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.
Tr7
“Emery is not Pep Guardiola for heaven’s sake. I am sure there are many who can do a better job.”
Yet you offer zero names. Hardly a ringing endorsement for your argument.
That’s a penalty though… Michael Oliver is an idiot
On a very small positive note, loved seeing Koz sprinting back when they had a 3 on 2. He’s old, but he has been a good player for us.
On a less positive note, where the fuck is all of our money going?
Batistuta
Spurs have a 14 man squad and haven’t spent a penny in nearly two years on players yet they can compete in a the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE and the top 3 of the Prem.
We have had 3 transfer windows to catch up with them (66% or that under emery) and we have just stood still while their 14 men get better and better.
How was that not a pen. If sok or kos had done that it would have been a 100% pen.
Michael Oliver is a POS
We’re shit away we really didn’t need him to don an invisible Leicester shirt this afternoon.
Sok’s pushing his luck. He needs to be careful but it is good to see at least one player look like they give a fuck.
Let’s get brendan rogers in
Marcelino at Valencia has gotten more out of a more limited group this season than Emery has playing better football for a start.
“Spurs have a 14 man squad and haven’t spent a penny in nearly two years on players yet they can compete in a the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE and the top 3 of the Prem.”
Er they are 4 points in front of us not 40 you fucking retard.
Arms raised by Johnny Evans on Lucas same as the red card Big bollocks Deeney
Let’s not forget that it was Emery that decided to give everyone a fresh start rather than sell players and reinvest.
He decided Mustafi, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Xhaka, Mykhitaryan and Iwobi were all good enough.
He had a dossier on all the players yet us fans clearly knew better than him.
He thought helping Fulham out by loaning Chambers was more important than helping Arsenal by selling him and reinvesting the funds.
He’s a fucking joke.
Some defending there by Koscielny. Can’t teach that kind of defending
Un
Spurs also have a team chocka block full of top quality talent. We dont. Because your man wenger assembled such a pitiful weak team abit like himself.
“Getting very hard to defend our MOYES these days isn’t it lads?”
Heh, scary comparison because it’s not far off. Without Leno we’re getting blown out right now.
And yes, great movie, too much sjw bs lol.
Un
How have we had 3 transfer windows and how much exactly was spent to prove what we all knew was a shit squad?
My god we are awful today
Kay
You know full well that Xakha is not being asked to man mark Maddison. Why would he?
Dopey
Surprised Emery favorite Elneny isn’t out there.
“Really? You don’t think anyone would have done better this season than this shite we’re watching for large spells?” It’s still largely the players. I remember our games against Middlesbrough and Newcastle in 07/08 when Hleb and Rosicky were not playing and our football was just as bad as this. Soon as they came back, they brought their quality and the mugs that went missing in their absence suddenly started to look up for it. I wouldn’t take much to change things, two or three players that have a multiplier effect on everyone else. But we desperately need that three… Read more »
Un
How have we had 3 transfer windows and how much exactly was spent to prove what we all knew was a shit squad? .
“Let’s not forget that it was Emery that decided to give everyone a fresh start rather than sell players and reinvest.”
How do you know that’s not the boards mandate?
“Er they are 4 points in front of us not 40 you fucking retard.“
Perpetual name caller chimes in.
If we were 4 points better off we’d make CL comfortably you bigger fucking retard.
Bringing in Guendouzi in a game like this bloody useless
…and that was a penalty, the more you look at it.
If we manage to somehow screw up EL, I think we should immediately look for Emery’s replacement.
Shouldnt give more than 5 or 10 games next season if he is allowed to spend the rumoured 45 mill.
We are playing better with 10-men than we did with 11
Should have been a penalty for the foul on Torrera. Bring on VAR
London
Let’s not – really not at all.
Good substitution. Fresh midfield legs (Guendouzi) for a tired midfielder (Mkhitaryan). We need fresh attacking legs, though, in the final 10 minutes or so to see if we can steal a goal.
Pep sacked off Ronaldinho and deco in his first summer and they were leagues better than what we had at the time
Weagle
Marcelino actually has better players than Arsenal, it’s like you lot don’t have any idea just how bad our squad is
Gaya
Kondogbia
Guedes
Mina
Rodrigo
He has actual wingers and capable defenders to work with
“Let’s not forget that it was Emery that decided to give everyone a fresh start rather than sell players and reinvest.”
Okay, then Guardiola decided Sagna and Clichy were good enough, why didn’t he sell them as soon as he arrived?
Wenger eagle
One good season shouldn’t make him an Arsenal manager. Let’s be honest being fourth in la liga isnt that great a feat for a team like valencia.
Un
Yeah. Players arent allowed to think under Emery? Me dopey now again? Think twice.
Leno is the clear player of the season by the way. The only player who has not had a prolonged bad period.
Have either of our strikers had a shot on goal yet?
Yes…sack Emery and pay out the 10-15 million for his wages [along with his staff]
Then you have less money to spend on the squad in the summer
We do have some geniuses in our midst
We need a technical director so fucking badly. Someone to give us some direction, on and off the field.
Glad to see Eddie coming on. Couldn’t possibly do worse than what we’ve seen this far.
Bati
Since spurs last spent on players we’ve had 3 transfer windows
Two of which were under the new regime
Paulinho
He’s already brought 3 first team players in though in Toreirra, Sokratis and Leno and there’s been little to no improvement.
Sure we have a few more points but if last season was the standard, we’re in for a rough few years indeed.
CC
No guarantee with the way we’re playing at the moment that 4 more points would see us in the top 4.
I wouldn’t call you a retard though you’re not that bright.
Mics
Agree
CG Is right
We should have been stocking up on British youth.
Emery didn’t rest players against Palace though did he? How many times do we need to go over this?
Ramsey injured or rested?
Xhaka injured or rested?
Monreal recovering from illness or rested?
Torriera nursing a groin strain or rested?
Sokratis suspended or rested?
But yes, Emery rested these players for the sake of it.
Another good substitution. Fresh attacking legs (Nketiah) for tired ones (Lacazette). Let’s see what Nketiah can do, Valentin.
Un
And we needed a rebuild not a patch job that we got with the little to nothing that we spent.
I think Jardim probably could do better, even given the dire state of our squad. It’s not an either/or situation with Emery and the quality of our squad. It’s both. Neither are good enough.
LG
If you followed Marcelino in any way shape or form you would know he’s the real deal, performed literal miracles at Villarreal who have been in free fall since he left.
And 4th for Valencia who have been absolute dogshit for years would be a massive achievement, also had them in a Cup Final and EL SF.
Dissenter
Why? You were calling for it last season and we are no better off for it this year.
Guendouzi is running around like a loose chicken.
WE – Only one player that makes a blind bit of difference to our combination play and general level of football, even then Torriera not really known as a ball player and needs thing to be right around him with his little legs.
We
“He’s already brought 3 first team players in though in Toreirra, Sokratis and Leno and there’s been little to no improvement.”
He didn’t though sven brought in these players.
People don’t really get that no top coach is going to join this club as they won’t be able to pickj their own players. Its no longer the managers choosing which is only a gppd thing if you have a technical director. Instead we have the worst of both situations coming into the summer. A powerless manager with no specialised director to fill the requirement of bringing in talent.
Oh and Weagle
Valencia lost at home to a poor and out of sorts Eibar side today. They’ve not been so good this season, too many draws and not enough goals with all that attacking talent….It’s easy to cream over other managers without looking at context
Is that ten saves for Leno now?
Marc
Think I’ll take it with a pinch of salt given the source..
The goal was mainly Mikki’s fault. His job is to protect the back 4. Instead, he ran behind the back 4 and allow their forward lots of time to pass.
Regardless of whether we qualify for the CL or not, Emery should get his second season.
He has done enough to earn that.
We don’t have the resources for a managerial carousel
No booking again
So deflating.
Kay
Yes you are dopey . They are micro managed. Why would you task the best passer in our 11 with man marking when Torreira is better suited? And when xakha is slow and shit at marking and tracking?
And if that is what’s happened then emery is worse than I thought
I do wonder if Emery had made better use of Ozil and Ramsey in the first half of the season if we would have an additional 3-5 points.
Bati
Come off it, they don’t have a player that can reliably put the ball in the back of the net hence they’ve drawn a ridiculous amount of games.
As shit as we are we have 2 top drawer sources of goals.
And Kondogbia has been our half the season. Mina and Rodrigo have been crap too where have you been?
Miki is a coward. Never liked his appointment.
goes missing in almost every game he plays.
Mics
Ozil and Ramsey have both been injured or out of form for most parts of the season, Ozil has been poor for what 2/3 seasons now
We
His is 6th btw loooooool some mean feat that.
Should we hire the 5th placed manager of getafe? They have a game on hand as well.
Chris
It’s over now loool
I really don’t like it when Mikki starts. His work rate is as poor as Ozil’s, he’s slow and weak on and off the ball.
game over.. thank you very much.
Un na
Because we are not going to amount to much until we bleed out the toxins from the squad.
You really think there’s a change of manger solution?
See Mustafi …you think there’s a manager to turn him around
Koscielny effort for that ball was a joke.
Can’t say they didn’t deserve it
Sokratis just stood there and watched that go in. Something is deeply wrong with this squad and football club.
Un
Yeah, all that xhaka can do is fucking pass.
Is he not a dm?
Know full well who is the dopey now.
F**king embarrassing we are a top half side that’s it…
Pathetic. Don’t deserve champions league Football next year.
WE
Mate either way we know its bad at Arsenal when one such as your self is scrapping the barrell by suggesting the 6th place la liga manager.
What attacking talent Bati?
They were relying on Batshuayi for the first half of the season because they’re broke, you’re fucked if he’s your source of goals.
Mina is bang average and Rodrigo has never been known for being a top goalscorer. You make it out like they’re hiding prime David Villa in there.
Poor from our CBs. Ball should not be going over your head like that.
Left
I think he tried call Vardy bluff there not much more he could of done.
Wouldn’t be complete without Vardy right? Unbelievable… face palm
Fuck off Kos.
We are the Everton of the south fuck it the everton of London.
That’s three on the spin right?
But Vardy has never done that before, had he. Smh. Analyzing opposition my arse
That was awful from Koscielny.
And he also got his timing and jump all wrong for the first goal as well.
Not to be too harsh on the chap because he isn’t that sharp anymore.
Bat,
Ozil is definitely on the decline. But even a poor Ozil is automatically one of our best offensive players. I wish we’d sold him and Sanchez two summers ago, but we fucked that up. I suspect Ozil’s ‘injuries’ early in the season were just a face-saving ploy to save embarrassment from being frozen out.
Our decline nicely coincides with Ramsey’s injury.
The biggest mistake of the season is not even Emery …it is letting Ramsey go.
In retrospect that decision was wrong because it will cost us more to buy a player of his class. That’s money we don’t have.
Fucking hell Mustafi again just stopped chasing back there to get on the line like Sokeatis did.
Mustafi has to go.
LG
Last time I checked, we have a dude that finished in mid table in La Liga in his most recent season there with 25 less points than his 2nd last season failing to win a single away game.
And fans think the manager is the problem.
Emery should be shown the door asap. No excuse for these away performances we’ve been dishing
Only 1-0 would not have been a realistic reflection in how easy this match has been for Leicester.
2-0 more reflective of the match.
New manager please
We’ve faded away quite badly since the Napoli game.The players had everything to play for,but they’ve inexplicably switched off.
Provided Chelsea don’t win, this loss is not catastrophic
“I do wonder if Emery had made better use of Ozil and Ramsey in the first half of the season if we would have an additional 3-5 points.”
Ramsey possibly, in terms of playing in central midfield, but who was there to play number ten and press Jorginho?
Ozil should stop being mentioned in same breath Rambo. He’s never been anything but an accessory to other more dominant players.
Samesong, after the first ball hit the crossbar he could have thrown his body to block the second onslaught from Vardy. He watched it go in and then acted “outraged”.
No excuses about we were down to 10 men
We were shit all game.
Well top 4 hopes via the league now down to Chelsea getting a draw today and then dropping points in another game and us winning the two remaining fixtures and getting a better goal difference.
We need some major surgery to the squad in the summer. The selling of players is going to be just as important as the signing of players.
Emery hasn’t got a clue I’m afraid he looks as clueless as that twat Wenger
Iwobi will never be a good footballer should never come near an Arsenal XI
Please don’t get me started on Mustafi, Xhaka, Özil, Mkhitaryan
Depressing times for a gooner that knows anything about football I say that kos many ‘gooners’ did not even see Wenger was killing our club for over a decade…