Good morning and welcome to another Sunday edition of Le Grove.
Watford’s ‘new manager kick’ didn’t last beyond a single game. Manchester City absolutely trounced our St. Albans neighbours with a performance so brutal, it should have had a 9pm watershed. 8-0 is not a Premier League score.
… but don’t worry, I wouldn’t dare draw parallels.
I’m actually weak from finding out my dad is a Bud Light drinker. He went out of his way to purchase them as well. How do you live life knowing that your dad is drinking soft beer like that behind your back? The alpha male theory is a fucking charade, I promise you.
Anyway, it’s all about Arsenal and what the manager can offer up to solve our very clear frailties today.
I would personally play Saka. He had an electric game in the week and looks more than ready to do some damage to lesser teams. His pace and directness could be a real asset at the moment. He’s ready, give him some game time in home games of this level.
Secondly, the theory that Emery plays Xhaka because he’s tall seems to hold weight. What do we think about the potential of moving Luiz forward when Holding returns to the first team? Couldn’t be any worse, could it?
Ideally, we’d have LT in the pivot tomorrow, but we’ll see.
Villa have the potential to bother us, they’ll work hard and menace us start to finish. That said, we have enough firepower to make a weak defence look silly. We need a performance, one has to drop soon, hopefully today is that moment.
I know I have been beating on Emery for a while, but I truly believe he can at least offer up a sustained run of wins. He’s average, he’s not bad. Today needs to be a stake in the ground. Let’s see a positive formation. Play our best attacking players, go into the game confidently, and try and impose some sort of vision on the day.
Huge game. Let’s see what he has for us.
Before you go, Dan, from Heart Of The Holte, has penned some words for us on Aston Villa. It’s a good read. Enjoy and give them a follow @HeartofTheHolte.
How would I rate Villa’s start to the campaign? Above or below expectations?
It would be fair to say that overall our start to the season has proven somewhat frustrating. There have been plenty of positives, and most games have shown plenty of good things that can be built upon, but ultimately the cold hard truth is 4 points from 5 games isn’t the return we would have hoped for. It’s probably a start we could have expected as a newly promoted team, but there is certainly a feeling we should be at least a couple of points better off. There’s plenty of room for improvement but there’s also enough ability and desire in the squad to improve.
How would I gauge Dean Smith’s first year in charge? Are things moving in the right direction or is there any pressure forming?
Dean Smith has been in charge for almost exactly a year now, and it has been quite a ride so far, which gloriously reached its peak in the record-breaking 10 game winning streak which propelled us towards the playoffs and promotion in May. You’d be hard-pressed to find any fan who’d have a bad word to say about Smith and things are moving in the right direction. We do need a few more points on the board and to become a greater goal threat but overall, there’s a real togetherness and spirit right now which resonates from the pitch to the stands which instills confidence that we’ll get to where we want to go.
How do Villa strike a balance between their strengths and weaknesses?
For the most part, Villa are a decent unit and with all the new arrivals this summer, the gelling of the squad has been pretty seamless. We have a solid defensive foundation in fan favourites Tyrone Mings and Bjorn Engels in front of the experienced safe hands of Tom Heaton, we have a pretty dynamic midfield featuring last season’s key lynchpins of John McGinn and captain Jack Grealish, and there’s promise in big target man Wesley. Our weaknesses lie in our wide positions, particularly in attack and the consistency of performances in our wingers and their defensive tracking back. We also have a tendency at the moment to try and force things a little and give away possession cheaply. Nevertheless, the promise and the talent is there and as we develop and start to really click as a squad we should grow into a very difficult team to play against.
How do I think Villa will set up on Sunday? What are Arsenal’s weaknesses that I think Villa can exploit? And what are Villa’s weaknesses that I worry can be exploited?
As with most teams who have played Arsenal so far, Villa will have to find a way to get at the defence, Arsenal have shown a softness under pressure at the back and their commitment to almost suicidally playing out from the back is clearly an area to attack. But we’ll have to we wary of the lightning pace and lethal finishing of the front three. Stopping Aubameyang and Pépé will prove a huge task for any defence and our wingers will have to do a lot of work in defensive support too, which I fear may not always happen. We will also have to be better in possession when we do have it and seek to shut down Arsenal’s countering capabilities by avoiding sloppiness in possession.
How do I think the game will go and what are my predictions?
Our recent matches against Arsenal, particularly at the Emirates, have hardly been memorable and yet we still have the third best win rate of any current premier league team there, so it’s not hopeless. We’re a very different team (club even) to the sorry visitors who insipidly lost 4-0 on or way out of the division in 2016. Arsenal are obvious favourites and are pretty good at home so the realist in me expects a defeat, but the fan in me is hoping we can grab a point. So with my heart ruling over my mind, and seeking to be optimistic, I’ll go for a repeat of the first-ever match at the Emirates. 1-1.
Guen fucking pace of a snail dozy needs a spell on the bench. Our midfield 3 should be Torriera, Willock and Ceballos.
Xhara nearly caught out being indecisive and ended up stamping on the defender’s foot. Lucky he got a FK.
@Rambo : the brand your mother likes the most. Lol
We don’t even dominate games we lose.
We’ve actually gone backwards under emery! This is crazy.
It’s not like “glorious loss” we’re are just utter fucking dross.
I’m over it already. The rot has begun. Back to being a laughing stock.
united are going to eat us alive next Monday.
at least AMN won’t be playing.
Cebellos needs to lift the darn ball. All crosses were low tonite ffs
Not acceptable.
Why is xacka still on? LT and willock on now
Pierre was right about Tyrone Mings. We should have snapped him up.
the very fact emery made Xhaka captain in the first place is a sackable.
Celebrate the goal……keep the hope….Emery’s not going to be judged on close victories against the bottom dwellers….HE WILL BE JUDGED ON MANY THINGS……..,let’s not focus on him like we did with Wenger…. emery won’t be hanging round like a bad smell for 8 seasons like that selfish cnut Wenger…
Let’s hope we win….let Emery’s fate be decided soon enough.
Hairline and Freddie very quiet these days
Very quiet
Pierre was right about Tyrone Mings. We should have snapped him up.
Under Emery he would look like Senderos
Ceballos bullet proof on here is he? Done nothing.
Xhaka you twat
Xhaka what a moron.
Guen is OK but he isn’t the worlds best midfielder. No idea why he plays every game.
Xhaka is the new Denilson –
But at least with Denilson we were making it to the CL, not downing tools against end of the table or newly promoted sides.
Kanye just scored a worldie.
Guendouzi show at the moment.
Guen the best player on the pitch in 2nd half and some of you are giving him shit. What is wrong with some of you ?
@ un na nai,
Bro, you have time calling out names. For once, I was wondering if something happened as I wasn’t seeing their comments.
Guendouzi is our ENTIRE midfield
Samesong, can’t disagree 🙂
Ceballos has been poor this match, Guendouzi the best of our mid three.
I don’t think the two returning full backs will change much… The problem is straight down the middle. We can’t keep possession of the ball and anyone can run straight through the middle of the pitch and confront an already petrified defense.
New ideas are needed. This one isn’t working and if he doesn’t have a new one then a change should be made to save the season.
Auba has to do better there…
Guendouzi garbage? Good shout.
TR7
Like you said, Guendouzi should be given a floating role in a sort of CM/CAM position.
I said we should have started this midfield from the start!!!!
CG
Shhhhh
Ceballos is new. You aren’t allowed to point out his flaws. Only the youth or wenger’s signings
There are rules here you know
70 min panic subs. Emery is Wenger mk2.
Yeeeeeeeees Xhaka off
wasn’t easy but Auba missed by a mile
both subs can’t be worse
Shots…. keep shooting
Maybe people aren’t posting because unlike some they want the team they support to do well and when they don’t find other things to interest themselves with.
A bit of a reaction at long last, deserving something right now
We can’t bloody shoot
Thank god captain calamity crapah has left the field.
That needs to be his last appearance in an Arsenal shirt.
Receding is just worried sick about the arsehole stretch coming his way. HighburyBellend is clearly unperturbed, Tis a regular thing with him.
Woah. Just checking in. Lolz. Just bantz lolz.
For someone young.
MATTY G isn’t afraid to call, out his hand up and want the ball.
Leader
The issued at arsenal is A LEADER…we have no leader…Dhaka, neither leads by example orleads by authority….in short just hopeless…
A leader would up our performance by 30%…..we are just cruising without urgency or chasing the game…it’s really pathetic in general.
Pepe got to be ruthless. His pos was better than Auba. Take the damn shot.
Not time to return a personal fav
Luís os exasperated. Dribbled like a forward. Didn’t get the pen was hoping
Guen is having an absolutely fabulous half
Well it’s exciting now……but for all the wrong reasons.
uncontrolled mess
Kolasinac – where promising moves go to die. What a shite player, embarrassing.
Need 2 goals and a win.
Better grab one quick…
It’s crazy but this is the best attacking football we’ve seen played so far this season.
Guendouzi’s dribbling game is pretty good, don’t see enough of it.
We could be 10 points off Liverpool and it’s not even October.
Emery = Wenger
Ceballos is still setting in… Crapah has been shite for years. Needs to go pronto.
Pepe got to be ruthless. His pos was better than Auba. Take the damn shot.
No way did Pepe have a chance to shoot there.
I backed Sokratis to bring leadership and fuckery with him into the XI, he’s brought the wrong sort completely.
Luiz needs a footballer alongside him and both Chambers and Mustafi are better options for the balance. He doesn’t fit back there for a side apparently looking to play football.
Well played guendouzi
Only fella out there who can hold his head up
Kolasinac is wrong so wrong for Arsenal.
C”mon
AMN is a league one player at best.
We have done better without him.
No disagreement with Xhaka being called garbage though.
Lol.
Pepe attempting a Neymar! 😀
Vila are nervous. Now is the time.
But El Waiter waiting still
It’s not going to get better under Emery…I’m afraid to say….
Players seem confused and have limited confidence.
No doubt IF we bring something out of this match Emery will try to present it as a test of character that we got something out of this match even with ten men…
Please, leave it out.
We should not be in this predicament in the first place. This result demonstrates the LACK of mental strength rather than the EXISTENCE of it.
Win lose or draw, it is immaterial.
Emery is not fit for the job.
This is classic emery, first half is dead as a dodo, concede, we shit the bed and then scramble away second half to get something more through desperation rather than any real coherent plan
Why criticise Guendouzi? I don’t get it. He’s our best players.
“Maybe people aren’t posting because unlike some they want the team they support to do well and when they don’t find other things to interest themselves with.”
Hahaha, you are fooling nobody.
The team haven’t been doing well for some time now. Didn’t seem to stop you from patrolling the blog all day, giving shit to critics.
Only now when its gone pear shaped and looking like no way back for your hero, you’ve gone into hiding.
You have to be able to take it when you decide to dish it out.
Otherwise you prove to be a weasely coward.
Guendo has heart, and the Emirates loves these desperate scenarios, but it’s a different story replicating it week in week out in more cold, clinical settings away from home.
I wish he tracked the guy for the first goal and did the basics.
Cesc
Playing like a man possessed,isn’t he ? Perhaps the best 20 mins of football from him in an Arsenal shirt. He is a floating type of midfielder -someone who is not quite exceptional at either defending or attacking but has the ability to contribute both in attack and defense depending on the game situation. I believe he will get better and better with time and by the end of this season we will see him become twice the player he was when he joined us.
Guendozi should be given the freedom to play . The free role
Well done Chambers!
CHAMBERS
2 – 2
Need one more
Emery out!!
Guen is a straight 10 in this half. Absolutely everything has come with him at the heart of it
That tackle from kolasinac was a carbon copy of AMN’s red card tackle
Spot the difference
Calum freaking Chambers
Another Assist from Guendouzi.
We’ve looked like a team since the shitty lethargic midfield from the 1st half.
2-2!
Don’t start fuicking pass /side passes.
Bump Villa like the last 10 mins
Chambers has been good since he came on, he should play instead of Sokratis.
Guendouzi again!
Mings with a big mistake.
Please fuck off Chambers haters. This guy actually wants to win. A million times the player AMN is.
Can you imagine Sokratis doing that? No fucking chance. Chambers is a footballer
This players are fighting for their managar
Most fans are tired though
High blood pressure Arsenal
Don’t want Emery to get any lifelines now.
Chambers should’ve started, and should play from now until Bellers and Tierney are back.
Who takes it???
Just make it 3 – 2….
Watford. Frankfurt. Villa.
This is our level.
Yes
Well in Callum
Well played guendouzi
Fuck off emery
Guendozi is playing the free role now . That role suits him perfectly. Less defending means more effort available on creating
Wow not where I expected a goal to come from. That was some great control from Chambers.
Guendouzi for manager
I’ve said many times Wilock, LT offer that high press that teams know we don’t offer with xhaka.
Way more physical and have a presence! You bystand xhaka constantly like he’s never there!!
Let’s bloody win this !
Guendouzi is the new Cesc!!! Who would have thought lol!
Guendouzi with the peach of a pass.
Garbage player though
FUCKING COME ON!!’n
Sorry this is emery’s level!
Great comeback lads!
What a shot.
Shocking to think Aston villa can’t be beaten at home….EMERY OUT…