Case for the defence

by .

This is the monthly post from Jonathan Blaustein. Make sure you follow him @JblauPhoto

I’m laying in bed on Christmas Eve, hiding from my kids.

The holidays have just begun, and I’ll be on stay-at-home-Dad-duty for the next 15 days, so I’ve got to catch the quiet when I can.

Outside my window, snow covers the tops of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and the dead, brown grass in my pasture looks like something from Vincent Van Gogh’s last painting. (I announced last night that the raven was my current spirit animal. I suppose everyone’s entitled to a mid-life Goth phase.)

It’s winter, and Unai Emery was appointed in May. That means we have half a year to judge him on, and the state of the Arsenal rebuild in general.

In my last two columns, perhaps I’ve gone light on the analysis and heavy on the humor. Everyone’s always ready to have a laugh, but this month, I decided it was time to dig into what I’m actually seeing, in bigger picture terms.

Why now? Why Christmas?

Well, yesterday was the 21 year anniversary from the day I met my wife in a coffee shop here in Taos. (It’s still there, and in business, but has changed names and hands 5 times since.)

It got me thinking, we’ve been together since we were 23 years old, and now we’re 44. We have two children, one who’s soon to be a teenager.

It’s the entirety of my adult life.

And still, it’s not as long as Arsene Wenger was in charge at Arsenal.

Arsene’s methods won him titles, fans and acolytes over his term, and though it was before my time as a fan, by all accounts he was once incisively sharp.

I knew him in the 2011-18 phase, when like an old boxer, he could still summon the random haymaker to win a big game, (Bayern, Manchester City away) or shoot a tight window to take home a trophy, (3 FA Cups,) but it was clear the ruthless hunger to win it all had left his belly.

Because if he’d still had it, still been willing to look hard at himself in the mirror and change, he’d have put more work, innovation and resources into the defensive part of the game.

And he just couldn’t be bothered.

In my time as a fan, I watched one genuinely competent, really high level Center Back pairing, and that was Koscielny and Mertesacker, in the one year plus that they were both healthy.

That’s it.

From the decline of Thomas Vermaelan to the dim-bulb that was Gabriel, there was not much quality back there, beyond the French-German pairing.

Fullbacks would play high up the pitch, and few were defensively sound, save Nacho Monreal. (Who’s now succumbing to Father Time.)

What I’m saying is, neither the philosophy nor the players were particularly attuned to defensively sound football.

And it went on like that for years.

Unai Emery inherited Wenger’s squad, and the only real addition has been Sokratis, who has clearly been our best central defender by a fair margin. (Rob Holding being #2, before he got hurt.)

As a rebuilding parable, I should say that I’m a life-long fan of the (now) Brooklyn Nets.

The Nets are in Season 3 of a full-blown re-build, and are finally on the way up, winning games and getting attention. They have the right kind of athletic slashers and sweet shooters that are crucial in today’s NBA, in particular for their ability to play defence. (3 and D)

Two years ago, I read a quote by Coach Kenny Atkinson that said that while he’d love for his team’s defense to be better, it was impossible as he didn’t have any good defensive players.

No excuses. He just said, we’ll be better on defence once we churn over the roster our way.

They did. And now the Nets can play defence.

So what has Arsenal’s obvious problem been under Unai Emery? And why did we blow that game to bogey-team Southampton? (Another regular occurrence in my time as a fan.)

Defence.

If you accept that Emery knew he was dealt a bad hand, and is doing the best he can until reinforcements arrive, it makes his preferred systems and choice of players a bit more obvious in hindsight.

If you know your defence is crap, and you want to win games and succeed in your first year, then you employ systems that make the entire team defend from front to back.

You utilize pressing, or in our case, a lot of counter-pressing.

You want forwards who are athletic, hardworking, and will track back and tackle.

Has he used players like that?

Of course he has.

Danny Welbeck when he was available, and Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan throughout the season.

Who didn’t make the cut?

Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey, who don’t play defence. (Or in Ramsey’s case, haven’t in 5 years.)

If you have a shitty defence, and need to employ team defence, how can you include players like Ozil and Ramsey, who either get pushed off the ball and don’t win it back easily or often, or are so obsessed with getting forward that they forget to track back consistently?

In midfield, you’d want to have steel to balance the precarious backline.

And what have we seen? The emergence of Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira.

Why does everyone love them? Because for all their youth, energy and skill, they’re both obviously tough-as-nails.

Where does Granit Xhaka come into this equation?

Well, let’s say that Mkhitaryan and Iwobi are the two model wingers so far this year.

They provide graft, pressing, energy, good pre-assists, and the very occasional piece of end-product.

But there is little clinicality, and even worse, no genuine master-level creativity, a la Ozil or occasionally Ramsey, with his flicks and headed assists. (Let’s put a player who offers both aspects of the game on our shopping list, right fellas?)

Xhaka, for all his mistakes and slowness, is a regista-style pass master, and he’s big and tough to boot. So Xhaka’s passing in general, and long-passing in particular allows for another method of advancing the ball quickly to the strikers.

That’s right, the strikers.

I don’t care if you call them forwards, center forwards, strikers, or number 9’s, Arsenal have two goal scorers in good and great form in Alexander Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Not only are they clinical match-winners, (as I’ve written previously,) but they are also willing to press, and in Lacazette’s case, harry like a bastard. (All props to PEA, he does the work too, but I might include Lacazette on our growing bastard list.)

Right, the bastard list.

That’s another thing I’d do, if I were Unai Emery, and I knew my defence was crap. (Athletically, technically, etc.) I’d bring in a bunch of bastards to help toughen up the team, stave off physical beatings, and protect my offensive players since we’ll need them to outscore our opponents.

We all saw the Burnley game, and over the course of the season, it’s been well-documented that Emery has removed the pushover label from the Arsenal official uniform.

2018-9 Bastard List: Lichtsteiner Sokratis Holding Torreira Guendouzi Xhaka Lacazette The spent husk of Laurent Koscielny Kolasinac

That last name, the Bosnian Tank, brings me to my final point about Emery’s strategy in his first six months: make use of a 3-man back line more often that we might have expected.

The injury bug hasn’t been kind of late, and it has hit the center backs worst of all, if you consider the general unavailability of Kos, Mavrapanos, and now Holding for big chunks of time.

Given that Nacho has also been crocked, (and now Hector,) that has forced Kolasinac into a larger role than he’s had perhaps his entire Arsenal career. And everyone knows he’s a better attacking wingback than he is a defending fullback.

So to empower/develop him, and help him become an important part of the Emery machine, (he’s been gangbusters lately,) we’ve seen some funky-ass combinations of 3 non-natural CBs, including the backlines at Southampton and Burnley.

Oh yeah, I’d have one last trick up my sleeve: bring in a sweeper keeper. Bernd Leno.

So there you have it. My long-winded analysis of how we got here, when HERE is level on points with Chelsea for 4th on Christmas Eve, and undefeated in the Europa League qualifying round.

As I wrote in August, making the Top 4 AND winning the Europa League will be a tough ask. It’s still possible, which is exciting, but I wouldn’t change my prediction that it’s a long shot.

Right now, I’d say the question is, can we beat Chelsea either in a Europa League Final, in the race for fourth place?

Can we do one or the other?

And to that question, I’d say yes. It’s certainly possible. We might have a direct path to the Champions League this season.

But then again, most rebuilds take years, not months. Just ask my fellow NY Giants fans, who just saw that going from 3 wins to 5 wins, instead of worst to first, is the normal way of things.

We may have lost our unbeaten streak, and will probably lose in Liverpool next weekend. (I’m not worried about Brighton.)

With our current defensive lineup, I don’t think it’s realistic to win at their place. Top defenders, like what they have in Virgil Van Dijk, have size, athletic ability, technical skill, and toughness.

Arsenal have Shkodran Mustafi.

So for now, I say, Trust the Process. Let’s see where this season ends up, and give the Swen/Raul/Unai team a few transfer windows before we see the true incarnation of Emeryball.

I wish you guys a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and I’ll see you again in January.

  1. I forgot to make fun of Jose Mourinho, now that he’s been sacked. RIP Jose. Hope you have fun managing in Scotland. I hear the winters are brutal up there.

Remember follow @JblauPhoto

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jwl

1st?

jwl

2nd

jwl

3rd

jwl

4th

jwl

First time I got fourth place trophy in years, nice way to end year.

Dolomite

6th like Arsenal

jwl

“I knew him in the 2011-18 phase … ”

Wenger was semi retired for entire time since Kroenke took over the club. It wass unbelievable about how half assed the club did things – no tactics, no scouting, no strategy – and we pay enormous salaries to middling players who don’t have fire in their bellies to win at all costs.

I, too, think rebuilding process will take some time because a lot of our players were happy to tolerate Wenger methods in exchange for being overpaid and that not kind of players we need.

jwl

I wonder what’s happened to Mourinho? Manure should be dream job and he cocked it up badly, he always seemed very angry and purposefully antagonized many players on his squad. I wonder if he finished as top tier coach or will get decent job in Italy.

jwl

Joke Friday –

On New Year’s Eve, Marilyn stood up in the local pub and said that it was time to get ready.

At the stroke of midnight, she wanted every husband to be standing next to the one person who made his life worth living.

Well, it was kind of embarrassing.

As the clock struck, the bartender was almost crushed to death.

jwl

On New Year’s Eve, Daniel was in no shape to drive, so he sensibly left his van in the car park and walked home. As he was wobbling along, he was stopped by a policeman.

‘What are you doing out here at four o’clock in the morning?’ asked the police officer.

‘I’m on my way to a lecture,’ answered Roger.

‘And who on earth, in their right mind, is going to give a lecture at this time on New Year’s Eve?’ enquired the constable sarcastically.

‘My wife,’ slurred Daniel grimly.

Pierre

Joe ….posting an article from” Arsenal Truth” “This is great article. Sums up posters like Pierre etc” Below is just a snippet from a poorly written article . ” “As for the poor performance yesterday, I put it down to fatigue and injuries, which are linked. That’s the reason why we witnessed so many passes going astray, the physical drop off and ensuing inability to dominate. Why aren’t more chances being created? Because we had no ball playing defenders, so the midfield had to come deep to retrieve possession leaving too much space ahead of them. ” I would have… Read more »

Leftsidesanch

Not much hope for tomorrow. With holding and Bellerin out who has shown glimpses of improvement we’ve looked even less solid than usual.

Pierre

Maybe telling the full backs to sit in might help but what do I know….

Leftsidesanch

Not a lot…

Globalgunner

Fully agree with the post. 2/3rds of our squad are fully useless. Useless to the point that no top team would ever bid for them. How do you overcome a fatal handicap like that?. Wenger needed firing circa 10 years ago.

Marko

Maybe telling the full backs to sit in might help but what do I know….

Maybe having full backs good enough might help. Maybe if they weren’t clueless and so offensive but rather defensive would help a great deal. Anyway who signed them?

scotsgooner

I think the whole team is lacking something – if i was to pick out a starting 11 – Bellerin Sokratis Kolasinac – holding maybe but out for the season lol Ramsey Torreira Aubamayang Lacazette Those are the only starters for me – the rest are shit/lack belief/are a liability. We don’t even have a proper starting 11 lads – wtf is going on? Leno has made mistakes that has cost us points and ozil is well enough said about him already. I don’t want to be too negative because we are 5th after all but this pool game tomorrow… Read more »

Pierre

Marko
So is your answer to let them keep bombing forward leaving a massive gap down the channels for the opposition to utilise …

I can’t ever remember both full backs in George Graham ‘s back 4 being so advanced at the same time …can you …

Pierre

Scotsgooner
“We don’t even have a proper starting 11 lads – wtf is going on?”

Who picks the team ?

Marko

So is your answer to let them keep bombing forward leaving a massive gap down the channels for the opposition to utilise …

No my answer is to get better full backs. Take Kolasinac for example his strength is going forward (not great at that either mind you) but defensively he’s absolutely a liability and he’s our full back. In fact all our full backs are liabilities defensively bar Monreal the past few years but now he’s declining with age.

Graham62

Two posts running simultaneously.

What’s going on?

James.wood

Dennis Hill Wood dies aged 82 RIP.

James.wood

That would be Peter my apologies.

Upstate Gooner

What a ridiculous post. If the OP and perhaps other people think that we can make it with the likes of Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, and Xhaka then we’re in serious trouble.

Btw, there’s another post from Pedro this morning that people are commenting on, and it’s a lot better than this one.

Pierre

Globalgooner “Fully agree with the post. 2/3rds of our squad are fully useless” Yet we managed to go 22 games unbeaten ….maybe they are not as bad as is being potrayed… Maybe the manager needs to go back to doing what he was doing during that unbeaten run . Lacazette was up top Aubamayang was attacking from the left Hate to say it but ozil was regular starter during that unbeaten run .but if you want to put Ramsey or iwobi in there to keep everyone quiet then go for it. Play xhaka and Torriera together in midfield . At… Read more »

Pierre

Marko
I am not saying for one minute that our full backs are particularly good defensively but I would rather they were alongside our centre backs than in the opposition box struggling to get back .

Lichsteiner can easily play as a solid right back instead of being asked to get up and down the line all game ….tell him to sit in alongside the centre back and the defence improves in an instant.

Marc

Pierre

Ozil’s finished at Arsenal, he may get a few odd matches here and there but one more of your beloved is going to be gone soon.

Pierre

As long as we get someone decent in I don’t really give a toss if he stays or goes ……it’s obvious that Emery has made his choice

in my eyes , Ozil isn’t the problem and we will find out within the next few months where the problem lies …..

Redtruth

Pierre

You’re a fuckin idiot ..you profess a knowledge of the game yet your take on Ozil is bewildering.

Marko

Ozil so good no one wants him. Seriously no one

Graham62

Pierre

Let’s be honest here, Ozil has always been a problem.

It’s in his DNA.

It seems your patience has snapped. What gives?

Is it that your frustrated by what’s going on.

Never mind, only nine and a half years of catch up to go.

Pierre

Ruth …it won’t be long now and we will see where the problem lies…..

Redtruth

Ozil’s suitability and commitment is still being discussed 5 years after his arrival at the club. It’s time he and Arsenal parted company.

Pierre

Graham
I haven’t lost my patience with ozil

Let me just say this ..

Jose left pogba out of the United side for 3 games on the bounce….Jose leaves and now pogba has a manager who appreciates him and you can see it in his performances .
I have no doubt that Sanchez will come back in to the side when fit and we will see a completely different Alexis.

We

TheBayingMob

“Because if he’d still had it, still been willing to look hard at himself in the mirror and change, he’d have put more work, innovation and resources into the defensive part of the game. And he just couldn’t be bothered.” I don’t agree with this at all. Wenger still had the will to win, I think it killed him piece by piece that we no longer challenged, the thing with Arsene was this: He was an analogue manager in a digital world. He didn’t understand why the methods he had employed all his life stopped working; if there’s one thing… Read more »

Sancho Monzorla

Pierre

Your prediction of turmoil backed up by your “it won’t be long now, we will see” argument is so, so convincing.

Marko

I don’t think there’s a manager in world football who could get Ozil to give a fuck anymore

Pierre

Typical le grovellers..

So many things to talk about regarding Arsenal and all they can do do is make snide remarks about Ozil.

Why don’t some of you try working out Emery’s tactics and why it is going tits up.

We have won only 3 of our last 9 games and we are hanging on by our fingertips to be in the race for the top 4…..

gambon

I agree with BayingMob

Wenger wanted desperately to win, he was just out of his depth enormously

I’ve said many times, by the end he was a prisoner of his own thoughts.

I bet he would watch football 24 hours a day, and players like Takuma Asano and No Elneny were the best he could find.

He would probably be at the training ground for 3 weeks planning how to play against Chelsea in his 1000th game, then be utterly bemused at why his side are getting destroyed

He was just a relic.

Marko

Triggered. Maybe we wouldn’t be hanging on if our supposed best player wasn’t such a vagina and gave a shit.

Marko

We have won only 3 of our last 9 games and we are hanging on by our fingertips to be in the race for the top 4…..

It’s technically 5 of our last 9 games but don’t let facts get in the way of a good bullshit.

Marc

“Jose leaves and now pogba has a manager who appreciates him and you can see it in his performances .” Pierre that’s about the most ridiculous comment you’ve made. It’s been two matches one against the bottom of the table team and another who are 4th from bottom, with a reasonable chance both will be relegated. All this under a manager so good he’s only here for a few months before he goes back to his day job. I reckon it’s going to take an exorcism to get you off Wenger and Ozil, Christ knows who you’ll latch onto next… Read more »

HillWood

Apart from getting paid a couple of £million and looking bored
What does Steve Bould actually do ?

Pierre

Compared to the same number of matches last year Arsenal are shooting less (243 vs 336), creating less scoring chances (30.8 vs 37.8) and less clear cut chances (34 vs 50 big chances). On defense things have gotten worse as well. They have given up more shots (234 vs 176), more expected goals (24.5 vs 22.3) and more big chances (33 vs 29).

And last season was our worst for 22 years ….worrying times and it ain’t gonna get any better .

Marc

Pierre

Again you are picking your stats and not using strong ones at that. Last season scored 74 in 38 matches which is 1.95 per match this season so far it’s 2.16., we conceded 51 in 38 which is 1.34 whilst so far this season it’s 25 in 19 which is 1.32.

So we’re scoring more and conceding at almost an identical rate.

Give it a rest dopey.

Pierre

I was worried about Emery and his tactics after the first couple of weeks and I have to say ,I am even more worried now…..he started to right a lot of the wrongs during the unbeaten run ,now it’s back to messing Lacazette around ,his tactics are all over the place and if anyone can explain what system he prefers then I can’t wait to hear .

Pierre

I suppose it’s easier to make dopey remarks about Ozil and wenger than work out Emery’s tactics and formation .

Marc

Pierre

“if anyone can explain what system he prefers then I can’t wait to hear .”

It’s easy he prefers not to have all but one of his first choice back line out injured. He’s always been quoted as a manager who will alter his set up according to the opposition, our problem at the moment is two fold. One we need a better squad, the second is the problem at the moment we are missing too many players that we can’t cover for.

Marc

I suppose it’s easier to quote misleading stats to match your agenda than admit that Wenger left the squad in a desperate state.

Marc

Pierre

How’s this for a dopey stat we’ve picked up 7 more points so far compared to last seasons corresponding fixtures.

Funny how x=bollocks is more important to you than points on the board.

Marko

Compared to the same number of matches last year Arsenal are shooting less (243 vs 336), creating less scoring chances (30.8 vs 37.8) and less clear cut chances (34 vs 50 big chances). Ozil is getting worse isn’t he. And last season was our worst for 22 years ….worrying times and it ain’t gonna get any better . More points than this time last year. Already a vastly improved away record and a 21 match unbeaten run suggests that you may not know what you’re talking about. Look micro P I know everytime someone criticizes Ozil it’s your natural instinct… Read more »

Marc

Marko

Pierre seems to be a bit of a limpet – I really do wonder who he’ll have as his next unfairly targeted hero, Ozil’s on borrowed time.

loyika

TheBayingMob Beg to differ on the Adams, Keown statement as regards Arsene not accepting their worth to his early success. First off it was Arsene that kept them around and extended their playing careers with his change in methods. If he didn’t appreciate what he felt they could bring then he would have shipped them out from the start with no hassles from David Dein. I believe Arsene can’t teach/coach defence and so saw no need to change what GG and Don H had already instilled in our DNA at our backline and so decided to focus more on the… Read more »

Marko

Marc my money is on Xhaka or Mustafi

loyika

Also beg to disagree to an extent on the “Will to win” part. I agree more with the Poster that he couldn’t just be bothered and just did the barest minimum required as Stan K was a “Hands Free” Owner. Arsene is a very stubborn amd egotistic Man who holds on to his principals till the end even if it leads him to his grave. He made the same mistakes with Monaco when he felt insulted at what he percieved as Marseaille being allowed to buy their way to success and how people turned a blind eye to it. Rather… Read more »

potter

Getting Ozil to do what is. not in his nature is an impossibility . Naturally he doesn’t react to defending,he knows that he has to but he is slow to pick up on it.
So the problem falls to Emery if he wants to keep,him he has to adjust and find a way to do it.

Ishola70

Upstate Gooner
“What a ridiculous post. If the OP and perhaps other people think that we can make it with the likes of Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, and Xhaka then we’re in serious trouble.”

lol he stated Xjaka as tough as old boots. He ain’t got a ‘kin scooby this boy.

Defence as a whole is not good enough and this is just compounded by a lack of dynamism in midfield. Torreira is a start but need to dump the Swiss who plays like he has a tampon inserted firmly up his anus.

Ishola70

Lack of patience by quite a few on here and predictably a fair few of them are past Wenger sympathisers/worshippers.

Emery should be given as long as the team has been out of the CL which is two seasons before his arrival.

As it stands team is within reaching distance of Chelsea so it is not as bad as some make out. Unlikely most probably to get in top four come the seasons end but in with a shout at least at the half way point.

HillWood

Presumably Steve Bould role at the club is to coach the defence
If so is the shambolic state of our defence ( baring injuries) not on his shoulders ?

Marko

Worth pointing out Potter (Pierre?) the general criticism the wet sponge faces doesn’t stem from a lack of defensive work but rather a total lack of effort and declining influence on the offensive side of things. Basically he’s a bit shit these days and he’s got no bottle

Marko

Ishola back from the dead. How are you lad

Ishola70

I’m ok thank you Marko.

Have been having a look at the blog now and again but been having quite a lot on for a good few months so no time for the footy.

Ishola70

Hope you are well yourself and Arsenal are not giving you too many headaches.

bennydevito

People just dying to criticise Emery when they were silent about Wenger for 10 years of utter shambles is a fucking joke. It’s going to take Emery 4 transfer windows more not 2 to sort out the shit Emery inherited.

Samesong

Ishola it’s been awhile.

Samesong

I wonder if Pierre played CAM as a Youngster

Ishola70

Yes some things never change though eh such as Arsenal and poor defence and not just the back line of the team. Team as a whole.

Hope you are well Samesong.

Freddie Ljungberg

Ozil apparently not in the squad for Liverpool. Hope this means we have a buyer lined up in January.

Marc

Marko

Xhaka or Mustafi? Mmm he’ll pick the one he thinks will be here longest so I’d hazard a guess on Xhaka.

You’d sort of hope the nursing staff would see just how bad he is and gently smother him in his sleep.

TR7

Apparently not in our squad for the game against Liverpool.

TR7

I meant Ozil…

Marko

If he ends up not being in the squad for yet another big game surely that means that we’re actively looking to get rid this January? The fanboys will be up in arms

Marc

TR7

No real surprise there. I really get the feeling that rather than Emery trying to make a point to the board the “club” are trying to get Ozil to decide he’d be better off finding pastures new. Why try and sell a player you don’t want when you can get his agent to do the sales work for you.

Marc

Marko

What you mean all 3 of them?

Marko

If even Marc. It’s three online Alia’s but it’s really just Pierre Pierre and Pierre

Marko

*aliases

potter

Hi Marko ,It’s Potter . I will tell you a story. I had a coach that lined the team up in a line blew a whistle and then made everyone run 5 yards. He then lined us all up again and said to the slowest go when you are ready . He won the race. It’s about reaction… Ozil does not naturally react when a move breaks down and it’s those 5 yards that meant he lost the Brighton scorer.It’s a fault in his game but one that can be compensated for if you have the right system. . Emery’s… Read more »

gambon

No Ozil tomorrow

He us absolutely, definitely 196% finished at Arsenal.

Emery wants the cowardly lion out.

GuNZ

Rest easy fellas
The German equivalent of the National Adoption Agency has permitted me to approach Mesut. After my success with Nougat Boy I’ve been given the green light. I even bought my wife a blow up rubber Ozil (complete with kebab accessory) to ‘get her in the mood’ as it were but she didn’t know what it was and emptied a can of bug-spray over it.

TR7

Marco/Marc

Yeah , omission from the team due to ‘tactical reason’ was as clear a signal as it gets. Ozil is on borrowed time at Arsenal. Not a fan of Ozil , never have been but I still think he should have been part of our squad. It’s not that our team is brimming with talent. For all his faults, he is still miles better than the likes of Iwobi.

PhD2020

If your mate asked to borrow £1000 and then proceeded to set it on fire, you wouldnt lend him £2000 a week later.Hopefully with real professionals like Sven and Raul in place, Stan will have more faith and release some good funds ———- This example is indeed true..So,begs the question-why did Stan continue to provide Arsene with ample funds,only for Arsene to set about ritually creating a bonfire night with the money through every transfer window(12 transfer windows) over the last 6 years..? If we are being generous ,in terms of underestimating how many transfer windows-Arsene systematically butchered,we could conservatively… Read more »

Pierre

Not one comment of note about Emery’s tactics and formation from the marx brothers ( they were comedians as well)……all they can do is reduce themselves to childish remarks about Ozil ….

Emery would have done better to put ozil in the side for tomorrow’s game …at least he would have had someone to blame if it goes tits up.

Marc

TR7

No one ever argues about the technical level of Ozil it’s always the level of commitment / work ratio.

And that leads to the difficult question who’s better a fully committed OK player or a 35% committed talent?

Pierre

Kolasinac out …another one of our work horses have broken down.

Cesc Appeal

No Ozil.

Bit of a blow for Liverpool.

11 vs 11.

Cesc Appeal

Interested to see how we get rid of him though.

His final stinker could be a loan where we pay half his wages.

I really cannot see who is going to buy him for any sort of serious amount.

Marc

PhD

Not going to go point to point with you but “The owner of Spurs seem to have a blueprint/vision for the club.”

Er what’s that – fuck up a stadium build and put the club into a £1,000,000,000 (and counting) debt? People talk about all their great players – they have some good players but if you sold off Kane, Dele Alli and Eriksen to a drunk buyer and got a combined £350 million you’d only be covering a third or so of the debt.

Then you’d have to replace them.

TR7

Marc

If that fully committed player is Iwobi, then I would rather we had 35 percent committed Ozil. I can’t even begin to describe how useless a player Iwobi is.

Marc

“No Ozil.

Bit of a blow for Liverpool.

11 vs 11.”

Funny!

Cesc Appeal

‘If that fully committed player is Iwobi, then I would rather we had 35 percent committed Ozil. I can’t even begin to describe how useless a player Iwobi is.’ Why do we play these games though? Do you want the piss soup or the shit sandwich? Why can’t we just go out and buy better food whilst selling our unwanted meals tot he desperate and stupid? I would rather have a talented CAM who is fully committed to working for the team. Let’s go out and find and buy that. We look around at our rivals and they’ve got them.… Read more »

Marc

Cesc

How do we get rid of Ozil? Well my thought is he’s s tied so up in his image etc etc that you make him decide to leave. You let his agent do the sales work – unappreciated talent, club’s a bunch of tossers, squad’s a fucking waste of space and below his level yada yada.

He agrees to take a hit on wages (poor dear accepting £200,000 per week) and we might salvage something. His commercial thing might just attract a club in the far east / USA etc.

gambon

Cesc

Hoping and praying for a big China bid.

gambon

The big question is….how do the rest of the squad feel about the treatment of Ozil?

If they like him this is not a great idea from Emery.

That said, he’s in such a comfort zone that maybe harsh treatment is the only way to motivate him to leave.

Mustafi and Kolasinac seem to be mates with him but they’re useless so maybe they can go as well.

Marc

TR7

Cesc’s covered my answer for me.

Could someone do a full list of our injured players at the moment?

Pierre

“The big question is….how do the rest of the squad feel about the treatment of Ozil?If they like him this is not a great idea from Emery.”

someone is looking at the wider picture and realising that the supposedly amazing team spirit that we have could be about to implode,especially if Lacazette keeps getting messed about ….the players will be wondering wtf is going on …

TR7

Cesc

‘I would rather have a talented CAM who is fully committed to working for the team. Let’s go out and find and buy that. We look around at our rivals and they’ve got them. De Bruyne, Erisken, Silva, Alli ‘

I have been a vocal critic of Ozil so I would be more than happy if we replace him with a quality CAM. My limited point was Ozil should have been part of our squad for tomorrow.

Expecting both Auba and Laca in the starting line up – essential for us to have any chance of a win/draw.

Marko

Emery would have done better to put ozil in the side for tomorrow’s game …at least he would have had someone to blame if it goes tits up.

He’s trying to avoid that hence the binning of Ozil

potter

However Ozil hasn’t travelled to Liverpool so maybe it’s taxi time in January.

Marko

Wonderful thing about team spirit and morale is it comes with winning and our record this season is better without Ozil than with so we’ll be fine. And it’s going to take more than a recent strop from Lacazette to upset the apple cart

Marko

TR7 I understand what you’re saying but he’s been part of the squad’s recently and he’s doing fuck all at the moment. Right now it’s hypothetical when people talk about Mesut Ozil making a contribution to Arsenal football club.