Sunday musings on Arsenal: Players, politics, milk

by .

You know when people change their food diet and they literally can’t wait to tell you how you’re a disgraceful person and that you’ll probably die if you keep using hospital IVs to mainline beef into your body? Well, I’m about to slip into that…

… I’ve been… using… oat milk.

NO NO NO… stay. Hear me out. It was a total accident. But, it’s pretty good. If you are buying milk, it lasts about a week, this stuff last three months. You don’t even notice the difference… and get this, it works in tea and coffee.

You also feel smug at parties.

‘Oh my gaaawd, I just won’t go without steamed oat milk in my soy-based latte’

** STANDING OVATION **

Instant rise in social standing. It’s even good for cows. Well, not my cow. Moira serves no use for me these days, carted her off to the butchers. But, you get my point.

So what do we have in the mixer for you today?

Unai Emery is in New York talking about coaching at one of those speaking circuit gigs.

… Unai is a circuit guy. Cannot imagine the LinkedIn posts he’s dropping.

‘GOOD EBENING. A small bootless boy walked up to me 5 years ago. He asked me: ‘What must I take to succeed in this game.’ I say to him, boots little boy, boots. It is health and safety. But also, they make it easier to kick. The boy went out and bought boots. Today, he is Uber driver, but let me be honest, he wears the correct shoes for the job. Pragmatism is the essence of a good career.’

** DIGITAL STANDING OVATION FROM THE OLEG VISHNEPOLSKY CROWD**

The tickets are $299. He’s basically the headliner, David Villa is there as well. I am weighing up dropping in just to see what goes on at these things… though $299 is an expensive way to test my curiosity.

There’s a story that the manager had to move away from some Spurs fans that were heckling him on a flight. Pretty cheeky considering their season has once again finished with a grand total of zero trophies. Here’s my questions, £6m a year and you’re not in first class? Come on Unai, upgrade my man… get yourself a Net Jets account, stop slumming it with the proles. When you make that sort of money, don’t do a Corbyn and sit in coach, no one gives a fuck, roll like a big man. Neck champagne and guard that first class curtain like a madman.

‘MISS, THAT PERSON MAY NOT PASS TO BREASTFEED THEIR BABY IN OUR FIRST CLASS TOILET’

I thought some of the nonchalant reaction to Mesut yesterday perfectly summed up the internet. Firstly, I was bantering that the dictator was best man, to be honest, in the whole story, accurate R&Rs at the wedding were pretty low down my list of to-do’s. The main concern for me was that a horrible human rights abuser was front and centre at the wedding of Arsenal’s best player.

‘Should Arsenal fans really be focusing on the negatives on the man’s wedding day?’

This sort of chatter is beyond the pale. No one takes the time out to have a read up these days, just straight into, ‘well, aren’t all politicians the same’… no mate, no they’re not. Stop being so ignorant.

Anyway, point being, it’s a disgrace, the club really, really needs to exit him this summer. He’s shameful on the pitch, on the bench, even at his own wedding.

… but those Fortnite numbers.

I was having a Café au lait yesterday and Peter Dinklage stood next to me and ordered coffee. I didn’t look. I just played it cool as I sweated beads of ‘YOU WERE WELL GOOD IN GOT SIGN MY ARM PLEASE SIR.’

Apparently, Roma and Inter have pulled out of the Carrasco deal because of the financial package. I really, really, really hope we don’t offer him an outrageous deal to come to Arsenal this summer. It doesn’t seem to matter who comes in at the top of Arsenal, our execs lose their fucking minds with salaries. Carrasco is coming back from China, he should not be coming back on the money he went out on. He’s a broken player, let’s pay him in line with what he’s worth and if that’s an issue, ramp up his package with heavy bonuses.

News has shifted on Xhaka replacement front, now we’re in for Jordan Veretout. Note the age… he’s 26 years old, he plays for Fiorentina (can you smell that? Sevilla ideas burning in the toaster). We’re certainly not shooting for youth again. He certainly looks more physically able than Praet, but once again, it is hard to tell with Serie A players. Still, his game looks more action oriented than that of Xhaka’s and the fact Napoli is chasing him is usually a good sign.

Rumours continue to persist that Kola is attracting heavy interest from Barcelona.

This does double down in the reality that so many are fighting… Arsenal had a squad good enough for top 4. It is maddening that people are still debating this point despite all the evidence on offer this season. But hey, Inter Milan are chasing Xhaka and Barca want Kola. They must see something… not that I would stand in their way, please, take them…

Which takes me to the BIG concern I have. If we hired a coach that can’t improve players, then what are aiming for next season? There’s going to be a huge turnover of talent. The manager will tell us he’s going to play the youth, like he did last season, then we’ll be in the same situation as we were last season… but with a group of players who don’t know the league. You can see the excuses at the end of the season, let me give you a clue, they’ll read like, ‘TRANSITION.’ The permanent state at Arsenal.

But let’s remain positive. Let’s keep drinking vegan milk and maybe everything might just turn out A-Ok?

P.S. Can I just recommend a book out here? Ok, The Rise and the Fall of Dinosaurs is an electrifying read if you were into Dinosaurs as a kid. The writing is so vivid, and man have I learnt a lot. Get this people, T.Rex was not that fast… he couldn’t outrun a car, so basically, SPIELBERG LIED IN THE FILM. Anyway, read that section on the Allosaurus. Terrifying.

I’m also on a couple of football books that I’ll report back on… very hipster, some of you are probably going to have to find a new blog when I start writing like a German football technician.

RIGHT, see you in the comments. x

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Bankz

Bankz is here for the tr4phy again

Bankz

Let’s do this.

Bankz

BOOOOOM

Bankz

Tr4phy

Tobs

Hi

James.wood

He’s on that Gove gear.😂

Jamie

Everyone who’s anyone knows oat milk is where it’s at. Nice work, Pete.

Tobs

The fact that Barca is looking at Kola, doesn’t make him a good player. Barca have got priors here, Hleb, Song and Vermalen. It would be great for us if they haven’t learnt their lesson.

Guns of SF

Hello

Wasi

Pedro where the praet numbers at.Thoughts on tierney?

Guns of SF

I’m not impressed with the any of these new recruits

Need exciting dribblers who are fast and can create

Carrasco seems a headache in the making

Tobs

I’m more bothered about Ozil leaving Arsenal, than about who’s at his wedding.

Guns of SF

Ozil must be sold
Package him with xhaka and send them off

Chitom

Pedro, you really need to stop the nonsense the likes of Kola is wanted by Barca,
Xhaka is wanted by Inter and using it as proof Arsenal had a top four squad.

Kinda like rumors of Arteta being looked at by Lyon as vindication he’s a great manager.

Arsenal had a sixth best squad in the league by all accounts whether one thinks Emery is shit or an ok coach.
Deal with it like a man.

Guns of Brixton

Oat milk???

That’s it. I’m out.

Miss me with that Hipster Fuckery

Tobs

As a January loan signing, Carrasco was ok, not so keen on him as a long term summer recruit. Not really sure what we’ll be getting. Guessing they want to recruit some experience as well as all the youth we’ve been linked to.

Spanishdave

Dinosaurs book is good I am half way through it
It explains a lot about the age and massive changes to our climate.
Those dinosaurs did fart a lot!

Tobs

Kolasinac was a mistake, poor as a full back, serviceable as a wing back but with poor decision making in the final third and a poor final ball. It must have been a very poor year for left backs when he made the bundesliga team of the season.

Up 4 grabs now

Pedro can’t believe you didn’t tell tyrian he’s screwed up by making bran king!

Champagne Charlie

Pedro ‘Not knowing the league’ is my issue with our CM approach. We’ve lost rambo, Elneny is toast, and if we get Xhaka taken off us then we’re Torreira and Guendouzi who know the league (both with fair questions about them for different reasons after season 1). Plus we look like we’re targeting peak Everton CM’s to replace. Bit smelly for me. Absolutely fine with selling the Swiss Ronaldo, but like it or not he’s absolute gold for 90% of the games we play, made of steel, and we flow through him (so sensual an image). If we get shot… Read more »

Tobs

Agreed, we need quality to replace Xhaka.

Moe

Thanks Tob, you beat me to it. Remember Barca and Alex Song? Oh please. How about Denis Suarez and all other flops at Barca.

Arsenal have a poor squad compared to the top 6 in England. Real Madrid can come for Mustafi, and he’s still poor. Same with Xhaka, Kola, Iwobi, Mikhi, Ozil etc. The list is too long.

azed

“Note the age… he’s 26 years old, he plays for Fiorentina (can you smell that? Sevilla ideas burning in the toaster). ”

If Sven was still at the club, the post above would have read

“Note the age… he’s 26 years old and just hitting his prime, he plays for Fiorentina. This are the kind of smart recruiting I talk about. Pick up players just about to break out ……………….. “

Redtruth

Champagne Charlie still bigging up Xhaka lol lol lol

Cesc Appeal

Azed Yeah it’s like the Adelaide stuff, I can’t find anything of substance linking him with a £22 Million move, this Veretout stuff seems to be the Metro and TalkSport linking us with a bid. It really is seize upon any rumour that makes the current regime look bad. Give short notice to links like Saliba, Palacios, Claude Maurice etc that are the buy them young type of signings Pedro was asking for and have every inch as much credibility as any other rumour. Meunier that Pedro laughably rubbished. No mention of links to Tierney. Linked to a questionable purchase… Read more »

Victorious

Is it just the Praet deal that’s off or both him and Andersen?”

Dont care much about Praet he’s average.. Andersen is the Player we should be getting from sampdoria.
Watch him last season and he was a rock for them..very composed and calm on the ball for a 23yo

Looks like the scums are sniffing as well

Marc

Can someone tell me precisely when out field players started to go into decline at 26? Whilst there are always exceptions players used to be viewed as going into their prime circa 28.

Gonsterous

Pedro

Didn’t know you started that best man thing, but I just want to make it clear that sarcasm online needs to be more clearly stated, since we can’t read tone in a sentence.
I get most of your jokes but I don’t think I sensed any banter when it was stated that erdogan was the best man at the wedding, I’m guessing many saw it the same way.

Cesc Appeal

Marc

‘Can someone tell me precisely when out field players started to go into decline at 26?’

When Arsenal hired Emery and not Arteta and then looked at a 26 year old.

Wasi

Pedro
Is the tierney deal off or the praet and andersen deal off.

Vintage Gun

Some people on here are acting as if we’re stuck with Emery for another 21 years! The way i see it is that Emery was signed with a two year mission to get us back in the top 4 with limited resources. A Very tough job but still possible. Raul said Emery was the manager who had the “courage” to take on the job. Key word being courage. Which means to me that other managers didn’t think it was possible and thus turning us down. Did Emery fail to achieve the target in year 1? YES Did we EXPECT him… Read more »

Marc

Cesc

Thanks for that

Pedro

“Azed, except there was plenty of complaining about Sven and his Dortmund obsession…”

Yeah but wasn’t some of that you?

Wasi

Village gun
can totally agree with that,he deserves another season and we definitely had the 6th best squad in the league.

Cesc Appeal

Danny

Apparently plays the long ball well from the back which could be really useful in beating a press and starting an attack.

Especially if our front line is loaded with pace come August.

I still really want Saliba though, he looks a real prospect.

It’s just that issue of the loan back to St Etienne. A money club like City can afford to drop £25 Million and have be useless for 12 months, Arsenal can’t. Maybe their FFP issues will make them think again.

Marc

Pedro

“Marc, physical decline in football starts at 29 (from what I’ve been told)”

So it’s the same as marketing – how old are you again?

Gonsterous

Honestly I was excited about emery but he’s been a disappointment. Of course I want to give him another season but if we are way off by December the best thing for the club will be to get rid of him. But I have a feeling he’ll do well. Up the arse and at em…

Also, we are being linked with some very terrible signings. Miss the old days.

Marc

23 my arse – unless of course that was a typo and was supposed to be 32.

azed

“Marc, physical decline in football starts at 29 (from what I’ve been told)”

We don’t have players between the ages of 24-28 except walking clowns like Mustafi, Kolasinac and Xhaka.

salparadisenyc

Agree w/ CC regarding Xhaka, ideally for me would be Névés but we’ve gone Evertonian in taste and budget so that’s a non starter.

As Raul said we need to be smarter, we’ve yet to see evidence of that. Much depends on it.

I’m up for hitting the Emery symposium, imagine the banter.

Marc

Pedro

I think if we try to take the post season disappointment and politics out of the argument then the signings we made last summer were for the most part good, the only one that didn’t work was Lich and that was a free signing punt so nothing major lost there.

Cesc Appeal

Vintage Gun Completely agree. Agendas are overpowering on here. Is Emery a great manager? No. Is he a good manager? Yes. Is the man to make Arsenal title contenders? Probably not, no. Is that what he’s here for? Probably not, no. He’s here to be an experienced pair of hands on a terrible squad trying to get as much out of them as he can with very limited budgets while the club restructure a DoF, TD, commercials, scouting and the wage bill. The next manager will likely be the one who has slightly more risk attached but potentially more reward… Read more »

Victorious

Danny
Yh,he’s a ball playing CB by all accounts but just as well is his elite sense of anticipation,can’t remember the amount of times I watched him putting last ditched tackles time after time to save his team
He’s also a unit and pretty decent in the air but the major worry is his pace..which isnt up to much and considering how fast the EPL can be might pose a challenge

Make no mistake though,if we can pull a deal he would instanly elevate our defense and become hands down our best defender.

Marc

Pedro

I always think with players coming in from overseas you have to give them a season to adjust. Hopefully we’ll see some improvement from Torreira and Guendozi.

Valentin

I would say that Jordan Veretout is not declining, but that he has plateaued. He is not a prospect anymore. He never looked like a world beater, just a decent pro. And that’s what he is now.
He may be more dynamic and more ready to fight that Xhaka, but he is shorter than him by nearly 3 inches and lacks physicality.
I don’t understand why every central midfielders we are linked with is on the small size, when we were strugglu all season long against physical opponents.

Cesc Appeal

Danny The pace of the EPL will get to him. Likely we will see mistakes out of him as a ball playing CB getting use to it all. But you have to allow it really. Arsenal are very much a work in progress, most teams have ball playing CBs now and that always comes with risk. The risk diminishes with time. Van Dijk’s long cross field balls are a real weapon for Liverpool, looking at Andersen if he brings a long ball release from the back that would be a new weapon for us. Of course we need to actually… Read more »

Victorious

Not sure we have enough resources to bring an elite CM in

Going by the rumours it would appear we’re ready to splurge the better part of our budget on the defense and bring in some mediocre CM

Praet
Veretout
Jordan?..all not quite at the level we need to compete

We could even be far off the pace if the likes of Bruno Fernadez,Rabiot,Lo celso etc..joins our rivals

Ishola70

Surely trolling on here regarding our Granit today.

Turk one of the better AFTV contributors tells it like it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5zG5UVnHXA

Nw9 gooner

Bissaka to cost £60 m- the markets have gone crazy – one good season and the price goes through the roof

Redtruth

“physical decline in football starts at 29 (from what I’ve been told)”

Maybe, 30 years ago but not today

Ishola70

Mr DT rates Xhaka because he comes over and claps the away fans after the match lol

Elmo

If Palace are turning down an offer over £40m for Bissaka from United, and will only listen to bids north of £60m, then you can guarantee their asking price for Zaha would be £80m, at a minimum.

Simply pointless discussing his signing in our predicament. We are not in a position to buy from other PL clubs.

Cesc Appeal

Ishola Xhaka’s asset is his passing ability which we do miss when he’s not playing. The problem is there’s not much else he’s good for, slow, error prone, rash tackler, lapses in concentration, can’t cover ground, can’t press, panics under pressure. You might get away with him in a 3 man midfield, but in a 2 man midfield with the likes of Ozil or Mkhitaryan as the CAM then just no chance. I don’t know if Emery might switch to a 4-3-3 system? Carrasco, Aubameyang/Lacazette and another wide option up top with Torreira, Xhaka and a new CM as a… Read more »

Graham62

CG

Fron previous post.

Just love your R-E-S-P-E-C-T segment.

As usual, very amusing.

You still can’t come to terms with where we are and what we’ve become can you?

Keep using Emery as the scapegoat.

Who really………..

Fudged up our players.
Fudged up our infrastructure.
Fudged up our finances.
Fudged up our image.
Fudged up our club.

That’s right, my friend.

Nothing to worry about, just keep blaming Emery for ten years of a total shitfest.

The truth hurts doesn’t it?

Champagne charlie

Sal

Good shout re: Neves, he’s the sort of performer we can hopefully bring in to negate some of the guys we’re losing/selling. Might be some cynicism, but expecting Praet or similar to go all Neves-y seems fanciful imo.

Vintage Gun

And that’s the thing Cesc. A bit of balance is required. For example, we have to factor in he joined a team who were struggling on and off the pitch going through there biggest transition in 22 years. Then within the first 6 months the man who hired him scuttled off to Milan like the rat we knew he was coupled with our chief scout basically being put on gardening leave until disposed of. Then in the Jan window he publicly asked for a CB and two offensive midfielders (Two wide players, Or one wide one central). The board said… Read more »

Graham62

CG

Are you being paid commission by Pedro?

TR7

Theim has Djoker like forehand and Wawrinka like backhand, a player to watch out for in the future. Still not good enough against Rafa on clay who is on course to win a mind boggling 12th French Open.

Ishola70

There were twitterers actually welling up tears in their eyes as they wrote of how Xhaka may leave the club. You could feel the sorrow from them.

What a strange fan base lol

grooveydaddy

Lol

That Dr.Mic guy we were linked with years ago just missed a penalty for the Swiss

England win

Champagne charlie

Ishola Drafting in some random Arsenal fan whopper because he shares your view isn’t exactly elite debate material. You don’t rate Xhaka, that’s cool, many folk can see the limitations, but denying his positive influence is boring bias. He’s a positive contributor, a big one, to our CM function. He’s not Chambers, he’s not Elneny, he’s 50+ games a season and our biggest passer, most touches, best at advancing play (despite your denials). That will need replaced PLUS his limitations addressed, or it’s a lateral ‘improvement’. Nobody is shedding a tear at the thought of his sale, it’s this bogus… Read more »

salparadisenyc

TR7

Thiem really has huge ground strokes, love to see him claw this back but agree Nadal a bridge too far on clay, literally owns it.

Ishola70

CC

Turk is grounded and knows his football.

Whoopers as you call them are people like DT not the brightest penny who rate Xhaka.

He loves that Xhaka acknowledges him after matches lol

Redtruth

A dustman could replace the rubbish that is Xhska.

Tobs

Yeah, I worry about Andersen’s pace as well. He appears to be an excellent passer though, so will be helpful in beating the press. Wouldn’t have been my first choice, but needs must I guess.

Champagne charlie

Nadal was born on clay, I’m having nothing else. He’s not real on the stuff, like some Marvel character that’s one with the court.

Ishola70

Pedro
” i’d gift wrap him.”

Commendable that you have been consistent over a long period with your Xhaka is a bit shit take.

Champagne charlie

Ishola

Oh you do shock me…

– Guy whose views you agree with = grounded and knows his football
– Guy you disagree with = not the brightest penny

Xhaka is one such subject it’s hard to take you serious over, massive bias seeps through every time you mention….Xjaka…..remember?

Champagne charlie

Pedro

Serie A is a foreign land to me I’ll be totally honest, bores me to tears for years so don’t bother with it anymore. Total snob I know..

My query is.. are we really out scouting Inter Milan (clearly on a transfer warpath) in their own backyard with these links to Serie A talent?

Bit miffed if we’re not muscling in on their targets (which of course may well be the case idk). Surely we can compete with their ambition and firepower?

jwl

According to The Atlantic, Pedro, it is better to buy experiences than things, so go to $300 conference if you can afford it because you appreciate it more.

WengersSweeties

I see we’ve been linked with Under again.

Could be rubbish though….

Champagne charlie

Pedro

can you setup a GoFundMe page so we can get you ticket sorted, with one request?

Footage of Emery saying “Good ebening Le Grove”.

Please..

salparadisenyc

That didn’t take long , crikey.

12 for Rafa.

TR7

Rafa the first ever tennis player to win a particular grand slam 12 times. He has lost more hair than he has lost sets on Roland Garros.

jwl

I’ve read that scientists think that athletes can only perform at their maximum for ‘x’ amount of hours before decline sets in.

I remember reading article about athletes and peak performance and elite basketball players who are good enough to play in NBA after high school without college burn out earlier than regular players who go to college for few years before going pro.

I don’t have stats but I guess Cesc and Rooney started to decline earlier than others because they started their elite careers earlier than most.

CG

One hopes our PedRo can muster the enthusiasm and hard cash to attend the Emery Bash. We maybe can learn more about Emerys soccer ‘protagonism’, or video analysis methods or even his Chameleon tactics … But just as likely -PedRo will be none the wiser and depart echoing the exact words our World Cup winner Ozil mouthed in Baku… As for PedRo’s reading material- I sincerely hope that is not a portend for all things Arsenal- but I fear like the dinosaurs- under,KSE/Raul and Emery we are heading for extinction too….but my golly- we had fun on the way…… An… Read more »

Cesc Appeal

Vintage Gun

Couldn’t agree more.

A lot of things to question him on quite rightfully, the squad is utter shit but that end of season collapse falls on his shoulders as well.

As you say though, some of it just goes too far and betrays petty agendas. Seeing Meunier rubbished as an unnecessary signing and Emery signing a ‘mate’ is just one example of a totally transparent agenda.

Whiteydagooner

Anyone up for having the England Womens midfielders …? They are bossing Scotland ..can they be less commited than Ozil and co? ..

Valentin

Jwl,

A lot of it depends on the style of the player. Some players are not very physical, so can play a lot longer than others. Of course players who use their physical strength to make difference will be burnt-out earlier than others.
For example, Dimitar Berbatov, Teddy Sheringham, Dennis Bergkamp were able to play longer at a higher level than Rooney.

BTW, I think that Cesc is still playing at Monaco. He left Chelsea, because he wanted to play not because he was finished.

Redtruth

No coincidence the introduction of Xhaka has coincided with a steep decline in Arsenal fortunes.

I feel sorry for the next team burdened by him.

Receding Hairline

I think it’s telling the three seasons Xhaka has been the main guy in our team we have been more defensively porous than usual, slow and predictable going forward. And hopeless away from home.

Maybe this isn’t the league for him.

Being better than Elneny isn’t really a compliment.

MGooner

Congrats on moving away from cow milk. Its great for baby cows, not so much for humans.

Our team is slowly being dismantled. I just hope we can keep the atmosphere pleasant in the coming years.

Victorious

Congrats to Rafa on his 12th French open title win!!!

Absolutely a legend and arguably a GOAT,

Such a sublime and utterly talented tennis player.

CG

If there is a Q&A at this Emery Ebening Event.

I am minded to fly over to attend.

He would not know what’s hit him- time I ve asked my 5 questions.

He ll be scuttling back to Seville- with his tail between his legs…bloody imposter

Scandalously weak – last week- when dealing with those pesky Spurs fans…

Moving seat = cowards way Out.

MGooner

@ Receding You can’t blame Xhaka only. Wahte were the options? Wilshere/Tamsey and co also lack speed as did Fabregas. In the past we even put Freddie in the middle as he could mix it up and had speed. We moved away from players who would occupy corridors to a tiki taka and 3 5 2 451 based on what we had. We should have stuck with our own DNA, or if I may express myself like that a sophisticated British way of playing. But of course it’s only my 2 cents, no one can be sure as it is… Read more »

Graham62

Great finish in prospect at the Oval.

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