Happy Boxing day to you all! I hope you took things to suitably crazy levels yesterday, kept conversation non-Arsenal for at least two drinks, then spoiled the day with an aggressive debate over the merits of Arsene Wenger’s career.
I just hope the players feel fresher than I do…
Brighton is the late kick-off today. We head down to the south coast to chase an extremely important three points in a title race which has so far proved to be relentless if you have #Top4 goals. As Emery said, “we are going to play [with] full [commitment]… the same three points are in Brighton that are in Liverpool.” Important to remember that beating Spurs in the league was tragically wiped out by that horror result against Southampton away from home.
The manager sounds like he’s going for a full-throated line-up. When asked about fielding LT, who is on 4 bookings, he didn’t flinch.
“In my career, I never made these decisions,”
“We are going to play the next match in Brighton and we are going to play full – not with considered options or playing with more caution.
“I don’t know whether Torreira would even be able to play cautiously but I don’t want him to think about the possibility of a suspension for one yellow card.”
I think the decision to play LT will be more about having a shite defence. It would be a full-on disaster if we don’t have him available for the Liverpool game. But, I do understand the worry that we flunk a typically flat day for football, then nullify a potential win we might have against the Premier League favourites. This sort of decision really does show how skinny our squad is. We should be able to field an Elneny like object for this game and feel fairly confident we can deliver a result.
Rotation should be a consideration today, I think the players have looked tired and we’ve picked up a lot of injuries of late. Interesting that Emery dropped this comment as well.
“I was speaking with [Laurent] Koscielny about the possibility for him to play against Burnley and he said: ‘Not today’ – because he was very tired after two matches in a week and I decided for him not to be with the group. Koscielny said: ‘I’m not Mattéo! Mattéo is 19 and I’m 33 years old!’
“I am very happy with Mattéo and he is improving a lot. He gives a lot of moments with the combinations, the quality and the possibility to play with our style. He needs to continue his progress with us but I think he’s [still] very young.”
Great to hear that Matteo likes to play, but a sharp warning that players in their 30s cannot be relied on for 60 games. Amazing how quickly you can go from a pivotal figure to a creaky old man!
Brighton have lost 3 on the bounce, the last they won was against Palace. Also worth noting they haven’t won any of their last 9 league games on Boxing Day. They’re without Lewis Dunk, their best defender by quite a margin. The stats line up nicely for us, but ultimately, as we saw a couple of weeks ago, the old Arsenal always lurks in the wings.
Right, that’s me done, see you in the comments!
x
The last month or so has been frustrating but it was always coming. There is only so much a coach can do with sub-standard players before things stall and then it becomes a job of just keeping things stable to prevent a graveyard spiral.
Guardiola’s City were getting bitch-slapped 4-0 at Goodison by Everton half-way througn his firs season. By he didn’t panic or get carried away, because he knew that was only so much his current personnel could respond to his coaching.
Let’s just hope Emery is allowed the leeway in the transfer market he Guardiola enjoyed. It
Azed
” We had three players behind the ball and that’s all you need. Having two players on the half way line changes nothing because it leaves the midfield open. ”
We had Guendouzi defending 3 quarters of the pitch ….suicidal
We were one nil up and in control of the game …blaming Ozil is a smokescreen…
Emery is playing on our intelligence and taking us for granted…..
I think its high time emery starts feeling some pressure… So he doesn’t get the feeling his first and second season is a free pass for him…
We don’t even have a pattern of play… Playing out from the back is not a pattern of play.
What’s with this 45 mins changes …. Even after 6 months with the players..
I’m beginning to feel emery is a lost course….
May GOD help us all….
Please when will the kroenkes out brigade start…????
Watford taking it to Chelsea.
Wonder is the Chelsea version of Le Grove is in complete meltdown. Wonder if their DD is having the same tantrum
Pierre
How many chances did Ozil create in that first half and why haven’t you answered my question on why Ozil stopped tracking his runner who then went on to score
watford have to score…. much better team
DD you know you have a choice, your not forced to do anything.
I see Bob has replaced his weird Wilshere obsession with Matteo Guendouzi.
shit
Pierre
If we had gone in 1-0 up I’m sure Emery would have left Özil on- for a while anyway.
Let’s be honest, those are the sort of games Ozil should be bossing. Away, against bang average opposition, loads of possession, time on the ball–they didn’t really press much.
He should be picking passes, threading balls, making runs into the box, getting shots away, pointing a lot.
You know, all that good stuff top midfielders are supposed to do.
It’s a game of errors. Foster blew it for his team. Like Emery blew today’s game for us. Shocking display.
Joe the mofo jinxed it. Good job.
Look at Delofeu- fast pace and tricky player. how we could do with this type of player in our team. in fact Watford are good on the counter attack. have some athletes on that team for sure
Batistuta Smokescreen…..the set up is all wrong when we have a corners Guendouzi on the half way line …ozil,torriera and lichsteiner 3 yards outside the opposition box. Think about it ….Torriera ,ozil and lichsteiner will get outrun in a foot race 99 times out of a hundred running the length of the pitch …none of those 3 are exactly speed merchants are they ..the opposite in fact. Why would any manager expect those 3 players to be able to defend the goal so high up the pitch …I reckon I could nearly best them in a foot race and I… Read more »
See what you’re saying, I just think a two year period is a bit fanciful modern day. You tend to know with a full season whether you’re on the right track, and I’m yet to be convinced we are. And there it is. Now one for you, if the new manager is on course to replicate the same defensive output as the old manager with ‘the same’ players. What’s he bringing to the table exactly? Or you could ask what does that say about the players? Two different managers same error prone performances. Question do you think a proper defensive… Read more »
You were saying Joe you fat cunt?
Raptora
Wenger left a mess. I agree. He should have left sooner. I also agree.
But who accommodated all this?
The same guy who’s in charge now.
Difference is though Chelsea will probably see our result.
Out*
I have to agree with Pierre today.. Today (and Southampton game) was all on Emery.
Dude made some very bad desicions today, taking Laca off was the height for me.
I have to say I am very disappointed in him
Overall, we’re hardly in a crisis.
I think the team might rally when we get a few players back.
I think it would risky for arsenal to get on the managerial merry go round. It nearly always fails.
Alexander
As I said earlier ,Emery over reacted because they equalised and it cost us.
Brighton did not allow Arsenal to play between the lines so most of our chances came from hitting a longer ball behind their defence.
I agree ,ozil wasn’t involved but playing in front of lichsteiner didn’t really do him any favours did it.
Pierre I think you’re focusing far too much on one instance where we had one and not two men back defending while we took a corner. It’s always two men back always
I agree ,ozil wasn’t involved but playing in front of lichsteiner didn’t really do him any favours did it
That last bit is all over the place. So where do we need to put him exactly so that he doesn’t play like the wet sponge he is
Alex
“I think it would risky for arsenal to get on the managerial merry go round. It nearly always fails.”
I wholly agree with you.
I doin’t think there’s a some managerial genius that will turn things around without significant backing. We need to give Emery significant backing before we start the merry go round.
Pierre
You still all over the place and not explaining why Our best player leaves his man on a counter and said player goes on to score….Nothing tactical about that just lazy lazy from him.
Pierre right!
Why are both centrebacks attacking on almost every corner and leaving Guendouzi and Xhaka or litch at back. Absolute joke. And why did Litch not just leave that ball it was going straight to Leno.
If I understand correctly, gambon is happy to see chelsea scoring…. just because that allow him to prove Joe’s wrong ??
A lost cause the c^nt really is.
Marko
“Pierre I think you’re focusing far too much on one instance where we had one and not two men back defending while we took a corner. It’s always two men back always”
If that is the case then why did we only have one back today.
Anyway ,we regularly\always have only one man back because I noticed before that it used to be Torriera.
Gambon
Actually not fat at all ya dumb cunt.
@HL… Somehow I sense Ddkingz is so drunk he posted the same shit twice. Man.. Don’t blame me .. I’ve been drunk from the minute we started playing dilly dally at the back and so many pointless passing… A fellow fan was sleeping, but I i st chosed to get drunk…. @ joe… Love almost all your comment every time… Almost on point.. But saying go fuck off and support the dippers… Just shows how ambitionless and a sour loser you have become, you have grown accustomed to been a loser… Sorry mate… I can’t help but feel for you… Read more »
Pierre
Why wasn’t Özil involved?
Because the mighty Brighton and Hove albion didn’t’ allow ‘ it?
As I said before, the team arsenal played this evening are the sort of side a genuinely top, creative midfielder should be able to take apart.
Ruthlessly dismantle with precision and panache even.
Batistuta
Ozil could have done better but I will repeat myself….If you have Guendouzi defending 3 quarters of the pitch with 3 tortoises on the edge of the opposing area then the team is being set up to fail…
Where was Torriera ..Surely our defensive midfielder should have been showing us his recovery speed
I’m afraid Emery’s gameplan is too inflexible and rigid for us. The guy would be better suited to Serie A. He’s doing again what he did at PSG, the difference being that the French club had much better players than us. I’m sorry to sound so negative, lads…
Anyway ,we regularly\always have only one man back because I noticed before that it used to be Torriera.
Not true at all. It’s usually the two full backs that are back. Again always two you noticing it once doesn’t change the fact
DD
I just think you’re getting a bit carried away
azed
You only see what you want to see. Ozil didn’t play the whole second half, how would you assess it? And the least you can do is get your facts straight before you post nonsense. Ozil quit German national team not the other way around.
The mighty Chelsea with a fantastic new manager and players much much better players than ours are 2 points ahead of us at the moment and lost same
Amount of matches as us : 3
The mighty man city with the best assistant manager in the history of football are only 6 points ahead of us And have lost the same amount of matches as us : 3
Tottenham have lost more
Matches than us this season : 4
Emery has had one TW. And first choice CBs are out hurt
Pull your heads in ya drama queens
Ozil could have done better but I will repeat myself….If you have Guendouzi defending 3 quarters of the pitch with 3 tortoises on the edge of the opposing area then the team is being set up to fail…
What is this instance that you’re talking about? We had Lichtsteiner and Guendouzi back defending on their breakaway for the goal
Seems to be a growing number of EOBs on here.
What’s everyone bare minimum for him to continue managing arsenal next season.
Mine is consolidation : 6th or better.
Alex
Don’t worry.
Most will be back on after we beat Liverpool on the 29th.
:-)))
Alex most are going to give him time sure there’s a certain amount of be careful what you wish for types and a couple knee jerk types but he’ll get time. I mean what other choice do we have? But seriously there’s not a more obvious type appointment we could have made or can make so it is what it is
Joe
Fair points on Emery. Truth is we don’t really know how good he is yet.
Also agreed on fan fickleness.
I fear for that Liverpool game though.
Tottenham are 7 points ahead of us you pleb, who gives a bollocks how many matches they have lost.
My fear is that by the time we predictably lose to Liverpool on Saturday we will be in the muck with United and Everton, far away from the top-4 fight.
The club has to back the manager this winter window.
He’s stuck with too many poor choices.
Marko
Yep, agreed.
I’d like to see some no nonsense transfer dealings from arsenal though.
Eagle
They’ve got better players than we do so no surprises they are ahead in the table
The club are going to have to invest in January. There’s no option.
The reason we keep seeing so many changes is because Emery is like someone fidgeting to get comfortable when they really need to change seats.
A CB, CAM and winger are badly needed. We have one decent CB in Sokratis, one decent CAM in Mkhitaryan and no wingers at all.
Get that waste of space out of the club as well. It’s beyond a joke now.
Marko
“What is this instance that you’re talking about? We had Lichtsteiner and Guendouzi back defending on their breakaway for the goal”
Are you being deliberately stupid.
When Arsenal took the corner kick we had Guendouzi on the half way line …..the nearest players to Guendouzi were lichsteiner,torriera and ozil ( the 3 tortoises) …
Lichsteiner made the mistake because he was desperately trying to get back into position ….If he had been sitting back 25/30 yards he would have defended with ease .
Joe are you this naive…….
We are were we belong already on the EPL log….
@joe… Do you mind placing a wager on that prediction you just made?
On a different, scarier note, I actually think spurs have a genuine chance of winning the prem this season.
Not favourites by any means, but they could do it.
@ AH
Spurs won’t do shyte…take that to the bank.
Loyika
They’ll finish above us though
Loyika
I’ve got a tenner on Liverpool and I wouldn’t change that but they aren’t rock solid. Neither are city.
The scary thing is Pool winning it won’t be any better. Damn you Citeh!! (If you allow Pool win the EPL this season) DAMN YOU TO HELL!!
Alexanderhenry I think “improvement” is the bare minimum for Emery He probably has 2 years to get us into the CL from the club’s POV So this season we need to see that he knows what he’s doing. If we’re still conceding the same amount at the end of season, still not getting anything in the first half, and still going 40-50 minute periods without a shot on target I think he may struggle to get a second season. He came in and said he would get better balance between attack and defence…..he hasn’t. He said he would improve individual… Read more »
Spurs won’t do shit….
With the current trend…. Arsenal won’t do shit, than become a what they already are…. A top 6 contender..
“Or you could ask what does that say about the players? Two different managers same error prone performances. Question do you think a proper defensive manager like say Simeone if he took over Arsenal would stick with the same players? He would like fuck he’d bin at least half of the shit you see on show“ Take that up with Stanley who offered up 70 mil for a new era. That being said, I’ll answer the question you continually avoid, Simeone would’ve had the same players conceding less and being harder to beat. So why can’t Emery show signs of… Read more »
WengerEagleDecember 26, 2018 21:28:07
Tottenham are 7 points ahead of us you pleb, who gives a bollocks how many matches they have lost
Shows we aren’t as far back as most think we are ya dumb fuck
Two more TWs and we will be right there amongst the top. And still are only two matches from being in the mix
Get in now you pleb?
Absolute priority is bringing in at least one playmaker/inside winger that can receive the ball between the lines when space is at a premium. Ramsey can’t do it, Iwobi can only do it three or four times a season, and Ozil has always been a complete coward in that regard. Both Laca and Auba are forwards and not really at the level to drop deep too often. So many times our central midfielders have the ball and look for options and none are forthcoming so they pass it square. Doesn’t help that our central midfielders can’t join the attack either… Read more »
Marko a couple of Questions for you Do you think it is wise to have only have a 19 year old Guendouzi back defending as he prone to switch off ( as he did today if you watch it back) … Do you think it is wise to have possibly 3 of your slowest players as the next line of defence taking into consideration that they were only 3 yards outside the opposition penalty area when the kick was taken and had to run at least 50 yards to cover against much faster attackers. Should Emery continue with this tactic… Read more »
A lot of simple minded folk posting today
Some fans has personal hatred with certain player and always try to somehow lay blame on him and ignore the real issue. The long ball was towards the goal. If that fucking Licht just let the ball through, Leon should be able to get to the ball sooner than anybody. Instead, he headed the ball towards the middle where two opponent players and Guen were. The first one I want to blame is Licht. The second one is Guen. He is a bad defender. It is not the first time he let an opponent ran past him on goal. The… Read more »
Emery is turning out to be a fraudster in my eyes….
What’s with the constant bullshit of the process and the moments, he’s always talking about….
The team is shit… That’s known to all… But his coaching and method of play is so fucking predictable…
Nelson
Correct.
@ Bat
That was never in doubt….Spurs might finish above us for the next couple of seasons….I can live with that as long as they don’t have a trophy of any note season end. (every season)
Too many average plauers at AFC….
They just can’t dribble pass an opponent…
We totally lack creative midfielder, maybe two…
My fear is we won’t buy enough quality players to improve the squad, but may start dragging players with Everton….
@ Joe
Are Arsenal the only club that will spend in the TW?
Just asking as you keep using the TW as some sort of barometer? Do you think Players will now chose us over Citeh or Pool (Heck even United whom we are above)
Other clubs will buy and sell players as well….so the TW is only a percentage % of what can make us compete (especially as we have no idea if Stan will loose the purse strings to get the kind of players we need)
Nelson
Well put
Loyika
We have a lot of wenger era
Players to improve on
Getting better players than we have now will be a bigger improvement than other teams improving over their players as they are all have pretty good players in most positions
Where can Liverpool and city really improve by selling and buying players?
Tottenham can add depth but their first 11 is pretty good
Our first 11 needs the most help and we can improve the most by replacing 4-5 players
Make sense loyika?
My mistake …I stand corrected…Ozil was actually in line with the opposition penalty spot 12/13 yards from goal when xhaka took the corner kick so in fact , !lichsteiner and Torriera were the only 2 other players who were not within 12 yards of the opposition goal when we took the corner kick …….but let’s blame ozil for the goal instead of the amateurish set up prior to the corner.
@loyika..
Run back to your hole and don’t post another fucking dumb spurs shit….
You are a fucking loser…. You don’t mind arsenal going trophyless, as long as we do it with spurs…
Are you for real man…. Are you this daft.?
Joe and Graham must have been cringing at that 2nd half performance…not one chance created ….
AlexanderhenryDecember 26, 2018 21:22:32 Seems to be a growing number of EOBs on here.What’s everyone bare minimum for him to continue managing arsenal next season. Mine is consolidation : 6th or better. —————- First of all,I’d like to see the owner fornicate off into the sunset. Would like to see a more ambitious owner set out a blueprint,like the Mansours..The rest takes care of itself.. Ridiculous,given we used to be the top club in London(competing for EPL title(s)),to being top 4 contenders,to now foraging in the Top 6 bargain basement bin.. Drinking Lambrusco with our fellow Europa league paupers..As opposed… Read more »
look at Emery kicking a bottle. Wenger slammed the bottle.
LOL- Arsenal managers really hate water bottles.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11592257/unai-emery-apologises-for-kicking-bottle-in-arsenals-draw-with-brighton
@ DD
I sense you can’t read that my comments were tongue in cheek.
Besides my responses on Spurs and Pool were to Bat and Alex? Seems you took too much ale this evening….you need to go lie down and let the wine/beer wear off before you actually do something that can hurt you.
I get the fact you are flying the – Arsenal FC must be the best club in World Football – mantra/flag tonight, but ease up on the insults.
Do you think it is wise to have possibly 3 of your slowest players as the next line of defence taking into consideration that they were only 3 yards outside the opposition penalty area when the kick was taken and had to run at least 50 yards to cover against much faster attackers.
Ozil is not slow……… Lazy yes slow no.
@ Joe
You think Pep won’t spend on this team? Especially when he knows the money is there for him to get whomever he wants?
I understand your general point, just stating that we won’t be the only ones spending during the TW.
And are not certain (for now) if Stan K will allow a major overhaul of the squad in the way we want or hope.
That being said, I’ll answer the question you continually avoid, Simeone would’ve had the same players conceding less and being harder to beat. So why can’t Emery show signs of defensive improvement after half a season? One probably true because he is first and foremost a defensive minded coach. Two Simeone would have probably insisted on binning the error prone players that we’ve got a lot of. Like I said before it was never enough to just bin the manager there’s half a dozen players who need replacing at the club. As for you Pierre I really think you should… Read more »
Arsenal as a club are so pathetic and ambitionless….
Don’t worry… If the Almighty Liverpool could go 3 decades without a league trophy… Who is ARSENAL???
We have managed to go 15yrs without a league trophy, what is another 20yrs …. Just a blink of an eye for some…
If no pattern of play by this summer, then sack emery off, or probably wait another 10yrs too late to take another ruthless decision.
5 things cost us that game:
1 – Aubameyang the new Andy Cole – how many chances does he miss?
2 – Emery’s bizarre substitutions.
3 – Ozil not tracking the runner.
4 – Lichensteiner missing the header.
5 – Leno yet again doing his best Jens Lehman impression by rushing off his line too impetuously.
Marko
Will say it once more …..when xhaka took the corner kick,Guendouzi was on the half way line or thereabouts, lichsteiner and Torriera were 3 yards outside the opposition box and the rest of the Arsenal team were no more than 12/13 yards from the opposition goal …..suicidal.
Benny
Also lack of creativity in the second half.
“One probably true because he is first and foremost a defensive minded coach. Two Someone would have probably insisted on binning the error prone players that we’ve got a lot of. Like I said before it was never enough to just bin the manager there’s half a dozen players who need replacing at the club.“ So again, where’s the comparable ‘Emery effect’ outside of the recruiters going mental and buying a new squad? Emery brought in Leno, Sokratis, Licht, Torreira, Guendouzi. That’s 5 players. So 5 new players into the mix, and a new manager. Where’s the obvious gain? I’ve… Read more »
If you can’t be ruthless about spending then be ruthless about sacking…. Thinking about the transfer window and reinforcements… Wait till you see pep by he ligts and de jong and probably another world class midfielder and DM… Wait till man utd do well till the summer and decide to back their new coach with $250m for player acquisition… And who will be left for arsenal to buy…. Maybe another sanogo or diaby… Or probably if we get lucky we just buy another torreira… Not even talking about the Spanish giants like Madrid who would be thinking about replacing their… Read more »
Will also add that in the 48th minute we had a corner with exactly the same set up and Brighton were so close to having 4 attackers against 2 defenders in a breakaway… so we didn’t learn our lesson.
I have no problem with affording emery some time to do his magic… But the lack of any pattern/style/method/DNA of play is getting me worried……
Feels like the honeymoon period is over and Emery is really struggling to make correct decisions. It’s like he’s over thinking everything He wanted Auba out wide….then Auba up front with Laca on the bench….then 2 up front. H wanted a back 4…..then a back 3…..then a back 4. Ozils in the team…..then he’s out the team….then he’s in the team….then he’s off at HT Iwobis on the bench….then he’s in the first team…then he’s back on the bench. Xhakas a CM…then he’s a LB….then a CB….then he’s a CM again. 6 months in and 25 games in he should… Read more »
How much better player is pep going to get than he has now. Maybe a 10% improvement ? He has world class talent almost everywhere.
Same as Chelsea. Except maybe a striker.
Tottenham needs depth.
Liverpool have class all over. Again maybe a 10% upgrade. But Klopp has had 3 years to get there.
We can get 100% improvement on CB’s, AM, a #10 and wingers.
Pep has had 3 years.
Poch 3-4 years.
Not only did emery inherit a team that was managed by a complete clueless manager that had been destroyed mentally, he’s only had 1 TW and 6 months to do it
Agreed gambon, but to be fair to Emery he is still working with Wenger’s leftovers pretty much so I still think we need to give him more time but we do need to spend some serious money and I would start this January if we have any chance of top 4 which we don’t in my opinion.
“I’ve noted a change in mentality and togetherness etc. But personally I think a lot of the upturn we’ve seen is due to a new manager, period” That’s half the battle these days isn’t it. Klopp definitely seemed to make an immediate impression at Liverpool but it’s still taken multiple transfer windows for that to actually be reflected in their league position compared to Rodgers. Their defence was a complete joke before VVD now that one signing has settled everything. Most managers have a similar style or philosophy these days. If you watched Liverpool beat us 5-1 back in 2014… Read more »
I’m not entirely saying Emery is not the man for the Job or any of that but surely we can criticize him fairly when he messes things up whether or not it’s still majorly Wenger’s squad and his changes lately pretty much leave much to be desired. We can say that without seeming like we want him gone.
I’ve alway maintained though that unless our owner or board provide sufficient funds for player acquisition, then it doesn’t matter who our manager will be 10 years from now, the defensive issues will still be here.
Liverpool were 3-3-2 when Rodgers was fired. 10th place
Klopp got them 8th. 16-12-10 So he went 13-9-8 after Rodgers dismissal.
Didn’t really set the world on fire.
Took 3 years to get to where he is
Shocking
No one mentioning salah’s blatant dive. Should be banned
Not only did emery inherit a team that was managed by a complete clueless manager that had been destroyed mentally, he’s only had 1 TW and 6 months to do it
Joe
Myoure a wanker
This manager is the only manager to go a season unbeaten. How stupid can you be????
Yes he lost his spark but clueless??
He is still better than emery and klopp
Klopp has won nothing in the time that Wenger has won 2 fa cups and a charity shield
Dumb Canuck
Charity shield. Hahahahaha
Go back to drinking egg nog wanker
I like emery but we are winning nothing under him
Nothing
Pedro is right
Arsenal are going nowhere under kroenke
Un
Why hasn’t the clueless wanker been signed by anyone to manage them?
Lost his spark?
Hahaha