’s our best creative midfielder by a country mile. What’s very clear is he’s not at the races currently and as such isn’t worthy of debate. I want to see him under Emery, but theres every possibility that seeing him under Emery could be seeing him leave – and thats fine by me if it benefits the team.

Paulinho

“’m not appealing to any consensus”

“He’s utterly dispensable in the eyes of many”

Wrong again.

“By your same standard you’re proven wrong about Ramsey surely?”

Again, going back to the hilarious judgement, of which the logic used was utterly laughable.

champagne charlie

Paulinho and you quip at me for not pasting all of a link? You’ve just taken what I stated out of the context it was used and want to pretend it was of my own creation. It was a rebuttal to your stupid assertion that I’ve “already been proven completely wrong about” (stating I think Xhaka has the ability to be a good CM for us). You’ve stated I’m wrong for no other reason than consensus on here about Xhaka’s fit for Arsenal. You’ve noted it previously also. I simply turned that thinking on it’s head when challenging your view… Read more »

Radio Raheem

Xhaka best Arsenal player second half, closely followed by Laca.

First half, probably, Mkhi.

It feels so different watching it a second time.

My tuppence.

Paulinho

“You’ve just taken what I stated out of the context it was used and want to pretend it was of my own creation.”

Yes, it was entirely of your creation; your own stupidity.

Consensus on here? Do Graeme Souness and Henry post here?

Deary me.

Paulinho

“I simply turned that thinking on it’s head when challenging your view on Ramsey.”

Which is where it all went Pete Tong………

alexanderhenry

These ‘ozil’s not happy’ stories will keep coming. Let’s hope arsenal don’t let it turn into a soap opera.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11482568/unai-emery-cant-afford-to-freeze-mesut-ozil-out-at-arsenal-andy-dunn-tells-the-sunday-supplement

champagne charlie

Paulinho Ahh I see, didn’t realise fact was governed by the opinions of former players. Here’s me thinking it was actually fact that dictated matters. How wrong I was… Yea I see how it all went wrong, because you’ve total inability to debate anything relating to Ramsey. You couldn’t answer a basic question, tied yourself up in knots by introducing Lampard who has a different view to yourself (but no mention of that still). Overall you’re a classic fanboy which frankly I thought to only be something found in teenagers. Ramsey is the bollocks because Lampard rates him, Xhaka is… Read more »

Cesc Appeal

Fingers crossed we just sell him suddenly, maybe PSG will take him given that they want Eriksen.

We need to start a new midfield build, it has already begun, but we need more CAM/CM type players instead of lightweight No.10 and nothing else types.

Paulinho

Charlie -“Yeah I see how it all went wrong”

Yeah, like usual, give you enough rope and you do the rest………..

Paulinho

“By your same standard you’re proven wrong about Ramsey surely?”

Also, another example of your desperation to include Ramsey in everything as some reflex response to every criticism of Xhaka.

Talking about Xhaka being a flop, and what does he do? Bring Ramsey into it, even when it makes you look even sillier. Proved my point earlier to an absolute tee.

Marko

CA if it were to happen before the window closes I’d personally do it. It might leave us a bit short but I’d do it roll with what we’ve got and have someone lined up for January 1st. Might even consider Marchisio on a short term deal

champagne charlie

Paulinho

At some point you’re going to realise that you and Ramsey are synonymous given your total disregard for the same criteria you judge others by. Whether it’s Xhaka, Ozil, Torreira, Leno or whoever in the side, when you argue something as per a particular standard Ramsey will be brought up to maintain its a standard for all. In this case, as ever, you’ve shown its one rule for one and one for Ramsey.

Paulinho

Charlie – Lol what was that?

By any standard, Ramsey is a far better player than Xhaka has proved that in the two years since the Swiss’s arrival at the same club, and your mealy-mouthed attempts to try and argue otherwise have and will continue to cause you to make an arse of yourself, committing numerous and comical gaffes out of desperation. When you do that, it will be brought up.

Paulinho

Load of disingenuous drivel as well.

I’ve criticised Aubameyang, Walcott, Mikhi, and Bellerin and not once has that elicited a squeak about Ramsey, at least nowhere near to the same extent as criticism of Xhaka does.

Cesc Appeal

Marko

If it can be done just get it done, waiting risks the buyer deciding against it.

Saves us £5 600 000 up to January in wages, if we can get something like £20 Million we’re doing well, then maybe look to sell Mustafi in January to go after someone like Manolas or similar, that CB we really need.

I think that Emery may be realising he has a bigger job here than he thought.

champagne charlie

“By any standard, Ramsey is a far better player than Xhaka has proved that in the two years since the Swiss’s arrival at the same club, and your mealy-mouthed attempts to try and argue otherwise” I’m bored at this point, but you don’t seem very good at reading because this isn’t ever a pov I take and i’ve explained it to you already today in the following: “They are never compared as players from me………..It’s you that persists in comparing the two as if they occupy the same role in the side…….” Your rehashing is tiresome, you don’t debate Ramsey… Read more »

Paulinho

“By your same standard you’re proven wrong about Ramsey surely? He’s utterly dispensable in the eyes of many”

Again, your own creation, Still can’t explain why I’m proven wrong about Ramsey when the logic used was Ramsey’s performances versus Xhaka’s over two years.

And you constantly compare their overall level as players, regardless of position. Another straw man.

As for tiresome, I find your lack of intelligence and resultant disingenuousness behaviour to try and salvage a poorly thought out argument, tiresome. Utter tedium.

champagne charlie

Imagine Sanmi and co. are deliberating over how to paint this latest mass shooting in America as a product of illegal-immigration.

champagne charlie

Paulinho Yes, much as ‘its everyone else that can’t see things’ etc as per your claims. You exist on a plane above everyone here clearly. It’s definitely not a total inability to rationally dissect Aaron bloody Ramsey of all things. I’ve stated what I argue, it’s fairness and much of what Dissenter originally quipped earlier today. You happen to continue down a path of like for like comparison where there isn’t one. Its quite literally there for all in black and white. God now its lack of intelligence. Unlike you to get challenged on Ramsey and resort to quips about… Read more »

Marko

Imagine Sanmi and co. are deliberating over how to paint this latest mass shooting in America as a product of illegal-immigration

They’re invading he’ll say. Christ you can’t even play videogames in America without the risk of being shot. Fucking idiots

champagne charlie

Marko

I know, another hardcore attack against……teenage nerds of all people. What a pathetic few that slither out of American obscurity, armed no less. Amendments innit

Paulinho

Charlie you are a walking non-sequitar, straw-man or whatever fallacious logical label you want to add on to describe yourself.

As I said, you will continue to get picked up on it when you can’t defend your own comical arguments with intellectual integrity, and not continue to double down on the same path that led you into the quagmire in the first place.

Marko

“Two days ago I spoke with him about things tactically for this match and the last match,” Emery said after his side had picked up their first points of his tenure. “And he said to me he was sick two days ago. On Friday, after my conversation on Thursday, he continued to stay off sick. We spoke with the doctor and decided it was better for him to stay at home.’’

Asked if he planned to change Ozil’s role against West Ham, Emery simply said: “Maybe.”

champagne charlie

Paulinho

You’re so lost. Keep this fresh in the mind though, do me that favour.

Paulinho

Charlie – Yeah i will do, with all other ones, where you try and squeal and squirm and distance yourself from your own arguments and hope their forgotten…..

China

Neither xhaka nor Ramsey have been especially good in the last two years. It doesn’t really matter who has been worse as neither is the level we need

Black Hei

“My big question is this… if he’s too sick to play, but not sick enough to be at the ground in the dressing room, what sort of illness is this?”

The only logical conclusion is that he is indeed sick, but is still able to be with the squad.

If he was going on strike, why would he even be at the grounds? To boo the squad?

China

Apparently nothing contagious then

Ozil health is as poor as Diaby’s body if his constant illnesses are to be believed

gonsterous

allI this debate about who’s better. Bottom line is our midfield is average. We need upgrades on each one of them. Chaka ramsey and gwen won’t make any team shake in fear. Gwen and torreira just arrived so they should be the last to be upgraded. Sell ramsay and xhaka and get in some decent ball playing midfielders. Leave elneny on the bench and maybe, just maybe we can start to control games from midfield.

the list should read
winger
CM
CB

then we can sort out the other areas of the pitch….

gonsterous

ozil must be paying the club doctor on the side to get a sick note that often. Comes into training the next day and randomly coughing while the coach is having a talk so as to appear ill…

gonsterous

We should be selling ozil this window. Then go scouting till we find a decent fellow we can nab in the January window. Saves us money and I don’t see it effecting the team in anyway. against the big boys he goes missing and we can manage against the weaker teams with out ozil. sounds logical enough…

Black Hei

gonsterous

I have absolutely no idea how we are going to “sell” Ozil when he has a humongous contract with us.

Nor why anyone is willing to “buy” Ramsey when he can go on a free next season.

I hope none of the potential buyers are put off by our “marketing” strategy over at the Le Grove forum.

Pierre

A couple of things I have noticed that Emery has refined since pre and the start of the season and was noticeable v West ham ,is that we have reverted back to zonal marking at corners ,which we look much more comfortable defending and Cech making the decision to play the ball long if there is no obvious way out. This tells me that the manager is not so stubborn and recognises potential problems and is open to change,which is a positive. Also noticed that mustafi doesn’t dive in or goes to ground as much and looks a better defender… Read more »

gonsterous

black hei

We have to sell in at a discount rate. At least we’ll save a chunk load on wages, cause at the moment he’s taking up 2 players wages but providing performances worth half a player…

Michael24

Of course video games make people violent.

Christ, some people even get annoyed when you see them, or interrupt them, on their telephones.

China

Do video games make people more violent than violent movies and books?

Black Hei

gonsterous

We will likely pull a loss on Ozil. Not a paper loss but an actual loss.

Even if we let him go for free, for example, he will ask for parity in wages. We will have to cough out money to ask him to leave.

He won’t go back to Germany, Barcelona and Real Madrid won’t sign him; the best we can do is to send him to Man United in January, but it seems like the kitty train has shut on Jose.

DivineSherlock

Put your hands up (metaphoric) if you miss Arteta . lol . The guy was technically genius, something we need . Knew exactly when to play the pass and where . Xhaka isnt even close . Also we need someone like Cazorla/Rosicky type player. January transfer window will be crucial.

gonsterous

black hei

what happened to our great negotiating team ? we’ll have to demand less cash but make the other team foot the wage bill…
We can thank wenger for that deal. should have kept sanchez and sold ozil, the old fool always does the opposite though…

Black Hei

DivineSherlock

I used to think that Xhaka is gonna be like Arteta with muscles.

Man, how noob I feel now.

gonsterous

divine Sherlock

check your privilege, I don’t have a hand to raise…

Pierre

Have to say I like the way Chelsea zip the ball about in centre midfield with jorghino,kovacic and hazard..they make Arsenals midfield passing look pedestrian(yes I know,because it is)…plus they have pedro and William……if they had a top level striker they would be lethal.

They look the part to me.

Michael24

China

Most definitely.

Video games are interactive.

You control the game.

Michael24

Why is it that it only seems to be Arsenal who get into these shitty situations?

Oh yeh, that’s right, I almost forgot, we used to have a clown in charge.

Didn’t he have a degree in Economics?

Michael24

Pierre

Also, one key factor.

They’ve all been taught how to play the game.

Conte/Mourinho instilled a tactical/ winning mentality into all the Chelsea players, which any new recruit would buy into straight away.

Whereas at Arsenal!!!…………

Michael24

“Boss (Mr Wenger) what are we going to learn today?”

“You are going to learn to make decisions for yourself and let the ball do the talking”

“Ok boss, but will that make me a better player?”

“Of course”

“But what about our opponents?”

“They are not important. They are irrelevant”

“Whatever you say boss”.

Black Hei

Michael24

This whole blame it all on Wenger narrative is just excuses.

Half of the squad on Saturday are new.

Of the rest, only Ramsey and Bellerin can be considered Wenger educated since they spent the large part of their career at Arsenal.

The rest already made their career prior to joining.

TonyD

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6100445/Absent-350-000-week-Arsenal-star-Mesut-Ozil-work-harder-impress-Unai-Emery.html

My take on this would be to sell Ozil, Ramsey, Xhaka & Bellerin.

Buy 2 wingers (or 1 winger and a Nnonzi type MF) a very mobile CB and RB

Bellerin is not defensively good enough nor is his end product as a winger imo.

I’d say that Emery could work much better at implementing his systems with the negative/cancerous elements of the club gone.

SUGA3

Most of the players may not have been educated by Wenger, but as anyone will tell you, it is very difficult to come to an organisation plagued with bad management on virtually all levels for a decade and get the change in attitudes, culture, work ethic and the like within a couple of months. This is just not happening. Like ever. Also, half of the squad was new? Sheesh, my math must be seriously off. Or yours. You tell me. I do, however, agree with what some people said earlier that Emery did not quite realise how bad it was… Read more »

Michael24

Black Hei

No it’s not.

Remember the new recruits are Football educated.

They saw from afar what the problem was.

Now they have to integrate (and teach) the Wengerized players what it’s all about.

Emery needs these new players to help him.

James.wood

Sick notes contract should have been more flexible in favour of the club.

He is clearly in breach of contract .?

How can someone have a runny nose and swerve game after game.
If he has other more genuine mind problems then I sympathise these
problems are more deep rooted and not easily adressed.

A runny nose could be he,s excuse.?.

A player who’s decline has been so rapid to believe
does money do that to you.?

SUGA3

If he has mental problems (which I think he does), he should do the decent thing and agree to release himself from the contract. Not like he is going to end up in a cardboard box in the street, is it? Ozil is just a big baby. Played like shit, got rightly canned for it in Germany, spat his dummy out and ended his national career at his supposed prime age. The whole Erdogan situation just happened to occur at an opportune time. I mean, sure. there is no obligation to play for the national team. Playing for the club… Read more »

Valentin

Three minutes after Toreira’s introduction, Arnautovic went off injured. That is what allowed Xhaka to look better. Without a pest in his vicinity, he was able to spread passes. When he has time on the ball and nobody to put him under pressure Xhaka will look like a world beater, the problem is that most team will not give home time. Yet despite that, Arsenal could still have conceded further goals. I know a lot people raves about Emery and his willingness to change things at half time rather than the 79 minutes mark, but he would need to change… Read more »

russ99

A fairly easy fix is to change our midfield so someone is there when we lose the ball, and it’s not all on our defenders to stop players breaking with speed. Something like 4 back, Torriera at DM, a left and a right midfielder, then your top three. The problem is we don’t seem to have these two players. Ramsey likes to play higher up in the center., Özil the same, even higher and neither player seems to have any interest in tracking back and being responsible. Guendouzi and Xhaka are barely hanging on now, and seem better suited to… Read more »