Well hello everyone! I’m back in the UK hood and what do we have on the agenda today? Bloody Mesut Ozil, AGAIN.
This time there are two conflicting stories. One is from John Cross who reckons the club are sick to the back teeth of the German superstar and want him gone if they can find an offer. The second is from Sami Mokbel who reckons he’ll be given a chance to work his way back into the team this Christmas, but he’s really in the last chance saloon (The Times also has a story). There are rumours of a loan move out in January.
One thing is clear, the club is briefing against the German. Quite astonishing really. Our highest paid player who isn’t even a year into his new deal, is being nudged out of the club. I think it’s pretty clear now that the mega deal was a typically self-serving action of our now departed exCEO.
Anyway, I find it quite unbelievable that criticism is going the way of Emery. The childlike response from Oziltoligists is a sight to behold.
‘YOU WOULDN’T EXPECT MESSI TO PRESS’
‘YOU PAY OZIL TO BE OZIL’
‘EMERY CAN’T DEAL WITH BIG NAMES’
… a few of the best.
Let’s get one thing straight, Mesut is a supremely gifted player. One of the greats. There’s no doubt that if he applied himself, he’d be very valuable to our current situation. But the reality is, he’s not pulling his weight. He hasn’t been pulling his weight for years. He is a masterful creator, but that’s all he’s good for. In a modern system, it’s very hard to accommodate that type of player, which is why so few clubs adopt a free-roaming #10 these days. It’s not even just the pressing that so many keep highlighting, it’s the fact that he can’t be trusted to show up in big games. He can’t be trusted not to shy away from the tough away days. He’s constantly phoning in sick like some school kid with a fragile immune system. His second half season statistics always tank. He’s not a reliable leader despite being one of the 5 captains.
Arsene Wenger coddled the German. Notable that since his mercurial talent graced the club we’re now a Europa League side. Obviously not all the fault of one player, but when your star man has commitment issues, it does kind of set the tone for the squad.
You can even use Europe as a barometer for how far his star has fallen. He was available for sale for 18 months before he signed a deal for us. Who tried to seduce him? How many clubs dropped a bid the summer before he went into the final year of his deal? How many tried to make a cheeky move in January? Not many, and remember, he was on b-list money for a world class player. Do you think if Ozil were the player so many fans think he was, he’d be in such low demand?
The game has passed him by. He has most of the tools he needs to succeed at Arsenal. A terrier DM, two of the most potent strikers in world football, a really nice pitch, and a fanbase that adores him. Yet he seems to get worse every season. Is it fair to say that Cesc Fabregas played in a far worse squad and delivered way more? I think it is.
Ozil doesn’t want to adapt to the new ways of Emery’s Arsenal and thankfully, he is happy to make the tough decisions Wenger hadn’t for the past ten years. He won’t be making these decisions on a whim either, he’ll be using sophisticated data models that will support whatever hunch he has about the player on the pitch. He’ll no doubt have worked this decision through with Raul and Sven.
This is what ruthless decision making looks like.
Finally, one for Joke Friday… Wenger had this to say for BEin.
“The team is in good hands and I always said that. A lot of people thought when I left the club that the team would need to completely rebuild – I never thought that.”
“I am very happy that these people have been proven wrong.”
THIS IS WHY YOU DIDN’T GET THE UNITED JOB.
Right, that’s me done, see you in the comments.
Now let’s get the clean sheet
That’s it. To strikers and we outscore our opponents…
One can see why Kolasinac was so highly rated in the Bundesliga
He’s ben impressive this season, not spectacular but solid.
A RB is a must as well as a LB. Bellerin out for a while with Lichtsteiner being questionable fitness wise too and occasionally playing CB and AMN isn’t a full back he’s okay offensively but defensively he’s very suspect and his reading of the game is a worry. Lot of defensive work to be done for sure.
Auba out on his own
Not a bad half, not great but the goal was pretty special.
What happened to Monreal? I have the sound off as I’m in bed next to the missus.
I read a couple of people saying that our team is overworked hence the defensive players being injured. That could be said for the wingbacks but not the CBs. They have the least amount of ground to cover really. The midfield and wingbacks should be well and truely fucked by now if that was the case. It’s just a load of shit.
Great counter for a change!! Well I’m auba!!!
Important part of that goal for Kolasinac and Lacazette. Great game for these two and Auba of course.
Fk Ashley Barnes this should have been a second yellow.
Barnes is a Mothafucker
He just assaulted Guendouzi. That was nasty.
Actually Elneny who won the ball back after Ozil lost it
Ozil started the counter with a hospital pass to Elneny and he jumped over the pass from Laca.
Great shot. Auba.
Nasty Barnes kneed Guendouzi’s back. Knew wot he’s doing.
Let’s do ’em 5
Burnley are reverting back to their Neanderthal roots.
Lovely goal from Aubameyang.
Watch Barnes not get sent off today. Dirty player
Commentator was just saying that he wonders for how long is Emery going to remain calm with plays like the one Ozil did when Elneny basically saved his ass. Terrible play. Reminded me of the one Laca did vs Chelsea.
“Dirty player” is too often thrown around but it certainly fits Barnes.
Hahaha yeah Barnes is a real kent
Laca didn’t foul. The guy lost balance. Ref needs to see…
offside
Freaking assistant referee
Terrible ref decision. 5 Burnley players offside. Shocking stuff.
Risky but not a pen
Ozil still moving like an old man.
Ozil needs to get subbed. He had a decent service today. Get Ramsey in.
Ozil is the walking dead already.
Please put in a player that will stand unto Burnley’s physicality
It’s like playing 11 vs 10
For fuck sake that was horrible from their set piece. Why did only one man( thankfully Sokratis was onto it) chase back. About 5 blokes sprinted away from the ball.
Leaving a shit load of Burnley players free. Seriously shocking defence.
Guendoozy is so reliant on the ref blowing the whistle whenever he get bodied sometimes it looks like diving. This fag need to learn from Sokratis and toughen up a bit.
Also need to be wiser with his tackling too.
Laca is so crucial to potency of our attack. Without him our attack looks pedestrian.
Should have given Torreira an off day. Emery come onnnn…
Thought Elneny did well.
Not sure subbing him was needed but whatever.
If Barnes is still on the pitch Guendouzi did nothing worth a card.
Don’t agree with taking off Elneny. Guendouzi sure Ozil for Ramsey okay but Elneny was doing a job
I f*cking hate it when referees don’t do their f*cking jobs.
Ozil is powderpuff
Elnerney was doing a decent job
Why take him out and leave Ozil in?
We just need to manger the game?
Ozil can’t even run properly.
Roflmao Ozil?!?!?!
Jesus fk he can’t run and he doesn’t give a fk. Wat did I just see?!?!?!
Big fan of the togetherness being shown this season, kick one of us and about 5 want to kick you. Papa, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Licht, Laca, Guendouzi always ready to grip someone up.
How it fucking should be.
*manage the game
Embarrassing defending.
Typical comical defending really no surprise there at all.
worst defence in the league ladies and gentlemen.
Fuck!!!
Why not clear the ball
Arsenal allergic to clean sheets, and from that cretin of all people
There it is. Emery bottlejob leaving Ozil and taking Elneny instead. Big mistake right there.
Xhaka has to clear that
Xhaka’s slow feet again putting us in trouble.
Fuck sakes
Not first time Laca did this. Be selfish and run with it. Ozil ain’t got pace to chase that ball. Or bend it over to Auba.
Fuck. No one wanted to boot the ball out. And dilly dally in own box. Including Xhara.
Self inflicted.
The sub was wrong, just invited trouble.
So many opportunities to clear the ball aswell, bunch of jokers at the back
Ping pong goal. Allergy to clean sheets as ever
Isn’t Ramsey fit to play?
Xakha needs to be in the middle
No coincidence that since we lost holding and he’s gone back there that we’ve lost our way
There has to be better options in our squad than xakha at centre half
Poor first touch Lacazette
AMN you are supposed to at least try to jump and clear the ball?
You’re always going to get chances to score against us when you have players with mistakes in their locker playing.
One clean sheet all season in the Prem is absolutely atrocious
AMN is just a shocking footballer.
Think Emery is probably surprised at how shit some of these supposed talented youngsters are.
Lacazette has to be up there next to Auba in consideration when picking MotM. He’s been occupying these pockets of space so well, always dangerous, hard to defend versus.
One clean sheet all season in the Prem is absolutely atrocious
Yep it is
Although i don’t see how subbing Elneny for Torriera can be blamed for that. Ozil has disappeared again right?? Not watching the game just following online.
Good corner routine that one…..
Champs
That was so pathetic…
Why not cross the damn ball
WTF is wrong with Ozil?
All that from our own corner
Ozil has 4 chances to cross the ball but decided not to
Why??
Nice little odd interchange between Ozil and Xhaka there. Absolutely no idea why two supposed great passers were afraid to cross the ball
Receding
We are playing with one man down at the moment
Ozil cannot stand up to the physicality of the game
Paulinho
Fuck off man! I am desperate for Maitland Niles to become a regular, doesn’t look like it will happen. Guendouzi dives a lot. Refs won’t give him the benefit of the doubt
Shocking defence….
We are gonna lose points here
Need to get xakha out of defence and ozil off the field entirely
It;’s not looking good
We are not conceding today
Theyre getting a foothold in the game. Silly and needful from the Christmas team that provide gifts all year round.
We are playing with one man down at the moment
Ozil cannot stand up to the physicality of the game
Wow @ home to Burnley
Which opponents can he last against for 90 minutes?? Leicester ladies??
He has been in this league for half a decade now…Pierre will come on later to explain how it’s Emery’s fault
Woah. Tuned back in. Conceded to Burnley!
This defence is truly terrible.
What is wrong with Mr Friend?
Haha no yellow
How was cork so open on the edge of the box there? We really defend like shit sometimes
We don’t go in full throttle attack mode under Emery yet we concede silly goals , not a good sign at all.
Another good Laca play.
Seriously though every second that Ozil spends on the pitch is lowering our chances of 3 points.
Just get some fresh legs in and give Ramsey a run out.
Emery has a zip up sports top under a suit. Ffs. Let that shit sink in for a second.
Fashion is the loser today.
Also I think my stream is lagging hahah. My apologies for the delayed reactions
Torriera should have had a proper rest today
He’s not doing any better than Elneny.
Torreira is going through a flat period – and he is continued to look lethargic in this game.
Just seemed a needless sub. Elneny was fresh and in tune with the match,
Got away with that one Cork should have popped it.
Almost impossible to defend Ozil at this rate, such a poor poor player
Ozil lives of moments of brilliance, that’s why he’s off. Modern game doesn’t allow for that with everyone needing to bring some sauce without the ball.
Our midfield is gaping with that lack of application, and I just don’t see any balance without Xhaka in there – especially putting him in the back line where he’s a fish out of water.
We don’t go in full throttle attack mode under Emery yet we concede silly goals , not a good sign at all.
Is that on Emery or the quality of the defenders?? Just wondering
Most of you want the forward players exempted from defensive work, you want to be a free flowing attacking side with defenders who can’t defend
Next foul by Barnes should be carded and a red. Fouled 3 to 4 times since his yellow.
We lost momentum.
Guendouzi needs to come off.
Put Iwobi or someone on.
Dyche appears to have forgone the suit jacket and gone straight for the sports puffer over a shirt. Christ!
He looks like a travelling salesman.
Burnley could have been with 8 players now. Fk Mr Friend.
All this negative passing..
I’ve a bad feeling about the last 15 minutes. I can’t explain it but …
Commentator said how applauds have to go to Guendouzi because he consistently puts his feet when some other Arsenal players wouldn’t not even once. Dig at you know who.
Needless changes….just plain useless.
Laca possibly our best player today but gets subbed off while Ozil stays…………. Emery come on mate….
Iwobi. Gormless bastard.
Iwobi and Ozil = drawn game.
Bad move by emery there.
Vokes destined to bury a header the big cunt.
How you take Laca off and keep Ozil on is a mystery. Lots to love about Guendouzi but his anticipation needs serious work, doesn’t read it well enough defensively and is always trying to make up for it physically.
from the commentary on here Lacazette was having a good game now pulled off for Iwobi…
Seems Emery is letting the last two loses mess up his strong sub game
Why is the sensitive one still on the pitch??
Lacablurdclatvex
Lol Lacazette throwing a tantrum. Pathetic.
We’re at home and 2-1 up. This should be an easy win to see out but we’ve gone with Iwobi?
Emery seems to have got the jitters.
How many at today’s game? 35,000?
Laca’s reaction is so good and reasonable. Emery is having a shocker today. Trying his best to lose points or something.
Ozil is having a very weird game. Laca not happy to be going off he’s probably thinking how is Iwobi replacing me and why am I being replaced when Ozil’s playing so wank. To be fair Lacazette wasn’t having a good game
This crowd are still scarred by Wenger. Liven up ffs.
Never seen Laca get so angry…I don’t blame him though.
We are so ragged at the moment. the manager’s changes sucked all the oxygen out.