I am still super angry about the result at the weekend. Those goals are so embarrassing. What a bloody mess.
There is 100% understanding over here that the manager had to rotate, but there are a few caveats that I can say with SUPREME retroactive confidence.
Firstly, I don’t understand why the manager has only cottoned onto rotation at this point in the season. We’re throwing players into the mix that are average start with, but we’re playing them with hardly any games in their legs. Wenger used to do this same. He’d keep players on the bench until they were needed when he’d crashed players in Feb and the players coming in would feel unloved and rusty and often pick up new injuries (Tommy V in his last season).
Lesson here is that next season, he has to make sure that every single player in his squad is capable of contributing positively. A wage bill of £220m should ensure that. We’re not Stoke… if there are bad players in the squad, bin them off. If there are very green players, put them out on loan (I know we’ve done a lot of that this year). If they won’t leave, pay them off like we did with Denilson.
The second lesson for me is this… give the kids a chance, especially in positions where historically, young players have done well. Full backs, wing backs and wide positions up top seem perfect testing grounds for young players who aren’t scared to have a go. Emery has done a great job with AMN this season and to a lesser degree the mighty Matteo. I’d love to see him give some game time to players like ESR, Willock, Reiss and Eddie next season. If they aren’t good enough, loan them and populate the bench with people that can do the job.
There is no third lesson… if you sign up to my Patreon there might be… or you might just be putting money into a pot for no reason. YOUR CHOICE.
CHELSEA DREW TO BURNLEY. The top 4 race is unreal. We are STILL on for it, with the path literally in our own nicely moisturised hands (Aesop, Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm as you’re asking). That’s great news, it gives us another crack at having a great season.
Arsenal, United, Spurs and Chelsea chasing top 4. pic.twitter.com/0HKmAUqyB5
— Le Grove (@LeGrove) April 22, 2019
Nobody wants it… what a mess!
Wolves come tomorrow. They aren’t in great form. They’ve only won two from 6. There was a giant-killing with United, but I wouldn’t read too much into that. They are there for the taking, but we absolutely have to do something to deal with their outrageous counter-attack… like, not including Mustafi, Elneny and Jenkinson would be a start.
The manager thinks it’s all about the battle.
“But it’s a good moment to try to do all we can, with intelligence. We need to be clear, we need to play with heart but above all being clear in our minds.
“They are going to push a lot tomorrow. I worked one thing here very quickly. We are playing against all of the teams and they want to battle us, fighting and playing with a big motivation.
“One is the motivation in the table for each player and one is the motivation against Arsenal. Every team wants to battle us because they respect us and also because it’s important to try to win against us.”
Motivation shouldn’t be a problem, dealing with their aggression might be. But we have to want to be in the mixer here. Europa League is a far tougher CL proposition because we’ll have to beat Chelsea. The league is our greatest chance to cap this season well. Spurs could still drop points because they’ll be captivated by the Champions League, and no one else is a sure bet.
I am so desperate for us to prove our mettle tomorrow night… we are good enough, I don’t know why people keep debating that point, it’s all about refocusing and going hard at them.
Finally, before I go. A bit of a kindness ask. Luke, top Gooner lad (good looking boy in the photo below), lost his life recently (read here). His uncle, Dominic, is raising money for East Anglian Air Ambulance as they airlifted his son to the hospital and did a great job. I think you should NOT put currency into my Patreon, and instead add some money to the fund which is a whopping £22k. It’s a great cause and it would mean a lot to me and his uncle.
Gooners, we all look after each other, right? Thank you in advance for your generosity!
DONATE
Bankz is here for the tr4phy again
Hello
I said I’m here for the fucking tr4phy
4
Tr4phy
Damn you Bankz
“Those goals are so embarrassing. What a bloody mess.”
All Emery’s fault, he was on the pitch, Mustafi in disguise.
I wouldnt write off Frankfurt turning over Chelsea
HL continues to be the whiny little girl of the blog
Another day another BOOOOM
We sholdnt start shitstafi at molineux
Mustafi is likely to keep a seat warm in the dugout tomorrow.
Playing him with Mavro was a recipe for disaster as he can only play when he’s being marshalled by Sok/Kos and not having to be a leader out there.
Man the donation page doesn’t have a PayPal option. Asking for card details or am I the one who can’t work it ?
At least Sokratis should be back, however we are still light in the middle of the park.
Against Wolves, we should ditch the idea of playing from the back, because their high pressing and quick inter-change after retrieving the ball near the opposition goal is exactly why they succeed against top 6 teams.
We need to adopt the approach of teams who beats them. Bypass the midfield, be physical and keep running into the channels to make them turn.
And NO MUSTAFI, nor ELNENY.
PEDRO When it comes to building a first team squad there should be 25 players registered. At least 18-20 of those players should be of the proven required standard to play REGULARLY in EPL and Champions League. This allows for proper rotation without lowering standards. The remaining 5 places should be allocated to players who do not have high expectation of regular football either players in 30s who can add experience and leadership to squad and may play from time to time in less important games or young prospects who need also to be tested at first team level. Arsenal’s… Read more »
@Pedro,
Same thing than MrT, I have a problem giving my card details to a site that I know nothing.
I don’t dispute their legitimacy, but how do I know that my details are kept secured. I used to have a pre-paid card for internet purchases, but after two of those cards ended up on list for sale after purchases on legitimate but unsecured sites, now it is either Amazon payment or PayPal and nothing else.
They should definitely have a PayPal link or use Amazon payment for donation.
“The Gunners boss – in his first season at the Emirates – has got his players putting in the hard yards for him already. They sit top of the table for average distance covered per game with 71.3 miles per game, fractionally more than North London rivals Spurs who are second.” There was interesting graph in The Sun yesterday, it said Arsenal are number one in average miles run per game this year, we just ahead of Spuds and a few other teams. I was surprised to learn Arsenal run further per game than anyone else, a few of our… Read more »
Good post Pedro, very fair comments regarding rotation it has to be said. Sorry about my rant yesterday Pedro, what can I say? I’m a desperately passionate Arsenal fan and that result pissed me of so bad, especially off the back of Spurs losing and Utd getting spanked. Sorry anyway, you’re entitled to your opinion, I apologise. Really nice touch there including the piece on Luke Hobson. As a Father with a son of a similar age I can’t imagine what they’re going through and I pray I never have to. Easter with the halfterm and my 4 kids cleaned… Read more »
I’m really hoping Frankfurt does a number on Chelsea.
Benfica who are in the form of their lives underestimated them and paid dearly.
Seen this Charlie George? June 2021 I reckon.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6949585/Arsene-Wenger-backs-club-legend-Patrick-Vieira-return-Emirates-Stadium-manager.html
@jwl, The previous year Burnley used to top the league in running stats. At the beginning of the season, Burnley decided to change system and dropped from the top running teams. Since Christmas they switched back system and now allegedly are top of the running league since Christmas. My point is that running a lot does not make a good team. Like possession, it is a statistics that is meaningless without context and results. Against Burnley Chelsea dominated possession, yet the result is only 2-2 and in fact two points dropped by Chelsea. I would rather we ran less and… Read more »
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6948683/Juventus-prepared-battle-Premier-League-clubs-Ryan-Sessegnon.html
Another example of how we miss out on the great British talent
Any chance of Brighton doing us a favour tonight?
I didn’t realise Hundson-Odoi ruptured his Achilles last night – nasty injury. Does anyone know what injury Kante picked up?
Marc
Doubt it.
Samesong
I can’t see anything tonight they do however have the second leg away against Ajax sandwiched in between Bournemouth away and Everton at home. That’s a tricky set of fixtures.
he previous year Burnley used to top the league in running stats
And they came 7th their highest position ever
They were in Europe at the start of the season no way would they have been able to keep that up with their small squad.
Marc
Spurs aren’t going to slip up like us.
I see them beating Everton quite comfortably. Ajax May be a big test.
Samesong
The Everton of earlier in the season 100% but recently they’ve beaten us, ManU and Chelsea. With the Spud’s record of bottling it even under the Poch I wouldn’t be surprised.
Funny that all 4 of the teams left in the EL SF are still all well in the hunt for that 4th CL spot in their own domestic league too, usually isn’t the case and makes the EL win all that more crucial.
Get up Son! diving cvnt
Shane long scores the quickest goal in premier league history
29 seconds
That the quickest one?
Bit surprised, CL one is like 10 seconds and Bundesliga/La Liga ones are sub 10 seconds.
Brighton come on…
Loving this title race nobody blinking. Despise Liverpool but fucking hell can’t deny the quality and will to win it. Really has perfect storm of being horrendous with a potential double on for them, Spurs in semi with anything possible there. Horrific stuff. Shame we couldn’t put best foot forward at home vs Palace, would of been huge step to sewing up Champions league. Luckily results went our way, not confident well get result away at Wolves though. Emery has work cut out this summer, extra funds and acclaim of Champs league critical. Europa league seems likeliest route if i’m… Read more »
Brighton really have no attacking mode
Spurs can afford to play with 9 men camped in the Brighton half
Brighton looking really solid here, would be huge if they come away with something
Spuds have been shite and are playing bad football
Really telling on how low the quality have been this season for the teams chasing 3rd/4th that this spuds team are third
We would be shoo in already if Emery wasn’t so average
Pedro
‘Lesson here is that next season, he has to make sure that every single player in his squad is capable of contributing positively.’
I think you’re expecting too much.
Managers can improve players, but they’re not magicians.
The best way to ensure that all members of the squad contribute positively, is to have better players in the squad.
Sorry WE it was 7 seconds. Big miscalculation there.
Alexanderhenry
You’re becoming the gentle Pedro-truth poster here.
I love the way yo do your disagreement in a very genteel manner.
Spurs will find a way to score…and we all k ow it.
Brighton are shite
They have not scored in the league since mar 9th and have conceded 13 goals
Spurs will win this one, it’s a matter of how many they eventually score
What a shit header.
Spurs always get teams that don’t take their chances against team Brighton would of scored against us by now.
A lovely charitable post from our unremitting PedRo- and I ,as always thank him for it. Firstly- I hope all the wonderful fans on here – echo our Pedro’s sentiments and donate to the EAAA. A wonderful charity… PedRo has quoted coach Emerys pre match verdict. “But it’s a good moment to try to do all we can, with intelligence. We need to be clear, we need to play with heart but above all being clear in our minds. Can anyone make sense of this utter jibberish? The only thing clear out of this -is emery still can not speak… Read more »
CG,
““But it’s a good moment to try to do all we can, with intelligence. We need to be clear, we need to play with heart but above all being clear in our minds.”
I understand what Emery is saying
Are you sure your Emery derangement has not eaten away at your language comprehension?
Brighton are the second worst team in the league
The league table can sometimes be wrong
‘They don’t have the know-how to play on the counter
All g Samesong.
Sal I have this nagging feeling that if Liverpool pick up maximum points from their last 3 matches that it will be enough to win the PL, I fancy an upset tomorrow and United to nick a point at OT.
Well theyre not Dissenter, table never lies and not to that extent.
You must have just woken up from a coma in the last couple of weeks if you really rate that Fulham side ahead of Brighton.
Just names on paper, I don’t want any of them when they’re relegated.
Wenger eagle
Nah, I think city will destroy United tomorrow and make the decision to give OGS the job laughable.
The manure players are supposed to be playing to make a point after the debacle at Everton…yet they will get smashed.
WE
I prefer that Cardiff get to stay.
Brighton are indeed really bad, as bad as Fulham in my opinion
On paper that’s exactly how it should play out Dissenter, remains to be seen how much that result last week will effect their run-in though.
Unless they’re winning midway through the second half, bottle will come into it and United are a side without as much to lose as well as playing at home with players knowing that they’re heads are o the chopping block and they’re playing for their future at the club essentially given a clean out is expected in the summer.
Far stranger things have happened.
Fulham have done the classic pick up a couple of wins after being relegated. It does happen often enough not to be a huge shock to the system but it can distort the table a little. It’s almost as if once the pressure is gone they relax and enjoy themselves.
United are playing under as much pressure as city
They too have to qualify in the top-4 and they don’t have the fall-back off the EL.
In fact I think u outed are the ones that wilt under the pressure
Emery is saying play hard (heart) but still with intelligence (head). Give maximum effort but stop making silly mistakes. It’s pretty much the same thing every manager says. Not really that complicated CG. You ever play competitively and had a manager?
Pedro should say the same thing around here. We could use more intelligence and less bluster.
Fulham were shocking all season up until a couple of weeks ago, FAR worse than Brighton.
Laughable to suggest that a club with 12 points less and a -22 GD worse are on the same level especially considering Fulham were relegated weeks ago and are now playing with no pressure.
Fulham bought some very good players last summer. .
‘They just forgot that old maxim of “building from the back”
They should have spent some of that money win good defenders.
who bloody cares what Chuckle Charlie wants?¿
NO FUCKING BODY…
Who bloody trust anything that has to do with Wenger?¿
No body Care’s what that old man Say’s, at least not me.
A man without a job for almost a year, a man we all know is not on a sabbatical, Bloody Wenger.
As for viera, I personally don’t want such defensive game plan he exhibit at nice.. except maybe, it’s the players at his disposals, that’s making his team not get enough goals, although they are somehow solid defensively.
which just goes to say, he’s a defensive minded coach.
Dissenter
Except the fact that everybody has already chalked it off as 3 points to Citeh including even the more optimistic Utd fans.
So they’re hardly under intense pressure to win tomorrow.
When is the last time you watched a game like this?
Even the old Stoke city were waiting for throw-ins
The defensive team does not know how to counter and haven’t scored in the league since March 9th.
Wenger Eagler
I overstated my disdain for Brighton way too much.
I should have said that Cardiff are better than Brighton.
Funny that you say that. Fulham have scored a whopping 33 goals in 35 matches.
1 more than the hapless Brighton.
Emery is talking footballing jibberish.
He is just saying words for the sake of it.
Its waffle of the highest order
If You like waffle and stodge – emerys your man…
Enjoy it..
Eagle
Tend to agree with Liverpool bagging it, imagine not landing title with a single loss on tally for season. If City bottle it my money’s on an unexpected one after getting past United, maybe Leicester.
Surely not even the will of 50 million gooners worldwide can make the goal post get bigger?
FUCKING HELL LADS… this is getting close
Oh Pedro this one has all making of Spurs scoring in stoppage.
15 minutes for Brighton to hold on……..
Fulham have a new coach in Parker, so you also get the new manager bounce.
Just switched sky sports on, Brighton is using the well known 4-6-0 formation!
Brighton are not doing my nerves any favours.
Yes, this has the look of a Spurs winning goal in the 92nd minute.
Can see Brighton knicking this.
Valentin
Would you mind fucking right off please?
Albion might even do us a favour here
Samesong
Same to you – don’t say it you’ll tempt fate!
I said we would score the other day and we did lol
Spurs are just going to start crossing the ball into the 18 yard box
Great block / tackle
Danny Rose is a cheating diving cunt
I have the feeling Brighton might need a bigger bus. Spurs passing is slow as hell though.. peak Wenger banter era tippy tappy stuff.
Danny Rose should have gotten a card there for diving
Imagine if we had Dunk as a CB instead of Mustafi. Cheaper, more reliable in short better.
Spurs wouldn’t be able to camp this far out if Brighton had any counter-attacking know-how.
Count on that cunt Chris Hughton to let The Scum win
Fuck sake run it to the corner
Valentin
I agree that we need to start thinking about knocking a player or two from the bottom clubs
Liverpool have made a killing from signing players from relegated squad; Wijnaldum, Shaquiri and Robertson
Come on Brighton
Ughh take it to the corner dude.
Wankers
They’re so bad they don;’t even know that they have to just keep the ball to relive pressure on their defenders.
And there you have it, cunts
Just knew one of those ugly pricks would score.
They gave him so much space
They deserve to go down
West Ham will do it for us!
Yep… fuckers.
For the hundredth time this season Spurs fluke a long-range winner.
Do Brighton even know where the goal is
Just after that absolute twat for Brighton took a ridiculous chance beforehand
You just fucking knew it was coming.
Just a point we play Brighton in a couple of weeks with the EL matches either side. It’d be much better for us to play a team that is safe, taking a huge sigh of relief and thinking about their summer holidays.
Off the back of two attempts from 40/30 yards from two different Brighton forwards under no pressure.
Hope they get relegated.