Arsenal came out of the West Ham debacle without a win in 5 away Premier League games. A truly miserable statistic that capped off another Emery disaster class.
We’re rapidly moving into a new territory where it’s not just the defence, the stagnant attack and the lack of style that are proving to be embarrassing. Now the big talking points seem to be centered around how badly he’s managing two of his best players. Mesut Ozil is no doubt a massive whopper behind the scenes, he’s tough to deal with, he’s precious and he can be incredibly uninterested (according to my sources). I’m sure that’s irritating, as it would be at any club, but that’s Emery’s reality. His most expensive player, who doesn’t want to leave, is annoying. That means it’s the managers’ job to work out a way of motivating him, to find a position that works and to get him into a side that is desperately lacking quality in the final 3rd.
Same for Aaron Ramsey. Our midfield lacks anyone who can run with the ball, it has no spark, it is essentially art free. Who gives a fuck if the Welshman is going to Juve? Give him a start. Work out a way of slipping him into the system. Can he be greedy? Yes. Does he infuriate sometimes? Yes. Is he capable of creating magic? Yes. Then fucking play him.
Emery’s stubbornness with his approach has gone from admirable to ignorant. That performance yesterday was the first time I’ve seen Arsenal feel sorry for themselves. The players don’t look like they understand the merits of the system they’re playing in and it’s absolutely clear whatever the coach is telling them isn’t working.
We are a slave to a system that doesn’t have the right players to work. Why would you not look at the best players you have at your disposal and build an approach that allowed them to flourish.
Lacazette and Auba don’t work in the same side together, or at least the way Emery is trying to work it. Guendouzi and Xhaka is the real axis of evil on this planet, it’s too ponderous, and it’s desperately lacking in power and pace. Our approach from wide positions is rank average. I know people think Iwobi is the second coming of Hleb (aim low), but his final ball and touch is not up to scratch. It doesn’t matter that he was the best attacking player we had yesterday, if anything, that compounds the issue. We have two of the best finishers in the world and they’re not getting chances in front of goal. Yesterday, we were clueless moving the ball forward, we started resorting to long balls. We couldn’t muster a single shot after the 67th minute when we were chasing a game.
The goal was ridiculous as usual. Granit Xhaka, the last man standing of our 5 captains opted to head the ball to a West Ham player from the front post. It wasn’t untypical of Xhaka to drop a fucking howler in a game, it was just unusual that it was so amateur. We can’t even offer style in our fuck ups.
LT and Rambo made a difference when they came on. The ball started moving up the pitch, we were more of a threat, West Ham sat back a little more, but it was to no avail.
Here’s the crazy thing about the West Ham team. Pelligrini took over an absolute shit show of a side. He’s given them a style and purpose, he had a group of shite defenders rocking an offside trap so tight, George Graham would have firmed up watching it. He had players pressing and taking individual responsibility. Felipe Anderson, a player who caused us issues all afternoon was doing loads of dogs bodywork. Why? Because the manager convinced him that the team was more important than his feelings.
We’re now 7 months into the project. Our shots per game average is the lowest its been over the course of the last 18 years, our defence makes Brexit look organised, and we’re still no nearer having a footballing identity. What makes this last month even worse is looking at the general intensity of the team, it seems like we’ve dropped off massively, there was next to no pressing yesterday and we simply didn’t look at the races. West Ham bullied us all game. Factor in the hike in injuries we’ve seen this season and the picture doesn’t look rosy.
The manager needs to sharply improve what we’re seeing on the pitch with the players he has if he wants to avoid serious questions being asked about his continued tenure in the summer.
Good coaching fixes defences. There is no excuse for what we’re seeing here, especially as he bought the keeper, the center back and the defensive midfielder (forget Lichtsteiner). We’re struggling with absolute basics like proper clearances and balls over the top. There are too many individual errors and not enough know-how between the players. This can’t continue.
We have no sauce moving the ball forward. We’re very one dimensional in our approach. We’re easily rattled with a press. We’re predictable. The opposition knows if the ruffle Xhaka, there’s very limited ability for us to move the ball forward. We have a shot at fourth, it’s a long one, but the manager needs to put his ego in his pocket and work out a way of integrating Ozil and Ramsey more often. We’re paying for caviar, and dipping our belini’s into Branston pickle. It’s getting ridiculous now. Make it work.
Emery needs to imprint a style on the team. That’s hugely important. Who are we? What do we want to be? What are the players supposed to be doing? What are the fans getting excited about? Even in Wenger’s darkest days, he was trying to offer something up. Remember that United game at home that we lost last season? Some of the most scintillating football of the last 5 years, a game we lost because of a De Gea masterclass. Emery should be able to give us more than 1 good game in a season (Spurs, fatigued). I’m not pining for him, I’m merely pointing out that there was an attempt at something even when we were shite.
It is not insanity to be talking this way. It is not taking a controversial position for the sake of it. It is making sure the expectations at Arsenal football club are always sky high, because you know what, we are in a fucking dangerous position as a club. This Emery tenure is going to be as bland as a ham sandwich, of that there is no doubt. The big issue is what comes next… the fans will demand a winner, just like they did at United, then we could quickly fall into absolute mediocrity with no way out. We have an owner who can see clear as day that it doesn’t matter what he does with Arsenal, commercials grow exponentially, so do gate receipts. There is no reason to act.
That shouldn’t mean we give up. Arsenal can’t spend the next 5 years leaning on the excuse crutch of Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis. Time to put that shit behind us and time to take aggressive actions towards pulling ourselves back up to the elite levels of the game. That means making ruthless decisions. Cutting expensive players to raise cash, bringing in a coach with special sauce, and doing everything possible to make every fucking penny count.
We can climb again, but only if people are honest about where we are and what we have to do to climb to the top again.
… and here’s the thing, being honest with the fans is a fucking good start. Emery said there are no players, I bitched for 5 minutes, then accepted it. If the club came out and said, look, Champions League is a 3 year job, and here’s how we’re going to do it.
We’re going to slash the wage bill. It’s too expensive. That means you might see some of your faves go.
We’re going to build the greatest club on the planet to be at if you’re a young elite player. We’re bringing in the best 17-23 year olds and we’re going to grow them into superstars.
We’re going to hire in the most exciting developmental coaches on the planet. We’re going to play the football of 2027. These are coaches that will train their minds and bodies. We’re in the business of making superstars.
That means we’re shooting to sell these players so we can start investing in the team with bigger bets, just like Liverpool. Our advantage over them is we are Arsenal and we’re based out of London.
Would you get behind that? I would. It’d be better than attempting to fight with the big boys when you’re 5ft2 with a gammy leg.
Back to the now.
Emery has a lot of work to do. If he takes the club backwards after spending £70m in the summer, we should try something new, because this is Arsenal, not PSG. There won’t be an Mbappe and Neymar purchased to cope with tanking a season. We’ll be removing talent. Our manager has to show that he can improve what he was left, because though it wasn’t pretty, it was nowhere near the disaster made out.
We are better than this. We should not be writing off regression as part of the transition. The only way is up, always. Don’t accept anything less, because the dark demons of medicority are circling the club, and if we let them in, it’s a long fucking way back.
Ha Fuckin’ Ha Scum!
Counter
CC
You asked for examples of “pro-Wenger” who can’t resist the temptation to remind us of what we are missing.
I present to you …. Charlie George
He won’t even deny it.
Manu scores
Overrated Lloris once again not covering himself with glory.
Dissenter
You maybe right.
Dissenter
Behave yourself, Pep!? He wanted break, period. Nothing to do with analysing his worth and performance as per his team.
The only comparison is Fergie, and he very much is the exception to the rule. It’s the purpose of the board and owner to ensure the right people are at the club. They got that wrong more than once with contract renewals.
Give me a break that a manager should be calling time on himself, that’s a total nonsense. Simply doesn’t happen in business anywhere, Wenger was an employee, not an owner.
Well, well, well. Look at that. And Rashford with the goal.
Hmmmm …. interesting.
Good goal by United.
Excellent pass from Pogba and very good finish from Rashford. Took it early.
TR7
That was a good finish.
we need this guy
Striker or Winger
Lozano Sarr Pepe on the other side.
Devastating attack
https://www.transfermarkt.com/inaki-williams/profil/spieler/255508
Spurs playing into Uniteds hands in the 1st half
Spurs are playing well, but down 1-0 at half I’d say they are some ways from “winning comfortably,” no?
I love it. What fun.
Samesong
Yes, good finish but Lloris did not have all the angles covered.
Dissenter
I am huge Wenger fan
Wanted him to go years ago.
He stayed too long – what can I do?
I just know in my arsenal guts – the way we are going with the Spanish mob- is insanity
Get Freddie L in – he can be our ole!
Players in the Arsenal first team or who are rotated in / out who could be improved on without too much trouble. I won’t include players signed in the summer – who have to give players a season to settle or players who are at the end of their careers.
Mustafi
Kolas
Xhaka
Miki
Iwobi
That’s half the outfield players. Is anyone surprised that we’re not at the level we want to be?
CC Wenger wasn’t just another manager. He’s a manger that the club owed a debt of gratitude, a manger that gave the fans some of the best footballing moment s we will ever have. I repeat that thee’s always going to be some reticence from any owner about replacing him for marginal reasons. There’s no owner who would have sacked him unless we fell off the cliff, which is what eventually happened. You lot keep wacking Kroenke with that stick – “why didn’t he fire Wenger”. He didn’t because he was a. foreign owner who met a manger of renown… Read more »
You can always catch out any keeper even the very best if you take a shot that early and with that accuracy.
Bamford10January 13, 2019 14:01:06 PhDYes, Kroenke was wrong to leave Wenger in charge for so long. Massive mistake, and no was so vocally critical of this mistake as Le Grove.However, we have moved on. The old model has been replaced with a modern model and smart, qualified, ambitious men have been hired to fulfill the respective roles. ———– I don’t understand this whole euphoria about us modernising,and suddenly the future is bright,the future is orange mindset. Anyone knows in business,that you constantly have too adapt to the changing business climate.Or you slowly start to find yourself in the slipstream,withering away.… Read more »
United have a style and the players o execute it. If it had been Iwobi instead of Pogba. He would have held on to that ball until the Spud defence had repositioned. Sacking Mou has released the team. Not sure Emery can open a can of beans with our dumb players
We are truly fucked.
PhD2020
The reason some of us are excited by the structural revamp is because at least we’ve realised there is a curve. Taken far too long though.
Charlie George
What’s behind your hatred of the Spanish? Some waiter give you wife one or something.
Love Spaniards
Cesc
Bellerin
Arteta
Can’t stand these 2 ninkempoops tho!
Bamford
All you’re still doing is defending Kroenke and absolving him of all blame especially when you say stuff like “his only fault is he didn’t sack Wenger earlier” , i mean and again the world wouldn’t have ended had Wenger been sacked in 2010 or 2013
Loved Jose Reyes too
What a talent
Those were the days!
What has Sanllehi done wrong?
GlobalgunnerJanuary 13, 2019 16:42:42 SAF was not insecure, he knew he was the boss and didnt need his ego constantly stroked to assure him. he was also his own greatest critic, hated coming 2nd and always morphed when it happened, changed deputies, changed coaches constantly striving to excel and exceed his rivals. Wenger on the other hand. Same shit for over 20 years This. Ferguson hated to lose. Hated 2nd place. Changed his team even after winning the league The loser wenger said he’s take 2nd for the next 20 years and kept sanago for 4 years. Denilson. Alumunia or… Read more »
China1
“Fucking lol Pierre you don’t talk some nonsense”
I was accused of talking nonsense when I made those comments that I reposted earlier from August and December and if you care to read them you will find that I was spot on . So , let’s wait and see what transpires….
Marc
I’m not yet entirely convinced by the new team to be honest, no way they’re not running to the manager for some injection of funds this month to help us across the line into top4 or the Europa league, jury is still out on them
CG is wary of new “foreigners” in the club and would prefer former arsenal players or UK anyones
A bit too clannish and ethnocentric for my tastes but seems like a nice chap
What has Sanllehi done wrong?
Gave the green light to. Emery s appointment.!!!
– did u want him Marc?
Lichenstiener?
Eleney contract?
Iwobi contract?
Eleney EXTENSION!!!!
Knows nothing about Arsenal or English football
Fact
I suppose Kroenke could have bought Arsenal Changed the name to London cannon -Moved his office to London, install NFL style chief coach/ offensive/coordinator/defensive coordinator/special teams management at the club -Instituted American sports salary caps and set up a proper wage policy. Had he done this you lot would;d have risen up with pitch forks. Instead he respected the club’s values and let the club run itself and stayed away from it’s day to day running. It wasn’t Kroenke that refused to sell Alexis on the closing moments of the 2017 summer window. City had a jet in place in… Read more »
Suitable new foreigners- I’ll have all day., along sf
These ain’t.
It shouldn’t be hard to realise that the conditions at the club prevented Kroenke from sacking Wenger prior to when he was finally relieved of his duties.
Kroenke could not be sacking Wenger when he was still getting into CL spots and winning some FA Cups. The majority of the fan base would not tolerate such a thing not even consider it a possibility. This all the while when plenty of those loyal to Wenger knew it was a case of the emperors new clothes.
“Wenger wasn’t just another manager. He’s a manger that the club owed a debt of gratitude, a manger that gave the fans some of the best footballing moment s we will ever have.“
All this meant was that they needed to be forthright and exact in their strategising to protect the club over pandering to a faltering great.
They pandered to wenger at the expense of Arsenal. I won’t comment on whether United would’ve sacked Fergie in similar circumstances, you’re talking about a bunch that are considering Southgate after Mourinho, LvG, and Moyes. Not industry leading as think tanks go..
PhD
Right, adapt and change. Wenger didn’t do this; the club and ownership did. Yes, it took too long, but they did eventually make the needed changes and they have made reasonably intelligent decisions since then. It will take some time to get ourselves out of the hole Wenger dug for us, but there is no reason to think that ownership is not interested in doing this and in succeeding.
*We reneged on the deal at the last moment.
SO CG
If a new foreigner to the team doesnt suit you, or struggles, then you judge based on his foreigness and not on his merits or lack or success?
Why does the nationality of the person make a difference?
So say, Freddie takes over- a Swede, and he sucks ass,…. then what?
or Ancelloti, and he sucks?
It seems that if they are successful they fit your narrative….
Seems strange to me
CC
Do you think the Glazers would have ever fired SAF unless the club went in free fall mode?
Sometimes the debt owed to a manager can be that great.
SAF knew this, that’s why he he spared the club making that decision.
Wenger pushed everyone to their limits and was an emotional wreck reminding us os what we owed him.
Yes. Kroenke shouldn’t have renewed his contracts but it wasn’t that easy. Half the fans were still on Wenger’s side and many still cry for him till now.
Graham “. If Emery’s coaching techniques follow the same path as his sideline antics and his over complicated communication skills, then I can only assume the players must be suffering.” funny you mention his touchline antics because I was accused of talking nonsense quite a few months back when I said that Emery’s touchline antics were all for show and would just confuse the players … I also repeatedly said during our unbeaten run ” I’m not sure if Emery is a genius or just lucky” regarding his substitutions and never leading at half time….deep down I knew it was… Read more »
Great save.
Pierre
If Ozil is sooooooooooooooo good
Why did no one come in for him when he was available on a free last jan
And is available probably pretty much free now?
Well bloody said, Pedro. I don’t always agree with your opinions, but I agree with every fucking word above. Yes, Ramsey infuriates as a player. He can also make something from nothing. Volumes have been written about what a precious little tw*t Ozil can be. But he’s also our most talented and expensive player, and to not even have him on the bench in a game crying out for some invention because of some behind the scenes ego clash is criminally irresponsible. These are worrying times, indeed. Each year we’re out of the champions league is revenue lost and recruiting… Read more »
SF
IF U choose a NEW foreigner , say Pellegrini,ancelloti, mourinhio for example.
My opinion is tampered by the fact- they are PROVEN WINNERS IN OUR ENVIRONMENT!
one of the reasons- they have succeeded- is they speak the bloody language.
U try and get a job in Uzbekistan and see how u go?
Spurs totally dominating the game in 2nd half
Sf
One of the reasons it was criminal to employ Emery- is when the shit hits the fan- like now.
No one has the foggiest- what he is gonna do to rectify it.?
Emery press conference yesterday was embarrassing for him
His solution to this crisis
More Spanish
Suarez/banega.
Whoever okayed this appointment
Needs sacking too.
(Raul)
TR7
Yep. And it’s still 1-0, United.
Great chance for United there. Good save from Lloris.
Dissenter I’ve no idea, and neither do you or anyone else. What you’re doing is using a solitary example of a long serving manager and washing Kroenkes hands of responsibility for renewing contracts time and again. You would hope/expect that the person/s running the club would make the necessary decisions independent of emotion and sentiment. I’m not suggesting it was an easy task, but it’s one he/they should’ve been capable of. It’s quite literally their remit, and they didn’t so much make the decision in the end as they simply reacted to consensus. It’s quite clear for me, no manager… Read more »
This is a very good game tbh
End to end stuff
DeGea is worth at least 30 pts a season for Utd
Another good save from De Gea. Great keeper.
CG
So if emery takes us to top 4, Suarez and Banega fit in and do well, then he is a success and you take your words back?
You seem to put all your eggs in one basket with the entire foreiger argument
Sf
Yes.
He is vindicated
CC,
‘I’ve no idea, and neither do you or anyone else. What you’re doing is using a solitary example of a long serving manager and washing Kroenkes hands of responsibility for renewing contracts time and again.”
That’s not remotely true
I’ve been saying that Kroenke has blame too since the buck stops on his table.
“On the macro level, the buck stops at his table for not supervising his employees nor setting proper goals in place but it’s Wenger/Gazidis that did the actual damage”
I’m not absolving Kroenke of responsibility for the mistakes.
There was a big gasp when De Gea snatched that fire kick .
Another great save from De Gea.
De Gea saving United so far
De Gea always looks to be in the right position, always has his angles covered.
Bamford10January 13, 2019 17:36:38 PhDRight, adapt and change. Wenger didn’t do this; the club and ownership did. Yes, it took too long, but they did eventually make the needed changes and they have made reasonably intelligent decisions since then. It will take some time to get ourselves out of the hole Wenger dug for us, but there is no reason to think that ownership is not interested in doing this and in succeeding ————————- No,it’s not all on Arsene..It doesn’t have to be all on Wenger to get the changes of the modern structure in place.There is the management,the owner… Read more »
Still support Emery but he still should be doing better. Even if he didn’t buy anyone in summer and just had AW squad he should be able improve them, instead we look worse then last year.. Think top 4 is going to be our aim for next couple of years.. something that was standard for 20 odd years
Pep himself couldn’t have done better with the shit wenger left behind than emery has.
Another good save from De Gea. Remarkable.
A lot of poor finishing from Spurs here, all middle of the goal saves from DDG. Got to do better than that to beat him
Wenger was inept in the last decade
Worst pick of talent
Overpaying shit
Cannot sell the shit
A yes man to owner
A fanatic and paranoid dictator
Stale ideas on the field
Poor coaching staff
Not asking owner for $$ to help
A dinosaur who wanted to pinch pennies and get the praise for being in top 4 all the time without spending
Worst at negotiating contracts
Did not develop any youth worth noting at all
Just a major POS
Manu’s goalie is stopping everything. No way we can beat the Manu team.
When a few fans started waving placards, there were fights breaking out on the terraces because many considered it offensive.
Such was the affection for Wenger so suggesting that he could have been treated like just another hire-fire is revisionism.
The closest example is SAF.
Wenger wasn’t just another manager. He’s a manger that the club owed a debt of gratitude, a manger that gave the fans some of the best footballing moment s we will ever have.“
———-
What are we, a business or a benevolent club/society?
We have completely blown up the way Arsenal was ran for a decade or more
Wenger not in control of everything
Gazidis fucking off
New hierarchy in. A DOF, new head scout. New manager.
To think it was just all going to change from shit to good in 6 months is ridiculously childish and immature
I swear some of you must be 8 years old with the way you think and throw tantrums.
Pogba does what i would love to do to Dele Alli
I’d rather come 17th with a new manager than pay wenger another penny to come 6th again.
Wenger being told to fuck off was the best thing that happened to arsenal in 16 years and that will be proven very shortly.
I was wishing for akbs to fuck off but they are no different than cockroaches.
PhD Ask the majority of fans who were still for Wenger even till the end. You’re pretending that =he was just another manager so there you are. Kroenke couldn’t have fired him until it was bloody envious to the sheep that were devoted to him. Most of us here saw the decline early but the majority off gooners refused to come to terms with it. I recall watching the 2017 FA cup final after a horrible season with fan dissent. I was appalled with fans gyrating to “sweet Caroline” in Wembley . Have you considered that maybe Kroenke was perhaps… Read more »
Joe, how many out of 10 would you give Emery for his 30 games? Are you in any way concerned that he’s not getting the best out of the players he has available?
De Gea must have played ice hockey in his youth, the way he uses his feet to make saves.
Dissenter, you were surprised that Arsenal fans were happy at Wembley after winning an FAcup, really?
De Gea having a similar day to that day we lost at home to them that Pedro mentioned in his post. It’s on you Pedro!
Dissenter
You’re talking rubbish by attempting to redefine Wengers role purely because of his previous successes. He was a failing manager in a period of steady and measurable decline.
The only thing his previous years, and reputation, meant was that it needed to be handled with dignity and respect. Shaking his hand after an FA cup win and heading in another direction would’ve done just that. Elaborate nonsense to suggest it was as difficult as you make out.
DeGea having one of those days when he should be included in the Avengers “Earths Mightiest Heroes”
raptora
Well let’s hope he’s using week after next luck up as well!
Bob
Have you ever thought maybe this is the best and why he needs another Tw to fix it?
Xhaka Kos have been error machines for years.
Ozil has been a waste for years.
What can emery do for mkhit and aubu missing chance after chance? How can emery fix players missing clear cut chances?
How can emery fix wenger’s lame players without TWs and getting rid.
Pep would not have done any better.
You fail to realize how Much wenger and Gazidis has fucked this club and handcuffed the new regime
I’d give emery a 6.
Every spurs shot at the keeper.
Bob
Would you give emery a 10 if he wins Europa?
I would
I want Manu and Chelsea to overtake Spuds…
Ransey is average
Ozil a waste
Xhaka.
Iwobi
Kos
Mustafi.
Mkhit
All first 11 players that need to be gone And replaced.
Bob N16
“Dissenter, you were surprised that Arsenal fans were happy at Wembley after winning an FAcup, really?”
“Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I’d be inclined
To believe they never would”
Yea, one FA cup after a season with planes carrying banners and Wenger challenging his BoD publicly .
“Good times never seemed so good”….next day Wenger signed an extension of his contract.
Got the correlation?
Brit
How’s wenger doing on getting a new team
Oh right.
Everyone knows he’s a loser so no one is hiring him.
Solskjaer the lucky one. Better lucky than good they say.
It wasn’t Kroenke that refused to sell Alexis on the closing moments of the 2017 summer window. City had a jet in place in Santiago and had gone as far as doing his medical in Chile. We rented on the deal at the last moment. ‘It wasn’t Kroenke who was refusing to sell Ozil or let him walk for free, —————– Sure,but it was Kroenke who renewed Arsene’s contract in 2013. It was Kroenke who renewed Arsene’s contract a second time in 2015. Maybe,if he hadn’t the events you highlighted above,probably would not have occurred. No need to fire a… Read more »
So happy when The Scum lose!
So does this result mean it’s 4 chasing 2 CL spots?
Bob
You want arsenal to be a big club
A big club don’t celebrate the fa cup while being a laughing stock in the league and Europe.
They fire the manager
Good result for United. Level with us and likely to overtake us.
So does this result mean it’s 4 chasing 2 CL spots?
————————
4? You’re not honestly including us?
So much for Spurs “winning comfortably,” gents. United win 1-0 away and are now level with us on points.
Great first half tactics from United.
Spurs were dominate in the second half and United have De Gea to thank for the points and stopping an avalanche.
Fair play to United though, did not expect that.
Did the damage on Spurs when they were sleep walking through the first half.
On another day spuds put 6 past Yoonited. Oh, well. You need to shoot in the corners of the goal. Pretty lucky win though.
Very resolute from Man United.
Not good news for Arsenal.
6th place seems a bit inevitable now I’m afraid.
Brit
You gave wenger blowies every time he got his ass handed to him. 10-2 8-2 6-0 5-2 4-1
The list is endless.
Actually I wish wenger was still here. We would be fight
Anyone who plays Xhaka week in week out has obviously got poor judgment… and how can he not get a tune out of our most creative player Ozil?
Average manager… a Spanish David Moyes at best.
Emery Out!