Arsenal internet spits out first casualty

by .

This is serious people. We need to chat. I think Arsenal internet has taken things too far.

Mustafi was asked if he was the second-worst defender in the world because Arsenal fans voted him into that position for an online poll.

In the moment, it’s amusing. Reality is, we’ve crushed the career of a footballer.

The guy is a World Cup winner and he’s certainly better than Phil Jones. Sure, he makes some wild errors, but it’s hard not to think he’d be a more solid right-back than Cal Chambers when the tougher games start to roll in.

Do we have a responsibility to bring him back into the fold? Do Arsenal fans need to repent for their sins? Do we need to start a #WeLoveUMustafi hashtag?

OR IS THIS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STAY AT A CLUB BECAUSE YOU LOVE YOUR CONTRACT.

Overall, the tone of the interview was disgraceful. I don’t think you’d get that sort of tone in the English press, which is saying something.

… but.

One thing that is notable is the section where he says he spent three weeks out injured, didn’t train, then had to face Liverpool in 2018 where we were spanked. This really is quite the statement. I don’t mean to make this about Emery, but that really is brutally unfair, not to mention a shocking decision. The double sessions that he bragged about killed him in December, reckless decisions on player fitness killed him with Ramsey and basically crushed Mustafi (in that moment, appreciate he’s been average for a while).

The best football coaches think strategically about what they are doing on the pitch. So many fans judge decisions in the moment.  They miss the little things that build up to a disaster. Good decisions are like acorns you collect for a barren day, bad one’s are like too many late nights… at some point, you’re going to get hit with the full force of the flu.

Do you like how those two metaphors are completely disconnected? Amateur writing at its best.

Last season Emery yanked Ramsey’s deal and benched him. He dropped Mesut. He went too hard on the double sessions in the summer (bit like Ole G this summer). He distributed the captaincy amongst the wrong players. He didn’t settle on a system. He tried to do too many things at the same time. He played Ramsey injured when he realised he was important. He depended on Ozil after he’d ostracised him.

It all added up to a flat run that saw us lose 3rd from a winning position.

Same thing looks to be happening again this season.

Dithering on the captain’s armband. Giving the captaincy to a weak cog in the system. Giving Mesut vice-captaincy. Dropping Mesut relentlessly. Subbing Pepe on 60 minutes for an 18-year-old. Failing to settle on a system. Playing Auba in a dead Europa game despite being our only fit striker.

These things add up over a season. Sure, you can justify many of them in the moment, but if you’re not looking at how your decisions scale over time, you’re not elite management material.

Right, that’s me done, see you in the comments.

P.S. Be nice to Mustafi you beasts x

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Paul Mc Daid

Not an award winning post by any stretch of the imagination .

rollen

its just to keep u guys busy in the terrible interlul times

Chris

Thanks jwl, looks highly detailed website. I am assuming ‘key passes’ is the same as ‘chance created’. Pierre Yes this is where I was thinking that a player may not get enough credit for what he actually does, even if he doesn’t appear to have great stats. In contrast, the stats may also make a player appear to be performing better than he actually is. I am probably a bit old fashioned but I get my gut feeling from watching a player and seeing how he is on the pitch. I am not sure stats can be as conclusive about… Read more »

Guns of Brixton

I said a few posts back that we had to discuss Mustafi in light of 3 clean sheets from him

I still think there’s a decent defender there but 🤷‍♂️.

Guns of Brixton

From the twitterverse:

Pepe plays in instalments, just like his transfer fee
🤣🤣

Wasi

A player who takes set pieces around the box will obviously have more chance of creating assists and chances, ozil used to pad his stats up from dead ball situations as he can deliver, however Emery surprisingly immediately took him off those duties when he arrived . Pierre why are you still stuck on Emery taking Ozil off set piece duties man. It was an easy decision . Arsenal lacked and still lack players who can generate power when heading the ball. Ozil had the accuracy sure but his set pieces were floated and didnt have enough whip for our… Read more »

Pierre

Chris Of course, an element of luck is involved on whether a player registers an assist. Ozil has had Ronaldo and Sanchez and created a superb relationship with these world class players and they benefitted from his astute passing, plus Ozil benefitted from having quality finishers ahead of him . Ozil hasn’t, for whatever reason , been able to strike up a telling relationship with Aubameyang which I find surprising . I would have thought they would be perfect for each other. Has Ozil lost his touch for the killer through ball , I would say he still has it… Read more »

azed

“Chances created ( 6 in 71 mins in his last game) and creativity.”

While Ozil creates chances, Chambers drops assists even from the left back position.

azed

Ozil in 71 mins created six chances and we scored only one goal.

Without Ozil, we scored 4 in 19 mins.

Pierre

Wasi
If you believe Ozil cant take a corner or free kick with whip on it, then have a look at how many times Ozil whipped the ball into the near post for Ronaldo to score .

Ozil also knew that when he had giroud in the box he would use a different delivery, a more delighted delivery.

Pierre

Flighted

Pierre

Azed
“Ozil in 71 mins created six chances and we scored only one goal.Without Ozil, we scored 4 in 19 mins.”

Cheers, proves my point , thanks for that.

Un na naai

Stuart Anderson went in hard boy. How was that comment not taken down when some of the most inoffensive nonsense from Marko et al gets removed? Chris I’d agree with you there The assist thing can be well over rated For me the guy who gives the ball tj the guy who assist usually creates the goal. The pre assist. That was where jack and rosicky excelled. And yes it is easy to see that ozil has struggled but the stats show that we are far more creative with him and score more goals with him. In a time of… Read more »

Champagne charlie

“While Ozil creates chances, Chambers drops assists even from the left back positio“

Azed you do drop some bizarre shit sometimes. You know the difference between the chance and the assist isn’t the provider but the finisher?

Marc

I’m wondering how long before Pedro completely loses it and starts advocating Glenn Hoddle as a replacement for Emery.

He did after all play under Wenger!

Un na naai

Stuart Anderson went in hard

Nelson

Serge Gnabry just can’t stop scoring. He is built for EPL with his power play. What a miss!

grooveydaddy

‘You know the difference between the chance and the assist isn’t the provider but the finisher?’

Or the quality of the chance…

Gentlebris

A lazy, uninterested, uncommitted and computer game-distracted Ozil would easily improve us in the last game against Bournemouth. Not that Ozil is great, but our midfield has been a pathetic garden of brown grass since Emery arrived. There was only one time I remember us playing like that under Wenger, away at Watford. That day I felt like grabbing Wenger by his zippers and planting a punch on his arrogant adulterous nose. I was so bitter. But now we have a ‘coach’ who brings our team to play like that every premier league game. BTW, I saw Wenger on TV… Read more »

Danny S

CC

It’s not only the finisher….. it’s also the quality of the chance created and also the timing.

Danny S

Ozil is a class player no doubt, but for him to work effectively he must have 2 things.

A solid defence and midfield behind him, and a goal getter in front. And I’m not talking about a good striker, I’m talking about a player that seeks the ball like a hound, ala CR7, or Sanchez.

Danny S

I think maybe Ozil and martinelli would pair up well. However we won’t ever get to see it.

Ozil has one role and one place on the pitch and arsenal don’t have the manager or the squad to support that and Ozil isn’t the type of character to fight for a place.

Grouvillegooner

More than a bit ironic Pedro (unless you are doing it on purpose during a dull international break) but you are now blaming Emery for Ozil’s and Mustafi’s incompetencies. The one thing about Mustafi is that he has always tried , which is a lot more than can be said for Ozil. Does anyone remember Ozil’s first season when we were all told to go home and watch the match again to see all the good and subtle things that he had done that we had all missed!

Gentlebris

*remembered.

Bamford10

“According to Turkish newspaper Takvim, Fenerbahce director of football Damien Comolli has opened talks with Arsenal to sign Mesut Özil on loan in January.” – @WorldwideArsenal

Yes, please.

Nelson

I think we’ll have to get used to Emery’s pragmatic football. It can win us more points when playing away from home. At home, I expect Tierney and Bellerin will add some lives to our attacking plays, a la Pool’s style.

Danny S

I think chambers has looked better than bellerin recently.

Has everyone forgot how crap bell has been defensively the last few seasons.

He’s just super fast.

vickingz

I just caught ozil reading legrove

Marc

“Marc, lose it? I’ve been putting you right for the last year. Think you owe me an apology.” Pedro It wasn’t your view that Emery wasn’t up to it that I (and a few others) argued against. I don’t remember anyone saying Emery was their choice for us but I (and again a few others) were prepared to get behind the new manager to at least give him a chance. Where you were pulled up was your alternative – Arteta. Someone with zero experience in the hot seat. He might go on to become a good or better manager but… Read more »

KAY Boss

Pedro, I disagree with almost all you’ve written but I tend to agree with u that Mustafi would be a better rb than Chambers.

Nelson

At least, Emery is changing, for better or for worse. He said that he wants to win 5 – 4 instead of 1 – 0. I just realized that last game his team has only two shots on target and has won 1 – 0.

bennydevito

Good ebening grovers, Pedro, grovers, sorry for bringing Syria up but there’s one more thing I have to say Un nai, are you serious? The men should stay and fight? They’re civilians, they don’t have weapons or planes or tanks. When we fought off the Nazis we were in the British army and were supplied uniforms and guns etc. The Syrians have none of that. The US and Saudis stopped supplying the Free Syrian Army with weapons years ago. They are fucked. How are they supposed to fight against barrel bombs from the sky? On super pogo sticks jumping high… Read more »

Marc

benny

I’m not going to get drawn into a long debate about the Syria, Kurd / Turkey situation but I get the horrible feeling that we’ll be looking back at this in 5 – 15 years as another “well we fucked that up didn’t we” situation.

Talk about politicians not learning from history.

bennydevito

Can Mustafi even play right back? As for better than Luiz or Chambers, Lol. For me Mustafi should be used as back up or in the cups. That’s it. If an offer comes in we should sell him. Mourinho at Spurs concerns me. Poch at Man utd with their money and clout concerns me even more. If he goes there I guarantee Kane and a few of Spurs’ best players go with him. The need to get someone in better than Emery will be very apparent. I hated Mourinho for how he disrespected Wenger and up until Spurs came into… Read more »

bennydevito

Bloody hell; Cech is now playing Ice Hockey in goal!

https://www.caughtoffside.com/2019/10/09/petr-cech-ice-hockey/

Marc

Pedro

I gave Emery a season with a KIP of getting top 4 – he fucked that up royally. The rebuild under Sanllehi is progressing faster than I thought and Emery is regressing. I’ve already said he’s gone in next summer.

I wasn’t smug – I was condescending to your zealot like push of Arteta. Just because Emery isn’t working out doesn’t make Arteta the “right” choice.

Be honest and answer me a question – How many major / big clubs have to change manager without Arteta getting the job before you accept it was a slightly strange fantasy?

bennydevito

Pedro,

Ok, so that determins who’s the better player?

Especially as he only made the WC squad as a replacement for someone who got injured, only made 3 substitute appearances and got injured in the round of 16. He didn’t play again or in the final. He was a bit part player, hardly a key player in the slightest.

I just think Chambers has been very good since coming back, reads the game better and doesn’t make the errors Mustafi makes. You yourself were saying a few posts back how good Chambers has been since back.

Normski

Beeny

‘I’ve got over 400 Syrian friends on Facebook and know about 50 personally in London of which about 20 of them I’m very good friends with.’

Mustafi is more than capable at fullback played for Germany at a WC there.
Fucking hell. So what about the 350 you don’t know personally? Is it a friend request followed by a housing request?

Marc

benny

Chambers looks like a player who sees an opportunity and is determined to grab it. It might work out, it might not but I personally at least admire a player who’s up for the fight.

Un na naai

Benny.
All offended whilst condoning more military intervention in the Middle East? The damage that’s caused already

Civilians can’t join armies or militia? Don’t be absurd.
Just having 400 Syrian Facebook friends didn’t qualify you as an expert or make you privy to special information.

The men of Europe fought for their homelands and I personally wouldn’t let single men of reproductive age in. Simple.
Change is afoot anyway.

Un na naai

Anyway

I’m saying no more on the topic
I’m not allowed to discuss these things and I don’t want to get banned over something I really couldn’t give two hoots about at this point in time

Just saw joker
Very very good
Harks back to a bygone era when films were character and story driven rather than special effects and constant quips.
Was a little disappointed that the ending was so sudden but other than that thoroughly enjoyed it.
It’s a very heavy film though so go in prepared.

bennydevito

Normski,

I can’t even be bothered. Haven’t you got a free Tommeh demo to attend or something?

bennydevito

Apparently the joker film has been scandalised for having 2 mins of a Gary Glitter song which he’s credited for and stands to make hundreds of thousands in royalties.

A convicted pedo getting money from a movie. Oh dear. Massive oversight from the producers there.

Un na naai

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QP0ZGtlfPXk

Hold me closer tiny dancer

Un na naai

Benny yeah that was shitty but in the name of creativity I’m willing to let that slide. The song fits and it’s also used in other films

Well worth a watch but I can’t figure it out
It doesn’t belong in the comic book world

Well. No. It doesn’t belong in the comic book movie world. It’s too good.

salpardisenyc

Probably the least controversial issue with that film, use of a Gary Glitter tune recored in 72.

bennydevito
bennydevito

This headline is really misleading. Bergkamp says he would love to be a coach with us one day but has no aspirations to be a manager/head coach.

https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/dennis-bergkamp-ian-wright-arsenal-17060878

bennydevito

Salpardiseync,

I’ve not seen it but have seen a lot of outrage on Twitter and Facebook about a pedo making money. Regardless of any other issues I think this one is a big one.

Graham62

bennydevito

Another one of Wenger’s sob stories.

Don’t buy into all this crap.

Oh boo hoo, let’s sympathize with him.

Too late now Arsene, you cocked it up.

TOLI83

Out of interest Pedro – what are your views on Brexit?

China1

You wouldn’t let a single man of reproductive age in but you’d let a woman of reproductive age in?

Odd.

China1

Un nai what are your plans for how we manage our growing population of non working British pensioners who are a huge drain on our public finances due to increasing life expectancy, healthcare, housing and other benefits? Meanwhile our young people are not having enough kids to keep the ratio of working people in socieity high enough to foot the bill much longer On average immigrant families contribute more in taxes than they take out in welfare and have more kids who in turn will be paying for you when you’re an old and a burden to society financially Any… Read more »

Tony

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7553783/Would-exciting-German-manager-Julian-Nagelsmann-good-fit-Manchester-United.html

Let’s hope OGS stays for the season as Nagelsmann will definitely improve United’s push for CL qualification.

Tony

Looks like the DM is on the bin dipping Coleen’s side.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7554733/How-Coleens-frenemy-Rebekah-Vardy-ascended-humble-nightclub-worker-flight-WAG.html

Something to break up the monotony of the PL interlude.

Tony

Funny memes in the last link

Dark Hei

China1

Let me do this.

Immigration is the answer but the pace of immigration is the solution.

Immigration need to be done in a way that does not create a feeling of displacement and crowding out among the current populace.

Even if you are not on par with hitting your 1-1 replacement targets you cannot abandon this principal.

The thing about human psychology is that low percentages can seem high; i.e. even if statistically there aren’t that many immigrants, it wouldn’t feel that way on the ground because these immigrants stand out by being so different.

Dark Hei

China1

I will give an Arsenal analogy.

Statistically Xhaka might not be THAT bad maybe. But what we feel on the ground is that he has the defensive nous of a training cone.

China1

Hey dark hei that’s a very measured response which I totally accept and respect

I don’t particularly advocate for open borders, especially with nations who have major idealogical differences with the UK – but un nai mentioned wanting no working age men allowed in. This would cripple the country based on current cultural trends make no mistake

If he has a solution to that which the government and people are able and willing to implement at least that’s something, but “don’t let foreigners in” is cutting off our nose to spite our face

China1

Btw I relate to the feeling of being excluded by a multicultural society because I have this feeling in central London The colour of people’s skin and their nationality I actually couldn’t give a damn about, but what is important is to assimilate. If people are trying to do that I am very happy to welcome people in. But little things in central London drive me mad. Like in general we expect people to be polite and courteous as a minimum but I’ve had so many bad experiences in central London where I got bad service at a cafe from… Read more »

China1

The nicest group of people I’ve ever met are the Iranians tho

Bristol has a very small contingent who run a great chip shop and I also have some Iranian friends here in China and they are such kind and nice people.

Just goes to show that what you see on the news and the behavior of governments often doesn’t reflect accurately on the actual people

Tony

People always judging a book by its cover (muslim) China or tarring everyone with the same brush. Before I met my wife I had a great 2-year relationship with a Malaysian muslim girl whose family were really genuine; nothing like we are led to believe by the biased media. Goes to prove there are good and bad from all races and cultures. It was interesting to learn about their culture and history through them, but it was never expected for me to follow their customs, just respect them as an outsider to their religion. I’m as atheist as they come,… Read more »

Tony

“Arsenal ‘open talks’ with Fenerbahce over Mesut Ozil loan deal
Gunners are reportedly prepared to pay part of midfielder’s £350,000-a-week wages as they look to offload the top earner”

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-open-talks-fenerbahce-over-20549476

If true, let’s hope a 2-year deal can be done.

Un na naai

China Aside from the spin that immigrants contribute more overall can I address your points. I am not against immigration on the whole or working age men coming in. My point was that unprotected children should be first in the queue and families next. Single men have less to offer as the unemployment rate among muslim men is already at over 50% now and 75% among women. Men can impregnate several women at the same time whereas a woman can only give birth once a year. Simple maths women are also far less likely to engage in Anti social behavior… Read more »

Danny S

Those backing Mustafi to play RB over chambers, on recent evidence what exactly would make that viable?
Can Mustafi not give away penalties at right back? Can he not give fouls away in dangerous areas? Can he cross even?

Oh but yeah he’s a World Cup winner so he must be better at right back. Let’s stick Ozil there maybe. He’s a World Cup winner too!

Un na naai

If he has a solution to that which the government and people are able and willing to implement at least that’s something, but “don’t let foreigners in” is cutting off our nose to spite our face

China
Come on. Over simplistic. I’ve never ever uttered those words.

Graham62

Tony My wife is Eritrean. We met, married, lived and worked in the Middle East for 17 years between 1984-2001 and returned to the UK in 2001. We’ve been married coming up 30 years. The shocking reality of life here in the UK is the breakdown of society, the lack of structured systems and procedures,, the acceptance of letting all and sundry into the country without following stringent procedures and the lilylivered HumanRights approach to law and order and everything that is wrong with this country. We are, in many respects, unable to cope. Bogged down by a lack of… Read more »

Un na naai

The thing about human psychology is that low percentages can seem high; i.e. even if statistically there aren’t that many immigrants, it wouldn’t feel that way on the ground because these immigrants stand out by being so different. Dark Hei Ok. London. White brits are now a minority in 23 London boroughs and London overall. Birmingham too. These aren’t low numbers we are seeing. We are talking our two biggest cities being overrun within one generation of Blair and brown’s labour. The roads are gridlocked the tubes are impossible in rush hour the schools are 30-35 per class. The city… Read more »

Un na naai

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-open-talks-fenerbahce-over-20549476.amp

Ozil could finally be off. Ceballos with an injury on Spanish international duty. Mkhitaryan in Rome.

That means we will be utterly reliant on youth to provide some creativity. Which we pretty much already are anyway.

Graham62

Un na naai

Correct but even amongst all this shite we still are a great country.

Just a pity that those running the show are clueless and too weak to act.

At least we can still laugh…………just!

Bob N16

Graham, isn’t that an irony that some people voted for Brexit because they were unhappy with the way things were but were willing to allow the Tories who have overseen the rich get richer and the less advantaged get poorer, to lead them into a worse situation? It’s the same voting mentality that allowed Trump to attract supporters who he offered ‘change’ to. If you’re doing badly and some politician offers you change, you might think,’ well it’s worth a try’. Then when things don’t improve, the politicians attempt to blame somebody/something else. Additionally people’s ego makes it very difficult… Read more »

Tony

I understand what you’re saying Graham and I can understand why you might want leave the country once retired. Back in late 1998 having, like you, worked much of my life around the world, I decided to get out of Dodge. There is no way I’d come back to the UK. Ever! I have no immediate family alive in the UK, so no reason for me to move back or even visit. No country is perfect, but the writing was on the wall in the UK back in the mid 90s but I had a 48 month contract in the… Read more »

Un na naai

Judging by the state of Greece today the situation never improved and I did the right thing to move on back then.

Tony
Or become their new energy minister

Tony

In
😀

Tony

Un

😀

TitsMcGee

The guy is a World Cup winner”

What does this have to do with anything? The guy hardly played during the WC.

So he gets credit for being on the bench?

Bojangles

Tony You are partly correct about the Aussies being unwelcoming to the £10 pound poms (not only poms of the £10 variety either). There is a reason for that though. Many Brit’s that go to Australia and complain about everything being of lesser value to that in England. They don’t try to learn the culture (not that there is a great deal to learn.) Australians are very proud of their country and when outsiders come and “whinge” about it, they are very forthright in telling them to fuck off back to where they came from. Once you are able to… Read more »

Sid

“Ok. London. White brits are now a minority in 23 London boroughs”
Globalisation means a higher rate of racial admixture. Its evolution you cant beat it.

Bamford10

“Arsenal are plotting ways of trying to offload the £350,000-a-week star in January and are ready to subsidise his wages after Ozil fell out of favour with Unai Emery. Gunners boss Emery insisted that Ozil did not “deserve” to be starting ahead of some of the club’s youngsters and his Arsenal career now looks over. Ozil, who turns 31 next week, believes there is no way back and it appears the club are ready to draw a line in the sand and get rid of the World Cup winner. But there appears to be a realisation that Ozil does not… Read more »

Bamford10

Tony

I didn’t follow the story that closely, but I believe the entire internet is on Coleen Rooney’s side. That’s the sense I got when I glanced at this on Twitter yesterday.

Tony

Bamford
I just thought it was funny the wags warring.

Posted it for fun as we are in international limbo football wise.

The newspapers will be running the story with glee.

Pierre

Bamford still trolling . I’m sure we have been here just under a year ago …it didn’t happen then a d I doubt it will now. There is only one person that holds all the cards. Ozil will go when he’s ready to go . It’s all about results and performances on the pitch in the next few months . If results and performances go well for Arsenal and Emery then the fans will accept the outcome. However , if results take a turn for the worse and the perfomances do not improve then the groundswell of opinion will continue… Read more »

HighburyLegend

First things first.
#XhakaOut.

Davey

Is it just me but Martin Keown does my head in and seems to have an opinion on everything and spouts serious bollocks, when he is on BT europa nights with brains trust Hartson it really is a difficult watch.

Left testicle

London is dead.

Graham62

Sid

“I’m all for “globalisation” but not when its taking the piss.

The UK is a small island, with an overstretched economy and infrastructure.

Sometimes you’ve got to say “no more”

We never have.

The thing is, why do so many people want to come here?

Exactly!!

Graham62

Davey

You’re right.

Keown “spouts serious bollocks”

Sid

“The UK is a small island, with an overstretched economy and infrastructure.”
Replace “UK” with “world”

Jay

Davey
Him and hartson are painfull.

HighburyLegend

“From main man to misfit with Tottenham and England, Dele Alli is struggling to recapture his best form.”

This is so good… #wotacunt.

GoonerInNY

Mustafi was single-handedly responsible for a number of games last season. He is a disaster. I would be fine with him never putting on an Arsenal shirt again.

When he refused to leave in the summer, Emery should have sent him to train with the U23s.

Un na naai

SidOctober 10, 2019 09:03:19
“Ok. London. White brits are now a minority in 23 London boroughs”
Globalisation means a higher rate of racial admixture. Its evolution you cant beat it.

Utter bollocks

It’s one way traffic. Where are all the Europeans flooding into Middle East, Pakistan and Africa? Taking over their major cities? And you can beat it. You just say no. Look at Australia. New Zealand. A fine example

Left testicle

I think Priti Patel will sort immigration out. She’s saying all the right things.