via @Arsenal Instagram
I don’t know about you, but it just hit me hard that the Premier League season is nearly over.
What an unbelievable race it’s been.
Imagine being Liverpool and not winning the league with a points total as high as they are likely to go.
The greatest ever second placed finish of all time? Not an accolade Klopp or the Liverpool fans will relish. You never know, but it’s not looking good for them.
… but, hand it to Pep G. He’s the greatest. So many people want him to fail, but he, along with the MIGHTY Arteta are creating a brand of football that is once in a generation type stuff.
The issue the rest of the league has is that the football they deliver, at core, is about incredible coaching. They are spectacular on the ball, they are even better off it, then factor in that they are also the richest in the league… it’s simply not fair.
The Premier League can no longer be snarked at. Not only has it been the best league on the planet for years from an entertainment perspective, now it’s climbing up to the top from a technical viewpoint. More and more of the best players are slinking over here, and we’re making the other leagues look seriously weak. All Spain had was Ronaldo vs Messi.
That makes me very happy.
As a carry over from the argument I pitted against Emery yesterday, I do want to double down on some of the things I like about the manager, because those haven’t changed.
#1 He’s a fans manager
I genuinely think that he manages for the fans. I think he’s a acutely aware of the misery that we’ve been through over the past 10 years and I think he’s trying to give us something to smile about. Hard to say that about someone like Mourinho. I think Emery struggles a little bit to deliver what we truly want, but his focus always seems to be on getting the fans onside. I like that. I also like that he’s a fan on the touchline. His resting face is all of us sitting in the stands or at home.
#2 The man will pivot
I honestly thought that we were heading into Wenger MKII when the manager dropped his two best players to the bench. I couldn’t fathom that he might change his mind. To be fair to him, he’s done that a lot this season. The start of the year was marked by halftime changes in every game, which grew to look like indecision, but it was still a breath of fresh air. The latter half of the season saw him suck up a big chunk of his own pride as he reintegrated Ozil and Ramsey to great effect. A lot of people say this was his masterplan, I can assure that this damaging approach is never anyone’s masterplan. He dropped Aaron because he didn’t fancy him. He made a decision on him too early and he wanted rid. I think part of this decision making was down to not understanding the rigour of the league, but whatever, he brought him back. The Ozil fallout was even crazier, the player was literally trolling him online… but he brought him back. Say what you will about the German, he certainly bring flair to this squad. Say what you will about Emery, results come first.
#3 We’re a bit of a mystery
He’s a good tactician. Not a great one. But he’s certainly brought back an air of mystery to proceedings. He’s doing the basics, he’s looking at the opposition, he’s testing ideas, and he’s looking at the tools he has available and mostly using them correctly.
He’s still not perfect. I think his early season use of the squad left a lot to be desired. When I went to see us play Huddersfield at Christmas, we looked utterly one paced. I’d never seen a game so slow. Part of that is just not understanding the league. Pep and Klopp made the same mistake when they arrived here, both realised you can’t play the pressing game in the league because there are too many games and no winter break to speak of.
I also think some of his selections have been baffling. It’s like he sometimes picks his sides based on league position, versus the reality of the side. If you’re at PSG, a team in 10th is shite and you’ll steam them. In the Premier League, every team in the top 14 can beat you if you give them a disrespectful starting 11. Everton was the warning shot, and we could all see that coming. Palace was simply unforgivable considering the power, pace and giant killing power those boys have.
However, you have to say that we’re a force against big teams. We didn’t allow Napoli to score against us over 180 minutes. We’ve taken scalps against top 6 sides. We’ve competed in every one of those games bar the Liverpool one at Christmas. Whatever you think about the man, he has the players believing in the big moments, not something Wenger managed in his last ten years.
We’ve also clocked a lot of points in a dreary transition season. Year two, you’d hope the improvements would really bed in and we see true Emeryball.
I’ll land where I usually land. I think Emery is a transition manager. If he can get us into the Champions League, the selection has been a huge success. I don’t care about points accrued. It’s all about where we finish.
The big challenge we have as a club is what to do with that £45m investment. There is some serious wheeler-dealing to do and I don’t trust Raul and Emery to do it. We could really do with Paul Mitchel or a Luis Campos, otherwise this is going to be the blind leading the blind. Denis Suarez and Malcolm is where the thinking will be.
Right, that’s me done. BIG love to you all, see you in the comments.
P.S. SPURS CHOKED AGAIN. Right back in our hands. I am now convinced tomorrow will be an embarrassing loss to a Vardy Pardy, but let’s enjoy a day of laughing at Spurs.
United won’t win their last two, they’re abysmal. Chelsea need pegging back as much as possible I’d have thought.
Not that we’re primed to do fuck all about anything
CC
Only Brighton is one I see us getting a result out of
Barely
Completely imploded to end the season..
Marko
Monreal our best CB? He went out and spent 20 million on Sokratis, what was the point of that if he’s no better than Monreal there?
Besides Ramsey that was the same side today that beat United and Chelsea and Napoli at the Emirates. Said it before, I don’t care how out of sorts we are there is no excuse for getting soundly beat 9-3 in 7 days against midtable sides.
And as decent as Ramsey can be, he doesn’t make that much of a difference. If you think that he does, you’ve really changed your tune on him.
Doesn’t really matter at this stage where we finish either way the American will have to go above and beyond this summer no matter if it’s champions league or Europa League. Hard to see that happening. Club needs a massive summer. Fact is that we still haven’t broken away from “big Weng” yet. Club absolutely still reeks of the declining mess he cultivated the last few years
Joe
I think you’re being harsh on Emery.
The team has lost form, but surely that has a lot to do with a lack of strength in depth, and – in my opinion- the fact thaty we no longer have a real game changer in the squad like Sanchez.
Would another manager really do much better?
Also, let’s me honest,why would a really top manager want to manage arsenal?
CC
United will win their last two, Chavs have harder games so a draw is only result that keeps us in it really.
De Gea has been f*cking shite this season. We have no problems saying it.
Ozil has also been f*cking shite this season . He has the same assists as PapSok and is 99th in the league this season on assists.. Why is hard for some to accept this?
Once Joe gets his teeth into any bone, he never lets go.
Expect endless Emery-out posts from Joe now.
Huddersfield and Cardiff, even United would be doing well to fuck up 6 points from those 2.
Cheers lads.
Europa league it is then.
Weagle
Not convinced, I see Chelsea as the sole threat. Which is spectacularly arrogant given I’m an Arsenal fan 😂
CG showing his true colours again. Any hope we have of top 4 he wants us to miss out on. He’ll be betting on Valencia over both legs.
That is not the behaviour of a true supporter.
DDG another shocker, flagged it during the week that now might be the perfect time for United to cash in on him to PSG and rebuild.
WE
He’s 28 for a keeper he should be coming into his prime. What the fuck is going on?
A draw is the best result today
Chelsea will drop points against Watford and Leicester
United can easily win their remaining fixtures
Forget Spurs, we already blew that.
I don’t see this spineless bunch winning at Burnley though.
I know most of you are fixated on the manager, I am more concerned with other things. As far as i am concerned we need a clear out player wise before talking managers
Looking through the comments generally Emery is not the one.
The players are low in confidence, passing is atrocious, movement is poor, Emery doesn’t have the players belief in him.
We are back to square one. So why waste another year in hope, we did this for ten years with Wenger.
Why waste yet another year it’s clear that Emery isn’t taking us forward.
We won’t win the Loosers cup why hang onto this it will just prolong the agony.
We are stuck in a mire , Benitez looks good right now
There is a lot of work to do is Emery the man to do it ? If kronke gives us £40m to spend we are fucked
Marc
Complacency, apathy, maybe decline.
Not unheard of, although strange given he hasn’t had a major injury.
The best scenario for next year would be for UEFA to give us the Champions League cash but not force us to be in it
Yeah don’t see us beating Burnley tbh, 4th place could well be a pissing contest of fuck ups between the trio left with someone stumbling over the line.
Dissenter
And you’re not
Doing the same with the players?
Like someone
Said above. This is the same team bar Ramsey that beat united. Napoli and Chelsea.
Ramsey is not world class and nor does he make that big of a difference to the side to save us from the last 3 results
We were dreadful. No passion. No fire. No desire.
That’s on emery.
His lineup for palace was brutal. He cost us that match. We win that and we are still in control of our destiny
He tried to be cute and he fucked it
I feel 6th is where we will finish.
Burnley Almost held man city.
WE
4th is gone unfortunately.
DeGea has already mentally checked out. He is making mistakes that a goalkeeper of his quality should not do. He needs a break and a move away from ManUtd.
PSG have Areola who has been superb when called upon. Already the purchase of Buffon has been shown to be a mistake, why compound it with DeGea. He wants to go back to Spain with his girlfriend.
If you come to Arsenal football club you are guaranteed a few things: 1. Millions of unearned wages. 2. Relaxed and chilled atmosphere. 3. No one will shout at you. 4. Zero accountability. A player does not come to Arsenal to win anything. We are a destination club but ultimately players come to us to make fast money before either retiring or moving on to better clubs. Until we start acting like a proper club/business/sports entertainment or whatever it is we are…we will continue to just do ‘alright’. Just imagine that 15+ odd years ago…Chelsea were our guaranteed 6 points… Read more »
Spanishdave
Who would you bring in to replace Emery?
Aguero’s 5th consecutive 20+ goal PL season, only player to do it since Thierry Henry 2001-06.
Such a baller, Citeh’s best ever signing and that’s saying a lot given the amount they have spent.
Anyone can win titles at PSG, guess no one told Tuchel…only the one for him this season. Thought the cups were a given?
Monreal our best CB? He went out and spent 20 million on Sokratis, what was the point of that if he’s no better than Monreal there? Good point? I’m not sure what you’re saying. If it’s that Sven should have spent the 70 million from last summer better I agree. And as decent as Ramsey can be, he doesn’t make that much of a difference. If you think that he does, you’ve really changed your tune on him. What no you’re not getting what I’m saying it’s that it speaks volumes of the squad that we simply lose players like… Read more »
New post
Joe
I think you missed the part where I said “if it’s not Emery, then so be it”
I think the resources available to start rebuilding the squad are more important than bringing in a new gaffer.
The personnel available is dreadful for the wages we are playing.
When is the last time Auba or Laca won an aerial challenge when pitched against a central defender? We have two attackers who are easily bullied and you lot are chanting for the manager’s head.
Also dissenter
I said the Europa saves emery’s season and gets the goodwill with the TW and until Jan.
If their is no significant improvement is when I start my emery out stance
Right now I’m just emery is not much of an improvement on the wanker we sacked
Valentin
Where does he go in Spain?
Real have Courtois, Barca have Ter Stegen and Atletico have Oblak, three young and world class GK’s.
We
Curtouis has been a flop though hasn’t he?
I read that Zidane is looking to offload him sheepish
Kovacic is an amazing conman
Pogba runs like he’s jogging on the spot.
Marko I’m saying that if the over the hill LB Monreal is our best CB then we done seriously fucked up bringing in Sokratis. You know that I don’t think that it’s all down to UE, not everything is black and white. But to absolve him of blame for how we are playing and the results lately and simply blaming the players is a cop out, plain and simple. He spent 70m which isn’t nothing I wish people would stop pretending that he had zero to spend. I agree that the squad isn’t good enough and needs major surgery, I… Read more »
That’s the problem, what manager wants to come to us.We have an owner who doesn’t want to invest, a board of has beens, people like Bould hanging around.
The Premiership is hard to win and we need somebody either with Prem experience like Benitez to start the rebuild or gamble on Vieira who if surrounded with Overmars as tech director could work.
Who knows
Unn
Maybe, and yeah he hasn’t been great but besides Benzema comically enough who was awful last season [has scored 30 goals this season], nobody comes out of this season with any credit for them they’ve been shite.
We
Yeah benzema has increased his goal output without Ronaldo taking up his usual positions.
I did read that Zidane is looking to offload though
Monreal our best CB?
He’s OK in a back 3 but beyond that he’s another fuck up waiting to happen. Guy was a good LB for us but time has caught up with him and it’s time to move him on.
To become competitive again we must have a transfer Window where we blow everybody out of the water. Buy a new spine like Maguire-Partey-Zaha or something along that line. But can we funk!
That’s it for top 4. The loss at home to Crystal Palace effectively ended the bid. Loads of players need to be out ….. too much to overhaul.