Porous Arsenal ride the luck train again

by .

What a rollercoaster of a season we’re having. One minute we’re celebrating the rebirth of The Arsenal, the next we’re slapped back to reality with a latter years Wenger-esque performance at home to a newly promoted team.

Thanks to some second-half substitution wizardry, Arsenal pulled an equaliser out the bag late on. Mikhi fizzed a dangerous cross across the box, it ghosted about ten players and slipped fortuitously in at the back post unchallenged. It was a dirty goal, but hey, I’ll continue to pay my respects to the very fine Lady Luck who continues to shine brightly over the Emery tenure.

The frustration of the afternoon is that you can fully accept that we’re going to have tough games, we’re not always going to be at the races, but ideally, we should be winning that 1-0. Not drawing because of another sloppy unforced error. I wasn’t overly surprised that the error came from Xhaka. Just last week, the footballing sages of the internet were crowing over his newly anointed mainstream acceptance, that after a solid 90 minutes, he was here. The player who, according to some, had always been here, you were just too fucking stupid to see it. Well, it didn’t take long for the high to get mowed down by the buzz kill police, the Swiss allowed a pass to run past him, Wolves capitalised ruthlessly and put themselves a goal up early on 13 minutes. That’s the 4th Premier League game in a row we’ve conceded first in.

It was hard to say they weren’t worthy of the win. Wolves were lively to our press and exploiting us with quick counters all game. They were first to every ball, they looked hungry and they weren’t intimidated. You can’t blame the Thursday game, because only 3 players were involved. We just didn’t have a good attitude. The players had no urgency about their play, and we looked very disjointed.

We’ve been riding our luck all season, and it’s going to be really difficult to escape the fact that there’s still a lot of work to do with that squad. Mustafi is ridden with errors, I’m surprised that a coach who has high standards for accountability persists with him. Xhaka is simply not good enough, it doesn’t matter how hard usual suspects push his elevated xWhatever stats, he’s too slow and he’s still making regular rookie mistakes. Being good at one thing will never counter for being a total donut twice a game. He is the new Wenger and it’s not surprising it’s the same fanboys who love him. I was very hopeful with the Mikhi signing, but even with the goal, he’s simply not offering us £170k worth of value at the moment.

I actually had to come back to the post because Ozil was so annonymous, I forgot he even played. I think it’s becoming more and more apparent that having two deeplying midfielders is never going to make up for having a uninterested number 10 in front of you. We need to find someone who can defend and give up the dream of being the only club in the world rocking a #10 from 10 years ago.

Iwobi is very up and down. It was quite the rebuke to be yanked off at halftime and get replaced by Guendouzi. We desperately lack real width. Auba isn’t a left winger, Iwobi isn’t good for us on the right, when those two play poorly, they stink out the house. I’d love Reiss Nelson to play out the season with Hoffenheim, but the form he’s in, and the lack of real width we have, shouldn’t he be here starting every week in January? Maybe that’s knee-jerk, but it’s not often a talent blows up like that, and we really are desperate. The fans will give him time as well. Perfect solution.

On the positive side of things, Bernd Leno had an exceptional game. He was off his line nice and quick, his distribution is smart and his shot stopping really is a level up from anything we’ve seen at Arsenal for many years. Still needs to work on his command of his box from crosses, but hopefully that’ll come with experience.

Also, we can’t be too harsh. We took something from our worst performance under Emery. My concern, as it has been all season, the luck will run out. The corrections will arrive. It might not be very pretty.

The club don’t want to splash in January, so one would assume this is it for the rest of the season. Top four is still our stretch target, and it appears that is going to be incredibly important because we need some major surgery on the squad, and we’re not going to be able to do that unless we have the stream of money the biggest prize in football gives you.

Right, that’s me done, see you in the comments.

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Champagne charlie

Banford is such a queer character, has moments where I find myself in total agreement with him and his POV, only to soil it down the road reverting to being a thundercunt of epic proportions.

Strange. On the money there though.

Champagne charlie

Kayciey You’re talking rubbish re:Xhaka. For one, you can have your POV about his “error” against Zaha at Palace. For me that’s a massive reach, and one done with a sole aim. It wasn’t an error, it was football. Zaha is a menace, and there’s not always a villain involved where there’s a penalty. On yesterday’s game, yes 100% it was slack by Xhaka and looked almost like he was duped by a Wolves player to dummy it. That being said he didn’t cost us points anymore than Aubameyang or Bellerin did by missing a sitter. Or Lacazette did against… Read more »

Victorious

Bam
Not attempting a dig but honestly you do yourself no favour most of the time,I mean on the back of a disappointing result were everyone is genuinely livid here you come out with the political malarkey

Keep the politics away.

Leftsidesanch

They’ve all come out the woodworks now, and worse that we will have to suffer fools gladly until after this futile international break

Leftsidesanch

“but he’s the one with the Lego hair and is running things in Manchester.”

GOH I think you need to take a self imposed exile again, the last one was for one of your token flippant remarks aswell.

Graham62

The Remembrance/Armistice celebrations are not, and never have been, used for political gain.

Show some respect.

Graham62

Previous post directed at B10.

Leftsidesanch

Funny to hear of Leno mentioning Welbeck giving a team talk before the match from his hospital bed, although he was one of the few who covered himself in glory… I would have kept that quiet after a performance like yesterday afternoons.

Graham62

CC

Agree 100%.

Victorious

‘They’ve all come out the woodworks now, and worse that we will have to suffer fools gladly until after this futile international break’

How daft is the comment though?

I mean i’m sure it will come as no shock to you that the folks you referring to here are probably more supportive fans than yourself.

Kayciey

Champagne charlie Xhaka, Kolasinac and Mustafi are limited players and they will continue making these errors. Wenger benched Kolasinac and promoted AMN and soon Emery will be doing the same. I was very excited when he joined but soon realized he wasn’t good enough. Xhaka and Mustafi are erratic. Their errors always leads to goals. So Champagne charlie you can wright everything you want, but your words wont make Xhaka, Kolasinac or Mustafi better players. Most Arsenal fans that watch Arsenal games can attest to these. Key board warriors will continue yapping over internet how these lot have improved. Well… Read more »

Marc

Bamford

After you earlier comment you deserve nothing but the following.

You are a cunt.

Receding Hairline

They’ve all come out the woodworks now, and worse that we will have to suffer fools gladly until after this futile international break

Its almost like we lost the game

Guillotines for everyone except Torriera, Leno and Guendouzi of course

Champagne charlie

Kayciey So if someone notes improvement in players under Emery they’re “keyboard warriors”? What are those that stick to a narrative set early and try their level best to always bring that into focus? Xhaka in particular of the ‘improved lot’ was dominant against Liverpool and has been a standout in numerous games over the last 15. Easily a top 4 performer this season. Not a peep about that, but he stupidly dummies a ball against Wolves and he’s back to being subpar? That’s knee jerk almost by definition. Torreira has made errors this season, Guendouzi too (against Wolves too… Read more »

HighburyLegend

lol Nasri at west ham.

gambon

Bamford

Youre talking absolute nonsense regarding the rememberance day stuff.

The people of the UK and US have no desire for wars. Its not 1914 where you could send kids off to die for a war they knew nothing about.

There is also no desire (outside of a few left wing nut jobs / left wing vegans) to take part in class war. You sound like Karl Marx.

Micheal

Why does anyone bother to respond to Bamford’s posts ?

gambon

Emiratestroller Regarding Nelson, I would like to see him really dominate teams before he comes back. I have been keeping an eye on Nelson for longer than probably anyone on here. I was told about him about 3.5 years ago. At youth level, he was a ridiculously dominant player. Constantly taking players on, very creative. The goals arent the most important thing in a teenage footballer, its the quality of the player that I want to see. Ronaldo, Messi, Sanchez all examples of players that had outrageous talent, and took a few years to get the end product right. So… Read more »

gambon

Meant to say Blue Haired Vegans, not left wing.

Receding Hairline

Even if Bamford believed in what he just posted with regards to remembrance day and wars, why post it here?

Why bring your politics to a football forum, he isn’t alone in that respect but i do wish posters will stop doing that.

Everyone here leans towards a particular ideology or political belief, but that’s not why we are here, we are here for Arsenal and Football

JAMES WOOD

Perhaps a small NUKE dropped from an old B10
dropped in said persons yard might at last shut the
septic prick up.

Leftsidesanch

“I mean i’m sure it will come as no shock to you that the folks you referring to here are probably more supportive fans than yourself.”

How did you work this one out? Enlighten me how you came to this conclusion?

HighburyLegend

Quote of the decade from Mesut lol

Leftsidesanch

If by supporting you mean wishing the team well, wanting what’s best for the club and spending my money on Arsenal every year then I’m not sure how you could come to that unsubstantiated conclusion because I do all those things.

Geographically, it’s difficult for you to do the last, but I can and I do. I also did when things have been at their worst, so you popping up on Legrove a couple of months ago throwing unattested statements acting the superfan is tiresome.

Marko

I personally believe that the days of big wars between the super powers are over. Common sense and diplomacy will win out before another world war ever happens.

Leftsidesanch

Those quotes are hilarious from Mr Ozil as well. He’s probably got a will to win, passion when its going well and undoubted ability when he decides to showcase it.

Where’s the communication, motivational skills and enthusiasm to lead that you’d expect from your captain.

Marko

your hot take on capitalism being the reason the planet is being destroyed by humans.

To be fair

gambon

Pedro

The point I was making was…..the quality of a football team is overwhelmingly dictated by the quality of the players within the team.

WengerEagle

Dead on re the younger talent there gambon.

End product can be improved upon easier than a lot of the fundamentals as so much of it is down to confidence and composure, things that generally are improved upon with age and experience.

Makes Messi and Ronaldo’s stats all the sillier when you factor in that they were both relatively slow starters to the goalscoring ranks, it took Ronaldo 26 matches to score his 1st CL goal which is ridiculous when you look at his record now, 121 goals.

Messi’s goal count only exploded in 2008/09.

Tippitappi

yesterdays performance was right out of wenger’s top or bottom drawer which ever way pleases , but like a patient recovering from illness your get good & bad days yesterday was the latter , but a reality check won’t hurt now & then.

Marko

The point I was making was…..the quality of a football team is overwhelmingly dictated by the quality of the players within the team.

Feel like I’ve been saying this for years. Changing the manager was never going to be enough there are players still here that simply aren’t good enough

RRobbins

Your Comment Hereoffense had no creativity no ozil, no movement or strategy against their press. And their back four. Near misses from both sides. But Xhaka just always makes one major blunder; the passing sucked. Still we walked with a point where in previous years nothing. Can it be fixed before the spurs? Fingers crossed. But we seem to be lacking any urgency, especially when the match starts.

Marko

Also, here’s a thought… is Bundesliga overrated? Ligue One has a much better export rate. Mikhi bossed it in Germany, so did Xhaka, both struggle here.

I’m not sure one can blame it on the league. United ruined Mhiki and Xhaka was just the wrong signing. For example had we signed Tolisso instead or Brandt I’m sure we’d be better off

Champagne charlie

“Also, here’s a thought… is Bundesliga overrated? Ligue One has a much better export rate. Mikhi bossed it in Germany, so did Xhaka, both struggle here.“ Do you have the numbers on hand to support that, or is it a feeling? Squillaci and Chamakh were also mustard in France and pony here, it’s less the league and more the identification of player suitability – both to the demands of the prem and the demands of the team. We did well in recruitment when our ethos was clear as day (and aligned with the demands of the english league). Since then… Read more »

WengerEagle

Few factors at play there Pedro. First of all agree that the Bundesliga isn’t as strong as it once was, in fact it’s as weak as I can remember it really this past decade, since Bayern went through a lean spell in the mid 2000’s and Werder Bremen, Stuttgart and Wolfsburg all won titles in a five year span. Current Bayern team is weaker because legends have gotten old/retired/moved on in Robben, Ribery, Lahm, Schweinsteiger not to mention the desertion of top form of the likes of Muller, Hummels, Boateng and Neuer in recent times. Add in that they have… Read more »

WengerEagle

Marko

Tolisso is bang average.

Brandt needs to start improving his end product but there’s definitely a player in there.

The fact that Renato Sanches is allowed anywhere near the Bayern squad, let alone starting as the CM for Bayern is insane.

I mean how can you go from Kroos-Alonso to Renato Sanches and expect to be taken seriously? Uli and the boys must be having a laugh.

Champagne charlie

Tolisso is a product of Ligue Un just to be clear, not the best example to use when comparing talent from France and Germany lol

Receding Hairline

Tolliso is rubbish

Receding Hairline

Sorry Tolisso ..still rubbish though

Marko

Tolisso moon walks onto our team. He’s injury prone but he’s an excellent goalscoring CM. A team who has midfielders like Xhaka Ramsey and Elneny on its books really shouldn’t be too picky

Rambo Ramsey

Enough about politics, Bamford. Lets hear your opinion on aliens. How the powers-that-be are denying media access to peeps that have been anally probed by little green men.

They are out there, lads.

Graham62

Talking of the Bundesligua, did anyone see Luka Jovic’s two goals for Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend. Looks a special talent and he’s only 20.

Definitely a star in the making.

Graham62

Bundesliga

Up 4 grabs now

Still think a formation change is the way to go. Auba and laca was swapping positions yesterday in the first half. And neither had a great game. A 352 is the way to go so both are in and around the box. Three at the back gives you defensive stability, because our fullback can’t defend. (Although bellerin does look better this season) You can play torriera and guendouzi with ozil pulling the strings in front. It almost eliminates most of the problems. Three centrebacks for defensive cover Fullback that aren’t great defending can be wingbacks. Midfield base with no Xhaka… Read more »

Victorious

Tolisso moon walks onto our team.”

Yea,he’d be our best midfielder since cesc

WengerEagle

Not exactly a ringing endorsement that though, is it?

I mean our CM is shite and we all know it. Just because Tolisso would likely start for us doesn’t make him that good.

Ramsey is easily a better player than Tolisso, were it not for the contract rebel situation he would be a starter.

Marko

Ramsey is easily a better player than Tolisso, were it not for the contract rebel situation he would be a starter.

Nah. He’s been here 10 years and he’s still being bounced from position to position.

Receding Hairline

He can moonwalk wherever he likes

Still rubbish

Guns of SF

Up 4 grabs
What is your lineup with 3-5-2

Pierre

For what it’s worth ,here is my 2 bobs regarding Emery’s substitutions …it is widely recognised that they worked very well for him in the early days , he was regarded as genius by many for having the capacity to notice when tactically it wasn’t working and changing it for the better. Recently his substitutions have not been working quite so well ..why is that. In the early days he often had torriera and aubamayang and sometimes lacazette as his subs so the effect was immediate …torriera brought stability and quality to the midfield and one or the other of… Read more »

Emiratesstroller

Gambon As I posted earlier I have not seen a great deal of Nelson’s play. However the England U21 game which I did watch showed me a player who can score goals and provide assists. We have been complaining this season about the lack of wingers at the club and that being the case coupled with Welbeck’s longterm injury I would be inclined to bring Nelson back and see what he can do rather than go out in January and spend a lot of money on an unwanted forward in a market where prices are likely to be grossly inflated… Read more »

alex cutter

“Lol Bamford, that’s even worse than your hot take on capitalism being the reason the planet is being destroyed by humans.” Said the guy who’s using his expensive, daddy-paid-for education to be a corporate shill, peddling crap to the masses. Didn’t they teach you at Ad School that capitalism/consumerism is ultimately unsustainable? That it depends on the continuously increasing use of resources? And that resources eventually run out? And that people will fight for whatever’s left? Stick to hosting a semi-functioning blog for jerk-offs from around the globe who have nothing better to do than argue about a no longer… Read more »

Up 4 grabs now

Guns,

Line up would be
Leno
Then mustafi, holding and Nick the Greek.
Guendouzi and torriera with ozil in front.
Bellerin and Monreal as wing backs.
Auba and laca up top.

It’s the best team with what we have for now.
Koz if he comes back strong would replace mustafi.

But the squad is so poor that’s probably the best side at the moment.

Guns of SF

Up 4 grab That would work for what we have at our disposal currently. I like Guen over XHaka- better movement- Defense and good passing Until we get a real winger this would work I suppose Bellerin looked so stifled at times- he does need to use that left foot when he cuts in to shoot. He has skied a few shots that were open, to the left and over the bar already Same for Monreal- this guy cannot use his right foot whatsoever. Watch him- he is very uncomfortable with his right foot. I suppose as long as his… Read more »

Graham62

Why is it that foreign fans show so much more passion and intensity than our timid lot?( Not just Arsenal supporters). Look at all those Sporting fans last week at the Emirates. Of course Lacazette is right. We have supporters but we don’t have the atmospheric benefits. We Brits are a reserved lot, probably too reserved, hence getting up to promote and display our true emotions, will always be difficult. Would standing areas help? Maybe. However, when a large percentage of supporters have been brought up being told “keep a stiff upper lip” and to hold back on their true… Read more »

Up 4 grabs now

Guns, I just don’t think we have the right players to play anything else. 442 no wingers. 433 no width and the fullbacks push on so huge gaps on the break.and the two centre backs aren’t strong enough. 451 one of the strikers gets dropped or shunted onto the wing and again no wingers. At least the full backs wouldn’t have to push on. But without a striker good in the air the lone striker gets isolated. For me 352 with the players we have is the only workable system for now. Not perfect but should eliminate a lot of… Read more »

Radio Raheem

Rebic as a replacement for Welbeck, January or in the summer. I’m surprised he’s still at Frankfurt, had a good WC.

Marko

Stick to hosting a semi-functioning blog for jerk-offs from around the globe who have nothing better to do than argue about a no longer relevant sports franchise…

That told me

Carts

Didn’t watch the game yesterday but I’ll take your word for it based on the performance

From what I have seen it’s still very much a case of square pegs round, round holes and inconsistent performances

At this rate, we need to add some high quality signings to the squad and do away with some players that’ll raise us much needed fund a la Ramsey

I’d be looking to bring in Thorgen Hazard (Gladbach) and Jemeson (Monaco) in January

Followed by a couple more additions next summer in Rabiot and left back

Redtruth

Pierre
“The 2 recent games v palace away and wolves at home, our game deteriorated after the substitutions I think it’s fair to say “.
That’s what you call a weak bench…you silly lemon

Pierre

Graham
“Imo, it wouldn’t hurt to get the stadium announcers upgraded to create a more emotive experience on match days.”

I say bring back the metropolitan police band from the 60’s/70’s for match days, that’ll do it.

Seeing the copper throw the baton into the air hoping that it would come down on his head as the band was walking round the pitch always got the crowd going …I only ever see him cock it up once …..

gambon

Emiratestroller

The guy who told me Reiss Nelson was the one to watch works at Colney as part of the training staff.

He used to work with the academy until Emery came in and promoted him, so he knows his stuff.

He also said there wasn’t any real gems outside of Nelson.

I asked him about Zelalem, Willock etc and he said Nelson was the only one that would make it to the very top.

Pierre

Ruth
Then why bring the subs on if the bench was weak

Are you suggesting that it was bad management.

Redtruth

To replace ths weak players on the pitch..

Redtruth

I will tell you what Wenger failed to do, he failed to utilize Podolski.
Emery’s problem is Mkhitaryan, Ozil and Iwobi are all not utilizable.

Graham62

Pierre

“The baton in the air” brigade.

Those were the days.

“Would the owner of the orange Morris Marina JYD 807N, please meet police officers at turnstile Q. Thank you” always brought a smile to the face.

Redtruth

Wenger’s man management skills were Vauxhall conference level.
As for Wenger’s tactics, compost springs to mind.

Pierre

The last time Arsenal had a lead at half time in a premier league fixture was 6 months ago on May 13th 2018 v Huddersfield ………..aah ,the good old days eh.

Josip Skoblar

comment image:large

Marc

Pierre just can’t wait to put the boot into Emery and give it the “Wenger would’ve done better” line.

Pierre the more you try to build up this line the more you look like a moron who only belongs on Untold. Your arguments are so bad that you’ve got Red the most negative poster going owning you and making positive comparisons to the recent Wenger seasons.

Pierre

Nice one josip
The greatest week I ever had as an Arsenal supporter…beating spurs at the lane on the Monday evening to win the league followed by Charlie George hitting the winner in the cup final …great days..and my hair was a fraction longer than Charlie’s back then.

Pierre

Marc
Obviously I don’t think that wenger would be doing better ….Ramsey would have a new contract by now and still be playing centre mid alongside Xhaka….

Emery is doing a perfectly acceptable job so far .

London gunner

Pedro

“Alex Cutter, I got into advertising at 27 because I built Le Grove in my spare time while I worked in a cardboard box factory. Save me the privilege bullshit, I never went to ad school.”

Big respect for that Pedro! I’m 28 and if all things go well by the end of the year will be making quite a massive career change. Its daunting as fuck but exciting and I would only regret not taking the gamble.

Didn’t realise you’ve taken a less conventional route to success! Inspiration stuff.

Marc

“Also, learn your human history. We’ve been destroying the planet for thousands of years, well before the notion of capitalism/communism were a thing. It’s absolute ignorance to suggest otherwise.” Sorry Pedro but you’re wrong on the time line there although it has nothing to do with capitalism or communism. What’s destroying the earth currently is less a case of western consumerism but more massive human over population and rising living standards in emerging economies. The west’s over consumption is a relatively new thing but with falling birth rates and new technologies it could re balance. As an example some years… Read more »

London gunner

Pedro

I’m working for one of the larger tech companies in the world. My current role basically involves being a people manager, which I am about done with. Looking to make the change into a role which is primarily data analysis and strategy. It also would potentially involve moving to Amsterdam.

” I also think you work harder when you make the jump because you always feel a bit of an outsider.”

Yeah, this I can relate to, but as you said it’s how you use that feeling to in turn drive yourself to greater success!

London gunner

“Marc, over-consumption for sure… but we’ve been wiping out species of animals for hundreds of thousands of years. We destroyed most of the megafauna in Austrailia over 45,000 years ago. We’re a wrecking ball of a species.”

Someone’s been reading ‘sapiens a history of human kind’. Good book that!

Marc

Pedro Whilst I’d agree we are a wrecking ball of a species there’s no direct proof we were responsible for the extinction of the mega fauna in Australia, In fact there was a global wipe out of mega fauna species (not at mass extinction levels though) that has been linked to natural climate change and changing environments. Any species has an influence on it’s environment – Beavers build dams and change the dynamic of a river that’s nature. There’s always conjecture on pre historic events and rarely is there seriously good proof but the human population first hit a billion… Read more »

Marc

London

Can’t be that good because Pedro’s points are mostly misinformed.

Graham62

Is Donald Trump stupid or just plain thick? Can’t quite decide.

His attack on California during such a horrific and tragic event just beggars belief.

This guy has no moral compass.

gambon

Trump would make a great club owner.

Not so great a manager.

He would make Arsenal great again.

UTarse

Narcissistic bigoted psychopath sums him up.

kc

Trump’s just telling the hard truth at a sensitive time. What he lacks is tact and always has. California chooses not to clear it’s forests and in turn it causes these fires to burn too fast and out of control. The idiots like moonbeam blaming this on climate control are fucking loony tunes. California should foot their own bill from now on for being so irresponsible. Too many of you sheltered snowflakes are too afraid of hard truths. You’d rather it be climate change so it is. Facts be Damned.

gambon

Pedro

He thinks big. Hes a vision guy.

Kind of thing we need.

We seem to lack a vision.

We should be saying “we’re going to be the biggest club in the UK and win the CL by 2025” then work back from there to make it happen.

Instead our vision seems to be “lets see how the next 12 months go and adjust from there”

Graham62

Pedro

“Thick” was the wrong word.

Immature is more appropriate.

Guns of SF

Fuck Donald Trump Im from California and I can tell you the other day I could not breathe outside- the air was full of smoke. My son had practices cancelled, and its still going on about a week later. I have family in So cal. I am from there originally and now live in the bay area. I have lived in San Diego county, LA County and now Silicon Valley. I consider the entire state my home… and I can say, again, FUCK YOU donald trump California does not need you to help us. We can hold our own. 7th… Read more »

TonyD

alex cutter
“Stick to hosting a semi-functioning blog for jerk-offs from around the globe who have nothing better to do than argue about a no longer relevant sports franchise…”

And you post here because? Your hunger to be king jerk-off?

All hail King Cutter!