Wolves gamble on Arsenal being cowards away from home. They win.

by .

Aaaaahhhghgghggggggghhhhhhhh…

The Emery HOME WIN train derailed predictably yesterday.

Come on, be honest, you knew we’d tank against Palace, and you knew we’d tank against Wolves.

Am I going to sit here and lambast the coach today?

No. What’s the point. Those players should be fucking ashamed of themselves. They can get themselves up for the sexy games, then utterly melt when it matters against shite teams they should be dealing with.

Last night, there was no belief a win was coming. You can tell me Emery prepped the players on what Wolves are like, but I’m struggling to believe anyone was paying attention. Is it a boredom issue? A translation problem? Or the reality that the cancer in the squad is the ghost of Wenger?

Regardless, we don’t have the bottle. Players turning away from well-struck freekicks? Are you joking? FACE UP LADS, FACE UP. Sunday League basics. I never call out Steve Bould, but come on Steve, where are you on that one? Those players in that wall should be locked in medieval stocks and have 1966 leather balls fired at their faces until they scream maniaclly that they are enjoying the learning process.

You should not have to be teaching people like Xhaka not to turn away when they are in their mid-twenties. What a disaster. In fact, I vividly remember being told by a friends dad at 10 that bravery can’t be taught, you’re either going to put your body on the line for your team, or you’ll be a coward. Maybe this isn’t a Bouldy thing? Maybe it’s a rancid attitude to BRITISH FOOTBALLING VALUES. Fucking hell, get me HARD BREXIT on the phone, I have some additional LEAVE thoughts.

Additionally: Where are the, ‘we really missed Xhaka’ crowd today? He’s simply not good enough to be an elite footballer. The fact anyone missed him says a lot about the state of play.

I love Lacazette, he has more swag than MJ (before we knew he was a pedo), but he’s scored 6 goals away from home this year. He’s not a strong player and he gets eaten alive in those physical games.

In fact, it’s fair to say that the whole squad lacks physicality. Not an issue when you’re playing powder puff teams like Napoli. A huge problem when you’re playing a team that has been built on a brief of caps-locked ‘POWER AND PACE.’

I tell you who we did miss. Aaron Ramsey. A PROPER athlete.

I think Emery has done a tremendous job this season on the face of it, but for me, it’s tough to say he’s not a little culpable for the debacle of the last two games. He made a drunk gamble at the weekend when he played a pathetically weak side against a solid Palace that was always going to take advantage of any signs of weakness. That decision wasn’t an acceptable mistake after we paid the same price against Everton. Our biggest opportunity was to bag the home win with a big starting 11, then roll the dice on Wolves with a team that had momentum with it.

He gambled wrong. Hey, we’ve all been there at 3 in the morning, 10 beers deep, in our pants, staking the mortgage on black after we’ve broken into a friend’s Paddy Power account. Just a shame Emery had precedent for the Palace game, he should have played a smarter risk.

However, he’ll get by this season because there are so many drossy players on the outskirts of the 12-14 players that are good enough.

We are still in with a chance on top four, we’ve just multiplied the difficulty.

On a positive note, I think Emery will fancy his chances on the Europa League. Valencia will be an easy tie, and he knows he can get his players up for the big games… so Chelsea in the final will look appetising for him.

I just find it hard to compute what a disappointment this squad is, because yesterday wasn’t about ability, it was about focus, motivation and fight. We didn’t have any of that.

… let’s hope we can stretch that £45m this summer. There is a huge rebuild needed, if we don’t get it right, Arsenal will be an irrelevance for many years to come.

Welcome to what 10 years of neglect brings you… the real ‘careful what you wish for’ was always ‘careful what you stick with.’

What did YOU think? Share in the comments if you agree with me… x

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Paulinho

Lascelles would be good but I think he is maybe just out of our price range.

Bamford10

Valentin

I’m well aware of the various approaches to defending corners. My point is that while he has shifted to a more man-marking and less zonal system, it is not true, as you have alleged, that we have gone to a “pure man marking” system. In this new approach, three defenders have still been given zonal roles.

You have a habit of making not-so-accurate or not-exactly-true claims. I am simply pushing back on one such claim, because it isn’t accurate.

Valentin

@Pendrey,

I know it is against the narrative that Arsenal players are lazy and don’t work hard, but the sun has published statistics that this season Arsenal is the team that covered the longest average distance in front of Spurs with Chelsea surprisingly fourth. As we have no players in the top ten, that means that the running is shared collectively rather than due to some individual. In contrast Chelsea has three players in the top 10 with Kante second.

Our players were working hard, but not very smartly against Wolves. That is due to the setup defined by Emery.

Leftsidesanch

Chelsea are dreadful away to the top 6 and have to go to OT. If we somehow better their results we are in the CL. How is that harder than beating an underrated Valencia side or Chelsea in a one off high stakes game?

Win our games in the league.

Gbat

Valentin

Maybe the young players you keep bigging up aren’t as good as you think they are. You make out these players are clearly good enough and that the manager is a fool for not picking them. Maybe you’re right. But I’m pretty sure Emery and all the coaches at the club, who see these players every day know more than you.

Leftsidesanch

I ‘m doing Frankfurt a disservice as they could prevail in Europe also.

Valentin

@Bamford,

Your point is that I should not have use “pure” man marking? Again instead of concentrating on why have we switched system so late in the season, you argue on the wording.
When a wise man points to the moon, the fools stare at the finger.

By the way, the name “pure” man marking is how it is called if you try to get your coaching badge. By opposition to mix marking and pure zonal marking.

Valentin

@Gbat,

I am not arguing for every youth team, just a small number who have proven at U23 that they are ready for first team action.
Nkethia proved in 20 minutes that he deserved more minutes. Not starting every games, but whenever we need a pacy winger he should be played.
Same with the other players, under the right circumstances they would contribute more than some first team players.

Majesticgooner

This malaise has been because of the neglect in both recruitment of players and coaching under the Wenger years, even when we were winning with the invincibles you had a feeling in some matches the players just did enough without pushing themselves, a reason e never won the champions league with the squad that was the best in Europe at the time. In his latter years of his demise, he tried doing the same with less talented players, not pushing them to do more, which unfortunately is in wengers persona. Not pushing or motivating a squad of immensely talented players… Read more »

Marc

Gbat

I agree – all managers have their favourites for what ever reasons but why would Emery make life difficult for himself if there were 2,3 or 4 talented players ready to come in and take the team by storm?

You only have to look at the resident idiot’s (Charlie George just in case you were conflicted) previous comments about Emery going after players (who were either only signed on loan or never even had bids made) to pad his CV.

I’m still trying to understand what the fuck that type of comment is supposed to mean.

Champagne Charlie

Paulinho

What’s Emery’s system again? You’re full of quips but you never quite give enough substance other than to state you’re in camp Emery unequivocally.

What types players are transforming this side exactly?

Because he took over a team at absolute zero on the baseline, meaning there was only better to accomplish. Most high-level managers take over a previous project that’s middling, with the view that some steps back to come forward longer term is fair.

That wasn’t the case with us, we were bottom of the barrel.

Bamford10

Valentin I’ve thought about it a bit more and I see your point. While that system includes three players still playing zonally, many people would call that set-up “pure man marking”. I guess my point is that this phrasing could be misleading to some. As for your criticism of this set-up, could it be that both our defensive coaches and our defenders have decided they think this approach has its advantages? If it proves to be less effective and Emery sticks with it, you would have a good point and a valid criticism. But I don’t know that we have… Read more »

Paulinho

Charlie – I’ve already gone over Emery’s style/system a million times, go back and re-read numerous posts from months ago if you want it refreshed. In a literal sense, he’s changed it numerous times, but the philosophy remains constant: Front foot, high lines throughout the side, reluctance to cede initiative. constant pressing.

What’s Rafa Benitez’s system or philosophy?

Go into a detailed analysis of one of the supposed standard bearer coaches in this regard then we can see how Emery compares or contrasts. Should be fascinating.

Marc

It’s funny how people like CC will tell you that Emery took over a team at absolute rock bottom as if we went from amazing to last season in an instant.

Emery gets more criticism per match than these clowns used to give Wenger per decade.

Elmo

On Monday night on 5Live,Wrighty was suggesting we should look at the Brighton centre backs, Dunk and Duffy, but particularly Dunk. At face value they’re being relegated and have conceded 54 goals, but seeing as we’re skint and realistically can’t compete for top European talent, a hard-working, fairly solid CB with PL experience may be the best we can do. I’d imagine he’d be an improvement on Mustafi, though the question would be whether he’s comfortable enough on the ball to play out from the back. Players from teams who stay in the PL (Lascelles, Tarkowski etc) will be out… Read more »

Marc

How many goals have we conceded from corners this season in the PL?

Marc

Elmo

Alderweireld is available for £26 million in the summer. As a stop gap it’s worth a thought. Beyond that we shouldn’t be looking at buying players from the PL unless exceptional circumstances – there’s too much money in it, the days of clubs selling because they need the money is long gone although the Spud’s may be about to revive that.

Better players and better value can be found overseas.

Un Na naai

Mark with a C

33 and a quarter

Batistuta

Elmo

I’d rather have Lascelles, young, British and very good in the air too. Trakwoski is a bit slow bit you’re right in saying that we should be looking at standout players from teams about going down, might be a bargain or two seeing as we are the poorest London based club

Marc

Un

I don’t think so.

Un Na naai

Mark with a C

As a stop gap?? He’s one of the best centre backs in the world. Nothing stop gap about it. He’s worth double that figure. It’s a steal. The only reason he’s available is because of a clause in his contract.

Un Na naai

Mark with a C

I’ve got the data…..

Un Na naai

Emery certainly doesn’t get more criticism on these pages than a certain French legend does. Nice try again though mark with a c

Batistuta

I’d go back in for Maguire though, maybe chirp in El Neny in there seeing as they have a boner for him and we are a very very poor club capable of spending money

Un Na naai

When a wise man points to the moon, the fools stare at the finger.

Valentin
Perfectly put. Sums Bamford up entirely.

Batistuta

Un na

Toby is a bit further gone in age though isn’t he? We could and should do better than him plus Spurs would sooner close down that new stadium than sell to us

Un Na naai

Batistuta

I’d love to have Maguire at the club.

Jamie

Bamford – I remember reading TR7’s assessment of our cash availability, but I’m not sure from where he got the £100m cash reserves. Just because we had £180m in the bank (at least) last season and spent £70m net this summer, that doesn’t mean we’ll only have £110m cash reserves at the start of next season. The club gets paid this summer – PL revenue, sponsorship, etc all still to come in before the start of next season. Phil, of AngryOfIslington fame, put our cash at £230m last season in a piece he wrote a couple of months ago, so… Read more »

englandsbest

GoH

A bored board? What board? Where?

A Board is there to protect the interests of shareholders. Kroenke doesn’t need one, In effect he owns all the shares (bar a few which the holders are legally forced to sell to him). A sole owner appoints Officers not Directors. If anybody is still sitting around te table, he is a ghost of times past.

Batistuta

Un na

Maguire and Chiwell and we could throw in some cash and Mustafi with El Neny for good measure….How do mid-table teams have better fitter less brainless players than we do is amazing

Valentin

@Bamford, No problem. We had the set pieces defensive record this season and were second last year. I disagree with man marking, but I could understand changing at the beginning of the season. I just don’t understand the timing. Why now? We can already see that now corners are panic station. Moreover we do not have enough 6’3″ players to dominate opponents. If the opposition have more than 4 tall players, we have a significant mismatch in their favour. All that change when our main weaknesses in midfield are not being addressed. For me that look like change for the… Read more »

Marc

Waste of time even talking about Maguire Leicester would want £60 million plus for him. We don’t have the money. If you want an English CB then we need to get the next Maguire before they are established.

Elmo

Realistically, Alderweirald will not come to us. We don’t offer the same proposition that we could to Sol: winning the big pots, and better placed clubs will be after him at that price (the Italians love 30 year old CBs).

Maguire would be far too expensive. Leicester paid £17m for him and he’s now an England starting CB; they’d want at least £60m.

Marc is right that the value is usually found overseas, but the scouting has to be much better than what has brought us Mustafi, Gabriel etc. Was Cagigao involved in those transfers?

Charlie George

Paulinhio

“”””Front foot, high lines throughout the side, reluctance to cede initiative. constant pressing”””””.

Barcelona 6 PSG 1

who swallows this guff????

Barcelona 6 PSG 1

worked a treat!

Losers love a loser!
Always have done – always will do!

I am buying opposition goals – like a Zimbabwean buys the American Dollar

Buy Leicester and Valencia goals -and earn yourself a little holiday
The Eastern Cape is glorious this time of the year.

Guernsey Gun

No way should wenger should come back in as DOF, or any role whatsoever. That would be toxic and just take us back. Emery may well not be the man, but taking wenger back would be like what we are seeing at OT. Fergies constant meddling, trying to recreate bygone eras with outdated methods etc is holding them back – they have cocked up another managerial hire. PV maybe in some role – Wenger, forget it.

Un Na naai

Batistuta I hear you but he’s ready made. If emery is looking for short term success during his 3 year contract then I’d think he’d look at alderweild as less of a gamble than someone up and coming and who May take time to acclimatise to the British pace of football. Say Koulibaly or someone else Don’t get me wrong I’d snap your hand off for Maguire but at £26m alderweild is a snip. Especially if funds are as tight as is being reported. That would leave £20m for a left back. With holding coming through and a certain top… Read more »

Jamie

CG –

Bayern 5 – Arsenal 1

Arsenal 1 – Bayern 5

Man Utd 8 – Arsenal 2

Chelsea 6 – Arsenal 0 (Wenger’s 1000th game in charge)

Losers love a loser, right?

Un Na naai

Batistuta They are taught to defend as a unit. It’s one of the simplest arts in football. It’s a lot harder to score a goal than to defend one successfully. Mid table teams have been out defending us for over a decade with new players and coaches coming in and out so it’s 100% a coaching and philosophy issue. I bet you Mustafi could drop in to other defences and look a lot more accomplished than he does for us. We really need to look to be hiring a first class defensive coach this summer. It’s proably more important than… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

Paulinho Yea precisely, not seen front foot pressing since about week 5 of the season, some philosophy that. He’s a fiddler, reacts to the opposition without imposing his own game on the match in question. This is why we’ve made the most half time subs, seen countless tinkering moments, and generally haven’t an identity under him. Your petulance is obvious, Rafa isn’t and hasn’t been named a standard bearer for anything. He was someone I rated as a safe pair of hands to transition us during a particular set of circumstances. I’m not interested much in your assertions about whether… Read more »

HighburyLegend

lol Jamie, don’t be too harsh with Charlie George.

Leedsgunner

Valentin

Good post @1125

Agree with you that we should have been using the best of our youth products a lot earlier in the season to support and supplement the first team squad.

IMO, Willock offers as much as Elneny if not more, and Nketiah should be given more minutes to give Auba and Lacazette a break… if they stop scoring, we suffer… it’s that simple because frankly our goal threat is meagre elsewhere.

Charlie George

GG”
“””No way should wenger should come back in as DOF, or any role whatsoever. That would be toxic and just take us back”””

back to:

scintillating football
top 4 finishes
FA Cup wins
Press conferences that are worth listening too
young players who wanted to join us
A world wide profile

Emery and Raul will take us to Watford’s Level

Paulinho

““”””Front foot, high lines throughout the side, reluctance to cede initiative. constant pressing”””””.Barcelona 6 PSG 1” That’s not the argument though is it Charlie George. Charlie seems bemused as to what Emery’s style or philosophy actually is. The question of execution is another matter. In that match, PSG played it perfectly and would’ve been out of sight if not for profligate finishing. When they didn’t take their chances Barca sniffed out a goal and all hell broke loose. Emery’s teams are not comfortable defending deep, and we saw that against Barca. They eventually retreated and were sitting too deep without… Read more »

Valentin

As part of loans covenant, Arsenal must keep a certain amount of cash in reserve. That does not mean that it is available to spend.
Same way, that when self build a bank may demand that a certain amount of cash is keep in reserve up to 3 months after delivery to cover any defect not immediately spotted.

Also because of cashflow schedule, Arsenal may be cash rich at the end of the fiscal year, without necessarily being cash rich during the transfer windows.

Un Na naai

Jamie

I agree
I read recently that our current reserves as of jan/feb were around £170m
While I understand that some must be reserved for running costs and transfer instalments I refuse to believe Brighton wolves Watford and Bournemouth can operate at a higher financial level than us with less fan base, smaller stadiums and no European football. It doesn’t stack up.

Paulinho

“Yea precisely, not seen front foot pressing since about week 5 of the season, some philosophy that. ”

Oh, so you get it now? That’s funny. You seem bewildered and looking for answers not long back.

No Rafa analysis then. Disappointing but not certainly surprising.

Charlie George

Jamie

Fair points

Over 20 years of top level management – every manager gets a few walloping’s
Fergie included.

By the time Emery turns 50 – he would have been sacked 5 times as a football coach.
FIVE TIMES!!!!!

no Rambo- no chance!

Paulinho

“Yea precisely, not seen front foot pressing since about week 5 of the season, some philosophy that. ”

And that is just flat out bollocks. We pressed against United and Chelsea at the Emirates, as well as in the first half an hour against Napoli last week. Numerous other times as well.

Charlie George

“”””In that match, PSG played it perfectly””””

Barcelona 6 PSG 1

Perfect for Barca!

Please go and lie down , dear boy

Guernsey Gun

CC – Could happen but I doubt it. I’m as frustrated as the next but am a firm believe of not going back to something that was failing badly at the end. Until Fergie is shunted to some Ambassadorial role they will continue to stagnate. I think I said at the time Emery came onboard that we would probably go backwards – the reality is we have stood still. As a realist we are going to be ropey league at best for a number of seasons, possibly lower as you say.

Valentin

@LeedsGunner, You are right in that the scoring record of our midfield players is pitiful. I have been wondering if that may be due to our setup or the players. Apart from Ramsey, none of them seems to be adept at late surge into the box. However I have seen numerous times when Özil and Aubameyang do run behind the defense and the ball is instead passed laterally or backward. The perfect example is the fact we have not score enough goal from counter-attacking corners. It is like that some players simply refuse to make a splitting forward pass if… Read more »

Un Na naai

Pedro Well Ramsey is off At the very least emery has to get to grips with our defence. if that’s not something he is personally able for then he needs to recruit a top class defensive coach. If the lower sides can then we can. On top of that he’s made our attacking play so one dimensional, he needs to add some variety to our play. Gone are the deft flicks and 1-2s around the box. We score the same type of goal every week. Cut back, tap in. But yes he needs to he backed by the suits financially.… Read more »

Marc

back to: scintillating football – not for a few years top 4 finishes – not for a couple of years and certainly wouldn’t have this season FA Cup wins – Wenger had a superb record in the FA Cup but as a manager was in decline Press conferences that are worth listening too – who gives a fuck young players who wanted to join us – haven’t had many of those recently A world wide profile – Er we just signed the biggest shirt deal in out history and one of the biggest in the PL. I knew CG and… Read more »

Sid

The Kroenke commentary is pointless, he is going nowhere, there is absolutely nothing anybody can do about it, so what exactly is the point of bitching about it? Yes I would swap him for a passionate owner who loves the club and understands football but wanting it doesn’t change shit. Having said that, the only constraint Kroenke has set on the club is that we have to spend what we make, he hasn’t taken out money and we have spent around 290 million in the last 5 years. 300 million if properly used could have built a pretty decent core… Read more »

englandsbest

Un na maii Somewhat hyperbolic on my part I’ll agree – but we can reduce the annual wage-bill a helluva lot more than £20 mill. The total wage-bill is £220 m , it’s the figure given by Pedro, and I’ll take his word on it. How much is players wages I don’t know, but for sure, more than half, and 99% of that will be first team squad members. Let’s say they number 28, a likely figure. Okay, some arithmetic. Let’s say twenty are the young and vigorous, eight are expensive left-overs. £500K pa is more than enough for an… Read more »

Marc

englandsbest

No way we’re spending almost as much on backroom staff salaries as playing staff.

If you say the average salary of the first team squad (25 players) is £100k per week (probably erring on the high side there) then that’s £130 million a year.

Globalgunner

Without a doubt Emery is the wrong manager fore us, the wrong manager to take over an average to poor team and drill them in tactics and install a work ethic and warrior mentality. Instead I dont even know what he can be said to have accomplished. maybe steady the ship, stop the rot?. Its like Wenger never left watching this team. After 30 mins I turned over to the Manchester derby to see a much better game. City players are small and technical but with so much fight. Bernardo Silva and David Silva can scrote with the best or… Read more »

Charlie George

PedRo

“”My view has always been that the manager is substandard, but ”

My view – is that is utterly insane.

So Give a substandard manager( well said PedRo, by the way) millions of pounds to do more damage.

Only in football.

How about get a mustard manager – and give him millions of pounds.

Just a thought.

Marc

Global

Who are your candidates?

Champagne Charlie

Paulinho Not sure why I need to unveil anything on Rafa, I stated why he appealed at the time. That ones gone however, do you need a refresher on his style of coaching? He’s pragmatic and disciplined. The sort of antithesis I fancied would do well post-Wenger for a few. Back to the actual issue….Emery Nice of you to be able to cherry pick odd games, and half hours of games across an entire season. Personally I don’t view that as a evidence of fundamentals of someone’s philosophy given it’s so threadbare across the course of the season. For instance,… Read more »

Pierre

Jamie Has reality sunk in yet ….he is not up to scratch …it’s time to admit that the few of us on Le Grove who doubted Emery from the start and continued to doubt him throughout the season, were right. There have been a few flip floppers like Tony and Graham who kept being fooled by the odd good result but they won’t get fooled again….. So Jamie , it’s time to stop embarrassing yourself in your support of a manager who is clearly not good enough. Hopefully kronke will do the right thing and relieve Emery of his duties… Read more »

Jay

Welcome to what 10 years of neglect brings you… the real ‘careful what you wish for’ was always ‘careful what you stick with.’

This this and… this.

Biggles

*sigh* Our problem at the moment is primarily the old mental fragility. And that I think comes primarily from players Wenger signed. Ozil on his good days is world class. On his bad days he’s utterly anonymous. I’d rather have a more limited player who has fewer bad days. I’d rather have Ray Parlour in the squad right now than Ozil. Same goes for Mhiki. And Xhaka (although I don’t think he’s world class on his good days). The defence needs major work. Obviously Bellerin, Holding and Mavropanos are all out at the moment, but Mustafi doesn’t belong in the… Read more »

Un Na naai

Charlie

I like it but you’ve got to back the manager and give him all the tools available to help us and him to win.
I’m not his biggest advocate but if he’s backed and then fails then he can have zero excuses. But you’ve got to back him

Valentin

@EnflandBest, Your estimate is completely unrealistic. Even Spurs with a meagre Levy has a bigger wage bill than what you are proposing. 1 player at 350kpw = 18 millions a year Özil 1 player at 200kpw = 10.2 millions a year Mhikitarian 1 player at 190kpw = 9.9 millions a year Auba 1 player at 170kpw = 8.9 millions a year Laca 10 players at 100kpw = 52 millions a year You already have a wage bill of 100 millions just with the first team top 14 players. What do you do with the other 14? You expect them to… Read more »

Biggles

Also, a further point is that whilst you can point fingers at Emery for a bad team selection, you can’t blame him when Ozil decides to be anonymous or Mustafi decides to get himself booked in the second minute. These are time served professionals who aren’t performing on the pitch.

Swapping Emery for somebody else right now is a waste of time and money. It’s the squad that needs replaced. Even a Guardiola and Klopp double act couldn’t stop some of our squad being useless.

Charlie George

marc my words

Arsene Wenger will be back at Arsenal in some capacity before too long.

We need his gravitas, wit, charm , proven track record, footballing ethos and dignity desperately.

A recharged, refreshed and hopefully improved version as DOF
with his first ever signing Pat V as manager
beautiful synergy and symmetry

keep it simple
Its only football..

Alexanderhenry

Pedro

‘Welcome to what 10 years of neglect brings you… the real ‘careful what you wish for’ was always ‘careful what you stick with.’

A huge amount has changed at Arsenal off the pitch, but we’re still stuck with the same owner. That’s the real problem.
It always was.

Nelson

Too bad, Manure’s game is scheduled after our game this Sunday. If Chelsea wins, we could have played a reserve team and rest up for the UEFA cup game. Note that the Brighton game won’t be easy. They are still fighting against the drop. They almost played to a 0 – 0 at the Bridge.

Paulinho

“So why can’t I use your logic to draw a conclusion that paints Emery as dreary?”

You can paint what you like, just don’t expect to play dumb without being picked up on it.

The general idea from this point on, being a manager in the job for one season, is that Emery is allowed to bring in more players that allow him to implement and sustain his philosophy for longer periods and more effectively. It’s really not too difficult to grasp.

bennydevito

amieApril 25, 2019    12:48:35 CG – Bayern 5 – Arsenal 1 Arsenal 1 – Bayern 5 Man Utd 8 – Arsenal 2 Chelsea 6 – Arsenal 0 (Wenger’s 1000th game in charge) Losers love a loser, right? >>>> Well done Jamie, you beat me to it. Not to mention: Man City 6 Arsenal 3 Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0 Man utd 6 Arsenal 1 Liverpool 5 Arsenal 1 Southampton 4 Arsenal 0 Tottenham 5 Arsenal 1 Then there’s Man utd 8 Arsenal 2 Chelsea 6 Arsenal 0 Arsenal 1 Bayern 5 Bayern 5 Arsenal 1 Then there was Arsenal 4 nil… Read more »

Un Na naai

England is best
We can and will reduce the wage bill drastically this summer. No doubt about that: and I do share your enthusiasm for giving youth a chance but it must be tempered with caution. We need leadership and experience as it is with our current squad let alone a team of kids so I wouldn’t go selling the entire squad just yet
Especially not with our lack of available funds. It’s unbelievable that a side as big as arsenal has £45m to spend when mid to lower table is spending more than £72m
It just doesn’t make sense

englandsbest

Marc

So how much do you think we can save?

I am becoming more and more enchanted by the idea.

A new broom, a clean sweep. After years of doleful droop, of watching older guys who are past it, a young athletic bunch with a mission. How exciting!

Un Na naai

Pedro

You see no problem with kroneke giving £45m to emery this summer? As a top 6 premier league team?
Spurs have just invested in a brand new stadium and are 3rd with a champions league semi final, massively sellable assets (players) and a coach with a vision who gets results from converting lower league players into internationals.

All while the rest of the league spends more money than London’s biggest club
Come on Pedro. You’ve got links at the club. You’re smart. You’re in the corporate world. You know something isn’t right

Gbat

I didn’t want Emery but he’s a good manager and has done a decent job considering the lack of funds and season ending injuries.

But without backing in the transfer window, no manager in the world would be able to take us to the top. For example, Pep signed 9 of the 14 players involved last night for City. And they weren’t exactly bad when he took over.

salpardisenyc

The £45m is pure speculation from journos whom need content and clicks, notably John Cross whom rarely gets it right.

Were in for a bumpy summer of in’s and out regardless of Champions league.
My worry is Raul spearheading it.

Globalgunner

CC epitomizes why there are cults and why 1 person can convince hundreds to commit mas suicide. How feeble does your mind have to be.

Wenger back!. Only CC sees his genius, no other team in world football wants to be taken to a new level by his magic stardust.

Champagne Charlie

Paulinho There’s no playing dumb, there’s expecting X and getting Y. We were abject last season, there was no worse. Same group of players plus welcome additions, a better manager, better coaches, the returns have been meagre at best. I didn’t expect miracles, I expected improvement view a with to life down the line. That’s sorely lacked and no amount of you deflecting blame to players, recruitment, Raul, Ivan etc will distort that. There’s numerous segments that’ll be judged at seasons end, but you’ll do well to explain how Emery comes out with a pat on the back after season… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

“Wenger back!. Only CC sees his genius,“

Eh?

Jamie

Pierre – Fighting talk! Embarrassing myself? Citation required, else that statement is as credible as your insistence that you’ve been an Arsenal supporter since the 60s. Try harder, kid. I backed Emery at the start of the season. I’m still (just barely) on his side. If he gets us CL football next season by hook or by crook, he’s hit his only major KPI and deserves backing from the board in the summer transfer market. If he doesn’t, he’s failed and a replacement needs to be found sooner rather than later. We should get rid of your lover Ozil, and… Read more »

Redtruth

Pierre

Why was Wenger sacked if 3 trophies in 4 years was such a neat thing to do.

englandsbest

valentin

Saddened to read your downbeat post.

Dangerous? Yes. Unrealistic? No

Caution will, at best, bring mid-table mediocrity. No Arsenal fan ought to settle for that.

I am many years adrift of youth, but I can still recall the vigour, the excitement, the enthusiasm. We will never get that with the current mob. Most of them used all that up ages ago.

Alexanderhenry

Pedro Let’s be fair here, your ‘all we need to do is get rid of wenger and everything will be wonderful’ narrative is looking a bit like fairytale at this stage. On the other hand, my narrative that arsenal were in excellent shape before kroenke got involved and since then have gone from excellent to average, is looking more like a tightly written true crime novel. Also, Kroenke hasn’t invested any of his own money. What’s clear is that if he actually has any interest in arsenal being successful, he’ll have to make some serious funds available this summer. How,… Read more »

Redtruth

Wenger’s legacy was winning sub-stsndard FA Cup competitions.

SpainishDave

Emery spent 65 mil during the summer and look where it has got us……nowhere.
The defence is crap a mixture of has beens and dick head Mustafi.
Emery hasn’t sorted that out in 50 games.
Midfield is a mess not one regular player, no goals, no movement.
The forwards are poor we have two tap in merchants with no service.
Emery is not the answer, clueless.

Un Na naai

Sal

But then jorunos are all of a sudden oracles when it comes to trump brexit and the Eu

🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

I’ll agree with you though.
The mainstream media are just bullshit artists. On all sides of the coin

Marc

englandsbest

No idea I was more shocked by the difference between the quoted £220 million and what the 1st team cost is – I know the maths were a bit of a stab in the dark there but a £90 million wage bill for youth, admin, match day and coaching staff etc seems crazy. I assume it doesn’t include policing costs?

I was trying to see where the money is going.

Redtruth

Derisory to acclaim Wenger for winning a Cup competitiion where every side fields reserve players.

Marc

Un

“The mainstream media are just bullshit artists. On all sides of the coin”

I think you’re being unfair on bullshit artists!

Un Na naai

Rt

A few years ago your we’re taking up FA cup wins as some sort of aspiration. I’ll agree now that it’s not enough for a club the side of arsenal but at least try to maintain a consistent narrative. People may take you for a disingenuous liar. Perish the thought.

salpardisenyc

Marble disregarding the first 10 years and focusing on the latter when league caught up.

Its all started going Pete Tong when Dean left and board gave Wenger endless leash culminating in where we are now.

Paulinho

“We were abject last season, there was no worse. Same group of players plus welcome additions, a better manager, better coaches, the returns have been meagre at best”

Nine points better than last season with a squad primarily made of offensive players that don’t suit his system.

He doesn’t just get one pat, he gets two and three.

Un Na naai

Marc
We’ve agreed for the first time in days.

Un Na naai

Sal

Why are you adopting Cockney rhyming slang? How pretentious.

Un Na naai

Alexander Henry
Well said

Pedro
You are flip flopping mate. Find a point and stick to it. You’re wrong today when you’ve been so right for a good while

salpardisenyc

Un

Pull it together, that was a great fucking reference clearly lost on you.

Redtruth

Un Na naai

You’re confusing me with AKB’s like yourself.
The FA Cup lost it’s appeal as far back as 1991 when they started playing Semi-Finals at Wembley.