Edu and Raul scowling at the pitch was all Arsenal fans on a rainy day in the midlands. Unai Emery set up to nullify a rampant Leicester and in the main, he did pretty well for large parts of the game. However, when it came down to it, the difference-maker was Jamie Vardy and the rest is history.
Unai lost the day, Arsenal are now 9 points behind Leicester, sitting in 6th, behind Sheffield United and the usual suspects in November. It’s not a good look, especially considering the investment this summer. The players look uninterested. The fans are unanimous. It’s over for the manager.
Our starting 11 only had one of our summer signings in it. Our record signing benched, Kola preferred over Tierney, Ceballos not even in the squad…
I wasn’t overly impressed with the first half. I thought our midfield was run ragged at times and despite the front three playing a specific tactical role, I felt their effort was limited off the ball. I think our core issues stemmed from our inability to play the ball from out the back, a problem we’ve had since day one of Emery. The players don’t know how to move the ball past the third pass.
The second half was all about the midfield, or lack of one. If this season has been marked by any issue bigger than our terrible midfield, I don’t know about it. We struggle with shape because players are asked to play unfamiliar roles, LT playing in a more advanced role is poison. Watching them either drop too deep into the defence to affect what’s ahead of them, or push too far forward to make up for an immobile strike force, is absolutely painful to watch. None of them have a clue. It’s not a personnel issue, it’s a coaching problem.
We had three very good attacking players on the pitch today, but as usual, it was an absolute struggle to involve them in the game. There’s no structured idea of how we move the ball forward, that results in long dangerous balls or a total breakdown and a quick turnover.
No one likes xG, but just like last season, it’s always a precursor to a correction. We had a lot of luck at the start of the season and we were bailed out by individual brilliance. I think the game against Leicester was an example of individual talent not being on hand to rescue a bad system.
Leicester have great individuals, but they combined that with a sense of identity and a vision of how to play the game. Brendan Rodgers has them organised, energised and playing great football. As Matt said on the podcast in the week, football players just want to know what to do. I’m not sure Unai Emery has his players singing off his hymnsheet (horrible tune no doubt). We looked good in patches, but the game was same old, same old. Unai Emery went away to Leicester hoping to defend deeply and nick a win, depressing when you consider how shite Leicester were last season before Rodgers took over.
I can understand why Emery is hiding behind negative tactics against a good side, he’s had it rough the last few weeks, the problem I have is that’s generally the way he approaches every game. The vision he has for the team is more miserable than it needs to be. He’s treating our squad like he’s back in Sevilla, something the PSG players moaned about. I don’t think the players want to play that way. I think a coach with a bit more confidence would recognise that our front three are amongst the most lethal in the league, and the depth is pretty decent as well. We’re geared up to play an explosive brand of scary attacking football. We need a coach that can play that way.
That’s not coming under Emery and his negative football isn’t paying off. I can’t see him surviving much longer, but as I’ve written about extensively this week, there don’t seem to be many options open to the leadership team.
Freddie, Mourinho, Allegri and Wenger. I like Allegri, but as I wrote yesterday, we’d be matching an elite manager to a situation that is going to require time and a lot of patience. I am guessing he wants to win the Champions League with his next outfit, and I would imagine he’d want instant funding to get there, that’s not us. I’m not sure it’s a fit. Freddie is too junior, Mourinho is an arsonist, and Wenger is a no go.
But what do you do? You have to have a crack at reviving the season, and that’s clearly not going to happen under Emery who appears to have lost the confidence of the players.
This is where the Edu has to come armed with a solution. Trouble for him is that the up and coming managers doing great work at the moment are unlikely going to want to move to a dumpster fire midseason even if the club is tempting.
… making a decision under duress could lead us to a 4-year disaster that makes this look like a drop in the ocean. I don’t want to be the ‘careful what you wish for’ guy, but remember, Raul was captivated by Unai Emery, so I can’t imagine what his shortlist is looking like, but I’d imagine Luis Enrique and Jose Mourinho is the shade of manager we’re looking at. The ‘we need a winner’ solve. The United path.
We’re breaking for international week, I’d imagine we’ll find out in the next two days what the club is going to do. If nothing happens now, he’ll be here until January, and boy, that December to Jan fixture list is brutal. But at least it might give the club a little more time to source someone who can stabilize and build.
We’ll see though, choppy waters ahead regardless. See you in the comments.
Tr4phy
Oops
Top 4?
Sacked in the morning surely?
There is something fundamentally wrong with Emery’s style or lack thereof at Arsenal. We have conceded 59 attempts in our last 3 games with 19 of those on target. All this while having 49%, 65% and 58% of possession in those games. Out of our last 270 minutes of football, the opposition had the ball 115 of those minutes. And yet managed 59 attempts. On average, over our last 3 games, the opposition had an attempt every 2 minutes while they were in possession. We don’t seem to have players on the pitch, we have training cones in Arsenal kits.
Pedro while we got you here any chance of take a quick gander at the last page of the previous article. Maybe think about binning someone who doesn’t disagree with you about the whole Ramsey situation for a change.
Nice post
Marc No, I’m not guaranteeing anything with any hire. I just happen to think it’s better-than-likely that whoever comes in will offer more than our worst start in 37 years did someone post? I wasn’t clued up on Emery and thought, after a superficial glance at his CV, he could be good for us. But I was swept up in the new-sauce and the more I read for myself the more questions I was left with. So….I’m just curious what folk have to say about Enrique because he’s not on my radar personally, my views on the subject are known… Read more »
MarkoNovember 9, 2019 20:49:40
Pedro while we got you here any chance of take a quick gander at the last page of the previous article. Maybe think about binning someone who doesn’t disagree with you about the whole Ramsey situation for a change.Nice post
Marko
You snivelling lick arse
Slurp slurp
Thank you, Leicester City! If Emery is not fired by Monday morning then it’s clear that the owners and the board have zero ambition of bringing the good ‘ole glory days back to Arsenal or at least making us more competitive, and we (the fans) might as well just pack our bags so to speak and move on until the new regime comes in (hopefully including a new owner) who will fix the huge mess that we find ourselves in.
Emery asking for time and patience suggests that it’s only a matter of time before something’s announced. My guess is tomorrow or Monday.
Pedro,
Don in the other post is currently offending like 5 different posters saying blatant disgusting things. Worth taking a look.
Only a cunt would ask for someone to get binned
That’s marko and Bamford in a group of unique cry babies
Un, take it down a notch its just football.
No need to make things personal.
I’m offensive??
Emery is offensive
Bamford is offensive
Marko is offensive
Fuck off raptora
I’m incensed
I’m expressing my anger at emerge and those who backed him
Obvious best candidate out there is Allegri. No way he would be interested in us though..
Still remember i was the first one to mention Emery’s name here in this blog well before his name was on the table. I thought he were ideal to win us Europa and bring us slowly back to the top 4.
Little did i know though.. 🙁
Un “Fuck the lot of you man WENGER OUT!!! Hahahahaha Look what we’ve got now You foreign cunts created so much hoohaa You’re not even part of arsenal You’re not part of our country Was the third worlders who got us here” I’m part of “our” country and I’m also a season ticket holder so I attend matches, something you don’t. I wanted Wenger out as did many others who are fans who make a difference. You can’t make the moral argument when you are just some cunt on the internet. That makes you worse than the guys in other… Read more »
Left
Naaa mate
These fools are getting their noses rubbed in their own dog shit
This days been coming for years
I’ve been called a chav
A Muslim Cunt
A fag
I live in my mums basement
You want to talk about personal?
Salaam
Emery is doing a good enough job.
Inherited the most piss awful side in truth – we can still finish top six which would be an excellent result for this club.
Arsenal are not the huge club Arsenal fans think it is – in fact, its shit.
Emery is the best we will get – top managers want top jobs like Man Utd not Arsenal…
Spudnik.. You pissed
I’m part of “our” country and I’m also a season ticket holder so I attend matches, something you don’t.
Mark with a c
Then you’re a mug. Next
CC
You’ve sort of repeated my point. There are no guarantees. People on here name managers and players who they rate etc all the time – a few hours later it’s forgotten.
Manager talk is all speculation – the links to Enrique are down to him being out of work and having a history with Sanllehi.
Time will tell.
Probably stay away from Enrique… Has Emery mk2 written all over him
This Arsenal team needs a lift! An injection of self confidence in each other as players! A need for each other like a pack of wolves! Everyone is important,all
players must support the others,in defence ,midfield and forward lines. A slow patient build up,keeping possession does not breed success. Quick accurate slick passing,and defence splitting through balls inside the back line creates doubt and fear into any opposition.We use to do it! Now it seems no one is allowed to do it!
We need to change the mindset NOW!
Marc
Right, but because theres no guarantees doesn’t mean you tolerate less than expected.
We need a change, whether that happens or not is a reflection of the competency present in the executive offices.
I’d much rather change and fail than not change at all. I can support probing and pushing for a higher standard, I can’t tolerate apathy.
After Sheffield we looked at the fixture list and knew this was likely the death nail if previous results went against and we kept spinning downward. Here we are not the 10 points back from 4th predicted but 9 is pretty fucking close. Emery is that bad, those still on the player poverty train are offering nothing but banter to the ultimate dialogue in order to sustain agenda at this stage. Read today in comments some would kill for Jamie Vardy in this side, same that likely slated the absolute shit out of Wenger for trying to sign him. The… Read more »
Going to need someone who will work on a shoestring.
Arteta or Diego Martinez (if he speaks English)
Marc and Marko playing the offended when most of their comments are offensive, lie or insults is a new level of hypocrisy.
Soon Bamford will complain that somebody is reposting his old comments to answer it point per point.
Look how far Man Utd have fallen yet the focus seems to be on Emery.
CC
We seem to be having an argument when agreeing.
My point was about Enrique, is he right – no idea. Would he be better than Emery – I’d fucking hope so. Is he even on the list – no idea.
Valentin
When have I claimed offense tonight? Please reference a comment.
Probably stay away from Enrique… Has Emery mk2 written all over him
While Charlie is looking for someone to convince him of Enrique I’ll have to ask to be convinced of why Enrique would be Emery mark 2. Him being Spanish as well isn’t enough. I would argue being linked with the Arsenal and Chelsea jobs and getting the Spanish job is a decent indicator of him as a manager
Reading up on Enrique, he’s seems Emery MKII. Struggled to enforce an identity, made little of the midfield, wasn’t really liked that much.
More sauce though.
@Leon
Bollocks is he. His stats v Wenger’s last 50 games and Emery’s first 50 are damning enough. We all or most on here agree Wenger was finished as a top class manager, hence reason noone has wanted him since, yet his stats piss all over Emery. No excuse or defending the man. He is even worse than a Spanish David moyes
Valentin you’re embarrassing yourself now
Marc
I’m not arguing, literally no animosity or really feeling at all toward Arsenal at present. It’s that numb.
I want change, I’m not claiming there’s a miracle worker out there. I’m claiming there’s better than Emery, and that better will see us transformed.
Who is your pick?
Look
In times like this the spice girls song viva forever is a one size fits all cure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfeqXi626Tk
Emery’s press conference after the game.
Un
You weren’t insulting Emery you were being a cunt and now seem to have backed down when challenged.
I’m criticising Emery but haven’t had to
“You foreign cunts created so much hoohaa
You’re not even part of arsenal
You’re not part of our country ”
Own it or apologise.
I’m not gonna lie
I’m devastated
As much as I was against emery this hurts like hell being this shit
An ambitious board would sack Emery by morning!
@Pedro
Enrique flunked in his previous managerial roles, and in fairness my 5 year old boy, Callum, could of coached that peak Barca team to the success they had. Never rated him. Sorry.
As for moaninho, would rather have Harry Kane forever tattooed on my cock with a sewing needle and Indian ink.
Mark with a c
No. Not backing down. Not from you. Hate to break it to young but you’re no tough Guy
Just appalled at what our great club has become
CC
You know you’ve just picked up the worst of it “It’s that numb.”.
I don’t know who the right choice is or will be. I wish I did – I’d be able to earn a fucking fortune!
We do seem to be seeing most fans come together in at least agreeing it’s time for change. Let’s hope it’s one we can all get behind.
Enrique is a bit of an unknown quantity for me, had Barca at its peak and delivered, time with Spain cut short by the ultimate sadness. Cleary has ability to deal with high level talent.
This is new territory, to be fair new territory for most.
“Reading up on Enrique, he’s seems Emery MKII. Struggled to enforce an identity, made little of the midfield, wasn’t really liked that much.“
Tell me you’re joking…
if that sort of idea is known before a hire, and it materialises as such, then Raul needs hung from Wenger’s statue with fans line up to stone the prick.
Can we go away from Emery for the next one please? Ffs.
Come save us Rafa, Spanish waiter us to glory.
Tactically the formation make sense (and it worked during the first half), but the personnel selected was strange. If you want somebody to defend from the front, you don’t select Aubameyang and double down on that by playing him on the wing. Martinelli on the wing to basically shake up Chilwell would have been a better call. You don’t task Torreira to run ahead of the ball when you have Özil on the pitch. You don’t put Bellerin in the starting 11 and continuously pin restart ball to him when he is barely back from a serious injury and has… Read more »
CC, Sid Lowe is a great writer. I know this is 2014, but these issues followed Enrique.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/name/15/blog/post/2214950/headline
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/how-barcelona-lost-its-identity-under-luis-enrique
Marko,
You seems to know a lot about being embarrassed and made a fool.
Marc
That’s why we can’t do a Mourinho sort, there needs to be a sense of unity from the off and then have that nurtured. Appointment Maureen and the second we hit a bump it’ll be handbags again.
I’d go disconnected, like Emery was, but the guy just needs more competency for the task at hand. We need a leader, someone quality in front of the cameras to backhand the pressure from the press, someone the players aren’t sniggering at behind his back, someone who knows what he wants and what he wants to see.
I’m hoping the Enrique story is buzzing because he’s causing fire with his own PR team
Val
Great post at 2118.
Sid Lowe has mad game, he’s probably listening to the flamenco version of Sandinista on a vino tinto night.
Whatever happened to pass & move, our player are hanging onto the ball too long and there is no movement, players getting isolated because the work rate is so poor.
In short, they are not playing for the manager, they have given up on him but who can blame them, he seems clueless.
Un / Marc, keep it football.
Pedro
This is entirely emery related mate
This is shit
Shit
He’s done, it’s all over his face. He’s got no answers . It’s a look that’s all too familiar over the past decade or so.
Should be sacked before Christmas.
CC
Bloody hell we’re in full agreement!
It would be great if Vieira or similar was the “right” call but fucks knows right now. Hopefully Sanllehi and Edu can show why they are paid the big bucks in whoever is appointed.
Its too late for Christmas. Should be in the next week Tits.
Its absolutely baffling that Martinelli the Duracell man is hardly getting any first team time. Today would of been the ideal game for him.
Pedro If Enrique did his bit to kick a leg of the Barcelona table away then that’s a huge red flag for me. I particularly shudder reading about stubbornness in the face of criticism as we’ve only seen the negative kind of stubbornness here at Arsenal the last number of years, and not the stubborn in a superior/defiant manner of a Pep. Idk, Emery didn’t get me excited. It was hope derived of the moment and the feeling surrounding it. Enrique doesn’t do it for me this time around. I really, really, really, hope Raul isn’t a ‘call ya mate’… Read more »
I will take Luis Enrique over Jose Mourinho and Benitez any day.
Tell me you’re joking…if that sort of idea is known before a hire, and it materialises as such, then Raul needs hung from Wenger’s statue with fans line up to stone the prick. Charlie you might be taking what you read on le-grove as gospel again. May I suggest that YOU read up on him and formulate your own opinion on the lad. Or maybe give us some options? Not benitez for interim manager we’ve been over this he’s on 12 million a year and wouldn’t accept a gig for a few months. Given your choice of words though I’m… Read more »
I don’t think that he would be an Emery Mark II in the sense that he would find different way to mess things up. Tactically he would be clued up that Emery, but his man management would be as bad if not worse. Enrique only success was at Barcelona. Everywhere else he failed and in some case failed miserably. At Barcelona he succeeded in alienating the Barcelona dressing room. Google “Luis Enrique Messi relationship” and you will find all the past reports of the huge dispute he had with Messi. Also there was reports that basically Messi went to the… Read more »
Marc, what the hell why are you talking like some sort of racist cunt?
Un na naai ai – Good one with the “mark with a c” comment. I least I got a laugh out of the horrible shit he wrote.
Pedro
I’ll call out racism every time I see it.
I’m many things – most of them amazing and gorgeous but I’m not a racist and I don’t like seeing it.
Ban me if you want but I won’t change what I say.
Edu madness incoming? Flex them muscles and cook up something, give Raul the backseat treatment on this one.
Let DeVito offer the pen in the photo and that’s it
Un na naai
I get it, you’re angry.
We all are.
——————————————-
If they don’t give it to Freddie then I’m with CC, bring Rafa in.
Cool and organised is what we need, not neurotic and dysfunctional.
CC, seems like a real flat signing to me, but Raul is contacts and that is not a smart way to hire or sign players.
Trouble is… you can’t let Emery continue, top 4 is so important.
Not many options.
I’ll call out racism every time I see it.
Always liked that about you Marc
Another Messi hattrick
Pedro
“I’m hoping the Enrique story is buzzing because he’s causing fire with his own PR team”
As is showing interest in the role? I’d just like to clarify!
Ideal hire to replace Emery now, somewhat realistic… GO.
Marc, not sure what you mean?
SAL: Lucian Favre.
Samesong
Fuck off you scum with 2 s’s in your name!
Marko
“Not benitez for interim manager we’ve been over this he’s on 12 million a year and wouldn’t accept a gig for a few months.”
Conjecture.
“Given your choice of words though I’m going to go out on a limb and say if it’s not Rafa or Mikel that you won’t be happy or open minded“
Conjecture, with a touch of special needs.
I don’t need you hovering around my arse cheeks with your half-baked offerings and ignorant statements. I’m conversing with folk on here, if you can’t follow along like they can then that’s on you.
Pedro
What comment were you referring to?
Rafa before Enrique.
Heck I’ll take Maureen before Enrique.
Might as well just ring up Arteta and tell him to come over on Monday.
Respectfully one could attribute Enrique’s apparent struggles at Barcelona with the decline of players like Iniesta and Xavi and the expectation that followed in all honesty. How nobody predicted a drop off in style once those two declined and left is beyond. One feels that they should temper expectations for when Messi completely deteriorates and leaves but I doubt they will
‘Rafa before Enrique.Heck I’ll take Maureen before Enrique.Might as well just ring up Arteta and tell him to come over on Monday.’
Why ?
Samesong
“Its absolutely baffling that Martinelli the Duracell man is hardly getting any first team time. Today would of been the ideal game for him.”
I look at Martinelli as our Jamie vardy , a pest who doesn’t let the opposition settle and has a hunger for goals.
“Jamie Redknapp asking what Arsenal players would get into the Leicester team.”
Sensible guy.
Samesong,
Martinelli may be still raw, but he is the Duracell bunny. He would kept their fullback in check.
Also with Martinelli who is a great header of the ball, it would have make sense to play Tierney as left wingback.
Personally in that 3-4-1-2 formation I would have played
__________________Leno
_______Chambers – Luiz – Sokratis
_____AMN – Willock – Guendouzi – Tierney
___________________Özil
___________Lacazette___Martinelli
If we needed to chase the game after 60 minutes I would have replaced AMN by Pepe to add an extra threat. And introduce Aubameyang instead of Lacazette.
Don’t know about Favre
He just got his pants pulled down by an interim manager, couldn’t manage a shot on target either.
Threw away a 9 point lead last season
I think he is a manager who plays good football most of the time but wilts when the going gets tough.
As for Benitez, if our players are apparently not enjoying playing for Emery because he obsesses over the opposition then they might murder Benitez in his sleep. He invented cautious play not to lose football.
Ideal hire to replace Emery now, somewhat realistic… GO.
I see no reason why we couldn’t get Fonseca, Rose or Van Bronkhorst. Open minded to one of Enrique Allegri or Marcelino. Rose would probably be the preference all told. Bring in Ginter in January and make a move for Haaland in the summer.
Not sure any of the suggestions are realistic midseason.
I guess everyone is avoiding the Ozil issue. Was waiting for him to “embarrass” Emery with his performances but all I see is the Ozil I have seen for the past three seasons. I genuinely forgot he was on during the first half.
Woah. Actually making an effort to be civil to you Charles. Way to throw it back in my face. Also no conjecture about Benitez and given your response I’d add absolute dumbass if you think Rafa on 12 million in China would accept an interim gig at Arsenal. It’s beyond dumb. Ask Arsene if he’d take on a temporary gig with no guarantees long term and that fucker is actually available. Anyway classy as always
Marko
Point is there are options and 99% seem to be of the opinion that Emery hasn’t / isn’t working.
Bamford, when Jamie Redknapp is your source of insight, you should just give up.
Sal My ideal hire is Rafa on the interim because I’m dubious about us yanking a manager away from a club into this current shitstorm – his pedigree and style plugs the gaps we have for me. Not fashionable or exciting, but very functional, classy, understanding, and competent. Allegri is the dream hire, but I don’t believe in our executive powers so sadly have no hope for that. Vieira would be another choice (and one I could see leaving his role because….history) even though I’m not sold on his managerial skills. His presence as a figure lines up incredibly well… Read more »
He’s not going to be sacked in the international break period.
His interview after the match just confirmed what was said on here the other day and the powers that be will back him on it.
Time, banking on nine points in the next three EPL matches. Hope Leicester and Chelsea drop a few in the same period. That’s what he is alluding to in his post match presser there.
That’s about it. Shortest short term plan you will find. Win next three EP matches.
Marcelino..hmmm
I know he has his admirers here but Valencia aren’t exactly missing him after his sacking, they wobbled at first then got their act together.
Here is a weird idea, how about Buvac? What’s he up to these days, wouldn’t be a bad shout for an interim boss
Pedro
“Not sure any of the suggestions are realistic midseason.”
Fuck me you’re not suggesting bringing Wenger back as “interim manager” are you!
Jamie Redknapp asking: “what Arsenal players would get into the Leicester team.”
You missed a rather important part didn’t you?
Jamie Redknapp asking: “what Arsenal players would get into the Leicester team RIGHT NOW.”
Redknapp knows the quality we have, he’s alluding to the form shown by both sides. Another fail for you mate, keep circling.
Would give Eddie Howe a shot. Knows the PL, plays decent football, and his team is always greater than the sum of it’s parts which is the complete opposite of Emery and latter day Wenger. And would welcome a shot at a big club.
Enrique has done nothing to suggest that he would succeed in the PL, even Pep took a while to get going with a bottomless pit of money.
Bamford
You really have zero interest other than being right… sure you’d be pleased with Arsenal relegated if you called it.
Marc, I’m like Farage post Brexit.
Graham
I’m alright mate
Was angry for a bit.
Pedro
Now that’s funny – didn’t know you had it in you!
Cc
You shouldn’t have to explain the quality of our players
I’m surprised you’re lowering yourself