2nd half specialists, but what does it mean?

by .

I am not going to lie, I think Sky do a great job with stats. Super simple, exploratory and usually insightful.

Their latest piece shows the stark difference between our first and second halves this season. We’re ranked 19th for 1st half performance and 1st for second.

The conclusion points to improved fitness and the tactical fluidity of Emery. He’s made 14 half-time changes so far this season, Wenger made 9 in the whole of last season. That’s some aggressive change management.

Now, you can look at this positively, and say we’ve been crying out for a manager who can change things during the game. Or you could say, how the fuck does he get it so badly wrong in the opening 45minutes?

I can’t give you an answer as to why our opening 45s are so poor, but I think the key point is we’re dealing with it at the moment. I actually think there’s something really interesting from a strategic perspective in the early changes. You simply don’t know what you’re getting with Arsenal. We’re finally unpredictable. We’re playing a slower version of NFL playbooks this season. We’re rocking two sides essentially, and the second side you play is countering your stratagems in real-time.

This approach means that unless you’re playing a very sharp manager, other coaches are going to struggle to adapt. I think that’s a smart move. The longer-term vision for Emery is that he can train his sides to adapt during the game. Pep Guardiola is the best in the business at this, he can roll with 4 systems in a half, prodding and poking until he’s found the weakness his incredible players can exploit.

Arsenal fans have been so starved of innovation, just having a halftime video analyst feels modern (not Boro sitting in the stands). Sven M was rocking that role 7 years ago. Arsenal needs to move the players’ education and execution approach to levels where the coach can move things around after 10minutes and make a quicker impact on the game when things are going poorly

Either way, our players are fitter (8th to 1st in the league for distance covered) and we’re a smarter overall outfit. That’s great news for the season ahead.

There are strong rumours Ozil is now ready to return to the side, Qarabag is apparently being earmarked for a return.

I couldn’t be less interested in this game. I don’t mean to be a party pooper, but the Europa League group games are almost as shite as international breaks. I cannot imagine there’s going to be a major turnout.

So that’s why we won’t be landing Dembele on loan this January. What a goal. A shame that Spurs progressed against a pretty poor Barca team, but that could benefit us freshness wise in the second half of the season. The longer they’re in the CL, the better the chance of them tiring and breaking down.

Right, that’s me done today, see you in hell.

Also, look at this funny meme you could use to show off your shit judgment.

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Joe

When we play in the semi and final, we should play our strongest 11. No if and or buts about it

Emery will want to win and will show it respect

I imagine from now one even, we see more of our 1st teamers playing

Akilan

I think we’re joint favourites along with Chelsea for the EL. Bayer and Valencia are in the bottom half of their league tables. Shakthar is a team we should beat over 2 legs. Sevilla and Napoli are strong teams whom we should be vary of but again we should beat them. May be I’m underestimating Napoli here but Italian sides flatter to deceive these days. Unlike last year, there is not a single side in the competition against whom, we would go in as underdogs. Combine it with the mastery of Unai in this competition, may be we are slight… Read more »

Emiratesstroller

The question, which should about tonight’s performance is how many of those who played are good enough to have a “future” at the club? 1. Martinez the goalkeeper is third string and realistically he is never going play regularly in first team and most probably is also not good enough considering that he is already 26 to become our second string. 2. Sokratis is playing at the moment in starting X1, but at 30 has probably a maximum of 2 years at club. Koscielny was untested tonight but knowing the seriousness of injury he sustained is unlikely to be considered… Read more »

WengerEagle

Would fancy our chances vs anyone on that list tbh, Chelsea and Napoli would be the two hardest ties but I’d back us as a 50-50 vs either of them even.

WengerEagle

La Liga top teams have been a mess this season reminiscent of the PL in 2015/16, I wouldn’t at all be intimidated by Sevilla.

Krasnodar and Standard Liege both beat them in the group and they’ve dropped plenty of points in the league, very beatable team without any real top drawer talent in their ranks.

Bamford10

Saka is talented. Definitely. He is quick, he has good close control, he is confident, he strikes the ball well, and he makes good decisions. Good little player.

I don’t see enough in Willock or in Nketiah, personally, and I don’t see either “making it”. Just MO.

TonyD

From the DM this morning: “Not only the question of how a No 10 fits into the No 10-less 3-4-2-1 formation that Emery has fielded in Ozil’s absence but also whether he has the desire for the ruthless, relentless self-sacrifice that the manager demands. It was back to 4-2-3-1 here, with Ozil in the hole. Old system, same old Ozil. This altruistic sprinting, harassing, pressing is just not how he works. He drifts, he wanders, he meanders. This season in the Premier League, he has covered around 450 metres fewer per 90 minutes than his team-mates’ average. Even when he… Read more »

TonyD

“Mesut Ozil blows chance to impress Unai Emery on Arsenal return as he drifts through win over Qarabag” Was the headline “Martin Keown questions whether Mesut Ozil ‘wants it enough’ after return for Arsenal and admits relief at Laurent Koscielny injury comeback” He told BT Sport: ‘It’s a chance for Ozil, to see how he is after that back injury. ‘He needs to show he wants to work hard out of possession as well as the quality in possession, to get back into this team, and he’s shown that. ‘Emery has shown it doesn’t matter about the reputation, but Ozil… Read more »

GuNZ

The wonderful NZ TAB (a kind of ubiquitous William Hill down here) occasionally chuck a freebie $5 into my online account which I then place on something outrageously unlikely. This week, however, they are offering 26-1 on Arsenal beating Southampton 1-4 so I have splashed their money on such a reasonable sounding outcome. And why not, I ask you?

GuNZ

I have just learned that Özil was born in Gelsenkirchen which is not a million miles from Wuppertal, whence hies a wonderfully dirty German bint I once had the pleasure of a bit of a roll with in my younger days. She was very urgent. Excitingly so. Perhaps I should put young Mesut in touch with her.

TonyD

Emery has equalled GG’s unbeaten 86/87 (22 games) record who could have asked for more? The usual suspects will find ways to criticize no doubt. Let’s hope Sunday makes it 23. I don’t know what anyone else wished for, but I just wanted a manager to make us compete again week in and week out. For the Groundhog Days to stop and give us hope to be passionate about again. Just need a successful January TW because that is vital for the rest of the season. Emery doesn’t have an unlimited stock of band aids and He needs to start… Read more »

China1

Seems a mistake to have played Sokratis last night Beyond that lots of positive from my perspective -Another win -Another EL clean sheet -Topped the group cleanly without breaking a sweat -Rested almost the entire first team -Koscielny didn’t break I didn’t see the game so can’t comment on individual performances I do worry about that Sokratis decision tho. We’re already rocking so many defensive injuries and he has been a very decent player for us so far. We don’t need him over-working in meaningless games Make no mistake, if we can keep our existing defensive unit alive and add… Read more »

China1

If we have a fully fit defensive unit I actually think we will look pretty damn decent at the back

Monreal-guendouzi-torreira-Bellerin
——Holding-Sokratis-Koscielny
———————Leno

I really do think that’s a very reasonable unit. No major issues and some genuine class in there to boot. The only concern is longevity as 3 of them are obviously not long term options. It’s probably safe to assume Sokratis has a couple more years left in him for us, but we realistically have to replace kos and probably monreal with real quality in the coming year

Fingers crossed

China1

Tbf Mustafi has improved and not been too bad this year but I still don’t want him in the first 11 unless he improves further or we have injuries.

We lack a bit of long term depth at the back as we have

-Licht (not bad but last legs)
-Kola (having a good season, not sure if he is good enough to be a long term first choice after monreal tho)
-Mustafi (reasonable as a backup but has 1 big error in him every game)
-others all unproven kids with barely any professional game time

China1

Mesut is the wettest fart in the whole arsenal squad.

I don’t care if he’s dominating the next 10 games in a row (he won’t) because he’s done it all before. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. Anyone who thinks ozil might finally remember to care about football is in for their 100th rude awakening after yet another false dawn

Leedsgunner

Nketiah might not be getting the ball in the net but he is doing everything else right, getting into good positions, hassling opposing defenders, and releasing key passes so that his teammates can score. His movement was excellent.

Just a matter of time before he does score.

Emiratesstroller

Whatever anyone wishes to say about Ozil he provided the pass which “unlocked” the opposition yesterday and that is the impact that he makes on a game.

Whether that is enough to justify playing him in the type of formation and high tempo game which Emery decides to play is an entirely different point of discussion.

Inevitably he is going to divide opinion about his performance on the pitch.

Leedsgunner

Nketiah has to make his next appearance count and do start scoring especially if it is against lower league opponents in the FA Cup or the Carabao Cup.

Graham62

“The ball was in Ozil’s court” but, if we are all totally honest, he was a bit of a damp squib. Started off ok. Looked quite enthusiastic early on. Set up Lacazette………..but basically, after that, it was service as usual. Can’t put my finger on it, but let’s just say, from a fan’s perspective, I find it all very embarrassing and exceptionally frustrating. Dodgy back aside, his general demeanor is that of someone who is going through the motions. As it stands, he is a liability and can’t see the benefit of fitting him in to a team and system… Read more »

Leedsgunner

Özil was on a lose lose last night. He isn’t being paid the highest wage in AFC history to show up against the Azerbaijiani champions.

Southampton, Tottenham Burnley, Liverpool let him begin to rebuild his reputation there… if he can be bothered.

Emiratesstroller

Graham 62

Ozil is going to divide opinion primarily because you expect a player who is being paid £350 K pw to be the standout player on the pitch.

I accept that Ozil no longer performs at that level, but he is nevertheless a “class” midfielder. Whether that is enough to justify keeping him on the books is a different topic of conversation.

Most posters on Le Grove clearly don’t think so, but then that applies also to
many other players in our squad as well.

Pierre

TonyD
“The usual suspects will find ways to criticize no doubt.”

correct ..have a look through the comments this morning and you will see criticism from graham, China and yourself as well as the “usual suspects” last night.

Very perceptive of you TonyD to recognise where the criticism is coming from.

Pierre

That game last night was a very difficult game for offensive players to shine (and I’m not talking about ozil). The opposition s only interest for the whole of the 90 minutes was to keep the score respectable .they showed no interest in getting bodies forward. Very difficult game for nketiah as space was limited ,if his header hadn’t been disallowed for offside people would be giving a slightly different opinion of him. Lacazette did nothing other than score the goal and saka improved as the game went on and showed that he has the ability to beat a player… Read more »

Tony

Ah Pierre reading not your strong point but made up for by trolling.

Same shit different day from you, but guess you can’t change the habit of a lifetime.

None of your aforementioned names were critisizing Emery only expressing dismay at what was well reported by the press with regards to Ozil.

Try to keep up and work on your reading comprehension skills.

Is it an age thing or have you always been this stupid?

Cheers.

Pierre

Leeds
“Nketiah has to make his next appearance count and do start scoring especially if it is against lower league opponents in the FA Cup or the Carabao Cup.”

No he doesnt ,especially if he is played on the right side of midfield..

Nketiah is a striker as he showed in the 2nd half last night …was unlucky with the offside goal and should have had an assist when he put it on a plate for saka.

Emiratesstroller

Arsenal’s first team have a lot of commitments since we are still in four competitions and that is inevitably very demanding on the resources we have at the club. Our stats sofar this season are without question above expectation in that we have played sofar 24 games and lost just two scoring 51 goals and conceding 24. The team is without question resilient and now very difficult to beat. However, our season will now begin to be tougher particularly as we start playing stronger opposition as we progress in cup competitions. Frankly there will be very few games beyond January,… Read more »

Bob N16

Went to the game yesterday. Lacked any ‘jeopardy’. Qarabag were pretty awful. Don’t think it was a true test and therefore I would be hesitant to come to any conclusions on the evidence of last night. That being said, I felt all our youngsters should be happy by the way they played. Some on here are premature to come to an opinion on the success of some of them. It doesn’t take a genius to consider the success rate of previous academy players is not high. A ‘class of 92’ happens rarely. That being said, I think that progression is… Read more »

Graham62

Pierre Criticism? Sorry Pierre, but I will not accept any more of this nonsense . We have been more than patient with Ozil. Believe me if he was injured, which he isn’t, he would not be playing. That’s not an opinion, that’s a fact. 21000 at the stadium and millions around the world saw for themselves where we stand with Ozil and if I’m to be brutally honest, the sooner we get rid, the better for everyone (including Ozil). This criticism is not unjust, it is perfectly justified. He had an opportunity to prove himself but, once again, he fluffed… Read more »

Graham62

Saka was excellent.

Bob N16

Not here to be an apologist for Ozil Graham, but yesterday’s performance was not notable in a negative way. I feel Ozil’s time is almost up at Arsenal but am with ES when he writes that Ozil can still contribute this season.

If you imagine he’ll be gone in June ( and try and forget his salary) you may be able to cope with his continued presence in Arsenal’s matchday squad! I’m sure Emery will be pragmatic towards him.

Emiratesstroller

Graham62 No-one argues that the young players who played yesterday should not be judged on one or two performances. Realistically the opposition was very poor. However, if there is one lesson to be learned from the latter part of the Wenger era it was that we were always ill-equipped for the second half of the season when the demands on our squad were much greater. Looking at the youngsters who have played in the first team this season there is only one that I consider is remotely ready for promotion to first team squad and that is Smith-Rowe. He looks… Read more »

HighburyLegend

Didn’t watched the game, but it seems that Lil P.’s favourite has delivered another stellar performance, and against a strong opponent. lol

#Oziloutinjanuary.

Pierre

I just read what TonyD posted earlier ….and it started with a headline from a newspaper ““Mesut Ozil blows chance to impress Unai Emery on Arsenal return as he drifts through win over Qarabag” Which makes it sound like ozil has a poor game . It then goes on to say “Martin Keown questions whether Mesut Ozil ‘wants it enough’ ” but did he really say that ,because he then went on to say “‘It’s a chance for Ozil, to see how he is after that back injury.‘He needs to show he wants to work hard out of possession as… Read more »

Pierre

More proof from Tony
“Barely a mention for Ozil in the Telegraph.”

Bob N16

Agreed Pierre, the game yesterday was not one to make any sweeping judgements, Qarabag were meaningless opposition- Ozil needs to step up in the PL. He hadn’t played for a month, most people who consider this, accept that a player needs to get ‘through’ such a match and prove/improve match fitness. For many the narrative is ‘written’ before a match has ever been played.

I’ve also found it’s very difficult to comment on a player’s performance when I haven’t watched the match!

Pierre

Tony “From what I’ve read this morning I’m underwhelmed by Ozil’s tepid performance and what seems to be the same old story of drifting in and out of a game.” Tony reached this conclusion by believing a newspaper headline. “““Mesut Ozil blows chance to impress Unai Emery on Arsenal return as he drifts through win over Qarabag” Maybe if he had read keown’s comments correctly in the article he may have reached a different conclusion . “It’s a chance for Ozil, to see how he is after that back injury.‘He needs to show he wants to work hard out of… Read more »

Pierre

Bob
Of course any sensible fan would know that after being out for a month you have to feel your way back into the game and pace yourself .

No one is saying he had a great game , he did what he needed to do to get himself up to a level of fitness .

I don’t think he will play v Southampton ,I believe Emery will play Xhaka,Torriera and Guendouzi in the middle ,possibly 4-3-3 as I don’t think we have enough centre backs for 3-5-2..the defence will need protection from midfield .

TitsMcGee

The usual suspects will find ways to criticize no doubt.”

It’s ironic because they made excuses for Wenger for almost a decade and a half(sit back and think about that for a second, the sheer amount of fixtures). Failure after failure, face-plant after face-plant, both domestically and in Europe.

You would imagine(if you took them at their word that they loved Arsenal and not Arsene) that they would be thrilled we are more competitive this season.

You would imagine…….;)

Emiratesstroller

Let’s leave aside the debate on Ozil and focus on more imminent issues in lead up to January Transfer window. On Sunday we will be playing with only one established Centre Back in First Team Squad who is available and that is Koscielny who is returning from a serious long term injury and has played yesterday his first senior game after 8 months. Holding is now out for season and Mavropanos has also been out this season with groin injury. Both Sokratis and Mustafi he is also injured are suspended. Next week we play Tottenham in the Carrabo Cup. It… Read more »

Bob N16

On Sunday I would hope that Ozil can come on as a sub and influence the game from there. I do feel Ramsey is at his most influential when he comes on with 25 mins to go and has the freedom to take advantage of the opposition tiring and being more open. Ozil could similarly be used in this way.

Mind you the way things are going, our subs have come on due to injury rather than a tactical switch (yesterday’s game excepted).

Left testicle

It’s irrelevant how Ozil performed last night. He isn’t a player that fits Emery’s style and should be sold as soon as possible to free up space and cash for a player who does.

Bob N16

Fair point ES, but are we any different from our top 6 competitors? We do have players who can double up, in more than one position…Monreal, Lichsteiner(to an extent), AMN. Now Montreal is back in contention, there is an argument that if he is playing LB we can return to a back 4, relieving the pressure on the number of fit CBs. Mustafi and Sokratis are not available through suspension on Sunday(not injury – although M may have a niggle), so you could argue that we’ve managed this season okay. Holding now out but Koscielny back. If I were Arsenal… Read more »

Bob N16

Agree Left T but it would seem likely that Ozil will be an Arsenal player for the rest of the season and he surely he is worth a place in the match day squad?

Micheal

I was a little disappointed with some of the youngsters who I felt did not grab the opportunity to make a mark – even against a piss-poor opposition. They had a great chance to step up and none of them really took it with both hands. I am not writing this to provoke fake outrage from the usual suspects. Willock played around the egdes of the game without exerting any influence, Saka was excellent everywhere except in the final third and Nketiah needs more end product (though I agree he played better up front after Laca’s withdrawal). All three are… Read more »

gambon

Pierre

That would be Martin Keown that said Arsene Wenger should be able to choose when he leaves?

Im sure you werent quoting Keown when he said Ozil was a disgrace last season.

Agenda driven cunt.

Jamie

Imagine a game of 11 Torreiras vs 11 Ozils. The Ozils would be in tears within the first 10 minutes.

Emiratesstroller

Bob N16 I know that Southampton have had a poor season but are you confident in playing against them with Koscielny alongside Monreal or Lichsteiner in Centre Back position? Personally I am not. Also I believe that our resources for rest of season are very thin particularly if we suffer another couple of injuries. I understand your and other posters demand for a winger, but this is not in my view a priority. Frankly any half decent winger is going to cost a lot of money and more so in January. Personally I don’t want to land up with some… Read more »

Pierre

Gambon
It was Tony quoting Keown ,not me ……nice try.

Jamie

Pierre says it wasn’t him who quoted Keown, literally put things Keown said in an article in quotes a few posts up.

This kid is a buffoon.

Pre-emptive “Yeah, but Tony started with the quotes though, so me saying I didn’t quote Keown is still sort of true if you ignore the posts where I also quoted Keown.”

Rambo Ramsey

What kind of a ‘Senior Citizen’ spends most of his day winding up and provoking strangers on a football blog?

I’m sorry if I don’t buy Pierre’s story. Something clearly doesn’t add up here.

Marko

Gambon
It was Tony quoting Keown ,not me ……nice try.

You do realize that you quoted keown too Pierre. I love how you make excuses for Ozil against a team like that and at home. How low can Pierre go?

Rambo Ramsey

Which team do you reckon will end our unbeaten run?

Graham62

Koscielny smiled as he came off and thanked the fans. Not surprising as he had been out for so long. Nice to see him out there once again. Long may it continue.

Ozil trudged off with hardly a flicker of emotion. How much longer can Arsenal FC act as his carer and psychiatrist?

The end.

Graham62

Rambo

No one!

We’ll go the rest of the season unbeaten.

Now wouldn’t that be something?

It’s good to dream.

Bamford10

Zech Medley looks a player as well, btw. Saka and Medley to make it, for me. Nketiah doesn’t have enough to his game, IMO. He’s just a finisher at the moment, and that’s not enough. To become a player, he needs to develop his dribbling, needs to be able to beat one or two defenders off the dribble consistently. Otherwise there just isn’t enough to his game.

Pierre

It’s ok Jamie ..people are not stupid ,they know that Tony posted the Keown quotes and he was using them ( wrongly) as proof that Ozil has blown his chances with Emery.

I suppose Joe will be on here soon …and before you start spouting off Joe read Tony’s comments first and digest them and maybe question him as to why he would post such a derogatory comment towards a player of the team you support that was obviously not true ….

Graham62

I find Martin Keown at wee bit ott.

Pierre

“I find Martin Keown at wee bit ott.”

Says the man who 5 minutes ago posted

“Ozil trudged off with hardly a flicker of emotion. How much longer can Arsenal FC act as his carer and psychiatrist?”

Dream10

Rambo Ramsey

Probably one of Southampton or Brighton away. Injuries and suspensions in the back six/seven starting to happen to more frequently. While we are good at scoring in the 2nd half, one team away from home will take advantage of the multiple chances
they create andd score a couple in the 1st half.

Three of our next four are away from home. Have to be careful or there could be a seven/eight pt gap btwn 5th and 3rd/4th by January 1st.

Bamford10

The Ozil discussion is a bit boring at this point, but he certainly didn’t look like he was all that interested last night. He didn’t play poorly, but he didn’t look like one of the world’s best playmakers either. Not by a long shot. Sometimes you can tell when a good player is overflowing with confidence, energy and joy; he is just happy to be out there with the ball at his feet, trying things, showing what he can do. Ozil is the opposite of this. It’s like he has lost his love for the ball, for the game. Of… Read more »

Champagne charlie

Hope we lose against one of the middling clubs as opposed to one of the top 6 ending the run.

Graham62

Pierre

Maybe, but I’m not a pundit getting paid a substantial salary to express my views.

What don’t you think rings true with my Ozil comment?

Guns of Hackney

Did we beat Quarkbag?

Graham62

B10

All too true.

Try explaining this to Monsieur Pierre.

Silly me, what am I saying?

Marko

Which team do you reckon will end our unbeaten run?

Spurs in the kids cup or Liverpool away

Marko

It was Tony quoting Keown ,not me ……nice try.

Earlier

“It’s a chance for Ozil, to see how he is after that back injury.‘He needs to show he wants to work hard out of possession as well as the quality in possession, to get back into this team, and he’s shown that.‘

A literal quote. Not sure Pierre understands what not me means. And I’m sure he wasn’t quoting keown last season when he called Ozil a disgrace.

Marko

Also Moratta has just taken over the reigns at Inter and has built a reputation for smart and shrewd purchases and there’s no way he’ll risk that reputation on signing the likes of Mesut Ozil. Not going to inter now

Pierre

.Marko Come on inspector Clouseu..stop acting dim..there you go *TonyD December 14, 2018 02:32:45 “Mesut Ozil blows chance to impress Unai Emery on Arsenal return as he drifts through win over Qarabag” Was the headline “Martin Keown questions whether Mesut Ozil ‘wants it enough’ after return for Arsenal and admits relief at Laurent Koscielny injury comeback”He told BT Sport: ‘It’s a chance for Ozil, to see how he is after that back injury.‘He needs to show he wants to work hard out of possession as well as the quality in possession, to get back into this team, and he’s shown… Read more »

Marko

Again It was TONY quoting Keown ,not ME ……nice try. And then “It’s a chance for Ozil, to see how he is after that back injury.‘He needs to show he wants to work hard out of possession as well as the quality in possession, to get back into this team, and he’s shown that.‘ Unless of course this isn’t a direct quote in which case you’re implying that it is and therefore you’re disingenuous. “I haven’t been happy with him for some time and it seems as if he picks and chooses his games.” “I don’t think this team can… Read more »

Rambo Ramsey

I’ve never understood the ‘tiredness’ reasoning applied to footballers.

Why is it so hard to exert themselves for 90 minutes every three days?

Oh those poor pampered bastards.

Mysticleaves

Rambo surely that was tongue in cheek…right?

Pierre

Not sure what you are going on about Marko but keep digging …you’re getting nowhere with this ..it appears to me that you have had to dig up some comments from Keown a year or so ago to make a point . The person you should be questioning is TonyD as he tried to use those Keown quotes from an article as proof that Ozil has blown it with Emery which I find a little strange ….why would an Arsenal supporter be so desperate to want to discredit one of his own players by using an article and a headline… Read more »

raptora

Rambo is right if you think about tennis players especially the ones that advance deep in the tourneys they play. If you’re world class say Fed, Rafa, Djoko and so on these players are/were probably playing 100-150 days out of 365. Easy. And on most tourneys minus GSs they start on Monday and they play a final on Sunday – 7 days in a row sprint after sprint after sprint. Compare this heroes of the modern physical athletics to footballers like Ozil. Not even close.

Marko

My only comment on Ozil has been ” No one is saying he had a great game , he did what he needed to do to get himself up to a level of fitness .

You also quoted Keown. Tell me how was his first 20 passes? World class? Level of fitness again if he’s not fit that’s on him

Rambo Ramsey

Mystic,

What is so ridiculous about my question?

Lets be frank here, footballers don’t even exert themselves for full 90 minutes.

And fans lap up the bs, ‘Oh those poor lads played 90 minutes on Saturday and again on Wednesday’

Graham62

We could all go on and on about Ozil, I know I could, but shouldn’t we all just accept that if Arsenal are going to progress the way that Emery wants us to progress, Ozil cannot be a part of it.

It’s all fairly straightforward as far as I’m concerned.

raptora

You guys think that Merse is right on this? “”Liverpool wouldn’t buy Torreira tomorrow morning, I wouldn’t have thought any of the top four would. He can and will get better, but he’s done great. “He could be playing at Southampton and wouldn’t get a mention, or Burnley. No-one would mention it. It’s just that Arsenal needed it so badly.”” Imo guy has been a revelation. Would he play on the same level at another club? No idea. Still, at £26m from a Sampdoria team for a DM with 3 sub appearances in friendlies for Uruguay, is not pocket change.… Read more »

Graham62

Try playing tennis in 40 degree heat over best of five sets, every other day, for two weeks.

That’s true exertion.

Rambo Ramsey

Merson is absolutely right.

We all saw Liverpool star signing Fabinho totally outclass Torreira. Right?
And the Spuds complete domination of our midfield is still fresh in memory.

Pierre

Raptora
“Seriously fk Merse. Why would you talk shit of the current best performing player of your club?!”

Exactly…..now I’m not saying ozil is the best performing player atm but what’s the difference between merson and le grove who also continually talk shit of the current players or is it only the best performing player that should be exonerated from criticism.

Merse would be have a great time on Le Grove slagging off Ozil,Iwobi, Mhkitaryan,Bellerin etc ……..along with Marko,Joe,Graham ,Tony and the rest.

Rambo Ramsey

Merse would have a great time on Le grove slagging off Ramsey….along with Pierre.

Marko

Merse is an idiot. Torreira if he wasn’t playing for us would be playing for Napoli or possibly Juve after us he’ll be playing for Barcelona or Madrid never Southampton or a Burnley. He’s the bee’s knees basically

Pierre

Ramsey….good(not great) player but lacks the discipline to play in a 2 man midfield …Torriera and Guendouzi are showing him (and wenger) now it’s done.

Pierre

*how

gonsterous

Torriera and Guendouzi are showing him (and wenger) now it’s done.

well you’ve done it. You’ve brought Wenger into the mix. Wait till Pierre gets his hands on you…

Marko

Exactly…..now I’m not saying ozil is the best performing player atm but what’s the difference between merson and le grove who also continually talk shit of the current players or is it only the best performing player that should be exonerated from criticism. For one you’d be talking about our current best most consistent performing player who puts in so much effort and heart in every game and the other (Ozil) who isn’t our best player who isn’t consistent and who doesn’t put in effort or play with heart. One player’s nickname is ‘Los Charruas’ which refers to a gritty,… Read more »

Marko

well you’ve done it. You’ve brought Wenger into the mix. Wait till Pierre gets his hands on you…

Vic will be breaking up with him now

Bob N16

Merson is not an Arsenal supporter, he supports Chelsea. Don’t think he’s all that bright but gets paid to comment…probably just regurgitates what his mates are telling him. Thought he was a great talent for Arsenal though, loved watching him play as long as he hadn’t been out for a few, the night before a game! Torreira is clearly an outstanding player already. Most players are allowed time to assimilate to an a new league and country, he hasn’t only needed 6 starts before showing his quality. I don’t believe any of the rest of the top 6 would be… Read more »

Champagne charlie

“You guys think that Merse is right on this?“

Stopped reading after this.. No is the answer. Always no.

Bob N16

ES, re. Southampton on Sunday without Mustafi and Sokratis available – it’s only for one match! A bit unlucky that both hit 5 bookings at the same time! If Emery is feeling conservative, he could play Monreal, Kos and Lichi as his back three. I would consider a back 4 but what do I know!

Bob N16

New post.