He did it, he totally did it. Unai Emery finally bit down on the bullet he’s been hiding from for 3 months and made Granit Xhaka his captain.
What a joke. Arsenal fans, for once, unanimous in condemning the decision as calamitous.
What made the whole debacle even crazier is the charade around the decision.
Where are the 5 captains? Not that I believe in that method, but it’s indecisive to tell the world you’re delaying your 5, then you deliver a huge pivot.
Secondly, why leak to the press you’re running a vote? I’ll tell you why, he’s sharing the wrath of the fans with the players. He bottled making a decision on his own because he knew it’d go down like soiled nappy to the face, so he’s co-sharing the calamity. It’s as transparent as a Boris Johnson political strategy. Meeker than inviting your wife’s side piece over for Christmas dinner.
Unai Emery is a poor leader. This decision will be the death of him. The moment is symbolic because it perfectly captures the essence of his tenure. Confused, indecisive and bland.
Granit Xhaka is a poor choice. This move has been made purely on the basis that he’s popular in the dressing room. That’s amateur hour selection criteria. Arsenal football club is not in a situation where we can be making decisions based on likability. Don’t give me ‘there are no leaders’ because if that’s the case, why was it not a top priority this summer? Did Raul and Edu sign this off?
A leader has be able to command respect with performances as an absolute basic. Xhaka is not a steady player. He is an error machine. He is a one-trick pony. He’s a delicate orchid that needs perfect conditions to perform. Even when the weather systems align with the soil PH, he is still always a moment away from letting off a mistake grenade under no pressure. He has so many limitations, he’s become a tactical opportunity more ripe for the picking than the short goal kicks. Not even for good teams, I’m talking Watford. Just pressure him and wait for him to break. Sometimes you don’t even need to pressure him. His off the ball work is bad enough to gift you opportunities.
The clear learning from the weekend, when we were overrun by Aston Villa, was that our best midfield does not include him. The Premier League demands power, pace, and high levels of concentration from a midfielder. Xhaka has been a clear weakness for us and now he will be an automatic starter for the rest of the season.
Bigger picture, my problem is this.
The club is trying to build a high-performance culture. That is a Huss Fahmy thing from Team Sky. It is the creation of a perfectly timed Swiss watch. If there is a single cog, anywhere in the machine, that is even slightly off… it doesn’t keep time. At the centre of our high performance culture is a player that the fans boo at half time for good reason. This decision is not a serious one. It runs counter to the clubs longterm aspirations. It sets an incredibly bad tone to the rest of the club.
Defective cogs impact the whole machine. They pollute the culture. They make perfectly good parts of the machine underperform. I simply cannot believe the exec team at Arsenal does not see this.
I can’t blame the players. Who’d pick someone that’d give them a rough ride? They’ve picked comfort, which is exactly the mindset I thought we were moving away from.
If Holding, Hector, and Matteo weren’t ready, give it to someone inoffensive but elite, like Auba. I would even take Luiz over Xhaka, at least he has pedigree at the highest level. There is no excuse for this. It’s not a future-facing decision. It doesn’t help with leadership. It fucks us tactically. It sours the mood of fans who won’t accept it. It is a damaging blow to Emery’s already sagging credibility with the fans.
What a disappointing turn, but I repeat, not unexpected.
Listen to my podcast.
Look on the bright side fellas, this is yet another way of bringing Emerys tenure as Arsenal manager to an end.
The buffoon that keeps on giving with his calamitous decisions will be gone sooner rather than later with his sticking with Xhaka in the team….
Silver lining and all that.
If Emery needs sacking then so does Champagne charlie as they both back the same player.
Not to wade in but Charlie’s take on Xhaka is so nauseating. It reads like someone who’s had a passing interest in Arsenal these last few years.
Red, I don’t always agree with you but am in complete agreement about Guendouzi’s qualities over Xhaka.
One of the biggest reasons I have for wanting Vieira as the next manager is as a former midfield great himself I would very much like to believe that he wouldn’t be enamored with Xhaka and would in fact hate to have him around and would instantly bin him. It’s my hope at least.
Raptora Considerable rimming there, saying a players deficiency are overstated. Christ, Swiss chocolate everywhere after that beauty. That’s an accurate comment as I see it, there wasn’t a peep about Xhaka after the EL game when he was one of the best players on the pitch. If you have a negative view of a player it doesn’t matter what they do right as you’ll always nitpick the bad. Mustafi got that treatment, Xhaka gets it, when he’s gone another will. I remain as neutral and consistent in my appraisal of players as possible. For all the criticisms Xhaka gets from… Read more »
“Guendouzi has far more leadership qualities that Xhaka as well as being a far better player”
A trully awesome performance.
Emery the worm has ducked the firing line but making the players the scapegoats
The issue is that now that Zhaka is captain, he will be playing the majority of minutes in games and most games.
That is a disaster in the making.
There is something peculiar about the love in with Xhaka. Something really weird.
It defies logic. Is this a response to the boo birds? A message to the team that he could care less about the fans?
Its perplexing
Surely this has to be the end. He has made his worst player, captain and ergo, undroppable.
Rank amateur. Embarrassing.
This is Arsenal. Clown college.
Let’s face it
Xakha as captain is as temporary as emery’s stay at arsenal. When he’s gone it goes to holding or lacazette
Emery is a goner. He will go on another cup run this year no doubt but his cards are already marked and he will be gone soon enough.
Just another sorry episode to add to a history of sorry episodes.
CC, think your criticism of Torreira is unwarranted. I wonder whether your defence of Xhaka necessitates a negativity against other CMs. Feel you’ve put your money on the wrong midfielder.
“his cards are already marked and he will be gone soon enough.”
I hope that Edu hear you, I really do…
And all the players who dislike/openly hate Emery? Ozil, mustafi and no doubt a few other players. Who are they going to vote for? The player who was roundly jeered when substituted against Villa. The players aren’t stupid, they know fans are turning on Xhaka. Stupid decision by Emery and we have to suffer the consequences. I think alot of the anger stems from the Villa comeback and Forrest games where we played well without xhaka. Some were thinking we might see a run without him in the team, now as captain, he should be a starter in all prem… Read more »
Emery won’t be here next season, even with 4th.
I think management has seen enough and are already identifying his successor.
Or at least i hope so.
Bob I don’t get the idea about putting money on anyone, you talk like I ignore the flaws. I’m critical of the idea we have a player in waiting ready to thrust us to levels above, I don’t see it. Also, I take exception with others to exactly what you’re suggesting of me. My criticism of Torreira isn’t because I’ve backed Xhaka, it’s because he doesn’t replace what’s being held against Xhaka. Kante II he isn’t, he’s no mobility, is 5’5, doesn’t tackle at a superior rate, so explain what’s unjust about my view? Do remember I was one of… Read more »
For me the post of captaincy in football is nothing more than a ceremonial post. Those who have leadership qualities in them lead on the pitch by their actions, irrespective of whether they are captain or not.The only meaningful consequence of Xhaka being appointed the team captain is he will be a regular starter. The upside of the decision is it will lead to our horribly clueless manager shown the door sooner than later. The downside is we will never/rerely get to see a midfield 3 of Ceballos, Guen and Torr which in my view is potentially a quality midfield.
” We spoke about that last week. I gave them some values, some qualities and after they voted. ” More like ” vote Xhaka, or else…” The result is expected. Emery is stubborn. He wants Xhaka instead of Torr to be the DM. Going forwards, we’ll have to play double pivot. If he put Guen as the other DM, then we are really screwed. They both can’t defend. Against Manure, I would play Chambers and Xhaka (no choice) as double pivot. Guen will play ahead of them. Ceballos will play left inside forward, a position he played in the Spain… Read more »
Cc You don’t think Torreira was impressive last season pre Xmas? If you don’t then fist enough. Horse for courses. I will say this though. If emery and his lack of direction is responsible for the uncertain performances we are seeing from basically everyone bar lacazette and Aubameyang then could this apply to Torreira? In that he’s being misused and that his skills are the most suited to the role currently being given to xakha who was far more impressive slight shards of Torreira last season until emery decided he didn’t like unbeaten runs any more and fucked off a… Read more »
My guess is Ozil, Xhaka, Kolasinac and Mustafi voted for Xhaka for obvious reasons and votes of others got fragmented between PEA, Laca and Leno.
Tr7
Leno? Really? You really don’t get the whole captain thingy do you?
CC, am not saying Torreira couldn’t be improved upon, I just believe he has great feet, good anticipation, a decent pass and a willingness to do the dirty work in front of the defence even if ,he, as you choose tohighlight, is only 5ft 5.
Xhaka, on the other hand passes well if given time and is am impressive 6ft!……. Xhaka should be upgraded for a more, athletic all round midfielder who can help protect the defence as well as being able to pass. I think Willock has more to offer than Xhaka, even now!
Jay
Exactly.
As I previously highlighted, severe consequences.
Unaai Yes, he absolutely was. But that was slap bang amongst the feel good factor under Emery and he’s been horrid ever since. I don’t s lay that entirely at his ability, nobody is thriving under the manager lets be clear……But….Torreira is as good a fit for the prem as Xhaka is, and that suitability is well documented. Personally I scoff at the idea there’s a secret midfield dynamic at the club and all Emery has to do is field X, Y, and Z and away we go. Which is why my criticism of Xhaka reaches a point and beyond… Read more »
So Xhaka will regularly get the starting position over Torreira.
That’s now given.
Torreira will get dispondent…..now we know why he was a rumoured departure during the summer.
He will get even more pissed off and sold below value.
Thanks Emery and good riddance
fuck it. the fans need to get loud and let Xhaka know when he stinks up the place.
Willock is my man to replace him.
Lets see against Manure what Xhaka does.
Mr paternity leave
Forgetting the captaincy announcement today and in response to the title of this article ( that the decision has united Arsenal fans) does anyone on here think Xakha should be a regular first team starter ???????????
Only those that think he should please reply as we have already heard the case against.
Paul Kelly
Xhaka shouldn’t be a regular first team starter, everyone knows that.
I think many of those players who were involved in the voting process know this as well.
Strange that.
As I said on the previous, let’s hope that Emery finds his way to leaving Xhaka out of the XI going forward despite his being captain. That is our only hope. And Emery’s only hope.
Monday, in the tunnel of old toilet just before the game, you will notice a big brown stain on Xhaka’s short, this will NOT be a default from your tv.
Do NOT try to settle the image.
In a way, I already feel sorry for Granité, because he will be even more scared than usual —>> The Big Stain.
Xhaka has been captain-in-waiting since he arrived at Arsenal.
From day one, we were told of his leadership qualities. How his mother used to entrust him with the house keys over his elder brother, blah, blah, blah.
We’d known for many years that Arsenal lacked leaders in the team. So understandably, many fans were excited that we finally signed a player like him.
But now we know better. Xhaka should never have been signed in the first place.
Oh Pierre stop with misusing Ozil bullshit already. Forget misuse, there is nothing left to use.
Ozil the superman world cup winner looked pedestrian even against the mighty forest and we played our best football with him off the pitch.
Ozil is finished, arsenal are not renewing his contract and no one else is brain dead enough to offer him 350k for 30k worth of work.
1.5 more years of his highness enjoying his weekly bonanza with us and then we would finally be free of this ‘mercurial’ talent.
UE seems to hell bent on digging his own grave. The fan base has been clamouring about dropping xhaka from the playing 11 and he goes ahead and makes.him captain!
Unless Xhaka suddenly turn into a world beater UE decision to play him over Tor/Willock will come to bite him in the ass and rightly so.
Amazing how the world of Arsenal fans identify Xkaka’s problems after 4 years of poor football. The day WengerMaggot brought him, it was easily notable he is a taller, stronger but poorer Arteta.
How many of you don’t remember even Arteta was a captain who hardly played?
Emery has tied his fortunes to Xhaka’s (lack of) judgement, one dimensional sphere of play and his propensity to say too much when silence would be better. So as his captain every Xhaka mistake will now become his mistake and throw his judgement into question… Was it Churchill who said, what is the difference between a wise man and a fool? A wise man allows his record speak for him and defend him. A fool speaks because he has nothing to be proud of but he is too blind to see it. If we lose at Man Utd Emery is… Read more »
Taking Xhaka out of the lineup is not going to fix all our problems but it would be a first step towards doing so. When he came to Arsenal he was touted for his technical and leadership qualities, in his 100+ games in the PL I have yet to see those qualities emerge. Obviously 2 managers have seen them. If you want to be generous you may excuse Wenger since he was responsible for bringing him to the club. Emery has no excuse. That he prefers a big player at DM is understandable but Xhaka is not the man. Torriera… Read more »
CC highlighting if xhaka was good in one game is entirely irrelevant. Besides which he was playing against a second rate German team. The guy has been a mainstay in our team for 3 odd years which has 100% coincided with our worst midfield in the last 2 decades (no exceptions) As well, you’d think if he’s played this many games you wouldn’t need to be reaching for this or that decent performance to prove he’s good. Good players are good at least 70-80% of the time minimum. Now let’s count how many MOTM awards has xhaka won at arsenal?… Read more »
Xhaka is Xhaka, he’s not going to change. He won’t learn to tackle, be at the right space or develop some speed now that he’s captain He’s still going to make the same laughable errors that will cost the team. Captain’s are supposed to be exemplary for either their sheer talent or industry. The caption is the one who chases the ball everyone else has given up on. Xhaka is the first one to stroll back when he should be running and turn away when a collective team errors occurs. Last season, I didn’t hold Emery’s responsible for Xhaka’s stupidity… Read more »
Emery still has to play Xhaka, I’ve never believed he’s basement level. He can be lowest rungs of a rotating pool until next summer. I just object to making a him a mainstay of out starting 11. That’s why this talk of minimizing the captaincy is a bit puerile. We are moulding the team around him…in some ways.
His skill set is not just suitable for the league. The club made mistakes with his recruitment and then compounded it with his contract extension.
funny Spuds: No need to post the article, the article header says it all.
All gone pear shaped for Poch & Spuds.
“Tottenham stars ‘fume at Mauricio Pochettino following Colchester embarrassment’… and claim that HE is the one with an agenda
Pochettino claimed his players have ‘different agendas’ following cup exit
Harry Kane has urged those who wanted out to turn around their poor form
Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld and Danny Rose all looked set to leave
Spurs have won just two of their eight Premier League games so far this season”
It seems poch looks ok when the going is good (still couldn’t win a single trophy) yet when the chips are down it all collapses. Is that not a key determinant if quality – when you can deal with difficult circumstances. Seems poch isn’t very good at that huh. Even wenger still got top 4 whilst having his best players permanently getting tapped up and even worse actually selling them without adequate replacements. We sold players like cesc nasri rvp and still got top 4 every year until nearly the end. What’s poch’s excuse? Make (a little bit) of hay… Read more »
Santi is one of the best players in la Liga so far. Shame he couldn’t stay healthy his last few years but I’m not saying anything we all don’t know. Just unfortunate. Glad he’s getting this time to shine when it looked like his career was over.
Cali yeah we’d have been a much better team last year and this for keeping Santi tho at the time selling him for whatever we could get did seem like the right choice
We couldn’t have guessed he’d actually recover as he has. Full credit to him and his club for taking a punt on him. He deserves it, really
Last year torreira and want I would’ve been a pretty nice DM/CM combination
Torreira and Santi*
China1
Even in the space of 5 years, the standards in the EPL have risen considerably.
Not defending Poch but getting top 4 now is so much harder.
I personally feel that Poch lost it when he chose Kane ahead of Moura in the CL Final, remembering that Kane was not 100%.
Big big call at the time but one that sent a negative message to the team.
Anyway it’s Spuds, so who gives a shite.
Tony
Goodmorning.
What’s your take on the outcome of the elections at AFC?
Dissenter
You are 100% correct.
Anyone who knows anything about football also sees that Xhaka is not suited to the EPL.
What does this say about Emery?
Exactly!
Happy for Santi, he’s a player I have got huge respect for. But better leaving when he did. The EPL roughnecks would have kicked him to submission. This league is populated by thugs.
Does anyone on here have a degree in Kinesics?
Scratching your chin incessantly and making perplexed facial expressions means something to me.
https://theathletic.com/1246559/2019/09/28/united-arsenal/
A nice reminder of the best rivalry in the PL era in my book.
Chris
That’s a good read. I was not a Un**ed fan before that period (other than the Buzby Babes who were a great team) but that was the time I started to hate them,even more than Spuds. I still do to this day
Pedro Have read through your excellent post again this morning and you are right “There is no excuse for this” The thing is, which no one has touched on, is this a deliberate ploy by the players to screw Emery? By voting for Xhaka they have picked a captain who, they all know, is disliked by the fans and is culpable for so many of our problems on the field of play. It’s like them saying to Emery- ” Ok, we’ll choose the captain but we’ll make sure it causes you(Emery) as much disruption as possible until you finally realise… Read more »
Good post Pedro
But I still didn’t like reading it cos it makes my blood boil
We need to constantly boo Xhaka at every possible point and start the very visible Emery Out campaign
Fan power must prevail
So frustrating when you consider that there is so much good work in progress at the club
Assigning Xhaka as captain is a reminder to Arsenal fans that Emery wants to win 5 – 4 instead of 1 – 0 . This is the only explanation why Emery ignores the fact that Xhaka is very weak defensively. It also explains why he signed D. Suarez instead of a defender last January.
Graham
“The thing is, which no one has touched on, is this a deliberate ploy by the players to screw Emery?,”
My comment yesterday on hearing that Xhaka is to be made captain.
PierreSeptember 27, 2019 12:48:51.
“I am a little sceptical about this vote for the captain though it could be a cunning plan by the players to dispose of a Emery.”
It is not beyond the realms of possibility that players such as Ozil and Mustafi have voted strategically….and who could blame them .
Graham,
You like your conspiracy theories don’t you ?!
They’re footballers mate, most are thick, Machiavellian ploys maybe a tad beyond their levels of cunning !
Utarse I’m with you mate. No deep meaning here – they’re footballers simply voting for the bloke they like most off the pitch. That why the bulk of them will not be managers at any decent level
Don’t know why in all this choice of captaincy Lacazette’s is not mentioned. For me he’s the perfect guy. Consistent performer and vocal.
Besides, I wouldn’t blame the players. The vote was cast in secret.
China
I’m not “reaching” for any performances, I made a simple reference to a good performance that wasn’t acknowledged because of an already established negative view.
I’m well aware of the state of our side the last few years and you’ll forgive me for not being a complete dunce and laying that at the feet of a player.
Wow – Liverpool could be licked out of League Cup cos of ineligible player
So we could get a bye to 5th round😀
Kicked !!!!!
Where’s that reported North ?
Selecting Ramos and Marcelo to the World 11 is a joke. R. Madrid just given up 7 goals to A. Madrid.
Just saw the Liverpool news, sensationalised I reckon… they’ll just get a fine and a slap
M.K. Don should demand a replay
Charlie
On scoffing at the idea that there is a secret formula
Is this to say that you don’t think emery has the metal to find the right combination or you do t think the combination exists within our midfield currently?
fine quote from Hector Bellerin in Amy Raphael’s new book…
“I’ve always loved the kits because I used to play as Arsenal on the PlayStation. So, when I signed for them, I already had a connection. I don’t hate Tottenham because they told me to hate them. I hate them because I love Arsenal.”
it’s a good interview extracted in the Grauniad…
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/sep/28/hector-bellerin-meets-romesh-ranganathan-footballer-doesnt-have-to-be-alpha-male
Unaai I’m saying simply arranging or picking a “best” XI isn’t going to matter for shit under Emery because there’s no education of roles, no collective plan, no patterns, and frankly no idea what’s going on when we don’t have the ball. So pick your fave midfield 3, pick and choose whatever defenders you like, play whoever you fancy up front, but the systemic issues with the side will remain and all that can happen are individual traits covering in some aspects, and being exposed in others. Which is why I scoff about Xhaka becoming public enemy number one. Mustafi… Read more »
*wasnt simply him
CC but what’s the point of highlighting one good game if it’s surrounded by 20 bad ones? No one credits it because no one cares – because even a broken clock is right twice a day and even a shit player will occasionally play okay. It’s not impressive And you suggest the players have no culpability in the quality of our midfield? Are you suggesting only the manager has any hand whatsoever in the quality of the performance? Because you were defending wenger even when he built and put out some miserable teams right up until just before the end… Read more »
Most popular games of the moment at Manchester, ahead of monday’s game :
1) guessing the minute when Granité will give them a penalty;
2) guessing the minute when Granité will took his red card – because there was too much pressure + he was scared.
Those who will be the closest of the exact times will win a signed poster of Wenger’s hidden son, in Spanish of course.
What’s wrong with my post ?? Better laugh at it, after all.
You guys are taking things far too seriously…
Lol
UTarse
Not beyond the relms of possibility.
Conspiracy theories?
What conspiracy theories.
China
Yea, allow me not to be too interested in what you’ve got to say when all you can do is spout inaccurate tales of previous days.
Feel free to believe wholly that our issues will be solved with Xhaka out the side, then move on to the next one when that’s proven incorrect. Rinse, repeat.
The coach’s ineptitude will be a permanent issue for us until Raul finally gets off his arse and sacks him (when he realises his job involved more than just summer signings)
In the meantime Arsenal’s decline will be accentuated by choosing players such as Mustafi and Xhaka in his broken system
Emery would delay his execution if he at least got team selection right, even where his tactics are awful
CC
Not just down to “coaching”
Some players are just blessed with good fortune when it comes to reaching/playing at a certain level in the game.
You can instill certain things through coaching but when a player has innate mental defiencies, there’s not too much you can do about it.
Xhaka is one of those players that’s obviously built his career through hardwork, which I’m not disputing, but he comes across as someone who believes he is far better than he actually is.
Just another opinion.
Same can be said of a few other players at Arsenal.
“Arsenal will play two protectors – to my amazement, Granit Xhaka will still be in, but I would go with Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi. I would be happy with Dani Ceballos and then Bukayo Saka, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. It is that easy and simple for Arsenal.”
It looks like the real Champagne Charlie doesn’t much of our captain either….
Yea, allow me not to be too interested in what you’ve got to say when all you can do is spout inaccurate tales of previous days. Xhaka wasn’t that good against Frankfurt. They had about 20+ attempts and at various times waltz through our midfield. How could that happen while Xhaka had a good game. It’s reimagining and it’s biased not for the first time. Feel free to believe wholly that our issues will be solved with Xhaka out the side I dunno about wholly but for example this past summer or next January/Summer we replace him with someone like… Read more »
*doesn’t think much
The team is selected by the Manager ,and the tactics are all of Unai.
Selecting a Catastrophe like Xhaka as Captain might be Emery’s masterstroke to deflect the blame of defeats to the Scapegoat Xhaka.
Truly Spanish Waiter might be mediocre, but like most middle management imbeciles Emery is loaded with political chicanery- like the earlier Le Imbecile
Champagne
“Feel free to believe wholly that our issues will be solved with Xhaka out the side.”
This is a straw-man argument. No one here believes that all of our issues will be solved with Xhaka out of the XI. Most here do believe, however, that we are better without him in the XI. Do you believe this?
B10
Of course CC doesn’t believe that.
Come on Bamford, it’s CC!
Bellerin is playing with the u-23s today today, while Tierney and Holding are not. This may mean that the latter two are in Emery’s XI for Monday, which would be excellent.
Holding and Tierney in the line up on Monday will hopefully prove to be a huge boost for us. The RB position is still an issue though because Bellerin won’t be ready and really we shouldn’t rush him back into things. He could either injure himself or have a really bad game not being fit and up to speed and dent his confidence going forward. With Rashford out though I don’t know what they will have out wide, James floats from wing to wing and Martial might play there if Greenwood is played as the media suggests. You just know… Read more »
Sheffield United, a promoted club looks better organised against Liverpool than Arsenal did.
Good movement in midfield.
With a more clinical striker than Calum Robinson, they may even be ahead.
After 39 minutes, Liverpool still does not have a single attempt on target.
Tierney potentially starting is great news. I don’t think he’s going to start with Holding expect that god awful greek to start again. Who he starts with at RB is going to be huge for me. He reverts to type and starts AMN instead of Chambers and I’m done with him he can drop dead. There’s so many basic personnel changes he can make right now and the most glaringly obvious one is take AMN out of the team
CA,
I thought that Martial and Rashford were definitely out. Is Pogba not also a doubt?
Graham Our coaching issues are evidenced further than Granit fucking Xhaka, far beyond a player or two, but what’s notable is how the players have become the overriding subject of our fortunes instead of apt leadership. That’s a direct result of that particular absence seen since early Wenger days. Now very few players are apparently up to the mark whereas at other clubs you have 6/10 players being made to look 8/10 through elite management. It was the tale of last season and the murmur of this season. This is perpetuated by the usual lot who can’t see anything outside… Read more »
Yeah I heard Martial is back mid October. Pogba will play though
With Xhaka out of the side, two things will improve.
1. The players will be far happier.
2. The fans will be far happier.
One can dream.
CC
Not disputing that Emery comes across as a substandard coach.
Just highlighting something that is pretty obvious to most people.
Xhaka is a legend in his own mind.
Valentin If Martial is out that is great news. I knew Rashford was likely out but not the other 2. With Pogba out as well it is even more reason to play serious energy and mobility in midfield and just own the centre. Really is Rashford, Pogba and Martial are all out we should be winning this. You know Lingard will play well against us and anytime a player is struggling for form Arsenal usually gift it to them. Also worries me given his attributes are speed etc and he will likely be guarded by Xhaka. Emery cannot be negative,… Read more »
Graham
Why would the players vote Xhaka as captain if they’d be happier with him not playing?
You make real light work of this logic malarkey.
Xhaka a legend in his own mind? I think you ought to take more responsibility for your own views instead of falling back on fake consensus. How and why is that apparently obvious to most?
Charlie You don’t think that electing the right combination even under emery could improve our performance against even lower opposition and reduce the awful amount of space and shots we are conceding? So if we are leaving xakha at the base and expecting our two more advanced midfielders to pull wide to protect our weak fullbacks then that leaves xakha with too much space to cover Perhaps Torreira in that role would be better than xakha and let xakha and Guendouzi play in front and pull wider when necessary to help full backs? You don’t think it would have a… Read more »
CC
There’s been no logic in what has been happening at AFC these past few days.
Do you understand human nature?
Granit Xhaka typifies the traits of someone who is in denial.
“No it’s not my fault. I’m blameless”
Oops sorry, now I get why you can’t see it.
I mean it stands to reason if you have better players playing you will improve irrespective of the manager. Can’t imagine we’d be seeing the same struggles in games if we had the man city team even if Emery was still manager. There’s ways right now to improve us through picking the right personnel and through replacing certain personnel. That people can’t see that and just think replacing one person will be resolving our issues well that speaks to something else