This is the final instalment of Jonathan Blaustein’s guest post series. Please give him a big fat follow on the Twitter @JBlauPhoto
I was in North London a couple of weeks ago, staying just off the Holloway Road.
I hadn’t been back in 6 years, and the neighbourhood had certainly gentrified.
The London Metropolitan University put up a bunch of high-rise dorm buildings, since last I was there.
Shiny and modern, for sure.
I was walking along the Holloway Road, on a Tuesday morning, trying to figure out which lane led to the Emirates Stadium, as I’d only ever found it accidentally.
When I hit the first major crossroads, I looked to the left, but the road was curved, so I couldn’t see very far, and anyway, I didn’t see a stadium-top.
I was headed to buy some merch for myself and the kids, and when I looked across the street, those fancy new buildings caught my eye.
So much so that I raised my new iPhone to take a photograph.
As I went to snap the photo, a nice middle-aged Englishwoman walking behind me stopped, looked at the image on my screen, looked up, saw the buildings, and then said, “That’s a lovely photograph! So great of you to notice it. That’s really art!”
Of course that began a conversation, as I accompanied her to her office at the college in a building up the block.
I continued Southeast on the Holloway Road, trying to find the damn stadium.
I passed one intersection, because I couldn’t see it, and took the next one instead.
Finally, I saw signs, and followed them, dejected, as we seemed to walking just back where I came from.
(And I was in a time crunch as well.)
Sure enough, I finally saw the stadium gleaming in the London morning sun, and realized it was exactly where I’d just been.
I’d gone out of my way, and essentially walked in a circle, to get back to where I started. Only by the time I got there, I was annoyed, rather than excited.
Did I go into the Arsenal store anyway?
Yes, yes I did.
I bought things from the bargain bin, if you’re wondering, because all the cool new clothes were branded with the new marketing slogan “Kings of London.”
Kings of London.
(Pause.)
Kings of London?
Are you fucking kidding me?
By what possible metric are Arsenal the best team in town? Let’s be honest.
Right now, we’re #3.
I know it. You know it.
And so do all the players who are going to sign for new teams this summer.
What kind of player, or better yet, what actual player will want to sign on for the Unai Emery era, if they’re also being recruited by City, Chelsea, Liverpool, or Tottenham?
Who would choose Arsenal over those teams, to join the Emery experiment, now that we’ll be in the Europa League for the 3rd consecutive year, and we just pulled a massive double-choke in the Premier and Europa Leagues.
So we’re clear, I’ve written a column here all year long. I was consistent. Let’s give Emery a year and see what he produces. Maybe his chokes at PSG were a thing of the past.
Maybe we were getting a bruised-but-still-high-end-talent who’s ready for redemption?
Like a Pre-Liverpool Klopp?
That was wishful thinking for a best case scenario, to mix my business jargon. And now, in early June, it has been proven farcical.
I know there were a few small green shoots this year, like beating Chelsea, Tottenham and ManU, and drawing with Liverpool.
And I guess PEA co-won the Golden Boot, and Laca emerged as awesome.
Guendouzi was fun, and Torriera had a few proper runs.
But now that I’ve gone through the pretense of looking at both sides, I’m here to say that if I were in charge of Arsenal, I’d be firing Unai Emery.
Now.
If Stan and Josh, much less Raul, want anyone to believe that accountability has returned to Arsenal, you can’t keep on a coach who oversaw that type of collapse.
Not after Late-Wenger.
Say this for the old man, at least he bagged those 3 FA Cups.
To choke as badly as Arsenal did at the end of the season, (not to mention PEA’s penalty choke against Tottenham,) will stain Unai Emery’s credibility forever.
He’s tarnished goods, for absolute certain, and his ceiling for greatness was likely limited to begin with.
Really, who was banging for “Emeryball” before he was hired?
Coach was a last-second panic hire by Gazidis, to get us out of the Europa League.
And it didn’t work.
So now, rather than wasting more time trying to slowly walk back the soft comfort that Wenger created, it’s time for a new, fresh, hard-working, grinder of a coach with a dynamic offensive AND defensive philosophy.
Someone the players will go to war for.
If I sound a lot like Pedro, it’s because I agree with him completely.
Sweep the decks.
Start over before you walk too many blocks in the wrong direction.
Because the truth is, when that lady interrupted me on the Holloway Road?
I was 150 meters from the stadium, and my camera was set to video.
I never got that photograph, and I walked right past the stadium, because I got distracted by a cute and comfortable little moment.
It seemed harmless at the time, but it cost me twenty minutes of wasted walking.
That’s what this year felt like, now that it’s done.
A fucking waste, with no trophies.
Start over, and do it right this time, before we’re looking at Everton and Watford and Wolves thinking, “Wow, how did they get ahead of us? We’ll have to work pretty hard to make sure we qualify for the Europa League again.”
That’s the cold truth.
We need our own Sean McVay.
And we need him now.
Remember to follow @JBlauPhoto!
Emery won 10 trophies in 6 seasons.
That’s with 3 seasons at Sevilla.
Not too bad a return.
It is my fucking annoying colleague’s last day today, never has there been such a consensus that someone had been so unbearable and made everyone question pastures new…and it gave me an idea… Arsenal should sign Troy Deeney! Sit Troy & Mesut down and explain to Mesut that Troy is not going to leave his side for the next two years. We will pay Troy Deeney £1,000 for every time he shouts “where are you’re fucking Cojones!” at Mesut Ozil. Early forecasts predict Troy will be the highest paid “footballer” of all time. Troy is to record each shout of… Read more »
Bamford, if you continue to incite trouble, you will be binned. I literally have people texting me about some of the nonsense you’ve been bringing to the blog.
Address your shocking tone and behave.
Graham “If I was in charge of Arsenal” I would have sacked Wenger ten years back and then we wouldn’t be in this mess.Don’t you agree? No! I would put him in charge as Dof and Tech Director tomorrow And appoint Patrick Vieria as head coach. If anyone thinks Wengers Arsenal race has been Run……I would think again. These clowns currently in charge will see to it. Who is Josh going to call – when Raul and Vinai are ousted….? Wenger is waiting…. Wenger wants Arsenal…. A reunion is far from improbable.** An Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal will always be Box… Read more »
*Twitter storm incoming*
^^ huh?
£130m for a 28 year old. No. Real Madrid has been a graveyard for players over the years and I suspect that Hazard will also fall foul of Real’s ability to chew and spit out players. At 28 he will have to hit the ground running, so no time to adjust to a new country, language and playing style. Not to mention the crowd…this is a crowd that booed Ronaldo after the man had scored 400 goals for them. I do not doubt Hazard’s ability – he’s a wonderful footballer but I can’t help thinking that Chelsea will do better… Read more »
Let it go Bamford
Pick your battles
“Two things: one, I don’t know why you haven’t noticed this yet, but no one uses the @ convention here. You can drop it. Just type the poster’s name.”
The above was very unnecessary and one of the reasons you have issues here
Some posters here enjoy your posts. why not just concentrate on exchanges with them and avoid the confrontations
You cannot come on Pedro’s blog and accuse him of snide remarks, it’s his blog.
I’m wondering if Bamford had a post deleted or something. Because “empty hot air” seems rather less offensive than an awful lot of other stuff. Maybe Pedro has compared IP addresses and Bamford has another account…
This place is more fun when we’re talking whisky.
Bamford has to be one of the saddest individuals in this world.
Just so angry at everyone for not agreeing with his views.
A few weeks ago he was tweeting me at about 9am, which mustve been 4am his time to pull me u on stuff he doesnt agree with.
Mental. Absolutely mental.
Can anyone fill me in on why Bamford has replaced me as public enemy No.1?
Was Dissenter disgusted?
Ahhh dear, he never learns.
So far, over at Arsenal FC:
No announcement of Emery’s sacking has been made.
No existing players have been sold or transferred.
No new players have been acquired.
Lots and lots of questionable reports about player departures and acquisitions.
complacent inertia, as usual.
Meanwhile, over at Le Grove CS (Comments Section)
Raging disputes over whether Emery has to go.
Raging disputes over which players need to go.
Raging disputes over the interpretation of statistics
Raging disputes over the quality of rumoured incomings.
Muted disputes over rumoured outgoings.
Insults and snarky comments, as usual.
Words, it’s a blog. It wouldn’t exist if we couldn’t speculate.
Hackney
Bamford is mental. Needs to be banned for his own good.
Youre just a bit of a cunt.
Casual cunting feels so far in my past, I get offended by it.
So woke.
Woah…I am so offended by Gambon’s heinous comment.
Where’s Dissenter when you need an over the top reaction to some words?
Still, better than discussing our stupid football club.
Pedro,
Not a criticism of the blog, more of a compare and contrast between the urgency of tone here relative to the apparent (lack of) urgency at the club.
Thought I’m sure Raoul is working very hard.
@Jamie
Whisky certainly makes being an Arsenal fan more tolerable.
I’ve found that whilst I do love my Islay single malts (peatier the better, Ardbeg Supernova remains my all time favourite) they are harder to drink vast quantities of. A nice blend like Monkey Shoulder is definitely the one for watching an Arsenal game…
England Football supporters abroad and England ignorants abroad, are all one of the same.
Total fudging embarrassment and it’s time it stopped.
These folk should be rounded up, named and shamed, passports cancelled for 5 years and banned from attending all future sporting/social events………..anywhere.
I include the “binge drinking / stag and hen party brigades” in this.
Learn to respect? Unfortunately, this lot will never learn.
Imbeciles, the lot of them.
I would imagine a whole barrel of whisky would be more appropriate to watch Arsenal.
Danny S. ‘What ‘elite manager’ would you have appointed?’ When the job became available, the media threw up names. Emery was hardly mentioned. That tells you something. And if the situation became so drunk, and it was strictly between Emery and Arteta. Then Arteta. Emery was known, not elite. Arsenal was a chance for him to prove he could be among. So far, chance bottled. But Arteta. Imagine if Barca didn’t have the gut to throw Pep in those years back. Barca was the only one who should trust Pep, not Bayern, not Madrid; because it was one of their… Read more »
Another thing.
How come so many people can find time to get off work to attend all these things?
Self employed? Rich? Income support? Disability allowance?
What is it?
Biggles – ” they [Islay malts] are harder to drink vast quantities of” I accept your challenge! I haven’t tried the Ardbeg Supernova, but if I see a bottle, I’ll grab one. Truth be told, I’m old school. I look for specific age statements on bottles (>18). Far too many single malts aren’t age-specific these days, and are given silly names instead. It’ll be years before the distilleries replenish their aged stocks. Clearly, I’m being too snobby and should give non-age-statement whiskies a try. p.s. I’m all about the peat too. And smoke. I’m a member of the Whisky Society,… Read more »
When talking about young talent at Arsenal, lets not forget about
Krystian Bielik who is on loan at Charlton ..
Pedro
What clues for the shoot u on other day ?
Food outlet ??
Afternoon Grovers,
I read a report in the daily mail the other day that stated Wenger didn’t want Mustafi and thought he wasn’t good enough defensively and that Gazidas overruled him.
If true I hold high hopes that he will sign for Milan and that we may even recoup the whole £35m.
Let’s hope so.
Is Praet a Ramsey replacement?
What’s his style of play?
Joke Friday.
The Left are anti fascist.
Never seen such a bunch of rabid out of control hooligan thugs in all my life.
Sorry, football only but really needed to get that off my chest.
benny
Spot on
It’s just a group of aliases talking on a football blog. Not that person A can actually take a dagger to person B at some point.
So re Bamford, I don’t understand.
And really, what makes this place interesting to me is the pepper in some of the lines.
But is Pedro’s blog, Pedro’s rules.
*it’s
A must see for everybody here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-peUh72jqo
@Jamie I can’t speak for all named whiskies, but certainly the Ardbeg ones are picked for a particular flavour profile that is less age dependent and more barrel dependent. Supernova has more than twice the peat levels of say a regular Ardbeg 10 year old. They’ve done a couple of re-releases of it at this point. Definitely a niche flavour, can also highly recommend Uigeadail and Corryvreckan, both of which are bit easier. My last unopened bottle of Supernova is one of the original 2009 bottles. Thought about saving it for the birth of the first born, but hanging on… Read more »
Also, I saw that today Ozil is getting married and celebrating by paying for 1000 surgeries.
We’re obviously bringing Diaby back!
Oh wow. Had my first deleted comment.
You really are a delicate flower Peter. Ha
bamford Right, but if Spurs and Chelsea —teams with better players and good managers — both had their own “collapses,” doesn’t that suggest that our “collapse” might have an explanation other than “the manager isn’t good enough” or “the manager doesn’t know what he’s doing”? Yes, it does. i said ‘collapses of their own’, which, while true, wasn’t especially important because the whole point of the article was not that we had collapse, as such, but that we were pretty bad all year, and it was papered over by the unbeaten run. the streak was actually an aberration in which… Read more »
If we’re really in for the two lads from Sampdoria, what does it say about us that we’re looking to the 9th best team in Italy for the quality to improve our first XI?
Or are Sampdoria to us what Southampton were to Liverpool?
Very good summary Matt Foley, alas, you’ll be a cunt in no time 😂
Think Carrasco could be a great signing, but im not exactly sure about it.
Wouldnt have been on my list
Looks like it might be happening.
Certainly gives us something we really dont have. Will be up there with Zaha as the best dribbler in the PL
bennydevito
Don’t believe everything you read.
In any case, what did Wenger know about defence?
Exactly!
Just been to see my son and his fiancé in their nice new flat.
Has a framed poster of Alexis Sanchez in the hallway.
Good on him.
Was rejecting the very notion of us gettimg Carrasco back in January.
Thru him in the same boat as Perisic and Denis suraez.
I assumed then we would at least get 4th with UCL footie guaranteed.
Now, we are in a rock and a hard place I would snatch him up in an instant 😂😂😂
I would prefer Zaha tho.
I agree that Carrasco is either going to look like a genius move or he’s going to be totally off it in which case the EPL is the worst thing that could happen to him
Too many on here manage to be both hypocrites and snobs regarding bringing players we are linked to. One minute we should be looking for bargain’s in the lower leagues, the next someone playing for a mid table team in one of the top 5 divisions in Europe is us bringing in no hopers.
I won’t even go into the ones who think we can promote the entire youth team to get us top 4.
Gambon
Yea it’s a risky one, but that’s what we need to do in our position so can only hope the variable due diligence has been done on him.
Personally I hold a reservation of his physical adaptation to the league week in, week out. He’s technical as you like, but looks powder puff whenever I’ve watched him. Also the attitude to him top level Euro footy at 24/25 is worrying.
But he’s a 60 mil player if it works.
Pedro
You really need to ban Cesc again. We just can’t have him coming on here making reasoned thought out comments.
Graham
Not sure I’d boast about having a son who supports ManU!
Just what I was thinking Marc…
Even out of that bunch to pick Sanchez is particularly cunty if you ask me.
Bob
On what subject?
Having a Man Utd player on your wall is not a good look.
Bob
Well if he’d nailed him to the wall I can see the attraction.
With the exception of Huddersfield Town – I very much doubt any other club in the UK will have a more arbitrary transfer strategy than Arsenal this summer.
There does not seem to be any semblance of a plan whatsoever.
Are we buying players Raul wants, Emery wants or indeed Edu wants?
Let’s hope there is Method in their Madness… but I very much doubt it..
Uncharted waters here.
It seems all very scattergun.
I hope the Clowns do adhere to the old adage though.
Quality over Quantity.
Zaha and Zaha alone would be enough for us…
Just read your post.
If PEA hadn’t choked, we would be third-equal on points with Chelsea — the dialog would be very different.
So I went back and looked at how we fared on losing a very long-term manager to how Man U fared
They dropped from 1st to 7th and scored 25 less points
We improved from 6th to 5th and scored 7 more points
I’m not defending the collapse of our twin towers — the lame EPL closeout and the disaster in Baku — but I’m glad our first season after Wenger didn’t go Moyes-shaped
Just saying
CG
2 very solid players in Anderson and Praet. They won’t set the world on fire but they also won’t make x mistakes per game.
Plus Torreira played with Praet for 2 seasons.
They would be sturdy additions and I’d say upgrades on Xhaka and Mustafi I hope.
Add some youth team players, and some full backs and wingers of Emery’s choosing and we will be more solid next season.
All this hinges obviously on how well we sell.
Defence starts in the midfield. Solid well centred midfield is a good start.
Ray
That’s what so many fail to grasp – replacing a legacy manager who’s had so much control was never going to be easy or instantly result in success. Emery isn’t perfect but the handful of posters on here who constantly rail against him all want Wenger back a certain path to disaster which fortunately will never happen in any capacity – Pedro’s just got a crush on Arteta. That or he’s looking for a gig promoting hair products!
Pep and Klopp’s first seasons weren’t so stellar, so I am cautiously hopeful
What I don’t understand is why the defense didn’t progressively improve over the season — I can’t find any excuse for that
We face teams who are supposed to have less talented players than ours but they are well-organized and thwart us
I want our defense to thwart our opponents
“Pep and Klopp’s first seasons weren’t so stellar, so I am cautiously hopeful“
I’m not sure the cause for the optimism, what Pep and Klopp achieved before coming to England was something to salivate over.
Can’t say the same for Emery, so hoping he’ll follow their lead is really stretching it imo.
Anything positive on EMERY and a certain poster is on it
Such dedication
Anyway seems this Carrasco thing has legs
I heard the normally opportunistic Italian outfits (Milan,Inter and Roma) were put off by the financial implications of the deal. If indeed the rumored 20-25m pounds is the transfer fee we can only assume the wages and commission is the issue here
@RH, I don’t think that young and hungry is better than experience and talent. I just rate talent, hunger, willingness to learn more than experience alone. Elneny is experienced. He went to two World Cup. But I don’t think he is good enough for Arsenal. I would rather have Willock in the team instead of him. I could cite Mustafi or Xhaka. Xhaka a leader of the Swiss team is very experienced but keep committing the same stupid mistake when put under pressure. Those players have reached their ceiling. No amount of coaching will eradicate those mistakes. So you either… Read more »
Carrasco will have to be ready to take a pay cut to make it work. Arsenal shouldn’t pay him Chinese super league wages.
Receding
You’ve a cheek to mention anyone talking about Emery, obviously not particularly self-aware.
In case you’ve also not noticed, that’s been a talker about subject today so allow me to carry on conversing with posters without your bitchy side commentary. Go send a few emails
Just have to hope Carrasco turns up with a point to prove.
Like I say this could be a genus move on our part. Got all summer to work on any fitness issues as well.
Marc
Haha.
Almost trying to tempt Pedro into banning me now.
Carrasco looks decent. His wages could be a problem though. Would he take a pay cut to leave China?
Charlie, your objection is absolutely valid but there is no need for passing racist remarks.
Carrasco was quality when he was at Atletico. Let’s hope that he hasn’t lost the drive for the game, playing in an inferior league.
As for the wages, I’m pretty sure he would have to take a paycut.
I think Anderson, Praet and Carrasco would be a very good start.
So we really are looking at players in the Chinese league….
And we then expect them to be a success in the toughtest ,most fiercest league in world soccer….
Does our club- really have a footballing DeathWish?
I hope ( to be fair- if he comes) he is better than the last Raul and Emery collaboration.
Suarez..
The new Regime continue to run amok… and yet no one seems to be able to stop them..
Sid
That’s not a racist remark, it’s a piss take at stereotypes.
Perish the thought
Of Buying an exciting,established player who lit up the Prem last year.
Who also happens to be based in London
And an Arsenal fan too.
And will DEFINITELY hit the ground running in late August when the season starts.
(Buying Zaha might also stop Chelsea or Spurs buying him too.)
Just so everyone knows, the picture of Sanchez is when he was wearing an Arsenal shirt.
Of course you all knew that.
Why do you think I said “good on him”?
Sanchez is a hero as far as we’re concerned.
Zaha would come at an exorbitant premium and we would have to skimp in other areas. Plus Zaha isn’t THAT good.
100% not an 80m player.
The rumours coming from the now confirmed January negotiations suggest Carrasco was willing to take a pay cut.
He’s saying all the right things anyway which gives me hope. Desperately wants a return, willing to cut his wages etc.
The EPL is going to be a tough reintroduction though for him. Got to work on his fitness at Colney over the summer and play him in the preseason games.
Luteo
Why?
Sanchez is a hero.
Carrasco does not excite me at all.
He has not exactly dropped mad stats in the Chinese league or la liga.
Plus you have to question a players mentality that goes to China in the first place.
If this is where we are goi g with transfers I will be worried.
Could it be? Arsenal will finally have an actual winger playing wide??
Too much baggage with Zaha.
Would still take him though but not for £80m.
Bissaka and Zaha for 80m. Then yeah. Ha
What’s the Zaha baggage?
Alexis Sanchez was the catalyst for change.
I’d shake his hand if I met him in the street.
Thanks Alexis.
He was. But wouldn’t it have been amazing if we got 60m for him instead of miki….
Danny
I get there’s some hesitation and some questions needing answered re: Carrasco.
But, he could be a super signing for ‘cheap’ I’m this market. He’s a wide man, and is a top tier dribbler. Our current best version of that is Iwobinho…
Carrasco could be a genius move for 25m or he could tank, still looks like he has it but hard to gauge that from the chinese league. We’ll just have to wait and see. Him on the right and Claude Maurice on the left and we finally have actual wingers/wide forwards again, and for a very reasonable outlay. Hoping the Andersen/Praet rumours are just that and we’re going the Upemecano and Saliba route instead, much more upside there. Still need to sort out midfield though Rabiot + Ziyech/Palacios maybe? Links to Tierney again, which is nice, rumoured bids for Meunier.… Read more »
I suppose he has to be an upgrade on Iwobi.
I was just hoping for a little more, maybe Ziyach.
He’d most likely come at half the wages of miki though so if he doesn’t make it he will be easy to offload next season.
Freddie
When you take a look at Anderson and Praet stats, they arnt as bad as they seem.
Freddie
Agreed.
If we landed Carrasco and Claude Maurice for a total of £35 Million I think we could have pulled something off there. Like Sanllehi said, outsmart everyone else in the market.
Really liking the rumours of Meunier and Tierney. Desperately needed.
Those 4 signings could completely change the dynamics of this team.
Carrasco is exactly the type of player we have been missing. Direct, pacy dribbler. And I can’t think of a better player we could sign for the £25m or whatever it is.
‘Catalyst for change’, sorry Graham but could you explain that please.
I am afraid that the pressure from the fans and expectation from the board are pushing Emery to try short term quick fixes. I would rather he focus on building an identity of the team. He should also employ more youngsters, though that is mainly for the future. If the fans see improvements towards a clear identity, either high pressing, high defensive line, playout from the back, one time passing, overlap wing attack, etc, the fans will support the effort. Currently, no one knows how the team will play next year. Furthermore, if no youngsters are developed, then this year… Read more »
Danny S
I like Ziyech, but he comes with a risk as well, sometimes Eredivise signings absolutely tank.
We’re in the market of risk, we’ve got to take chances.
Carrasco could tank, equally teams could be kicking themselves next season at the deal we pulled off.
Nelson
Disagree.
Strong links to young players like Saliba, Palacios and Calude Maurice and we’ve just promoted Ljungberg with one of the stated purposes being to be a link from the youth academy to the first team.
Could we consider this a good window?
Ins:
Maurice
Carrasco
Praet
Anderson
Tierney
Munier
Outs:
Xhaka
Mustafi
Ozil
Miki
Kos
Elneny
I’ve not included other fringe sales*
Danny S
I wouldn’t mind Andersen that much, looks very good on the ball, tall, but not that fast.
Would much rather we go for someone with the potential to really dominate that CB position though and become world class. Can’t really see that with Andersen but Upemecano is on his way and Saliba has the potential.
Praet doesn’t really stand out in anything, looks like a very good squad player but we need a special player in CM and Praet doesn’t look like he has that extra level is the next level in him.
Danny S
“Carrasco does not excite me at all. He has not exactly dropped mad stats in the Chinese league or la liga. Plus you have to question a players mentality that goes to China in the first place.”
Noted for indiscipline as well while at Atletico.
Not a great sign.
It’s the PR machine that will accompany him.
At least he’d be closer to his Mum and Dad.
Zaha would not be your normal run-of-the-mill signing.
If it happens though….. GREAT!
Danny S
Just from the out list it’s already a winner.
Proper wingers and Fullbacks, improvements on Mustafi and a decent CM, I would take it 100% but think we can do better than the Sampdoria pair