courtesy @allthatchas
Unai Emery has started taking press conferences to the same levels Arsene Wenger did towards the end, they’re almost not worth paying attention to.
We want to find balance.
We want to control games.
We want to defend.
It’s a little harder to fathom the true message due to the language issues, but the manager to his credit seems mostly uninterested in what outsiders think of him.
The most interesting part was his messaging was around the captains’ armband.
The vote gives me this information and the teammates decided that vote gives him confidence. Now the big thing is that we are going to work individually and collectively to be strong, and to show our supporters our way and how we can be strong with every player and our captains. I have big confidence and trust in every player, the captain and not the captain, because I think now in the dressing room we have a very big spirit.
Translation: The players voted for it so stfu.
Fair play, he made democracy work to give him a cover, if the players say so, who are we to argue?
The manager alluded to the slow start this season being down to messy transfer window. In fairness to him, that is an acceptable excuse. In the post WE BOUGHT PLAYERS hedonism, we quickly forgot that two weeks before fans were posting videos of themselves lambasting the club for inaction and selfishness. Playing devils EKB here, Raul didn’t bring the milkshake to the yard early enough. Emery could also say that some of the player exits were late and out of his hands. Monreal would have made a difference to the leadership struggles and the lack of a leftback. Mikhi might… I mean… he… Emery didn’t want him axed.
The allusions would hold more weight if our grim performances didn’t closely ape what we saw in the backend of last season, but hey, let’s roll with what the manager thinks and look for the positives.
We’re heading into a much simpler set of games. They’re not easy, but they are a lot more do-able than some of the challenges we’ve faced up to over the last 10 games.
What we are all hoping for today is this: Emery has realised he has good enough players to offer up a more protagonistic approach to the game.
> Attack with vigour.
Bournemouth sit 1 point behind us in 11th place. Statistically, they are having a poor season in the same way we are. They’ve been extremely open, racking up an average of 16.9 shots per game… not as bad as us, with 18. On the attacking front, they average 10.7 shots a game, with a very low 4.3 on target. They’ve actually managed 1 more goal than us, but boast the same goal difference as us with +1.
In short, they’re playing like a team that’s going to find themselves in a relegation battle this season. I mean, from an xG standpoint, so are we. We’re 15th for xPts so far this season, they’re 19th. The main difference for Arsenal is we have great players, we’ve played some tough teams on paper, we’re about to hit an easy run. Bournemouth’s correction could spell trouble.
Based on the above and the 2.5 good performances we’ve seen over the last week, it would be nice to expect a walk in the park, but we know the manager will level in with some changes that’ll make things difficult for himself. Xhaka is the captain so he’ll start, Matteo is a leader amongst men, and the coach has shown a reticence to play Ceballos or Willock, so we could see LT back in. 3 holding midfielders starting in slightly incorrect positions has been the story of our bad games this season, I truly hope someone has pointed that out in the video analysis room.
That said, even with our blandest midfield on show, I have my doubts a team that doesn’t press will give us too many problems. Xhaka with space is a different beast, so are most of our players, could even be a good chance for Ceballos to find his sea-legs.
I think most of the joy we’ll be having tomorrow is in the final third – if Emery can find the right balance to release his speed demons. This should be a day for Pepe to shine. I’d love to see Saka back out on the right starting again, he’s been electric in every game, I see no reason to rest him.
There’s also the added the deliciousness of Martinelli. The manager had mixed feelings on his true position (of course he would).
‘In pre-season he played in different positions, above all he preferred to play as a left-winger but he can also play as a right-winger.’
‘I’m using him as a striker because he played there in Brazil. It’s not the best position for him but the first thing in his mind is to help us.’
Emery has finally stumbled into a happy mistake if he thinks striker isn’t the lads best position, but either way, it’s great to know the player is so versatile. Dividing up the season on the left between him and Saka/Reiss is exciting… being the back-up to Pepe also makes sense. In the meantime, if Arsenal go 3-0 up at halftime, take Auba off and put him through the middle.
I’m trying to work out who Martinellis is like as a player. He has elements on Robin Van Persie about him. The Dutchman was so arrogant at Feyenoord in his early days that he’d pinch freekicks from senior players. They have similar no-nonsense attitudes on the pitch and there seems a definite desire to strike from distance and dance with the ball. Robin also had a stint out wide in his early days for Holland. Dare I say… I think some of his footwork has a touch of Bobby P about it. He’s obviously not flatfooted, but he’s light on his feet and can deliver a ball.
Cannot wait for him to discover Nando’s, dial-in hookers and Celta Vigo on loan…
Just kidding, this kid looks the real deal. Let’s hope Emery trusts him in the big games.
Right, that’s me done.
Tell me who you think Gabriel is like and I’ll tell you that you are a LIAR.
See you in the comments. x
“Not a single impartial observer – pundit, writer etc – thinks we have the third best squad in the league.“
This mere minutes after telling me to speak for myself?
Do you have a WhatsApp group you and all the impartial observers frequent?
Expecting to see
Leno
AMN Chambers Luiz Kolasinac
Guendouzi Xhaka(c)
Pépé Willock Saka
Aubameyang
One question Cesc will therefore be – who is more comfortable on RW – Martinelli or Saka?
Rambo – agree there is still a ? Over Bellerin as a RB. Don’t agree on Holding. His injury was a significant reason why we declined in the 2nd half of the season imo as we had no adequate cover. The sooner he is back the better and his early performances albeit in lesser matches were encouraging. His calmness is a great virtue.
Tierney is untested as a defender although clearly a huge asset offensively
Dream – can’t see him dropping Sokratis and think he may be prepared to opt for Chambers over AMN at RB
“It’s funny how you’ve dropped the Alonso comparisons“
Come again? Idk what angle you’re trying to represent here but unsurprisingly it’s wrong.
“I would be desperately trying to be make it about the ‘now’ as much as possible too if I came out with as many whoopers as you have.”
Yea I hear that often when you’re having a fanny flutter about Emery. Though if your Xhaka/Alonso gibberish is anything to go by then it’s safe to say you use the blanket of time to get away with talking absolute bollocks.
Northbanker – Shame if Sokratis starts. The guy is a walking caution. Yep, I can see Chambers at RB
Charlie – Where is the contradiction?
It’s a fact that not a single person outside of hysterical Arsenal fans think we have the third best squad in the league or should be finishing third.
Take that for what is. I take it as a statement of the obvious. Like water being wet.
You tried to falsely misrepresent the views of fans to have a dig.
Charlie – When I brought up the comparisons in Xhaka’s first season you were steadfast, and at no point tried to distance yourself from them.
Of course, now time has proven him a bit shit, you querying.
Using the blanket of me not being arsed to go back in the archives for comfort.
“It’s a fact that not a single person outside of hysterical Arsenal fans think we have the third best squad in the league or should be finishing third.“ A fact is provable, and to come out with that would mean you speaking to all impartial viewers. So have you done that? “You tried to falsely misrepresent the views of fans to have a dig” Meanwhile.. no I didn’t whatsoever. I made an observation of the current state of the fan base, a view curated from the inputs here, and amongst my gooner friends far and wide. The consensus is unrest,… Read more »
Champagne
“Do you have a WhatsApp group you and all the impartial observers frequent?”
You don’t need a WhatsApp group to know what writers and pundits are saying. You need only a television and an internet connection.
This sophistry of yours — “how do you know what most pundits and writers think?” — has gotten very old.
Go back in the archives? Who the hell would seriously do that? No opinion on here is that interesting or requires that much time loss for that!!
Paulinho Let’s do comparative analysis of Spurs and Chelsea squads Leno and Martinez duo is better than Arizabalaga and Caballoro. Both Leno and Martinez are competent GKs whereas Caballoro is error prone and just not good enough. Chelsea’s defense is better than us. Christensen, Rudiger, Alonso, Azpillicueta, Emerson and Zouma as a unit is marginally better than Bellerin, Holding, Chambers, Tierrney, Papa, Kola, Luiz etc. Kovacic, Zorginho,Kante, Loftus Cheek and Barkley are their main midfielders. Barkley has no footballing brain, he can run around a lot and play a blinder once in blue moon but he is not a good… Read more »
Up4Grab, “Do you think per taking over the academy just flicked a switch, and boom bang its a conveyor belt of ready to go youngsters.” Did you read your own posts? That is exactly the point that you are making. You are saying that last season they were not ready, but that luckily this season they are. Last season Emery had players he could have given minutes to ease the load. He did not. He was too cautious in not giving minutes to players when he has an opportunity to do so. He then panicked and was forced to play… Read more »
Charlie – How about you try and disprove my assertion?
Go on. Have fun.
We’ve been outshot in 5 of 7 matches. That can continue.
Kids have done alright in cup matches. Think Martinez looks like a decent GK. Leno has been good, but if Martinez gets an opportunity as #1 due to injury/mistakes, he has it in him to be the permanent GK for PL matches.
*That can’t continue
“Loftus Cheek although a solid player barely gets a look in.”
I’m just going to say this isn’t true. He played a lot at the end of the last season, and was one of their best players, until his injury.
I prefer their midfield, especially now with Mount available. He gives them off the ball running which nicely compliments their deeper technical security.
Let’s not talk about pundits and writers now. It is better to talk about your individual views.
If Luteo is about could you pls put your excellent link up for the match . The English one
Champagne “The consensus is unrest, and lack of clarity about the immediate to long term future under Emery …” The consensus among whom? You and your friends? If so, no offense to you and your friends, but your consensus doesn’t matter much. If you are instead referring to some supposed consensus among Arsenal fans, well, one, sorry, but no such consensus exists; two, that would be highly ironic given that you are chastising Paulinho for making a generalization about what most football writers and pundits think. It is far easier to draw a conclusion about what most football writers and… Read more »
“The Arsenal fans are in a fragile place because it got so low a couple of years ago, the only way was up and the static nature of our progression doesn’t sit well all said and done.”
Even though I think you are wrong here, I was equally wrong to interpret it as a dig.
Apologies.
Valentine, The point I’m making concerning the youth team was no one was ready to come in last season to play 30 league games plus. Some cup games yes,but not that volume of league games. And in the positions that had to be strengthened centrebacks, defensive midfielder. No one was ready. Was per banging the drum for saka and willock to start August 2018? Look at Chelsea, no way would lampard be their now if they wasn’t forced into playing youth players. All those youngsters would have been moved on loan again or sold. And concerning saka and martinelli, great… Read more »
Paulinho Apology accepted. I’m not hunting through “analysis” from pundits or writers, it’s a bogus leaning to support your own POV plain and simple, it’s not even a well documented topic to look at squads as a stand-alone element. The Rashford/Bendtner bits above highlight the fickle nature of football views. Banford “If you are instead referring to some supposed consensus among Arsenal fans, well, one, sorry, but no such consensus exists;” Glad you can somehow manage to both explain how difficult it is to grasp a consensual view held by the fan base AND dismiss what I’ve said as wrong… Read more »
Paulinho
You show disdain towards static midfielders who can’t handle press and carry the ball in to advanced areas. Kovacic and Jorginho are epitome of static midfielders. Yet here you are rating their midfield. Again not saying our midfield is great but their mid is plagued by the same issues which bother us.
Grooveydaddy can’t count . So as per amended rules does Tro4phy go to Silverhawk ?
PS – I was the originatorTM of this Idioticity
In his post match press conference, Emery stressed that high pressing is his footballing philosophy. I find Willock and Martinelli are the two best candidates to do high press.
I am counting the minutes in today’s game when Xhaka will receive his 5th yellow card. On top of that, his family will have a baby soon. We’ll have a few games free of Xhaka.
Translation: The players voted for it so stfu.
Fair play, he made democracy work to give him a cover, if the players say so, who are we to argue?
Pedro
There are 2 democracies where such a subterfuge of “ opiniated Voting Machines “ has brought 2 ” democratically “ elected Megalomaniac in power.
aka – who saw the vote count ?
Can Xhaka have 7 month paternity leave please?
TR7 – Jorginho can’t handle a press. But he plays deeper and doesn’t really need to. Kovacic can handle a press. It’s probably his best attribute; his ability to turn in tight spaces and see what’s around him, and release players more adept at impacting the game higher up the pitch. He’s static off the ball, but then having Mount makes runs offets that, and leads to a nice balance. Barkley is another that is very talented in deeper areas. Can turn and deal with pressure, and run forward with the ball once he has created space for himself with… Read more »
If Arsenal attack is good and if Chelsea’s defence is good, its the mid that’s diff.
To me jorginho, kante , mount is better than torr, guen , ceballos or at least equal.
Spuds are imploding but have a better squad than ours.
Utd are gash, no doubt.
Ours is the 5th best squad really.
Arsenal: Leno, Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Ceballos, Saka, Pepe, Aubameyang
Subs: Martinez, Holding, Tierney, Maitland-Niles Torreira, Willock, Martinelli,
Makes you feel old when the likes of Lillian Thuram, Patrick Kluivert, Alf Haaland, Enrico Chiesa, Diego Simeone, Hagi and George Weah all have sons that are playing top level football now, Chiesa in particular looks like he’ll surpass his father.
Martinelli and Tierney are in the squad. Hope to see them both play a few minutes.
Look forward to Valentin coming into the mix. Apparently got a nose into AFC pants .
Take on how Martinelli came into the first team including the progression matches the facts.
Thanks Valentin.
No matter a lot of people rolling about would throw mud. Part of their game. You do yours – sniffing around backsides😂😁
Ozil must be gone
Guen xacka, fuck me when will he learn
Who’s ozil?
WTF with this Xhaka thing.
Emery out!!
Cesc, can’t see anyway back for him now.
Can’t make the europa squad. Hooked in the league cup.
Hopefully he goes in January. But still think he will hold out.
Haha in the live match preview on the arsenal site it has chambers spelt Chamberts. Useless
Saka and Pepe with Ceballos behind and guen and our main man as the holding mids.
Hope I’m wrong but looks like we’re fucked again thanks to our great tactician first team selection, but no surprise here.
Sokratis, Kola and Xhaka ….arghh
https://mobile.twitter.com/fucktyIer1/status/1180446135388790784
Valentin
Saka isn’t an automatic starter. He goes back to the bench once Lacazette comes back.
Xhaka is shit even in training.
Emery has handled Ozil brilliantly. Can’t fault him for that.
Laying down a marker and saying reach it or you’re binned.
He could find better ways to handle Xhaka…..
Looks like Emery would be rolling with a 4-3-3 this season.
Just need Bellerin and Tierney back in the squad and Xhaka injured.
Hoping that Pepe can get going today, we really need more out of him than we’re getting.
Confidence snowballs for certain forwards once they get in the groove and can have the opposite effect if things aren’t going their way.
It’s why you have to respect Messi and Ronaldo so much, it’s labelled a crisis if they go 3 matches without scoring and yet for 10+ years they just keep trucking on no matter the team or circumstances.
Azed
Depend on how well Pepe is playing. Auba can play the RW with Laca and Saka. Pepe can play in those cup games. We can’t take a risk in EPL games.
For me Sokratis gets away with murder from most of the fans, you rarely hear his name brought up like you would the obvious candidates in Xhaka and Kolasinac when he’s every bit as calamitous.
Also has an annoying habit of acting the hardman and cunting his way into giving away niggly fouls and FK’s as well as picking up stupid cards.
Easily one of our worst ever CB signings.
People keep harping on about Xhaka but Sokratis is the blind spot for me. He is rubbish and should be playing Europa until he leaves next year.
Cesc…nice one.Errorsaurus lol! Perfect.cannot wait for paternity leave & the upcoming winter transfer window for him( lives in hope) then maybe we can have a Christmas PARTEY hey? See what I did there hey? That’s the level he’s brought me to…..
WE
For me Sok and Kola are far worse than Xhaka. Sokratis is Squillachi level. Kola runs at a blistering pace but most of his passes/crosses are sub-standard and he is equally shoddy in defense. People talk about Xhaka all the time but Sok and Kola get a pass. Even Guen is scrutinized more than those two clowns.
Emery rolling with the dross again. At least he’s a consistent douche bag.
Looks like we’re after a Big Willy according to the mirror?what is the urge to have so many dicks at our club.
But PapaSok is not a captain. We all expect that he won’t be in the start 11 when holding is fully fit. On the other hand, Xhaka, the one who can’t defend or who needs to use the hand to help defending, will always be selected, even when there are more suitable DM available.
I can this game being like the equivalent of eating something you dropped on the floor, doing the 3 second rule but picking up what the cat left and munching down on it.
Emery out.
Yea I backed Sokratis when he landed, mainly after a bit of a superficial read at what was to come, but absolutely miles off on him. Thought his attitude was mega when he pitched up, but it’s actually showmanship to detract from his calamitous defending. Touted Evans for 3 mil over him in my defence haha Put Mustafi in ahead of him all day long, Musti is a footballer still despite his propensity to go all bambi. Holding and Luiz possibly our strongest pairing to come, anyone read about Luiz randomly sending Holding a message when he did his knee… Read more »
Similar blind team selections from Emery! Ignorant to our defensive lapses! Today shouldn’t cost us, but I just hope Raul, Josh and Edu, are as equally ruthless in their manager as they are the transfer market.
No Xhaka, no party!!
Xhaka has flaws, but Guendouzi (who I like) is awful defensively as a #6. Torreira has been average for the majority of 2019 and struggles with the stamina to play game after game in the PL (something Xhaka/Guendouzi have no problem whatsoever). Looks like Emery doesn’t trust Ceballos to play as #6/#8 against PL opposition either. Xhaka will be automatic in the XI
4-4-2 from Bournemouth. Three goalscorers on the pitch in Wilson, King and Wilson. King will be a threat running into the box from the left. Blind side runs btwn Chambers and Sokratis, ripe for a penalty.
Pépé masterclass needed.
We’re still in dire need of a quality CM if we’re honest. Toreirra isn’t that player that we’d all hoped he would be so best to cut our losses on him and move him back to Italy this summer if a decent offer comes in and look at replacing.
He’s 5 foot 6 and slight with significant stamina shortcomings not to mention he’s not particularly strong going forward or defensively, bit of a jack of all.
Chambers will get run ragged for 20:mins… then find his form…
I would give Pepe 30:mins… show he fancies it of sub him.
Wenger Eagle
Think Torreira will be alright back in Serie A at a similar CL/EL club to us like a Milan/Roma. Base of a diamond with less end to end football like we face away from home in the PL.
Cc
I didn’t read that but comes as no surprise, every game luiz is always shaking hands with other players,
Seems like he is a players player, good on him.
Looks like people just love to complain about Emery for no reason.
Aside from Xhaka, this is possibly our best line up. Holding and Tierney are making their way back from injuries and played 90 mins on Thursday. It would be irresponsible for Emery to play both of them.
The only change I would make to this line up is Xhaka for Willock.
Dream
I agree he’s not a bad player by any means, just isn’t suited to the demands of week to week PL football in CM.
It’s an insanely taxing position to play in this league. What players would you be looking at to replace him?
Azed,
Spot on.
Pepe has to be more active. He has to participate in high pressing when without the ball. During attack, he has to make himself available. He has to play with more confidence when he has the ball or when there is a scoring chance.
And it’s Arsenal,
Arsenal FC,
We’re by far the greatest team,
The world has ever seen….
The 1st midfielder to be moved should be Haka with a quality addition the rest are okay squadies
There are still a lot of empty seats in the middle row. Are those more expansive seats or season tickets?
WengerEagle
I’ll replace Torriera with Darcoure.
Come on The Arsenal!!!
Wenger Eagle We need a couple of players in the CM areas so we can have five options for two/three positions. Replace Torreira and Ceballos with two who can pass the ball. Haven’t watched much this yr, but ppl are saying Bruno Guimaraes in Brazil is a quality young CM. Chelsea have been scouting him all year. The only option I’m certain of is Thomas Partey. He can play #6 or #8. He was the best player in the Madrid derby last week. An excellent CM for me. I do like John McGinn too. Both Reine Adelaide and Aouar (likely… Read more »
“Toreirra isn’t that player that we’d all hoped he would be so best to cut our losses on him and move him back to Italy” I couldn’t disagree more. If he’s used in the pure DM role he is exactly what we need. See the recent games against Forest and Liege. when used out of position he may as well not be in the team. It’s Emery’s fault he doesn’t excel in a more advanced role.
Any links
Has anybody got a good link for a stream?
Remember when we were rumored to be after Fraser?
Good times…
Sokratis has tried to pass the ball forward 6 times in last 5 mins and he made a mess of it every single time.
How sad is it to see Bournemouth pass it out from the back far better than Unai Fuckery’s Arse?
Goal!!
Yes!!!
Get in, Luiz come good at last for a header.
Of all players Luiz scores!! Nice header.
What channel are people watching game on?
corner from Pepe.
Looks like we are playing double pivot with Xhaka on the left and Guen on the right.
Here is you link: http://ripple.is/soccer
Where are the stream links today?
http://zoneland90.blogspot.com/p/liability-insurance_39.html?m=1
Not the best sound quality but ok.
Saka has become more and more predictable.
Zzzzzz
Xhaka again tried to use his hand.
Both those links are dodgy lol don t show the game.
Why is Pepe hiding ?
There’s nothing coming from the wingers at the moment
http://enjoyhd.live/hd/hd2.php#
This one is the most stable I’ve come across, well worth the computer aids
Ceballos is not shy to use his body.