The season was supposed to start with BANG, but it’d be fairer to categorise the Newcastle showing as a light crackle, not even a firework, I’m talking a bag of Quavers in the cinema.
The opening game of the season was all about delivering a win, something we didn’t manage last season. It was also about showing that the club had moved on defensively. We delivered against both objectives, landing a clean sheet and a 0-1 win.
The football wasn’t very pleasant and had most of the hallmarks of last season. We struggled to make use of the possession we were afforded, there was little coherence moving forward, and we looked similarly one dimensional.
That said, it’s hard to fault the manager on this occasion. Most of our new players are either injured, unfit or off the pace of the league. Kola and Ozil were dealing with criminal issues in London which don’t sound pleasant. So Emery really had to roll with a makeshift starting 11.
That gave Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson a start, and it also offered up Emery the chance to leave Mustafi out of the 11, something he wasn’t prone to doing last season… so we saw Chambers gifted a start. I think you could confidently say that with a fully fit squad, at least 6 of the player wouldn’t have featured.
We controlled possession with ease but struggled at times to deal with Newcastle’s aggressive pressing approach. We struggled to create chances, so you felt that we were going to need a decisive intervention. Auba to the rescue. The man doesn’t need much of opportunity to devastate teams. We hit Newcastle on a quick break led by AMN who intercepted a stray pass and drove forward, his threaded pass to an unmarked Auba was truly special, the finish was tight, the deadliest sharpshooter in the game lifted the ball over the keeper and did just enough to make the difference.
We took control for the rest of the game, introduced Pepe, Martinelli and Ceballos all made their debuts and all did very little. The Spanish U21 looked extremely off the pace, which is to be expected, but also a big problem because we need a ball-carrying midfielder that can do the job now.
Of the kids, I think Chambers had a solid game, Joe Willock looked comfortable but a touch meek, Reiss was largely anonymous for me, he did create two chances though, and that’s what he’s there to do. He will need to impose himself a little more if he wants to earn more chances.
The player that really stunk the house out was one that’s dropping £170k a week. Mikhi had a shocker of a game, he’s so out of sorts it looks like he’s come out of retirement to play in a charity game at Old Trafford with Robbie Williams best mate… but to be fair, I think Robbie’s best mate would contribute more to the game. Outside one devilishly good pass to Auba, he spent the game getting himself dispossessed or spraying the ball at imagined shadows. His pass completion rate in the final third was 55%… even for someone taking riskier options, that’s kind of appalling. As someone said online, it’s like peak Alexis Sanchez without the goals or assists.
The big thing I’m focused on this season is how Emery evolves the style of play. Our pressing seems very unstructured at the moment and I’m concerned that this system he’s building is easy to suss and not exactly a chance creation machine. We had two shots on target yesterday, that’s really poor when you consider the level of striker we have upfront.
Hopefully, those numbers will improve as we integrate pace and quality into the side. I’m very interested to see what David Luiz brings to the table. Xhaka isn’t the full ticket, but whatever you think of him, you can’t deny that he’s vital to our ability to move the ball forwards and his long balls are a chance creation option in a side that doesn’t create a lot of chances. When opposition teams know where the creativity comes from, it’s easy to control us. Xhaka can get away with being Xhaka against teams like Newcastle, but he’s easily wiped out when you have a team that aggressively pursues him.
Problem is… I’m not sure Matteo and Joe are ready to hold strong in that midfield with Ceballos. Could be a touch weak sauce and it’d be open to bullying. So I’d imagine the main hope is that if we put more mobility into the midfield with Willock and Ceballos, hopefully, we’ll offer more creativity and more running options. Having a midfielder that can move the ball through agressive press is also going to be game-changing. It’s so easy to box our midfield in at the moment.
This squad is exciting because I have literally no idea what it’s capable of producing. The great thing is it’s all on Emery to unlock heat, these are his guys. 8 of that starting 11 are Emery players, probably 9 as Chambers wasn’t a regular fixture with Wenger. All 3 subs were his. No more excuses.
Better football has to be on the menu. Raul and Edu are Barca/Wengerball types. Top 4 needs to come with style. Emery has the players now, let’s see what he can do.
ALSO, did you watch the Chelsea vs United game? The most Brexit game I’ve seen in a while. Neither side impressive, but I’m still unsure how Chelsea managed to lose 3-0. Both squads are not good enough, both managers are not good enough. Top 4 really should be ours! Interesting that Chelsea are going so hard at youth with players that don’t look up to scratch.
Final thought before we go… it was interesting that Jose Mourinho was being so kind about Arsenal players. This on Auba.
“That control looks simple but it’s not simple, it’s genius. Then the finishing is beautiful.”
A few voices indicating that he has deep ties with Mendes and might be trying to ingratiate himself with the Arsenal fans/execs if the inevitable happens earlier than May.
I wanted to hate that idea, but then I started to like it. It totally goes against everything I believe our next manager should be, but the guy has prestige, he’s built winning machines and now I love the idea despite knowing the risks.
There, I said it. I’m really sorry. It was literally a fleeting thought that got out of control.
See you in the comments. x
P.S. I cleared out the banned list as it’s the new season. Same rules apply, agree with me or go elsewhere. Just jokes. But play nice. All are welcome.
JamieAugust 12, 2019 11:40:20
“After I stopped working under that cunt Mourinho, I won two PL titles, three League Cups, and an FA Cup.”– Kevin De Bruyne
Wooooo.
Shit Jose won more than that just at Chelsea
“You were advocating Benitez all season but not Jose? Jose wipes the floor with Rafa in every single department. Rafa is Jose lite.“
The two aren’t comparable idk what odd point you’re angling at there.
Jose has left on bad terms with Real, United and Chelsea, he’s combustible, creates cliques in the dressing room, and throws the players under the bus if it saves himself.
I wouldn’t touch Jose with a barge pole and would hire Benitez over him 10/10. Whether you agree with that means very little to my view of the two.
Un –
Come one, man. You can’t seriously be moist for Jose.
He’s radioactive.
“I wouldn’t touch Jose with a barge pole and would hire Benitez over him 10/10.”
I mean, this.
So Pedro doesn’t want CL qualification he wants it with sexy football – his solution to this is to bring in Mourinho?
Yeah the guys renown for the great football his teams play.
Come on*
your comment here
Cc
Yeah you’re right
They both play pragmatic football in search of victory
One achieves those goals and the other tends not to
Jose has won the title 5/6 managerial stints with 2 cL trophies thrown in
If he achieves that at arsenal I wouldn’t care too much if he leaves on bad terms
Nothing odd about that in the slightest
CG is an alter of Pedro. I’m sure every successful blogger has created alters to drive up blog traffic .
The Mourhino to Arsenal call was a slip.
Don, Nice set of names you got there. Is any of them still playing football? LOL (yes Ibra..) Tell me about his conflicts with KdB, Mata, publicly taking captaincy away of Pogba, publicly singeling out Shaw numerous times calling him naive, that he needs to grow up and more to a point where his teammates said that Mouninho is basically bullying Shaw, making jokes about Eto’o’ (“The problem with Chelsea is we lack a scorer. I have one [Eto’o] but he’s 32. Maybe 35, who knows?”), told Pedro Leon he wouldn’t play him even if the team plane crashed and… Read more »
Read this piece Don. De Bruyne started two of the first four league games of the 2013-14 season, but soon fell out of favour with Mourinho and was dropped to the bench. “Jose called me into his office in December, and it was probably the second big life-changing moment for me. He had some papers in front of him, and he said, ‘One assist. Zero goals. Ten recoveries’,” De Bruyne said. “It took me a minute to understand what he was doing. Then he started reading the stats of the other attacking forwards – Willian, Oscar, Mata, Schürrle. And it’s… Read more »
Jamie
He wouldn’t be my first choice in an ideal world but I’d walk through broken glass to have him over emery
All day long
Let’s face it there aren’t a plethora of wild options to succeed emery right now so if it ain’t arteta or vieira then where does that leave us? Where’s the next big thing for arsenal?
Thoughts on the third kit just released?
Maureen being hired at some stage would be the ultimate slap in the face to wenger.i think he’d be physically sick.but then an awful lot of supporters would too.fans would be split right down the middle.but could it happen?
Un na
What are you blabbering on about?
Mourinho is finished.
Top players no longer want to play for him.
“He’s a draw. Players run through walls for him”.
Not any longer they don’t.
He’s a has been and, I’m if I’m totally honest, one of the most disrespectful and arrogant dickheads in the game.
If he was announced as being our next manager, there would be uproar amongst all the fans although I do know of one person on here who would be jumping for joy.
Tim Howard made Jose Mourinho.
The rest is history.
We’re talking about a 21 yo KdB coming from a Werder Bremen loan, 33 apps, 10 goals, 9 assists, 7 man of the match performances. Hyper mega insane talent. What a cretin Jose is.
Jose would be the single worst manager we could ever sign when more than half of our squad is under 23 now. Worst!
Un –
There are a dozen options I’d consider before Mourinho.
How anyone can stand his brand of football is beyond me. Re-watch Inter v Barca, and that’s when he was on top of the world.
Also, he’s a monumental cunt.
Uwot
“Fans would be split”
Um…..no they wouldn’t.
90/10…..NO MOURINHO!
The Great Sir Bobby Robson knew Jose had the magic.
He saw it.
Give him a 10 year contract.
And let him build a New Arsenal fit for 2020.
Jose and Cesc ( no.2)
Back on track!
Sorry, I’m exaggerating.
99/1!!
Mourinho looool banter.
Thought although ceballos may take a few games to bed in, it’s clear to see he will add quality to our side this season. Slightly worried about the possibility of Pepe being a bit lightweight, nothing on him!
Saturday will be a better indication of how good we look for the season ahead. Mkhitaryan must be dropped, ceballos and Pepe in.
The first game of the season was yesterday, a win and clean sheet away from home with a side that was far from our first choice after a great summer of transfers and the topic of discussion is should Mourinho replace Emery.
Fucking state of this place sometimes.
Next arsenal manager has to be Vieira. anyone saying Mourinho should be taken to the funny farm!
CA,
P(edro)R at it’s best.
Raptora
And Jose carried in winning regardless
i just hoped that mikitaryan was being put in the shop window for a potential sale to Italy/germany etc. but that backfired because he dropped a terrible performance. Maybe deliberate from him?
Pedro casually dropped a tersely worded half-formed comment about Mourhino that’s now driving the conversation
Atta boy, no wonder Legrove keeps ticking.
CG
Do you want to come and help me take my dismantled shed down to the tip?
There’s a special recycling area now set up for items like you.
Unaai There you have it, the most superficial assessment of Mourinho possible to make out he’s suitable for the job. Arsenal aren’t winning the league or CL this season or next. Mourinho hasn’t a clue how to structure a club for longer term gain, he’s big money for right now and fireworks when it doesn’t materialise. Any club Rafa has spent time at he’s left better than he found it, Mourinho doesn’t do that and he wouldn’t survive at Arsenal without the 200 mil transfer windows. It’s comical really because for a guy that rubs himself raw over our academy… Read more »
Any update on the Ozil and Kola situation?
Who’s paying for all that security?, certainly isn’t Arsenal for sure.
Jose has failed 1/6 appointments.
He’s in the top two greatest coaches of the last 15 years
Only pep compares. Only pep:
Anything else is in inconsequential
Looks like the London gangs are going to do what Arsenal fans couldn’t: get rid of Ozil and force him out.
You see? 60,000 fans…nope. A chav on a moped. Done.
Valentin Maybe Lampard didn’t show Utd enough respect. You could almost envisage Lampard giving his team talk followed by ‘go out there and express yourself’, lads. He’ll take that defeat and work on their failings. I thought Mount looked much better than Tammy, but at times he was definitely too far forward. However, just going back to Mourinho’s comments: I think the angle I’m coming from is more to do with how Mourinho, due to his stubbornness & arrogance, will create a wedge between him and players by being almost too rigid in his thinking re: fit/match fit Mourinho is… Read more »
Under the last days of Wenger he blew over £70m on Xhaka and Mustafi. Despite that with them in the team we couldn’t buy an away win, nor a clean sheet for love or money. We have regularly lost over opening game of the season for about 5 years now. Yesterday we won our opening game of the season. We won away. We won with a clean sheet. We did that with a makeshift side that left out our first choice full backs, our player of the season last season and our new record signing. Why the heck are we… Read more »
Dissenter Well it can’t go on. I have a lot of sympathy for their situation but that is £470 000 a week worth a talent that is unavailable because of crime. This isn’t South America, it’s a pretty sad indictment of the current state of London. But from a selfish Arsenal point of view, we can’t go on like this. I appreciate the players point of view and as Robbie on AFTV said where is your mind going to be when you’ve received death threats and your wife is at home when you’re hundreds of miles away. We need a… Read more »
Don,
You mean 1 league title in 7 or 8 years? Okay brother. He’s at the top of his game.
That’s why he’s unemployed. Like Wenger.
Cc Sorry what? Superficial?? That cute. You must be reading between lines naked to the human eye for Benitez then. The man won the second flukiest champions league (after Chelsea) of all time 15 years ago and he’s been dining on that ever since. And yeah. Jose would 100% halt the flow of academy players. And without doubt that would piss me off but I’d bite my tongue to have a title and or a champions league medal in his 2-3 year stint before he does a what he does and is ejected from the premises. If we are going… Read more »
For those secretly tempted to celebrate Özil, ,possibly leaving the Arsenal because of his personal security… just don’t.
It will be more difficult to convince our future targets to come to London if they feel they can’t be safe living here…
Liverpool and the Manchester clubs will just play the safety angle to win players over.
Ha ha. London is now like Sinoala in Mexico.
Raptora Porto titles and champions league Chelsea titles Inter titles and CL Real- title Chelsea- title Man U- Europa league (his biggest failure) I get why he isnt exactly buttering muffins wit people like CC but with the cunts who hounded Wenger for just “participating” in championships then it wreaks of hypocrisy. You either want someone who builds the club or you want to win It’s very rare to have both and emery ain’t that guy. He’s a stop gap and fuck all more. Pedro did this deliberately anyway. No way will this ever see the light of day but… Read more »
Unaai No it’s a matter of taste and appreciating what would fit with what the club needs. Benitez doesn’t need anyone patting his back as a coach, his CV is just fine. Meanwhile only Jose compares to Pep you tell us? Might want to pen an email to Chelsea, United and Real Madrid to see why their views differ to yours on that one. You talk about Jose as if his baggage is permissible because he guarantees trophies. Nearly a decade late on that one, now the guarantees are internal turmoil as far reaching as the medical staff. Do us… Read more »
So it’s gangs and Sead’s Mrs may have left the country and promised never to return? What’s going on
I would as soon take back Wenger before Jose. He’s classless, dont care how many titles he’s won. You can disagree or dislike some people but without human decency in our interactions we are no different from animals. In that context, Jose will fit nicely in a zoo. Not at Arsenal.
Leeds
I’ve never felt anything but near total security when I’m in the UK.
Whatever is going on with Ozil and Kola isn’t going to deter anyone from coming to the UK.
There a lot we don’t know but let’s not start pretending that London is now Mogadishu.
Marko
Something just isn’t right about this.
Don, He had to bring back Manure to the top. More money and much better foundation than Arsenal as well. How did that work out?! He was fired cause his team was going backwards. Fell out with everyone he could, team stopped playing for him. He brought Pogba fought with him. He brought Mikki, didn’t give him a chance to begin with and Mikki was a player back then (3 years ago), he handpicked his defenders in Bailly (£35m) and Lindelof (£32m) and then cried like a fanny how he needs to buy Maguire cause he doesn’t have good defenders…… Read more »
How many players have had their homes broken into in the Manchester-Liverpool area?
No one is using Ozil/Kola’s unique situation against us.
I’m not over egging this but these criminals don’t target the ordinary citizen… they target millionaires like footballers… hence my comment.
Top 4 needs to come with style. First off no it doesn’t. Second off with thinking like that don’t complain about the lack of clean sheets then. And thirdly how someone can demand success with style and then insinuate the possibility of Mourinho taking over is beyond me. I would argue style is important for a club long term wise but first and foremost this club needs to learn how to defend better defend leads better improve away from home and most importantly get into the top 4 above all else. If “style” suffers then so be it. Setting all… Read more »
Cc
Yeah like I said I get it. A few years ago I’d have agreed. But seeing as we seem to be going for the short term hire in emery rather than an arteta or vieira then there is literally no better short term manager than Jose Mourinho.
Anwhow. This is going nowhere fast so….
When it’s all said and done, it’s probably political.
It doesn’t make any sense because wealthier targets abound in London.
Just my tupence.
Unaai
And the “literally no better short term manager than Jose Mourinho” line is very, very arguable.
Pedro reading these comments stroking a white cat and saying “Good, goood!”
Champagne charlieAugust 12, 2019 12:56:41
UnaaiAnd the “literally no better short term manager than Jose Mourinho” line is very, very arguable.
I’m sure. Nothing is off the table when you’re involved chuck but in truth this one is going down a rabbit hole and I’m not really passionate enough about Mourinho to defend him all day.
I’d just not be against it is all. Totally get why others would but
Ancelotti > Jose in the short-term.
PedRo is CG
CG is PedRo
JamieAugust 12, 2019 12:58:38
Pedro reading these comments stroking a white cat and saying “Good, goood!”
No doubt….
Got to keep the comments section busy
Mourinho’s glory days were outstanding but those are a thing of the past. He’s finished. Just like Wenger post 2005.
Jamie
Yeah. I’d take Carlo or allegri but neither were keen to join were they? I doubt pep or klopp will be on when they are done at current clubs and poch is an obvious no go.
So short of being a king maker as Pedro has alluded to constantly then we really only have a limited number of options
It probably started with couple of young guys seeing an opportunity and being retarded basically by trying to rob a couple of super famous people when they are with their families. As a typically very close society Ozil and Kola probably found out who the two young people are and then the conflict escalated quicker than we can think of. In general no way that Ozil being that close to Erdogan helped him in any way. Vice versa – much more probable. Name a player who’s personal with the president of their country except the son of George Weah lol.… Read more »
Tobs
“A big fat NO to Mourinho. Too divisive, plays negative, execrable football ”
In that case, I presume you would say a big fat no to Emery also .
Is this the real Marko or the fake one?
Pedro
Definitely with you regarding Mourinho, I’d take him right now instead of Emery, with him we would challenge for everything and not just that Thursday night embarrassment.
The man won the second flukiest champions league (after Chelsea) of all time 15 years ago and he’s been dining on that ever since
Benitez with Liverpool? Don you really need to stop saying stupid fucking shit. My god you’re dumb
A little evangelical about London Guns, you’re like an ex smoker who goes hard core anti. Hope you’re happy where you are living now. I choose to live in one of the greatest cities on Earth. There are loads of issues but I’m sure where you live is no Nirvana. No need to shit on a place that you still use as your moniker.
Real Marko. He got the empty square icon. It’s him.
“Is this the real Marko or the fake one”
Christ, there are two of them cvnts now?
raptoraAugust 12, 2019 13:07:36
Real Marko. He got the empty square icon. It’s him
Ooooo Er
Been watching him closely eh raptora. Looks like marko has an admirer….
Un, last warning.
lol Pierre is still in love with Arsène.
Next Arsenal manager will be one of Vieira, Nagelsmann, Marcelino (not very likely) or I think Nuno Esperito has a real shot but Paddy is likely to be the favourite. Him and Edu are still friends and clearly Edu and co are looking at doing something special and making their own mark. Absolutely no chance of Arteta
Arteta gonna succeed Pep, hence no chance for him to be our next manager. Unless Emery surprises all of us and stays like 3-5 years more.
“Arteta gonna succeed Pep”
Multi billionaire City owners taking a chance with Arteta to succeed the great Guardiola?
Ha Ha
When story about Ozil and Kola being attacked more than once came out a few days ago, I first thought of Turk or Balkan gangs were behind it. I obviously have no idea what happening but it would not surprise me at all if our two players were involved in some ethnic gang and now shit has hit the fan for some reason. Mourinho was best manager of his generation, better even than Pep, but like all geniuses Mour had purple patch where he won everything but now he’s spent and regressed to mean. No to present Mourinho but yes… Read more »
Personally, I would prefer an up and coming manager when Emery leaves.. I can understand why some would like Jose but as someone said, he’s past it ,similar to Wenger..would probably be a step back. Vieira or Arteta are probably amongst the favourites but I’m interested to see how Norwich play under Daniel Farke. He has spent no money and has a team made up of nobody’s but he encourages them to play pacey, intricate football . They will come unstuck a few times that’s for sure but they will stick to their footballing beliefs under farke. Arsenal’s most successful… Read more »
Arteta will take a job one of these summers but it won’t be City. Besides Pep has another deal in him.
This is all a joke, right?!?
Mourinho as a “short term appointment” would not only alienate the fanbase but also, significantly, promote a mindset that we never want to have associated with our club.
Yeh, but he’s a winner!
Fudge off!! He WAS a winner. Now he is purely a destroyer of everything we value as fans and a manager that openly promotes negativity.
As an Arsenal supporter, I don’t want him anywhere near my club.
Next Arsenal manager will come from Paddy, Ljunberg, Arteta. Take your bets now
Everything that has happend so far, how it’s happend and who’s driving it points to an ex Arsenal player being the next manager.
If it comes from outside, I would be surprised
Veira? Yes, I could go for that.
Even Eddie Howe at Bournmouth.
Arteta I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole, until he’s proven himself away from the clutches of Pep.
I think it’s a wind up Graham. Busted flush. Novelty item on Sky Sports who suck up to him. Anybody who refers to a public figure by their first name is a virtual sycophants to that person. You’ll never find me calling that snide, egotistical arse wipe Jose!
I liked the idea of Arteta but felt it was too soon. In 2 years time, even as assistant, he can take over the coaching position at Arsenal and I would be very happy.
I’d like to whack Mourinho with that proverbial barge pole!
Almost forgot Freddie.
He could definitely enter into the equation.
I’d love it to be Vieira- more emotional than rational I’de have to admit.
I love reading Graham’s “fudge off” rants, can almost smell the Werthers Originals off my phone
Arteta you wouldn’t touch until he proves himself but Freddie could enter into the grey? He’s had one game as an assistant manager let’s just relax a bit on him.
The choices is Sam allardyce or Jose Mourhino lads 😂😁
Alan Pardew…tick tock
Can Viera win a league title in a league were Klopp and Pep compete??
Can he even beat Pochettino to a league title??
To get back dining at Top Table- we need an Elite Coach.
No one more Elite , than Mourinho.
He is available.
He lives in London.
He WANTS The Arsenal.
He would be an inspired appointment.
The Nondescript One or The Special One?
Surely to goodness,its a No Brainer?
(How dim are folk, around here.)
Back on Track with Jose.
I was half joking about Arteta succeeding Pep. It is possible though. If Pep gives his blessing and appoints Arteta as his successor, Manc owners would probably go along with it. Doesn’t mean he’ll be a success though. Not at all.
When your content is endorsed and validated by CG, you know you’ve fucked up.
CG
Im sure thats what Ed thought when appointing Mourinho. Glad to see you both are on the same page.
If Ajax have a season again you’ve got to think their manager will propel himself amongst the candidates for a top club?
Last season was fantastic, now he’s got to show it wasn’t just a coming together of circumstances.
I return in peace. Shalom to all
Rh
Didn’t you get the memo? We aren’t bothered about winning the league any more according to chitom.
What’s all this mourinho love in? I thought we had already come to the conclusion that he is a has- been. Love winning titles?
get in simeone after emery, end of discussion