Day one of the season is about to start. This year it’s exciting. The major worry on my mind is that despite having a very good window, we had a very late one. The majority of our BIG signings aren’t match fit and all of them will need more time to integrate.
Additionally, it’s going to be a bumpy few months as the team gels and a new style emerges*
(*prays there’s a new style emerging).
Unfortunately, we don’t really have time on our hands. We have a beastly opening 6 weeks, Liverpool and Spurs are the two really tough games, but we also have to deal with Burnley and Watford away. There’s a huge Manchester United game at the end of September, that one really will be a tone-setter for the top 4 race this season.
Tierney is going to reintegrate into training in 4-6 weeks, so our left side is going to be a bit of an issue. Hopefully, David Luiz can start a little sooner having had a full preseason with Chelsea.
Looking at the squad, the only new player we’re likely to see start tomorrow is Dani Ceballos, and even then I’m not totally sure of it. If we’re rolling with the same players from last season, there’s a risk it could be a bit of a grim start as others work on their fitness.
What I am FASCINATED about is which young kids are the chosen ones. You could argue that Iwobi was a useful player that we didn’t really plan to lose, so, therefore, don’t have a backup for. We are certainly looking light for experienced players upfront.
So who takes his back-up role? Will we see ESR this season? Will Saka land some minutes? There must be an anointed successor because Pepe can’t play all the games.
I also really hope that Willock is a regular fixture this season. He looks ready, he had a great preseason, and I think his mobility and attacking threat could be very useful.
It’s also a big year for Mesut Ozil. He has a great squad of players to work with now and he appears to have put his EMERY OUT banner back in his Fortnite rucksack (did you see the kid that won the world cup of Fortnite earned $3m?). We know he can be the best in the business when he wants it. What will we see in November? Fannying out of challenges? Or racking up assists to feed his militant army of believers?
The exciting thing about this squad is we have an entirely new dynamic built around pace and an attacking threat… even our new centre back drops big game chances. It’s a tantalising thought that a defender like that will reduce our reliance on Xhaka.
A lingering problem that Emery is refusing to address is the captains’ armband. The group captaincy approach really is an odd way to think about leadership, especially after it worked so badly against us in the last campaign. The current group sits at three, Emery assuring us he’s going to wait and see who exits the building in the next 20 odd days before he decides.
“At the moment we have three captains: Xhaka, Mesut and Nacho, and I want to take two more because my opinion is the same as it was in the pre-season with five.
“I want to be with my squad clearly to have two more. At the moment we have three captains and I think they have the capacity to give us possibilities as captain.”
Even the most ardent Emery fan must be scratching their head at that list. You have one of the most error-prone players in the team on the list, someone who can’t go to big away games, and a left-back that is a true warrior, but also getting on a bit and quite injury prone.
David Luiz looking like the most standout figure when it comes to the armband, even if he is green to the club. #5 should probably be Hector Bellerin. He’s everything you want from a leader and I think there would likely be universal approval for a move like that.
Broader point… a leadership shared is a leadership that is NOT respected. Hierarchies in sport and business are important, this hippy commune approach to a badly damaged institution at Arsenal seems more about not making a decision than anything else.
At the time of writing this, the season has started and it appears Liverpool and City will be good this season. Some great goals in both games, the real concern early on is the way the Premier League is implementing VAR.
‘YOU WANTED ACCURATE FUCK WE’LL GIVE YOU ACCURATE’ is maybe a touch too extreme when it comes to the enforcement of the rules.
In the City game, every goal was checked, the keepers footwork on the penalty and the fouls inside the box. All the decisions were correct, but the time lag was inappropriate. Calling an offside for millimeters felt petty, but again, correct.
A few thoughts on this.
If we’re going to get militant about decisions, we have to bring the fans along. That waiting screen is the equivalent of internet buffering when you’re trying to watch your AV videos on Youtube… just show me the fucking Dreamliner stupid internet. Show the fans what the refs are looking at, give a little transparency, otherwise the in-ground experience is going to drive people away.
I also think cross-checking every single goal is a bit extreme. I don’t know how you get around that. There’s no middle ground when it comes to fact. I wonder if they work a Hawkeye sort of system where managers get two calls a game? I also wonder why they’re still allowing humans to manage the process. Shouldn’t IBM have Watson looking at these decisions? Why do we need a layer of officiating over the game? If we’re going black and white, let AI work it out.
I will say that the penalty save from Fabianski was rightly called back. For me, it’s baffling that refs and linesmen almost NEVER call the encroachment out of the box. But again, why did we need to wait so long to call it, the player left the line, you don’t even need a video ref to call that out.
All in all, we need VAR. Too many big decisions have been incorrect over the years. They just need to be flexible in ironing out the kinks. They also need to address them rapidly, let’s not wait a year to deal with the elephant in the room. If it’s laborious or boring to get to ‘right’, then the argument will be that maybe we should just accept injustice.
I truly believe they will find a middle ground. Well, I hope they do, otherwise the game is in trouble.
Right, I’m off to watch the MIGHTY VILLA spank Spurs this afternoon.
See you in the comments x
How is that not a yellow card on Willock by Lascelles?
Another yellow card there
Don you mean Willock, Nelson has done nothing of note I think
Like this lad, Willycock
One thing that I am able to see is, We are not able to build up a chance from the scratch. We create something only from the counter.
Xhaka and Mikki – should be subbed.
Auba is a fucking dwund.
Droopy mouthed flange.
Willock the only player who has done well in the opening half hour
Unaai
Got the Union Jack Pom Poms out for everything mate haven’t you 😂😂
‘Great boots Nelson’, ‘quality hair Willock’
Me people’s
Take into the consideration the weather jack..
Willock has been immense. He took the ball away, then nice pass by Mikki and good shot by Auba. Good stuff.
Great ball from Mhki there, perfectly weighted
Twat has been shit for half an hour
Champagne charlieAugust 11, 2019 14:25:25
The forwards need to move, there never seems to be a pass on through midfield. Static as you like
Charlie
Fuck me it’s a joke. No one but willock running off the ball. Need to get Mkhitaryan off sharpish
I find Reiss moves too much inside.
Valentin
I bet you’re glowing from the Willock performance. We should have seen more of this last season.
I like Willock’s energy.
“Great ball from Mhki there, perfectly weighted”
Lolz. Quote of the year. Everything that planet does is weighted. The fatty.
Charles Charlie Charles
Fuck the union
Those cunts don’t want to be associated with us
Arsenal are English
Nelson
I’m not surprised by what Reiss does.
Given that he’s right footed, it’s to be expected
Well in willock
He started that
Red is having a good game
Doing his best to let it flow
Better movement from Aubameyang
More like it
Half-time changes:
Lala on for mkhi
Torreira for xhaka
UnaaiGot the Union Jack Pom Poms out for everything mate haven’t you 😂😂‘Great boots Nelson’, ‘quality hair Willock’
Haha
I praised aubas movement.
To be fair onky willock and AMN havelooked like creating anything
I feel like Nelson gets a bit of space and then instead of going for the 1v1 when he already has the speed on his side, he stops and starts to tie himself in knots. Why is he not relying more on his best trait?!
“Another yellow card there”
The new sky sport commentator ?? lol
Emery is a shit manager. He rolled with a team that finished out of the CL places, spent £130m and left it out. Now he’s panicking like a fanny in a playground full of boys.
This guy is garbage. Utter garbage.
Good football down the left
Xakha and Montreal. Who aren’t British but I’ll praise them anyhow
Atkinson is really a jello referee
Pony pony
REF?!!!!??!!?! He gives a yellow for this but not to their players?! wtf is this joke?!?!?! then you guys hate on var, how can ppl like this idiot have all the power.
Lots of effort and energy up front but so far not a great deal of composure or cuteness.
Sometimes less is more. Relax lads.
karima : “another yellow card there.”
Sherlock Holmes strikes again…
What a wanker !
Talking about the ref, of course
Do we have many vocal guys playing?
Lascelles should’ve been harassed into the book for holding Willock, nobody batted an eye. Yet Mkhi is booked for that? Fuck off.
Auba is a luxury for me, deadly when we’re creative, but Christ above he’s limited in what he offers. Give me Laca everyday of the week.
good defending from newcastle. two clean tackles in a row
Here we go. The ref. Arsenal fans are as predictable as night follows day.
The refs are still anti-Gunners, what a surprise.
Dissenter,
I am just glad that he is doing well for Arsenal.
It is just a shame that he was overlooked last season and now he looks a shoe in for a starter role.
I was not advocating the entire academy players , just the ones who genuinely look too good for U21 level.
Hackney
Piss off bro
Karim
Why?
Wanker Xhaka
If you are fit enough to be on the bench you are fit enough to play drop the duds and play the new guys
Hackney
Sorry that was for HL
Bruce is bossing Emery.
GoH, trolling is w/e but I don’t have any time for you when you’re doing it on a match day..
GOH
Good thing you’re not the manager….being a new signing does not guarantee one a starting spot.
Feel Newcastle are there for the taking.
Fans seem on verge of revolt.
Martin Atkinson has always been a bellend towards Arsenal so it wont be any different today.
Auba is having a stinker to be honest
Newcastle seem to be managed by Widow Twanky.
Mkhitaryan
7 times now
7 fucking times he’s lost possession in 40 mins
Auba is incapable of having anything but a stinker in these type of games.
He is what he is.
I just don’t see the use or need of Mikhitaryan… Absolutely useless and baffling why Emery plays him
This is auba
He does nothing for 89 mins
Offers nothing
No run off shoulder. No ability on the ball. Nothing. It makes us weaker in attack
Been saying it for over a year now
And then he wins the golden boot. Okay.
Also Nelson needs to hug the touchline more… What is he doing always trying to come infield?
Lacazette for Mkhitaryan
Aubameyang in the left
Nelson on right
Lacazette in middle
Don’t have much hope for Reiss watching his performance today. Willock is a gem. And the less said about mikki the better. Waste of space on a 200k pw contract.
Take this flag bearer off the team
WTF is Micki..
See, nice play there and then the idiot just plays a stupid pass
incredibly frustrating half of football from us. need much more intent and tempo second half.
Lazy Niles throw to Granny Xhaka.
What conviction, what combination.
No one taking responsibility.
All after you sir.
U know it’s bad when willock, Nelson are shouting at you, micki
Poor first half. The are doing well though even though Willock has gone quiet as the game progressed. Mhiki bar one pass has been atrocious
Mikhi off for Ceballos at least
Nelson should have been sold in the summer. I don’t see.any potential in him.
*the kids
Not sure what to make of that…
Fsaf
Mate. Shut up.
Guy should be relegated with mustafi
Happy with 0:0. Alright performance. Reiss and Mikki out, Laca and Pepe in. Then either Ceballos or Luiz or Martinelli depending on the need.
Xhaka and Mhki…….the same old shit different season.
Willock and Dozi looking solid in the middle despite Xhaka’s best efforts to bring the overall team performance down to his level
Frustrating half but no damage at least.
Bring Pepe in !
That didn’t take long. 45 mins to realise that Emery and this team is the sixth best or worst team in the league.
Nelson is another iwobi…..very little end product
Conditions are shocking though if we’re honest
Xhaka and Mikki will see Emery out of a job if he keeps putting his trust in them. The weirdo doesn’t like an easy option though so he’ll persist with them.
It is good that our A team is sitting on the bench. This B team doesn’t have the skill to advance the ball into their final third.
Miki needs a bus… awful first half from him! Anyone told them there are 3 points at stake?
8
8 fucking times now he’s given it away in 45 mins
That’s every 6 mins he gives it back to the opposition
We aren’t talking high risk high reward with him. He does nothing
We have been playing with 9 men with him and Aubameyang offering nothing off the ball for most of the 45
Nelson has struggled too. Too rough. Not positive enough.
If we had to give a score on Mikki’s performance after the 1st half on the scale of 0/10 it’d be a negative number. The sooner he’s gone the better.
Not the easiest of conditions it must be said, but we’ve started slow.
That front 3 just ain’t it chief, Auba needs creativity and Nelson/Mkhi are offering none of that. Willock is lovely but ineffective.
Xhaka and Guendouzi have done nothing, though they’ve had little to no options for an incisive pass.
Defence looks like it could implode with the first competent Newcastle attack.
Give it 15 mins and I’d like to see Laca for Nelson, Ceballos for Mkhi and play two with him in the hole, push Willock deeper.
TR7
“Nelson should have been sold in the summer. I don’t see.any potential in him.”
Glad to see you’ve picked the new Iwobi to passionately dislike.
These youth players will need a bit of time. It’s rather harsh to dismiss him after one half on the cold rain of Newcastle.
Auba at least knows where the goal is, most of his team mates couldn’t find it with a map and compass. Scrappy game, Mhiki especially poor. Still playing silly buggers at the back when it’s not necessary.
Mikki playing like he’s got a hit out on him?
He’s developed the Ozil sideways nod.
Very frustrating.
Miki needs a bus… Can Xaka join him!
We lack any sort f control in the middle. Ceballos has to come on 2nd half if we want to win this game. Mhiki… Word can’t describe how much i hate this guy. I’d rather have Martinelli and Nelson on the wings than this waster. I really hope he’s pushed out the club before intl deadline day along with Mustafi and Elneny.
Tr7
Harsh
Next u say should have kept Jeff..
Kid needs a run
And told that rather than playing with an axe over their head
The pitch. The ref. The conditions.
You lost are the most apologetic flams around.
It’s the team! The manager. The club.
You just know we will give one of those gift packages away.
We are playing two midfielders who cnt defend or break the lines.
Tr
Disappointed at yer comments
Honestly.
Guns h
Boris do one …
1) Not getting anything from Henry Mkhi on the right. Reiss yet to get in the match.
2) if you’re not getting anything from the wide areas, you need something thru the middle. Xhaka & Guendouzi both behind the ball. Last year, same fixture, Torreira came on at 45, Xhaka pushed up and we started to create. Otherwise, play willock where Guendouzi is and bring Lacazette or Pépé at #10.
3) Our throw ins have gotten worse under Emery. Already poor under Wenger. The fuck is Unai doing on the training ground?!?
It’s been an ok half
hope Nelson never plays for arsenal again. fuck all going upfront.
Not a great game is it but pissing down with rain there.
Newcastle are defending deep and well. Really needs a midfield late run from either Willock or Mhiki to try to break their defensive line.
The boy joelinton has been isolated uptop though and Newcastle only looked an offensive threat for about a five minute period no more than that.
Players to bring on for Arsenal but then again Newcastle themselves have the option as well to bring in that French winger as well.
Slow motion football. We are far too slow, too predictable. There is no urgency. Sideways passing, back to the keeper – anywhere but forward !
FFS !
With a more interested player in place of Mkhi we would have scored.
Nelson doing OK..don’t know why the complaint.
All in all this is a game we should win.
Diss
Well said
Unlike tr7 to say things like that norm more positive
As soon as the new signings are fit Miki can not be anywhere near the first team… needs to be moved on ASAP so we can use those wages on someone else!