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.
“Pretty clear its a combination of this squad lacking and Emery lacking its not as black and white as some paint it.”
Exactly. We have both a shit squad and a self-defeating manager.
It’s actually the cowardly forwards that put so much pressure on our defenders that is the problem.
Banford
No you don’t have anything to support your claim, you merely have a claim. You’ve not answered why the same players can fluctuate in performance/result.
Your stance is literally ‘yay Emery’ when we win a big game or get results for a stretch, then ‘players are paltry’ when we lose to fodder.
You’re a fraud that isn’t interested in the subject matter, it’s become an ‘us vs them’ on here and the views reflect that.
Iwobi looks like he’s more concerned about getting swole than being a footballer. He’s too big and clumsy.
Once again, Mustafi, Xhaka, Lacazette and Nobomoyang is the starting 11…that combination ain’t winning you games.
If Wenger was picking this garbage (and he did) week in week out, he would rightly be lambasted for idiocy…emery, in the face of undeniable bullshit continues in exactly the same manor.
Arsenal hired a younger, Spanish clone.
They got rid of the Vauxhall vectra and replaced it with a Mondeo.
God, I hate seeing Michael Oliver’s twat face reffing.
Our players especially the academy ones seem to lack the basic football intelligence when under the cosh.
There is a deep rooted malaise in the playing culture at our club. The only way this is going to change is by radical overhaul of the first team squad.
Sorry Bamford
I was under the impression the manager was responsible for putting the squad together, training the players, improving the players, motivating the players.
We have won 1 away game against the top 12. That will certainly be the case after today’s game.
We have 1 clean sheet away from home, and that was against Watford who had 10 men for 85 mins.
Most of the posters shouting it’s all on our personnel never got tired of saying that any manager who did tactics would extract more out of our squad than Wenger. Now it’s all on players.
Is aubam even that fast?
Really need to replace one of the strikers with a legit winger
Guns
Who should Emery be picking?
Again, this is entirely down the poverty of our personnel.
Sick of refs ruining matches. He’s made 2 challenges and he’s off, neither were dangerous. It’s pathetic
British spine at Leicester supplemented with clever foreign purchases
CG
What you reckon?
Evans and Maguire look light years ahead of our doughnuts
Maddison Ndidi and tielemans all over Mkhitaryan Iwobi and Torreira
Don’t blame the ref. AMN is a silly little kid and is affected with the same disease as everyone of his predecessors: knobheadness.
Lack of discipline. Simple.
TR7
Right, and Emery is getting about as much out of this inadequate group as can be expected.
AMN is really stupid though
No outrage after he was sent off. He went to give the player who got him sent off a nice man-hug.
We really have not leaders in the squad. A young player wouldn’t try that in a dressing room with PV4.
“If Wenger was picking this garbage (and he did) week in week out, he would rightly be lambasted for idiocy…emery, in the face of undeniable bullshit continues in exactly the same manor.”
This, 100%. Wenger absolutely had to go, that was obvious years ago. But Wenger’s incompetence does not excuse Emery’s incompetence.
The only way we win this is through a set piece. No chance in hell of us scoring from open play.
The saddest part is we now have an excuse if we lose Friday.
Except that we’re saying they’re both culpable not one and not the other. How old are some of you, everything has to be an argument on here.
Michael Oliver what a Cunt ! Books AMN for his 1st foul total nothing challenge. I fucking hate that rat faced weasel cheating Cunt!
Iwobi can’t shoot it score for shit. Hardly ever strikes the ball cleanly with power and precision. No confidence in front of goal.
Mhiki Just shit . Leno has kept us in it, but that weasel has fucked us. I couldn’t believe it when he pulled out that 1st yellow?
We should just go for a tie. Don’t gamble
The only way we win this is through a set piece. No chance in hell of us scoring from open play.
The saddest part is we now have an excuse if we lose Today.
Lack of discipline. Simple.
Spot on Guns
Again, this is entirely down the poverty of our personnel.
Bamford
That’s right. We should have been focusing on young brits like Leicester…..
If this game goes south then it’s on AMN
He’s cost his team the game and it doesn’t even look like he cares.
Nah fam, the ref is a cunt. Leicester Players are getting the benefit of shit refereeing
Emery copping a lot of flack today. Remember his shoestring budget, and the poor squad he’s inherited…he’s already taken more points that Wenger did last season, so he’s going in the right direction.
It’s the players that need to be addressed. The only players I would keep are Leno, Bellerin and Koz.
Marc
Anyone but Mustafi. One of either Laca or Auba and not Xhaka. That’s pretty straightforward.
How many times does this have to happen before the manager twigs?
What is the obsession with playing iwobi left wing. Why dont we play him right wing where he can actually naturally shoot the ball with his stronger foot.
He has more options on the right than on the left.
“Right, and Emery is getting about as much out of this inadequate group as can be expected.“
Which amounts to the same as Wenger in his worst ever season. Levels.
Should’ve just changed the recruitment setup and kept big Weng, got it.
“Really open game, remarkably easy to pass through Arsenal and gain ground, almost at will” – James Yorke, stats guy on twitter
– Torreira is closer to Coquelin rather than an elite #6/#8 hybrid
– we’re not a smart team
TR7
I’ll admit I thought another manager we get more out of the squad we have. That doesn’t prove Wenger was good or that Emery is bad it proves that most of the players aren’t any where good enough.
The difference is Wenger assembled most of this team and had years to make corrections. You jump on Emery when he’s had one summer TW and limited funds.
Another poster who want Emery to fail to make Wenger look good.
Alot of these players need to be transferred, and you can take some of the shit fans with you
Its a miracle we survived the 1st half.
It’s largely the players fault and the lack of quality players. I doubt any manager can change this crop of players especially Iwobi.
Tr7
I can of agree what your saying but then our squad really is fucking awful. I think even the best managers in the world would do just as poorly as emery.
Imagine pep trying to install his way of playing with this team it would be an utter disaster imo. As he needs technical players and klopp wouldn’t do tell well either as he needs players with pace and athleticism.
Only maybe a manager like diego simeone could get more in terms of defensive improvements and goals from dead ball situations.
Man for man Leicester are probably better,
I would take their entire back line bar Leno over ours
Maddison tielmans are great.
Vardy arguably as good as Auba.
We are not a cut above
Our back 4 never look like a well drilled unit individual errors aside. Game after game opposition strikers get to run in behind with ease. Completely on our manager.
If they’ve never looked like a well drilled unit how is that on the manager? It’s literally like saying they’ve never looked good therefore that’s the new manager’s fault. It’s pretty silly commentary. I do wonder sometimes if people actually think that our squad is that good and it’s just a case of not having good enough managers.
Diss,
AMN , apologized for the challenge. The player didn’t get him sent off. The ref giving him a needless yellow.
People saying game over and season over?!
Last time I looked we had a European semi final on Thursday and this game is 0-0 at half time.
Shitting crikey.
Playing 442 v tielmans and maddison in a 3 is far from easy, don’t just blame torreira
Guns
So you’ve dropped 3 players out who would you bring in who would be better?
Also. Yellow cards are not for dangerous play. That is what red cards are for. Yellows are for naughty little misdemeanours like blocking players deliberately and or, mistimed tackles. Simple.
Know the rules of the game before commenting.
I wonder if this jokers that always want Emery out think there’s a managerial change that can transform the crappy personnel we have.
gambon He is responsible for those things. But the current manager has only had one summer window to build a proper squad, and that a window in which he said he needed to see what he had on hand. Other than that, he had a January window in which he could only sign loan deals. Maybe he could have done better, maybe he put too much faith in what he had in front of him, but the vast majority of this squad was built by the former manager, and many of these players are inadequate to poor. Yes, the manager… Read more »
CC
Mate the reason we are in this mess is because your lord master wenger ruined this club.
You are shooting the messwnger when ir comes to Emery at this point.
Everyone agrees first yellow was unnecessary, second yellow is a foul and nothing more, two unnecessary yellows by the cunt referee
Take off Mikki for a defensive minded player and take off Iwobi for Nketiah.
Dissenter
Have you every played football? Those types of challenges are bread and butter
Neither was a yellow
It’s time to go back to basics for the second half. Take off a striker and bring on a midfielder.
We need to win the battle for the ball if we are to steal a result here.
If United we today we could nick top four! They must throw everything at this second half!!!
We must stop being so paranoid, the refs in the PL absolutely LOVE Arsenal.
(Lol)
Oh my God. 73% possession for Leicester!
How far we have fallen.
I’m glad Wenger is gone. But even in his worst season we wouldn’t have ceded the initiative like this. What happened to playing like ‘protagonists’??
This entire club is rotten.
Our possession and other stats are horrendous, this flat 4-4-2 is rubbish.
The referee had a shocker there
Both yellow cards were soft, especially the second one.
That said, AMN should realize that it’s an aways game and there was nothing to gain from doing that on the halfway line.
this season couldn’t be any better/worse…. whose gonna bet, no champions league next season…
Europa league final vs Chelsea, it’s only arsenal fans that would tell you arsenal would win that match…
London
Lord master? Oh, you don’t want to be taken seriously. Nvm
Why the fuck didn’t Choudary get a yellow for that foul on Torriera? The ref is a disgrace.
So that means litch is coming back into squad. Oh no!
Marc
Laca or Auba. Not both.
No Xhaka ever!
No Mustafi ever!
For a club the size of arsenal and a wage bill of £200billion…can we not find a defender or midfielder at the club better than Mustafi or Xhaka?
Iwobi won’t get a job if released. Chatted up as ‘good’ with those 1 in 10 years assist / goal events. Wtf. Mkhi can’t even keep ball or make simple passes. Rubbish. Kolac wouldn’t get in top 10 teams and did fuck all so far, defence or attack… Emery can’t motivate much. Most of the dross on the pitch knew they’d probably be sold so whether Arsenal gets CL football ain’t matter a damn. Torr isn’t in top form but at least made a few blocks defensively. Mustafi looks scared to move up so makes Lei onside all the time.… Read more »
Dale
100% agree
Joke
Another ref steps in during an arsenal match. I don’t know why we expect any better any more
It’s been happening for over a decade
Tielmans is quality and is only 21 these are the type of players we shouod be buying. He was one of the highest rated youngsters in Dutch league.
We never get these kind of players.
Again, this is entirely down the poverty of our personnel”
And nothing to do with the manager?
Where you not one of those with the narrative Emery will get more from the same players?
Guy has made us worse than what wenger could have ever managed, didn’t think that was possible
He should be sent packing in the summer,wont give him a dime to spend
Looking at shay given, wtf happened to his lips ? Is he the joker ??
Arsenal have never had less than 35% possession in 90 minutes. Currently 27%
Arsenal has 125 passes first half. Lowest of the season by 36.
Woeful 45 mins.
User oz can’t spell Leicester 😂
Considering everyone on here talks football all day long, no one knows the rules.
It was two yellows. Period.
Ask yourself this…was anyone complaining about the last sending off that benefitted Arsenal? No.
27% possession is absolutely shocking. This is Leicester for fuck sake, not Barca.
The Benidorm Pulis has to go.
“Another poster who want Emery to fail to make Wenger look good.”
Another poster still obsessed with Wenger.
All the akbs are here, I’m out.
We are deliberately conceding possession, people, and we are trying to hit them on the counter. This is a common and effective tactic when away from home. Some of you really need to improve your work here. Complaining about possession stats. Jesus.
Marc
‘Another poster who want Emery to fail to make Wenger look good.’
To make Wenger look good ? I used to criticize Wenger as much if not more. As for your point about one transfer window and poor squad, we probably will have a better squad next year and we will still be struggling as much. Why ? Because Emery is rank average, he is not the man. Even when we had that unbeaten run of 18 or so games, I thought he was out of his depth. The squad needs improving but Emery needs to be replaced too.
Which amounts to the same as Wenger in his worst ever season. Levels. Should’ve just changed the recruitment setup and kept big Weng, got it.
You are such a dolt I swear. First off it’s not the same secondly kept big Weng (cute nickname btw) you do realize that he was bad and getting worse. This squad was assembled by him his refusel to address glaring issues for years suggest that he lost the ability to assemble a squad or sign decent players and you know big Weng would have still had some say in who gets signed.
Un na
I just said both challenges were soft yellows at best.n In the context of an away game, it’s not surprising.
AMN ought to know that English players dive as much as anyone else and he can’t do that on a yellow card
He didn’t even have to do because he was in the half way line. It wasn’t for the team, it was protect his pride because he had a poor first touch.
Tielemans has never played in the Dutch league. He’s Belgian.
We had 26% possession PRE red card.
Don’t think we’ve ever been that low even away to a Guardiola side over the last five years.
I agree with bloody Dissenter.
Shit.
Just as well Leicester are lacking a bigger physical CF otherwise it could have been even worse.
As it is their main attacking threats are similar in stature smaller nippy players in Maddison and Vardy.
Don’t understand the faux outrage on here. We all knew this Leicester match was going to be tough away and we all know this current Arsenal team is rank average.
As for just how low our possession is, look no further than our midfield. Not good enough personnel-wise. This is not a matter of their shape or organization. This is a matter of Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Xhaka and Torreira not being good enough.
Yea its all on the manager and not the absolutely brainless players he has to work with
“Guy has made us worse than what wenger could have ever managed, didn’t think that was possible ”
If Wenger had stayed we wouldn’t have brought in the good signings we made in the summer and would have gone into this match arguing if we get a result today we will move into the top half of the table.
If Wenger survived that we’d have a relegation battle to look forward to next season.
It’s amazing to see just how many AKB’s are suddenly emboldened and are scuttling out of the woodwork.
Bamford
The lowest possession stats Arsenal have ever had in a PL game.
Against Leicester City.
Yeah right. It’s a tactic.
“Which amounts to the same as Wenger in his worst ever season. Levels.”
Worst ever season in large because the deranged cunt put together our worst ever squad; technically, physically, and mentally.
“The next level is the next level” level squad.
Smart meter campaign trying to hijack “global warming” haha
How cynical. Don’t trust em
Polar bear population has increased by 30% since 2005
Pull the other one
Laca and Iwobi should have scored.
We need to shoot more and be efficient.
Some of you think just any manager will transform this absolute pile of shit squad we have…..
Jose Mourinho for one season.
Leicester really have better personnel on the field
That’s not even controversial
I would pick 8 Leicester players to start in a combined 11 of both squads
I guess the buck really stops at Kroenke.
The quality of our team is inferior to that of Leicester’s. How many millions more do we rake in every year than they do? It’s unacceptable that they boast a superior squad. Fucking unacceptable.
Is 7:00 too early to have a stiff drink, ha?
Wenger left Emery with a bunch of wankers and a team on the slide.
TR7
So who would you bring in top replace Emery?
Gambon
You’re transparent, almost the clearest with an agenda and never measured in your criticism, almost like you want to be one of the first to proclaim you said it first or you were right just like with Wenger.
Worst first eleven. Our squad when fully fit has interesting options in short doses, which Emery was utilising nicely until three major players in it were injured.
“Is 7:00 too early to have a stiff drink, ha?”
Not if you’re and Arsenal supporter, in fact it’s probably a necessity.
AMN totally disserved both cards…. that’s what all on here would say if reverse was the case…
the first was a deliberate block on theeicester player without winning/touching the ball…
by the second foul, I’ve already turned off the live stream I was using and just checking livescores…
Yea TR7,
Who would you bring in to replace Emery to work with this same pile of shit and improve them
Bamford10
“As for just how low our possession is, look no further than our midfield. Not good enough personnel-wise”
Exactly and on the button.
Midfield has been conceded away from home yet again. No control, no authority, no show in midfield.
Hahahah excusing 27% possession because were apparently playing mad counter attack football. Someone tell me when the countering begins.
Marko
If you blame the squad entirely, as is being done, we should’ve stuck with Wenger and stripped him of recruitment influence.
Apparently Emery doesn’t buy the players (the line when it suits), so why not keep Wenger and have an extra 20 mil to improve the shit squad?
No point swapping out Wenger for Emery if the latter can’t do anything ‘because of the squad’.
Hell with possession. As we did something with it against wolves.
I am fine with 25% possession provided we score with the next effing chance.
Whoopty do, Leicester have got all the possession, so fucking what?
We had all the possession at Wolves yet had only 1 shot on target.
Leicester with all their possession and an extra man are still drawing with us.
Amateur hour. We are now playing for a desperate point away to fucking Leicester at the arse end of the season.