via @ARSENAL INSTAGRAM
I was going to write this blog like a letter, but I felt like an idiot, so instead, let’s just talk about issues like we normally do.
That letter…
THE GOOD
Josh wrote back in double-quick time and he also did an interview on the website.
However you cut it up, he was affected by the critique, he penned a thoughtful response and he said some things that should please. He also spoke with passion, which makes English people happy.
He correctly called out that Arsenal has been making a lot of changes. I can go along with that. We’ve also made a lot of mistakes, which is why things are so bad at the minute.
He basically said what we all knew… Arsenal is a Champions League spender on wages with a Europa League budget. So forget about financial favors some of you thought Raul was going to snag in his sit down with the KSE crew this month.
He also empathised with the fans. He really tried to double down on the fact that he went to Baku and saw the tears in the players eyes. I understand that he wants to be seen as a fan, but flying out privately to watch your team in the final is par the course. Regardless, he wants you to know he gives a fuck.
He really drilled home the importance of Edu, calling him the final piece.
He said the club and his family is in it to win it. That was great to hear.
Overall, it was a good response and timely.
HOWEVER.
I don’t want to write like the leftwing media here, ‘we got what we wanted, but it’s still not enough’, but I do think there are a few things about the response that need addressing.
Firstly, if you want to win and that’s what the focus is, what happens if, like the last 10 years of KSE bland-on-toast, it fails?
Will they sell up and move on in shame? Is there any consequence for not winning? If you can’t make a club work in over a decade, why not sell up if you fail again?
Seems a ridiculous thing to ask, but ultimately, if winning at all costs fails, why keep it going? Pass it onto someone else and make $2.5b in the process.
Secondly, I find it staggering that someone overseeing the wreckage of this summer can confidently say that Edu is the final piece of the puzzle.
Are. You. Kidding.
We have a bang average manager, there’s no chief scout, our head of performance was booted back to Australia, we are a total mess.
Edu is the FIRST piece of the puzzle.
Another point, that hasn’t been addressed by anyone at Arsenal.
What is the timeline?
You can’t keep talking about winning if you don’t state what you want to win and by when.
Is the whole exec leadership team going to be held to account here?
I read that Josh is a very likeable guy behind the scenes. He looks like a fun guy, he has a yacht, is a total playboy, and probably has Thierry Henry in a WhatsApp group.
My question is… do they fear him? Is Raul’s neck on the line if we are not in the Champions League in 3 years. What is Vinnai being held accountable for? Who is demanding absolute fucking excellence at the club moving forward?
Where are we going to be in 1 year, 2 years, 3 years… and what is the crowning glory of this group of men?
Saying you want to win means nothing without a timeline and brutal consequences for failure.
If we want to be seen as an elite team, there has to be a standard we’re held to… because the sharp reality of business is this: If you don’t hold people to account, they generally don’t hold themselves to one. This is exactly what happened with Ivan Gazidis. His main goal was self-preservation and all of his decision making was geared around prolonging the gravy train.
He bottled firing Wenger when Klopp was available. He bottled paying a little extra for BIG names. He allowed Wenger to sit on cash and treat it like his own, when the real value was in rapidly appreciating players. He bottled the manager decision. He bottled creating a structure with hierarchy. He bottled seeing his vision through. Why? Because Josh and Stan didn’t hold him to sporting standards. His standard was to never rock the boat, which meant low-risk decisions, always.
Raul has the job of his life, he has fallen up the ladder and now has incredible wealth and power. He will hold onto that job in the same way as Ivan did if Josh isn’t careful. Winning SHOULD be part of his remit. Not a nice to have.
I would love to hear Josh come out and tell us the standards he expects. I would love to hear in the press that losing at Arsenal comes at a cost. I don’t want to hear our manager say that he likes Arsenal because the pressure is different. I don’t want a coddled environment. I don’t want to hear the players let whingeing get in the way of prep . I don’t want the bus driver running team motivation speeches. I don’t want to see average players prancing around at the club because they love their contracts. I don’t want to see our head of psychology on the club website 5 years straight if he’s not improving the mental state of our players.
I want us to be the best.
Ok, I’m sounding like a brat now, but simply put, I appreciate Josh speaking to the fans… but we have been fed inspirational words for too long. Time for action, great results and dire consequences if things don’t move forward.
In other news:
The Saliba deal is nearly done. That’s great fucking business.
Arsenal are still chasing down Tierney
Ceballos on loan is something we’re pursuing
Malcolm could also be on the cards
The talk is hot for Everton
Emery is expecting FOUR players this week
Get a centre back in the mix and the summer won’t have been a total disaster. The season will be, but that’s another story.
See you in the comments. xx
I disagree. If you need a player, you get them. Arsenal need ALL the players and can’t exactly wait for potential game changers to arrive.
I look for logic. I can’t see any logic in anything Arsenal do. Not one bit.
“no chance these players have the stomach to fight. ”
Not even Pierre’s best pal ??
HL
A French soldier has more fight than Ozil.
The thing is, if we open like we did last season, and we will…our team will capitulate rapidly. No one is giving Emery a chance as this will be his second season so the good will has been used up. Considering how we ended the season, Emery will be under the most pressure of any manager this season.
The players will stop in September and hopefully he’ll be sacked in November when we sit 15th. Freddy will take over for the rest of the season and do a Solskajar.
Emery will go back to Seville.
Guns yes I agree with that for the most part but with Saliba I’d be happy to sign a pre contract with St Ettiene now and pay for him in one go next season. We have £45m to be used to buy us a left back and at least one centre half right now!! So why wasted any of it on a centre half who isn’t coming for 12 months and who at 18/19 will not be fit to start in the premier league in 4 weeks. I can’t understand for the life of me why we aren’t hawking Kolasinac… Read more »
Un
Upvote for you!
I agree.
However, the problem will always be the wages of these clowns. No one wants to pay them and they won’t leave (which is their right). We have mismanaged contracts for over a decade and now we are reaping the consequences.
I just don’t see a future for AFC. Everything needs to start again.
A quick peruse of the comments and after another preseason game people now have Willock starting in a midfield 3 and someone says Ozil looked sharp. Will this fanbase ever learn. Good win though but you could tell with the starting 11 that they just wanted to make sure that they avoided a possible heavy defeat
Just come off watching extended highlights of the game, saying we were all over the place defensively in the second half will be putting it mildly. We desperately need upgrades at fullback. Both fullbacks.
Dissenter i noticed you were commenting on the goal keeping situation, i for one think we are fine in that department. Martinez is an able deputy
“Will this fanbase ever learn.”
Ah ah ah, good question!!
Marko
I’d have William starting before cabellos 100%
Yeah but you’re stupid Don. You can’t even spell Willock correctly
Not even Ceballos, btw…
Or Ceballos
Maybe explains why he thinks he plays like Arteta, must have watched the wrong youtube highlights
Willock
Josh just told the fans what they wanted to hear. All spin and as Pedro said no timescale.
The results will show our faults as they did during the run in.
Friendly games have no pressure so not a lot of inside as to how good the young players are. Emery has to play them but he seems unable to roll the dice.
Yes but you’re a drunken council estate paddy who has convinced himself everything is futile because his own life is shit. Get back in line you mug
I mean Don’s got an excuse he’s an absolute thicko of the highest order but some of the other people getting ahead of themselves with Willock need to relax a bit. People must realize that we’re not ever going to bridge that gap between us and the better teams by throwing Joe Willock into the starting 11. It’s absurd
Whatever
I couldn’t give two shits about spelling cabellos or whatever correctly
He won’t be here in 12 months
Willock will
Marko.
Tell us again how coaching is fanciful…..
Or why you are stuck in Dublin when 75% of men you’re age are in Oz or Canada. Dead end life for a no hoper
What’s wrong with playing Willock in select games. Some people need to calm down.
Le-Grove – where you can have an opinion, not get one.
So, Un na naai (dos tres quatro) is Don ?? So surprising…
Ah Don you’re getting sloppy now
And please
Show me where I said willock is a starter? You won’t. Know why? Because I haven’t said it. Typed it. Or thought it. It’s xakha and torriera to start for me with guendouzi, willock and AMN deputising.
I just think willock will be a good player and the way he’s shone when called upon, even in a European final Indicates as much.
As you were sham
What’s wrong with playing Willock in select games. Some people need to calm down.
Nothing wrong with that. But starting him ahead of Ceballos or Xhaka in a Midfield 3 is silly
It’s not silly if he weighs in with better performances than Xhaka.
Show me where I said willock is a starter?
“I’d have William starting before cabellos 100%”
The Willock as a starter was in reference to someone else but Willock over Ceballos was in reference to you my little dribbler. Also saying that you would have “William” starting before Ceballos is you saying that you would have him as a starter. Just in a really dumb way you know
Uni sacked a Christmas, Mourihno to replace him! You heard her first fams lol
It’s not silly if he weighs in with better performances than Xhaka.
I hate Xhaka think he’s absolute garbage but I still wouldn’t have Willock start ahead of him. Not yet anyhow. Again the clamour for a youngster to start after a preseason fixture isn’t new we’ve seen it before with Sanogo and Miyachi and Campbell and Justin Hoyte and others.
You slags have been calling me Don from the off. It’s a waste of good energy denying it any more.
Marko
Yes. I’d have him ahead of Cabellos. Where on earth does that indicate he’s in my first choice 11 for arsenal football club?
Must try harder
I mean apart from his pace, vision, dribbling and finishing Ceballos is exactly like Arteta minus the lego hair, they’re both spanish right? Must be it.
“Uni sacked a Christmas, Mourihno to replace him! You heard her first fams lol”
Mourinho was great at United you see ………………
Freddie????
You what kid? Dribbling and finishing?? Erm, nope. He’s just a leightweight ball circulator. Which is no bad thing in the right side and league but he’s the midfield version of Morata for me. Wait and you’ll see. He will bomb and Madrid won’t be able to offload him. Take it to the bank.
I’d actually suggest chucking in Willock etc just so when it goes pear shaped it would stop this ridiculous commentary line of throw all the youths in, unfortunately it wouldn’t they’d just blame Emery rather than admit putting youths players in out of their depths is actually detrimental to their career progression.
Marko
The thing is you’re actually agreeing with me yet still hankering for an argument. You don’t even realise it
“Mourinho was great at United you see ………………”
And that second skint at Chelsea finished brilliantly.
Just a couple comments from Twitter on Willock.
Willock can replace Ramsey perfectly
Willock needs to start in the first team this season without a doubt
For sure J Willock is the closest thing there is to Iniesta!!!!
Joe Willock to surpass Aaron Ramsey
At least they got the Willock part right.
Last season, Most of our defensive woes stemmed from not having a dominant central midfield. It does not look like we are addressing that weakness. All the names banded about don’t seem to fix that issue. Some look tidy and good passers but suffer from the same issue than Torreira: small engine. That will be exacerbated by the fact that Emery has decided to have only two central midfielders (4-2-3-1) while most of our opponents will have three. Also none seems to be able to receive the ball on the half turn, break line despite somebody tucking on their shirt… Read more »
You slags have been calling me Don from the off. It’s a waste of good energy denying it any more.
Haha you’re such a dumb piece of shit. Here Colombo we know that you’re Don because you admitted it before. But yeah we wouldn’t want to waste anymore energy denying it. Idiot
Yes. I’d have him ahead of Cabellos. Where on earth does that indicate he’s in my first choice 11 for arsenal football club?Must try harder
Ceballos would be a starter for us. Did I just blow your little mind? Don’t worry about it
Marko
Fuck me. Little wonder Ireland is always on its arse when it’s the likes of you left over.
Ok. I’m don.
Ok. I’m don
Okay I’m dumb.
Fixed it for you. Though it’d be more accurate to write dum than dumb because it’s you
Marko Just like Suarez and Lichtsteiner? Guendouzi? Yeah everyone who comes to the club is an instant starter. Baptista? Another one. Yossi Benayoun. Kim kallstrom…..: Cabellos is coming in after playing 16 odd games last season to the fucking premier league and is going to instantly command a starting place in our team? This isn’t Kroos or Modric. He’s not even a xakha or a torriera. This is Cabellos. A tippy tappy, leightweight, skinny little Spaniard. Not much difference with Suarez but he’s an instant starter?? With all the time you have sitting around all day you’d think you’d spend… Read more »
Dumbass still spelling Ceballos wrong and has no clue what kind of player he his, nothing new there.
I’m not really bothered about a friendly match. Yes it is a good workout to get the players fit and ready for the rigours of next season, and for them to gain an element of psychological advantage against top class opponents. We NEED TO and MUST win when it really matters in competitive games — Premier League, Europa League and in the Champions League (when and if we return there). As for signings, at the start of the summer window, I stated on here that we needed to sign between 6-8 players, over 2-3 transfer windows and I still think… Read more »
Cabellos paella whatever
He’ll do nothing
Marko
Mmmmmmyeah
But you’re in Dublin doing nothing with your life. Why bother though right? Existence is meaningless
Keep this cunt away from razor blades
Don thinks we’re going through the whole effort of convincing Ceballos to join us over Spurs to then not start him. Oh Don you never cease to amaze me with your stupidity.
The same posters writing off Ceballos would be claiming him as the second coming if he signed for the Spud’s.
“Uni sacked a Christmas, Mourihno to replace him! ”
Joke apart, that could be the best thing happening to Ozil!! lol
Un na nai
Still cannot believe you actively cheered for Spuds on an Arsenal site.
Even a gooner based in Tuscaloosa or Ulaanbataar would know enough about Arsenal to never do that.
We’ll have Willock and Cabellos competing for that Ramsey role.
Sweeeeeet.
Marko
Yes. Like we chased Suarez for a month and what happened next? Oooooh yeah. Shut your pie hole. For a man who claims to have a superior intellect you sure donhave a fucking abysmal memory.
Romford Pele, Patthegooner, N5, Louis Almeida, Carts and a few other elite posters, look we need you to come out of retirement and contribute to this blog.
Don’t be a stranger now.
Dissenter
Well there you go. I’d rather see spurs beat city. Hang me
At least Wenger Eagle, Gambon, Cesc Appeal, Paulinho, Marc, Marko, Tits M and a few other A listers are still posting so there is still hope.
you sure donhave a fucking abysmal memory.
Indeed
Patthegooner was actually on recently. N5 is retired I think. That or he just couldn’t be arsed getting involved anymore with the likes of Don, CG and Pierre knocking about. That brain trust I swear
Marc
I could be wrong about him but he looks another Suarez to me. Waste of time. Just Raul and emery and their Spanish bull shit contacts.
Willock already plays to English tempo
Comes on in the final and plays well immediately. Plays well vs Bayern. So far so good. When he’s been called upon he’s showed he’s capable of managed and coached he could go on to who knows what.
I dont rate Cabellos. You lot were singing when we did £35m on xakha too. Ozil. Suarez. Look how they turned out.
Do have
You know what I mean Jackeen.
Ceballos could even be seen as an alternative to Ozil in some matches.
You know those tougher EPL away games where Ozil becomes a passenger.
Ceballos has ability on the ball but he is more busy off it than Ozil and actually contributes defensively as well.
Shame that he is not a pure CM because he could help this team off the ball and make it a bit better defensively. Maybe he will slot into a real central midfield role but he plays like a 10 a lot of the time and will go on walkabouts.
“with the likes of Don, CG and Pierre”
Multiple personality disorder ??
Josh’s letter reads like a typical press release. Written by a committee of limp-wristed juniors terrified of losing their jobs, checked by the lawyers and sent to the Boss for a final tweak and the “personal touch.” And then released to a guillible audience.
Utter horseshit. Meaningless, vaccuous, empty word-spin with no commitment and no factual indication that anything will change.
Amen.
Josh came across quite well in PR terms and he has obviously done his homework on Arsenal in some aspects.
But these “custodians” would oversee this club becoming a Europa League side. He was implying this hands-off approach when differientating between owner and custodian,
And the most telling thing about his interview was relating to cost cutting. Cut your cloth to Europa League. This may be the reality in how the club is run on financial terms but it tells us once again that the Kroenke’s are a bit useless really in helping out in any telling way.
Not like we have this super midfield filled with amazing options so why the snobbishness towards Willock getting more game time.
Guendozi doesn’t really do anything really and Xhaka we know all about, El Neny is trash and that leaves is with just Lucas Torreira so again, why do folks hate the idea of Willock starting games
Oh and before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, I’m not saying we should play all the kids, I’m saying if we’re treating this season as a cast away and not getting anyone else in asides Ceballos then surely Willock getting much more game time makes more sense, same with Saka and same with Nketiah….
Can’t keep turning our noses at our youngsters when the alternative is watching Iwobi and Mikhitaryan
“Josh came across quite well in PR terms …”
If you consider saying nothing of substance, giving no indication that changes will be made, treating Arsenal supporters with utter contempt or that you give a shit about the club – yes, I agree Josh gave a masterful performance of PR bullshit.
“Guendozi doesn’t really do anything really”
Can pick out a pass i give him that but overall a bit of a nothing player at this stage. Still only 19 and has the right attitude to be a star. Has a good height so needs to bulk up and help out more on the defensive side.
Calm down Michael. I have already stated he is useless really in terms of getting the club to be anything than also rans at the top end of football but his interview was conducted pretty well overall in terms of communication. He came across as quite sincere and honest. But the problem is this also entails just being pretty average as a club with the Kroenk’e involved. He may have been telling fibs though about the exciting signings coming our way this summer . May be exciting to the Kroenke’s and this current overall set-up though. Maybe not so exciting… Read more »
Receding
Yea he sure can pass and that’s about that really hence why I’m not exactly averse to giving someone like Willock who looks like he can at least get forward and doesn’t fall over at the slightest contact some more game time
Juventus have had another smashing transfer window. I just love the way they go about their business.
Michael
Totally agree.
Where was the apology?
Nothing to do with being snobby Bati. I for one am a realist and while I complain about the midfield I’m not naive or desperate enough to think that Willock would address that issue. He’s not ready or good enough to start for us it’s that simple. A preseason fixture or a cameo appearence in a humiliating final loss doesn’t change anything
And of course his talk of winning big titles as all pie in the sky stuff.
” I just love the way they go about their business.”
I think that it’s the case for everybody here.
It’s already hard to be a Gooner these days, so please, don’t push… (lol)
Batistuta i don’t think he should have gotten the number of games he got last season, Guendouzi actually got worse as the season progressed which is alarming. Steadied towards the end but I believe he should be made to earn his place more this season. Came off a bit like a teachers favorite last season. Emery threw him in even when he wasn’t needed.
Can’t keep turning our noses at our youngsters when the alternative is watching Iwobi and Mikhitaryan
Iwobi is better than Saka right now.
“He’s not ready or good enough to start for us it’s that simple. ”
He is 19 now, I will let the coaches decide who is ready or not. But it is what noting he has never been found wanting when called upon Marko so making definite statements like the one above is a bit unfair.
“Iwobi is better than Saka right now.”
Not a fan of Iwobi, fellow country man and all. I have gotten into spats with other fans here when watching games in public places because of that. I just see him as a very average footballer who should not be playing for a top club. Little i have seen of Saka i liked, looked to have more about him than Alex.
When rating these youngsters you have to assess whether they have the ability and consistency to become a permanent fixture in the first team . Not only appear for the first team but become good players for the first team and sooner rather than later. AMN is a perfect example of a player that sees first team football now but he is not convincing anyone at this point that he is a good first team player. If Arsenal regress any further we will see more youngsters in the first XI. But whether they are really good youngsters playing for the… Read more »
so making definite statements like the one above is a bit unfair.
It’s unfair to say Joe Willock shouldn’t be a starter for Arsenal? How is that unfair exactly? A couple cameo appearences and some preseason friendlies is that enough to start in Arsenal’s midfield these days. Christ no wonder we’re so shit. And I rate Saka the highest out of our current batch of youngster but as of right now he is not ready and Iwobi is better. Not by much granted
Receding Hairline
“Guendouzi actually got worse as the season progressed which is alarming. Steadied towards the end but I believe he should be made to earn his place more this season. Came off a bit like a teachers favorite last season”
Exactlty right about Guendouzi.
He doesn’t show enough either end of the pitch yet.
When you have a player like Xhaka who is poor off the ball and throw in this current Guendouzi in the mix then that midfield isn’t going to improve any time soon.
Reiss Nelson is far more developed than both Saka and Willock with 7 goals and 23 games of top flight experience in the bundesliga and he should be considered a squad player at best right now nowhere near good enough to start for us.
“AMN is a perfect example of a player that sees first team football now but he is not convincing anyone at this point that he is a good first team player.” His attitude worries me more than his skillset. Plays like he was on some world Fifa pro 11, so casual. I don’t believe he has been told off enough for his diabolic performance in the finals, single-handedly took that game away from us. “If Arsenal regress any further we will see more youngsters in the first XI. But whether they are really good youngsters playing for the first team… Read more »
Guendozi was massively overplayed last season due to lack of other options.
He’s a kid who came from the French 2nd division to making 22 starts and 10 sub appearances in the PL – one of the top leagues in the world and certainly one of the most aggressive / fastest tempo’s.
He shouldn’t be thrown under the bus too quickly.
” Atletico Madrid have made another defensive acquisition with the arrival of Mario Hermoso from Espanyol.
The 24-year-old has signed a five-year deal with the club ”
Another one bites the dust
AMN doesn’t really have a skillset. He’s fast but he’s not a good passer and his off the ball movement isn’t great. Not a great tackler or header either. His positioning and reading of the game is truly shocking when you consider he’s being asked to play full back. He’s not really good enough for Arsenal let alone to be starting for us. And they’re aware of this I think with recent comments about his defending. I personally will hold it against the manager if he starts the season and a new RB isn’t targeting. Budget or no you are… Read more »
Yesterday reminded us of what a functional winger can do.
– Dribble, Coman ripped AMN apart with his dribbling
– Crosses, Gnabry’s dangerous cross for their goal
For us, Auba was running wild on the right frank. It looked good only on TV. All his crosses were shooting in the dark.
Does marko ever do anything other Le Grove???
Does he ever take a break past 11am when it seems he wakes?
Your not doing to bad yourself
Un na naai.?
Don I’m actually in an office right now. Not the most productive day but I’m still tcb
James : it’s Don.
Don is working hard at that falafel stand until he gets to go home and smoke those cigars and drink lots of whiskey.
That was 33 starts!
Is it only me that was surprised by the Trippier fee being that low?
I’m patiently waiting to read agonies and wails of arsenal fans on le grove this season. One keeps reading players who should have improved us are being snapped up by other clubs at a price the indigent arsenal can afford but we are being sold a pipe dream.
Well if it is Don he should be Done.
In the nicest sense of the word.?
“Is it only me that was surprised by the Trippier fee being that low?”
Seemed high to me
21m pounds for a 28 year old who didn’t have the best of seasons last season. Price was neither high nor low in the end, just about right.
Mongs
Marko. You’ve been watching too much intermission. You aren’t the fat manager of the super value are you?