5th place. Expected, but were we worth more?

by .

The football season was laid to rest. RIP first-year transition. It’s been well worth it whatever the last dregs of the AKB tell you.

It was a mixed bag of fortunes, we have the glorious 22 game unbeaten run. We had some dark patches, we had some resurgent moments, we fixed playing against the big boys, then we bottled top 3 in embarrassing fashion.

But when it all shakes out, the Emeryista will champion the fact that we were two points off third place.

‘Would you have taken 5th at the start of the season?’

Well, this is what I wrote.

‘There’s pause for concern. I think the reality of the new regime is you don’t quickly fix a house that’s been left neglected in woods for 14 years. There are so many agenda items the new backroom team need to address in a short period of time just to bring us to elite parity from a setup perspective. The dream that we’ll be chasing down Manchester City in season one are fanciful, if we’re totally honest, 5th is probably a fair expectation of where we’ll finish, 4th would be the stretch target.’

So the good news for me is that I was correct with my prediction, the bad news is that we gained context as the season went on and now we’re at the end of it, it looks like we blew it.

Things that changed:

  • United were shite and managed to get worse
  • Sarriball never really materialised, they were dross all year
  • Spurs lost 13 games in the league, an abject season considering the hype at Christmas
  • Emery started like a fu*king BEAST

I think a team that is capable of 22 games unbeaten is capable of finishing in the top 4. We showed resilience, we showed guts, and we had some sublime moments if you think back to games like Fulham and Leicester.

So, you can judge the season based on what you thought at the start, or you can judge it on what actually happened. We took 4 points from 18 when 7 could have had us in 3rd. We dropped those points entirely to teams below us in the league, and would likely have shipped more had Troy the boy not been sent off for Watford.  ‘But Brighton are a handy side and they’ll give City a good game’ never really materialised, did it? All of those sides were beatable. Bad tactics, poor rotation, and possibly too much desire for the Europa (we shall see).

Arsenal should have improved towards the end of the season, not crashed and burned like a beginner learning to drone in Chicago.  But even if you just want to accept those games as a blip, for a man that was hired as a coach, it’s tough to see where the major improvements have come?

This was him before the Chelsea game at the start of the season.

“Defensively: first it is to be organised, recover the ball quickly. But in these two moments in the match we need to work.

“To say it here is easier than doing it on the pitch. We also need time, but now I am happy because I think the players are improving.

“We need two things: quality players, which we have, and then organisation. Together I think we can improve, to win in our way. I repeat: organised, then play.

“When we are thinking in an attacking moment, I want the goalkeeper thinking for that, he is the first.

“The same when we are thinking defensively, I want our strikers to be thinking: ‘We need to protect the goalkeepers.’ I want those two moments to feel the same for all players.

We conceded the same amount of goals as we did last season after adding a brilliant keeper, a good centre back and a defensive midfielder we all love.

We scored one less than last season. For a coach we were hoping would unlock us moving forward, we’ve actually gone backwards. Our play is one dimensional, outside Auba and Lacazette, our top scorer is Mikhi with 6. Our conversion rate is the highest in the league from the lowest amount of shots, a great thing to boast, but that will correct itself at some point.

Finally, there’s no defined style. The football is dull as dishwater. Compare to what Liverpool were offering up at the end of their first season, it’s chalk and really tough algebra (what, I like chalk).

We can celebrate 5th as progress, honestly, we can… but for me, that’s a bit like the time we celebrated 2nd when we finished behind Leicester. Given the context of the season, the excellent early season form and the absolutely dreadful run-in of those around us, I really had hoped for more. Interesting to note that we’d have finished 6th last season with the same points total and goal difference. Those 7 extra points this season cost us £10m a pop.

You could say £290m more and we’d be Champions… but I have my doubts, and so do you if you were being really honest.

Next season, all the teams around us will spend money (bar Chelsea, LOLOLOL). The clubs behind us closed the gap this year, they’ll get better as they push to spend their money in sharper ways than Arsenal. xG has us in 7th, a whopping 11 points better off than we should be. xG predicted the luck would run out with Emery and OGS and it was right.

We’re in a Bruce Rioch moment without the leadership to see it.

Even worse, we have absolutely no idea what the club is going to do this summer. Our head of recruitment is Cagigao. Have we made an internal promo because he’s the best candidate, or is it a kingmaker hire with puppet strings attached to Raul? I’m not for one moment doubting Cagigao is a talented guy, I’m just a little worried that Raul moved Sven on partly because he believes in contacts wheeler-dealing. Would a winning interview answer for Raul be, ‘I’d love to invest in talented young players 20-21 with one or two years left on their deal, ideally from unknown markets so we get the best, then elevate them early’… or would it be, ‘I like your idea, Malcolm, Banega and Nzonzi seem like a very good humans that will elevate us.’ Time will tell, but I am concerned we have the Spanish Harry Redknapp at the wheel.

Edu doesn’t start until after the Copa America, and he’ll likely be busy with his actual job until the end of the tournament.

It seems to me like we’re a little rudderless.

Good news is we have a cup final to look forward to, where we ‘could’ find our way to the Champions League via the backdoor. That would be very good for us because it would reduce the dire need for us to cull our wage bill. Let’s pray Emery goes big for his favourite competition.

P.S. I’d say congrats to Arteta on his second Premier League win, but I’d get in trouble, so I’ll just pretend that monumental feat didn’t happen.

 

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Trask

No not cuz of Unai , but cuz of the identity of the club as a whole being bottlers, which like I said above was something i hoped the new coach would have definitely addressed

Receding Hairline

“I mean Steve Mcmanaman called it with 6 games to go that Arsenal will not make top four despite having the easiest run.”

What were his reasons for that prediction? Many pundits did call it too and they were looking at our squad and mostly their inability to do anything of note outside the Emirates in the league…

The manager has tried every single setup known to man to try and change this mindset and it has failed, it got to a point he started trying the wrong things as well which is on him

Ishola70

Not one serious broadcaster nor serious newspaper has even entertained the thought or mentioned the possibility of Emery getting the elbow after one season.

Blogs are fine for fans to air their views but it has to be put in perspective these calls for his head after one season. They cannot be taken seriously even if they are heart felt.

samesong

The first time we bottled it was in the 99′ semi final against Man United when Bergkamp missed that penalty.

United went on to dominate the premier league.

Champagne Charlie

Particularly interesting take with the following: “How his critics revelled in his struggles during that fraught first season at City, when success like this looked anything but inevitable. The 15-game sequence that winter when Guardiola’s team lost more than they won, culminating in a 4-2 defeat to Leicester. The 4-0 reverse at Everton the following month that left them outside the top four in January. Back then, Guardiola’s apparent refusal to compromise his principles was seen as a sign of stubbornness. His unwillingness to accept that the peculiar foibles of the Premier League set it apart was evidence of a… Read more »

Guns of Brixton

Not one serious broadcaster nor serious newspaper has even entertained the thought or mentioned the possibility of Emery getting the elbow after one season.

TBF there all caught up in the Manc and Liverpool love.

And it is easy to write off (and I hope it is) 1st season blues.

Trask

Those calling for his sack one year in are just wasting their time and breath. Ain’t gonna happen and really shouldn’t anyway you look at it

Receding Hairline

“Could be writing the same thing about Emery amirite?”

In what way??

Guardiola doubled down on his principles by buying said players who could translate said principles on the pitch, and they did not come cheap nor was it really project youth.

He didn’t get it right when he first arrived here, he thought Claudio Bravo and Nolito were sufficient for a title push, he was soon set right by results

samesong

I think we can really kick on if we beat Chelsea in the EL final. IMO

Trask

‘I think we can really kick on if we beat Chelsea in the EL final. IMO’

Another potential bottle. Been scarred enough as it is. I mean if we had lost some of the games fighting and scrapping, I would have been ok. But the meek shot that gets displayed…..#sigh

Ishola70

Well Chelsea will be favourites to win it so bottle job term seems a little harsh.

Be great to win it of course but the extra revenue won’t be felt until the season after CL participation again.

Champagne Charlie

Receding

Yea, you still cling to the idea Emery has a style or principles. Most observers see that’s blatantly not the case.

Guardiola was a ball playing goalkeeper away from a huge step toward his vision, Ederson gave them an immense platform.

Who/what unlocks the potential of Emery’s style and philosophy? “Better players”, jeez, glad we have such a thinker.

azed

CC

I’m guessing you missed the part were Pep had to buy players that could implement his vision.

Why did he do it with Nolito, Sagna, Kolarov and Clichy?

You don’t want to give Emery the players to implement his vision but you are praising a man that was giving time?

Receding Hairline

“Well Chelsea will be favourites to win it so bottle job term seems a little harsh.”

I see no favorites rather a 50-50 game.

Emery has to step up here, he worked out Chelsea both times we played them now he has to do it again.

Yes it will be classed as a bottle job because Chelsea already have champions league football, we don’t

Trask

Yea well like I said it’s the way we kinda roll over that makes it reek of a bottle job. If we give our all and still lose then fine.

Ishola70

Why is Man City and their billions even talked about in relation to Arsenal?

I can’t see any parallels there at at all.

Valentin

It does not matter how many millions you get to improve the squad, if the judgement is flawed. When he arrived at ManCity Pep was honest with the squad and right on his assessment. He took one look at Joe Hart and said ‘Sorry, but you aren’t good enough’. Emery got a look at the squad and decided to make Xhaka captain. Looked at Ramsey and say ‘Nah, I would rather play Elneny/Guendouzi’. We could have sold Mustafi for 30 millions last season to an Italian Club. The deal collapsed because we were unwilling to pay 16 millions for his… Read more »

Receding Hairline

“Yea, you still cling to the idea Emery has a style or principles. Most observers see that’s blatantly not the case.”

That all you know about Emery comes from league tables you copy from google i suggest you do not say things like “most observers see that’s blatantly not the case”

Are you saying a manager of 12 odd years has no particular way he prefers to play when he assembles a squad of players with specific qualities he wants?? That’s a bold statement to make based on absolutely nothing

azed

“Yea, you still cling to the idea Emery has a style or principles. Most observers see that’s blatantly not the case.”

How can you call you Pedro and CG most observers?

Receding Hairline

We have five captains ..Koscielny being our main captain the rest deputies. Saying things like he made Xhaka captain to score points makes your argument look weak

Receding Hairline

” He took one look at Joe Hart and said ‘Sorry, but you aren’t good enough’.”

Looked at Bravo and said you are definitely good enough, well we all know how that panned out

Ishola70

Receding HairlineMay 13, 2019 16:15:13 ” Yes it will be classed as a bottle job because Chelsea already have champions league football, we don’t” Yes that’s a factor in Arsenal’s favour. But Chelsea also have a factor that they possess a player in Hazard that is head and shoulders above anybody else on the pitch. Also you have the save face factor for Chelsea as they have not won anything this season. If you state it a 50/50 match then it’s difficult to see where bottle job comes in. Bottle jobbing a match usually applies to a team that were… Read more »

azed

Valentin

Pep has Oil money behind him so he can spend as much as he wants. Emery doesn’t have that luxury.

If Emery has bought Claudio Bravo, do you think he would get money for Ederson the next season from Stan?

Or do you think Emery can afford to buy a Mahrez just to put on the bench?

Receding Hairline

“We could have sold Mustafi for 30 millions last season to an Italian Club. The deal collapsed because we were unwilling to pay 16 millions for his replacement the young Turkish Dortmund CB who ended up at Leicester.”

How many games has said player played for Leicester?? Has he excelled?? You seem to confuse young with being good enough..perhaps you have seen far too many youth games and believe that’s the level we play.

Caglar Aoyuncu never played for Dortmund.

Ishola70

Receding Hairline
“We have five captains”

It’s a continuation from Lord Wenger.

Shame he hasn’t ditched it.

Receding Hairline

https://www.esdfanalysis.com/manager-analysis/unai-emery/

For Charles with love

Seems it’s not “blatantly obvious to everyone” he lacks a philosophy

lari03

It makes no sense letting Emery go now, then you pay him off. He might as well do the job and terminate his contract as stipulated after 2 years.

As concerns the issue of style, Pep G mentioned that Emery has always favored the 4-2-3-1 and this season, Arsenal was just behind Liverpool with assists from a FB.

Hector is the only fullback of note in our squad, he got injured and Mainland Niles was not immediately ready as an option even as wingback, and we suffered.

azed

“Emery got a look at the squad and decided to make Xhaka captain. Looked at Ramsey and say ‘Nah, I would rather play Elneny/Guendouzi’.” Another infamous lie by Valentin….. Do you lie for a living because you seem to be able to lie without thinking that you would be caught. Ramsey started the first two games in the EPL and he was horrible while on the other hand, Guendozi was a starter until Torriera was ready to start because of his prolonged world cup but why let facts get in the way of an agenda? By the way, any news… Read more »

Receding Hairline

“As concerns the issue of style, Pep G mentioned that Emery has always favored the 4-2-3-1 and this season, Arsenal was just behind Liverpool with assists from a FB.”

Oops another “everyone” whose lack of Emery philosophy isn’t obvious to.

Ishola70

First it was Barca lite.

Now fans want Arsenal to be Man City lite.

Trask

”Bottle jobbing a match usually applies to a team that were seen as clear favourites to win the match but fail”

Not only. It also applies to cases where the team fails show any form of willingness, desire, cojones,belief to win a game that is 50-50 or sometimes 55-45, 60-40 in favor of the opponent

Receding Hairline

I thought a few weeks ago the consensus was Guendouzi played too many games and Torriera was over worked??

What changed Valentin??

Receding Hairline

“First it was Barca lite.Now fans want Arsenal to be Man City lite.”

Or Liverpool lite

Or Liepzig lite

Seems all we want to do is copy others, so much for high standards

lari03

If Wenger were still here, he would have damaged Holding further this season.

Ishola70

Trask

Well I did say usually.

But yes you are right if we see the players obviously shitting themselves on the pitch then that can also be applied to bottling of course even if the team are not favs.

Let’s hope that is not the case in Baku.

Champagne Charlie

Receding

You’re conflating things here. I’m not saying he is literally absent of such things, all managers have an approach. I’m saying his is indiscernible, bland, and vapid when considering elite football coaches and clubs.

We are white bread, we excel at nothing.

Receding Hairline

“You’re conflating things here. I’m not saying he is literally absent of such things, all managers have an approach. I’m saying his is indiscernible, bland, and vapid when considering elite football coaches and clubs.” Arsenal football club stopped being an elite football club a decade ago. Emery had nothing to do with that. He just came off two years managing an elite football club who did not share your views he was inadequate when they offered him the job, failure is relative and if he did fail a young special sauce dude just failed harder over there. Nor do i… Read more »

Receding Hairline

And i just gave you links to detailed articles on his tactics ..quite difficult to write articles on something “indiscernible”

Champagne Charlie

Receding

I don’t really care about your beliefs about Arsenal, they’re clearly mediocre.

If you think Arsenal stopped being elite, or shouldn’t strive to be by putting elite measures in place, then you’re naive at best.

Arsenal are prime rib of European football.

bennydevito

CGMay 13, 2019    10:47:45 7 days 6 PEA goals in a week. 3 different grounds 1/3 of a Golden Boot. Well played PEA……Quality poaching. 2 posts – today – 2 talented authors. I thank them both. I am glad PedRo alludes to The Edu arrival in his piece today Whilst other clubs( eg Brighton are getting their ducks in a row- immediately for next season) – we are waiting for ‘ the nice but dim’ Edu’ s arrival from Brazil in mid summer. To use a PedRo-ism – what special sauce -has this Brazilian got – that we are in… Read more »

Trask

Ishola

Yes, I acknowledge that

Receding Hairline

If Reports from France are to be believed Hazard will be announced as a Real Madrid player after the Europa league, 86m pounds transfer fee.

Playing against a Hazard hell bent on a send off will be tricky

Receding Hairline

“I don’t really care about your beliefs about Arsenal, they’re clearly mediocre.”

Here we are with the insults..about time too

“If you think Arsenal stopped being elite, or shouldn’t strive to be by putting elite measures in place, then you’re naive at best.”

Putting elite measures in place should rather read “by putting a manager i approve of (Benitez being one) in charge”

“Arsenal are prime rib of European football.”

Right on..Go Charlie

gambon

Well, how many times did I say that we had a huge chance of sneaking 3rd/4th on the last day? It seems I took it seriously and Emery didnt. With a season behind us, I think its been fairly good from a results point of view. I wouldnt have bitten anyones hand off for 5th and an EL final, but I wouldnt be disappointed. That said, I do worry about where we’re going under Emery. He will obviously be our manager in August, but without significant change, Im not optimistic about next season. – The underlying performance has been poor.… Read more »

Receding Hairline

When the success of your season boils down to failure to beat a team who just sacked their manager at home then it’s bound to hurt.

Breaking into the top four this season would have been a better way to commence our rebuild i agree.

That shouldn’t distract from the fact we really need whoever is doing the scouting and dealing to be on top of their game this summer

Receding Hairline

Congrats to Sarri too..he saw the bottle job by the three stooges in progress and he took advantage (only just).

Champagne Charlie

Receding

How is stating your beliefs of Arsenal are mediocre (when you just said we’re not elite) insulting?

You’ve made how many jibes at my expense already today? Another Benitez comment, but that’s not insulting to ridicule a pov just because it differs?

You think highly of the way you conduct yourself on here, but the lack of self awareness is something else.

Champagne Charlie

Gambon

Agree there, we need EL glory to facilitate more player recruitment for next season. I’ve more faith in that granting improvement than Emery birthing a side that’s going to come on leaps and bounds

Receding Hairline

“You think highly of the way you conduct yourself on here” I think highly of how i relate with people as a person in general and my self awareness is just fine thanks “You’ve made how many jibes at my expense already today? ” None comes to mind. i referenced your earlier offerings, surely you still stand by them. “Another Benitez comment, but that’s not insulting to ridicule a pov just because it differs?” We can say that with good all Juande and AVB but you won’t find me lamenting, i take it on the shin. You should do so… Read more »

bennydevito

CGMay 13, 2019    12:32:26 The immature posters on here( although have good noble intentions) can jot down their player wish lists until the cows come home. But as Pierre has rightly pointed out. What top young player- will want to be coached by Emery? They will want to be coached and educated by: Pep Poch Klopp Etc Proper coaches- who play an exciting brand of football. We will sign mediocrity this summer and lots of it. Because that’s what Emery wants is comfortable with. He will be in Rymans – purchasing another batch of new clipboards…as we speak.. Look at… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

Receding

You’ll have to point out where there’s been any lashing out from me – calling your view of Arsenal mediocre isn’t one I’m afraid, it was a direct response to an assertion we’re not elite.

And give me peace, your constant rehashings of Benitez is trademark pettiness. I can take plenty on the chin, but continually going back to Benítez (an unprovable point of contention) is low hanging fruit. You can mock something you can’t prove or disprove, well done you.

bennydevito

Graham62May 13, 2019    13:39:45

TYAGN

Don’t get into an argument with CC, it’s what he lives for.

His confrontational motives are there for all to see and the bottom line is, he will never accept he is wrong.

You’re just hitting your head against a brick wall I’m afraid.

>>>>>

Got it one Graham62.

Elmo

Receding

As stupid as it might sound, there’s no guarantee that Sarri will start Hazard in the final.

Remember that Sarri has started with Hazard on the bench in recent must-win games, including the EL semis, and that seems to tie in with the reporting that Hazard told the club his decision to leave several weeks ago.

It may well be that Sarri’s position is that he will only start with players that are committed to the club. That would clearly play to our benefit if he was only a super sub!

Receding Hairline

I don’t understand Charles so enlighten me , are you denying you recommended Benitez as an elite hire who would have taken us forward??

Cos that will be news to me.

And yes we are not elites ..elite clubs get penciled in as possible league challengers or Champions league winners before a season starts.

That hasn’t been the case with us for a decade or more.

We are elite on technicality (same was AC Milan are elite) not by the reality on ground ….sorry if the truth looks mediocre to you.

Receding Hairline

“As stupid as it might sound, there’s no guarantee that Sarri will start Hazard in the final.”

Hazard as a sub is even more dangerous, against tired/tiring legs , now you are just scaring me Elmo and that’s not fair.

Champagne Charlie

Receding Your narrow idea of elite isn’t “truth”. We operate as one of the best clubs in one of the best leagues, you’re selling an Eskimo snow suggesting otherwise. Everything about Arsenal is top drawer, we hire the very best across the board. The fact we’re at a low ebb does nothing to our overall status. Milan is a rubbish comparison, we’ll go into the summer with more fire power and pulling than more than every team bar how many? Juve, Real, Barca, City, Liverpool, Bayern, PSG… who else? United depending how they tackle it?.. Are Spurs, Dortmund, Napoli, Atletico,… Read more »

Receding Hairline

” we’ll go into the summer with more fire power and pulling than more than every team bar how many?”

We have been outspent by a few teams in the premier league alone most summers

This chest beating doesn’t mask the realities on ground, we are at best a sleeping giant at worse one in a coma

Receding Hairline

“Are Spurs, Dortmund, Napoli, Atletico, Rennes outdoing us?”

What is warped here is the presence of Rennes in your mini rant alone..WTF dude?

Yes Spurs and Athletico Madrid have been outdoing us for quite a while now. Napoli not quite, Dortmund depends on where you are looking from, we did help them clear house over two windows though donating about 80m pounds for two players with little or no resale value

We are outdoing Rennes though, living the dream there.

Ishola70

Charlie

The reality is Arsenal for fire power as you put it in the transfer market is not much better than midtable EPL clubs with ambition now especially if it is three seasons out of the CL and also no top trophy won for over well over a decade entering two decades in a couple more.

Also this self-sufficiency prevents Arsenal from acting “elite”

Your in dreamland Charlie.

Champagne Charlie

“What is warped here is the presence of Rennes in your mini rant alone..WTF dude?“ You really need to drop the appeal to hyperbole, there’s no ranting. It was a Freudian slip, as funnily enough I was reading about Rennes all of 15 mins ago, I meant Lille, or Lyon, take your pick. Arsenal are comparatively middling because of their misuse of funds, and lack of big picture planning. To dismiss us as anything but an elite club is done so knowing fine we’ll the criteria can be toyed with to skew what elite even means. Are Liverpool and United… Read more »

Skinnywill

We have gone from the invincibles with hungry, super professionals like Bergkamp, Henry and Pires who you literally had to drag off the training ground to the likes of Ozil who won’t go North of the Watford Gap and Mustafi and Xhaka who will do anything to avoid responsibility on the pitch. We will not succeed in the league again until we get some characters in our team that simply won’t accept defeat, are highly motivated in every game and take responsibility out on the pitch. Even our front two who were superb in our recent Europa League games against… Read more »

Bob N16

‘Elite on technicality’…obviously the definition is a matter of debate but surely our location, our stadium, our global support, our history(admittedly not especially in Europe), our name, our income…….. Our team is not elite but if, and this an obvious, we get it together both on and off the pitch, we will be touching the top table again. Liverpool finished mid table only a few years ago, now look at them. We’re mediocre now but we are still a top (elite) club. We just need an elite approach to acquisitions and a visionary coach. We shouldn’t wallow too heavily in… Read more »

Receding Hairline

“Are Liverpool and United elite clubs?”

Yep

Both have spent over 300m over the past two years alone, due to better commercial deals, players they could offload for very good money e.t.c

One even recently played in a champions league final and was discussed as a league contender this season. United will always be United

“I meant Lille, or Lyon, take your pick.”..no one has ever called this two super clubs so again WTF

Champagne Charlie

Ishola

Kindly list the number of midtable clubs able to offer the wages we do (sensibility aside)?

Its not great is it

You know, the reality is its the structure, leadership, and board of this club which is the issue. Its been the issue for years. We all complain about wengers demise over the years, but in truth he was the only one providing any sort of leadership and structure to the club. He was the screen that protected the players and the board. So much so, that with him not there, our conversation has changed to the point where we continually discuss what’s going on in the background of the club to the point we realise therein is the issue. I… Read more »

Receding Hairline

“We’re mediocre now but we are still a top (elite) club. ”

Purely on technicality……No league title since 2004. been in the second tier European competition two years running, yes it could be worse but it’s already bad.

Champagne Charlie

““I meant Lille, or Lyon, take your pick.”..no one has ever called this two super clubs so again WTF“ It’s not a difficult one, I included the top teams of the top leagues to decipher what is or isn’t elite. Lyon aren’t an elite french side? Think you should save a few “WTF”s for yourself. See, here there’s clear muddying of what’s considered elite. United have been shit since Fergie left, but they’re elite because the spend? Liverpool have won fuck all for how long? They’re elite because of the last two years? Fleeting status this elite, but on your… Read more »

Batistuta

The only thing elite about Arsenal are those outrageously expensive tickets…….. 2 of the newly promoted teams last summer spent more than us last summer and seems same again with all the reports everywhere so pretty delusional to think of Arsenal as an elite club in 2019 with Xhaka and Mustafi running things for ya

Champagne Charlie

Bob

Spot on. Far too many equating the on pitch stuff to the status and capability of the club as a whole.

We’re European elites, baffling watching some try and explain that away. My guess is the lines will get drawn where maybe 5 clubs qualify as elite, dead easy to duck out on one of them technicalities you hear about.

Ishola70

Wages?

The wages that are crippling the club atm.

Arsenal are linked to players that mid-table EPL clubs are for the most part are also linked with. Only a few exceptions.

If you term the club elite you must be going on about different levels of elite which is daft. If you are elite that is it and the word shouldn’t be used so lightly.

This club hasn’t won a top trophy for over a decade and will be entering two decades quicker than we think.

bennydevito

Evening Grovers, Good post Pedro, I was scathing of the very notion of Arteta in the summer but over the course of this season I think there is justification for the idea he could become a top coach head coach in his own right. I said a little while ago that I’ve been observing the dynamic between Pep and Arteta and noticed that every time City conceded a sloppy goal because of bad marking or not getting the basics right on a set piece Pep has absolutely let rip at Arteta like it was his fault the players have made… Read more »

Valentin

According to French newspapers, it seems that Chelsea and Real Madrid have come to an agreement for the transfer of Eden Hazard. Set to be about €90~100 millions. That should be announced after the Europa League final. One newspaper adds that there is a clause that the deal would be cancelled if Eden Hazard has an injury before the completion of the transfer. Hopefully that could means that Eden Hazard will not be risked in the Europe League final. I don’t understand Real Madrid negotiators. Hazard had already said that he was not going to sign a new contractb and… Read more »

Up 4 grabs now

Evening, Pedro, I hope your tongue was firmly in your cheek when you were wishing arteta success for city winning the league. I heard it was the tea lady that picked the side for pep while he was swigging his tea down with a jammy dodger! In all seriousness, if you thought 5th was going to be our final position at the end of the season, why so much negativity towards Emery? “I think the reality of the new regime is you don’t quickly fix a house that’s been left neglected in woods for 14 years. There are so many… Read more »

Ishola70

Valentin

“I don’t understand Real Madrid negotiators. Hazard had already said that he was not going to sign a new contractb and that he wanted to work under Zidane. Why pay that amount and not try to offer 50 millions and see if Chelsea blink first?”

Because big money signings are what they are about. Big money.

They have to do something to make themselves feel good after plummeting this season on the pitch.

It’ll be a feel good factor for them.

Valentin

@Ishola, You might be right. I understand the psychology of showing your financial might to attract new fans. However Hazard was really a low hanging fruit. With all the money they will need to spend to rebuild the team, that may be good marketing but it is not very cost effective. L’Equipe is pushing the agenda that Zidane is starting to clear out the squad. Had face to face with some players to tell them that he does count on them for next season. First out of the door should be Gareth Bale. I think that the RM marketing men… Read more »

jwl

Up 4 grabs now – Pedro thinking like marketing/sales man that he is. Emery has exceeded expectations this season but Pedro spends his time complaining about Emery’s accent or teeth. Perhaps Emery is not person you would want for national ad campaign but he done good job as Arsenal head coach.

Up 4 grabs now

Pedro, No body else was clamouring to manage us with the funds we had to spend. Great stadium, central London, blah, blah. Right now we need a rioch/Emery to steady the ship. Clear out the dead wood and get us to a level to compete again. If he can’t get us competing, he goes. I don’t have a problem with that. But the jobs just begun in getting us back to competing with Chelsea utd and the spuds. Before we look at the top two. He steadied the ship, stopped us sinking and set us on the right course. Maybe… Read more »

Guns of SF

Emery’s teeth are normal for the species Dracula
Whats the big deal?

MidwestGun

We are an elite Club.. We have been stuck in a cycle of “elite mediocrity”for ages though.. Pedro coined term I think. Basically we are an elite Club without an elite manager and very few elite players, imo. We are better then all but 1 club in Italy, better then 2 or 3 in Spain, better then 1 in France and 1 in Germany and better then all but 4 or 5 in England. So we are right on the edge of being in top ten year after year of world best Clubs. The issue is us pushing into that… Read more »

Guns of SF

We will beat Chelsea
I think it might come to pens.

Im prepared for the inevitable stomach ache watching this….

Words on a Blog

Jwl,

Just to annoy Pedro, from now on I’m gonna call Emery The Colgate Kid

Receding Hairline

Spanish Bruce Rioch with trophies…remind me how many Rioch won in his career?

salparadisenyc

Club clearly went with thought of getting a steady hand post Wenger and Emery’s achieved that. Pretty much pulling a replication of last season but topping that by getting into this final with a better semi final draw. For me the alarm bells started ringing some time in January with some baffling managerial decisions. Overall damning we did not put in better offensive numbers than last season with PEA in side for 36 games this season where as Wenger had him for 13 last. Couple that with a worse defensive record than last and under Wenger and one has to… Read more »

Paul Mc Daid

“ He’s sitting next to Pep because he is an elite thinker and doer “ That’s Hilarious ,
The lad before him was a so called genius, Till he was asked to prove himself in NY and almost destroyed the franchise.

Receding Hairline

Midwest so the only thing between us and the upper elite is the head coach?

So if we hired Pep, or better his boss Arteta, we wouldn’t need to get rid of our underperformers ?

Hitman

Being a number 2 is entirely different to being headcoach. Arteta as coach of Afc was and still is a non starter. He is still a novice number 2. Klop, Pep had already won things. Poch had EPL experience as manager. Mikel has none of that. He isn’t even a thing in the managerial world. Afc went for the safe option and that is what they got. It is unlikely that Emery will win us EPL or UCL (unless we get lucky). That’s the reality. But he will be manager next season and probably will get top four. This club… Read more »

Words on a Blog

Receding,

Arteta would have our problems with underperformers covered in no time.

First thing he’d do is get an elite neurosurgeon to perform two brain transplants on Mustafi and Xhaka.

Sorted!

MidwestGun

Midwest so the only thing between us and the upper elite is the head coach?
__________________
Receding no… not the only thing.. As I mentioned we don’t have very many elite or superstar players. But it certainly doesn’t help that we don’t.

“Basically we are an elite Club without an elite manager and very few elite players” That’s what I said… I thought it was pretty clear… where did you get “only” ? reading comprehension?

Redtruth

Pellegrini isn’t an elite manager and he won the league and cup double in his first season with Man City.

Take away the spending power and Guardiola is no better than Dave Bassett.

Receding Hairline

“You said the thing is pushing us into the higher level of elite and if Emery is the man to do that”

Broken down one might be led to think you believe we are one good appointment away from the super elite, we are not. We are severally appointments away starting with a new CEO or Head of football operations as we call it.

Guns of Brixton

Wouldn’t have minded arteta

A man with a solid vision supported by the right people.

Guns of Brixton

Take away the spending power and Guardiola is no better than Dave Bassett

*facepalm*

Champagne Charlie

Midwest

Precisely my view.

MidwestGun

Pelligrini had elite players. it helps no doubt. Pep has finished first or second in the league everywhere he goes mostly first except for 1 year his entire career that’s what makes him elite is consistency. Pellegrini’s win percentage at City was about 60%.. Peps is over 80%. Sure he is a cheque book manager but he is the best there is.

Words on a Blog

Elite = intelligence (vision and tactics) + money (top notch players)

MidwestGun

To be clear though I have no idea what Arteta is.. Dude has never managed anything. And he certainly isn’t on anyone’s elite list. Maybe he will be .. someday.. you have to start somewhere but I’m just not sure I want Arsenal to be the experiment.