From a purely neutral perspective, you have to salute the fact that Arsenal and Liverpool put on an outrageously exciting game of football. It was an absolute spectable, 10 goals in 90 minutes followed by a 9 pretty electric penalties that sadly finished the Sky Sports Gold classic on the side of Liverpool.
If you’re looking at it from a football purist perspective, we shipped 5 goals away from home in a game that Jurgen Klopp wasn’t taking too seriously (it clashes with the World Club Cup). That’s 7 goals in a week. That’s losing two leads from 2 goals up. That’s another loss however you look at it.
Unai Emery added some credit points to his flagging total with the fans. I thought that despite Mustafi trying to down his manager with an early own goal, we looked like we had a much better shape. The players for the most part looked like they knew what to do.
This is a common theme with Unai teams, we turn up for the big games, like the players know people are going to be paying attention. Everyone ran hard, we controlled the pace of the game for large parts and Liverpool didn’t really look like they had answers.
Mesut Ozil, as someone said in the comments, was the full package exgirlfriend experience of your nightmares. You dumped her because she’s boring and spent too much time playing computer games in curry stained tracksuit bottoms… then, after 3 months in life rehab, she shows up to the ball dressed up looking like the end scene of a teen film about transformation. Teen film? That sounded gross. But to be honest, I felt gross last night purring over a player I know will let me down. The sequel to this film is Requiem for a Dream.
Unai Emery tried to have a strategy last night, it seemed to revolve around the idea that sending Mesut up north for a tough game would show the fans that he’s a meek little bitch. How wrong was he? The German was on fire. He was at the heart of everything. We had 11 shots on goal with him on the pitch. It went further than that.
‘Mesut dispossesses’ was heard at least twice. Imagine, Mesut mucking in? He really must have been mad.
He has an edge over everyone in our squad. He thinks differently. He is decisive in the final third at a speed no one else can match. His assist for AMN was nothing short of ELITE ELITE ELITE. He just a very smart player that can open opposition in a moment.
So what happened? We were 4-3 up and Emery decided to hook him off on 65 minutes for Guendouzi. Say what you will Frenchman’s performance, Arsenal went from being a threat and creating 11 chances, to doing our usual, just 2 shots in 30 minutes with a heavily defensive midfield. Emery claimed this was preagreed, but for me, read the damn game. Read statistics that consistently show defensive subs are not the way to see out a game.
We all knew what would happen. Emery is world-class at snatching a loss from the jaws of victory, and so it was to be. Origi leveled, Willock put Arsenal ahead with and deeply sexy lash from 25 yards, then Origi leveled late on.
We lost the shoot out. AMN took the sauciest penalty of the night that deserved to be a winner, but sadly Ceballos blew his likes. Not a poor strike, but a great save.
So what did we learn?
We are very bad at defending. It’s not an individual issue, it’s a core structural problem. Bellerin and Tierney aren’t making a difference, nor is Lucas Torreira as a DM. We just don’t have the right sort of mindset to defend. The structure is open, built for individual errors, and Emery can’t fix it.
There should be no scenario where 5 goals away at Liverpool ends in a loss.
On the positive side of things, looking to the future, it’s clear that we have the raw ingredients for spectacular football. Emery tried to show the world that the way they see the squad is wrong last night. I genuinely believe he thought a Xhaka-less midfield with Ozil and Torreira was a throwaway game that’d show the fans what he’s persisting with in the league is correct.
Woooah was he wrong. Moving forward, we looked spectacular at points. Saka and Gabriel is a partnership for the ages. Mesut pulled strings. Torreira looked great. Willock was a force. We looked special, albeit against a second-string Liverpool side.
If we can find someone to manage us that can balance solidity and with exciting attacking football, we’re a 100 goal a season team. The future is there for a manager that wants to play with Arsenal’s post-1996 DNA. The Liverpool game was fun and vital because it showcased that Emery is tanking this squad with a conservatism that doesn’t need to be. He’s a Sevilla coach at heart, not an Arsenal manager.
So the story last night was a revival of glorious failure. A fun game, but ultimately, you’re judged on results, and that was not a good one for Emery. Nor was the subplot of trying to show up players he doesn’t like. Mesut has his flaws, but ostracising him in a moment in which we don’t create now has concrete evidence. We need to bring him in from the cold, hopefully he can warm the first team and kickstart a movement towards top 4.
I read some of the posts about Ozil on Le Grove and I question whether some of these posters actually watch games and actually read the game. My view is that Ozil is a sensitive soul who is easily upset and distracted offield and that has impacted on his performance in last three years. Clearly what occurred before and during last World Cup in Germany impacted on how he played and was not helped by the fact that the National Team were poor. Arsenal attempted to show some “love” by offering him a mega contract, which was resented by a… Read more »
Özil’s display is evidence enough that Emery should be sacked. It’s confirmation that he had this asset available the whole while but he was utterly inept to make use of. Instead he persevered with a defensive strategy which he couldn’t improve, whilst then at the same time starving the team of creativity. How many more faux pas does he have to make before Raul and Josh call it a day? Imagine if ambramovich had bought the club way back when he was actually in the market….yes, we’d probably be on our 5th manager at least – each however with some… Read more »
Oh for gods sake wait until Ozil is picked for a couple of EPL matches before waxing lyrical about him.
He was playing against a massively weakened Liverpool team who had inexperienced youngsters and a midfield that didn’t have one defensive minded midfielder in it.
Get a grip ffs.
If he produces in the top end matches then all well and good.
I would be hugely surprised if Ozil turns out this one man saviour that so many fans want to portray him as now.
But such is the insistent clamour and hype about him now I actually want to see him being given chances now in the bigger games and then this whole Ozil episode can be put to bed one way or another.
This is classic fan behaviour though.
When things are not going well they cling on to one aspect one player to be the mender of all ills.
And when that passes and proves not to be the case they then move onto the next player that has been absent for whatever reason.
A never ending cycle.
Emirates Stroller
“My view is that Ozil is a sensitive soul who is easily upset and distracted offield”
What with the Xhaka episode as well do we really want to keep on indulging these sort of players?
Is Arsenal a creche?
Surely fans would want strong minded players that are dynamic and adaptable.
Both Xhaka and Ozil are far from this.
Stroller, I completely agree. I don’t think that he is lazy and difficult. I just that he is moody and gets affected by external events more quickly than most. Some players have their parents dying in Friday and play on Saturday and produce a man of the match performance. Özil in the same circumstances would be on floor. He is not a fighter. If things do not go his way, he is not going to excel as a Fuck You answer. He is going to be despondent. Because of his experience at PSG, Emery tried his best sergeant major/tough boss… Read more »
ES
Watched Wrighty and Bergkamp tonight on Sky Sports. We now have to put up with the likes of Emery, Xhaka and Ozil.
I’m sorry ES but you do come across as very condescending sometimes.
Ishola
Ffs get a grip
None of our midfield or defence produce in top end matches. Why do you think we are in Emery’s beloved Europa League still
LT
That was great.
I actually have genuine feelings of love for Bergkamp.
I feel like Wright acted like I would meeting Bergkamp. Like an excitable child! Haha.
Batistuta
“There is no discernable statistic that shows us as being better under Emery, none whatsoever”
Here’s one: we finished 7 points better and one place higher in the table in his first season than we did in the previous. It’s not a lot, but it’s something.
And it’s “discernible,” btw.
CA
Bergkamp intimated that he would like to be involved in some capacity.
LT
Just let him do whatever he wants.
Give him the key to the Emirates.
Seriously though Bergkamp as a coach would be great.
Like having Bill Gates as your professor for coding.
One of the better recent comments from someone other than me. ___ Nelson October 31, 2019 10:51:35 I am all for keeping Emery at least until Christmas. This season, Emery has created three big problems for himself: – playing Xhaka as lone DM behind two CMs – openly freezing Ozil out and spending too much energy on Ozil – playing out from the back when opponents were closing in As of yesterday, all three problems appear to be gone. The dressing room can be united again. Adding Martinelli and Tierney to the starting 11, I have confidence that the team… Read more »
Nelson
I’m just curious: why do you say play 4-3-3 against stronger teams and 4-2-3-1 against weaker teams?
Freddie or Patrick at the helm with the likes of Bergkamp and Keown in coaching roles.
Pierre
“Mesut Ozil made a fool of Emery last night with his man of the match performance.”
If you stopped being so petty and vindictive, you’d see that far from feeling he’d been “made a fool of,” Emery was very pleased with Ozil’s performance last night and very pleased that Ozil performed well. One could see this in Emery’s post-match comments. Unlike certain people here, Emery is a grown-up. He wants to win matches, and if Ozil can help him win matches, well, then he is all for Ozil.
Dennis Bergkamp is my wifi password.
One of the better recent comments from someone other than me.
Why do you talk like this? John you really need to improve yourself as a person, you’re gonna be alone forever at this rate. When’s the last time you’ve been on a date? The local Tampa massage parlors don’t count.
So Pierre thinks Ozil is icing, not surprising considering the amount of times he’s shown up with Ozil’s frosting smeared all over his face.
Ozil did play well yesterday though, a different kind of performance than anybody else on the squad would be able to offer. Smear me with a bit of frosting too then I suppose, I’d be dousing myself with it if he was only able to do that consistently across the PL.
Cesc Appeal
“Klopp would likely have expected a loss when the team sheets came out.”
No, he wouldn’t have. He fielded the better players. AND he was at home.
Bamford is one them of them blokes that turn up to 5-a side in a proper full kit including socks, and you just know they’re shite at football haha! Proper bellend
Cesc Appeal (from last night)
“We’ve got an embarrassing lack of control over this game. Emery fundamentally cannot set up a midfield.”
The problem isn’t the set-up; it’s the weakness of our midfielders. Neither Torreira nor Willock is a midfield technician. We’re not going to control the game because our midfielders aren’t good enough to control this game. In contrast, Keita, Lallana and Oxlade-Chamberlain can.
‘Dennis Bergkamp is my wifi password’
First name on an Arsenal shirt was Bergkamp for me when I was a kid.
I’m not convinced the “apology” came from Xhaka. It has the PR department written all over it.
Below is another reasonable comment that cuts across the grain of the anti-Emery mob mentality that has seized control among certain sections of the fanbase, including here.
__
Emiratesstroller
October 31, 2019 09:12:50
“I agree with your view [Bamford & Graham] that Wenger, even in the latter years of his management career, had better players than we now see in current squad … The current squad has better players in the forward line, but the rest of team is lightweight, unbalanced and mistake-prone.”
B10
Are you really scrolling through last night’s comments to make a point?
Bamford
“We’re not going to control the game because our midfielders aren’t good enough to control this game. In contrast, Keita, Lallana and Oxlade-Chamberlain can.”
It’s hard to think any team in that match controlled the game that ended up 5-5.
Let’s not forget Liverpool only avoided a 4-5 defeat in injury time.
It wasn’t a serious match and I don’t know why any fans would take great insight from it.
Bojangles
“I’m not convinced the “apology” came from Xhaka. It has the PR department written all over it.”
Did we need to know the graphic detail about the online abuse?
Seems a bit cheap to me.
There is garnering for sympathy and then there is absolutely begging for it.
Are Granit Xhaka and Jess Phillips one and the same?
Left
Given the absurd slant of opinion at the moment and the mob mentality at work, yes, I am doing precisely that, because certain points and certain points of view need to be highlighted, in my opinion. We are only getting one side at the moment, and that side is not especially reasonable or fair or even accurate, IMO.
Do you have any comment on any of substance of what I have re-posted above?
I can’t blame xhaka for being pissed of about the horrible shit people said about his wife and kid. There’s no place for that in football or anything else
Where xhaka is wrong is to equate those booing fans with those sending the evil messages. Most of those booing fans are probably normal regular fans who have just had enough of him, and can’t be lumped in as the same as the absolute cretins who want his wife raped or whatever
All Xhaka needed to say was that he has been getting stuff online that is upsetting him.
There was no need to go into graphic detail about the abuse.
Now again he looks like a bit of a child. A kid that has been told off by his mum for his behaviour but says mum these boys were saying this and saying that and calling me bad names. They called me this, they called me that mum.
Club captain lol
China
He has distinguished and seperated the two I think.
He went into his graphic detail about the online abuse but also said he feels the fans don’t understand him which may well apply to those jeering him inside the ground.
He’s misunderstood.
“Given the absurd slant of opinion at the moment and the mob mentality at work, yes, I am doing precisely that, because certain points and certain points of view need to be highlighted”
Bam-bam
You think you’re being moderate but you’re not, you’re being extreme against the face of extremism, which was apt maybe a year ago but isn’t any longer.
I wish you were smart enough to understand this. I genuinely get sad for you sometimes because you’re obviously such a sexless numpty. You should make an effort to better yourself, I’m serious.
I have to say that I’m not convinced by Xhaka’s “apology”, whether it came from the man himself or from Arsenal’s PR department. He says he was already at “boiling point” because of (frankly disgusting) comments by fans on social media. But social media is not the stadium, and who knows who made those comments or whether they were fans? Twitter and Instagram and the rest have different rules and are entirely different arenas. Over at the stadium a small number of people started booing when The Captain showed an incredible lack of urgency leaving the pitch when he was… Read more »
Left Testicle There is no intention to be condescending. Everyone is entitled to express an opinion and indeed be critical. There have been several players whom I have criticised including on occasions Ozil, but I would never abuse them as some so called supporters do. I am frankly frustrated that Ozil who should be in his prime over last 3 years has underperformed, but the fact is that Emery has not given the player a chance to prove himself this season. Ozil is not even selected to sit on the bench. So it is ridiculous to be critical of the… Read more »
Xhaka’s ‘apology’ is much more insulting than his behavior haha.
I can predict that Xhaka will be looking for a transfer.
Luteo
You’re witnessing the overextension of masculinity from someone who no doubt works in a department overrun by women.
This is his outlet for being a big boy, nobody else talks like such an idiot referencing themselves as making good comments etc. I mean who rehashes comments from the night previous as a way of dubbing views “better” because they fall near his perception?
Same guy telling folk left and right that they ‘don’t see the game very well’. There’s trolling, and then there’s just being an embarrassment.
https://youtu.be/rzJy_CmeVH0
Bamford loves Emery as much as Pierre loves Ozil
Weird shit going on.
Let’s see what Ozil brings to the team over a continual period of PL games not meaningless cups, such as the Carabau cup against 2nd string team players. I’ve always said Ozil has the talent, but …………….. no need to regurgitate Ozil’s negatives here. As for Xhaka, he is happy to be paid way over his skill set and what little he brings to the squad, so unfortunately he has to suffer the multi media side and fans’ discontent when he is playing badly and costing us points/games, which is most of the time. Live by the sword and all… Read more »
Xhaka has his limitations on the pitch. But in no way shape or form should he be subjected to the type abuse directed at him and his family. I think it’s more than an extremel minority that do this at football matches or on social. It extends to regular people who attend matches and follow their clubs. With Nelson out due to injury and Özil unlikely to feature from the start, the ball won’t stick in the final third. Left Ceballos out of the predicted XI yesterday. I think he’ll start. Not sure Lacazette will start though. Revised XI Leno… Read more »
For Le Grove rugby enthusiasts both temporary and those that love the sport.
What the experts think the final score will be for tomorrow’s WC final.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-7637003/Sportsmails-experts-say-win-World-Cup-final-England-South-Africa.html
I agree with them it’s England’s game to lose, but it will not be an easy game with the Boks being a very physical side as well as ability to play quick expansive rugby.
May will have his handful keeping Kolbe quiet. Will be a great battle of the wings.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-7635495/Siya-Kolisi-South-Africas-black-captain-win-Rugby-World-Cup.html
Now we’ve had Xhaka’s apology does that mean Emery is going to select Xhaka and Ozil to tomorrow’s Wolves game?
2 players that need minders on the pitch for different reasons
Ceballos is a very light player. I doubt he would succeed in the premier league. On another note, I’d wait for Freddie to take over before I pass my final judgment on him. What do you guys think about him?. Regarding Xhaka, I’ve always maintained the line that if you perform well, no one would boo you or hurl attacks at you. Also, if you are a bad player, just make sure that you’re not costing the team. See elneny for example. He’s a worse player than Xhaka but has never been booed. He’s out of the limelight. And when… Read more »
Tony
Goodmorning.
I think it’s going to be a tight game but I’m hoping England can reproduce last weekends performance against the AB’s.
England by 6-8 points.
Tony
Is that “minders” or minutes?
Both work for me.
We have a good squad already but with gaping holes. A starting CM and CB are needed asap. And we may be have to sell Lacazette to give Martinelli a clearer path to the squad as the 2nd CF. Use the Lacazette money to go back for Zaha or Similar and let Saka deputize for him. While Nelson (I’d rather he’s sold) or ESR deputize for pepe. In CM, if we’re letting Özil go and he actually leaves, we’d need a goal scoring, assist giving CM Ala Bruno Fernandez or a creator like Maddison. Then we need a CM brute… Read more »
Oh, a new talented young coach who lays emphasis on attacking and controlling games.
Leno
Bellerin Saliba Upamaecano Tierney
Guendouzi CM. Özil/CM
Pepe Aubameyang LW
That is a top 3 team in the premier league.
Ishola
No one, if my memory serves me right, is saying ozil is the saviour we are waiting for
What Sensible posters are saying is that ozil can’t do any worse than the sets of bland attacking midfielders we presently have.
Ostracising him is not justifiable bearing in mind he earns like 350k per week.
It’s you that keeps changing what people say to score cheap point.
Ozil should play in our EPL matches because we need his creativity.
“If he (Ozil) produces in the top end matches then all well and good.”
Yeah, like the CAMs benching him have been producing right?
We all know that Wolves is going to be a tricky game. Infact, I would say the majority of supporters would not be surprised if we were not to win it.
Will Emery give Ozil a chance? Surely he has to ………………………………..doesn’t he? There’s no way Xhaka will play. Don’t even have to explain that one.
Traore concerns me big time, especially as he is becoming a key member of the Wolves team these days and doesn’t run around like a headless chicken as he once did.
Difficult to predict.
Either 1-1 or 2-2 or a narrow 2-1 win.
Since Ozil will not quit before his contract ends, we should ignore how much he is making and do the best thing for the team. For away games I prefer Ceballos unless it is a weak team that parks the bus at home. For home games, I would start Ozil and sub him out after 70 mins a la Jose style. I would start Martinelli who can support Ozil in the pressing department. Emery prefers to use Torr higher up to do the pressing. Guen will be the DM for now. We have to sign a stronger DM ASAP. Xhaka… Read more »
I think we are all in agreement now( apart from B10) that Emery has to go………and the sooner the better.
Apart from his inept tactical plans, poor manmanagement skills and his confusing communication skills(even in Spanish!), he has no feel or empathy for the fanbase.
If he did, he wouldn’t have hung Xhaka out to dry.
A poor poor manager.
Strange performance from Holding the other night. Does he suffer from confidence issues I wonder. I can remember a few years back not long after he first arrived, his form took a dive after a decent start . He looked very shaky at the back and his distribution was poor. He got over that period and excelled in the cup final v Chelsea and it all looked plain sailing . The following season Wenger didn’t trust him enough to be a regular starter, I amongst others, criticised wenger for this, but maybe there is something in his game/personality that holds… Read more »
Pierre
I think it’s probably based more on fitness and a lack of game time.
You’re right lets hope the upcoming EL games help him regain confidence so that he push for a first team place.
As you rightly highlight, when up and running, he is “probably our best defender”
Pierre
Maybe Rob is having a confidence problem after coming back from a serious injury. Don’t expect him to reach his best level till after the New Year. Overall, he is an alright player and seems to be a lovely guy. His ceiling as a player is not very high. Doesn’t excel in any facet of the game. At best, he should be a squad CB.
D10
Disagree.
Cheers.
Silverhawk
I really like Ceballos. Highly technical, great passer of the ball, great work-rate, very intelligent. However, he is a little slow and this holds him back. It is hard to say how he might fare long-term in the PL, but I think his slowness will/would be an issue, and he may be back in Spain in seven months’ time anyways.
How often do players become class when they haven’t played for a while. They just get better with every passing month…. in our minds.
Xhaka isnt misunderstood. He is just out of his depth. Stealing a living at this level.
Rather than do the decent thing play in a league more suited to his ability, he blames everyone else for his failings.
Disgusting that he is now trying tar fans in the Stadium with the online abuse he is getting. Shameful response from Xhaka and AFC.
Just tells you about the dishonesty and integrity of modern footballers. Its all about the money. Just like AW, he does want to give up the golden goose
Hold on to the golden money tree Xhaka.
It’s a little old now, but this was Arsenal Truth’s reasonable take on Monday after the 2-2 Palace draw. ___ Arsenal Truth Monday, October 28, 2019 Pick the bones out of that. If the saying is true, Emery had an unfilleted mola mola for tea on Sunday night. When Emery was appointed, I said I’d give him until October 2020 before deciding whether I thought he was the right man for the job. The only precondition was everything going horribly wrong, and that looks a possibility over the next couple of months due to Arsenal’s inability to play with any… Read more »
“Where I do empathise with Emery is that, on the face of it, he does not have the midfield players he needs to control a football match. Xhaka is garbage, Guendouzi is a jack of all trades master of none, Willock is out of his depth, Torreira lacks positional discipline, Ozil is physically and mentally unequipped for the PL, and Ceballos is very skillful but does not influence games – I can see why Zidane doesn’t rate him.”
One of the better paragraphs written about our midfield in some time.
New post.
Feels as if the media are well and truly circling around Emery
At last Pedro has identified the collective problems in our defence, which is what I have been suggesting for a very long time. There are of course individual players who are poor defenders and who are also error prone. The most notable case is Mustafi who needs to be offloaded and replaced in January. Kolasinac is okay going forward, but is frankly defensively a liability. Frankly he is too often out of position. Arsenal need to recruit if possible as soon as possible a top class centre back who reads the game well and adds composure to what is at… Read more »
Well that was a nice break from the standard bull shit until silverhawk came striding into town
Talking shit about how inept our squad is
This storm is killing almost all cities in the east coast. We lost power the whole day. How I miss the civilization.