via @t0wey (instagram)
The problem with relying on elite finishing only becomes a problem when the elite finishers pick up an injury.
Alexander Lacazette has finally been downed by the ankle knock he picked up a during preseason.
That leaves us relying on the team improving its chance creation output, or relying heavily on Auba over the next few weeks.
It also potentially opens the door for more Gabriel game time, which could be exciting, or it could be an absolute disaster.
Rob Holding might be back sooner than Hector and Kieran.
‘Rob Holding is in the same situation like Hector and Kieran Tierney, but he earned time and matches with the under-23s and we are going to decide if he can play with the under-23s, because the next week we are going to start in the Europa League, and after we are going to play the Carabao Cup. With more minutes with the under-23s, he can be closer to give us his performance.’
Great stuff, really hope we use the group stages properly this year. I don’t want to be cursing an Auba injury against a pub team.
I think we need to double down on making the team a little more creative. Ceballos has been talking in the press and he seems absolutely driven to succeed here. He even went as far as to say that the differences between Madrid and Arsenal are not really there.
“I love the city, I love the Premier League and love Arsenal,”
“I’m just really, really happy to be part of this great club. I’ve hardly noticed any difference in size between Real Madrid and Arsenal. And the fans are very passionate, they love the players. It’s much easier to adapt because they make you feel like you’ve been at the club for ever. I love the way everyone’s treated me. They’ve put a lot of faith in me.”
What a champion. I love him, he brings as much energy to his interviews as he does to the pitch. He wants to be loved, he wants to prove Zidane wrong and I think he’s pretty enamoured with life in England. He said this a few months back.
“The two good games I’ve had so far for Arsenal I never had in two years at Madrid. I didn’t play a lot but it’s also true that, when I played, I didn’t play as I can. That’s related to confidence but you have to be self-critical.”
Be an icon amongst the best fans in the world, or be a bit part in a star machine?
The way things are going for Zidane, there’s a big chance he won’t last the season, but if he does, then you’d have to put money on Raul making a play for the Spaniard. He’s of the right age, has a super attitude, and his ceiling is very high.
Emery says Tierney and Bellerin will be dropping games in the U23s before they make it back to the first team. The videos of Tierney nutmegging Mustafi are so damn good, I also like how thunderous it is when it comes to intensity levels, he’s going to be a very fun player to watch this season.
Emery is close to making a decision on his 5 captains. FFS…
Finally, Wenger has landed a job with FIFA. Great for him, that BEIN Sport deal finally paid dividends. No idea what the role entails, the man’s technical prowess certainly degraded in his final years. Classy organization to join, right?
See you in the comments! x
1st
Ola from Barcelona gang
What’s cracking at Watford then? We gonna bore the life out of England again or what?
2nd
Tr4phy
Tr4phy
Yeeehooooo. I got Trophy
Hola Amigos…
Yes that loan deal of Eddie N
was not the best move by Arsenal.
Auba or Pepe get a knock and we
will look very fragile.?
That FIFA is a corrupt organisation, there is no doubt about it, but what a lot of people especially in Western countries don’t realise is that it also does a lot of behind the scene help in developing countries. Having Wenger organising coaching training session in those countries is all benefit for them. He still carry a great reputation across the world. Even a semi retired Wenger is more appealing than a Peter Reid or Sam Allardyce to foreign coaches. He is erudite and has now regained his enthusiasm for the game. In a less stressful environment and no day… Read more »
Laca injury is worrying. He is the kind of guy who gives 200 percent on the pitch.
Watford should be easy, unless players decide to throw the game.
Pepe to score in this one.
We need his goals – away games are why we bought him to add firepower since our defense melts in away fixtures.
Ceballos should start this one
Wenger and FIFA. Lets see how long he lasts in this corrupt organization.
A test of Wengers values or how much he loves the $$$
With Laca injured, how long till Xhaka or Mustafi injure Aubameyang in training?
FIFA is perfect fit for Wenger.
French speaking
No accountability
Plenty of money and status
Hopefully this means there is no chance of him returning to Arsenal in any capacity, though those rumours always sounded far-fetched.
Valentin
I think at this stage this is a great move for Wenger and also for football. As you say he can pass on everything he knows and this may be of tremendous value in countries which need help.
Can see him doing that for a couple of years and then maybe taking on an international job such as Japan.
Nelson has to step up his game now that Laca is injured.He’s got Martinelli and Saka waiting on the wings to usurp him. Not to mention ESR is back too.
Even in the training videos Tierney’s attitude looks determined to succeed. And megging Mustafi on your first training will only endear you to the fans.
I believe Ceballos starting on the left is also a possibility. Depends how ready Emery deems Ozil is .
Just to to make sure that we do not rush the young enthusiastic Tierney and Bellerin back too fast. We cannot afford a season where they are in and out of the team with niggling injuries
If Nelson doesn’t take his chance now that Lacazette is injured, he would only have himself to blame.
Lacazette will be missed .
i expect martinelli to start in his place . Probably going to be a 4-4-2 formation. I wont be surprised if Emery applies the same tactics like he used against Liverpool side.
An open question.
What are Nelson’s qualities?
With Martinelli, we know it’s blistering pace and good finishing
With Saka, we know it’s trickery and great pace
With ESR, we know it’s an eye for goal, the final pass and play making abilities
With Nelson, we know…? And no, his purple patch for Hoffenheim early last season doesn’t count.
Nelson has some pace and trickery
Silver
I suppose Pace , dribbling, 1v1 and goals. But he still seems a bit immature and a bit short on confidence.
Major
I think its gonna be a 4-3-3 . . Watford shouldnt cause us many problems and Emery should take a positive approach to this game which i think he will. Their Midfield is pretty powerful though. Lets hope Emery chooses to start with Torreira to counter that.
Joke Friday – Did you hear about the blind Thai man who was able to tell what race people were by touch? It’s true! Just by feeling their hand, old man Nguyen could tell you if somebody was European, African, Polynesian, or American. He was best at Asian countries, just by practice, and could even tell what country someone was from, something he wasn’t quite capable of with other ethnicities – for instance, he could tell upon meeting her that his wife Nguyet was Vietnamese, his friend Wong was Chinese, and his dentist Edgar was Singaporean. We’l anyway, the Guinness… Read more »
Some pace and trickery.
That’s like describing Gray at Leicester. And he doesn’t even have Gray’s shooting accuracy.
I know he’s still young and all but I’m struggling to see why he should be ahead Martinelli or Saka. Both bring more to the side than him.
Nelson is a nothing player. He is worse than even Iwobi.
“Doctor doctor I feel like a supermarket.”
Doctor “How long have you felt like this.”
“Ever since I was Lidl.”
FYI I wasn’t the person who said Willock will be a league one player I have no idea who said that. I did argue with the idea that his inclusion over someone like Mhiki and Özil last season was something so obvious though because he did fuck all last summer. I will always maintain that him and Osei Tutu shouldn’t have started the Europa League final.
James Wood
As Mr White would say: Hardy-fuckin’-har!
As for AW working for FIFA… massive Lolz. A man who supposedly has morals and wants to play the game the right way ends up working for one of the most corrupt organisations of the planet? Yeah right…..
Not the brightest of moves to let Nketiah go out on loan was it.
One fit out and out striker at the club now for the next couple of months.
Aubameyang picks up an injury and then what …
Martinelli up front .
Pepe up front .
Maybe try mustafi up front if we become that desperate.
He’s getting game time over at Leeds, good for his confidence and good for us too, Lacazette is just resting the ankle according to all the outlets so don’t know how that translates to it being a bad decision letting Eddie go out on loan Pierre?
Let’s hope there is a clause in the loan deal that enables Arsenal to call back Nketiah.
If not , then I’m afraid its rank incompetence of the highest order.
How do City cope Aguero gets an injury?
How are United going to hold up without Pogba or Martial tomorrow?
Spurs if Kane does his knees again?
Take a chill pill with the overly exciting chance to do what a lot of clubs do with their youngsters for a day Pierre
Batistuta
“He’s getting game time over at Leeds”
Nketiah would have more game time if he was at Arsenal.
At Arsenal
6 Europa cup games ….starting.
League cup games ( probably 2 or 3 games)..starting
League games in the next few months now that Lacazette is injured.
At Leeds
No European games
No league cup games as they are knocked out .
2nd choice striker ( usually coming off the bench if he’s lucky)
So how will he be getting more game time at Leeds.
We still got John jules . And he doesnt look that far off first team level. Dont be surprised to see him against Forest. Also Martinelli, Nelson , Pepe can play upfront too.
One fit out and out striker at the club now for the next couple of months.
He’s out for two or three weeks resting you fool
Pierre
Nketiah can challenge to be the first choice at Leeds. He couldn’t do that at Arsenal. And if Leeds 1st choice gets injured its Nketiah by default. Also Leeds are not just a passenger Championship team , they are fighting for promotion under a coach with a very good reputation. Also I really think John jules and Martinelli’s performances in the pre-season may have played a part in allowing Nketiah to go out on loan.
Pierre making those good points that he’s known for. Someone help him out with understanding an injury announced mid September until October isn’t a few months. Multiple sources saying that he needs rest… he’s broken alright.
One of the best things to have happened to Nketiah is that loan to Leeds. It’s good long term planning and for the first time in his career he’s getting senior game time. It’s incredibly short sighted to keep him as third choice ST expecting an injury to happen.
So we have xhaka who has been playing whilst carrying an injury and now , according to the manager , Lacazette has been playing whilst carrying an injury for a few weeks …..who’s next.
Marko
“One of the best things to have happened to Nketiah is that loan to Leeds. It’s good long term planning and for the first time in his career he’s getting senior game time. ”
Absolute rubbish.
He could be looking forward to starting 3 games for Arsenal in the next few weeks v Frankfurt, forest and Liege plus would no doubt have been on the bench for the league games as back up striker ..
Instead , the best he can hope for are brief substitute appearances off the bench for Leeds.
TL DB10.
19.57.29.
That would have been Quinten Tarantino.?
Must admit it was a shit joke.?😂
Absolute rubbish.
He could be looking forward to starting 3 games for Arsenal in the next few weeks v Frankfurt, forest and Liege plus would no doubt have been on the bench for the league games as back up striker ..Instead , the best he can hope for are brief substitute appearances off the bench for Leeds.
If Eddie cannot start for Leeds, he should definitely not be starting a game for Arsenal.
Instead , the best he can hope for are brief substitute appearances off the bench for Leeds. Mid September and he’s started and finished in two 90 min games out of his 5 appearences so far. Compared to the two whole 90 mins he got last season for us. He’s already playing more and scoring more at senior level than he ever has and likely ever would have been had he stayed with us. It’s a frankly stupid thing to keep bringing up because it’s a good loan, he’s doing well and literally no one laments the loss of a… Read more »
James Wood
I can’t fault you for your cinematic knowledge!
As for the joke….
Joking, joking! It was a good one.
It’s just good to see that Joke Friday is still well alive.
All kudos go to jwl for single-handedly keeping this going for so long! (And Tony for recently joining in with some very good jokes!)
Laca out.
Pepe needs to wake the fuck up.
Marko
Except of course an idiot
To be fair, it is an expected massive breakdown from a long serving worshipper of AW.
Goes to show that his constant “i back the manager first” bollocks that he would spew out on the past is total BS.
To be fair, it does show that deep down, he finally has concerns about the club and is finally putting The Arsenal before any manager.
He’s backing the only manager he knows. The manager of his heart… Wenger
Marko
For a 30 yr old pretending to be a 60 yr old, you are most certainly right
Marko “Mid September and he’s started and finished in two 90 min games out of his 5 appearences so far. ” Yes ,he has started in 2 league cup ties and has played a grand total of 48 mins in the championship as a substitute, he is still waiting for his first start in the league. This Thursday he will be sitting at home when he would’ve been starting for Arsenal v Frankfurt The week after he will be sitting at home doing nothing when would have been starting for Arsenal v forest . The following week he will be… Read more »
Just got back from my mates funeral.
He died after being hit on the head with a tennis ball.
It was a lovely service.
“Classy organization to join, right?”
And mostly a very well paid job.
But let’s not pretend money is arsene’s main motivation.
Lol
So
Laca out
Chances for
John jules
Saka
Martenilli …
Who ya reckon gets the nod.
Nelson?
A lot of he would have there little p. Worth noting this time last season all those Europa League games he played in two. I honestly don’t get the cry outs for Nketiah it’s pathetic scare mongering and hindsight nonsense. He needs games and the chance to play consistently and he wouldn’t have gotten that being third choice here. If John Jules and Balogan in a pinch can’t replace his nothingness from last season then what’s the point in them
If Nkethia had stayed, he would not have played in the Europa League. Last season Emery cancelled his loan under the pretence that Nkethia was third choice striker and would be used. He was not. It has been stated that Emery wanted to keep Nkethia, so clearly somebody overruled him. That means that Edu or Raul did not believe either that Nkethia would see significant playing time this season under Emery. Lacazette injury is unfortunate, but it is a short term one. So even if Aubameyang also got injured, Pepe would have been preferred to Nkethia. Better he plays regularly… Read more »
He will learn more there than he will being a bit part player for us.
Plus it will show what he’s made of. Too many kids think being in our academy or being associated with us they’ve already made it – then they fall of the wayside during a load spell.
Talent but wrong attitude. He’s out to prove to people. At only 20, years ahead of him. I feel he needs to add a little more bulk to his frame though.
Plus, if Laca rest is precautionary, better it be now and not when it starts getting serious into the business end of the season.
He’s already had two weeks off. Hopefully few more and he’s sorted. Then can hit our stride.
Seems as though Mustafi will be considered for future games.
https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/13/unai-emery-work-shkodran-mustafi-arsenal-defender-refused-transfer-10740766/
Alan Smith (ex-Arsenal striker) on Emery: “I have heard whispers, after all, that some of the players find their manager’s instructions confusing, that they do not really know what he wants them to do. If so, that does not bode well.”
TR7
No man. I wasn’t. I always maintained he was talented but needed to learn the game, which became evident as the season went on. I merely urged caution. Marko and his people dismissed Willock and other youth players. Big difference.
And Alan Smith would know, right?
Since when did two or three weeks become a few months though.
Pierre you are way off the mark here. Lacazette is only supposed to be out for a few weeks, not months.
Nketiah will likely see more game time at Leeds throughout the season in an extremely competitive division but will also learn from Bielsa. The guy himself has stated it is a great move for him and that he forced it through.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/eddie-nketiah-leeds-united-arsenal-16881455.amp
As usual you are like a rat up a drain pipe when there is the slightest opportunity to stick the boot into Emery.
Alan Smith (ex-Arsenal striker) on Emery: “I have heard whispers, after all, that some of the players find their manager’s instructions confusing,
Even if you gave instructions in Turkish shkodaft will still be confused, give them in albanian to Haka he will still tackle in the box, give them to papasauce in greek he will still wrestle, I dont need whispers to know that
After Xmas last season Nketiah could have done with a loan where he was going to play regularly. I’m sure this would have affected the decision to send him on a season’s loan this year. He obviously needed game time.
With Martinelli, Nelson , and Saka available to play wide in particular in the C Cup and E Cup, the need to keep Nketiah was less important. Having said that with PEA surely rested who is going to play up front in the lesser cup matches? Ozil as a false 9?
Elton John’s side for the win today.
Off topic for a moment.
ES, Bob and the missing Graham (you ok?) & any interested in rugby:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-7461923/SIR-CLIVE-WOODWARD-Eddie-Jones-insists-feels-no-pressure-ahead-Englands-World-Cup-campaign.html
A short while ago folk in here were questioning Emery’s philosophy. Then there was other talk about having people with Arsenal DNA at the club. Can anyone put into words Arsenal FC’s philosophy?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7426345/Watford-vs-Arsenal-team-news-predictions-match-facts-odds-more.html
GoH
Possible if they get a 24 hour start on us.
Bob, Last season Nkethia was supposed to on loan to Augsburg in Germany during the winter transfer window. At the eleventh hour (he was literally on his way to the airport), Emery cancelled his loan because of concern on the fitness of Lacazette and Aubameyang. He hardly featured for the rest of the season. Basically he has wasted six months at Arsenal. This summer Emery again wanted Nkethia to stay and promised him game time. However this time with Pepe (who can also play striker , he did for a year under Bielsa) arrival the likelihood of significant game time… Read more »
Lacazette is our best player and losing him for just a game is bad, it’s like Liverpool losing Mane.
But don’t make matters more horrible by playing Nelson. Nelson doesn’t have the sauce. He doesn’t seem to have the willpower to force his game to the next level.
Martinelli should step in. He has that Neymar sauce without the dramatic arrogance(for now at least).
Is ‘sauce’ becoming a cliche?
Writing off Nelson at the same time exhalting Martinelli, Gentle.
Little evidnce just gut feeling. Nelson is yong and lacks experience, may develop.
And may not
As a young player, if you want to impose yourself, when you get given a chance to you’ve got to be explosive. Get people talking about what you ACTUALLY DO on the PITCH. It was the same way Iwobi did, holding, AMN, even chambers. Most 9f them won the player of the month in their first run in the side. That’s how it’s done.
Nelson wasn’t even in the top 7 best player for us on the pitch in each oh his appearances to far.
Sorry for the typos.
Lets put Emil Smith Rove on the field for this one ..
“Is ‘sauce’ becoming a cliche?”
Becoming?
PierreSeptember 13, 2019 19:57:36 Not the brightest of moves to let Nketiah go out on loan was it. PierreSeptember 13, 2019 20:05:08 Let’s hope there is a clause in the loan deal that enables Arsenal to call back Nketiah. If not , then I’m afraid its rank incompetence of the highest order. >>>>> Pierre, who are you levying that incompetence at? Raul and Edu? Emery wanted him to stay but it was Nketiah himself who said he wanted to go to Leeds and the club decided that would be best for his development, and with Aubameyang, Pepe, Martinelli, Saka and… Read more »
‘Is ‘sauce’ becoming a cliche? Writing off Nelson at the same time exhalting Martinelli, Gentle. Little evidnce just gut feeling. Nelson is yong and lacks experience, may develop.’ Bob, Pedro started the ‘sauce’ legendary on here and we might as well encourage the concept, it’s Pedro’s blog after all. Nelson has not shown any improvement in the last 18 months and the two games he has played this season showed nothing. Now Martinelli I trust, you see a kid on the ball and you know he’s class. Give Martinelli a run till Laca returns and the boy should tear things… Read more »
Van Parsie : ‘if you are the coach of Arsenal, you should play to your own strengths and not adjust so much to the strength of the opponents, because a top six team should play to their own strengths.’
He added: ‘I don’t think that balance is right. That is based on what I’ve seen, for example, in the bigger games like against Liverpool.
‘In my opinion, he is adjusting too much to the opponent, which you shouldn’t do if you are the coach of Arsenal.’
“Mustafi still has a future in the Arsenal team after deciding to stay at the Emirates this summer, manager Unai Emery has insisted.”
#EmeryOut.
@TR7 : still in love with the bastard ?? Give it a rest ffs….
Maybe it is down to a lack of understanding. I have heard whispers, after all, that some of the players find their manager’s instructions confusing, that they do not really know what he wants them to do. If so, that does not bode well. A clarity of purpose is essential.
Smudger in the guardian
Not a surprise at all
He continues
eadily stronger to cope much better on the back foot.
I thought the studious Emery would have made improvements long before now. For someone who spends untold hours personally cutting up video of the opposition to show his players, you would have thought we would have seen a more organised reaction to losing the ball.
Gentle, I obviously hope you’re right about Martinelli. In the last year there have been moments of real promise for Nelson. I don’t think you can expect a linear improvement, he’s going to be inconsistent at his age. I feel he needs to take more risks, take on his man a little more, he’s understandably playing quite conservatively. Admittedly it was for England U23s in the week, but Nelson had some great touches and played really well. It is far too early to judge with any confidence on the basis of this seasons games. If you watched Guendouzi in the… Read more »
Tony, just got back from being on Hackney Marshes watching both my sons play football so haven’t had a chance to read the article but I hope the rugby players are feeling pressure, pressure to perform To perform under pressure is surely on a top players’ list of necessary qualities.
Quietly confident…..
Mane and Sterling will smash it this season
Sadio Mane surely a top 5 wideman in Europe at this stage?
Only players I would rate above him are Neymar, Hazard and Sterling, possibly Salah and M’Bappe although not sure they count as they are more CF’s than a widemen even though they start wide in a front 3.
Levante have Zidane sweating at the Bernabeu, were 3-0 up and cruising but they’ve pegged them back to 3-2 with 10-15 mins left to play.
Would be pure banter and surely would have Zidane one step closer to getting booted out the door.
Here here Bob too many fans on here writing off kids who have played a handful of games
Just chill ffs
Mane > Salah
I have always had him as the most dangerous Liverpool player ahead of Salah even when the Egyptian was being talked in the same breath as Messi and Ronaldo. Mane more direct and pacier and less predicable than Salah.
Think it’s a bit of a stretch to say that he’s better than Salah. Certainly in the ballpark but you have to consider the fact that Salah is seen as the de facto danger man for Liverpool and doesn’t get the freedom or space that Mane is afforded as a result. Think Salah is more creative too, as dynamic as Mane is a dribbler he doesn’t have an eye for a pass and rarely clocks up assists. They work great in tandem and Firmino is the unsung hero of the front line with his unselfishness and work rate, does the… Read more »
Eye for a pass ? He fluffs several chances due to his selfishness or poor touch. May be it’s just me but I don’t find him to be a creative player. Very predictable with his runs and pattern of play. Firmino is the creative guy.
Mane = Firmino = Salah
I never considered Salah better that the other two even when he was having that unbeleivable purple patch.
Mr Serge
All I’m saying is that as a youth player, there has to be something that stands you out as one to watch.
What’s Nelson’s own?
Mane > Coutinho > Salah = Firmino
Salah just walked in and scored