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?
Will you be my yellow?
It’s back. Only in selected adidas and Arsenal stores and online. Tomorrow at 9am@adidasfootball @adidasoriginals #HereToCreate pic.twitter.com/339DsrNiyM
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 10, 2019
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
Did Martinelli transform us once again?
Saka man of the match. We really have quality up front. Everything starts from our really poor defending.
Marko is 7.5m. That’s Guendouzi money for a real quality forward who can play across the front three. Still only 24 too.
I don’t give a crap about tonight’s game, really don’t care about anything until we get a proper coach in. Freddie is more concerned with being cool than actually coaching bless him
Despite the goal Laca is lazy and poor
Auba on for Rowe
Nelson had 5 very poor corners from both sides. Unacceptable at this level.
2-2 Frankfurt so we’re back on top.
Frankfurt now losing.
Yo Pierre
My guy martinelli changing the game and has only had one misplaced pass so far …
70 min subs are too late… feels like if we had done this 10 mins sooner.. would be different match. Granted we still might pull it out.. but why wait to do the proper thing.
Although now it appears we will win the group with a draw.
We are not competing for shit soon, so get rid of all overpaid lazy post Wenga dross and play youth.
Franfurt is losing!!!
Thanks Freddie u incompetent bald headed twat.
Nelson is shit did you see that freekick.
Sell Nelson inJan. Rubbish corners rubbish free kick.
Through finally. but shocking scenes
Not good enough
Well… hell.. good run out for Saka anyhow.
Martinelli and Saka = The Future (+ Leno)
Now just need another 8 players……..
Nelson is crap. Can’t even put proper corners.
Nelson should be forbidden of taking free kicks. Really shocking his spot kicks..
Apart from Smith row , nobody making run off the ball. Shocking movement reallt.
Apart from Smith row , nobody making run off the ball. Shocking movement really.
Well,well, well.
Lesson from today, and a lesson (amongst many) from the whole of this season:
NEVER PLAY THREE AT THE BACK
Willock really is a pants player though, thought he had a bit more about him but he’s pants…
AMN is another who shouldn’t be playing for Arsenal, never going to make it here, his attitude is just irritating to watch… Same with Smith-Rowe, too lightweight…
The sooner Raul and Edu stop dwiddling their hands and appoint a proper manager, the better….Haven’t seen a club more cluelessly run like Arsenal
Bati,
Willock is a good player.
But, agreed, he was pants tonight – and he’s been pants for the last 3-4 matches he’s played in.
Willock is shit. Not going to make it at Arsenal. Neither will AMN, ESR, Saka etc.
Yeah Saka the only positive coming through with Martinelli. AMN garbage, Willock needs a season on loan somewhere and I like ESR but I worry about his ability to hold down a position in this team.
For me Willock and Matty G can’t play in the same midfield .. one or the other. as of late though.. I agree neither one has been what I would call good. Our midfield is pants in general. As I said that would be my area of reinforcement.. That and a CB.
Martinelli, Saka and may be willock will make it from our youth. Smith-Rowe is intelligent but needs more muscle to compete at this level. Maitland-niles I have never seen a player as laid back as him. No intensity from just the way he walks. Nelson is just scared and it shows. Reallly though instead of going for pepe what we should have done was go for ziyech and not go cheap on a proper centerback. Luiz and Sokratis are just a joke. We haven’t got one reliable centerback and it shows. The fact that chambers and maybe holding are the… Read more »
Edu
Nice little assist from Martinelli, they didn’t use him enough in the last ten minutes.
He , along with Saka helped to change the game …
Pleased for Saka otherwise the know nothing’s will be getting on his back soon the way they do with willock and AMN.
Troll troll troll your boat gently down the stream… merrily, merrily, merrily .. life is but a know nothing.
Reiss neilsen is the new Iwobi, willock doesnt have a high ceilling, ESR crock, AMN is Traore mk2, not forgeting mustaphinovs, xhalkalson, ozil, arsenal have a big task of getting rid of these players.
Good calm management from Freddie, didn’t panic at 2-0 down unlike Emery who would pressed the panic button.
Good substitutions could have nicked it at the end.
Dire performance but one has to cut Freddy some slack with that starting lineup considering what lies ahead this weekend.
Saka and AMN as wing backs, Mavro on his first appearance of season having made a handful last season. It was muddled as fuck but job done everyone that could be rested for City has been.
If we Reiss Nelson doesn’t feature again, i’ll be pleased.
Nuno Wolves team always look solid. And difficult to play against.
Don’t agree with the comments on bt sport – re saka and martinelli saved us – are they going to say that every single time one of our youngsters score or assist ? I thought it was auba who was carrying the team so far this season ? Saka and martinelli done what they get paid to do, when does a player performing stop being a playing carrying a team or ‘saving’ the team ? Laca scored- did he not save us too ? How about all the players that touched the ball in the lead up to the goals… Read more »
Pleased for Saka otherwise the know nothing’s will be getting on his back soon
A big fat huh on that one. Why would anyone get on the back of an obvious exciting prospect trying and doing well?
Liverpool do not need the Minamino kid
They got him to resell him in a year or so.
If Madrid come for that Auba-Luka Jovic swap deal in january, we should jump at it.
We need a young striker that isn’t afraid to do other things, other than scoring. It carries a risk no doubt.
Marko
“A big fat huh on that one. Why would anyone get on the back of an obvious exciting prospect trying and doing well?”
Because he hadn’t been doing too well lately , that’s why .
Similar to willock who has lost a bit of confidence and guess what , they are on his back…
Doesn’t take much to work out does it.
Can anyone tell me the last time Arsenal scored from a corner
Similar to willock who has lost a bit of confidence and guess what , they are on his back…
_____
My perception is.. those that are on his back now.. never rated him to start with.. I personally believe there is a good player in there somewhere based on preseason and early this season … but he is never going to have the flash of say a Saka.
But you cant fault people for being critical of a player when they aren’t playing well.. Kind of like Ozil.. at some point you have to actually perform.
Rt you fucking retard
That video is the most laughable attempt at serious political sway I’ve ever seen. Even green peace and oxfam aren’t that bad
You melt
Well , Freddie has had 3 away games and is unbeaten.
1 win , 2 draws , have come from behind in all 3 games , scored 7 goals.
If he can sort the home form out then we may climb up the league.
To score the first goal in a game will be something to celebrate.
HillWood
David Luiz scored from Pepe corner against bournemouth in October.
Sok may have also not too sure.
Hillwood
“Can anyone tell me the last time Arsenal scored from a corner”
Last week v Brighton , Lacazette headed in from a beautifully flighted corner.
Willock had a bad game and lacks confidence but he has something about him. Nelson every time I’ve seen him play I’ve never been impressed with his general play
Last week v Brighton , Lacazette headed in from a beautifully flighted corner.
Pepe corner I remember now.
“But you cant fault people for being critical of a player when they aren’t playing well.. Kind of like Ozil.. at some point you have to actually perform.” Obviously freddie must be quite happy with Ozil as he is always on the team sheet. It seems like he has dropped players like luiz, sokratis, Guendouzi, Lacazette so maybe he thinks they are not doing a good enough job for him. Hes probably trying to get the balance of the team right , 2 wide players a CAM , 2 holding midfielders and a solid back 4 is his preferred route… Read more »
Dracula is a batty lover according to the bbc now
Yeah we are all gay/gender neutral/non European. Thanks bbc
So informative
Remind me, why should I pay £150 per year again
Pepe wasnt playing.
Do these players know forward passes at all? They only do sideways and back passes, smh. Nelson is such a useless player who’s not even serious with his career/destiny. He can’t player good corners, can’t dribble, his step over was so wacky, can’t shot, can’t do anything reasonable as a player. Well, these boys really have a long way to go
Victorious
“Get the fcuk Freddie”
What the hell!
What’s your frigging problem?
“Get the fcuk out Freddie”
Pepe wasnt playing.
Ozil my bad
Ok
My school reports always said I must pay more attention
Excrement match.
Excrement tournament.
Excrement pitch.
End off.
Proper Soccer to resume Sunday.
Arteta D~Day!
CG
You think Arteta gets announced on Monday?
2-0 Wolves
We need a Neves
Walt
That sounds remarkably efficient if that were to happen.
So No!
We have interviews booked instead for Monday.
I’m actually liking Nuno even more now. Not a fancy name but got his players fighting for.him.
The comments section of the last blog was the most boring fucking read I’ve ever seen on an Arsenal blog or any football blog come to that.
Pedro, you really need a moderator here to control all the political bullshit. It really got out of hand.
Aussie
I posted a similar comment on Postecoglou a few days back. It received the same reception as yours.
‘Willock is a good player.But, agreed, he was pants tonight – and he’s been pants for the last 3-4 matches he’s played in.’
Words,
Willock is really very shit. We should have sold him last summer after his pretense in preseason. Could have fetched £10m…..easy money.
Now everyone knows he’s piss poor. What a loss.
Bo
It’s election night
What do you expect? The U.K. and us are divided more than we have been since god knows when
Do you not expect some form of discussion?
CG
OK let me rephrase it – do you think Arteta will get the job in the next couple of weeks?
Nuno brings on this young midfielder looks like a beast, just hit the bar with header 4-0 up.
No
He will reject us.
‘I’m actually liking Nuno even more now. Not a fancy name but got his players fighting for.him.’
NUNO ESPIRITO SANTOS.
Now could you say this is not a fancy name?
You sing that name in the stadium and half the crowd would fall asleep, the other half would get high in the head.
Gentlebris
Mr Keyser in disguise. Do you not rate Nuno?
Samesong,
According to Pedro Nuno is an average manager whose primary role is to place his agent and benefactor Mendes’s average players into his teams at vast expense……
Otawasie looks about 7ft tall.
Samesong,
I rate Nuno of course, but what do you want me to tell Pedro, he owns this blog remember?
You must have seen how Pedro went on and on about Nuno, I even pictured tears in his eyes.
That said, Nuno’s Porto records are very Emery.
Gentle
Scrub the Porto record and if we analysis the here and now he is definitely doing well with this current Wolves side. They actually play some decent football at times.
I must admit I blinded myself to the Pedro Nuno rants. But this guy got some grit about him.
Bad luck all you remoaners!
Wow Jeezer.
Hang your boots up son.
Samesong, ‘Scrub the Porto record and if we analysis the here and now he is definitely doing well with this current Wolves side. They actually play some decent football at times.’ In all seriousness we can’t be scrubbing records for the next hire. Of course you saw us play today, this team needs a top top QUALIDY coach. We can forget Pedro’s persistent recommendation of sauce but we sure need the best guy possible, not even the second best. So I will say Poch or Brendan at this point. If we have to wait till May, then we wait till… Read more »
The country has spoken – loud and clear. We leave the EU. And the Labour losers will still back Corbyn and his communist agenda.
Just read this stat : Bukayo Saka has assisted six goals for Arsenal in all competitions this season, two more than any other Gunners player. Creator.
Left
Long live Jeremy Corbyn!!!
Red
You can’t even admit you’re going to lose.
Priti is pissing her panties in excitement in the studio.
Red
A couple of days ago the Tory’s were going to sell the NHS to Trump – now they’re going to fudge a BREXIT deal that’ll keep us tied into the EU.
Make your fucking mind up.
Now Bellerin is in non football trouble. Time to run back to Barca?
Worst result for Labour since the 1930s.
Bring back Michael Foot lol
Red
No mate – I’m a decent right wing person I’ll thrive. The filthy left wing scum on the other hand, what is it you always say LOL!!!
The powerful, silent majority have spoken. We now have a mandate to leave the EU. Somebody arrange an interview with Gina Miller.
Left
She’s another cunt of epic proportions – hopefully her “I know better than you” position will fuck her business.
Surprise, surprise. A strong turn out for Labour in London.
Red
“Looking forward to Johnson shafting all those dumb fuck working class retards who voted for him”
Aren’t they traditional Labour voters? Tell me were they always dumb fuck retards? I’ve always thought so.
At it looks like our friend DM can rest easy.
Red,
Do you live in the UK? Were you eligible to vote?
What an ass whooping, worst Labour result since 1934.
World is in a bizarre state.
Red
So you’re turning on your own traditional voters. The best news is that it’s Momentum who are now running the Labour Party – they’ll bin Corbyn but replace him with another Marxist nut job.
Labour have only been electable in recent years under the anti-Christ of Tony Blair and his New Labour lie – won’t be seeing any revolutions in Labour policies in the near future.
sal
I prefer to think of it as a return of sanity.
Why don’t that idiot Johnson leave the EU immediately instead of fathing about with this transition nonsense…
Marc
Was speaking more global, impeachment in America, Hong Kong going fucking bonkers with zero chance of dem and now this result.
Red
You’re losing it – hello lala nut job.
Marc
“So you’re turning on your own traditional voters. The best news is that it’s Momentum who are now running the Labour Party – they’ll bin Corbyn but replace him with another Marxist nut job.”
I’m not turning, they have turned their back on Labour and voted for a racist dictator…
Jeremy Corbyn, Gina Miller, Dominic Grieve, Michel Barnier, Jo Swinson, Jean Claude Junker, Hugh Grant, Anna Soubry, Lily Allen, Diane Abbott, Michael Heseltine, Ken Clarke, the jumped up Luxembourg President, John Bercow and that guy outside the Houses of Parliament who shouts ‘STOP BREXIT’.
You guys took one hell of a beating.
World is in a bizarre state.
That’s putting it mildly. I have a distinct feeling our children’s children and their children will be cursing our generation when we’re worm food
sal
On a serious note the Hong Kong thing is scary, the demo’s have gone on for over 6 months and as you say you can’t see them winning but they won’t back down. I get the feeling that China is nervous of going in heavy but at some point they could be pushed into it.
Why don’t that idiot Johnson leave the EU immediately instead of fathing about with this transition nonsense…
…………..
Red,
He may well do. The country has spoken, no, they’ve shouted, LEAVE THE BLOODY EU.