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
This is fully self inflicted.
Emery talks playing offensive first and not.
Slow build up, rather back than a forward pass (yes, still)., and waste the pace offered by Saka and Pepe.
…and worse, not defending primarily Kolac
Subs?
I saw Martinelli warming up. I think he’ll replace Saka
The team, bar Xhaka is good enough to dismantle Bournemouth. But can’t figure if Spanish Waiter said paella and the team understood as goulash. Mixed up tactics
Somebody needs to tell Kola… he should defend like .. the attacker has a knife… passive defending.
Pepe got to change his one dimensional floating passes, useless most time. No oomph, and slow.
Being outplayed by Bournemouth at the Emirates.
The league table don’t lie….judge emery on results not quirky opinions that amount to intangible, flaky shite.
We have a mixture of a team composed of experience and young guns…..the combinations are endless…emery has to mix n match in an experimental manner and in a cautious way to avoid defeat.
I hear the Xhaka noise and agree and feel a bit surprised he is even in our squad.
But that aside, he is doing a solid job.
Martinelli or Willock asap.
Pepe is making Alexis’ technique and touch back in his time with us look world class.
Bou walking straight thru our mid field atm. Xhara is slow and useless either way.
Time to inject some pace and rigor.
Wen, what are you talking about ?
That’s outrageous trolling….
Saka suddenly being sloppy. I’d hook him.
We have a non existing midfield since second half started
We haven’t matched their intensity.. need to bring on some enthusiasm.. looks like Martinelli might get a chance.
Martinelli is coming in!
Martinelli for Pepe….oops
who’s our main source of creativity by the way?
our Regista Xhaka playing like Pirlo in that deep lying playmaker spraying passes?
no everyone just has to force things themselves
What exactly does Xhaka do? Anyone?
Emery by the looks of it
Martinelli coming on to save our insipid asses
Saka must be subbed. He is totally off.
Pepe is out!
heh Edu and son look like some kind of mobster there
Pepe in trouble tbh. Hard to get settled from here onward
‘Emery by the looks of it’ LOL
Flop
Flop
Flop
70 million Flop
I like Saka but I do see him in a deeper role as his career progresses.
Not sure he’s got the quality to be an explicit forward. Would like to see him in a deeper inside midfield role.
Chambers need to be sensible. We had 3 forwards in the box and he skyed it.
We need to replace Ozil. We need a number 10 who can unlock defences and isn’t a whiny, Fortnite-obsessed bitch.
Where the he’ll was Kolac
Defensively, Chambers is very solid.
Pepe needs to focus on what he needs to bipod to become a good player here, lot more intense than France.
Start thinking about his career.
I don’t think Pepe has played well but he needs to be played into form. Subbing him when we have saka on is bad man management imo
Who knows if Pepe would bag a goal later in the game which could help his confidence. Bringing him off won’t do him any favors
Chambers got a lob in by fluke once. Now he is losing the ball trying his luck too often
Back to slow ponderous football, being outplayed by Bournemouth.
Unless Manuel has a brain transplant and puts in the right players playing the right tactics we aren’t getting 4th.
Pepe needed that pre season. He looked jaded to be fair to him. He was playing all summer with no break. give him 3 weeks off I say.
Our senior CBs have stopped running. We need Holding on.
Not sure how taking him off helps his confidence
Xaka offers so little, and always has a silly foul in him at any moment. Lucky to not already be on a yellow. 63rd minute, Willock now please !
Time for xhara to come off. Hasn’t touched the ball for a while.
We need a couple more sharpish
We don’t have a functioning midfield, our coach subbed a winger for a winger, hmmm
Saka ‘s day off. Martinelli should have come in for Saka. Keep Pepe to develop confidence. Emery man management is poor
This mid never works, how many times do we need to see it
Yes, Saka is more about guile, control and touch than pace and explosiveness. A midfield role will suit him better.
Kola is killing Luiz.
I said after 2 games watching Pepe that such an absurdly one-footed player can never make it against good defenders. If one footedness was compulsory he’d be Ronaldo.
£72 million???????
Someone needs to answer for paying 3 times over the odds for him
The thing about switching Martinelli for Pepe is it does nothing to change the midfield.. or influence the game right away. I agree Pepe was underperforming but it wasn’t why we were under pressure.
lol stupid cunt just throw himself into the ground unintentionally friendly fire/teamkill during corner thought he was a tough Balkan
at least can ease Holding in
Like 15 min ago our mid field isn’t working. Even Ceballos isn’t at his best. Guen dashing around. And that’s it really.
Emery is absolutely correct to sub Pepe, bring on Martinelli and leave Saka on. Pepe is doing nothing and is looking more and more every day like a dud. Lacks cleverness, lacks technique, lacks quality. Sorry.
Everything is bad management now. Even subs
that might be a bad one for Luiz. twisted his knee there. Holding on for me.
Willock on for Xhaka is another change he should make. We need more running and athleticism in the midfield.
Wot a scoop pass
even Ronaldo will be shit if he can’t get the service from a non-existing midfield
Receding
I know. It’s so silly.
Why Auba didn’t fight for the ball?
Maybe Pepe should focus on doing the basics right rather than banking on his manager to cuddle him with 90 minutes when he is offering very little
Slick little lob from Martinelli. This kid is a gem.
Really a yellow??
another quality cross there haaha hook this meatslab already
Xhaka must be teaching Martinelli how to tackle. hahaha
Our midfield- and our options beyond – are bang average.
It will become blindingly apparent as the season progresses.
Pepe seems like the kind of player who needs space to run into. By the time the ball gets to him, the opposition defence has already regrouped. This has been a consistent problem at Arsenal for years. We are too slow in our build-up and don’t force commitments from defenders.
For every long ball to Auba, it is a waste.
Why is xhara still on the pitch
Receding
Exactly. His problem isn’t his confidence; his problem is he isn’t a good enough player.
Bamford,
So the reason we are looking disjointed and under pressure this half is because of Pepe ?
Fuck off emery. Willock for Ceballos??
What is fucking xhara doing?
Make the fans hate xhara more than ever…
Emery will never sub out Xhaka!!!
@ Bamford…agree…. A dud….
Pepe is like a poet on a construction site…not hard enough, not focused enough, not achieving much.
Bamford he is a good player, he thinks he has to score and score a lot to justify his ridiculous price tag so he hurries everything hoping to get to the part where he shoots. He needs to forget what was paid for him and just enjoy his game.
Martinelli is fast
Willock on is correct, but he should be coming on for Xhaka, not Ceballos. Xhaka remains a blindspot for Emery and a problem for all of us.
Xhaka is a holding midfield player….take him off, yes but replace with similar.
1 nil is shaky
C’mon kids we need u
Willock saved Xhaka there… rushed at shooter… terrible clearance.
Saka has been really off today, very very scrappy
I had high hopes for today. The truth is we haven’t had a truly good performance all season. It’s worrying.
yeah our setup right now doesn’t suit the great pace our forwards have the transition from back to front need to be faster this is just too lethargic to even watch
just compare last match with this one
we cant even get hold of it in midfield. winning 50/50s is difficult now. Xhaka needs to come off – he’s offering nothing in a key part of the pitch
Receding
“he is a good player”
I’m not so sure about this. I think he has pace and that he can score if given tons of space to run in. As for being a good dribbler, or good in close spaces, or smart in combination with others, or even a quality finisher, I’m not seeing any of that at the moment.
UT
No, that’s not at all what I’ve been saying.
Approaching the 80th and we have had 2 shots on target.
Two.
Playing at home against Bournemouth.
Torr coming in
Pepe is a one trick pony and even that trick is not quite effective.
If LT comes in for Matty G… I give up.
Citeh losing.
Pep out.
Wolves take the lead at the Etihad
Martinelli is so direct… always gets quality chances.. love him.
there we go finally time to ramp up the intensity lol
To think, we could have signed Klopp.
Instead we waited and waited and then signed Coco the Clown.
UT
As for why we have been on the back foot this half, there are many reasons for it, but a fair amount of it was/is down to our lack of athleticism in midfield and our lack of pace in the back four.
Nothing down to Pepe … obviously.
Here comes the diamond….sigh
Saka not Xhara off.
Emery picking up some worse traits of Wenger.
Not cool
I would have brought in Tierney to whip in a few good ones. This Torr for Saka seems like settling
Fuck me I thought commentator said Xhaka – he said Saka 🙁
Kola is so bad!!!
the difference of Kola and Tierney
sorry man we got new shiny toy to play with now and you’re not good enough