Goooooood ebening people!
How long before that gets the Fireman Sam treatment?
‘Pedro, Emery has lodged a complaint with WordPress’
‘What for?’
‘Racism’
‘WHAT? It’s how he says it.’
‘I mean inclusivity’
‘But, but, but’
‘Lots of pressure from groups that pronounce v’s with b’s. Huge twitter outrage about this sort of behaviour.’
‘IT WAS PHONETIC BANTER. Tomaaaato… tomato. Ciabatta… seeabatta.’
‘I see you’ve learnt nothing. Pack your box and take that fucking oatmilk with you’
Some good news on the horizon, it appears the mighty Rob Holding could be back in the starting 11 sooner rather than later. I am very happy to have a bit of competition for those two central roles. Neither our centre backs can boast of a solid start to the season, and from what I remember, Rob Holding was pretty solid last season.
I have no doubt the club will treat his return with due care and attention. I’m not expecting him to start any time soon, but I’m sure he’s going to be very hungry to land some minutes. He feels like another potential leader in the side. He’s vocal, has some of that north-west c*ntiness about his game, and I still have Baresi visions from the cup final a couple of years back.
Additionally, it looks like Hector and Tierney could be in the mixer as well. I am hugely excited to see what a full-strength defence is going to offer us. It’s pretty clear I have major doubts about what Emery is doing to Arsenal, but hey, better players never goes a miss. Having a double injection of pace on either side only going to benefit our style of play, which is anti-middle of the pitch play.
But think about how sexy that overlap is going to be…
On this day, 21 years ago, Freddie Ljungberg was fast-tracked to Arsenal after a ripping display against England. Those where the days when Wenger and Dein took gambles.
What a player he was.
He scored a great goal on his debut, but his finishing was very off for the first year.
#OTD in 1998: Freddie Ljungberg scored on his Arsenal debut in a 3-0 victory over Manchster United. pic.twitter.com/c8NoKw0E9I
— Throwback Arsenal (@ThrowbackAFC) September 20, 2017
He was working on the art of the late run into the box and his decision making in front of goal. The next season, he blew up. He formed an immaculate partnership with Dennis Bergkamp and was basically unplayable at times.
He was sexy too. No one rocked Calvin Klein pants like the man with red hair.
The one regret for me is that he was part of an era when sports science wasn’t particularly precise. He spent far too much time injured, which hampered his numbers and eventually impacted his pace.
Still, he won a bunch of trophies, he entered Arsenal folklore, and now he’s sitting on the bench again helping Emery run internal comms in the team. He looks elite in a suit, and be real, the man has sauce by the bucketload. I’d handover my girlfriend in a heartbeat.
Watford at the weekend is going to be slightly worrying. They’ve rehired Quique Sánchez Flores after firing the Gracia after a shite start to the season. The new manager kick is a thing, Watford firm up playing us, they have Danny Welbeck on patrol, ready with the most incisive hat trick of the season. Can’t say I look forward to this game, especially with a defence that’s been rattled in every game so far that’s involved strong pressure on our short passing out the back.
The Arsenal that appeared in the second half has to be the vibe. We need to have some creativity in the midfield, which to my mind means Ceballos starts. Emery needs to start being a little more positive. We’ve seen that adding defenders to the backline doesn’t help us, and we’ve seen that 3 holding midfielders also offers little protection. All that appears to be left is utilizing our attacking talents and causing problems using possession as a weapon.
We really need a performance to kick start the campaign. Watford are not a great side and again, they should be there for the taking based on what we’ve seen so far. At the very least, we should throw caution to the wind, play at a high tempo, and spend more time in their half than ours.
More tomorrow. x
We need Bellerin and Tierney back first and foremost
Wow. I was actually first.
Three
Tro4hy
DM would be proud (sheds a tear)
Mornin’, folks 🙂
FFS Pedro.
Is this the time for new post
I’m still not convinced that the addition of Bellerin is going to offer much more than AMN. Given Bellerin’s experience in the position compared to AMN we should be expecting the level of difference that Tierney offers over Kola, if Tierney is all that we have heard about him that is.
Watford is a worry…..I cannot believe this constant Wengeresque mindset: so worried they have a new coach….we need to put a marker down….we need to show some semblance of style and sauce…..
Jesus, just hug your Wenger blanket and hope for the best.
We will beat Watford and there will plenty of time and space for you and your clown crew to criticize Emery and Emery and then Emery.
Pedro
Are you fed up with your GF?
Second season and still were all perplexed at what team or formation Emery will put out at any given moment home or away.
We should still have enough in the bag to beat Watford.
I want nothing less than a convincing 2-0 win.
Now even Wenger has put in his opinion on the sauce debate. “There’s something in there that is part of the big players. ‘You can call it arrogance, confidence, belief; but it has to be there.” Said Wenger when asked about Sancho. And ofc we tried to sign him too and failed (like countless others). Anyway Wenger describes the X-factor better than you Pedro. ‘Arrogance.’
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7453965/Per-Mertesacker-holds-futures-Arsenals-kids-hands.html
Thoughts anyone?
For those who follow cricket:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-7452771/Cricket-news-best-catch-Indian-fielder-takes-ball-hes-running-speed.html
Fairly optimistic about our chances on Sunday. We have no reason to fear Watford.
Good ebening! We will beat watford comfortably, they have ran out of sauce
“Still, he won a bunch of trophies, he entered Arsenal folk law,”
Pedro its *folklore
Are we going to see Luiz or chambers step into midfield with xakha and Torreira our and probably Willock too?
Can’t really risk ozil and Ceballos surely?
We had such a great side back then
4 wins in a row over the all conquering Alex Ferguson and his soon to be treble winners
Never had it so good. 97-06
Best period arsenal fans have ever had.
Best football
Most trophies
Best players
Best manager
Tony
I think he’s spot on and I really wish the rest of the country would follow suit. It’s exactly the sort of approach that’s needed and could hopefully set a wonderful example to the rest. Too much too soon is a phrase we’ve been hearing since the golden gen failed around 06 onwards and it’s something I genuinely feel passionate about.
These kids have far too much attitude and it needs to be tempered by a strong role model type. Something many of these boys won’t have.
Look at Raheem since pep put an arm round him
Look at sancho since going to Germany
Look at the Brits at Liverpool and their improvement under klopp
Poor old Maguire hasn’t had that level of mentorship but his attitude (which is natural) is few and far between in modern lads. Especially the city yoots
Holding seems to be similar in that he possess that northern grit and determination
About Maguire, well not really but seeing as he was mentioned…
Un**ed fans are a tad upset because FIFA20 (yep, the computer game) has ranked Mustafi above the 80 mil man. Really, does the rankings in a computer game really impact these people?
Zaha was serious about a move away from Palace last summer, he sacked his agent for failing to get him one.
If Arsenal take the initiative in games, win a couple, then win a big one in the process – confidence grows. The team starts to feel infallible, others start becoming wary of them. Most teams will start rolling over for them without having to force the issue. This is how league titles are won.
We were promised that Arsenal were going to be “Protagonist FC”. C’mon you Gunners! The assault start at Vicarage road on Sunday!
Tick Tock.
It’s pretty clear I have major doubts about what Emery is doing to Arsenal.
………
Really? We didn’t know. You should have said.
I hate the Spanish. Anyone who thinks the torture of an animal is fun and an ‘event’ needs castrating with a fucking hammer.
Wonder if Zaha is that stupid to think that a move to Everton would have been beneficial to his desire of playing for a top team with UCL football. If he was to move to Everton might have needed months to get used to his new team in a new city, then who could have known if he was going to replicate or upgrade on his form from CP. In addition, going to Everton would have meant that he’d be on a fresh, fresh contract, in a team that would have been even less willing to sell because they are… Read more »
Zaha knew he didn’t want to stay at Palace long term and chose short term gains in the form at that new contract he signed in Summer 2018. The leverage was with Palace the whole time so I don’t feel bad for him.
GoH
I’ll hold the ball sac while you wield the hammer.
Fox hunting?
Bojangles
You got a deal. We will take turns.
Left T
What do you think?
The hunting or ritual humiliation of an animal for the pleasure of humans is sadism, plain and simple. The people who partake are in my opinion, vile. I don’t differentiate between torturing an animal or the ability to turn it up a notch and start on a child etc.
You’ll find that 99% of serial killers start by torturing and killing animals.
Bojangles
Not that it makes a difference but Mustafi (79) is rated lower than Maguire (82). The leaks were fake. Also Holding and Guendouzi are criminally underrated at 76, 75 and Willock is at a laughable 67. Lol While Spurs darling Winks is at 80.
There’s only 1 Freddie!!
The one with the red hair!! (- even if he is bald now)
Wasi, EA will no doubt be rectiftying some of those silly ratings in their first update. In what world is Mctominay (77) better than Guendouzi (75 rated).
GoH
I don’t agree with fox hunting, bull ‘fights’ or whaling. I wish none of them existed.
There are animal ‘rituals’ like this all over the globe. I just think it’s down to the Spanish to sort that out for themselves.
What are your thoughts on cock fighting? 🙂
Source from The New York Times : “A. Wenger would have accepted the job of technical manager of FIFA.”
“His expertise should help improve coaching standards around the world. The American daily says that the formalization of this appointment will be made in the coming days.”
“help improve coaching standards around the world.”
This one made me laugh hard.
Ea has to. Pepe has overall rating of 83. But the funny thing is his dribbling stats is rated lower than that of Lacazette when arguably he is the best dribbler in the league now.
Left T
As a lauded ex cocksman myself…I am okay with this.
Mctominay could be as big of a talent as Guendouzi. I’ve heard manures rating him really high. So it is possible.
Winks with 80 has to be a joke though.
Dead against the fighting cocks too… Plenty to see here and most parts of SE Asia… Akin to dog fighting for mine, another barbaric pursuit.
My Mrs didn’t think an owl was a bird! She’s 43 years old and relatively intelligent. After discussing it further* she also didn’t realize that penguins are also birds.
* discussing = taking the pi$$
LT
What did she think an Owl was? Or a penguin for that matter?
Should show her a platypus and watch her have a breakdown then.
GoH
She has no idea. I said didn’t the claws, beak, feathers, wings and the fact that it’s a BIRD of prey give it away? She is relatively intelligent.
She doesn’t have a clue on where countries are either. I’m making sure my nine year old daughter doesn’t have the same problem. I have bought her an inflatable globe.
The Mrs also doesn’t have a clue on politics. Actually, come to think of it, she isn’t relatively intelligent. She’s a dullard!
Thanks Biggles, I’ll put that one to her tonight. Should be a giggle.
*Googles platypus
Left
I want to believe that you’re joking?
As I thought. The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), sometimes referred to as the duck-billed platypus, is a semiaquatic egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. The platypus is the sole living representative of its family (Ornithorhynchidae) and genus (Ornithorhynchus), though a number of related species appear in the fossil record.
🙂
Silverhawk
Unfortunately I’m serious.
Thanks for the link Tony
Don’t follow cricket, but don’t need to to appreciate talent like that
GoH
Interesting that your response to violence and torture is …well, violence and torture
LT
Let’s hope your wife doesn’t read this blog.
Ray in LA
Ironic, isn’t it.
GoH
She wouldn’t read this blog as she doesn’t like sport. Why am I with this woman? 🙂
LT is getting divorced. Trust me, your old lady knows you read and contribute to the blog. They know everything…except that an Owl is a bird.
Are you tired of her?
She surely must have great qualities you saw.
She is kind, generous, relatively ok in the looks department and a fantastic mum.
All is good, she just doesn’t know that an owl is a bird. Daft bint.
Zaha sacked his agent for not being savvy enough when he negotiated his new contract. Most agents focus only on the salary and the signing-on fees where the release fee and contingent bonus should also be part of the negotiation . He should have requested to have the exact criteria to be sold written in the contract. A table with a list of criteria and the schedule of release fees. Something along the line of If Criteria 1 is met then schedule of release fees. If Criteria 2 is met then schedule of release fees. If Club A or if… Read more »
“she just doesn’t know that an owl is a bird.”
Divorce.
“All is good, she just doesn’t know that an owl is a bird. Daft bint.”
You married a woman that doesn’t know an owl is a bird….
I’d call that 1-1
Left
I feel you shouldn’t drag her tho. She sounds like a loving woman.
Silverhawk
I’m just breaking balls. She knows what I’m like and she did laugh at herself through her embarrassment. That’s another of her qualities – she puts up with me!
CC
We’re not married. I just call her ‘the Mrs’.
…but I take your point.
“We’re not married.”
Wedding!!
HL
Is making good japes.
We could get an owl to swoop down with the rings!
LT
Owls don’t swoop, they swim…I think?
The Dani Ceballlos interview with DM’s Pete Jensen is very illuminating -Speaking about the game at Anfield; ‘I had never seen anything like it,’ he says pausing to find the words to best do justice to the football hurricane that blew over Arsenal that day. ‘I’ve not seen up until now a team that plays better, that presses better. That game had quite an impact on me. ‘They suck the air out of you. You spend so much time defending and when you want to catch your breath and get on the ball for a bit, they’ve taken it from… Read more »
Torriera appears to have taken a Knock on international duty so expect the Xhaka-man back on Sunday.
Just goes to show how tenuous and short staffed our midfield is.
You beat me to it Disenter.
Just to add, for those claiming Emery doesn’t trust Ceballos because he didn’t select him against Spuds, you should read the artical.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7455857/Dani-Ceballos-hails-Liverpool-best-hes-seen-tips-Unai-Emery-Arsenal-success.html
GoH
Nice one!
https://arseblog.news/2019/09/joe-willock-signs-new-long-term-contract/
New deal for Joe Willock and that Ceballos interview with Sid Lowe sounds very promising.
Celallos played very well as the Left attacker in a 4 2 3 1 formation for the Spain national team. This open up another formation for Emery.
I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this,but 10 years ago today….Adebayor went full shithouse mode and did THAT celebration
In Willock, Guendouzi, and Ceballos, we have good players who can play across positions.
Willock can play as a CM, RM, AM and DM at a push
Ceballos can play as a CM, LM, AM, LW
Guendouzi can play as a DM, CM in various formations.
These 3 players excite me alot.
In away games, we can play a 4 3 3 with
Willock Torriera Guendouzi
Pepe Aubameyang Ceballos
Or
Torriera Guendouzi Ceballos
Pepe Laca Auba
Or
Willock Guen Ceballos
Pepe Laca Auba
I’d love to see
Martinelli and Saka/Nelson really step up this year. Then we change Xhaka for sangare.
An approaching elite CB and we’re back in business
Emery needs to be brave and play guen, willock,ceb
Now that our team has enough offensive weapons, it is up to Emery to show us what he can do to set up the team. Our offensive should be able to open up the defense of those “weaker” teams. Pepe and AMN can overlap on the right side while Ceballos and Kola will attack from the left side. Our two strikers should have enough chances to score. We should let our offense to dominate the game even if our defense gives up goals.
I’d rather move on Emery. (nothing against him). We need a proactive coach. An attacking one.
Getting Nagglesman and Upamaecano in a double swoop will be a statement of intent.
If not Nagglesman, a vibrant attacking coach with a good sense of organizing a good defense.
China
My thoughts too. Leave Xhaka to his leave.
I haven’t seen t but I read Saka did some outrageous trickery yesterday
He really does seem like the kid to watch out for
Ceballos figures out within a month that Laca is our best player but many ‘experts’ around here want/wanted us to sell him.
TR7 Ceballos believes that Lacazette is our best player? I’m afraid he has to go. I don’t make the rules lol ————— There was talk last month that Joe Willock would get a new deal. Good news. He has great fitness. Probably the #1 factor for a midfielder to make it in today’s game. Like when Iwobi broke into the first team, he’ll be getting plenty of minutes because there’s a vacancy in his position. Really hope the club sorts out Smith Rowe’s fitness issues. Otherwise, he’ll be sold in 18 months time. Great that Leipzig want him on loan… Read more »
“‘He called me and told me to come to Arsenal,’ Ceballos says. ‘He told me I was going to have a prominent role and that I was going to like his idea of playing. When you have the confidence of the coach that is about 60 per cent of the battle. Knowing that if you make a mistake you have the backing of your manager, for me, and for a lot of players, that’s fundamental.'”
Well Pierre thinks he does not consider you good enough to start against Tottenham, the battle is lost four games in.
Arsenal 3-0 Man United
When was the last time that happened in recent memory?
Scores like this is what we should be aiming for this season… once all our first teamers are fighting fit.
Thank you Pedro for posting that little jewel from years past!
Ceballos figures out within a month that Laca is our best player but many ‘experts’ around here want/wanted us to sell him.
He also highly rates Emery which you don’t so what does he know am I right
I want Emery to play an attacking line up this weekend versus Watford.
Then when we play Man United in a few weeks I want him to play an attacking line up versus Man United.
Against other so-called big teams like Liverpool, Man United and Chelsea Emery more often than not decides to play it too safe… negating our attack by leaving them isolated.
I keep seeing Wenger spouting about the players he was linked to ?
Messi / Sancho being his latest uttering’s.
Perhaps he should remember to mention Mustafi/ Kallstrom/Stephanie/Wrey
Silvestre/Cygan/Inamoto/Senderos/Park chu Yong the list is endless when will
that sad case shut up.?
Ceballos is a liar, Emery isn’t involved with player recruitment.
Least that’s what I’ve read on here from some…
Marko “We can’t compare [Arsenal to Liverpool] at the moment. We’re working on similar things but Jurgen Klopp arrived at Liverpool in 2015. Unai came last season.” “Arsenal finished a point short of Champions League and a small step from winning the Europa League: his arrival will be positive. In a few years Arsenal will be in the top 10 teams globally, competing for everything.’ ‘his arrival will be positive’ is as lukewarm a praise as you can get. For a player playing for Arsenal right now, you wouldn’t expect Ceballos to say Emery is out of his depth, would… Read more »
I’m sure Pedro’s girl doesn’t visit Le Groove.
Cabellos has a case of the ‘talking bollocks’ that infects most of the swine we hire.
Emery couldn’t negotiate a Thai hooker.
Real aren’t letting an asset go. Get over it.
Mertesacker loves them youth players like there his own kids.
😪😫😭
“I’m sure Pedro’s girl doesn’t visit Le Groove.”
I bet pedro treats us like the racist uncle.
As much as he tries to hide us, the encounter is inevitable
Saka has more sauce than Nelson, GOH what are your thoughts on cruelty to peasants? Lol, lol
Sid
Feed people who hurt animals to the peasants and then let the animals eat the peasants.
This is a sport I’d pay to see. Bring back the Roman arena but this time, man wouldn’t have any weapons.
By the way, really looking forward to seeing that pikey Tierney play. And Holding, the new Adams.
I miss Bellerin’s style.
GOH “Real aren’t letting an asset go. Get over it.”
Every player has a price. The problem is whether Ceballos wants to stay.