Freshness concerns ahead of fixture crunch

by .

Unai Emery does NOT seem too concerned about away form.

“I think generally we are well. I don’t think we are very bad,”

“It is a bad result, not a good performance but we are fourth.

Yes, this is true.

“This was a very good opportunity to take the three points and go third but after the result we are fourth and we need to be consistent.

“We are going to have chances also in the next matches and it depends on us and on other teams.

“After the result we can be negative because three points less (to be won) but it is in our hands to continue taking chances to be in the top four.”

This is also true.

Our top 4 chances have taken a big hit after that result, mainly because the loss has taken the wind out of the momentum sails. We’re heading into a crunch run of very important high-intensity games with a horrible away record hanging around our necks with tired legs… not. ideal. fam.

However, if we want to mix it with the big boys next year, the players have to react. If they want bigger bonuses, they’ll have to dust away the sad-webs and make a serious adjustment to their mentality away from home.

The manager is going to have to start learning lessons a touch quicker. Matteo G and BIG Mo cannot be played together, it’s a mix of low talent and raw experience that blends worse than orange juice and milk. Our rotations are going to have to be cuter if we’re to maintain belief, energy, and skill.

We have a monster match this Thursday against the MIGHTY Napoli. I say mighty… I’m not really sure. Juve are mighty and they are top of Serie A by 20 points. Napoli reside in second, 7 points ahead of 3rd. Is this a bit like the difference between Dortmund and Bayern? I would think so. That said, it’ll not be easy and let’s be TOTALLY real here… we’ve been taken down by Rennes and BATE this season, so even if we snatch a win, it’ll be very tough to deal with them at their place.

The big question for Emery is how hard will he go in this game? Where does he see his biggest opportunity? Or, has the season become so unpredictable now that he’s just going to gun hard for both top 4 and Europa? I think likely the latter. He’ll be desperate for a trophy and he’ll really want that tag of being the greatest Europa League king who ever did exist… I heard that he’s hoping they retire the trophy if he wins it this time. He’s very focused.

That could come with issues, we have 6 games in 18 days, players are already tired if Everton was anything to go by… so what impact will gunning for everything have?

Well, we’re going to find out my pretties… but please, don’t be dim in the comments and tell me that an international break is enough to bring players back to freshness, or that fatigue is related to character… or that love for the badge will change anything.

SEE U IN THE COMMENTS x

P.S. Hazard… whoooahmy

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Marko

Being in the europa league so frequently is a sign of failure.

I would say being continually embarrassed in the Champions League is a sign of failure. Not being able to get past the last 16 something like 7 or 8 seasons in a row is embarrassing. Being roundly and embarrassingly beaten by Barcelona and Bayern (10-2) is embarrassing. Having like 2 good European showings in 22 years is also embarrassing

Un battle angel

Marko

Who you calling an idiot you thick paddy? You’re so dumb my whole country makes jokes about your stupidity….

Chris

Unfortunately Wenger is the only coach to have have lost all 3 major European finals, that being Champions League, UEFA Cup and Cup Winners Cup.

Also Un na sorry to nitpick but I distinctly remember some insipid performances in 97-98, Liverpool at home (0-1) and Blackburn at home (1-3 and got booed off) just two examples. That the turnaround after January was so fantastic was down to Wenger and the players but there were a few rocky weeks along the road.

97-98 was probably my favourite season as an Arsenal fan, for footballing and personal reasons, so many great memories.

Dissenter

I wish we had won 2-4 Europa league titles in Wenger’s last 6-8 years since all we were doing was just marking “present” in the CL
Rather win a EL trophy than get bashed in the head by Bayern over and over again.

Un battle angel

Dissenter

My balls are the stuff of legend mate. Unleashing loads on every continent on earth. Blaow 💦

Chris

CG
It’s not a badge of honour winning The Losers Cup ( Europa) so often.It’s an indictment!
(The top coaches ,by default ain’t in it..)

Jose Mourinho is just one example of a top class coach who won the UEFA Cup on his managerial ascsent so that is just another false and empty point from you, I am afraid to say.

Marko

He also missed out on second place through goal difference in his first season. In a league that was far more competitive than it is today

Jesus you’re an imbecile. So these days we have a top 6 competing for 4 places in the Champions League and in 96 you had the top 2. In 96 Man United won the league with 75 points while this season Liverpool could end up with 90 odd points and finish 2nd

Un battle angel

Chris

We got beat but we created chances
The 3-1 to derby also spring to mind but I remember the creating chances. Thy the other day was just dull and it’s not a one off either.

I remember the 1-0 v Liverpool though. Yellow kit, macmannaman half volley from 25 yards
The week after we beat untied 3-2 if I remember correctly?

Zfree

Not sure going with Cech in goal for this entire competition is the way to go. I do like our lineup though. COYG!

Un battle angel

Marko

I’d rather have no legs no arms and be blind and deaf than be a dub. The scummiest of the scum. All shellsuits and drugs with nothing else in life but their own miserable council estates. Making shameless look like the royal family

Dissenter

Zfree
Emery is being way too sentimental for me, regarding the GK choice
He’s better off playing the club’s number 1, not the Chelsea legend on his way out to becoming the Chelsea GK coach.

Marko

You never told me where you’re from Don?

Chris

Un na

Yeah McManaman with a stunner. Horrible yellow kit. Back then we just couldn’t beat Liverpool no matter what. Remember a game also in Feb 2000 where we threw the kitchen sink at them at Highbury and still lost 1-0 to their only shot on target I think, Titi Camara?

I remember that Derby game, 1st loss of the season I think. We just weren’t at the races. Then we beat Utd 3-2 then I think we lost to Sheff Wed at Hillsborough in a poor game, and then the Liverpool game. Back when everyone dreaded December curse!

Un battle angel

Jesus you’re an imbecile. So these days we have a top 6 competing for 4 places in the Champions League and in 96 you had the top 2. In 96 Man United won the league with 75 points while this season Liverpool could end up with 90 odd points and finish 2n Hahahaha Ok stupid You’ve just proved my point lightning If teams are now winning so easily that they are accumulating 90 points a season then how is the league tougher now?? You are such a thick cunt, even for a Dubliner you are extra dopey. Letter-Letter box You… Read more »

Zfree

Dissenter

Agree. Cech is bench material. Leno playing great. Pep played Emerson in the FA cup match against Brighton. You don’t need to rotate the keeper ffs

Un battle angel

Chris

Yeah
I watched that on the kings road
Another scorcher
Green kit with white and black trim.
Ah the good old days
I remember when we done them around Xmas 2001 with 10 men. 2-1 at anfield.
V bronkhorst. We broke our hoodoo with them and I remember how elated I was to finally beat Liverpool, with 10 men in their own backyard

Un battle angel

Marko

And I’m not going to tell you!! What convinced you of such authority?
In your Dublin slums

Champagne Charlie

All the very best in married life Receding, seriously.

Chris

Put it this way if Twitter and Arsenal Fan Tv has been around then you would have heard some incendiary opinions also. The same types have always been around. Now they have many platforms to air their views easily and within seconds, often before they have even thought about what they are saying/typing and if they even should. I believe the negative stuff has an effect because I think the players would be dishonest if they were not aware of somethings on social media. Way back when the players maybe only had to ignore the scandal rags and any dissenters… Read more »

Charlie George

Chris
The UEFA Cup was an excellent European trophy with illustrious winners.

The Europa Cup – is the losers festival of football.

Napoli – not good enough for the Group Stages of the CL are now playing us this evening..
That makes them losers- in my eyes.

So what we beat losers??
Incidentally- i think we will win comfortably tonight.

I don’t think – they will be trying a leg!

TheLegendaryDB10

Worried about tonight’s game. I have to admit the line up is intriguing. He has packed the back with defensive players and packed the front as well with both Laca and Auba. It would be great to see Ramsey leading us to victory tonight. Glad to see that Torreira is back.

Marko

Nice touch there Charlie

Chris

Un na

Yeah that was a great day/game, as we went down to ten before we went 2-0 up. Remember Freddie putting us 2-0 up and could scarcely believe it. As you say hoodoo over as we then went a long time without losing to them, till the Neil Mellor last minute goal I think.

Un battle angel

Cg

I always preferred the uefa cup
Only the best teams from each country participated in the European cup then so the 2nd 3rd and 4th from the best leagues in Europe would enter uefa and it was a stinger competition for it: that’s why they created the champions league because they knew the uefa had the lions share of the stars of world football.

Un battle angel

Chris was just thinking that
I was in co Leitrim Ireland on acid for that one haha. One and only time I ever took it and thankfully it made the loss much more palatable.

I loved the 2-1 fa cup game at Highbury too 3 red cards and some serious bad blood
Gerrard starting to emerge as a rival to Keane and paddy v

Who can forget the Henry hat trick at Highbury too??

Un battle angel

Neil mellor goal was another beauty too. The only thing he ever did mellor

Un battle angel

Is receding getting married??
With that hair line???

Best of luck to you receding.

Charlie George

Arsenal will score a minimum of 3 goals tonight.

( unless they get a needless red card)

Globalgunner

Recedings hair may be thin, but his wallet is thick. Ladies will often disregard the former for the latter

Un battle angel

Global

Yes but they normally then have affairs with the hot young Gardner

Charlie George

Un
It was a proper European Football tournament.
No seeding
Knockout.

Different teams.

Europa Cup- is hideous in comparison.

Europa Cup 2 on it’s way, next season
(I reckon Emery will be a master of that too!)

Chris

It could be debated that the UEFA Cup pre 2000s was maybe harder to win than the European Cup itself due in part but not limited to, the participation of more 2nd 3rd and 4th places teams, and a more even playing field in terms of quality players more spread out (the days when there was a max 3 foreign player rule)

Crazy to think AC Milan back in the 90s has to leave out players like Boban and Savicevic because they were already playing Weah, Desailly. No wonder Vieira could hardly get a game!

Un battle angel

Chris

It was more exciting to watch and harder to win. You’re up against the best (champions aside) of France Germany England Italy and Spain there or the champions of Russia, Croatia, Yugoslavia and urkriane in the European cup?

That’s why they did away with the old format as it had surpassed their premier tournament.
I enjoyed the old cup winners cup too.

Chris

Yes very fond memories of the Cup Winners Cup as I am sure we all do, 93-95 (forgetting Paris obviously)

Standard Liege away where Eddie McGoldrick played like Messi and scored an absolute belter!

Guns of SF

cech in leno out???

Un battle angel

Joe Allen playing for Napoli?? Fair play

TheLegendaryDB10

I have really enjoyed reading the AW vs UE debate but I would like to add an extra angle which is the role of the club in, and by that I mean the board, CEO and other senior figures, in all of this. To me the crucial turning point was Dein’s departure. He was a man who had a vision for the club and did his all to do so. A shame he burnt his wings. What I would say, in hindsight, is that he deserved it as bringing in Kroenke was the worst decision from a footballing point of… Read more »

Un battle angel

Not feeling positive without xakha

Un battle angel

DB10

I’d agree with that completely

jwl

And it’s Arsenal,
Arsenal FC,
We’re by far the greatest team,
The world has ever seen….

TheLegendaryDB10

Come on The Arsenal!!!!

bennydevito

Ah yes, Kanu’s 15 minute hat trick when we were 2 nil down at the bridge. They were the days.

Pierre

Although as in the Everton game it is the wing back system , tonight we will be set up different …

Ozil will play centre , Aubamayang and Lacazette will be up top and the width will.come from the wing backs.

This is a much better system than having Ozil and Mhkitaryan playing wide as in the Everton game .

Marko

Classy as fuck that

azed

Aaron!!!

Un battle angel

Not looking like we are getting our foot on the ball again
We need xakha
Ramsey bombing on again. He needs to hold back a bit while we feel our way into this

Nelson

1 – 0

TheLegendaryDB10

Ramsey!!! Come on!! Nice goal!!!

Come on The Arsenal!!!

Jim Lahey

“Ramsey bombing on again. He needs to hold back a bit while we feel our way into this”

lol

Un battle angel

And right on cue
Hahaha
Well In Rambo
Lovely goal

Nelson

I like our two strikers coming back to help out the midfield.

bennydevito

Charlie GeorgeApril 11, 2019    14:41:10 A wonderful rumbustious and passionate post BD How our club lacks the passion exhibited here by Arsenals Favourite Bristolian.. We need PedRo in The Arsenal PR Dept And We need BD on the tannoy before the home matches( as long as he has not got a Ian Holloway type Bristolian twang) Just a shame we still have Emery as coach. But – you will see all see sense-eventually. I know -all fans on here – Have Arsenal best interests at heart. Just a shame( so many ) are misguided…. (Is it the educational system back… Read more »

Siddharth14

We are leaving too many spaces at the back. Napoli have the craft to hit us with a sucker punch. Need to tighten things a bit.

Nelson

Cech’s goal kick is not accurate

2 – 0

azed

Get in!!!

Un battle angel

Yeeeeea
Well In you little terrier
Great goal

Elmo

Good lad. Let’s have 5 or 6.

Thomas

Napoli looks awful.

Luteo Guenreira

Great job lad.

TheLegendaryDB10

Who scored? My stream is all broken….

azed

We need to slow the game down and just keep ball then try to score a 3rd just before half time

TR7

Xhaka-Torreira as midfield pivot, Ozil and Ramsey interlinking in the opposition half and two strikers up front – the perfect combination. Whenever we go with this line up, we play well.

zaco

COYG

Siddharth14

Yes ! We need the luck a bit. That’s why our midfielders need to shoot often. Once in a while such goals are crucial in the whole context.

Un battle angel

We are dominating this game entirely
Come on arsenal
There’s more goals in this game for us
Torriera owning the middle of the park

SpainishDave

How does Robbie Savage get work?
He’s got a degree in the bleeding obvious.
Tosser of a commentator

Thomas

Torreiras shot was going wide. Will certainly be changed to an own goal.

TheLegendaryDB10

Come on Arsenal!! Let’s not stop at 2 goals!!!

Siddharth14

Napoli are all over the place and Ancelotti is fuming. Tough decision to make. Should we go for the kill or slow the game down…

BacaryisGod

Seems to me that we’re showing naivety at 2-0. The top priority is not conceding an away goal but we’re leaving ourselves wide open to the counter-attack.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Lacs having a torrid time

Get the eds on

Un battle angel

Sid

We’ve got to go for it. Can’t risk our away form getting in the way
They are on the ropes and we need to kill this tie tonight

Siddharth14

Lacazette having a poor game so far. Else we would have been out of sight by now. It’s very important that we do not concede. Let’s invite Napoli and hit them on the counter.

Radio Raheem

No way we make champions League with our strikers playing like this – whether through the league or Europa.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

We need to be clinical

Nelson

AMN is playing better than Kola. Kola plays most of the ball back.

Un battle angel

Torriera again. What a half he’s had
Ainsely played some lovely little passes too with his usual commited tackling. Great stuff arsenal

TheLegendaryDB10

Siddharth14

Should we go for the kill or slow the game down…

Defo go for the kill… we have to.

Aaargh. Another close shave. Good to see us pushing.

SpainishDave

Both strikers playing poorly for us.
Auba is poor unless it’s a tap in, general play by him is average.

Siddharth14

Emery please tell the players to concentrate on the defence !! Can’t let this opportunity go waste by conceding a silly goal. We are playing with fire here..

WengerEagle

Said it during the week not at all intimidated by this Napoli side, they are poor when compared to their previous sides over the last few years.

No reason that we can’t put two more past them in the 2nd half, I’ll be disappointed if we come away from this with less than a 3 goal advantage for the away leg.

Jim Lahey

If we had a striker that didn’t need 4/5 chances to put one away this tie would already be over.

Siddharth14

Tossers… This is what I’m saying. Massive let off that.

Nelson

Kola is such a bad defender. He just let the opponent runs away

Marko

Great half. Bar one incident at the end there we were totally in control. I must say some of our passing out from the back has been brilliant and even Ozil is playing well. Lacazette and Auba have to step it up though they’re not doing enough for me

WengerEagle

Auba is such a klutz in the final third, so little awareness of who is around him and terrible at weighting passes.

Agree with Jim, tie should already be over.

Nelson

Napoli is like us. They are strong at home.

Auba is an average player except his tap in. His pass is below average.

WengerEagle

Joao Felix for Benfica is another youngster to watch, brace tonight already for him and 14 goals for the season, impressive for a 19 year old that isn’t a striker.

vickingz

Auba is such a useless striker who offers nothing than his useless tap ins.

Marko

I hope this is a sign of the type of performances that we’ll hopefully get from Torreira in the run in in the league. Nice little rest hopefully he has a big influence in the run in because we’ll probably need it.

Siddharth14

I’m really surprised by Napoli here. I thought they would defend deep and play counter. They won’t be so generous in the second half. Let’s see what we are made of.

We have to defend well. Come on lads…

WengerEagle

That first goal really was a thing of beauty.

We’re going to miss Ramsey, goals from midfield are hard to find.

vickingz

With a clinical striker, arsenal should have headed into half time with 5 goals. People don’t know how auba’s profligacy cost us till we got evicted, same shit he cost us when he played last minute pen against spurs like an imbecile

Marko

Joao Felix does look red hot

Dissenter

What are the chances that we don’t concede two or more goals in the second half?

I wouldn’t bey my lunch money on it.

Dissenter

What are the chances that we don’t concede two or more goals in the second half?
..
I wouldn’t bet my lunch money on it.

Un Battle Angel

Our strikers are creating space for the late runners
Can’t criticise them for that

Nelson

Harry Kane suffered ankle ligament damage, and Dele Alli fractured his hand. What a news!

Dissenter

Auba is a strange type of top striker.
He misses way too many chances and cannot lead any team to the title

Un Battle Angel

What a surprise performance for ozil so far
The sad thing is that he’s set the bar so low that any kind of spark from him is a pleasant surprise