Carlo, the 2019 Emery, waits in the wings

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Not much to report on today, the managerial drama went hyper-specific with Ornstein calling it Mikael or Patrick, but it looks very much like that was a mistake because now he’s back peddling with ‘IT COULD BE ANYONE ANYTIME COULD EVEN BE A FEMALE OR A GOAT’ and some of the other journos are keen to play up the long and winding process.

Carlo was fired by Napoli. He’s the dark horse this time. Like Emery, freshly fired because he’s a bit average these days, he’ll lurk in the background like a sexy temptation ready with a pen and a contract in the hope Raul will cave to his BIG NAME allure.

Anything is possible. Remember, this process the club are keen to drive home is running the same way it did last time, then the club blew it up and hired someone that couldn’t speak English.

Hopefully the, ‘he’s not in our profile’, is true. Rapha Honigstein said that Carlo failed to implement a style at Bayern Munich and the players complained that the training lacked intensity (post-Pep). His work at Napoli was widely panned. I think the reality is, Carlo is a galactico manager. He operates best in environments where the key role is to make people care about the work they are doing.

I think it’s highly unlikely he’s an Arsenal remedy, there’s not enough money for him. Add to that he’d be hugely expensive and he’d come with a massive entourage… I would suspect he’s very much the sort of manager Everton would end up going for. Inexperienced owners shoot for managers that have a nostalgic sexiness to them, makes them look good at dinner parties.

I think the curveball for Arsenal is Pochettino. He’s available, he lives in North London and he has a body of work that aligns very nicely with our pros and cons. The man is pure sauce, on paper, there’s no better manager in the world of football to take us on at the minute. The main roadblock is going to be that 1) We are Arsenal 2) We are skint 3) PSG job looks like it’ll open up in the summer.

Still, I’ve no doubt we’ll be talking to him this week, so you never know. I simply don’t buy the new line of ‘Freddie could do it until the end of the season’, mad departure from ‘Senior players say Freddie must go’ 7 days ago. If our execs are basing this new position on one win against West Ham, we’re in deeper trouble than I thought.

For me, it’s simple. The next 5 months is bonus time. There are no expectations. The fans can barely be bothered to go to the games, the players are at a very low ebb, no one is talking about top 4. We should be investing in a coach that is actually a coach with future proof ideas. Give them this season to make assessments of the squad, no point in waiting until the summer, half the team will be away at the Euros. We need to hit the ground running, we have to ship out at least 5 senior players that are no good, and we need to sign a DM and a center-back, and replace some weak areas. We can’t just have Edu making decisions on the squad, he needs to know who the manager is so they can work in tandem, so we don’t end up with a person that needs an Nzonzi but rolls with a Xhaka.

Also, if we are hiring in someone that has an intricate vision of how the game should be played, they will need time. Let’s have the training wheels at least partially off by the start of next season by getting the painful work done now.

Huge Liege game this evening, we need to win to progress into the next phase of the Europa League as table-toppers. Freddie has some interesting challenges to deal with, namely, who he doesn’t play.

Gabriel is a superstar talent for now, he should be on the pitch against City at the weekend. United did a brilliant job at the weekend confusing the City backline by playing 3 fast players in wide positions to stretch and disorientate. That’s a good blueprint for Freddie, so he’ll need his kids fresh, because we’re going to struggle if our front 3 is Lacazette, Auba and Ozil.

That said, there’s still plenty he can do tonight. Hopefully, everyone is feeling more confident after the win against West Ham and we can go back to enjoying Thursday night football. All we have to do tonight is avoid a 5-0 tanking, which should be doable.

Did you get a bruised banana shirt?

No, nor me… but how good is that video? Most of the joy I’ve had from Arsenal this year has come from Adidas. No messing around from them, high-performance design culture over there.

Before I go, I heard the sad news that fellow blogger, Dave, of Goonerholic, is having a rough time of it in hospital. I grew up reading his musings way back when he was part of the original set of Arsenal fans that took to the internet to entertains us on the regular. I was lucky enough to spend some time with him, we walked around Arsenal’s medical facilities a few years back. What a top bloke. Kind, knowledgeable, and great fun. When he’d tell me off on Twitter, I’d listen, the guy commanded respect, he had the sort of sauce our next manager will need to put our car crash of season back on track. Fingers crossed he pulls through, in the meantime, we’re sending big love from everyone from Le Grove. xx

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Useroz

None of the mid field and forward seems gutsy enough to run at Stl. Same as the more senior team. Not good.

I’d hope Saka would Even SMITH Rowe.

Nelson has been poor. 3 shocking corners unless he aimed at edge of 6 yard box

Gunnernet

Sorry Pedro poor arguments i font agree that Carlo is Everton level. I agree that possibly is not a coach/manager for the next 5 years but who cares? YOU have admitted we have a good squad. He can rectify the defence, impose discipline and tactically he has been top level for years. His experience is vast and he has won everything. No brainer for me. If he ended up to Naples he would definitely join us

MidwestGun

Saka looks the most dangerous of anyone.. if he can just settle down a bit before shooting.

Nelson

Luiz’s header sucks.

London gunner

So many Tories on here when I am guessing the amount of millionaires on here is pretty slim…

Normal middle class people voting for conservatives is like Turkey’s voting for Christmas.

Stop voting these Eton cuunts with a silver spoon born in their mouths in. They don’t give a damn about 99 percent of the population and only care about the Eton club and co.

Not saying Jeremy is great but he has to better than the alternative that clown Boris who constantly humilates his country by his embarrassing antics.

TBone

Risky from Martinez, might have been the shite pitch which slowed it down.

Bob N16

With you London Gunner.

Useroz

Rubbish in defence including Martinez

All over the place. Still playing from the back????

Nelson should be sold ASAP. Miles off Martinelli Can’t string a simple 5 yard return pas

Dire

MidwestGun

Trying to put too much loft on all these shots.. with the shit pitch .. should try shooting some daisy cutters and wait for the bad hop and rebound.

Nelson

Laca’s passes are bad.

Danny

Yeah right Marble, we’re gonna stop watching the match to check out your clip.
Leave it out.

TBone

Not making excuses for the players, but this pitch is total shit.

Useroz

Laca should stop these little aimless random flicks. Looks bad bad sucks

Nelson

SMR passes the ball to Freddie!!!

Danny

Basketball?

TBone

Shocking passing from both teams. Piss poor match.

TBone

Another failed flick from Laca, FFS.

Spanishdave

You get the feeling that Freddie hasn’t got it.

MidwestGun

Pretty well even match…. score line probably about right.. Saka looks the most likely to score.but we still make too many defensive errors. Gave them some undeserved chances.

Alex James

Have we really no one better than AMN? He’s another Gus Caesar.

Useroz

Saka should take it with right foot with much better angle but no right peg. Nelsons flick header wasn’t good but at least hit the target.

Hope Freddie could make us smile in the 2H

Gunnernet

Wtf thats whu EL is totally shit!! Imagine if this was happening at CL… Micky mouse tournament nr2.. we ve created a lot and shot qiite fairly. No complaint regarding this part. Defence shaky as always. AMN worst player on the field.

azed

Guendozi has a bright future.

MidwestGun

He’s another Gus Caesar.
——
Hahaha there’s a blast from the past… be careful that’s Redtruth’s favorite player if I remember right.

Marko

Lacazette is very sloppy with his flicks. Saka and Nelson doing well with ESR.

I wonder if people would prefer in January we work on the defence or on the midfield.

MidwestGun

Frankfurt ahead of us in the group… now. No idea what that means .. better cedeing I guess for next draw.

MidwestGun

If we don’t get at least one better midfielder in January.. I would say our chances of finish in top 6 or getting to Europa league final.. is slim to none.. And slim just left the building. Whatever manager we bring in … is going to see that straight away I would think.

luke

Is Sokratis at left back?

Nelson

Mid

There will be two groups. The second place team will group with Ajax, Red Bull Salzburg, Inter Milan, Benfica. The group winner will group with Bayer Leverkusen, Shakhtar Donestsk, Olympiacos, Club Brugge along with runner ups from the group stage.

Marko

Midwest it just means that we’ve a better chance of getting a team knocked out of the Champions League and away from home in the second leg. Best to avoid but at the end of the day not as important as just getting some momentum going at the moment. Least of our worries is some tie in February

James wood

HT just popping out to get Corbyn a condolence card.🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

Danny

There you go cunts

Useroz

Fuck.

Down inside 2 min

MidwestGun

Ok Nelson… thanks that what I thought. Guess it doesn’t make much difference in the long run.. But would be nice to at least win the group.

Nelson

deflected by PapaSok

Samesong

what a jammy goal. What’s with the turning the back Socrates

Useroz

Sok’s fat fingers made it an OG

MidwestGun

Ooops nevermind…

HillWood

Sok turns his back on the ball. What a wanker

Samesong

Sok is Squillachi Mark2

Marko

I missed the goal. I assume that there was an error some place.

Oh Sokratis turned his back on a cross. Hard man alright

MidwestGun

Is Sokratis at left back?
_______
Luke… sort of… we playing a 3-4-3.

Samesong

Can’t wait for Ishola to analysis that Sok deflection.

Nelson

Our CB’s never come out and challenge the shooter.

Marko

Hard to believe all that’s missing is a manager to come in and tell Sokratis not to turn his back on a shot.

Dissenter

Honestly I rank Papsok behind Senderos on the list of Arsenal’s jammy defenders.
Cursed was the day Mislintat bought him to Arsenal.

Samesong

Very bad these players dont close down quick enough. 3 players closing in to slow and the opposition player takes a shot from outside the box, with Sok turning his back.

Useroz

Look as though these players don’t care less

Not entirely a skill thing. Poor attitude No urgency. Kids should savour the opportunity and show what they can do.

Can’t say more about how poor Nelson I has been.

Laca is also poor as a very senior player on the pi itch.

only smith Rowe and Saka and a little of Willock seem to care.

MidwestGun

Well its really a battle between Luiz, Mustafi and Papa as to who can be the worst defender.

Pierre

Midwest
“If we don’t get at least one better midfielder in January.. I would say our chances of finish in top 6 or getting to Europa league final.. is slim to none”

It’s impossible in such a short period of time for Freddie to undo the damage inflicted on the team by Emery.

These players are more than capable of playing decent football through the midfield area.

Fans have no patience these days , our midfield regressed alarmingly under Emery .
It could take as long as 6 weeks before freddie can wipe away the stench of Emery’s football philosophy.

Marko

Sokratis is actual muck

Left Testicle

Why don’t we play in all black or all blue? The mix of black and blue looks messy.

Dissenter

God and Boris will save us from city on Sunday.
Eff Bellerin

Useroz

Should have a Worse Man of the Month award.

Half the team doesn’t run and as a result no fucking space created

Where is the energy

MidwestGun

Pierre-
No worries I’m.. sure Ozil has a plan to turn it all around.

Useroz

Laca sucks. Might as well be sold

Last 5 min I suppose we all watching these players passing the buck rather than the bam all over the pitch

Nelson

Mid

You have forgotten Mav.

Marko

One of the biggest problems with us this season is our inability to respond after going a goal down. It’s generally speaking non-existent. That’s the biggest worry at the moment two different managers unable to get a response to going behind

Useroz

Make the subs Freddie it’s really awful

MidwestGun

Nelson-‘
I think we all have forgotten Mav.. he has been missing in action for a long time. I think Chambers is our best CB… how sad is that. I mean happy for him.. but.. sheesh.

Nelson

Lac is lacking some speed in the box.

Danny

Soon be time for a Wenger time sub.

Batistuta

If this means we’re out of the competition I’d be very glad

Danny

2 nil
3 more to go……

MidwestGun

Do we have anyone to sub? oh Martinelli is coming in.. wasn’t sure he was even there.

Samesong

Lol

Nelson

WTF is Willock doing???

MidwestGun

This is sad.. The were all just standing around .. dude beat 6 players.

Useroz

About ducking time Martinelli is on

Guen is rubbish this game. Falls every few minutes

Fuck off

2 down

Awful. Another deflected goaL

Our players turn then fucking back

Left Testicle

Test.

SUGA3

Lol, this is pathetic

Gunnernet

Everyone at fault. Ridiculous second goal to concede. Willock wtf was thinking??

Marko

Joe Willock another of those in the brain trust. Christ Almighty we’ve got some seriously dopey cunts at the club. Freddie showing in 3 and a half games though he shouldn’t be a manager at any level.

Useroz

Not acceptable. Did you see Smith Rowe just walking by the ball and jogged back??

Samesong

The player that scored looks like hes wearing goalie gloves 😆

Receding Hairline

Pierre drops Emery’s name every chance he gets then alludes to Ozil being the savior, of course he needs time and love to heal from the Emery trauma does Ozil, as do all our players apparently.

Minamino going to Liverpool for 7.5m is pissing me off. We are still missing great deals

Samesong

These players have got so used this lazy style that when a disciplined manager comes in they are going to be crying.

Useroz

We could be out tonight if not careful

These guys better not be silly

Spanishdave

We need to appoint a manager this shite can’t go on.

Victorious

God the team is dire!

WTF is Freddie up to?

The players are obviously confused and don’t seem to knw the positions they’re supposed to be playing in

How long is it going to take the idiots at the top to get in a competent coach it?

Nelson

They sat back and let us play.

Marko

Receding it’s a great deal that’s for sure but can he play in defence? In midfield? Then it’s not a priority.

Useroz

Are away fans booing?

Can’t blame them These side and back passes is a disease

What’s Nelson thinking?

Freddie’s in game management isn’t cool

Victorious

Had Arsenal won tonight I could have gotten a reasonable amount of dough

Can’t seem to benefit anything whatsoever from this God forsaken club

Get the fvck out Freddie.

Marko

I love AMN it’s like watching someone play FIFA getting 4 fps.

Danny

Laca with a decent goal

Useroz

1 back

raptora

What a cross by Saka. Jesus!

Useroz

Great cross by Saka.

SUGA3

well done Saka

MidwestGun

Totally against the run of play… Maybe that will wake them up…. playing like it was a Tuesday warm up kick about until then.

raptora

Saka MotM!

Danny

Saka the Man!!

Marko

Saka saving Freddie from embarrassment

Victorious

Not sure I’ll be able stomach the city match

It could be a very painful viewing

They could obliterate our worse home defeat record

Nelson

Saka is good.

Useroz

Great one two Martinelli and Saka

See what a bit of energy can do

SUGA3

boom boom

MidwestGun

NIce!!!! good goal .. like I said hit it along the ground… Saka been best player by far.