via B-Engaged
It is GAME DAY and the big man Freddie Ljungberg is having a suit tailored for his first home game. Maybe not tailored. Probably pulled off the rack. Hope it’s a nice one.
Big story here: The elite journalists with good questions won out, I cannot thank them enough for their important intervention, and vital contribution to the world of football. One day, maybe, I’ll be as good at questions as them.
Before we land on the game tonight, it appears that by group consensus, the Arsenal family do NOT want to see Marcelino in the dugout. A real get in the bin appointment. Journeyman manager with about as much sauce as Unai Emery. No thanks. We’re not doing Heinz this time, we’re going elevated. Scoville levels off the chart.
There’s a lot of movement in Europe at the minute, a lot of managers that could be bucketed under the category of WINNER are close to the chop.
The one name that’s going to have a lot of fans desperately vommitting their opinion on people is none other than the man in black… Diego Simeone. There are very strong rumours the Argentine is about to get the chop at Atleti, a club where he’s done incredible things on a relatively modest budget over the past however many years.
I love Diego. If you could bottle his special sauce and sell it on the black market, no one would be talking about fentanyl. The guy is literally on a different planet when it comes to energy, touchline passion, and general all-round madness. He’s scary. Football’s real gangster. Pristine swept-back hair, elite enough to wear a black suit and a black shirt. Still as trim as one of his players.
The big challenge with him is two-fold. You are firstly hiring someone that speaks next to no English. Not that he couldn’t learn, but coming into a mess like Arsenal at this stage of our development, with a manager that can’t communicate the awful things he’d have to say about the players probably isn’t smart. My general rule of thumb is if you are going to be a bitch, do it in the native tongue.
Beyond that, you’d have to be able to get by on the cynical football. Not an impossibility by any stretch. Fans, first and foremost, like winning. Secondly, they like to see players die for the shirt. That’s what Diego brings you.
I know there’s a lot of Arsenal fans that just want a coach to come in and make us defensive beasts. Cut out all the fannying around. Get back to basics. Make the club George Graham when he was at its best. A great team, built from solid foundations. Emery tried, and failed. They feel that we need a real shock to the system. Someone who can come in and take a Stalin like approach to purging mediocrity from the club.
It’s a tempting thought, it really is. Diego is fucking unreal, even if I hate the football.
The other challenge for Arsenal is the expense. France Football had him pocketing €41m last year. He’s the highest-paid manager in the world. €788,461 a week. A quite incredible pay packet, but worth it for what he does over there. I think he’s likely out of our league. Not to mention he’s been very keen to move to Italy.
Carlo is also being touted. I have to say, I couldn’t be any less excited about the thought. He made a Sarri team worse, was outsmarted by Emery in the Europa League last year and generally would feel like a very flaccid attempt at progression.
Frontrunners from the shortlist I’m guessing at so far have to be Mikael Arteta and Brendan Rodgers. Most of the other names either seem out of our league, unsuited to the job at hand, or just far too expensive for what we can afford.
Onto the game tonight.
I was PLEASED to see Arsenal.com sharing videos of Freddie implementing some rapid fire one-touch football in training. No messing around. Combinations are coming back. Freddie is trying to impose his vision of football on a team that’s been in the football equivalent of a forced labour camp for 18 months.
Tonight is interesting because the action in the second half against Norwich was shite. He’s seen what the senior players can do, does he double down and go with the same players again, or does he start to introduce more of his thinking with players more to his liking?
For me, I struggle to see how a man with Freddie’s tasted for high-intensity pressing can opt with a frontline of players that don’t like to press. I said it on the podcast, could Martinelli be Freddie’s Nik Anelka? No one presses like him at Arsenal. If you had Auba flanked by him and Saka, you’d be a different beast.
Hector Bellerin will no doubt be back in contention. Huge questions mark over Tierney if he’s left out again. I’m assuming he was a precaution at the weekend because for me, he’s the future of that position. He’s a more capable defender than Kola and he looks where his deliveries are going from wide positions. It’ll be telling if he doesn’t start.
Let’s see what he does with midfield. The biggest problem we’ve had for a while is that we have to play Xhaka. I’d love to see LT given a chance in his real position, my concern with him is that he’s finished with Arsenal, and it shows in his performances. Either way, if Freddie doesn’t find a solve here, his tenure is going nowhere.
Brighton are a good side with a very interesting manager. Potter was a huge risk for them after Hughton, but you can see where their game is going, and it certainly looks like he’s making progress.
Right, that is me done, give Freddie the reception he deserves tonight, should be a fun atmosphere for once!
Willock, Lacazette off
Pépé, Martinelli on
Willock and Lacazette have been horrid. Both didn’t deserve to start the game.
Xhaka and Leno the only players doing anything positive out there and that says it all really doesn’t it… *Bellerin isn’t fit to play. Ainsley Maitland-Niles would be better. *Playing Auba out wide does not work *Auba and Laca in the same team does not work *Ozil anonymous *Willock is going to have all confidence shot if he continues to play in this side and that is not his fault *Sokratis is not good enough to be a starter for AFC *With Pepe and Martinelli on the bench, this team selection is absolutely shocking *We need a clear out in… Read more »
The fraud will still wait till 70th minute before doing his stupid sub
This club would fold if relegated, would be too indebted,
I dont blame freddie, i blame these cunts calling themselves PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS
Bizarre that Martinelli is still getting benched.
somehow if I see Guen coming on- I will know something is not right
We have a gaping hole in the middle of attacking midfield. and NO OZIL is not the answer or any answer at all.
Our CBS are a fucking joke. Sokratis and Luiz-
need Chambers in- but i doubt that he will do that.
Need goals and need to unleash martinelli and Pepe/Nelson/Saka anyone
Our team is still not gelled yet. Both CB’s couldn’t react fast enough. Play Willock as a #10 is a failure. His passes are below average. Play Auba and Ozil as wingers are a waste.
We should play Martinelli, Auba and Pepe as the front three with Ozil as #10. It would be a better attack.
Zonal marking in this age and time? Freddie is indeed a super super fraud
this kind of style need some pre-season because they can’t find each other at all it’s like this is the first time they are playing together
just a bunch of collectives going to work earning their paycheck
especially the faggot Bellerina
We tried to warn you If you’re going to get rid of wenger then you’re going to need someone better The Kroenkes are tanking this club Doesn’t matter who they employ, under their watch we are becoming a fallen giant. An Everton, a Newcastle, a Villa, a Leeds, a Forrest Soon Lacazette ozil and Aubameyang will be gone and we will not be bringing in star players They need to go out and spend some money and get a proper coach now Im sorry but Arteta just isn’t the man for this job any more Not after emery’s horror show… Read more »
Martinelli may get 5 whole minutes today, will top the 3 he got on Sunday
52% possession, 8 shots at goal, 5 on target – yes for Brighton!
alexanderhenry
“Also, the players are bickering on the field- never a good sign.”
This is the most worrying sign.
A sign of a team that is broken.
Auba has scored more than half our goals this season… 10 in the league and yet somehow we have him on the wings chasing back and putting in crosses when he should be in the middle…It’s pure stupidity
Ozil is not the answer but in this game he needs to exert himself more. I know that is an oxymoron but he needs to do something…
Willock has been shit, he had 3 chances to play a decent final ball and has royally fucked all 3.
FL loyalty to his u23 players to hurting the team. Take willock off replace with pepe/martinelli. Put Ozil in the middle, take auba on to the left and pepe/martinelli on right.
If we get stuck in the relegation mire, we wont survive it because these players don’t have the balls to stand up in that type of stress.
The club needs to realize that no club is too big to go down. These players are more disjointed than they ever were under Emery, which just means the Freddie experiment must come to an end VERY QUICKLY.
The pundit in the studio – doable? And I don’t mean Dixon or Pardew.
But Emery was right about one thing Ozil is a complete shower of shit.
Un na
Spare us the whole Wenger regret talk man, he was bad at the end and had to go, same with Emery…
Freddie is a waste of time.
Announce a coach already.
WE yeah doesn’t make any sense does it. Such a ridiculously unbalanced side.
My biggest concern is that quite clearly and in a most obvious way this team needs some players with fight in them because we are really fucking struggling at the moment and what does Freddie do he picks Mustafi first game but Ozil is the biggest one for me if you had a list of a million footballers and you were asked to pick one with some backbone and hunger he’d be at the end of the list.
“Arteta just isn’t the man for this job any more”
Go tell that to Pedro.
I mean pundits are saying Willock isn’t effective in the 10 role, i call bull shit, what’s Ozil doing? What’s Aubameyang really doing or Lacazette? Ther aren’t making the runs to free up a forward pass
Relegation is no longer a probability. It’s a possibility
Imagine us winning the EL and getting relagated in the same season.
Ozil off. Gunnersaurus on.
Bati,
“Auba has scored more than half our goals this season… 10 in the league and yet somehow we have him on the wings chasing back and putting in crosses when he should be in the middle…It’s pure stupidity”
It’s like Roy Hodgson having Harry Kane take corner kicks.
Comical doesn’t do enough to describe it.
Bati
We need to put the Lacazette myth to bed already, he’s no Karim Benzema even if he’s marginally better than Auba in his all-round CF attributes.
But here’s the thing, Auba is the much better goalscorer. It’s not even close. As you say having him marooned out wide and chasing back defending is just retarded when he’s the one player we have that is capable of propping up with a goal no matter how quiet he’s been.
vickingzDecember 5, 2019 21:08:37
Zonal marking in this age and time? Freddie is indeed a super super fraud
Vickingz
How can you blame Freddy? He’s thus far only coached youths. He’s inherited a mess. All these foreign bitches birching at each other. Luiz and Aubameyang are bitches
Leno has his own share of these shit shows, he holds on to balls unnecessarily, always playing as if there’s nothing at stake, he doesn’t initiate counter, doesn’t push players to be on the front foot, always slowing down the game
I mean i could understand last season when we didn’t have any actual wingers but form or not, finding a way to put out a team and have your highest goal scorer tracking back all game and a horribly playing Ozil with a “free role” and a not ready Willock behind Laca is absolutely stupid
Auba should not be shunted out wide for Laca who has struggled for form and fitness all season.
Martinelli and Pepe have to come on at HT. We can’t keep dropping points.
Need kepwn or Adams to rattle a few cages
Stan won’t do anything
Liam Brady wants Arteta to take over
Dixon wants Allegri (turned us down already)
Need to remember here people that Auba isn’t a right winger. He’s a CF.
yeah right GoY
a Juden but your posts don’t indicate that you are Arsenal fan at all
but the hooked nose can detected from miles with how quickly you hide behind anything like the rat you are
Vickingz
Leno has no personality. Keepers need big personality.
And people doubted my line up! Bring on Pepe, Tierney and Martinelli at half time.
I actually feel to cry like a man child at how we have got so bad. So depressed right now.
Un na na nai
Would you have gone with this line up and formation if you were Freddie?
Away to the Hammers on Monday.
Un nai
“Vickingz
How can you blame Freddy? He’s thus far only coached youths. He’s inherited a mess. All these foreign bitches birching at each other. Luiz and Aubameyang are bitches”
He didn’t inherit anything.
He was part of the fabric of mess we see now. He was Emery’s assistant.
David Smith
Exactly
Too many pussies flapping their arms and expecting everyone else to do something
Xakha was right. Scared little pansies
Left T lol!
Freddy is quickly watching through some old Arsene DVD greatest hits to see what happens next.
70 min sub. Check.
Leno up front. Why not?
Xhaka as LB. sure.
Freddy out.
all the teams that did us in towards the end of last season still have our number.
That is the saddest part of this entire fiasco.
Palace, Foxes, and now Brighton…
We simply do not have a good enough squad… our midfield is shit. CB are horse shit
Dissenter
Oh fuck off
He was promoted this season against emery’s wishes. This is Emery’s shit show we are watching. We were better off with Wenger
Eagle
It’s crazy, you want to play 2 up top, then play it exactly that way and have actual wingers and not have your vest striker out wide
100% West Ham will do us Monday, if ever you were a betting man.
We were not better off with Wenger…Miss me with that bullshit
Need Keown or Adams to rattle a few cages.
……..
Unfortunately that wouldn’t have any effect. We have packed the squad with a load of Pussies.
Looking at the state of the team, I think right now we need an experienced disciplinarian who’s managed in the PL before.
Someone who can steady the ship.
I’d be happy with Benitez.
finally Pepe coming on
And the know nothing’s complained endlessly that we were flat track bullies.
Not any more….
You got what you wished for …
Freddie sat there idly and watched us struggle when Emery was in the dugout and then gets an interim position and puts his faith in the players who let down his predecessor. Not a good sign.
Again I ask the same question I asked when Emery was here Where is the professional pride? Who is playing for the shirt? We had the third best home record last season behind City and Liverpool, Emery was the coach then. What went wrong? I have a theory on that, always have had it. Something about Ljunberg moving up to assist Emery didn’t sit well with me, an ex player universally loved by the fans assisting a total outsider, he would definitely have designs on the top job. Once we started wobbling the give it to Freddie chants predictably started,… Read more »
Vickingz
No. I’d have had pepe and martinelli flanking Lacazette
I’d have gone for this midfield
I’d have had Holding chambers and Tierney in defence with bellerin at rb
Pepe for Willock
Also, Chambers looked competent at CB the one time be played there so why’s he not given a look in considering bow utterly horrible Sokratis and Mistafi are
Gum chewing fraudster
Hate to say it but this is a must win. Looks like a Pepe sighting.
Pepe on
Wenger Eagle
Big Seb Haller is going to destroy our CBs
Oh here comes this dope cow
🤢
Auba as LW Ozil as #10
Too fucking late!
Una nai
You’re still chomping at the bits for Wenger, after having two years to reflect.
The last third of Wenger’s reign set us in an inescapable decline. Emery wasn’t good enough …100% right but Freddie may get us relegated if we don’t move quickly.
Newcastle up level with us, Brighton a point behind if they win this. Marco Silva is available.
Haller who hasn’t scored in 12 games will 100% get a goal against Arsenal on Monday that is what I call a sure bet too.
Jesus you get some absolute scumbags around here sometimes.
Big January coming up for the club. Absolutely need some players replaced as soon as possible
Aubamayang still out wide is unacceptable
Come on arsenal
@ un na na nai, that’s why I blame Freddie. He knew all these players inside out, not like he didn’t know them, so why the stupid selection and unnecessary shoehorning?
Pepe already livening things up
Sokratis should never play for Arsenal again…Don’t know why Tierney isn’t playing and have no clue why or what Ozil is meant to be doing too by the way
Torr is not an attacker. Takes too long to shoot.
hahaaha ah yeah I remember why we used to get injured all the time
the ref won’t protect the players at all
That was an all time low
We need Fat Sam
Pepe player manager lets do it. may as well…
Get into penalty area
And we all fall down………
Already looking better with Nicolas
Anti semitic and homophobic slurs in the comments section? Must mean Arsenal are losing
Una nai
You’re still chomping at the bits for Wenger, after having two years to reflect.
The last third of Wenger’s reign set us in an inescapable decline. Emery wasn’t good enough …100% right but Freddie may get us relegated if we don’t move quickly.
Diss
Noooo
Just accept that things were better under wenger than emery and now freddie
1 – 1
haha you know it’s coming for us too
Look how well organised Brighton are
They must have better players!!!
NOw you’re going to belieevvveee uss … We’re going to win the league!!
No one touches the ball. Laca’s goal.
come on team… we can do it
Let’s go!
Told you
Lacazette is the man
Pepe has reenergenized the side. Get the fuck in!!
hahaah!
no Marko must be GoH trolling again
he should just be resident clown with his jokes
he will not talk about footy at all anyway the cunt
To be fair it does look they got an ass chewing at halftime. Better energy. Can they maintain it.
We are in deep shit
Laca goal after VAR check. 1-1.
Let’s get back into this game.