I tell you what, I’ve been listening to a lot of classical music this year. I’m not sure if that’s a sign of age, or that I feel disenchanted by the constant bickering between Kanye and Drake. Can’t you both just be friends?
Anyway, big up the classical music scene. Some absolute bangers from John Adams and Tchaikovsky pulling me through this post.
I know that it upsets people that I use references of the not-so-distant past to frame up where we are now, but look, for context, I’m the kind of guy who will make a beeline for a work colleague on a packed train, just to acknowledge that I have seen them… even if they are avoiding eye contact with headphones on. Simply put, I’m going to compare Wenger to Emery for at least another year, so get used to it.
Unai Emery showed exactly how different the mentality at the club is these days.
“I think we are doing our way and improving, but the reality is that we need more.
“Our ideas and work with the players is to learn together. All of us can give everybody new ideas.
“I think the players are open to listening to us about our new tactical work with our analysis in videos. We need to do this work quickly, but we also need patience.
If this had been 2 years ago, we’d be talking about winning the league and the big twitter accounts would be digging up tweets from 7 years ago gleefully proclaiming the victory was theirs!
Not anymore. Our manager is a pragmatist very much anchored to reality. We’re in 5th position, that’s not good enough, and even though we’re not losing, we could be doing better.
That’s a great attitude. That’s a message to players that complacency won’t be tolerated, nor will premature-back patting. We’ve achieved nothing this season and we’re still a long way off the levels City and Liverpool are bringing to the table.
This season is fierce, so many teams are on an absolute rampage. Spurs and City won again, Liverpool is likely to decapitate Jose Mourinho tomorrow when they host his shit-housing-extraordinaires. We have to keep up the pace, there’s no room for dropped points and that sort of pressure is hard to deal with.
It’s going to be very tough tomorrow against Southampton. You have a group of players who are under a new coach who is far smarter than Mark Hughes, so there’s an extra level of intrigue there. We also have a very old defence that is so worrying, you’d have to imagine even Southampton will fancy their chances. We could be rolling out with Hector, Lichtsteiner, Monreal and Koscielny. Two of those haven’t rocked a 90minutes in a while.
It’ll be very interesting to see how Emery deals with that. Do we sit slightly deeper to avoid counters, or do we just play the way we have been all season and try and drop them in the second half after going a goal down? I’d imagine there will be a tactical consideration here, because it does feel like we’re very exposed.
There are some rumours that are being fueled by Auba’s Instagram that suggest we could counter the age issue at the back by fielding Zech Medley. The U23 defender came into the side midweek and impressed in the second half. It’s risky, but these young players need game time if they’re to progress, and there’s no better way to know if a player can handle the pressure other than utilising them in an emergency.
Mesut Ozil will be back in contention for the game after a being out for a few weeks with back spasms, so we’ll see if the coach fancies him in the first team so soon… I’d imagine he’ll be benched and eased back into the first team. Aaron Ramsey is available again, which is great news. I do wonder if he’ll continue to be benched. We all want him to play, but it doesn’t make sense to get the fans used to his presence if we’re going to try and bin him in 3 weeks time.
There’s also the big NLD game that’ll be on the players minds. Spurs in the league cup on Wednesday is technically not as important as Southampton, but it’s huge one for the fans. How hard is Emery planning on going for that game? Is his priority #top4… or a trophy at any cost? So many decisions to be made!
Finally, just a few other items I wanted to check off.
People bringing Ashley Cole into the Sterling row are desperately revising history. He was an absolute darling of Arsenal football club until he betrayed Arsene Wenger in a shady backroom deal with Mourinho which he claimed was accidental. His book quotes were an abomination and a total embarrassment even for a mollycoddled footballer. Factor in the countless PR gaffs he brought on himself… like cheating on his wife with a hairdresser.
“We started having sex then he just rolled over and vomited on the floor all over the cream carpet, it was disgusting.”
“He had some mouthwash then jumped back into bed. We started having sex again but his mates piled into the room.”
For most men, that’s game over, so I have to give him credit for plowing on and being a solutions-oriented kind of guy… however, when you’re married to the most famous woman in Britain, you really can’t complain about bad press, especially when you sell your wedding to gossip magazines for a £1m.
Oh, he also shot an intern with an air rifle from 5 feet.
ALSO: Pavon and De Ligt being linked to Arsenal. Unrealistic, but damn exciting regardless!
Right, enjoy the game, I’ll see you in the comments.
P.S. I ran into an original Le Grove commenter in a New York laundry yesterday. The world is a small place when you’re a gooner!
That’s the worst about being on an undefeated run any sort of dropped points or when it ends we go back to be a shit side. I’ve always maintained that our chances of top 4 will depend on our business in January and I still maintain that. Do nothing and we won’t do it but make a couple (or more) signings and we’ve got a good chance. Recent comments by Emery on the defence and links to attackers suggest that they see January as important to our seasons chances.
Alisson doing United a favor there
Terrible keeping there.
I hope he doesn’t check any social media at half time Rambo will crush him, a career finished.
Who said 70m keepers don’t make mistakes …
Yeah…
Perfectly summed up China.
It’s one thing to let the emotional frustrations fly during the match, but people need to have some perspective after the final whistle as to why we were so poor all over the pitch.
Rambo would have at least tried to create something or try to get in the box himself. Ozil dummied when he could have shot the ball. Oh well – we can go on and on about him.
The real question is if Emery has the balls to sell him in Jan. I cannot see him offering us anything – he is a squad player now. and a bad one.
Summer window must happen in Jan!!!!
The Mane goal is the type Auba is constantly flunking up front for us. Worst 1 v 1 striker in the league .
Devil still firmly has Mourinho’s back. United, undeservedly level
Allison was blaming his gloves there.
Nike wont like that.
Marko
The best thing about the club at the moment is the back room team. I’m not sure we’ll recognise the names of players we sign but I trust the quality we will get. Also the level of person we’ve brought in around the club reeks of ambition. Fingers crossed.
That was a red card
The ref bottled it.
Dissenter
You’re dead right but what a fucked up world we live in where the first reaction to a mistake is the commercial repercussions!
If Ozil starts against Spurs, they will target and collect the ball from him every time. He will of course just stand there watching Sissoko run away with it
Not a red dissenter… His feet wasn’t high. Reckless but not dangerous
Dissenter
Nah the other angle showed it wasn’t much at all.
Dissenter
It’s the Premier league. Refs will avoid making certain calls for the sake of the spectacle. Entertainment>rule book
Global Auba wouldn’t know what to do with that ball Mane scored
Alisson cost 70 mil and just have lingaard a tap in from nothing, happens. – Arsenal got, in some sense, what was coming to them. Poor first halves put pressure on the team and we huffed and puffed to a clumsy loss, finale unable to usurp going behind. Dust off, learn, on we go. Some of the commentary is fucking tragic, Kos getting ruined for a shocker despite being out of action 250 days, our defence was a total fixer upper at the very best. Special praise for you gambon with your ‘I’m done with us this season….turned it off… Read more »
Must say this. I think that Rambo needs to go.
However, I am impressed with his professionalism. He is playing hard every game, confronted the spurs trolls, and generally is not whining or saving himself knowing that he will be gone. He still goes all out.
Ozil is playing like he is in Rambos position. feigning injury and playing like shit, not making any effort and just flat out being shit
When both players leave- Rambo will be on the better team. Ozil – hah
CC
How dare you make intelligent, insightful and thought out comments. If you aren’t butchering you own children and setting fire to your house you’re just not a real Arsenal fan.
Guns of SF,
Absolutely spot on.
Gambon’s comments were embarrassing to the extreme…. The elite fan.. Too good to support a team unless they are winning. I guess a trip to Vegas beckons to get over the trauma of losing a football game
I hope he doesn’t check any social media at half time Rambo will crush him, a career finished.
To be fair if you’re in a profession that’s in the spotlight and you’re thin skinned and take every criticism to heart then you’re not long for the spotlight.
Arsene’s Nurse, I have no idea why you keep getting moderated.
Tried something new. Hopefully it works
Marc
I get your push back about the savage Kosh criticism but do you really think he will get better?
I’m not so sure.
Every player has a shelf life, I just think Kosh is at the level where a return to Ligue un will do him a lot of good.
It’ s hard to expect that a 33 year old who suffered relentless tendinitis will return back after an Achilles tendon repair.
Emery on whether he has money to spend: “It’s not easy but I don’t believe a lot in this transfer window because there’s not a possibility with the players. The club is working and only if some player can help us with a high level.”
Is it me or we have heard someone else say this before :p
Of course le grove will jump on Ozil …that’s normal . Watching the game I thought our best period in the game was during that 60 -85 minute period ..we were dominating possession and looked like we actually had an element of control for the first time in the game though I wouldn’t say it was necessarily because of the introduction of ozil. Yes ,prior to the goal ,ozil tried a dummy in the final third of the pitch that didn’t come off but we had 4 defenders and 2 midfielders goal side of the ball so it shouldn’t really… Read more »
This has result has been coming for weeks. I reckon most sane people would realise that we have been over-achieving so far this seasonand unbeaten run of 23 games has not reflected the overall state of affairs. We have definitely made good progress, but we have rarely been convincing. I totally agree that we badly need reinforcements in key positions and to ship out the obvious wankers. Commercially speaking, I reckon we have some money to spend. The only question is whether Sleazebag Kroenke is prepared to invest in the team – something he has not done since he pitched… Read more »
TR7
What do you want Emery to say?
“We have instructed all our agents to identify targets and use are willing to spend all that it takes.”
“The club will releasing the names of identified targets on Monday morning”
It”s not even in Emery’s hands to be honest.
Looks like Marc is losing his marbles.
TR7
The January window is really only good for getting unsettled players or paying over the odds
Many managers don’t put much into the January window.. Its a difficult window
Dissenter Do I think he will get better? No, he’s the wrong side of 30 and has had a bad injury as well but to go to town on him is unfair. Do you think Emery would have picked him if Mustafi, Sokratis and Holding were fit? He should be back up with the occasional run out against weaker teams in cup competitions or in the PL with at least a competent CB (or 2) next to him. Today was a perfect storm of fuck ups and bad luck but none of it can be laid solely at the feet… Read more »
Frankly this was a game, which I expected Arsenal to lose when you are playing without 5 established defenders. Our patched up defence included only on established Centre Back [out of 5] and Koscielny looked what he is a “wounded animal in the headlights” incapable of performing at EPL level. Just imagine what the score might have been if we were playing today against Man City or Liverpool with this defence. The whole team was inevitably disjointed with other players forced to play out of position. Xhaka is no CB and our problems were compounded by both Bellerin and Lichsteiner… Read more »
Really Rambo how so?
Marc We were losing at some point, I’d rather there than one of the big sides and hand a psychological advantage. We had a mish-mash of a defence out there and some slack defending was brutally punished. Personally I felt the midfield was a yard off the pace, we never seemed like we’d dominate at any stage. Was a lot of turnovers in possession and chasing their players. Just a poor day at the office. Emery is going to have a fucking field day on the old DVDs Monday morning. But listen, we have to be better in the first… Read more »
Pierre
C’mon man
How can you still defend Ozil after today’s games.
He was a ghost when he came on. He’s meant to be the creative spark that ignites the team.
One dummy doesn’t cut it.
Pierre and Stroller the only two people on this blog that still support Ozil after years of clown fiesta… And another shameful display today.
CC
Dead right our first half’s are becoming a write off. It’s not only about subs though we seem to come out with more purpose (before today at least). I’d love to know what Emery is saying at half time.
Frankly this was a game, which I expected Arsenal to lose when you are playing without 5 established defenders.
Against a team that only scored 6 goals all season? Surely we could of managed to beat Southamptopn today.
Dissenter
Nah, I know there’s not much we can do in.January transfer window. I just thought Emery’s comment on Jan transfer window was eerily similar to that of Wenger.
Dissenter
What exactly was wrong with Ozil’s performance?
You are being utterly ridiculous. The man was on the field a relatively short time and he delivered two excellent crosses plus a sublime interplay which could have resulted in a goal.
Arsenal did not lose this game today because of Ozil’s performance. Our problem was in defence and the disruption it caused to rest of team.
Just watch some highlights, looked like a clear foul on Monreal in 46th, should’ve been a penalty.
Stroller,
Pierre is a lunatic but I thought that you’d see the light… eventually… Sadly, no hope left.
If I didn’t watch the game, I’d almost believe you.
Emirates
“Utterly ridiculous” ought to be reserved for anyone who thinks that Ozil effort is acceptable.
He played like a styrofoam mannequin, avoiding any 50-50 challenge. He didn’t even bother tracking back.
In fairness to Ozil, he played like a player with no backbone which is consistent with his current injury.
There will always be spinal muscle spasms when there is insufficient skeletal scaffolding.
You would think reading Pierre and strollers comment that Ozil came on and had a good substitute appearence. You would think that having not watched the game but just reading their comments
raptora I watched the game! Arsenal’s defeat and in particular the third goal we conceded had absolutely nothing to do with Ozil. As I pointed out this makeshift defence would have conceded a bucket full of goals against any other team in the EPL. It was a complete shambles. Koscielny based on his current performance level should never be considered for the first team if we had not had four other CBs absent through injury. In my view he was at fault for all three goals albeit that Leno could also have done better. Bluntly there are far too many… Read more »
BWGT
Don’t lash out because it’s just you and your dad when you play.
I didn’t understand Emery’s decision to play Xhaka in defense. I am not even his fan but his best position is alongside Torreria in central midfield.
Putting all 3 of Laca, Ramsey and Ozil on bench suggests Emery himself is getting sucked in to this 2nd half comeback philosophy/strategy.
The “wenger obsessives” have turned into the ” Ozil obsessives “
Pierre,
Exactly. You and stroller.
TR7
We were missing Sokratis, Mustafi, Holding, Mavropanos and Kolasinac. Bellerin and Lichsteiner were also injured during the game.
So Xhaka is more or less a last resort playing in defence. By playing him there
it also impacted on the solidity of our midfield as was the case when he was
recently suspended.
Rap
Lol
I’m not Ramsey’s biggest fan, but how how emery brings on Ozil instead of Ramsey especially after the way Ramsey has played as a sub. That was an error by emery.
I mean you do expect something more from a 300k a week, World Cup winning player but we all know that ship has sailed
Well except Pierre and ES.
But Pierre still thinks Wenger was an elite manager.
When Ozil cape to Arsenal, many wanted him to succeed so much that they will highlight the pre-assist if Ozil passed a ball that was shipped in and resulted in a goal.
They it became the pre- pre-assist , now all it takes is a debatable cross and a dummy move.
Yuuuup Ozil had a good game.
Dissenter.
A big NO to the ox.
There are literally 1000s of players out there why would we bring one back that didn’t work for us before
*came to Arsenal
*whipped in and resulted in a goal.
The board hire a top director and put him in charge of a church fete
Emery has got the max out of this jumble sale crew.
Now it’s up to the board, to either shape up or ship out.
They have something negative to say even when he does not play.
You mean like when he fakes an “illness” or a “back ache” so he doesn’t play? How dare we
Joe, I reckon he was thinking about Wednesday
Good Liverscum scored.
Fuck United
Makeshift defence or not, we were facing Southampton not Barcelona..
Tr7
Yea that wasn’t my fave strategy either, tend to think Xhaka and Torreira need cemented at the base of midfield come what may.
Why was Elneny deployed as makeshift CB as he has been previously? That’s my issue with him, he offers nothing, literally nothing. Xhaka pulled out of midfield upset matters there for me, and he’s not helping much at CB.
Shaquiri was a miss for us, great squad player and would’ve offered a nice alternative to the static forward line we have. Instant impact in this game
Fuck. I wanted Man U to win this
“How can you not love Liverpool?”
Easy – they are vile filth who should all be eradicated.
Emirtaes
We could have gone for.a.back 4 of Bellerin, Koss,.Monreal and AMN. Even Elneny could have slotted in. Playing Xhaka in defense was.unnecessary.
Put in perspective that I’d have Shaqiri every single time ahead of Ozil and you see how dire the twat has been. None of the bug-eyed laziness. None.
Shaqiri, a £13m transfer, at £90k per week.
Says it all really.
FFS well well
Red
Kos has been shit for years. A 7 month lay off wasn’t going to make him better.
It was an accident waiting to happen but emery had no choice
Shaquiri was the bargain of the season
Would he have chosen us ahead of Liverpool?
I’m not sure.
There was some uncertainty about Arsenal this summer but to all the transitions.
Pedro
Today was more important
Raptora I made absolutely no reference today good or bad about Ozil in the first post I made about the game at 16.57 It was you who brought me into the discussion about Ozil at 17.01 as though I had suggested that he had a good game. My reaction is that you and others write obsessively complete nonsense about too many players more often than not when they are not to blame with what happened in a game. Ozil was not remotely at fault for what happened today and frankly Ramsey’s inclusion would not have made a difference to the… Read more »
Pedro
Today was more important .
Marc
Hear hear sir
Hate them more than spurs
And again. 3:1 Pool.
CNt stand Liverpool.
Their fans are the worst
Would not hear the end of it if they win the league
Two lucky goals to be honest
Both shots were savable but for the deflections
Makeshift defence or not, we were facing Southampton not Barcelona..
Very true. Injuries and suspensions aside we haven’t defended well for years. We simply have some very poor defenders and things won’t change until we bring in better ones.
Liverpool 3-1. Watch United bring on another Fellaini…
Stroller
17.36.40
Ozil was not remotely at fault for what happened today and frankly Ramsey’s
inclusion would not have made a difference to the goals
Indeed he very well was
That nonchelant dummy that did not Fool anyone … To little to often gives nothing
Take the hit an lose in January … Offers nothing but money loss
Two lucky goals to be honest
Both shots were savable but for the deflections
Liverpool kept applying the pressure so not surprised on the goals.
RSPC
The Spud’s are severely retarded and deluded but I can sleep safely at night knowing one of them isn’t going to break into my house and kill me. Can’t say the same about Scousers.
We will all be in trouble should Liverpool win the league.
It will an endless cacophony of nonsense from their pundits and fans for the next decade.
Shaquiri bossing it.?
What have we missed .
How can these two people be happy with Ozil’s input when they see what a commitment and class a £13m player has compared to this grossly overpaid primadonna. It’s utter madness really how he’s not ousted by the fans and management. Guy is not bothered to play football but gets his fat paycheck. And Pierre and Stroller here are applauding him. What do you expect when they were doing the same with Wenger. Some things never change, huh…
Apparently the ManU board are looking for a stamp to put Mourinho’s P45 in the post.
Just can’t see how he survives this after all the recent results / antics.
‘What exactly was wrong with Ozil’s performance?’
A nice pair of glasses on the Christmas list for you ES?
CC
Shaquri scores yet again
I was.ridiculed when I said Shaquiri could add 15 goals.to Liverpool when they signed him in the summer. People said he had never scored 15 playing as a regular 11, what chance did he have scoring 15 coming off the bench at Liverpool . Well he always had good skills, it’s just that he never played in a team as good and attacking as Klopp’s Liverpool.
Samesong
“‘applying pressure” … yes
Cant argue that the two goals were from wicked deflecting. De Gea would have comfortably saved the shots without the deflections.
stroller:
“Ozil was not remotely at fault for what happened today”
There you go: https://twitter.com/milespidgeon16/status/1074322400035160066
I can almost say that I despise scousers
Almost as much as akbs
Almost.
What is wrong with this Brit with good teeth guy?
Why all the unnecessary comments?
“What happened? Did a scouser fly halfway across the world to steal your maple syrup and impregnate your moose?”
It was a very special moose and a virgin at that – he’d been saving himself!
What a bench.
Robertson and Arnold probably best 2 full backs in the league.?
Lacazette should have started.
Brit
I know you don’t have any friends so you wouldn’t know what it would I be like to banter with friends who support Liverpool and how they would go on about it for years and years.
Back into your hole muppet
“What happened? Did a scouser fly halfway across the world to steal your maple syrup and impregnate your moose?”
I reckon the Canada goose jacket got nicked.
Pedro
I think this Brit cunt is the cunt you banned a few weeks back. Auburgine or whatever the fuck his handle was that week
Tr7
I’m really surprised we overlooked him, and it was certainly a case of that vs him desperately wanting Liverpool. We had Xhaka and Licht as Swiss counterparts to welcome him in, I don’t imagine for a second he would’ve been a tough transfer.
I’ll foolishly reserve judgement under the pretence that Ousmane Dembele is on his way and we can’t afford both… lol
Jo
Good shout!
Thats his second remark like that in a week, weasal
I can’t stand Liverpool, their fans are the worst ever.
#AnyoneButLiverpool
So you are the ManU board – Mourinho has to go no argument – but what do you do. If as reported the Poch is their number 1 target do you sack Mourinho now and put in a caretaker or wait until the summer. As bad as Mourinho is / has become you’d have to think he hasn’t completely lost the plot, can a caretaker do better. Also what do you do in Jan? You can’t buy Mourinho targets the new manager might not want them and they don’t have a DOF to oversee things. What a fucking shambles.