I just watched the Damned United for the first time on the way back home. What a great film. When Peter Taylor and Brian Clough make up at the end, I think I did an emotion. So touching. Two guys that just really loved each other. What a character Clough was. I loved how aggressive he was about playing football the right way.
Arsenal, unfortunately, are still out of action for a whole extra week. We don’t play again until we meet Leicester next Monday. If you look at our season in blocks, we’re now entering the third. This one is going to be tricky. It runs to the Wolves game on November 11th. Has 4 Premier League games, 2 Europa and a League Cup run out. The players will have been away from home for two weeks, a touch of fatigue may have settled in for those that traveled a long way, and the winter will set in.
This block of games is extra interesting because firstly, we play Liverpool in it, secondly, because the rest of the games are those that we really should be winning, racking up points in the process. This will be a big mental test of the players, because there’s once again this thing called ‘expectation’ building with the fans.
Have you truly felt that in the last ten years?
Not only that, there’s a run of wins to maintain which comes with its own demons. It’s tough to churn out victories when you’re on a run, even tougher bouncing back from a defeat. To be honest, seeing how we bounce back is going to fascinating, because even in peak Wenger days, he was rarely able to summon the players after they were rocked by a major loss.
There are three targets for me in this block of games.
Stretch target of 10 points from our 4 Premier League games.
Improve our defending, and make our xG reflect our results. Namely, get better at defending, and stop relying on luck. Interesting that Ballague said the coaching staff put 50% of our points on Petr Cech.
Improve our attack, maintain the amount of goals we’re scoring, but increase the amount of chances we create. I don’t mind seeing more wastage with a similar amount of goals, what I’m not comfortable with, is seeing us scoring 25% of our shots. It’s great on the face of it, but it’s certainly not sustainable. Simply put, we can’t keep scoring 2+ goals a game.
The cup final of this block of games is the Liverpool match. There’s no hiding there. We’ll need to defend well, and we’ll need to create. Losing that game, which has a high probability based on xG, will be no blight on our season. We have to remember that Klopp has had 3 years to work on his squad and he’s spent a shed load of cash.
Emery has had one window to work with and he spent most of that fixing a mess, versus building on a well-drilled machine with CL cash. Worth noting that I’ve heard from a very good place that the leaders in the backroom think Europa League is still our best bet for CL this season. Kind of paints a picture that everyone knows this season isn’t going to be totally rosy. This Liverpool game will be a good indicator regardless.
Another item Emery has to be very careful with is the management of his squad. Darren Burgess has a huge task ahead of him making sure that the player are as fresh as can be heading into block 4, which is the dreaded Christmas period. I was heartened to see us rotate hard for the Fulham game. If we were on a run like we have been under Wenger, he’d have played the same 11 game after game, with crippling December consequences. What Emery is doing is keeping players fresh physically, but importantly, he’s telling the fringe players they’ll have a role to play this season.
If players feel like they’re just there to slip in when someone breaks, it can have a negative impact when they arrive. They don’t feel part of the group, they’re rusty, they’re not 100% on their game. We’ll need our whole squad for December, and without doubt, it’ll shape our chances of making the top 4 this season. We need to avoid injuries, we need to avoid a loss of confidence and we need to do everything we can to maintain momentum going into January.
So, in short, we’re in great shape so far. We’re ahead of where any of us imagined we’d be, but this next block, though not littered with tough games, really is incredibly important in shaping how the December run goes.
It’s all very exciting.
NOT AS EXCITING AS SEEING ENGLAND DO SPAIN. Hooray. We have an exciting batch of kids coming through. Pepper in AMN, Sancho, Smith Rowe, Reiss and Nketiah and we’re rolling at the next World Cup.
SEE YOU IN THE COMMENTS x
Good morning
Or good afternoon
Could I?
Tr4phy
Thank you! It was fun guys.
I really hate International Breaks at the beginning of the season. Why do they need two breaks in the first 3 months? We just had the World Cup!
Hello Mark.
The thing about our current run is that we weren’t getting those results the last half of the season. Have we had some luck? Yeah…probably, however we are doing what we are supposed to…we are beating the teams that we should. Liverpool will indeed be the measuring stick, however I feel the Sporting match will be a good test too. They’ve underwent a lot of change, however it is still tough to play away in Portugal. It is a joke that our match is on Monday. Why couldn’t it have been on Saturday?
Good morning N5
Top 10 again
un na naaiOctober 16, 2018 15:29:21 PhD How about the fact that so many are coming to Europe?? If it’s such a safe haven and economical paradise then why leave? Not for the weather that’s for sure ————— That wasn’t my question.I simply asked the following(see below),which requires a yes/no answer? PhD07October 16, 2018 14:55:54 Out of curiosity-have you ever been to Senegal?What qualifies you to make such a judgement, or cast aspersions on a country, if you personally have not been exposed to the environment or country in question? Just asking.. — Have you ever been to Senegal?Yes or… Read more »
I heard Bamford once visited Japan and started yelling at schoolchildren for reading their books backwards. If he were around when Jesus was alive he would probably go up to the man bleeding to death and say “Hey guy, that’s not the right way to die for people’s sins, guy.”
Sokratis out as announced in the comment section of the last post, I’m sure we have two remaining fit centre-backs.
No I’ve never been to Senegal
Sancho lolz
PHD
Wind it in. Have you ever played for arsenal? How can you cast aspersions on a player??
Have you every managed an elite club?? How can you cast aspersions on an elite manager???
Bit silly isn’t it??
If he were around when Jesus was alive he would probably go up to the man bleeding to death and say “Hey guy, that’s not the right way to die for people’s sins, guy.”
that was hilarious
It’s Senegal Day on Le Grove.
Lolz at Raptora’s funny adventures at work.
How’s the thumb now ?
Great, school’s out…
Hi bitch
un na naaiOctober 16, 2018 16:04:59
No I’ve never been to Senegal
—————-
So,how do you know it is a shithole according to you,if you have never been?
Cos el haji diouf comes from Senegal
“If he were around when Jesus was alive he would probably go up to the man bleeding to death and say “Hey guy, that’s not the right way to die for people’s sins, guy.”
Ha hahahaha. the ‘guy’ at the end got me. lol
With all intents and purposes, Unai has already apologised subtly, can we move on? Majority of the African countries are appaling and basically not habitable. Shithole may be strong but it’s correct.
That was hilarious from Sancho to be fair
For all the nine-on-the-trot, I think expectation is at a lower level that it was under Wenger. Because it’s so ‘unexpected’. We are all pinching ourselves and asking, ‘when will this end?’ Certainly expectations are much higher at, say, Man C, Chelsea, Man U, THFC, and, of course, Liverpool. As for the international break, pretty much all Clubs suffer from that. The big bonus is that the players return uninjured. I believe that is the case with Arsenal. Best of all the Arsenal players appear to be eager for the fray, apart from Ramsay and Ozil. And (in their own… Read more »
All’s fair in love and bantz (hate that word, sounds like an annoying teenager word)
Africa has some of the most beautiful landscapes and scenery in world. I would imagine some places are grotty after years of war poverty and famine.
I guess Argentina a shithole also because Suarez bites people!!!
England is best
What are your thoughts on the Scholes/modric debate? Who do you hold in higher esteem?
Uruguay lol got that wrong.
Mystic
WhY don’t you sit and let Un na pat you on the head
” Majority of the African countries are appaling and basically not habitable. Shithole may be strong but it’s correct”
You think Poverty only resides in Africa?
Un na
I must admit that I like your banter but you do need to stop the needless devolving to the gutter.
You do it too often here and it’s not okay.
Stop throwing gutter slime around.
I doubt he does Dissenter, it’s just that Africa was the continent being discussed.
SamesongOctober 16, 2018 16:44:29
Samesong,I am just speechless.Words cannot begin to describe how one can be so totally ignorant.And then on top of it,wear it like a badge of honour.
I despair for mankind.I truly do.
Samesong
I didn’t say Africa was a shit hole or that Senegal was a shit hole
I’d read that he grew up in a rough neighbourhood in a poverty stricken country but before you get the chance to explain you’ve got the pansy brigade jumping down your throat.
As I said the comment was not made with the intention to offend so for that I do apologise but let’s be clear here. Diouf did grow up in a shit hole.
Gnabry expected to start v France tonight, crazy how much this guy has accomplished since he left us.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/why-el-hadji-diouf-was-hated-by-all-at-liverpool-10504437.html%3famp
Interesting read though. Bloke was a bell-end
Been to Kenya and South Africa Enjoyed the experience although South Africa was fucking nuts. Not against Africa or Africans. Grew up with plenty and know a good guy from work. Napoleon. Really nice fella. Let’s get it straight. My comment was not made with the intention to tar an entire continent but if you’re all saying I can’t can’t say diouf grew up in a shit hole without this bullshit then get bent. I’ve apologised. It wasn’t meant the way it’s been perceived. Either that or you’re reading too much into the comment. Dakar is a shit hole. Just… Read more »
Dissenter
You think Poverty only resides in Africa?
Mate I didn’t say Africa was a shit hole or that shit holes in Senegal were unique in the world. Of course there are other shit holes. Plenty in my own country. Fuck me you lot are making a big deal out of this
If I was trying to offend or winding up you’d know about it. Today I was not. Chill those herbs people.
Chill winstaaaaan
Its open season on Le grove.
N5 were the F**k is your badge?
Africa countries (most) are inhabitable to some. So are some countries across the globe. No country was designed to favor foreigners.
Leicester will be tough, all I care is a win here.
Partey for 40m is cool. Level headed player, tactically and positionally disciplined.
Scholes/Modric. Modric all day long. Imo Scholes became good in the twilight of his career. Modric has been a hit the moment he stepped into the horizon.
un na naaiOctober 16, 2018 17:01:09
Samesong
I didn’t say Africa was a shit hole or that Senegal was a shit hole
——–
un na naaiOctober 16, 2018 17:08:06
Dakar is a shit hole. Just like many impoverished cities in third world countries.
———-
un na naaiOctober 16, 2018 16:04:59
No I’ve never been to Senegal
——-
LMFAO…
No comment..
un na naai October 16, 2018 17:01:09
“I didn’t say Africa was a shit hole or that Senegal was a shit hole”
un na naai October 16, 2018 13:17:38
Saying I think Senegal is a shit hole is not as vile as spitting on another man.
un na naai October 16, 2018 14:46:10
Senegal is still a shit hole.
Blatant dishonesty and a failed attempt at back-tracking. Then it’s all “chill out guys” when he’s been sprung. Plonker.
PHD
Drop your bone little doggy. I’m not playing silly games.
The comment was more about diouf’s behaviour in comparison to vieira’s but you’ve turned it into something it wasn’t.
azed, I can’t find my badge. HELP ME FIND MY BADGE!!!!
My biggest worry about the Liverpool match is Xhaka. He’ll be destroyed by their pressing. The biggest question is whether he’ll be at fault for a goal or be at fault for a goal and then get a red card. It might actually do us a favour if he gets a red card before he makes a mistake leading to a goal, at least we’d have a clean sheet to protect.
Improve our defending, and make our xG reflect our results.
Hmmmm so if he keep winning but our xG results don’t improve, what does it all mean? !?!
I mean if we win our matches do we still get our 3 points if we our xG results say we didn’t win?
I wonder if we go undefeated the rest of the season and win the league but our xG stats say we should be 6th, would Pedro celebrated the championship??
N5
Are you sure your stalker (can’t remember his name) didn’t take it?
un na naaiOctober 16, 2018 17:32:18 The comment was more about diouf’s behaviour in comparison to vieira’s but you’ve turned it into something it wasn’t. ——— Sure,if you say so dude..Lol. I think everyone else can draw their own conclusions from your following statements:- un na naai October 16, 2018 13:17:38 Saying I think Senegal is a shit hole is not as vile as spitting on another man. un na naai October 16, 2018 14:46:10 Senegal is still a shit hole. un na naai October 16, 2018 17:01:09 “I didn’t say Africa was a shit hole or that Senegal was… Read more »
xG is fucking bollocks. Each shot is given a score from 0-1. depending on how many times out of 10 a shot from that area of the pitch would go in. Doesnt take into account conditions Doesnt take into account the player shooting And all scores are based on data from over 300000 shots previously taken across world football. Which leagues is this data from, cant find that out? Which games were these shots taken? In what conditions were they taken? What ability did the player taking the shots have? None of this you can and ever will know. Therefore… Read more »
Dissenter, don’t be a twat. N5 has answered you. Liverpool has been described many times on this blog as shithole. So many other places like China and Brazil too. So it’s not limited to Africa. You are pretty dense if you think I think what you said I think.
Mystic
Where are you from?
I don’t think I fancy Partley for 40m to be honest. Probably because I have barely seen him play. I don’t know what he brings to the table and i even doubt we will spend that much on 1 player when we have major decisions to fix
Un
London is not a shit hole. It’s a great city.
Joe, Nigeria
So out priority is to pad our xG stats? Bloody hell. Sounds like something out of the Wenger motivational toolkit that does
Joe
Now come on there are shit holes all over the world where flats go for over £500k in less desirable areas just like Walthamstow.
Jamie
Ah fuck it. I couldn’t give two shits. Senegal is a shit hole. You wouldn’t have so many in Europe if it were not
Blow me biatches
Joe
I’m a Londoner
It’s a fucking dump. Hence why I moved my kids out. Don’t confuse the nightlife for the reality. Yeah you’ll turn up and get a shag when you’re on holiday. It’s a shit hole. A well paid shit hole
Un na
“Blow me biatches”
I tried blowing you mate
Problem is your twinkle di*k was so tiny..it was like a blue whale trying to lick a tic-tac
Go get an enlargement surgery then come back.
London IS a complete shithole. Only good up to the age of 30 and with no kids. Simple as that.
Koschielny is really mentally fu*ked-up
Arsenal’s France defender Laurent Koscielny, 33, says part of him was rooting against his country in July’s World Cup final against Croatia – a tournament he missed because of injury.
I mean … he’s being honest but goddammit, he’s mentally gone.
https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/at-times-i-wanted-them-to-lose-koscielny-admits-difficulty/9xuwji5car291gj5tx8ivntwc
Let’s see if Holland can do something against the Belgians after their resounding win v Germany.
Also interesting to see if Germany can resist the French in Paris.
I have been to Senegal. it’s a fucking shit hole.
Dissenter
Well your cock was like throwing spaghetti down a hallway
Like parking a bicycle in an aeroplane hanger
Like a toothpick in the black wall tunnel
Un na
Sounds like you have a gigantic rectum.
Let the record show Un na takes in the butt from Dissenter.
Bamford says you’re not taking it up the butt the right way though.
lol lol
Sancho you have to spell ‘butt’ correctly first
Sancho
Not true
Only my trysts with dissenter yield such offerings
Un na
I’m still trying to find it
Have to find it to blow it, don’t I ?
Tic-tac …Tic-tac…Tic-tac
Someone light a blow torch, while we try to find Un na’s tinkle
https://www.arsenalstation.com/2018/10/16/video-arsenal-starlet-reiss-nelson-scores-stunning-goal-for-england-u21s-v-scotland/
He’s a keeper!
Un Na,
If you can spit on 13million Senegalese with your shit hole comment, why couldn’t Diouf spit on any fan he deemed to be a shit hole?
This international breaks are really annoying.
Players are dropping like flies it seems.
Sokrates appears to be injured and will miss several games.
*These international breaks
The biggest joke of this international window was Daniel Levi reassuring Spuds fans that the new stadium is not going to eat into their transfer budget.
How in the world will an 850 million bucks boondoggle not affect your transfer budget?
That has to be one the most calamitous projects ever undertaken in sports history.
It’s too damn expensive for a club of their size.
Was nice to see Ramos’ head slam the ground as he was scythed down by Dier.
Koscielny didn’t say he wanted France to lose, that’s goal making shit up as they go as per. He said that their WC win caused him ‘psychological damage’, was more about how he had perceived them as having forgotten about him than having a desire to see France lose. Very few professionals would ever admit it but there is always the overwhelming desire to be involved in great/historical achievements. Just ask Marco Reus how he felt about Germany’sWC win in 2014 or Kyrie Irving how he would have felt it the Celtics would have beaten the Cavs without him in… Read more »
Just heard from my burglar alarm guy saying that his company has the contract for Spur’s new stadium and the wires for their alarm system keep on getting cut, which means replacing 100 m of cable each time. He’s convinced it’s Arsenal fans.
When is the new peaky blinders coming out?
Has there ever been a more boring NT to watch than the ROI of this last decade odd?
An absolute chore of a watch.
lol bob thats great news
Ha ha fucking nice one Bob
Senegal with the last min winner just now to please all of ye Senegalese faithful on here eh.
I have serious concerns about the TV scheduling of our games next week and the lack of assistance provided by EPL. First we are playing a game against Leicester on Monday night. Why could we not have played that game on Sunday? There is only one TV game on Sunday and that is Everton v Crystal Palace neither of whom are playing in Europe. We then play Sporting Lisbon away on Thursday night and that is followed by the Crystal Palace game on Sunday at Lunchtime. Again why could the TV schedulers have arranged that game for late afternoon. I… Read more »
Proper stalk-on for us you have btw.
Everyone cherrypicked their club side you absolute wankmuffin.
Including you.
Emirates
The clubs make away with crazy money though so they ought to have squads that are large enough to handle the pressure.
Every club is going to have their turns of crazy schedules.
Oh Aubergine
Always the gentleman, ain’t you?
Moe
I’ll tell you why
Those fans are the only reason he earns any money at all apart from beach sales of cheap fake Armani wallets
You know it
I know it
He’s nothing else without them
I cherry picked Arsenal because my dad followed them, I’m originally from SE1 so I should really follow Millwall. When I started though, Arsenal hadn’t won a league in 18 years or a cup since 79.
I’ve been on here since dummy, lol why would I be hiding. He fought the best pound for pound fighter on the planet and lost, no biggie. None of those kippy clubs up north take your fancy then? Here we go with the I’m a ol’ hard London born and bred geezer that used to be knocking about the terraces with my pops as a whippersnapper singing Charlie George songs hahaha, save us the shite talk you masquerading gimp. Suppose you yearn for the good old days when there were no foreigners knocking about the league eh? Black and white… Read more »
Arsenal won the League and Cup Double in 1971 which makes it 8 years
Ha ha Red you’re always there to correct me. You’re right. It ended up being 18 years by the time we won it.
PL would be drastically worse without foreign supporters and revenue.
N5
Yeah that’s quite regular, mine wasn’t into footy hence made the decision for myself. Brothers are both Manc supporters, you can well imagine the constant abuse from 2005-2013 haha.