Where I sit…
Freddie Ljungberg pulled off the ultimate power move last night, hiding a poor performance behind an election. Can’t knock that.
… and oh my, what an election. It was like watching Arsenal take a 7-2 spanking against United back in the day. Hide behind the couch type stuff. Aaron Ramsey crying into Alex Song’s nook on the team bus home. Just like Arsenal, the board were making decisions on the future of the head coach based on Twitter sentiment and an ‘Arsene knows’ tweet from Youthquake organizer, Stormzy. Labour kept the worst manager in their history on the books for another 2 seasons, the xG numbers were atrocious but the superfans on LFTV kept brushing them off as ‘hipster bullshit.’
The squad was packed full of antisemites, experts said it’d affect performance on the pitch, but no one had the balls to drop the perpetrators. The tactics were non-commital, the election needed a Gengenpress rebuttal of Brexit, but they ended up with Mesut Ozil leading the charge and it fell apart. Corbyn tried to save the terrible performance with an in-game adjustment, adopting a ‘run it into the corner’ approach with tactical voting led Hugh ‘Eboue’ Grant. It didn’t help, he was hooked on 88 after being brought on on 81. A total shambles. Some of the supporters are blaming the fans, some are blaming the media, but when all is said and done, you can’t look further than the disgrace in the dugout.
What a mess. Bourisinho just shithoused his way to Champions League glory without breaking a sweat. Owen Jones in pieces, but at least Corbyn will give him the foreword in his book.
I tried to make that as long as possible, because Arsenal really weren’t much to write home about. To be fair to Freddie, he made a lot of changes, but the same problems persisted. We’re just not much of a force over the course of 90minutes. Standard Liege operate to a very low standard of football, all of the various combinations in our squad should be putting them to the sword, but it didn’t happen.
The defending is still a bit of a mess. Maybe unfair to pin two deflected goals on the players, but the second one was a Willock error in the box. He’s really is struggling at the moment, but it’s to be expected with kids. So let’s not be too judgemental.
The comeback is really all that I care about, namely, because it was all about Saka, one of my favourite young players at the club right now. He delivered an absolute peach of a cross that found Lacazette for an easy finish. His second was a lovely one-two exchange with Martinelli and a low shot tucked into the bottom corner. The backlift was short, but the precision was deadly.
I love the idea of Saka and Martinelli flanking Aubamayang this weekend. I have my doubts Freddie will go with that much inexperience, but really, if you want to scare City, you have to get at their defenders with power and pace, those three certainly have the pace in abundance.
The game finished 2-2. Frankfurt blew their lines. We finished top of the group.
So here’s how the next round looks.
Seeded:
Ajax, Arsenal, Basel, Benfica, Braga, Celtic, Espanyol, Gent, Internazionale, İstanbul Başakşehir, LASK, Malmö, Manchester United, Porto, Salzburg, Sevilla
Unseeded:
APOEL, AZ Alkmaar, Bayer Leverkusen, CFR Cluj, Club Brugge, Copenhagen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Getafe, Ludogorets, Olympiacos, Rangers, Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sporting CP, Wolfsburg, Wolves
We’re seeded, but I’ve still highlighted the teams I’d like to avoid. Like last season, I think the biggest worries are the British sides. Inter are the hot foreign team I’d rather avoid, same with Shaktar just because they are a long plane ride, and Roma because I think Fonseca is a good coach.
Arsenal will have to work hard to win it this year, so let’s hope we hire in a great coach to guide us there.
Right, see you in the comments.
DM
2
4th
Tr4phy
Tr4phy
Rats!
Finlly labor is rid of Jeremy Corbin
Democracy thrives inky when the opposition party is credible and vibrant. Corbyn was never a prime minister in waiting. Glad he took a shellacking.
Can we play Wolves?
*Finally labor is rid of Jeremy Corbyn.
The standout in the TV coverage was Londoners on the street gasping in horror at the early exit poll prediction that was projected via BBC TV on a building in central London.
No different to the EU referendum.
Provincial against the metropolitan chattering classes. And once you completely lose the hinterlands you are in big trouble.
And Boris however people like to think of him as a buffoon was always going to win a populist vote over Corbyn who has always lacked charisma and had aged so much over the last couple of years.
Meh performance matching a meh match.
The serious stuff starts again against Man City.
That’s not to say that the Europa League is not important it very much is now for Arsenal but the match itself was a dead one with Arsenal already qualified from the group and no they were never going to lose 5 -0 to crash spectacularly out.
Ishola.
I missed that but for me the interview of John McDonald immediately following the release of the exit poll findings.
To see Mc Donald squirming was magical
Hilarious
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7787695/Lily-Allen-launches-Twitter-tirade-Boris-Johnsons-victory.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7787193/Moment-Hugh-Grant-saw-exit-poll-announcing-huge-Tory-majority.html
Arsenal put in gritty performance last night, considering the team selection full of youngsters. Freddie really impressed me, especially with his substitutions. Coming from a two goals down in second half to draw level should be commended .Now lets hope for a favorable opponent in the next round. Gunners for life.
So for Sunday, Arteta – aka Super SauceMan – will be besides Pep, or besides Freddie ?
Both ? lol
Chairman Gallant
And yet someone( @ Victorious) on here stated last night “Get the fcuk out Freddie!”
Unfriggingbelievable!
Fair play to Freddie for calling out our senior players for hiding behind the young guns during our poor run.
Our senior “men” (25 plus) have really flaked out since spring and i’m hard pressed to find more than two who have taken the mantle and this in my opinion is a major problem in our on pitch woes.
In all this BREXIT boo ha, there is an elephant in the room,how will leaving the EU affect football? Its sure to affect all clubs the length and breath of the country, especially the lower league clubs who have in their ranks players from the EU who are not elite level. Will those players need work permits? Will we be able to sign the likes of fabregas,bellerin,guendozi. We wait to see how this all pans out.
Chuka Umunna lost his seat! 🙂
Anna Soubry lost her seat! 🙂
The only things Lily Allen is notable for is having a brother on Game of Thrones and telling a quiz show that she took it up the chuffer from Ed Simons. She’s an alt-reality headcase.
At least last night’s “performance” in Liege may have given some of the younger lads a bit of confidence. Coming from two down and managing to hold on to top spot was useful. Not sure how far we can go now, but at least a new manager may have something to play for.
You can’t make this up can you?
The best Arsenal blog in the world becomes a mere thing for uninformed political debates.
Why don’t you leave politics to those who can see what is happening and focus on whether Luiz can still defend, I’m not sure you can even see that.
Dominic Grieve lost his seat! 🙂
Gentle,
Bad loser much? Half of Pedro’s post was political.
Ishola
This wasn’t just about populism. It was about a country wanting to be heard
This is 4th time in 3 years the people have put their vote directly on brexit favoured parties
As soon as Lib Dem and labour reneged they were deserted. It’s now crystal clear which way the people of Great Britain want to go. No more doubts. A majority and the biggest and clearest mandate yet
Give us what we voted for.
Left
They are all heading up to parliament to protest today loool
#notmyprimeminster
After finally arriving in London I’d hate for Pepe to miss the City game through injury.
To even stand a chance against City, we’ll have to surprise City with Pace just like United did . And Pepe could be vital to that approach as well as Martinelli.
#notmyprimeminister munchkins.
Shame on you all.
Labour are fucked now
They’ve abandoned their northern seats in favour of the diversity vote and its backfired spectacularly.
The thing is I know Asian and black guys in the construction industry who voted for brexit and conservative because they are sick of seeing their wage stagnate. It’s about the working classes being shit on. No matter your race, colour, creed. People just want to earn a good living and give their kids a a good life. Labour don’t seen to recognise it and make it about identity politics but they banked on the wrong identity. Class counts.
Majestic
Good
Clubs will have little choice but to start producing more talent which is great for the national game.
Wenger went. The vast majority wanted him out.
Emery in. The vast majority wanted him to succeed.
Emery out. We all wanted him out.
Freddie in. Some of us not happy with this scenario.
Now after just 4 games in charge those same people who wanted Wenger to stay, say “Fcuk off Freddie”
Are these really Arsenal supporters or is this all alcohol- induced?
Don
The populism take was an extra tack that pales in comparison to the main point that was made regarding provincial v metropolitan chattering classes.
The general election last night was just a continuation of the EU referendum and a continuation where those that looked to block that intial EU referendum were made to pay.
It all points back to provincial v metropolitan chattering classes in the first instance.
Get the youths to stop stabbing each other on the streets and into the Arsenal/Sp*rs/Chelsea/West Ham/Crystal Palace Academies.
Simples.
Ishola
Only where London is Concerend but even then the suburban outer boroughs were largely blue. I do agree though. It’s the elites talking down to the thick know nothings. Take what you get and be thankful.
True democracy. It’s beautiful.
Get the youths to stop stabbing each other on the streets and into the Arsenal/Sp*rs/Chelsea/West Ham/Crystal Palace Academies.Simples.
Left
Easy. Bring back stop and search. I’d happily give up 5 mins of my time for a search if it ensures lives are saved. Only the guilty or professional victims protest. It’s almost as if the luvvies want violent crime
Now Boris won hopefully Bellerin will fuck off back to Spain in January.
Un na naai
December 13, 2019 10:16:33
I do agree though. It’s the elites talking down to the thick know nothings.
…………….
Agreed, and here is the evidence from Gentlebris…
………………
Gentlebris
December 13, 2019 09:57:44
You can’t make this up can you?The best Arsenal blog in the world becomes a mere thing for uninformed political debates.
Informed or uninformed.
The British public have spoken.
AGAIN!
Elections are simply a mechanism with which the majority have their way even if the minority are right.
Majority on le grove felt we could never have moved backward under Emery after he faked the 22 games unbeaten.
CG said we would smell relegation. In an election CG would lose overwhelmingly.
Beware of Brexit, it portrays you as racists. Might smell sweet today, but look beyond your nose.
Le Grove is no longer a football blog…
Just say what you think Gentlebris. Why do we need to look beyond our nose?
Playing the race card now.
Gentlebris
You can be seen as being a racist, just for eating Liquorice Allsorts in public.
‘Now Boris won hopefully Bellerin will fuck off back to Spain in January’
Bellerin as a foreign public figure living in a foreign country having an election should have kept his mouth shut. He talked sense when he shouldn’t have talked at all.
Hope he fucks off to Barca though, for footballing reasons.
I think Gentlebris is confusing controlled immigration with racism.
Gentlebris,
The majority of the British public don’t agree with the Spaniard, who can’t vote in a UK election. He should keep to commenting on want the Spaniards should do in elections and wearing blouses.
Last night I watched a game, which demonstrated vividly all the characteristics of our overall performance this season. We were lucky to get a draw against an average SL team particularly when you see our mickey mouse defending. We had also an opportunity to see no fewer than eight youngsters aged between 18 and 21. My opinion was that two performed well on the night namely Saka and Smith-Rowe and show real promise. Martinelli had limited time on the pitch, but we know is a real talent.Some of the posters will rate Guendouzi. Personally I am not a fan. Otherwise… Read more »
Even Trump said he wouldn’t interfere with the UK election. But the ego that is Bellend couldn’t resist.
Wrong blog again!
Gentlebris – the Customs Union in racist. Think about that before you point fingers at others
Pedro, do something, some people here are tired of politics.
Saka was great last night
The cross for Lacazette’s goal was Beckham-esque
His goal at the end was pires-esque.
Him and Martinelli really duling it out for that spot on the left
I expect martinelli to push for that no9 spot soon with Saka smith Rowe and Pepe begins him
Our attack looks great for the future
Need to get chambers and holding settled together in the centre of defence and get saliba in to challenge.
HL
Start a football discussion. If people are interested they will comment.
Stroller I was thinking the same thing on the wealthy Londoners. But it’s easy to figure it out They benefit most from cheap foreign labour. Their companies make billions off the backs off cheaper workers who are undercutting British families and preventing anyone from getting ahead. It’s a race to the bottom. I see on next door women bragging that they refuse to pay their cleaners more than £8 per hour. It’s disgusting. Cleaners nannies, builders are all having to take less than they were 20 years ago to stay competitive and pay their bills. That is why the London… Read more »
Guendouzi. Personally I am not a fan
—————————
A descent manager/coach should be able to turn him into a top player.
So after reading these comments it’s easy to see why other fans think we’re the cunts.
Fucking hell.
Pierre,
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/mesut-ozil-arsenal-next-club-premier-league-perfect-player-managers-given-up-a9245036.html
Good piece on Ozil.
Would welcome your response to the points it makes.
HL
It was a momentous day in the country politically. You can’t expect there to be no mention of it. It’s changed the landscape for the two party system. Absolutely earth shattering. A shake up like this was sorely needed.
Kaz,
Were you eligible to vote?
Kaz,
You’re calling the UK public c*nts?
You want to know what’s funny? Poor people with big dreams.
Left
James OBrien today. I’ll listen to the full 3 hours
Words
No please, not Ozil again.
We all know Ozil’s traits.
It doesn’t take an expert to realise where we stand with him.
If he turns up on Sunday, then so be it. If Freddie can galvanise him to perform, then so be it. The thing is, we all know that Mesut will find a way to make it all about him, which he has always been so good at doing.
Un na naii
I would describe the so-called intellectual elite who vote Labour as hypocrites.
Many of these people are “political snobs”. One of my neighbours who comes from one of the wealthiest families in Britain has a photograph of Karl Marx in his house. Whilst they live modestly they have managed to finance £1 million + house for all their children.
Mr Lansman the founder of Momentum went to Highgate School and is a
millionaire coming from a wealthy multi millionaire property investor family.
Those are the sort of people who Labour now represent!!
Un,
Thanks for the heads up. Listening now.
Graham62,
Sorry, promise I won’t do it again!
Kaz pops up, calls the UK public c*nts and disappears. Gentlebris pops up, calls the UK public uninformed and disappears.
Johnson could of set fire to a kindergarten and still got elected.
The re-emergence of the far right is truly alive and kicking in GB
Would be pretty cool if there was something like LFTV today, actually.
Pipe down Red. Jeremy shakes hands with terrorists.
Lol Johnson far right? Only because anyone to the right of Stalin and Mao is defined as far right by media and losers on twitter.
Emirratesroller
If Lansmsn is a wealthy millionaire, why were Labour’s policies labelled Marxist.
Graham,
I do admire your wishful thinking that Freddie will somehow steer us to better pastures but do you really believe that he is the right manager for Arsenal in its current state ? I would guess that all Arsenal fans want him to do well but maybe only a small minority want him to continue as manager.
What we need right now is a master tactician with a tough and selfish mentality, a credible manager who won’t suffer player power and give these overpaid primadonnas a kick up the back side. That just isn’t Freddie….not 2019 Freddie anyway.
Stoller
Exactly. They all send their children to private schools yet want grammar schools closed down.
The car crash Dianne Abbot interview was symbolic.
Do as I say not as I do.
Vladdy
Well if Johnson is not far right, he’s going to disenfranchise a hell of a lot of people who voted for him
Well at least we didn’t end up with some lunatic who wanted Bankrupt us & to send us back to the industrial revolution.
Perhaps the commy Marxist’s could join him and his friends over in Russia !
Redtruth
Hahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Aaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahah
Nur nur nur nur nur nur.
What did I tell you? The silent majority boyo. Yes yes. Everyone who wants to leave the EU is a far right nazi. Even though Corbyn befriends Islamic and Irish terror groups and allows anti Semiticism to fester unchecked in party.
Hurrah for the people of Britain
One nation Tories
Hurrah
Un na naai voted for the Brexit Party whose only policy was to kick immigrants in the goolies and then deport them back to their country.
Red Depends on why they voted for him, I guess. Personally am not a fan of his brexit deal. Seems way too softcore for my tastes, but clearly the majority wanted to get it done one way or another, and he’s the only one in parliament who’s been trying, so what else were you expecting? I thought Lib Dem would get a lot more votes than they did, but Corbyn was asking for trouble going against his constituents in the North who were a massive voting bloc. Anyway, will try not to harp on politics too much since Peter calmed… Read more »
Semitism
People up and down the Country voted Brexit because they are sick and tired of Pakistanis taking over Towns and Village.
Red,
Whats wrong with sending illegal immigrants back. The clue is in the word ‘illegal’.
I know why Northern Labour brexiteers vote for Johnson, because they feel Labour is racist towards the white working class.
RT
You have very narrow minded perceptions.
Left bollock
Johnson on numerous occasions has called for an amnesty on all illegal immigrants and no doubt will follow it through now he has secured a majority.
No problem with that. Moving forward I trust Priti Patel to have a much tougher stance on immigration.
Rt
You keep missing out the A between R and T
I didn’t vote brexit in the end. They weren’t standing in my area. So I went conservative.
Johnson better start getting the chequebook out and reward the racists he previously brutalised with wage cuts.
Let’s be clear there are plenty of champagne socialists including on the hard
left.
Mr Lansman’s brother runs a property company and by all accounts Lansman
himself has a pretty comfortable lifestyle.
When you see people like Sormzy and Ken Loach all ardent Corbynistas living
opulent lifestyles you know how stupid the politics they support are.
The real plus of this Election is that the “quiet majority” in this country are when it comes to politics sensible people. They see through the media nonsense we have listed to in last six weeks.
WOB I read that earlier, I wouldn’t call it a very balanced or educated article. He says “. If you were inventing the perfect footballer for the modern Premier League, he would not be far from Ozil.” That one sentence alone shows the ignorance of the writer and how little understanding he has of the modern game. The pefect modern day footballer is about as far away from Ozil as one could wish. Kevin Debruyne is the perfect modern day footballer and I would say Maddison has the potential to emulate Debruyne as he is skilful, aggressive on and off… Read more »
How are you Red? Devastated I’d imagine? Those benefits might just be a little harder to get.
Boom boom Boris.
Now all we need is Arteta and it will have been a fabulous week.
Breathing a sigh of relief.
Un na naai
“I didn’t vote brexit in the end. They weren’t standing in my area. So I went conservative.”
Where most of the racists and far right went too…
Why is everyone a racist?
GoH
I fear for the Jews now that the far right have found their home in the Conservative Party.
Is anyone who has a different opinion to you a racist?
Red
Mate, the Jews are a lot safer now I think you’ll find.
Joking aside, we would have been in an abyss if Corbyn had actually pulled it off.
UTarse You may be right. Freddie may not be the long term solution but I’ve seen bits and bobs during the past two weeks that proves that me that he is capable of doing things that were needed doing. Martinelli/ Saka/ Smith-Rowe must be given a chance. I sense Freddie knows this. Our senior players need to show some frigging balls. I sense Freddie knows this. Some of our players are just not up to scratch. I sense Freddie also knows this. Wheras Wenger( and Emery) accommodated individuals, I sense Freddie will not tolerate fools for too long. Obviously Xhaka… Read more »
“Boom boom Boris. ”
I always prefered Edberg.
Red is throwing his dolly out of the pram. Have you thought about calling the Samaritans?
Their will be an outpouring of venom from the right wing socialists if Johnson fails to keep his word and deliver an authentic Brexit…