Via @Arsenal Instagram (amazing pic)
Unai Emery went balls to the wall with an outrageous line-up. He played all his best players, his two best strikers, he opted to play with one defensive midfielder (Xhaka oh my), he left Mustafi on the bench, he punished Matteo, and he took the game to OGS.
He made so many good decisions that were incredibly bold considering how bad the team was against Rennes. Playing Ozil was a masterstroke. If he played well, Emery looked the healer, if he’d tanked, he had a big fat ‘I told you so’ up his sleeve. Ramsey was inspired after being rested last week, he kept Paul Pogba under lock and key all night with a highly impactful performance. Starting Xhaka at the base of midfield on his own looked like the move of a mentalist, but boy did he have an excellent game.
Everywhere you looked, there were things to smile about.
The first half was all about catching United off guard. They surely weren’t expecting us to go so hard at them. We blitzed the first 35 minutes with free-flowing attacking football. Ozil had United off balance out right or wherever he decided to drift. We didn’t give De Gea much to worry about, hitting the target once, but the chances we created were good. The opener was interesting to say the least, Xhaka ripped a shot from 25 yards out and somehow managed to send the keeper the wrong way. My view was it was shite keeping, most seem to think it was a knuckleball like strike out the Mesut Ozil stubbed-strike-into-the-ground drawer. Either way, it gave us an edge.
We rode our luck, no doubt. Lukaku hit the bar from 4 yards, one of two times United pounded the woodwork. There were some scares, but Leno stood up to every challenge sent his way. He made an incredible save when he was one vs one with Lukaku, his German engineered wrists up to the challenge.
We are back! Amazing party at the Emirates today!💪🏽🔴😃 @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/x7FeRLATXl
— Bernd Leno (@Bernd_Leno) March 10, 2019
The second half narrative looked like Arsenal had swapped tactics with OGS. We let United have the ball and watched them do next to nothing in possession. They played double the passes we did in the second half, and only managed two shots on target. Arsenal waited patiently to strike. Our moment came when Lacazette was shoved over by Fred in the box.
Moment of the game for me. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with Alex Lacazette before taking Arsenal’s penalty for the 2nd goal. #afc #arsenal #Laca #Auba pic.twitter.com/OltQhYXo92
— Stuart MacFarlane (@Stuart_PhotoAFC) March 10, 2019
Auba, a man who has come under outrageous criticism this week, boldly stepped up and sent De Gea to the left as he stroked the ball down the middle. Good fucking job son. I despise the critique Auba receives. This tweet from YankeeGunner and the article sums up what he does perfectly.
Auba still humming along at .75xG/90 this season. He’s a chance-getting machine. Second in the PL behind only Aguero and way ahead of Laca at 0.48. Still a very underrated quality & overshadowed by some bad finishing this season. This article is relevanthttps://t.co/JgUDC4eWig
— YankeeGunner (@YankeeGunner) March 9, 2019
He’s an outrageous striker and I love that The Ringer calls out his next level ability to position himself better than almost anyone to score. Being in the right place is the real sixth sense. He has it. People need to lay off him.
After the second goal went in, Arsenal set out to frustrate. OGS had no answer. No one could get a foot on the game, United started to play dirty, Ashley Young putting in a standard ankle breaker on Kos, but we were more than a match for them.
OGS lost his first Premier League game after an inspired run.
Unai Emery showed his big game teeth in the race for top 4.
Conclusion
It was a masterclass from Emery. Everything rolled his way. He picked a brave 11, he focused the team after an awful loss midweek and he delivered the most important 3 points of 2019. On another day, we might have lost, but I’ve spent too many hours complaining about big games we’ve dominated but lost to shit-housery to get nitty gritty about how things might have been. Reality is, you beat who is put in front of you, we did that, so fu*k the details for today.
Bernd Leno was immense. He dropped another low-key (yep, I say that sometimes) MoM performance. He’s really come into his own of late. He was focused, brave and sharp all game. That leg he threw out for the Lukaku chance was unbelievable. He’s found his hands and his feet. We look to have finally solved our keeping issues. We have someone who can win us points. Finally. #ThanksSven
Aaron Ramsey showed why Juventus want him over there. He made EIGHT tackles yesterday. He covered so much ground, he kept Pogba in frustrated mode all day and he was absolutely committed to the cause. A brilliant run out. You do wonder if Emery misjudged the talents of the Welshman a little early. It stings to see him leaving, but at least Suarez looks a little like him and had some nice touches and a cute run.
Sokratis looked like he was heading into trouble again after a 37th minute yellow card, but he held it together and put in a monster performance. I love him. I am part of his cult. Pass me the Koolaid, I don’t care about the consequences (P.S. I’d LOVE to know what he lent over and said to Pogba when he was whining on the floor).
Also, another worthy call out is for AMN. He had a great game on the right. He stretched United when he needed to, and he defended far better than I’ve seen him do in the past. He made 4 tackles and 5 interceptions. A much sharper game from him, even more impressive when you remember he’s a centre mid. Out on the left, Kola was a pure man beast again, he even rolled over and did a vomit just because that’s a REAL MAN for you. He made 11 ball recoveries, he worked up and down that wing all day, and he whipped in some really dangerous balls.
Lacazette was a machine. His twinkle toes confused United all day. He should have done better in front of goal to make it 3, but his threat was pervasive all day. I really love him. Such a brilliant character to have at the club.
Granit Xhaka had an inspired evening sitting at the base. He sprayed balls around all afternoon like a human pitch sprinkler, he stayed focused and interjected fearlessly in defence when needed. Koscielny played on with a gashed leg to stop Mustafi entering the field of play, bravo, bravo. Mesut Ozil created a whopping 4 chances in a big game. Monreal was excellent as always. So much goodness everywhere.
The notion that these players are not good enough to make the top 4 has been well and truly obliterated. The only real question Emery has to answer is one of focus. He seems more than capable of motivating his players for the big games, but can he rally the players against Watford, Leicester and Wolves when we play them away from home? If he can’t, days like today mean very little.
Year-on-year performance changes in the Premier League pic.twitter.com/mCZdaMWXGM
— Nick Harris (@sportingintel) March 10, 2019
I’ve seen a lot of fans citing the above as a de facto sign that Emery is doing a great job. Out of the 16 teams viably listed, 11 are either mapping to what they did last year or doing better. That’s 69% of the league tracking to last season or making progress, even Sarri who we all think should be sacked, is 7.5% better off. Numbers need context and you need more than one data point to make a case. For me, the height of our ambitions this year can’t be whether Emery did better than Wenger in a nose-dive season where the players downed tools in February and did even worse when he quit in April.
I think the step forward we’ll be celebrating is the big game mentality. We’re competitive in an area we failed for the whole of the banter years. There’s now a belief system in place. Emery creates excitement on the days the fans really care about. He even tried to say as much in the pregame interview when he said, ‘attack… the fans… big balance… performance… yes and thank you.’ This big game platform will give him breathing space to build on the defence and the other aspects that have been lacking this season.
Additionally, if he makes third and puts Spurs in the Europa League, I will put my disdain for face tattoos to one side and have Emery Ultra artfully etched under my eye… for I will be one. Again, a true progress point is the final league position. 3rd would be immense, a true reason to celebrate. Let’s not lower ourselves to Spursy fist bumps for a high points 5th.
Right now, the momentum is with Arsenal. Spurs choked this weekend to Southampton and they go away to Liverpool and City. OGS is hopefully about to deal with a big xG correction. Chelsea scrambled a poor point against Wolves late on at home. 3rd is within reach. We just need to see more of today’s focus, vs the mess that was Rennes. We need today’s mindset in every single game until the end of the season.
Advantage Unai, let’s see if he can push it through. x
P.S. I think I speak for anyone that reads the blog when I say the scenes in the Midlands derby were beyond despicable. Watching a grown man run onto the pitch and hit a kid for no other reason outside football rivalry was beyond disgusting. Not just that, how embarrassing must it be to have a run up on someone who isn’t looking and still not land your punch. He’s lucky the Villa players didn’t give him a deserved beating. A cowardly move that thankfully saw Jack get up unharmed and bang in the winner. What a top lad. Fuck the thugs.
After seeing that, it was especially disappointing to see an Arsenal fan run onto the pitch. It’s not appropriate. Especially with knife crime as it is in the city at the minute. Unless you’re going pitch invade naked, do everyone a favour and stay in your seat. Eat your foie gras on Poilâne-style sourdough bread like everyone else and leave the party drugs to the kids you absolute melts.
That’s me done, see you in hell (the comments). xxx
Guys what you think the team will be for Rennes?
you think he will go all out attack like yesterday’s team
we know sokritis is suspended so our friend mustafi will be in the line up
but I am sure Rennes will be scared of our result against man u
“These two would rather Arsenal lose so they can stick the boot into Emery rather than than see Arsenal improve from last season, it’s really weird.“
Err, what are you on about…
“Champagne charlie March 10, 2019 18:24:26
This was a great time to play United, but make no mistake this was a good Arsenal performance and a good Emery one.”
You’re one of these guys that likes to type shit for effect instead of what’s actually going on. Keep up
http://africa.espn.com/football/club/leicester-city/375/blog/post/3795631/rodgers-shows-leicester-how-to-play-without-fear-as-vardy-stars-vs-fulham
They played Fulham for crying out loud …
“You can’t have it both ways.Either Wenger was under achieving and deserved to be sacked for under performing. If the squad is at most the 6th best squad, then we were on par with our final ranking”
Wenger was behind putting that squad together. So,part of his ‘underachieving’ -and reasons he got sacked – was his piss poor judgement of what constituted a squad good enough to challenge for titles, as well as managing that squad in a sub-standard manner. It’s not one or the other.
@Receding, I did not say that Emery was useless, I said that he was mediocre. I still think he is learning on the job and made massive mistakes. Clearly despite what he said during his interview, he had no idea of the intensity of the premiership and the competitiveness of our league. He started the season with play from the back idea which lead to us being under pressure. Now Leno is hitting long passes to our wingbacks or Lacazette. Reminding me of Wenger instructing Cech of hitting our fullbacks. Emery tried to impose his will on the team and… Read more »
Cech
AMN
Mustafi
Koscielny
Monreal
Torreira
Xhaka
Ramsey
Ozil
Iwobi
Auba
Don’t see the need to worry too much about them, just play our game and we should score 3 or 4 anyway.
Not necessary playing 3 at the back, although we’d miss kolasinac as an attacking threat down the left.
he might go for the 3-4-3 again
mustafi, kos and nacho
AMN and Kola as they have pace and it make that Sarr think twice going forward
Ben Arfa, I doubt he will have a good game like that again
Emery – The spanish Arsene Wenger.
QNA, my narrative is that this squad is good enough to be top 4. Remember us arguing about that?
That’s proving out.
Emery was failing hard, now he’s made changes. He’s playing more expansive football, he’s putting together better tactical plans and he’s playing his best players.
He’s learning from his mistakes.
We have a shit away record, so a long way to go, but I’ll be more than happy if he makes top 4.
Also interesting to see the Emery Ultras out in force today, where were you all on Friday?!
Just jokes guys, nice to have you back.
“I did not say that Emery was useless, I said that he was mediocre.” Yea he called me last night crying over the phone wondering what to do to gain your approval. “I still think he is learning on the job and made massive mistakes.” He has been a manager for 15 years, won three European trophies, and 7 domestic titles, a one time European coach of the year, a real apprentice “He started the season with play from the back idea which lead to us being under pressure. Now Leno is hitting long passes to our wingbacks or Lacazette.”… Read more »
Pedro
do you think if emery takes his team to 3rd
he over achieved???
according to carragher and Neville, arsenal seem to be over achieving with this squad
Shabz, I think 3rd is an excellent season.
Also interesting to see the Emery Ultras out in force today, where were you all on Friday?!Just jokes guys, nice to have you back.
I think it’s because some were actually upset by the Rennes result. You know. How’d you get on? I didn’t see your post I assume it was distraught over things. Hardly a moment for I told you so.
RH, you need to leave the snark at the door today. Every comment you’re being negative.
We won. Enjoy the day. Debate with people.
“Emery was failing hard, now he’s made changes.”
He was never failing hard, we hit a rough patch in the season when it looked like we would come collapsing, he steadied it and we are back on track.
Do you think Ozil bursting his guts to track back is done by choice?? No he is doing it because he was called out for nothing doing it and now has to do so to keep his place in the squad.
Pedro
all I really wanted from arsenal this season is to be competitive towards the business end of the season and we in March. We have a chance here, I know you have some reservations about Emery but if he does get 3rd this season. The board have to really back him with some transfer money and get rid of some players.
#monchitime
Valentin: You can’t have it both ways.Either Wenger was under achieving and deserved to be sacked for under performing. If the squad is at most the 6th best squad, then we were on par with our final ranking. I’m not. I joined Wenger out when I still thought he was a decent manager. I hated his transfers and I could see where his socialist wage policy and British core would lead us. Exactly here. Emery isn’t a world class manager and he is only marginally better than a 70 year old Wenger. My guess is that Emery would be long… Read more »
guys just read Reiss Nelson has only started 5 games for Hoffienham
are we getting too carried away with his progress
plus he just been disciplined now
I do hope he comes back hungrier then ever and has a good pre -season. we may need his inside forward instincts next season
“We won. Enjoy the day. Debate with people.”
I am debating with people Pedro, sorry i am not doing it to your taste but doing it i am. Starting a statement by calling a manager pushing for top four in a very competitive league “mediocre” is opening yourself up for a comeback
And there is nothing to enjoy really except the pains of United fans at losing their unbeaten domestic form domestically, this result means nothing if we mess up the away games outstanding. Means nothing f we finish outside the champions league places
RH, Emery changed things up because he was tanking. Brought ostracised players in from the cold, reduced his training sessions intensity, changed our pressing style, the way we play out from the back, how we attack so we offer more variety.
You should stop trying to pretend otherwise, it’s a positive.
Amazez me how Pedro is at RH all the time but you let this absolute weasal called Thomas this year, Steve for the last few years get away with his anti-Arsenal drivel…
RH is an Arsenal fan for cyring out cloud!
QNA, Wenger’s coaching was a problem… he didn’t change it for 16 years, it lacked intensity, it didn’t consider the things you need for a modern team (like considering the oppo)
“Knowing that we make additions that improved the squad: Leno, Sokratis, Torreira, Guendouzi. So our team is now better than the previous season, so we should be better and we are.” Valentin We started off with a very poor squad to begin with – the Bellerin and Holding got injured [I know you belong to the Pedro school of thought and hold Emery responsible the injuries as you must do for every bent blade of grass at the Emirates] Our rivals [except for Spurs] were also improving their squad so that little bump in quality didn’t go far enough. We… Read more »
Yes it was puke. I noticed that too. Couldn’t be just a ton of saliva. Kinda gross knowing that happened but hell, kola is not really human anyway
Kos had a 3 inch hash apparently
Team gave their all .
Amazing
Pedro
Why aren’t you telling Valentin to stop being snarky?
Receding is just debating, responding all the bilious stuff being spewed around.
You can tell the fans who aren’t Londoners a mile off.
Wether you believe in emery or not, proper arsenal fans relished that win yesterday. It’s a local thing. You guys just wouldn’t understand
Peds playing favourites, RH hasn’t got enuff sauce initz
And there is nothing to enjoy really except the pains of United fans at losing their unbeaten domestic form domestically, this result means nothing if we mess up the away games outstanding. Means nothing f we finish outside the champions league places
Perfectly illiterates my point
Un na
Keep up your drivel
I’m sure that’s what the doctor recommended
Unai, the result would have meant alot to REAL gooners all of the world, not just ones situated in London.
Pedro i am not pretending, he was never “tanking:”, nor ostracizing anyone.
Do you think Ozil was doing enough to simply get picked when he fancied playing and asked not to bother helping out the team defensively?? No one is crediting the manager for his handling of Ozil, everyone is pretending Ozil is some misunderstood genius.
Ramsey wasn’t ostracized, he will not be here next season, nothing wrong in concentrating your building on players who will. Hats off to Ramsey too, he has been a model pro and will go down as an Arsenal great
So this is Unnnai? New name?
Pedro: QNA, my narrative is that this squad is good enough to be top 4. Remember us arguing about that? Yep. Absolutely. Did you think the squad was good enough to win the title? I’m not sure you did. So Emery is pretty much doing what you would have expected Allegri to do or even the great man Mikel? So my point is that, stick with that. Don’t pivot and make up some excuse to go back to your pre-Emery-signing agenda against the man. If he fails, you can have at it. But if he succeeds you owe him due… Read more »
RH, Ramsey has been fit and he was benches from September onwards. Now he’s back in contention.
Stop taking credit away from Emery, it’s so draining.
Well the big picture is much better than last year and genuine opportunities to come top 3 or 4. We’re not out of the EL just yet either
I know you only enjoy back to back CL wins, but compared with where we were last season that’s what I was hoping for this season
It might not be a dream come true but it was the limit of what could reasonably be expected and here we are. So feel free to not seem like the world is crashing down when the club is overall performing to expectations for this season
Emery has handled Ozil excellently He’s set him so that all the spotlight is on him. You can actually see Ozil trying hard to be accountable to his team mates, tracking back and putting him body on the line. He got off too easy with Wenger and he was set-up then as the unstoppable player. Emery has successfully changed that dynamic. Emery wont let him finish a game like he was handled in Madrid. A committed Ozil doesn’t carry enough punch the play 90 minutes for the most part. I know Ozil is not a naturally physical player but he’s… Read more »
Battle angel we do not get anything from beating United, we avoid the depressing Thursday night football and increase our revenue streams by returning to the champions league.
Beating United was wonderful and all, and i was on cloud nine all through yesterday but that is done and dusted now. We look ahead starting with Rennes on Thursday.
The time high fives is when the season ends and we have achieved our objective namely champions league football
This year is definitely an improvement because we also had to stop the rot… this business about top 4 .. being same as Wenger goal… is just trolling. We were heading downhill fast. Give Wenger Torreira, Matty G and Leno… and he wouldn’t have played any of them… Wenger ignored the defensive midfield and Keeper position for decades.
Wenger didn’t get sacked by the way because of last season he quit because Josh Kroenke finally realized how stagnant the club had become over a period of YEARS .. and asked him to leave so we could move forward.
Pedro: QNA, Wenger’s coaching was a problem… he didn’t change it for 16 years, it lacked intensity, it didn’t consider the things you need for a modern team (like considering the oppo) Yep. I accept that. At some point between his last PL title and his sacking he lost his touch. It happens. The guy was nearly 70. It was clear that in Europe there were a lot of different managers that just simply had him covered. But I’m just saying if you take the money that Arsenal spent on transfers and wages over that period of a dozen years… Read more »
“Stop taking credit away from Emery, it’s so draining.”
You are not fooling anyone Pedro…..
Emery changed things up because he was tanking
Hardly tanking. But don’t let reality get in the way of a good point I suppose.
Hazard to Madrid is pretty much done the moment Zidane is reappointed as Madrid coach.
You can tell the fans who aren’t Londoners a mile off.
Wether you believe in emery or not, proper arsenal fans relished that win yesterday. It’s a local thing. You guys just wouldn’t understand
___________
Complete and utter bullshit.
Reiss Nelson was dropped from Hoffenheim squad for ‘disciplinary reasons’ on Sunday. Sources in Germany say no decision yet on when Arsenal loanee will be considered for selection by Julian Nagelsmann again.
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) March 11, 2019
Rabiot refused to sign a contract and is flirting with any club that’ll have him I suppose Tuchel is ostracizing him too. Ozil was hardly ostracized he’s just been shit and pulling sickies all season. Unless of course you are okay with that sort of behavior. Are you Pedro? Okay with Ozil playing poorly and pulling sickies? Suppose he should have been playing pulling that sort of thing.
Valentin/Receding The question about who has the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th best squads can be endlessly debated without any real conclusions as it’s so subjective. When “combined 11s” are dreamt up, most supporters (Grovers excepted) usually go for a majority of their team’s players. for what it’s worth,, what’s been noticeable in recent years is that when journalists and pundits draw up combined 11s featuring Arsenal and Man U, Tottenham and Chelsea players, they usually feature a large majority of non-Arsenal players. I do think that we have the 6th best squad, though Charlie is probably right to say… Read more »
Where’s Valentin and all the little PSG tidbits he used to drop to discredit Emery.
Has anyone gone to Nasser Al-Khelaifi yet to undermine Tuchel yet?
What’s going on at that pseudo-glory club?
Having said that, what is clear is that, regardless of its precise ranking, this is not (yet) “Emery’s squad”.
He’s largely playing with the hand Wenger dealt him
Emery got his tactics spot on.If we play with the same intensity, top four should easily be achievable
I do think if we do get champions league football and finish 3rd
we will sign Adrian Rabiot, he will come at a cost of ramsey and welbeck wages
ZZ back to Madrid.
Guns of Hackney is even more depressed now.
Highbury,
ZZ back to Madrid, never mind GoH being depressed, I am.
I was really counting on a Poch move to Real for a proper “downward spiral”
For the Spuds!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6795347/Guardiola-says-Manchester-City-teenagers-Champions-League.html
Yet Unai Emery was supposed to win it after two seasons with PSG or else he is “Mediocre”
Tell me Valentin is Tuchel Mediocre?
You’re right, I had totally forgot about that!!
Is Adrian Rabiot really that good??
At least with Ramsey we had energy and crucial goals, what do we get with the sulky Rabiot?
Dissenter
It’s true
You don’t relate to arsenal in the same way we do. Which is why yesterday’s victory seems to mean so much more to the local supporters.
Just an observation. No need to cry about it.
But Poch will probably sign at Manure lol
So Reiss Nelson earlier this season was just a fluke?
Highbury, yeah, just need the Norwegian Jesus to start drowning in the water he used to walk on!
Valentin “OGS has a philosophy. Play high octane, vertical direct to the goal with Pogba used a quarterback sending long pass over the top ton defenders..” Really? I get your drift but he’s been there for just 3 months. On the other hand, it’s taken Barcelona years to build a philosophy and an identity. I don’t think you would put what OGS is doing in the same category. I would like to see how he does long term. OGS is simply playing to the strengths of the players at his disposal. Most pundits often describe him as “allowing the players… Read more »
Shit, who would have thought it! We’re all in luv with Arsenal again.
First, Spurs put in their place, and now Man U.
Roll on, Unai.
RodneyK,
Well put.
It will take years (and if at the end of this or next season the club decides that Emery has failed) and possible many iterations for a new successor to the defunct Wengerball /strategy/philosophy/style of play to emerge.
@Dissenter, The tidbits were info that happen to be true. PSG was a debatable penalty away from reaching the next round of Champions League. Nobody can honestly compare that with the complete collapse against Barcelona and Real Madrid under Emery. Why do you keep harping about PSG, when nobody is making any comments on them? The big uplift is Arsenal result has been the complete change by Emery. 1) the end of ostracizing Özil and Ramsey. You may think that he played a blinder with tough love with Özil, but all his previous managers including Mourinho who is not known… Read more »
*possibly
“Why do you keep harping about PSG, when nobody is making any comments on them?”
Because that was how you warmed your way into Pedro’s heart, through ditching the dirt on Emery’s “mediocrity” at PSG based on your inside knowledge, so it is only fair you are asked what then went wrong in the paradise Tuchel built after the mediocre one was seen off by the players and fans according to you.
Receding,
Any believer will tell you that there is no way in Hell that any paradise could include Neymar!
“4) substitutions are now back to be done for a purpose rather than made for the sake of change.” You just seem to say anything you feel like knowing Pedro will ask me to stop being snarky if i take you up on it, what exactly does the above mean, substitutions for the sake of it, a manager who has won us many matches this season by making changes at the right time is now being accused of making changes for changes sake. I guess you are crediting all these “admission of his mistakes” down to your “insightful” posts on… Read more »
“Any believer will tell you that there is no way in Hell that any paradise could include Neymar!”
LOL
You don’t relate to arsenal in the same way we do. Which is why yesterday’s victory seems to mean so much more to the local supporters. Just an observation. No need to cry about it. ____ Look Battle Troll or whatever your name is now…. I have had the privilege of visiting with Arsenal supporters from all over North America… and some parts of Central America.. And I can assure you.. they know how to relish a victory over Manchester United… and know its importance… I know your the arbiter of “proper” arsenal fans … but you need to pick… Read more »
Valentin
Ever managed a football team before at any level?
Christ the bitchiness towards Valentin is embarrassing
Receding
You’re not a proper gooner. You’re just a half balding middle aged pretender
Please enough with the name dropping of Conte and Mourinho, what they did and what they didn’t do. Unai Emery has been a manager for 15 years and has his own methods, he does not need to go borrowing from anyone, His methods have got him employment again and again and he has delivered relative success in all his jobs with the exception of Spartak. He handled Ozil perfectly his own way and Ozil now goes out of his way to show he is not lazy and works for the team,that was the way he wanted to handle it and… Read more »
“Ever managed a football team before at any level?”
Valentin is the Arteta of Tuchel.
Luis Guenreira
“So Reiss Nelson earlier this season was just a fluke?”
A purple patch until defenders figured him out and his team mates become disenchanted with the youthful cockiness…who knows
Young players go through these phases which is why one has to be careful in poring praise too early.
Holding played well two seasons ago, then slumped last season before rebounding back this season until his injury
On a tangent, this is why I’m always I’ll never join the Mavros bandwagon until he’s played more that two competitive league games.
Go Battle an Angel Un and let the grown ups talk
@Rodney, OGS always has the same philosophy, the problem was that at Cardiff he did not have the players to implement it. Also he lacked the tactical flexibility to be able to adapt of different requirements. I also think that pundits are making him a disservice by harping on letting the players expressed themselves. That makes him look he does not do tactic. I think he does, it just that he does tend to emphasize ManUtd motto and values in interview rather than system. I also think that he has been working with the players on their individual technique. he… Read more »
Receding
What you?? Hahahahahaha
You marko and dissenter acting like the mean girls and claiming you’re “grown up” is rather ironic.
What a bunch of raving sissies
Un na
No one is crying at your pithy blather
Some feel deep pity for you, mostly people just laugh at you.
You don’t have a clue Arsenal fans in Polynesia or the international space station feel. You don’t even know how all London Arsenal fans feel.
Valentin,
Agreed that OGS is doing much more than letting his players “express themselves”, although unlike Mourinho, at least he’s allowing them to express themselves.
What he’s trying to do is to restore Ferguson’s style and ethos of play, and in do doing, he’s adapting tactics etc.
What’s not clear is whether a) he’s tactically sharp enough to achieve Ferguson mark 2
And b) whether that style and philosophy still works in the era of Pep and Klopp
@Dissenter, “Ever managed a football team before at any level?” You don’t need to be a cook to know that McDonald is shit food. @Receding, [Emery] methods have got him employment again and again and he has delivered relative success in all his jobs with the exception of Spartak. and PSG. He handled Ozil perfectly his own way and Ozil now goes out of his way to show he is not lazy and works for the team,that was the way he wanted to handle it and it has worked for him, that you do not approve does not make it… Read more »
What you?? Hahahahahaha
You marko and dissenter acting like the mean girls and claiming you’re “grown up” is rather ironic.
Don I haven’t addressed you at all today. I know it’s a waste of time given how stupid you are and how little comprehension you have. It’s basically pointless to converse with you
Valentin did Pep fail at Bayern??
Has Tuchel flopped his first season??
Valentin adds a legitimate view point and concerns at least.. And can intelligently argue his position.. I have some of the same concerns about Emery.. regards to his tactics and man management. Time will tell whether he is able to adapt.. to PL over a period of more then 1 season.. So I always read his comments.
And he definitely doesn’t deserve undo critique.. but seems like he can handle himself just fine..
At least he isn’t blatantly trolling people with nonsensical comments.
“There were games in which Özil was missed. His unlocking of defenses against for example Southampton could mean the difference at the end of the season. ”
He played away at Southampton and gave away the ball with an ill advised flick that led to their winning goal
Man people being awfully bitchy today. Didn’t we just beat United?
@Words, I rate OGS better than most do, however like you I am still waiting to see if he would be merely a good manager or a great one. I doubt that he will be able to emulate Ferguson, because ManUtd has now real financial competition. Also with the advance of technology, most teams have better analytics tool to counter and well defined tactics. Tactics have to be continually improved and adapt, where 10 or 15 years ago, you would be able to keep the same tactic. Change in tactics is exactly what has done Mourinho, on top of his… Read more »
RH
“He played away at Southampton and gave away the ball with an ill advised flick that led to their winning goal”
He came on as a late substitute and It was 75 yards from goal( and it was a dummy that was intercepted actually ) , which is precisely the area where you should try things to create a goal ….
But you would find it difficult to understand that as you stated that Ozil was the worst player on the pitch against man United despite him creating 4 chances for his team mates .
“At least he isn’t blatantly trolling people with nonsensical comments.”
That’s because he nose best.
lol Pierre the dearest Ozil fan is in da place.
Valentin fighting the good fight against a mob mentality, stay strong monsieur.
Curious where Allegri goes if anywhere now that ZZ is back in. Possible to see changes at United, Chelsea and maybe PSG.
All a downgrade from Torino.
Emery moonlights as an accident lawyer in Los Angeles.
https://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/jacob-emrani-62111
Leg end
Of course…did you see the ovation he received from the Emirates when he was substituted, the match going fans love watching him play football .
Luteo- lol, Emery to Holding: “have you ever been affected by an accident that wasn’t your fault?”
Receding and Dissenter going absolutely berserk, ganging up on anyone who dare criticize Emery.
@Receding,
What I remember from the Southampton game is that we were abject and sluggish during the entire game.
Players were getting muscular injuries. See my points about conditioning and too high intensity training. Özil was being introduce quite late. We had a makeshift back 4 of Lichsteiner, Koscielny, Monreal and Xhaka. Xhaka played well for a left back.
Leno having a poor game and flapping and missing crosses.
Sal
Allegri was interested in joining Arsenal or Chelsea. However, neither side would offer him a significant transfer kitty. Can see him walking at the end of the season. Take a year off and wait for top jobs to open up.
I do enjoy Valentin’s posts. Good to see Pierre back
We’re linked to Fabian Schãr of Newcastle.
A likely Mustafi replacement.
I wonder if Rabiot is hoping for a monster deal a la Ramsey from us.
He’s going to be disappointed if he is.
Talking of Ramsey, I have to salute his performance and his professionalism throughout this entire debacle.
No drama, just hard work.
Aaron thanks for that. I for one salute you and wish you well!