Arsenal riding the luck train

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It’s very interesting reading the different perspectives on what’s going on at the club at the minute. The general notion is Arsenal are winning ugly and we’re shithousing our way up the league.

I’m not quite sure I buy it.

This bit of analysis from Gracenote was very interesting.

Now, you can take a few things away from this.

We’ve been ruthlessly efficient in front of goal to start with, and we’ve had some luck. Yesterday we only managed two shots on target and we claimed an own goal.

Defensively, we’ve been shite, but thankfully, the teams we’ve played have been useless in front of goal (and our keepers have been good).

What this table tells you is we’ve been very fortuitous. The idea that we’re ‘shithousing’ teams doesn’t really sit right with me. This isn’t doing what you have to do to win, like Inter Milan in the semi-final of the CL against Barcelona. This isn’t United under Mourinho. This isn’t Ramos like evil genius. This is Arsenal playing really badly and falling up the stairs.

We’re not creating good chances moving forward, and we’re terrible at the back… but we’re 4 points off the top of the table, so it’s hard to be real about the situation without sounding like a brat. But, you know, I am a brat. I think a big reality slap is heading our way if we don’t quickly improve.

We’re 9 competitive games into the season and we’re still shite. That’s with the players training almost every single day (which comes with its own issues, usually in December). The ideas, whatever they are, aren’t settling with the players at the minute. We’ve seen Bielsa at Leeds turn them into a spectacle, they’re scoring freely, 2 a game, and they’re conceding less (a goal a game last season, 0.8 a game this season). I mention Bielsa because he’s bringing elite level ideas to very average players. Emery took over from an artist, not a butcher, it shouldn’t be taking this long to see an identity.

The play has to get better if we’re going to make it into the top 4 this season, because luck won’t carry us through December. Emery has either got to make changes to the way he’s setting up so he can get the team clicking from the off, or we’re going to have to do some reshaping in the January transfer window.

Starting Ramsey seems like a bad idea. The club withdrew the offer because they didn’t see value in Ramsey signing a £300k a week contract. So it’s not about the Welshman, it’s about Arsenal making an aggressive call on his ability. No wonder he looks pissed off, he’s just been told by the clubs hierarchy they don’t rate him. Here’s the thing, I absolutely agree with that decision. Trouble is, now he’s going to be uninterested for the rest of the season. He’d be a useful player if he was on top form.

Mesut Ozil needs to play as a #10, or it’s simply not worth it. Emery is going to have to work out a way to make him work harder for the team, or he’s going to have to build the system to be able to deal with his lack of defensive work. He’s the most creative player in the league, we’re not creating anything, let’s make it work.

We also need to work out why our defence is so poor. Is it a back to basics kind of issue? Who knows. But it shouldn’t take more than 3 months to see an improvement. I mean, it doesn’t help having someone like Xhaka protecting you, but honestly, I don’t understand how we’ve regressed so badly at the back.

Anyway, a little bit of a moan this morning.

What do you think about it all? Let me know in the comments! x

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Boomslang

Here

grooveydaddy

Yo

Ashwin Gunner

Tr4phy

Boomslang

For

grooveydaddy

Tr4phy

Pierre

Pedro’s headline “September and still competing for the league. Feels weird, right?”
Actually it doesn’t feel that weird due to the fact that we are where we normally are after 7 games going by the last 3 seasons so it actually feels pretty similar,right?2017/18……5th
2016/17…….3rd
2015/16……5th
The only difference is ,we have a new manager.

grooveydaddy

Bollox

Nice one boomslang

Boomslang

You know the routine groovey. Cheers.

HighburyLegend

F*ck yeah!!

” I think a big reality slap is heading our way if we don’t quickly improve.”
Klopp nose best!!

Ivan

Pedro – u are surprised why defence regressed?

Maybe lack of Kos, and Mustafi (cant stay on his feet if life depends on it) being left as senior CB and leader od defence.

HighburyLegend

Don’t care if we concede 6 at Anfield, as long as we score 7.

HighburyLegend

Too much people on Le Grove this morning.

gooner1

For starters , this is probably the first reality check article ive read about arsenal and emery ! the most disappointing thing to me is that emery hasnt yet showed as to what our “identity” is going to be. We are playing through the wings knowing we dont have proper wingers throughout the squad , bellerin has been absolutely pathetic going forward and defensively the less said the better, ramsey at # 10 always lacked the quality, The team looks as bad defensively and as shaky as they used to look over the past few years , the difference visibly… Read more »

Leftsidesanch

Pierre, we had more points in 2016/17 at this point (well a point more), but we are two points better off now than we were at the same stage last season so your not wrong there. Difference is, last season we were already 6 points off the leaders City, and two years ago we were only 2 off so it’s a small improvement. It doesn’t mean much at this stage cos it’s how we finish. The big thing is, most of us knew we wouldn’t sustain a challenge for the title/top 4 but now we don’t know about the top… Read more »

Michael24

There is a massive difference between where we are now and where we’ve been in previous seasons.

Under Emery we really don’t know what to expect, which is sort of exciting, whereas, under Wenger, it was all too predictable and rather boring.

What is great is that we seem to turn it on for 10-15 minutes and win the game,
which, at this stage, is far better than looking good for 70 mins and fudging it
up.

Maybe not pretty to watch but proving very effective.

El Gooner

Pedro you can’t cling to stats and then burn the Xhaka fans who do the same to justify his existence. Truth is we were crap on Saturday and nobody sitting around me disagreed. Only real stand out performance for me came from Holding, even Leno struggled to pass the ball (great save tho) – Auba on the wing is a waste of time. He is proven goal scorer, no point trying to convert him into something else at this stage in career. Old fashioned 2 up front with Ozil in the last chance saloon as a Number 10. Ramsay cannot… Read more »

Leftsidesanch

At this point, I’d keep Ramsey out the team and put Ozil in the hole. Playing with two up top, because Auba will have an underwhelming season if he’s out wide.

Begs the question why we didn’t get an actual winger in the summer.

Michael24

Pierre

Great result yesterday.

The Americans proved, not for the first time, that they have little or no concept of what a team environment is all about.

Woods proved he is a total dick.

Victorious

Top post Pedro,
We’re scrapping past average sides not because we’re good but because of a combination of luck and and some bang average attack
You get the feeling as soon as we meet a half decent attack and we could be taken to the cleaners

Not sure 4231 is bringing out the best from our players
Why not try 352 or dippers flat 433? Really love the way they pressed the chavs and maintained their midfield shape
We ain’t doing anything serious with this painful performance and calamitous defense,thats for sure

HighburyLegend

“which, at this stage, is far better than looking good for 70 mins and fudging it”

lol so true.

Michael24

Pierre

When it was Nicklaus, Watson, Trevino etc versus GB, it never mattered, as they were head and shoulders better than us.

Since our standards improved(Faldo, Woosnam etc) and the Europeans entered the fray, the Americans have, for the most part, been found out.

Driven mindsets don’t work unless you’re prepared to adapt. They must be so envious of what the Europeans have.

Nice to see Fowler being so gracious though.

HighburyLegend

Love the picture of today’s post, Emery showing Ramsey the exit door.

Michael24

The second goal against Watford highlighted a major improvement.

The desire that Welbeck showed to win the ball, get up and chase forward. The run and cross from Lacazette and the movement and finish by Ozil were exemplary.

More significantly, the reaction shown by the players thereafter was brilliant to watch.

Onwards and upwards!

Victorious

Top post,Pedro Literally agree with every bit, exactly as it should be said We’re scrapping past average sides not because of we’re good but because of a combination of luck and some bang average attack You get the feeling as soon as we meet any half decent attack and our asses we get embarrassingly handed to us on a plate, we’ll surely be taken to the cleaners with our lifeless performance Not sure 4231 is bring out the best from our players, why not try 352?or dippers flat 433? Really love how their attacking third pressed the chavs defense and… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

“Woods proved he is a total dick.“

Huh? How..

Re:Arsenal, I think it’s a bit of an exaggeration to say we’re getting lucky per se. We’re not pretty, or controlling games as I’d like to see, but our quality is still shining through as we persevere.

Defence is garbage though, this is bubbling under with me because it was this aspect I felt a new manager would correct almost immediately. Not necessarily in terms of numbers conceded right away, but at least in shape, player attitudes etc. We look almost the same which is a concern.

englandsbest

Monday morning blues? Not for me. For me the sun is shining. I won’t pretend to understand exactly what Emery is doing. But I understand a whole lot better than I understood what Wenger was doing (or not doing) the past several seasons. To give one simple example, the defence. Getting a group of defenders to act as one (as GG did) takes time and hard work, It does not happen overnight, not if you have to pick up where Wenger left off. Defence was an area that Wenger preferred to ignore. Emery evidently takes it for what it truly… Read more »

Bob N16

Like Pedro, am a little surprised that Emery hasn’t appeared to change our approach more. I suppose the man-management side of things, which as fans we only see on match days, affects his team selections in a way that we can only guess about. I’m sure he has been giving opportunities to certain players, to give them a chance to ‘change their ways’, before getting rid of those that don’t work. The plusses far outweigh the continuing negatives(goals conceded). For those who think that ‘we’re going to get found out’, need to ask themselves how long they are willing to… Read more »

Bob N16

Ryder Cup was great but really not sure about the narrative that our side was better due to their greater ‘team bonding’ and having a whats app group. Surely the Europeans benefitted from the narrow fairways with tough rough and colder weather. Taking the US out of their comfort zone was the way to go.
Always great to beat them wherever and however.

Bamford10

We aren’t playing all that well, but we’re not winning because we’re getting “lucky”. We’re winning because we’re better than the teams were playing against, because our players are playing with a bit of desire and because our fitness is showing itself in the final 20 minutes of the match. But it’s true that aside from getting the players to play with more desire, we aren’t seeing much improvement at the moment. First thing to do is to switch to a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2. Second thing to do is to get the selection right. Third thing to do is to… Read more »

Ben D

We’ve won 7 on the bounce, but this blog reads like we have lost 7 on the bounce. Yes, we are not playing as well as we hoped, but winning when not playing well has been highlighted as the mark of a team with ability to challenge for things on here previously when others did it and we didn’t. And all this talk about being found out when we play the big sides. Yes, we lost to both City and Chelsea, but I wouldn’t describe either as having our backsides handed to us. In fact, we played really well against… Read more »

Bamford10

Ben

Agree that the doom and gloom is a bit much, but Chelsea are playing better now than when we played them.

El Tel

England’s best Nice comment. The Doomers on this site are never satisfied. We have played three of the top four sides already (Watford were fourth before we beat them) and suddenly we are still shit. We don’t create chances but average 2 goals per game. It gets better. The Scousers tore Chavski apart. Didn’t we score 2 there and should have had 6? Granted the Scousers got a draw but so would have we if they hadn’t been given a dodgy free kick. Sure the defence has conceded but it is getting better after the first couple of games with… Read more »

HighburyLegend

““Woods proved he is a total dick.“
Huh? How.. ”

@champagne : by his calamitous and selfish behavior all along this weekend, yes he was.

Champagne Charlie

Highbury

What behaviour was that?

Ben D

@Bamford

Agree that Chelsea are playing better now than earlier on. But you play teams when they are drawn against you. Never seen anyone analyse whether teams played better or worse when comparing our record against teams to others. 7 games in, we are level with a Spurs team that loads on here were praising to high heavens a few weeks ago, and ahead of United. And only a couple of points behind the two clear favorites for the title. All at the start of our rebuild.

All I’m saying is, that’s pretty good!

Victorious

CC/Bam Are you saying we weren’t lucky against Watford? You might want to rewatch that match again to get a balance view First half was pretty much even with Cech being busier goalie Around 50minutes into 2nd half, Isaac success had a one on one vs Leno and narrowly missed(a more assured striker scores that and we’re 0-1 down) Totally against the run of play cartcart plods into his own net to hand us Victory,barely deseeved we weren’t the better team,we were lucky but did make our luck.but we might have dropped points and nobody would feel a sense of… Read more »

Emiratesstroller

The story coming out today is that Ramsey wants to go to Liverpool presumably on a Bosman at end of season and not in January which will cost them a transfer fee. Frankly if that is the case there is absolutely nothing that Arsenal can do to prevent that happening and no doubt that is the explanation for the club withdrawing its offer. It is a “fait accompli”. Why sign a contract and pay the player more for the remainder of this season? Regarding the so-called analysis of Arsenal’s performance this season let’s be clear we are not expected to… Read more »

Bamford10

Victorious

There’s a difference b/t being lucky here or there, in this or that moment, and being lucky to have won or winning because you were lucky.

Sure, we might have been lucky in this or that moment. Go back to Everton; we were lucky they didn’t score one or two goals in the first half. But we didn’t win that match or Saturday’s match because we were lucky. We won because we were the better team. Which we should be, as we have a lot more talent than those teams.

Bamford10

Ben I agree that you can only play who is in front of you, and I agree that there isn’t all that much to complain about; my point was only that you can’t point at our Chelsea match (and compare it to how Liverpool have fared against them) to get a sense of where we are. They are much better now than when we played them. We have a lot of improving to do before we are at the level of a Liverpool or Chelsea much less a City. And unlike some here, I have never been all that impressed… Read more »

Victorious

We won because we were the better team.

Arguably, as until the 81st minute OG,There was hardly anything between the sides.

Emiratesstroller

Bamford 10

Teams always make their own luck.

The fact is we beat both Everton and Watford 2-0 and in the latter game we should have been awarded a penalty.

The club needs at the moment to play with’ substance rather than style’ to eradicate the deficiencies in our team in recent years.

David Smith

Thought Holding had a decent match, and deserves games. However, defending as a team remains poor. The good points, the team are now fitter, perhaps stronger, their heads do not drop as they did under wenger. And Emery is substituting players at stages in games wenger never would. Despite a few errors by Cech as he adapts, looks like our keepers are actually being coached, perhaps for the first time since Bob Wilson left, (a brief interlude when Jens was doing his badges aside- as wenger soon put a stop to that after our Polish keepers publicly praised the German… Read more »

Victorious

We are tussling for 4th with united and spuds.

City, dippers and chavs are levels ahead in quality it’s not funny.

Bob N16

Victorious, don’t think it was particularly lucky that we weren’t awarded a penalty in the 5th minute. You mention the 1 on 1 in the 50th minute, how about Lacazette’s 1 on 1 in the first half. Is it lucky that we have strikers who can take a higher proportion of half chances than teams we’ve recently beaten, or that we have substitutes who are good enough to come on and make a difference? How lucky is it that we have two good goalies who have made important saves? How lucky is it that we’ve got a new manager and… Read more »

Bamford10

Victorious

Well, one, football matches are 90 minutes, and sometimes the better team does not get the better of the other until the final ten minutes.

But more to my point: remind me who Watford has in attack? Troy Deeney, I think? We have Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Henrikh Mkhitayan, etc.

We’re a better team, with better players. We aren’t playing particularly great football at the moment, but we’re not winning because of luck.

Jamie

Poor Emery. Dealing with a squad for of dross, carving out wins, having his abilities questioned after 9 games. 9 games! 7 of them wins. Conversely, Arteta takes zero blame for losing his one (and only) game in charge with the best squad in the country. “That loss proves nothing.” Poch takes Spurs to a 5th place finish after a whole season in charge, hailed as top gaffer. Emery can’t speak English particularly well but tries, Poch speaks through an interpreter for his first year (or two) in England. I have no idea whether Emery will be a success, but… Read more »

Bamford10

David Smith

“My only fear is what constraints Stan may or may not enforce.”

Stan Kroenke has never enforced any “constraints” on the club whatsoever. This is complete nonsense. He has never spent his own money, true, but he has always allowed the men who run the club to spend whatever money our operating revenues and self-sustaining model allowed.

The claim above is nonsense.

Alex Cutter

“They must be so envious of what the Europeans have.”

Yes. Perhaps they should all be put on suicide watch because of their shameful defeat. That was witnessed by the 17 Americans who know what the Ryder Cup is.

kc

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. – Seneca

Emiratesstroller

Bob N16

Teams make their own luck.

For all the negativity we know that Arsenal have two prolific strikers on their
books in Aubameyang and Lacazette. Sooner or later they will start scoring on
a regular basis.

Also I think that both Welbeck and Iwobi are starting to show some decent
form coming off the bench.

What Arsenal do need to find in the next two transfer windows is not only a
replacement for Ramsey, but an UPGRADE i.e. someone with a football brain and better technical ability and who is less injury prone.

Dissenter

We beat a very good team on Saturday.
A well managed team filled with some tested professionals.
I would take Deeney, Doucoure , Pereyra and Kabasele in a heart beat.

Bob N16

Agreed ES, Our defensive personnel need upgrading too!

HighburyLegend

“I defy anyone to make Mustafi a better defender, or Xhaka a better midfielder, or Welbeck a better finisher, or Ramsey more positionally aware, or Elneny a more incisive passer, or Ozil more aggressive. ”

Spot on.

Dissenter

Bamford
You cannot say with a 100% certainty that Stan never enforced spending constraints ….because you’re not in the know.
It’s likely that he has to approve spending above a limit. That’s how most businesses operate. He has to give the go ahead sometimes.

Dissenter

Pedro
Your grace notes stats contradict the point you’re trying to make about luck.
We ought to be on more pints if everything went in for us.

Bob N16

Bamford,

Why do you constantly defend Kroenke. Even if you feel that the self sustaining model is sacrosanct, which it’s not, surely you can see the potential value of giving a one-off £100m boost to our transfer budget to help tackle our obvious deficiencies?

Or do you defend the multi billionaire, supposedly ambitious to do well, American owner whatever happens?

Bob N16

More pints Dissenter….I’m with you on that!

Dissenter

Our goal difference is not so good; obviously conceding too many and Auba/Laca keep missing sure bankers.
We are still a work in progress at the moment. Auba isn’t looking as happy as he used to appear and you just wonder what is going on behind the scenes.

Dissenter

BobN16
It’s 6.40am ET
Too early for drinking.
Meant more points obviously.

VicVic

It’s good to see Pedro seeing what I saw earlier, and was named an AKB for. It’s justice to call Pedro an AKB now isn’t it? If you look with your eyes and not with your heart, you will see there is no improvement at all. Apart from last season in away games, we used to beat these smaller teams with great ease. And now we barely do it with lots of sweat involved. National teams performing badly would hire a new coach and after a few periods of training together, they would begin to play good football. ARSENAL PLAYERS… Read more »

kc

AKBs are desperate atm with Emery on a winning streak. Back to blaming the world’s problems on Kroenke again. An American ruining the club fits the xenophobic British narrative to a T.

David Smith

Bamford, we dont know exactly what Stan has put in place, past or present, except that it doesnt involve his own money,and I did say what Stan may – or may not put in place reflecting this, but looking at what others are doing, it is surely a concern?
As for the self sufficiency model, however laudable and sensible that may be, it may be getting to the point where it will not be enough to compete over any length of time. Will Stan change things if we get to that point?

steve

Watford were poor. No end product at all.

cezan1afc

@Pedro I think everyone needs to take the performances with a pinch if salt, its still early days but we as arsenal fans should all know about matches against top teams where we dominate and lose or create enough chances to win and get spanked, atletico at home last season ? Alot of pundits praised atletico. The best defences will always still concede chances against good opposition its why you have top keepers and defenders who might just be able to put you off. The 3 1 mauling at emirates by man utd springs to mind we had easily enough… Read more »

Dennis Bergkamp

I’m a little confused here Pedro,
Pretty sure that data is stating Arsenal are 5 points worse off than where they’d be if chances been converted.
I.e. Arsenal have missed loads and opposition have taken most of their chances.
The opposite conclusion.

Leftsidesanch

I’m abit confused too, isn’t that data from last season or am I being dim

Emiratesstroller

There is too much conjecture about wage constraints.

The fact is that Arsenal made an offer to Ramsey which was presumably a substantial increase in wages.

So I doubt that it would have been withdrawn on the basis we cannot afford it.

My guess is that the club got wind that Ramsey wanted to leave and/or the
agent was not conducting negotiations in good faith.

The club has clearly decided to write off Ramsey and cut their losses. Let us
hope that is the last time the club is forced to make such a decision.

KAY Boss

Good we’re winning but a lot of concerns are repeating itself from day one of this season.
1. Ramsey isn’t a 10
2. Auba is been wasted at the wing and we might not see the best of him this season if he keeps playing there.
3. Our attack seem blunt and özil should be played in the 10.
Some changes may also be needed and boy, Mustafi…….
Emery mustn’t be stubborn it’s already seven weeks and the same problems are withnessed week in week out.

Leedsgunner

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/henrikh-mkhitaryan-wont-travel-azerbaijan-13339713

I think this is outrageous as I said a couple of days ago. Apparently Armenians are prevented from entering Azerbaijan due to political military tensions.

Why is this Azerbaijani club allowed to discriminate against Mhkitaryian in this way? Surely, their eligibility to play in all FIFA interclub competitions should have been suspended.

Especially when FIFA says repeatedly that they are apolitical organisation. Why are they allowing FK Qarabag get away with this?

Michael24

CC Maybe I should have put it slightly more diplomatically, or, should I say, simply. Woods displayed the sort of body language and persona that shows why he should never be placed in a team environment. There is no doubting he has been and, hopefully, still will be, a great golfer, BUT, when you ignore your role as a team leader and role model, you are 100% nullifying your team’s chances of winning. Maybe he was burnt out after his efforts of the previous week, maybe his body was aching a wee bit, nonetheless, at least have the decency and… Read more »

Shad

Hi grovers! Agreee with the common sentiment that we can’t really complain having won our last 7 games. The thing with this team is it will always create chances. We saw that against City and Chelsea. Could be down to fitness or simply individual brilliance. However my 2 biggest concerns are as Pedders would offer; 1. Emery sticking to playing his favourites. It took him about 4 games to realize Torreira should be our main CDM. I hope he isn’t waiting for a catastrophic tanking to realize playing Ozil, Auba and Ramsey out of position has been silly and needless.… Read more »

Shad

*trusting

Champagne Charlie

Vic I watched the game thanks mate, I simply don’t agree with your take about luck. By that same measurement we were unlucky not to get a pen, unlucky when Laca chipped wide. It was evenly matched first half and we upped it second half enough to win the game. Chalking it up to luck is a huge reach. – Banford runs interference for Kroenke and Ramsey, that’s his thing. You’d think he were on the board with the level of certainty and absolutism he brings to the forum on certain topics. He ‘knows’ Stan limits nothing, and ‘knows’ Rambo… Read more »

Eduardo

This is bizarre. The point of your article is totally at odds with the tweet you link to which suggests Arsenal are playing BETTER than their points tally suggests. At any rate, anyone bitching and moaning after winning 7 games on the bounce needs to pipe down. Emery is working miracles with the shower of sh*t Wenger left behind, with an incoherent group of players with no work ethic, and no defensive or positional discipline. He’s teaching them how to play football again and SOMEHOW we are winning while doing so. It’s totally underappreciated and everyone complaining about it comes… Read more »

Leedsgunner

If FK Qarabag was unwilling to implore their government to lift the ban against Mkhitaryian this club should have been forced to forfeit this game to the Arsenal at least. What if Azerbaijan had difficult relations with Israel and they banned all Israeli players… wouldn’t they be (rightfully) denounced? Why is one of our players being allowed to be treated as a persona non grata based on what it says on his passport rather than based on any foul actions on his part? This is blatant racism… and FIFA are turning a blind eye to it. What if Azerbaijan decided… Read more »

Leedsgunner

*forfeit

Zfree

Le Grove loves to talk about the Liverpool game in November. It’s been weeks of regurgitated this same thought, in articles, podcasts, comments. “We’ll he found out if it keeps up this way!” Or “Liverpool will smash us, maybe double figures!” Just shut up and take it game by game. We aren’t competing for the league this year, that’s left to city and Liverpool. Can we finish top 4 if Liverpool beat us? Yes. Can we win the Europa League if Liverpool beat us? Yes. Liverpool beating us by 3 or more goals will hurt the pride but not have… Read more »

Michael24

VicVic

Sorry, but got to have a good old laugh.

Based on your 11:45 post alone, you have made it perfectly clear to one and all, that you have absolutely no concept of what is going on at the club and also, more significantly, what went on for many years prior to Emery’s arrival.

Unfudgingbelievable!

Bamford10

Dissenter No, actually, we do know; not one single person at the club has ever said a word about Kroenke restricting what we could spend (beyond the limits imposed by our operating revenues and the s-s model). Contrast this to what was said about Wenger and his attitude towards spending. As for spending questions on the margins — say, whether we can leave as little as 50m in cash reserves or whether we prefer to keep to 60m — these decisions are just that, on the margins. They are not decisions that determine the difference b/t us and City this… Read more »

Pierre

Michael
It could have been a case of tiger woods running out of gas due to his recent work load.

It’s not surprising that Molinari was our best player and mickleson was the usa’s worst.

The course rewards straight driving and punishes erratic shots and there is no one straighter or erratic than those 2.

Victorious

Have to wonder the fvck Emery was on about when he came out with his preference to win 5-4 as against 1-0 Shows he doesn’t see the defensive set-up of a team as priority Not as if we’re even treated to a remotely decent football either, No identity No discernible pattern of play The transition of the ball from defense to attack is like watching paint dry.. take ages and when the attacking third finally has it they often look clueless and shit their pants How many of you can boldly say you’ve enjoyed even a single match by the… Read more »

HighburyLegend

I love the word “Unfudgingbelievable”

Bamford10

Bob

The only thing that is “sacrosanct” to me, mate, is the truth. I couldn’t give a fuck less about the s-s model or about Stan Kroenke.

What I can’t stand, though, is when people misrepresent the situation at Arsenal Football Club. This helps no one.

Leedsgunner

My Europa side

Martinez

Lichtensteiner — Holding — Mustafi — Kolasinac

Elneny – Guendouzi

Welbeck – Emile Smith Rowe — Ramsey

Nketiah

Subs

W.illock
Leno
Pleguezuelo
Lacazette
Ramsey
Monreal
Saka

Leedsgunner

*Xhaka in the subs not Ramsey

Victorious

Zfree
Even if it’s still a few weeks away

I’m willing to wager we get soundly beaten by dippers

How bout you put your money were your mouth is otherwise shut up and consume the shit-show being served

steve

Lol Pedro your stats are one year old. Did you miss the “Oct 13, 2017”?

HighburyLegend

@Vicuntious : for sure, we were enjoying so much more the last games under wenger.
(lolZ)

“No identity
No discernible pattern of play”
For sure, Emery for his first season at the club, and with a squad full of wengerized players, should have already fixed everything…
(lolZ bis)

Michael24

victorious

Better he came out with this statement, rather than highlighting the positives of an 8-2 loss!

Would he get away with it then?

Answers on a postcard please.

Bamford10

Dissenter

Also, the only argument that camp ever had was that hoarding cash somehow helped Kroenke in this or that aspect of one of his other enterprises; this argument was thoroughly dismantled a long time ago by several different writers.

Leftsidesanch

How bout you put your money were your mouth is otherwise shut up and consume the shit-show being served

What kind of comment is this?

Victorious

Mikky

What game(or games) have you enjoyed this season?

Victorious

Leftsidebitch
Not for feeble minds like yourself, let it pass

ddkingz

WTF..
the most arrogant, and foolish people here are the regulars…

So negative, I wonder how you manage to operate your home…

foolish…

someone talking about the chances we conceded, what about the sitters and clear cut chances we miss every week….
Chelsea won at anfield nobody is crying…but if it was arsenal the AKB’S would have turned on Emery….

some of you here (you know yourselves) are pathetic and a disgrace to this club, to yourselves, and humanity in general.

Park Chu-young's left testicle

Tomorrows headline…
Rioch lined up as Emery’s replacement.

jasongms

Best Post in a long while – Bravo! “Poor Emery. Dealing with a squad for of dross, carving out wins, having his abilities questioned after 9 games. 9 games! 7 of them wins. Conversely, Arteta takes zero blame for losing his one (and only) game in charge with the best squad in the country. “That loss proves nothing. ”Poch takes Spurs to a 5th place finish after a whole season in charge, hailed as top gaffer. Emery can’t speak English particularly well but tries, Poch speaks through an interpreter for his first year (or two) in England. I have no… Read more »

China

For those talking like there are no positive except results, that’s more than a little harsh Cech has been a shite shot stopper for years now but has started making good saves on a weekly basis now Bellerin has actually been ok for the last two games despite being hopeless for 18 months prior Xhaka isn’t a world eater but hasn’t been bad when alongside torreira Torreira looks like the best cm we’ve had since pre injury catastrophe cazorla Iwobi has started the season better and hungrier than he’s looked for 2 years There are loads of areas that we… Read more »

Leedsgunner

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/10/01/arsenal-keep-winning-ugly-sign-improvement-unsustainable-good/

Pundits giving Arsenal reluctant praise for digging out wins. I wonder, just wonder if they would be as reluctant if Tottenham was doing the same.

Zfree

Victorious

You ignorant cunt. If you read my post I am also saying we will likely get beat soundly at Anfield. I just don’t care all that much

Emiratesstroller

For all the comments made about Arsenal ‘struggling’ to play well and score goals the fact is that Liverpool and Chelsea have scored one more than us in EPL and Spurs the same number.

As I wrote earlier scoring an average of two goals per match is a respectable number and in contrast to other teams like Liverpool and Spurs we are far less
dependent on one striker to perform.

Arsenal need to sort out their defence and if that problem is resolved I am confident that Arsenal’s attacking performance will dramatically improve as
well.

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