Oh come on people, I’m starting Monday morning on a HIGH.
Arsenal turned around a one goal deficit twice against Aston Villa with 10 men.
You can’t knock that, you really can’t. That’s finding a next level that feels very much born of last seasons 22 game unbeaten run.
Matteo G was an absolute monster. I’ve always been a fan of his, but I was unsure what his special sauce was. We’re starting to see that. He’s a leader. He drives games forward, he makes elite passes, he’s a beast when he wants to be, he’s a goal threat… he’s the player other players more senior than him look to for answers.
He is captain elect.
To slip back into misery for a second, we were predictably dross in the first half. Our midfield was there to be bypassed, there was no real leadership from our captain, and our defence was typically ponderous. We went a goal down to McGinn, he ghosted in after a ball bypassed about 6 players, his grazed touch easily sailed past Leno.
To make matters worse, AMN, who complained midweek about playing as a right-back made a stupid challenge for his second bookable offence and found himself taking an early shower. It was dim, but honestly, this right back experiment has been awful and it’s clear the player hates it so much he’s willing to break plates in a dishwashing disaster just to rid himself of the burden.
The second half saw Calum C introduced for Saka (who was good). With 10 men, we still looked a threat, but Villa were probing. We won a penalty, Matteo powering into the box, forcing Engel to shove him to the ground. Auba let Pepe take the penalty, the largely impressive Ivorian slotted it calmly down the middle for his first goal.
You’d have hoped Arsenal would hold their nerve, but we didn’t, we let Villa in, before attempting another embarrassing short goal-kick that saw a poor touch from Calum eventually lead to a Wesley goal. We’re such a mess on the pitch, that sort of carry-on is inexcusable.
Emery pushed the nuclear button and subbed his captain and Ceballos off on 72 for LT and Willock. It was an inspired decision. He invited athleticism and hunger onto the pitch and it created an entirely different vibe, even with one less man.
We clawed our way back on 81. Matteo fed a teasing ball to the back post, Chambers didn’t do well with his first attempt, but he poked a looping shot over the keeper at his second go and made it count. Superb work, and the perfect remedy for his earlier mistake.
The second goal came from an incisive Auba freekick. He really is worth his weight in gold, his experience in front of goal is absolutely invaluable to us at the minute. As someone said on the Twitter website, he’s a success key, when he’s in your side, you always have a chance.
The players celebrated the win like we’d just won the World Cup. I could be petty about the levels here, but to be honest, after the last few weeks, it’s nice to know they still care.
WHAT DID WE LEARN:
Granit Xhaka:
The team were booed off at halftime, Granit was booed off as a sub. Terrible. Awful. I hate to see it. But really, I don’t. He’s not our captain. He’s a joke. He is the single worst decision Emery makes each week without fail. I don’t care that it’s not nice, I don’t care that Arsenal class seems to generally be geared around beta males celebrating mediocre ideas and hearting cute Wenger allegories on Twitter, the reality is, Xhaka is a poor player and we need him to take gardening leave.
Bellerin would be a better captain… so would Matteo.
Athleticism:
Emery has a weird thing with hierarchy in his squad. Everyone could see that Saka was a better prospect than Reiss, but Reiss starts. We’re opting for Xhaka in our midfield despite three years of average. Let’s just call a rabona a rabona… our best midfield is Willock, LT and Matteo. It lacks experience, it’ll have bad days, but that’s the most explosive we can be. Emery needs to wake up to this. We need hunger, pace, power and output. Those three made a statement today in a short space of time, let them have a crack at United. Could it be a worse idea than 31 shots against Watford or getting shoved around by Villa for an hour?
Unai Emery:
I’ve been getting a mixed bag of messages on the manager from people that know. Some think he could be in danger. He’s clearly not connecting with the players, his ideas are average and though the table is telling a story… the story is a fucking lie. The table lies all the time, and if you think where we are now is a true reflection of what we can be, we’re OVER.
Others that I speak to say there is no chance of him leaving.
The rationale? He’s where he needs to be. The table is all that matters to Raul and Edu. The gut feel amongst a lot of people is this: We’re a better shade of shite when you look at the others. United are a mess, Chelsea are not a worry until next year, Spurs are having problems, and Leicester is a mirage.
The leadership team just want top 4 and they’re going to gamble that those around us are so bad, Emery will come out where he needs to be.
Hard to argue the logic.
We have a lot of easy games coming up, if Emery can shake things up, we will no doubt be in a threatening position when December lands. If we’re within spitting distance, he’ll keep his job. I think he’ll comfortably be in the mixer by then, because we have a lot of very, very good players.
Today’s turnaround was in spite of him… not because of him. I know that sounds petulant, but I think most get what I mean. Emery spent most of the second half rooted to that bench, twitching out like someone had dropped 2Gs of MD in his WKD at a Carl Cox Space reunion. That is not a good look. He has fear in his eyes, but I think the players are good enough to work around him, just like they did at PSG in season two when he basically gave up.
That doesn’t mean the inevitable fail won’t happen
… but that will only last so long, sustaining it until May is a longshot. But the club is risk-averse, Raul was a big part of Emery’s hiring, and things aren’t bad enough on paper yet to make a move.
I can see the rationale, but for me, the sooner we move him on the better. Skanking your way to 4th is not progressive. Betting your future on an average manager with conservative ideas will not take you to the promised land. The longterm damage a top 4 Emery will do to Arsenal is unthinkable, but there’s every chance it’ll happen.
That said, don’t underestimate Spurs and their ability to bounce back. Chelsea has a lot of good players, I think you’ll see a strong finish from them. United are a disaster, but they have good players, so a clever caretaker could be a threat.
I will celebrate the win today. I am very excited by the players we have but I cannot abide by this manager. He’s rank average and the win cannot disguise the performance, the decisions, or the consistency of bland we’ve seen over a season and 7 games.
On reflection, if the brief to replace Arsene was a pragmatist that could improve the defence, we really should have hired Conte. If that’s still the brief, then we should look at Allegri who now has a good grasp of English. Rip the plaster now… because no amount of tinkering will save us in January.
We won’t though… and that worries me.
See you in the comments.
DM
Morning all
Bankz is here for the tr4phy again
Tr4phy
Trofee
DM you sneaky bastard.
How do you keep getting one over my well balanced tactics?
Lol
How’s the mrs and family?
Bankz
All good thanks. The little ‘un has started sleeping through the night in the last week or so, so PRAAAYING she keeps that up! But she’s so cute 🙂 Hope you’re well. Sorry about the tr4phy 😉
Xhaka stinks the place out like a 6 week old kipper stuck behind a radiator. I am hoping the top brass in the posh seats heard the boos as he was substituted, not good on many levels. Defence is still always one slip away from disaster, how long has this been going on? Years and still no sign of it improving, I had hoped Sokratis would be the answer but have given up on that.
– Hello Stan, it’s XXX from London. – Whaddya want? – Well, increasing number of fans on social media wants Emery to be sacked. – Where is Arsenal on the table? – 4th. – What about that European thing competition? – They won their toughest game away from home on Thursday night 3:0 – (line goes flat) – Hello? Stan? Stan? Hello?…Josh? btw good post Pedro, that’s why I like reding your blog. You don’t play this silly ‘holding a grudge’ game. Emery might or might not be the answer, but to waste precious energy on rooting for manager to… Read more »
United are a mess, Chelsea are not a worry until next year, Spurs are having problems, and Leicester is a mirage.
The leadership team just want top4 and they’re going to gamble thatthose around us are so bad, Emery will come out where he needs to be.
Hard to argue the logic.
Remember they tried that last season and failed. If they have learnt, they’ll sack Emery by January
Chelsea will be there or thereabouts.
Emery has not improved us and the unbeaten streak last season was full of performances like yesterday. We are not playing well and when it comes to crunch time we’ll collapse – just like last season. Best thing the club could do is nip it in the bud and bring in someone who knows what the fuck he’s doing.
Agreed Pedro, Chelski will be a second half of the season threat which is why its vital we pick up as many points now and before Christmas.
Poch may also recover or head over to Utd if/when Ole gets the boot. So the stench of Spurs still lingers around the 3rd/4th place trophy.
Either way we need to put distance between all 3 in the first 19 games.
Xhaka should realise now he has taken over from Mustafi as public enemy number 1, just leave bro, its the best thing for all parties.
It was always questionable why fans turned on Mustafi before Xhaka.
Sure they are both hindrances and headaches for the team and the sooner they leave the club the better but if anything since both were signed in that now infamous summer transfer window Xhaka has actually over time proved the bigger problem for the team.
Ishola70 – Exactly!!!
I wonder.. why isnt auba our captain? He is the best player. He is super reliable. And on the pitch he takes the game every time by the horns. He is even the right age ffs 😀
We have such low standards. If our manager had a vision and a plan we should be shooting for the title not just 4th place.
All of Raul’s good work in the summer is being undone by Emery’s constant bumbling.
Pedro I have said already my piece about our defence in posts on previous thread. We need a complete rebuild. My view is that we should select when completely fit Bellerin, Holding and Tierney plus Torreira. They cannot be worse than those who have been selected since December when our defence went down the tubes. The last slot should be allocated to either Chambers or Mustafi. I think that Mustafi might play better alongside Bellerin and Holding than he did alongside Maitland-Niles and Koscielny or Sokratis. Longterm we need to invest in a commanding and world class Centre Back who… Read more »
EdTheRed
I agree, Chelski will be in the mix for top 4.
Infact, if you include ourselves, Leicester, Spuds, MU(maybe) and even West Ham, it’s going to be an interesting season.
Liverpool will win the league comfortably from MC, as I feel City will be found out away from home more than Liverpool.
Bottom half teams will take more points of the top half teams, which will make for a very competitive next few months.
I’m trying to remember a match whereby we’ve been behind, had a player sent off but came back to win the game.
Anybody?
West Ham were always my dark horse from their business over the summer and their mostly smart additions last year. They are less heralded than Leicester of course.
There are 6 teams outside of Man City and L’Pool fighting for the remaining spots in the top 6. We need to develop some consistency as we really need to get back into the CL next year.
‘I’m trying to remember a match whereby we’ve been behind, had a player sent off but came back to win the game.
Anybody?’
We did against Bolton in 2007 or 8, I’m sure there was another one too much earlier though.
Whatever one thinks about Emery and our style of football, one could say that the games this season keep you on the edge of your seat. If I was going to a game of football , would I rather watch city win 8-0 or watch Arsenal win 3-2 after coming back from behind with ten men It would be The Arsenal game , all day long.. I think we are all going to have to accept that under Emery, this is how it will be and try and enjoy the ride . If the manager is showing no concern about… Read more »
Neither Allegri or Mourinho have any type of form with developing youth. We have a young squad where developing young players is a necessity. Last season we finished poorly, but ultimately our final position was inline with where we currently are as a club. This season, no amount of coaching is going to push us any higher than competing for 3rd 4th. We’re a club in transition, transitions take time, no need to panic just yet, lets see where we are once Pepe+Ceballos settle, and we get Bellerin, Tierney, Holding back up to speed, and we build some cohesion in… Read more »
If we lose to Man United next week this result will mean absolutely nothing.
If we want this result to actually count for something we need to start beating teams, especially those above us in the table.
We should all be writing to Raul and Edu to make a decision and get rid of the bumbling blind fool before he ruins us
We have never had player prospects looking so good but all of this is being undone at a rate of knots as long as we keep the Clown
Do either of them have a Twitter feed?
Maybe we can find a place for Mustafi.
Sorry too much coffee already this morning.
Tony
I played Rugby at High( Comprehensive)School and at PE College. As I was fast, always played out on the wing.
Love the game to bits and find the whole package of the Rugby WC so much more appealing than the Football WC.
Probably my favourite sporting event.
Leedsgunner
Remember, it’s still frigging Manchester United!
Was it Guendouzi who won it for us yesterday or was it all down to Emery’s tactical judgement and decision making.
Answers on a postcard please.
Leftsidesanch
—————-
Cheers mate
Tony
Not sure where you’re getting the idea of “love” for Xhaka, I said you can chop and change the players at will and the same garbage performances will take the floor. Because it’s nothing more than fanciful to think the ‘secret’ we’re simply not unlocking is starting your fave midfield trio.
The issue is very much the team not being coached to perform any type of tactic well. As you were with your own views on who should start, I’ll have mine. A couple of months down the line we can revisit the idea.
Good work, Pedro. But about Chelsea: Chelsea surprisingly have a very good team which has been unlucky until now. They played good football yesterday and Liverpool tired against them. They created enough chances to win the game but unfortunately for them they didn’t even get a point. But you can be sure, Chelsea will make top 4. They will. The team involved in the dog fight are ManU, Spurds and Arsenal. I don’t think Leicester threatens the equation. Leicester will fade along the line. Then, You can forget about ManU, they are deader than dapanji. The fight for 4th is… Read more »
Graham 62
I agree 100%. Rugby World Cup much more interesting than its Football counterpart.
Teams like Fiji, Tonga and Samoa the minnows of the sport are far more competitive than similar teams in Football.
Also they seem to deal with VAR much better.
So far the rugby has been pretty good to watch and I am sure will get better.
Leftsidesanch
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7309362.stm
Then we were 2 down but won by an own goal.
Graham62
Remember when Rashford made his EPL debut against us and turned us over? When we play against Man United, Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea, and City, we are not right mentally. We expect to lose.
Interesting to see you point out Calcum’s poor touch for their second goal, but completely leave out how MatG stood 5 yds off McGuinn and watched him as he ran in to convert the cross. Sure he brought us back into the game, but it was Matteo’s atrocious marking/defending that allowed Villa’s first. And come on man, AMN second yellow was soft as f%*#. He slid in and won the ball by a mile and the Villa player more stepped on him. That’s not even a foul from him imo. And did you really suggest he attempted to sabotage his… Read more »
Any good manager would not have Xhaka on the pitch or as Captain it is so stupid.
His attitude stinks, he is a poor player and as we all know too slow for the EPL.
Yet Emery either can’t see it or hasn’t the balls to drop him. With this attitude Emery must go.
He doesn’t have any idea about his first team line up or team structure.surely Edu and Raul can see it.
Why waste time hoping things will get better, it’s delusional to wait.
I do not like this talk of emery staying beyond may
Surely Raul and edu can see what we see?
The hunger shown by the players yesterday was admirable.
That was the 9th time in 27 yrs a team losing with a man down have come from behind to win the game in the premier league
Unaai
Where’s there talk of that? That would be an admittance of incompetence if ever I saw one.
Ask yourself, if Emery was let go today who would be sad in seeing his departure? Xhaka, Luiz, Sokratis… anyone else?
At the moment, the team seems completely directionless and rudderless.
At the moment, Freddie Ljungberg leaving would have more of a detrimental effect on the whole squad than Emery.
Tony’s had his feathers ruffled this morning.
Chill out Tony.
Nice post but a touch of depressing tone regarding Emery to be honest. There is no way the management can justify continuing with Emery just because we manage to achieve top 4 and that too because teams around us are floundering. If Raul and Edu are content with Top 4 then sure let Emery complete his tenure. But to even think about giving Emery a new deal is gross incompetence and should never happen. Also, we need to be careful when the words, ‘an easier run-in’ are mentioned. Because this is exactly the sort of run-in we had towards the… Read more »
Cc
Pedro’s post today
Unaai
Thought it noted him staying until May ie end of the season, not beyond it?
If he gets an extension that’ll be 2 steps forward and 3 back from leadership at the club.
“We have a lot of easy games coming up, if Emery can shake things up, we will no doubt be in a threatening position when December lands. If we’re within spitting distance, he’ll keep his job. I think he’ll comfortably be in the mixer by then, because we have a lot of very, very good players.” Cc Ok maybe o misread this. I took it to mean he may keep his job behind May “I can see the rationale, but for me, the sooner we move him on the better. Skanking your way to 4th is not progressive. Betting your… Read more »
Pleased with the result, for me the problem lies with 2 shit centre halfs and plodding holding player any team would struggle with that as your triangle/spine.
I would like to see Grant Hacker dropped and put Luiz as the holder and bring back Holding at centre half.
What are Raul and Edu doing now? Their job should be more than managing the summer
In particular look at Edu’s brief as much as it is a clear distinct role and not simply Raul’s no2
He is supposed to be totally immersed intThe first team other than selection
So what is he doing while Emery is failing so badly?
Emery staying beyond may is a possibility if his luck holds and manages to finish top 4.
It’s a difficult decision for the match going fans.
Yesterday they were ten minutes away from crusifying the manager , the abuse that would have come his way would have been deafening.
However, his players saved his skin and he lives to fight another day .
He is walking a tightrope , that’s for sure.
North banker
I’m hoping they are planning a coup in June.
Allegri or someone to come in on a two year and put some defensive coaching into this team
It’s unbelievable how long afc has gone without proper defensive coaching
Davey
Playing Luiz at the base of a diamond isn’t much different to his current role anyways
Except he will have a bit more freedom on the ball. Why not. Either himself or Chambers are worth a try there but I’d also like to put chambers alongside holding at centre half and see how they got on with bell and tierney either side
Luiz in front with Torreira and Guendouzi
If not Luiz then willock and move Torreira back
Cheers Danny thats the one. I’m sure there was one against Derby aswell.
Then the sending off. I know people have said Maitland-Niles slid in and thus gave the referee a decision to make, but he won the ball, and if anything it’s Taylor’s studs that catch him. I think it was a very harsh second yellow, but then it’s not a surprise when it’s Jon Moss in charge. He ambles about the pitch like a beer-bellied manatee with a whistle. He looks markedly unfit and often he’s miles away from play and the decisions he’s supposed to be adjudicating. For me, we were hard done by, but perhaps without the red card… Read more »
Un
“Tony’s had his feathers ruffled this morning.”
He’s showing his true colours…he doesn’t fool me with his ass licking.
He follows the crowd.
If the majority want Wenger out …he wants wenger out
If the majority want Emery to stay , he want Emery to stay .
If the majority want Emery to leave , he wants Emery to leave .
Can read him like a book , he always sides with the majority .
Give him his due , it seems to work though, but occasionally the masks slips.
Unaai As I say, offer him an extension and watch any faith or hope I have for the leadership dissipate into nothing. He’s toilet, and still gets far too big a pass on here with guys to busy trying to bring their PlayStation potentially to reality. If a genuine discussion about our approach in nearly every game this season reared its head not one person could argue FOR Emery, it’s abject. I’m now reduced to hoping for more moments during matches where the quality tells, the random great passes, insane predation of Auba etc. Because we ain’t bossing shit. Also…..… Read more »
Xhaka is the root of our problems to give him the armband was a terrible decision, the guy has a wand of a left peg but that is it, can’t run or tackle not great for a midfielder
We need 3 people to anchor the back
Maybe 1 and a shield in mid
If Emery doesn’t pick those pieces up in January
I say give him his marching orders
I think it’s a challenge to get guen to play his best for whole games which I’m very excitedly hoping we can overcome as when he’s good he’s *really* good. When he’s not great he tends to be very quiet as in the first half. If we can unlock those second half performances on the regular and from early in games then we will have one hell of a player He needs nurturing and enabling. Exactly the kind of player we need to be investing our energy and attention in helping. I must admit I think willock also may have… Read more »
Cc That’s exactly it. PlayStation PhDs but clearly not much real life experience of the actual game. The fact that so many were going along with the commentary on AMNs tackle yesterday is testament. They aren’t assessing what they see but reshaping reality to suit their narrow view of football. And yes. Thats precisely how i feel during game time. Hoping for a loose ball to fall to Aubameyang or one of the players to pull something from the hat As Pedro says, it’s in spite of him we won yesterday. The sending off was already being utilised as his… Read more »
When we should be in tandem
Pierre
Yeah Tiny has been off the boil lately. Snippy fucker looking for a bitch off on line. Must be taking lessons form marko and Freddie L
Maybe he should sign up with mums.net.
Unaai
Stat popped up yesterday that Emery has faced 7 newly promoted sides since taking over. Grand total of 0 clean sheets in those 7.
That’s our project, taking the game down and up to the relevant opposition, we compete with everyone no matter how good or shit. That’s what happens when you don’t have a Northern star to strive for. You become your surroundings, can up it against Napoli, then it’s dross vs Watford and Villa. Emeryball in a nutshell, that’s why cup competitions are his currency.
Cc
Yeah I’m already quite taken with his old fashioned attitude. High praise too from a self confessed blue nose!! 😝
Haha yea Tierney is unashamedly Celtic, further proof nobody is perfect 😉
Cc yeah saw that. Not a surprise
The one that’s got me are his first 43 vs Big Weng’s last 43
Irrefutable proof that he was a step backwards. He’s only got to focus on the team. Wenger was running an entire club and still out performed him in his worst season. Even his moray ardent supporters gave up on him in the end only for us to go to emery and have to endure 2-3 seasons of abject football as you say
Are we the only club in the PL without a back up right back? Surely we have a decent one in the youth’s at least someone who knows the position and CC ain’t up to it
But – and you knew there was a but coming – a lot of that yesterday was really bad. Had we not pulled a second half rabbit out of the hat, we might well have been witnessing Emery’s last game. Going by the reaction of people around me in the stadium yesterday, and talking to people afterwards, patience is wearing really thin. That first half was really poor, conceding just after scoring, and the general lethargy with which we play has to be a concern.
Don’t worry CG if you’re reading
I’ll do it for you
TICK TOCK
Unaai
Yea bringing in someone new to reproduce the same level seen at the very lowest ebb, for 43 matches no less, is just about as clear a marker as there is.
Still, watch the usual suspects clamour for another signing in Jan and dismiss the influence of an actual top manager who could be gotten for half the price of a new centre half. Been so long since we’ve seen the benefits of a top coach that folk think players are dispensable window to window.
“Matteo G was an absolute monster. ”
And he did just like Mustardi for the first Villa goal : watching the ball passing by without doing anything.
Emery the tinker man tinkering again. How can you start Ozil at Vicarage road in a defensive setup and then bench him againts
Danny/Left
Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Aston Villa was only the ninth occasion in Premier League history a team has won a match after receiving a red card while losing – three of those wins have been by Arsenal (also v Derby in 1997 and Bolton in 2008).
“Granit was booed off as a sub. ”
Clearly, not enough.
#XhakaOut
“and Leicester is a mirage.”
Yep. Probably because Arsène is gone.
lol
Cc
Well just look at the superior organisation of teams much much lower than us. If you bring just that element to our current side we improve dramatically and our attack has more freedom to immediately express itself
We are a top heavy team apparently
Yet to see the attacking riches dominate a match under emery this season
Anyone seen The Boys? Blinding show
Against Nottingham Forest I would play…
Martinez
Mustafi — Chambers –Mavropanos — Kolasinac
Xhaka
Smith-Rowe–Ozil–Nelson–Martinelli
John-Jules
Subs: Burton, Saka, Leno, Holding, Bellerin, Tierney, Greenwood
We need to give Guendouzi, Aubameyang, Willock and Ceballos a rest because we need them desperately against Man United.
In the EPL we need to stop choosing Xhaka because the central midfield doesn’t work with him in it. Stop choosing him.
Luiz and Sokratis pairing is not working. We need to find another CB pairing quick… perhaps Chambers and Holding is worth a go.
Two nil down against Bolton, Diaby gets sent off, and we won 3-2, I remember coming out of the ground singing we only had ten men, ten men. We were lucky yesterday, defensive frailties for every one to see, Sokratis almost ruining it for us, he did give it his best,. Emery is not the right man for us, it was the players who won the it not his tactics as no one knows what they are. Luis would be suited playing in Xhaka’s position as once again he proved how useless he really is. Emery defending him only highlights… Read more »
Unaai
Spot on, I think Brenda is another average manager but he’s brought the basics to Leicester in terms of organisation and pressing. He’d have us looking twice the side and that’s saying something.
Emery the tinker man tinkering again. How can you start Ozil at Vicarage road in a defensive setup and then bench him against Villa at Home where we are going to have more of the ball. Player remarks Leno- Did what he had to do. Not at fault for any of the goals. Ainsley stoned niles- name says it all Sok- His lack of athleticism coming to the fore and the pointless drama which has markedly increased this season is embarassing Luiz- Againt directly at fault for a goal. Kola- Worked hard in offense and defence. He just lacks the… Read more »
If Emery gets his formation and selections right going forward — i.e., no Xhaka, no AMN, no Ozil — there is no reason, barring disaster, to replace him this season. If he insists on starting Xhaka, however, he needs to be shown the door. Stick with the 4-5-1, start non-calamitous players, build chemistry within a given system and among the starters, continue to develop the younger players, continue to build a foundation for the future. Sign a useful, athletic CM in January. Finish top four. That should be the program. Emery is not the man for us beyond May, IMO.… Read more »
I really can’t see us bringing more than 1 point from Old Toilet, because – as our beloved Captain would say, we are “scared”.
And of course out there it’s even worst… lol
Leedsgunners
Id say Holding is primed to start the Forest game. And as Emery has stated Xhaka is very important to the team so he probably wont start here.
Why is he so important? Well he trains hard and shows commitment and professionalism in training. Drab .
I knew it was something along those lines Nelson cheers
The Spanish chef is naming his captains after the Forest game. Interesting that he’s now cornered.
If he names Xhaka as number one captain that would be ‘fuck you’ to the fans. If he doesn’t, that would be ‘i wash my hands off you’ to Xhaka.
Over to our £6m a year plumber.
The collective despair when Xhaka starts at Old Trafford. As has been suggested our midfield should be made up from 3 of Torreira, Guendouzi, Willock, Ceballos. With Holding, Bellerin and Tierney returning we actually have a chance to start to build momentum and good feeling in the squad. Even more so if Saka continues to develop. If he continues to select Xhaka we’re making life unnecessarily difficult for ourselves. Over the next 2 weeks we should phase out Xhaka, AMN, Kolasinac and one of of the current CBs. I just have a feeling Emery is going to be the type… Read more »
Cc
Were You not totally against Rodgers previously? I’m sure I recall disagreeing with you over him
I’m a fan.
“The collective despair when Xhaka starts at Old Trafford.”
Oh but he will wear the armband at old toilet, be sure of that.
———————Leno
Bellerin, Holding, Luiz/Chambers, Tierney
——————-Torreira
—–Willock/Ceballos, Guendouzi
———Pepe, Lacazette, Auba
That could actually be a decent team.
Adding Xhaka is like when you were a kid and effects and traits would be added playing a video game. Add Xhaka -20% to team speed -20% to work rate, traits added holes in midfield, lack of coverage, deep block.
Wasi
Under normal circumstances I would start Holding in the League Cup game but I desperately do not want to see Sokratis and Luiz start for us against Man Utd as a pairing. I can see either of them drawing a penalty or sending sent off at Old Trafford.
I would love to see Holding start in Man Utd… I think he has the character to step up to the big occasion and keep his partner in check.
*receiving a sending off…
Unaai
Yea I don’t rate Brenda, but I’m saying even he has a grasp over the fundamentals we lack. He’d be better than Emery, that’s the painful admission from my POV.
I wonder if Bellerin will be added a lot faster than he would have been.
Wouldn’t surprise me to see him play against Forest.
Likely Holding plays the full 90.
They get almost a week off to the United fixture the following Monday.
Who plays the RB and LB for the U23s? Could they make the step up for the League Cup? It would be a terrible shame for Bellerin and Tierney to be rushed back so they re-injure themselves so close to full recovery.
A fully fit Arsenal team is the 3rd best team in the league on paper.
Leno
Bellerin Holding Chambers Tierney
Ceballos Guen Torreira
Pepe Auba Laca
Hopefully against Nottingham forest, we may have a combination of Holding and Mavrapanos in the center. With both Tierney and Bellerin as fullback.
Clearly Willock-Torreira in midfield. I hope that Guendouzi will be rested for ManUtd.
Aubameyang should be kept in cotton wool until next Monday evening.
We may see Pepe moved to the center with Nelson and Martinelli given a run-out.
If Emery does not trust Özil at home against a newly promoted team — when is he going to be trusted?
If Emery was going to freeze Özil out like this he should have sold loaned him out in the summer. Say what you want about Özil, this is not good man management on Emery’s part. He overplays Xhaka… and he definitely underplays Özil in my opinion.
For me, the most important thing is for the coaching staff to instill discipline in the team. The players have to be aware of it throughout the game. – One FB should always stays behind to form a three men back line. – When one CM (Guen) bombs forwards, the other CM should stay close to Xhaka (knowing too well Emery will play him). – The two wingers should stay close to the sideline during buildup. Only when one winger has advanced the ball forwards and ready to cross, the other winger can move in to support the striker. (Yesterday,… Read more »
For me , I’m hoping that Emery keeps Ozil out of the starting line up , the more he is out the more it highlights our lack of intelligence, composure , patience and tactical awareness on the pitch. That’s 2 weeks on the bounce that the manager has escaped just as the noose was tightening around his neck. Guendouzi has his faults but his will to win is second to none, he is brave on the ball and accepts responsibility. He stood up to be counted and at such a young age . Today , he is the flavour of… Read more »
Ceballos was piss poor yesterday, but as usual Xhaka takes the cake. What a total fuckin waste of money. A 19 yr old does more in 20mins than this useless lump. “Spraying passes” my ass.
I hope he ends up getting Emery fired and the next manager sells him. That would be the perfect ending. I agree with the earlier comment that Mustafi offers more than Xhaka, which is the ultimate indictment.
Emery is absolutely average and the single biggest reason for the current performance (or lackof). He doesn’t extrude confidence, is fidgety and to make it a lot worse, has a massive communication issue. Most leaders are brilliant communicators. Emery, as is evident from his pressers, is horrible at explaining his thought process and presenting his ideas. And due to his lack of confidence and self-belief, whatever he presents, sounds and feels uninteresting and uninspiring. And managing elite talent is all about inspiration. I agree that he will always hover around mediocrity and is incapable of inspiring arsenal to the next… Read more »
In Defence Of Xhaka Contrary to popular public opinion I actually think the blame attributed to Xhaka is unfair and myopic, given that the entire structure and pattern of Arsenals play is not only unbalanced and extremely random but also one that doesnt play to the strengths of each individual rather to Emery’s weak and uninspiring ‘protagonist’ approach. We all know Xhaka cannot tackle or track back effectively so why play him in a position AND system that requires him to do that? Xhakas best attributes are accurate cross field distribution and set pieces along with the occassional tactical foul… Read more »