The concept of the modern marathon was inspired by a Greek football fan that legged it from the site of Marathon to Athens to deliver a scoreline, the distance was 25 or so miles. The message was about an important game in which a Greek football team defeated a Persian one (they had good football back then). The messenger died, so to commemorate this heroic football nut, they have marathons around the world.
The point of my story is this… if Emery doesn’t achieve anything in his Arsenal career, but manages to shift on Elneny and Mustafi, I’ll name a special day after him. I’ll petition the club to give him a stand. I’ll get on the blower to the Pope and ask how you go about Sainthoods.
This is what Saint Unai said of the pair yesterday.
“They are very big players but for one circumstance or another they are going to have fewer chances to show their capacity or to be happy with us and the minutes they play in matches,” Emery said. “But they know the situation and really I am wishing the best for them. I think now the best for them is to be protagonists in another team and to get another challenge for themselves.”
“Last year with Mustafi and Mo, when they didn’t play they weren’t happy and I spoke with them a lot of times last year and this pre-season,”
“I think it is positive for them to leave and sign for another team where they can be protagonists and be happy and continue their careers.”
I firm up when I read vicious quotes like that. When did Wenger EVER talk that aggressively about his babies? Never.
I am also warmed to hear that the players like to play. Those two are too young to ride out a fat contract. By sitting on deals, they take themselves out of the shop window, their games get rusty and clubs around Europe frame them as a pair of Winston Bogarde’s. If you’re young, you should want to play football, even if that’s at a cost of a few grand a week.
To ride out a deal takes a special sort of person. Someone with a character big enough not to be impacted by the humiliation of being benched.
Both players have value. Mustafi has a lot of good going in his game. He’s played all around the world. He’s made of strong stuff. He just needs a really good defensive coach to beast him into not being so dim. Elneny is just at the wrong level of club. He needs to go to Italy or a middling club in Spain.
Both need to move off that wage bill.
In loan news, it was great to see Eddddddiiiiiieeeeeeee score his second goal at Leeds. I really think he could be a blistering talent if he’s given the chance. I love that he’s at Leeds learning under Bielsa. He’s going to learn to be more decisive, he’ll build confidence from the goals, he’ll get tougher under the brutal conditions of the Championship. It should be a very good year for him.
Hector Bellerin went OFF on the mighty Ceballos.
“I think Dani’s one of the best players I’ve seen in my career. I’ve played with him since we were like 18 or 19 years old. We’ve played in the under-21s, we get on really well off the pitch”
“He’s up for it & he’s a player who will go through thick & thin to do the best for his team. He’s got a great heart & he plays for everyone around him. I think he’s a great addition”
LOVE TO READ IT.
David Ornstein continues to drop beads of gold onto the newsfeed. Again, clarifying the authoritarian regime that Arsene Wenger ran.
Power really is a corrupting force. When you’re succeeding, the last thing you should do is build a team of yes men around you. That’s what Wenger did, then when things started to fail, he had no answers. He wanted to wear every hat. You do wonder what he could have achieved if he’d ripped out his back team and installed up and coming coaches. What would our trophy cabinet have looked like if he’d had a more powerful CEO next to him that insisted on owning the infrastructure?
Wenger could still be a player if he’d allowed other people to develop his ideas… but he didn’t, and now he’s watering the flowers in a very green garden in North London.
“The meetings used to be just between Kroenke and Wenger”@bbcsport_david on how changes in personnel at the top have made #Arsenal ‘more proactive in the transfer market’.
📲⚽️https://t.co/0kUniWPgQm pic.twitter.com/hYbAsfqO5M
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) August 20, 2019
Right, that’s me done. Listen to this podcast before the Liverpool game tomorrow.
Don’t know what the arguments are for. Unnecessary. Emery is not what we hoped for after the exit of Wenger. The club is even more boring than the days Wenger got a pasting by United.
Emery is bland but I’ll give him till next summer
Bob,
AFC are an English club playing in the English Premier League. The supporters who attend matches are to a very large extent English. Our academy is made up of predominantly English players.
Only an imbecile would not recognise these facts.
And AMN, Xhaka are as much Emery’s players as they are Wengers’ He has faith in these players because we clearly see he refused to play Mo Elneny last season and he’s told both he and Mustafi to leave. So you see, we need to stop blaming Wenger for Emery’s bland style and his pasting by other teams. Let’s stop being hypocrites, still looks like Arsenal of old but with so many personnel changes:
Ishola,
Ceballos commited several near suicidal passes that were intercepted and lead to Liverpool opportunities. I don’t see the people who a two days ago were arguing that Ceballos was better than Santi accepting that he was the worst player on display.
Yet I see numerous people accusing AMN for misplaced passes. None of them as criminally stupid as a long pass across our own penalty box.
Losing 1-3 to Liverpool wont be the reason we fail to get a top-4 spot. Liverpool have been formidable at home in the past two seasons and have a settled team under Klopp No one is tying themselves to Emery’s mast. He is a manager in the last year of his contract. The extension is only triggered by meeting performance targets. Since when did to become a cardinal sin to lose to a better team? Liverpool are the better team – finalist in the last 2 CLs Liverpool are the better team – CL champions Liverpool are the better team-… Read more »
what ever arsenal have is owned by a foreign owner and managed by a foreign manager.
that abu Dhabi Emirates stadium is one the best in the league.
‘Anyone that thinks Liverpool will approach a game with Norwich with the same attitude as a game with Arsenal hasn’t been watching football for long’
So Klopp would go:
‘Ok gentlemen, we are playing just Norwich, and I don’t think we should bring up our best game today. We should attempt fewer shots at Norwich and let them attempt more shots on our goal. let’s only play our best game when we face Arsenal.’
RH is waxing stronger in brilliance everyday.
https://www.liverpool.com/schedule/emery-arsenal-liverpool-anfield-fear-16813933
Ok, so he failed.
But Emery is not the first, and won’t be the last, manager to take an uncharacteristically defensive and pragmatic approach against Klopp at Anfield…..even Pep did it.
Valentin
I’ve seen a fair few that said Ceballos didn’t have a good match.
I said myself he was a hindrance more than anything yesterday.
But that doesn’t mean AMN doesn’t get called out as well for sloppy passing.
The tactic was wrong and so was the choice of personnel. That is not hindsight, it was predicted. Most fan can accept a good hiding if it is due to a gulf in class or a mistake by a players. What is difficult to accept is a tactical shit show and then no response for 80 minutes byvthebso called master tactician. The excuse that we needed to be solid defensively is a mirage, because we were parked on our goal line for nearly 80 minutes. At Half time Klopp instructed his players to stop those aimless crosses and make short… Read more »
Bournemouth nearly equalise.
Giving City a much better match than West Ham did.
TR7August 25, 2019 14:06:49 All the reservations I had regarding Emery stand even now. His lack of a clear playing style and constant fiddling with tactics and formations means most of our players either do not seem to be sure of their roles or how to execute the manager’s plan. Emery has this bad habit of over thinking tactics, formations and team selection and in the process misses out on doing simple obvious things. We may get slightly better than last season due to new players but it is obvious and more so than ever Emery is not the guy… Read more »
Ceballos was easily our worst midfielder yesterday he was roundly criticized for yesterday. That shouldn’t have anything to do with noticing that yet again AMN continues to make largely the same mistakes in practically every game. It’s gotten to the point where I can’t wait until Hector is back making his same mistakes
2-0 City.
That was a walk-in goal.
Even if Bournemouth looked to be giving a decent account of themselves this half they will probably end up with a whipping as well now.
Most fan can accept a good hiding if it is due to a gulf in class or a mistake by a players.
You’re talking shite now. There was a gulf in class. There was literally individual errors leading to two of their goals.
‘What ever’ good comeback bob.
‘Can’t see anything English about Arsenal’, ‘myopic’ bob.
PhD
Oh just the idea we should bow to the wonder that is Liverpool. Personally I think we should give a good account of ourselves and not look completely spastic.
Marko
Yea see that’s you in a nutshell, assigning folk “sides” instead of judging what unfolded before your eyes. Can’t take my view serious because I’m not on Emery’s “side”, gotcha. Let’s ignore I was praising us first half and saying we were well I the game.
WOOOOAH
What a goal
Great free kick by Wilson
It is certainly clear that Man City and Liverpool will occupy the top two once more this season, in whichever order. The rest are at least a level beneath.
Beat Spurs on the weekend and I am sure everyone is smiling again. 9 points from 12 would be a good start to the season in pursuit to be best of the rest.
Cute freekick from Bournemouth
Deserved the goal competed pretty well first half.
Dissenter, is United a better team than Crystal Palace?
Is Tottenham, on paper, as good as Manchester City?
PhD ‘It’s almost as if, we’ve veered from one extreme end of the spectrum to the other end-with Arsene and his play with “Gay abandon/freedom of expression” with no tutelage approach- to Unai’s style of -‘I’m the Headmaster and you are the Student-disobey me at your peril and I’ll give you 500 lines,” approach.’ He has been criticized before for his dour personality and obsession with video analysis. We always seem like playing with handbrakes on. I don’t think any player in last 13 has come out and said he enjoys playing for Emery. Of course when a journalist asks… Read more »
Chris
I’m not sure the top two is clear cut. I can see there being a big gap btwn City and the pack this season. Guardiola finishing with 92-95points, at least 10-15pts ahead of the pack. Liverpool will have a few hiccups in the PL. However, if they are healthy in the spring, they’ll again be a team no one wants to play in the CL.
Liverpool midfield isn’t great, yet we felt we needed to stifle them in the middle and give them space where they’re actually stronger than us, their full backs. Some tactics that
Dale Da Gooner
Is Man United as good as Liverpool?
Did you ever see such an undeserving draw that Spurs got at Man City?
Yea see that’s you in a nutshell, assigning folk “sides” instead of judging what unfolded before your eyes.
You do that too come on now. I did judge what I saw which was us compete for parts of the game but get utterly outclassed in the opening 15 mins of each half.
Says a lot about some of the personnel we have in midfield. And the sooner we rid AMN from that right back position, the better.
Dale
Arsenal didn’t stifle any midfield.
What went on was that Arsenal just sat back really deep. The whole team bar Auba and Pepe.
Ishola, I didn’t say Arsenal stifled the midfield, I’m saying packing it with 4 meant the tactics was to stifle…..only reason you would force 4 into the middle against their 3 is to stifle them, again whatever the plan was, it was horrible idea
Both ManCity and Liverpool are much better than the rest.
However if teams decide to really attack Liverpool high line defense, I could see them concede a lot more than last year.
They have a functional midfield that is really there to feed their attackers. It would be really interesting to see teams changing to that approach instead of trying to contain them. Most teams don’t have the players to just contain them anyway.
Just seen Harry Wilson’s goal. Fantastic. Looking at City’s XI, Pep doesn’t take Bournemouth as a serious threat.. Gündogan as the deep midfielder.
Ishola, you’re assigning Liverpool this greatness and I’m making it simple, we could have gone there and not look foolish again. Crystal Palace went to Old Trafford and took maximum points, they didn’t go there to get ass waxed beacsue the legend is they haven’t won in OT in 28 years. They took the game to them. We didn’t take the game to Liverpool and we haven’t in many years even with a new manager. In fact we used to go there and play high octane football, albeit losing sometimes or drawing 4-4, so far, 5-1 and 3-1 losses at… Read more »
TR7August 25, 2019 15:00:30
Yeah,I kind of feel, it’s like kids scared of stepping out of line. There doesn’t seem to be that enjoyment or initiative. We lack leaders to take command of a game, leaders to maybe challenge in a right and meaningful way,how we approach games,where we are chasing or behind.
Who , really in that team, takes the game when we are behind by the scruff of the neck?
If, I were to call it..I’d say-maybe Laca..And that’s at a stretch.
Just robots, doing as one is told, meandering around the place with clueless or confusing tactics.
Dale
Liverpool have only become very good over the last few seasons so stating matches before this time is a bit meaningless talking today in the present.
And whether Crystal Palace beat Man United after so many seasons also doesn’t mean much in relation to the Liverpool match because Liverpool are clearly better than Man United.
Only the big name of Man United is having you linking the two matches. The actual team of Man United is not near Liverpool.
Pedro still chasing Emery….
“You do that too come on now. I did judge what I saw which was us compete for parts of the game but get utterly outclassed in the opening 15 mins of each half.“ Could chalk up a few of Wenger embarrassing defeats to poor 30 min periods. That’s a third of the game pal. Explain away how Norwich and Southampton managed to concede 15 shots each and we let 25 on goal? We’ve a much, much better attacking group than those sides too and we managed 9 to their 12 & 14. Like some have said, the loss is… Read more »
Good save Ederson.
Nearly 2-2.
Again people accuse me of overhyping Spurs but for me they will be there and there about come the end of the season. So it is not just Liverpool and City who are well ahead of us.
Someone tell Bournemouth they’re playing Man City, that should do it.
Bournemouth showing more ambition against City than what we showed against Liverpool.
Ishola, looks like you’re reaching for a difference of opinions where there’s none. Bottom line is, we could have shown a better account of ourselves at Anfield yesterday. We could have lost still, but at least have a clue with the selection and style. Have a good one.
Champagne charlie
“Someone tell Bournemouth they’re playing Man City, that should do it.”
You keep overlooking that Liverpool were playing at home in Anfield for some reason where they are virtually imperious.
All teams can run into some problems when playing away on the road at some points.
Man City are playing on the road today.
I can bet that spuds or even a depleted MU or Chelsea would have shown some yesterday. It just felt like pool toyed with us as if we were Brighton or some other championship team.
Shocking VAR decision. Clear penalty.
How can troding on somebody foot not a penalty?
And you would think fans on here should know about problems that can be faced playing on the road.
Kidding themselves that Arsenal are a very good team because they win a good percentage of home matches.
Justice done. Goals to ManCity.
Aguero is a goal machine.
ValentinAugust 25, 2019 14:44:02 The tactic was wrong and so was the choice of personnel. That is not hindsight, it was predicted. Most fan can accept a good hiding if it is due to a gulf in class or a mistake by a players. —————————- I guess that excludes you from the “Most fans” analogy then. There was a gulf in class ( 27 points and 45 gd) and there were players mistakes ( Sokratis shirt pulling VVD with Guen tangled up and losing Matip on the play, and Luiz pen killing off the game) If there only was a… Read more »
You expect emery to play city like this? Oh gawd
Scrappy goal.
Disappointing from Bournemouth that.
Ishola
‘And you would think fans on here should know about problems that can be faced playing on the road.’
People do understand that Anfield away is probably the toughest challenge there is not only in the EPL but for European teams too. My only point is we should not go in to a match with the sole objective of avoiding an embarrassing defeat.
Crazy that Valentin is implying there is not a gulf in class really isn’t it.
Leipzig 45 minutes away from their.second win.
Holding should be properly back in the mix after the international break, it would be huge if there was any sort of early return to full training for Bellerin and Tierney.
Watching Alexander Arnold and Robertson yesterday, regardless of potential quality differences I cannot wait to have real full backs in the time.
By the time Bellerin is fit and up to speed on the current predictions we will have been without a full back in the side for 10 months.
That is going to be absolutely huge for us.
Valentine
As for your gulf in class bit,
Liverpool fullbacks total market value 150m………..Arsenal ‘s 20m.
Most objective observers would agree this does constitute a gulf in class.
Chitom, Ishola,
Again the selective point scoring. I did not deny that there was a gulf in class. If you quote, be honest and quote the full text.
What is difficult to accept is a tactical shit show and then no response for 80 minutes by the so called master tactician.
Could chalk up a few of Wenger embarrassing defeats to poor 30 min periods. That’s a third of the game pal. Very true how come you didn’t? Scrutinize said embarrassing defeats. Explain away how Norwich and Southampton managed to concede 15 shots each and we let 25 on goal? I dunno what to tell you. We’re still a bit shit and it’s a work in progress? Xhaka? No I’m being serious how about Xhaka? I saw you got the poms poms out yesterday when there was a sign of criticism for him something about the positive he brings to the… Read more »
My only point is we should not go in to a match with the sole objective of avoiding an embarrassing defeat.
I mean even you can understand the thinking given how we lost that game last season and how we’re generally seen as poor on the road.
It’s a tough job this arsenal job for whoever the manager is. He’s expected to play good football and score goals and at the same time address what has been a poor defensive team for many a year. And he needs perfect English and teeth.
The Club is devoid of Character and fighting spirit.
Wenger’s losers mentality spirit.must be exorcised from the club.
TR7August 25, 2019 15:30:57
My only point is we should not go in to a match with the sole objective of avoiding an embarrassing defeat.
—-
This…
And that was the mentality we went with…Smh
RedtruthAugust 25, 2019 15:44:08
The Club is devoid of Character and fighting spirit.
Wenger’s losers mentality spirit.must be exorcised from the club.
—–
Maybe’it’s about time,you should be exorcised from your basement!! 🙂
Just kidding. 🙂
PS
I come in peace…
New post.
Even the waif Mahrez is on board with the Man City team ethic of pressing off the ball and winning the ball back.
“Most fan can accept a good hiding if it is due to a gulf in class or a mistake by a players.“
I don’t see any ambiguity here buddy.
Arsenal market value is 770m to Pools 1.22b- that’s a gulf in class by any metric.
First two goals were conceded by players ‘ mistakes , no denying that.
You can argue about tactics if you like , I won’t argue those, but we were losing that game either way. Liverpool are a well oiled machine and relentless at home,
Arsenal are poor on the road and short on confidence.
New blog guys
I am trying to figure out why, for someone as skillful as Ceballos, delivered such a bad performance.
He is new to the team and he lacked chemistry with his teammates. He was confused by the manager’s tactics. He may also have to get used to EPL’s physical play.
In any case, I still prefer him to Ozil. He won’t hide. He worked harder. He needs game time to bed in with the team.
@Dale Crystal Palace didn’t have a single shot at goal until in the 37th minute when J. Ayew scored. In our own game, it was clear what the plan was – sit back, soak up pressure and counter. If Auba and Pepe had scored early on, things would have turned out differently. In hindsight, it wasn’t such a good plan. You’re not going to hang on against a team like Liverpool with Luiz and Sok. AMN and Monreal contributed very little going forward. Xhaka may not have made any mistakes but then professional footballers aren’ exactly paid not to make… Read more »
Good finish by Joelinton