Emery has two excellent decisions forced on him

by .

So it would appear my hunch about Xhaka and the counselling thing being a nonsense was spot on, according to Arseblog the player was angry that Arsenal had packaged the blow-up like that. It really is grim that the club would use ‘mental health’ to deflect standard shitty behaviour and hurt feelings. 10 years ago, when someone famous would get caught with their pants down, they’d come out as a ‘sex addict.’ There would be a serious conversation about the seriousness of addiction, and we’d sympathise with person that simply couldn’t have night out without having to sleep with babes behind their partners back. In 2019, you can pretty much deflect anything by alluding to it being a little deeper, you know, a little more, ‘let’s not talk about this considering the current climate.’

It works as well. So many people calling bullshit on this story yesterday were being slammed for their insensitivity. So it’s a little amusing to find out that the player was annoyed that the narrative was incorrect, he was simply pissed at the fans.

The great thing about this revelation is it helps us cut faster to the clearest interpretation of this whole debacle: Xhaka ain’t captain material.

He couldn’t properly apologise.

He couldn’t formulate a response in good time.

He still doesn’t understand that his behaviour was wrong, regardless of the circumstances.

The manager isn’t going to play him this weekend, part one of Emery being boxed into better decisions by circumstance.

I think it’s absolutely hilarious to watch Emery dance around in tar over the ‘problem’ of Xhaka. Any manager that could read the situation would have seen this issue as a huge opportunity.

  1. Emery could have won respect of the fans and players by making a decision on Arsenal principles.
  2. He could have used the actions of a petulant player to cover for his HORRENDOUS mistake in giving the player the armband in the first place.

Best thing for him is he doesn’t have to start a player that’s a tactical weakness for us for the next month. Let’s be honest, Emery was coming around to the idea that his captain was shit. He subbed him off on 70 against Sheffield United, then on 64 against Palace.

By total fluke, we might start to see a midfield that’s more balanced and fit for the Premier League games.

That’s the good news.

On the bad news front, you can tell the beginnings of the end are upon us for the manager. The club has lost control of the media narrative. Players, agents and journos are not playing ball like the used to. Ultimately, it’s because the media don’t like Emery, I was hearing that last year, now fan sentiment has switched, watch them go for his jugular.

The Independent has a weird story about the players ripping the piss out of Emery behind his back.

There are some other stories about agents raising the ‘bad management’ to senior leadership. Last season, I wouldn’t have believed it, this season, we have mega agents involved and players like David Luiz. Players bring down managers when you’re in bed with super agents.

This isn’t just an attack on Emery, it’s also getting at Edu. Where is his leadership and sharp decision making in all this? It’s a total mess and he’s all over this.

To cap off the nightmare week for Arsenal, Mesut Ozil is posting happy tweets which allude to him starting this weekend.

Once again, Emery has made a public stance about the player, once again, he’s caved.

We all knew he would. But we’ve literally gone from, ‘Edu and Raul told me to do it’ last week, to Mesut starting two games in a row. Mesut has played his hand superbly.

I think it’s the right decision considering how little creativity we’ve had in the squad. We’ve also seen that the player still has it, Mesut dropping a blistering performance in midweek.

… it half looks bad, doesn’t it.

If you are ostracising someone, go all in or don’t go public with what you are doing. Emery is an amateur. He did the same last season with Aaron Ramsey (and Ozil). If you don’t have the guts to follow through, don’t make big statements about players. Very simple.

Still, it appears we’ve landed in two good positions by accident. Our midfield will be more dynamic, and our most creative player will get the chance to succeed or fail.

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

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David Smith

This being Arsenal, emery really will have to do something spectacularly bad to go before the end of the season, but just hope Edu and indeed anyone on the board who know what a football looks like ensures Emery is not here next season

TR7

Hoping we get to see a Torr-Guen-Ozil midfield today.

Micheal

The truth is that no one appears to be in control at Arsenal these days.
Kroenke is not interested in football.
Josh is daddy’s boy doing as he’s told
Raul & Edu looks weak and indecisive
Emery’s failure to impose himself is exemplifed in the botched handling of Xkaha.

There is no authority,no control and no obvious direction or ambition. And as Pedro repeatedly asks: What’s the plan ?

To me the present sitiuation looks like Wenger Mark 2.

Words on a Blog

Whether commenter X or Y wanted Wenger in or out, or at what point they wanted Wenger out is interesting, but only from an Arsenal-politics perspective.

Logically speaking, it has no bearing on whether Emery should Emeremain or Emerexit.

That view should only be informed by Emery’s decisions and the team’s performance.

I don’t care whether or not Pierre or CC used to be hard-core AKBs, or at what point (if at all) they renounced the faith. We are discussing Emery, and it Emery and the team that counts.

Samesong

Charlie I think we will turn them over. I like Nuno as manager. Looks like a character.

Still see us leaky at the back though. But that be down to the quality of the player’s and not the tactics 😆😆😆

DaleDaGooner

Emery = boring Rioch…… he’ll be gone and Freddie will take over and then booom we get reignited by a saucy manager

Grant

So how do we think the games going to go today? Start Ozil go 2 goals up, then sub Ozil on 65 minutes then finish on a loss or draw.

DaleDaGooner

Words on A Blog= common sense

Obsessives on either sides. Wenger is gone ffs

Emery is shit, period!

DaleDaGooner

What does it matter when we wanted Wenger out?

The status quo is rubbish, that’s what’s important now.

DaleDaGooner

Brendon Rogers taking Leicester up in just his first season with them.

Champagne charlie

“Right, except for their beating City 2-0 at The Etihad.“

They’ve won 2 of 10 PL games and have a goal difference of 0 you fucking lemon.

Same bullshit you peddle with us being organised after 45 mins against Bournemouth, completely ignoring the masses of date around your one bamfact.

Bob N16

Some of us have been waiting for Xhaka to be unavailable, to see whether Emery can come up with a functioning midfield. Could today be the start of something good? Some people argue that our midfield options are poor and that no coach could get a serviceable tune out of them. I hope that this too negative a picture. That’s not to say that we couldn’t upgrade one or two of them next Summer and I would hope that a new coach would have some input on that. I still believe a midfield with LT at the base with Guendouzi… Read more »

Bamford10

Dale

Rodgers has a better XI available to him than Emery has had.

And Rodgers may in fact be a better PL manager than Emery. That wouldn’t make Emery “shit” or mean that Emery was doing a “shit” job.

Bob N16

AKB label so passé.

Grant

I kind off agree with matt from the podcast, I won’t Arsenal to lose so Emery gets the sack!

Bamford10

Churlish is getting frustrated. He doesn’t like the implications of Wolves having beaten City 2-0 at The Etihad. Not that he’s worried about Arsenal not getting a result today; he’s worried about his narrative.

Bob N16

Our most regular American contributor is arguing nonsense again.

Emery is not doing a satisfactory job- there is no reasonable argument against this statement. To argue otherwise is pointless and ridiculous.

Goobergooner

Well played England! 🤣

Bamford10

Bob

No, it’s not. It still correctly describes a certain fan from the Wenger years. And to the extent that some of these guys have held on to their conviction that Wenger was a great manager even in the later years, that he was wronged by WOBs, etc. — see Pierre for an example of this — it actually still describes some of them in the present moment.

Graham62

Dale Yes, “Wenger is gone for ffs” but let’s not forget that we are where we are mainly because of him. Sorry, but no one can convince me otherwise. If he’d gone sooner, Emery wouldn’t be at the club. Blame the owners if you like but for me it’s always down to one thing, our fans. It’s also a totally different feel with Emery, because he’s only been here a short time and he’s clearly not up to scratch, we can and should act. The fans are restless and should we slip up against Wolves today, and/or against Leicester next… Read more »

Bamford10

Bob

I love how you say “there’s no way to argue this” when I’ve just explicitly argued this just above. If I said something unreasonable there, you should point that out. You haven’t and you won’t, though, because you know that what I’ve said is reasonable. “There is no way you can argue” is just your way of admitting you have no counter-argument. If you have one, make it.

HighburyLegend

Big lol to Edu, seems to be a pussy, him too.

TR7

‘There is no way you can argue” is just your way of admitting you have no counter-argument. If you have one, make it.’

Says the guy who couldn’t make one argument to prove Arsenal under Emery is an ‘organized and disciplined’ team despite numerous posters goading/challenging him.

Bob N16

The idea that someone who was devoted to Wenger then has to have a shared view on any new manager is flawed. I’ve read it on here so many times that there is some of embittered inconsistency when judging Emery.

I’m really looking forward to this lazy, narrative- driven labelling coming to an end but I’ m not holding my breath.

Champagne charlie

“Churlish is getting frustrated. He doesn’t like the implications of Wolves having beaten City 2-0 at The Etihad. Not that he’s worried about Arsenal not getting a result today; he’s worried about his narrative.“

Do you hear yourself sometimes?

Wolves are suspect because they’ve won 2 games in 10 and have drawn the most games in the league. What’s hard to digest about that?

One result in 10 doesn’t make a team, back to the classroom student of the game.

Bamford10

TR7

Says the guy who will soon enough be taking a three-month break from Le Grove.

And I’ve made the case to support that assertion, to the extent that such a case can be made in this context.

Distant legrover

Does it even matter if Ozil starts? Haven’t it been established that Emery sucks at using no 10s ?

Distant legrover

And please no Mourhino. I really think he signed a deal with Abrahamovic to go and fuck up Chelsea’s top 4 rivals. He’s already done it at Man Yoo. Now his people are trying to shove him down Arsenal throat. He’s gonna mess us up and move on to Tottenham. And then Liverpool.

Bob N16

Bamford, it appears your argument is that we got more points last season and this season, if you choose to package our first five games and compare them to our second five games, we’ve conceded less shots on goals and this represents an improvement. Anybody who uses there eyes and has any knowledge of football would be unable to see any improvement at all. In fact, with a stronger squad, we look equally uncertain of how to play effectively.. There has not been one game this season in the PL that you could argue that we’ve played really well. You… Read more »

TR7

‘And I’ve made the case to support that assertion, to the extent that such a case can be made in this context.’

What assertion ? The stock argument you have is those who don’t see any improvement can’t see the game which is quite ironic coming from you.

TR7

Unai Emery on Özil: “I spoke with him on Tuesday. I said to him every time what my plan is with him. When he’s available, when he’s training well, when he’s consistent, when he’s positive, he can help us a lot. Now, I am seeing him positive & consistent. With his performance in Liverpool, I think this is the way we want. I am helping him, supporting him, demanding of him. This is the Mesut everyone wants. He has big experience. When you talk about players who are ready to play under high pressure, one is Mesut.” Another volte-face from… Read more »

Emiratesstroller

Graham62

I did say that Emery had to go but I also said that Arsenal’s owners and senior
management were unlikely to make a hasty decision and would most probably defer it until end of season.

Nevertheless there are serious problems at the club reflected in last two
performances which raise more urgent questions, which I have suggested
that there may have to be a decision taken at Xmas.

Let’s see how they perform today.

Graham62

ES

Fair enough.

Cheers.

Tee

Calling people akbs cos they wanted Emery out is like been beaten blue black but still surmorning your last courage because your friends are hailling and calling you Bruce Lee Bruce Lee. When you say we are here because of Wenger, my question is should we then be stuck in there in the darkness and continue to tell who cares to listen why we are here? If lampard could set such a blue print within a short period (though they still might not make the top 4), is visible improvement too much to ask our £6million a year manager for?… Read more »

Gentlebris

‘Gentle I’ve never seen a 3-1-2-1-3 before and that looks risky as hell with two attacking wing backs as part of a back 3 alongside an error prone CB’ China, Believe me I know it’s risky and if I really wanna express the way I feel right now I would play Torrey, Ceba and Guen as my three defenders😐😐😐😐 I’m just so so tired of our boring Emery football that doesn’t even get results. Play the attacking players! We were on our way to winning the cup game against Liverpool until Emery began to think defensive. What kinda coach actually… Read more »

Bamford10

Oops. 1-0, Bournemouth. I could be in trouble here. Nah, the season is long; I’m not too concerned.

Bamford10

Tee

“Calling people AKBs cos they want Emery out …”

No one is doing that.

Tee

It’s so painful to watch our games theses days.

We attack, we concede

We defend, we concede

Is there presently any praiseworthy thing this present team and manger
are known for?

Let’s all keep mute because Wenger caused it.

Some find it difficult to bring themselves down to the fact that transition or no transition, we should be this bad.

Tee

*shouldn’t be this bad*

Bamford10

The PL is so good, so competitive. Bournemouth could be up 2-0 here, maybe 3-0. A very, very difficult league.

Samesong

Or a very poor defensive display from united.

Spanishdave

If the management want EC qualification this season they have to act sooner rather than later as we will not be able to catch up.
If we only get a point in the next two games it will mean two points out of a possible twelve from the last four games.
That is relegation level football.
Emery is not a builder of teams.

WengerEagle

‘A very, very difficult league.’

United under Ole are shit though.

G8

If and it’s a big if…ozil starts to play consistently well ,wouldn’t that be because of the “tough love” the club and Emery showed toward him?

The question is for all ozil enthusiasts there!?

Gentlebris

‘The PL is so good, so competitive. Bournemouth could be up 2-0 here, maybe 3-0. A very, very difficult league.’

Yeah anything to excuse Emery’s failure. ‘Very difficult league’ as if Klopp and Pep play in another league.

WengerEagle

Mad random how South Africa are so good at Rugby.

bennydevito

Bamford you grape, don’t you know that everything you say is wrong?

Get back in the fruit bowl you orange!

Bamford10

WE

Glad you’re here. You’ve never replied to my offer re the wager. I revised your original to the loser of the wager must take three months off from Le Grove. TR7 has accepted this proposal. How about you? If “United are shit” and if you were willing to wager “never posting on Le Grove again,” surely you’ll accept my revised loser-takes-three-months-off-from-Le-Grove wager, no?

WengerEagle

Absolutely Bam count me in. No-brainer that.

Emery is the only reason that I’m not one hundred percent confident on it but as long as OSG is at United, it’s a bet that I’m cashing in on.

Bamford10

Benny

Are you saying the PL is not a super competitive league, or that mid-table teams like Bournemouth are not better and trickier than some imagine or than they were twenty years ago? I think it is; I think they are.

Bamford10

WE

Excellent. I hope you win — as I would like Arsenal to finish above United — but I suspect you won’t. Cheers.

TR7

1. City
2. Pool
3. Tottenham
4. Chelsea
5. Arsenal
6. Leicester
7. United

Edu me a favour

Bamford

When you say we are more disciplined organised , better defensively etc – are you talking from the start of this season , or since emery took over ?

Bamford10

Edu

Since Emery took over. I am simply saying that we are better organized and more disciplined under Emery than we were under late Wenger.

Un na naai

Pedro looks and talks like Russel Howard

Un na naai

Oh no

Big bad bam is back

Nelson

Arsenal XI: Leno; Chambers, Luiz, Sokratis, Tierney; Guendouzi, Torreira, Ceballos, Ozil; Lacazette, Aubameyang

Substitutes: Martinez, Bellerin, Pepe, Willock, Kolasinac, Martinelli, Saka

Micheal

Team:

Leno, Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Tierney, Guendouzi, Torreira, Ceballos, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang.

Subs: Martinez, Bellerin, Pepe, Willock, Kolasinac, Martinelli, Sako.

Nelson

I hate this 4 4 2 formation. Emery has to give up playing both Auba and Laca at the same time.

Un na naai

Now that’s a team
If we don’t pulverise wolves then it’s down to tactics

Unless Bamford and Hairbrain think bellerin is the difference

Bamford10

Two little Le Grove things, btw. One, while I was looking for something in past posts the other day, I saw a number of exchanges that suggest that “Un Na” is telling the truth and that he is not “Don.” While Un Na is just as wrong about everything, just as abusive, and just as retrograde in his social and political opinions, Don was a different apple. Don had a meltdown in which, among other things, he accused me of being gay and alleged (hilariously) that Pedro and I were the same person. Two, if Marko has been binned, I… Read more »

Bamford10

Nelson

Agreed.

Un na naai

Nelson
If the midfield sit back then the full backs push on and create width
Tactically it can work but he has to set them up and coach it properly

Torreira sits deep and destroys no matter what happens
Guendouzi joins form deep when the full backs sit but when they go he sits with Torreira and protects the centre halves.

WengerEagle

UNN is good people for the most part, would be pretty dull if we all shared the same views on everything.

He’s not for the thin-skinned but suppose I’m just used to piss-taking as I’m Irish.

Edu me a favour

Bamford But we have conceded more shots , more goals and have won less tackles – since emery took over – the stats are there for all to see I read what you post , and I’m still scratching my head as to how you’ve come to this conclusion – if I’m looking at statistics then I’m thinking well , he’s made us worse. And if I’m watching with my eyes , I’m thinking well we look the same if not worse then wengers worst period – I get that we finished a place higher and 7 points better off… Read more »

Nelson

Un

If we have Bellerin as RB, it would work better. Chambers can’t cross the ball.

salparadisenyc

Very Wenger starting XI when he was shoe horning all the ‘favorites’ in.

Would of preferred Ozil thru middle in the mid w/Pepe on the right, Martinelli on left with either PEA or Laca thru the middle.

WengerEagle

Speaking of dull, United look like they could be playing for hours here and not score.

Solskjaer is an absolute hack.

WengerEagle

Auba to score today, been a bit of a dry spell for him of late.

Bamford10

Edu

Yeah, I see that some of the stats suggest the opposite, but I also know that stats do not always tell the whole story.

As for what one’s eyes tell one, I definitely see it differently: for me it’s clear and evident that we are better organized, have better structure and are more disciplined now than we were then.

You seem a reasonable sort, though; I respect your view. Cheers.

Nelson

Something just never changes. Emery tinkering the formation.

Pierre

Looks like a diamond in midfield I would say ..Torreira at the base , ozil at the top, 2 up front ..full backs giving the width.

Could be wrong though.

Bamford10

United off the post. Greenwood should have scored there. Still 1-0, Bournemouth.

Edu me a favour

Bamford

Are you going to be watching via a stream or do they show the game in the states ?

I’m going to try and find a decent stream and really really study our structure and organisation !! Let’s reconvene afterward haha !

Left Testicle

I don’t like it but I think he’ll line up like this…
Leno
Chambers-Sokratis-Luis-Tierney
Guendouzi-Ceballos
Torreira
Ozil-Lacazette-Auba

Peckobill

Sal
That’s the team I wanted today as well , with torr and guen sitting behind

Bamford10

I think Emery has gotten this wrong. He should be sticking with 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. Ozil + Auba + Laca will not give us enough in the attacking third, and unless Tierney and Chambers have stormers, I don’t see us creating enough to win.

Samesong

One, while I was looking for something in past posts the other day, I saw a number of exchanges that suggest that “Un Na” is telling the truth and that he is not “Don.” While Un Na is just as wrong about everything, just as abusive, and just as retrograde in his social and political opinions, Don was a different apple. Don had a meltdown in which, among other things, he accused me of being gay and alleged (hilariously) that Pedro and I were the same person. Un and Don are the same. You still get slated by him. Mention… Read more »

Peckobill

Bamford
With you on that 4-2-3-1
Leno
Chambers
Sok
Luiz
Tierney
Guen
Tore
Pepe
Ozil
Martinelli
Auba
That’s what I was hoping

Bamford10

United lose 1-0 at Bournemouth, get zero points. Down to it being a very tricky and difficult league, IMO.

Nelson

Why bench Pepe? We need his free kick and corner kick. Emery is just making very odd decision.

WengerEagle

This Zaniolo lad for Roma looks a baller.

HillWood

Bournemouth on 16 pts

Samesong

Chambers worries me today I hope he has a good game.

Left Testicle

Just as Pepe is hitting a little bit of form he us dropped.

azed

So we are playing with no natural width.

Emery losses or draws this game and he’s out.

Peckobill

Think Pepe would’ve really benefited playing in a side with ozil

Un na naai

NelsonNovember 2, 2019 14:12:11
UnIf we have Bellerin as RB, it would work better.

Chambers can’t cross the ball?
Mate!! Are you for real?? Bellerin can’t cross

Chambers has assisted 5 goals this season

Wenger eagle

Thanks man. #imnotirishmydadis

Un na naai

Bamford

Why do you think I’m not Don? Because he accused you and Pedro of being the same person??

HillWood

Ceballos and Ozil
Interesting

HillWood

Any links for the match pls

China1

Odd lineup as usual

We’re not playing top tier opposition, can we not just play our strongest, most balanced 11 rather than looking to set up as some kind of counter to the mighty Watford ffs

Distant legrover

Pepe finally gets Ozil to play with but he’s on the bench ?
Emery doing that confusing thing again.

Distant legrover

Peckobill

That’s a line up to dream about.

Graham62

axed

I’m with you on that.

Nelson

Most of the EPL teams jam the middle. We need two fast wingers to open up the field. Now we select to play two strikers in the middle. I don’t like it. If he plays Auba as a LW, it would be a waste also.

China1

Why drop Pepe and why have no wingers on the pitch? Emery manages to make every game look like such a task. Not every match in the season should require us to do this reactionary style Against city or utd away or whatever sure. Be clever, surprise the opposition and get a result. I’m ok with that. But why must we treat pretty average and poor teams with so much respect? There are a few different ways we could set up but I think 80% of people would agree on a Pepe auba and Martinelli lineup to start the match.… Read more »

Graham62

Pepe sidelined.

Typical Emery.

Graham62

As I’ve always said, Emery just loves to complicate matters.

Peckobill

Distant legrover
Maybe just maybe we’ll get to to see it later in the game , though I fear he’ll sub ozil first and keep Martinelli for Wednesday