Well, this is awkward… Mikel Arteta is… a… Xhaka fan.
“When I was going from Arsenal to City to start coaching and we were looking in that position, he was one of the players on my list,”
“This is how much I liked him. I was happy when Arsenal signed him because I thought he was going to be a terrific player.
“ He has done some really good things and now he has got stuck in a very difficult situation that, I think, was growing and growing and growing and one day it exploded. But I have been amazed as well by how this relationship is starting to come back a little bit and I think the fans have been very, very positive about him. Obviously it is difficult to change completely the scenario from where he was to a magnificent one. But I think we are in the right direction with him.”
This certainly appears to be the dead body under the patio the entire exec team missed when they interviewed him late at night when it was clearly too dark to see!
I mean, there’s only one thing to do here, look for the light that shines on this turd the best.
There’s no one else in the squad that can play the better bits of Xhaka’s game like he does, so unless there’s a spare £50m in the pocket of the Kroenke’s, it’s very likely this is as good as we can do right now. Just to double down on the claim that we spent next summers money last summer, Raul said this to the press.
‘It is in general. The strategic window by definition is the summer window that’s when you plan the season ahead. ‘Last summer we did an incredible effort where we were very grateful to the support we got from our ownership.
‘We went really one step further and made a real investment that increased our expectations for the season.’
Doesn’t sound like he’s keen to splurge. I’m also not sure I trust the club to do good work in January, so unless there’s a player we can loan, I’d rather us save what little powder we have for sharp moves in 5 months time.
Back to Granit.
You either build him up, or you cut his throat right away. If we’re in the hearts and minds phase at the moment, there’s no one that needs as much heart as the player who told us to fuck off in a shit fit the other week. It’s also clear to anyone that’s been paying attention that Xhaka is a big personality behind the scenes… he managed to bulldoze his way to the most undeserving captaincy of all time. It makes sense that anyone who is feeling out the squad would give him a chance to make good on his ‘potential’ because he really does have to show some of the players his words mean something (they didn’t under Emery who flip-flopped).
I really do think we have to take a lot of the press talk with a pinch of salt over the next few weeks. Arteta has to win over big names in the squad and he has to make the best of the mess he picked up from Emery. I would imagine he’ll also fancy himself as a proper coach, he needs to have case study signed off over the next 6 months, no bigger player to take on than one of the most misunderstood (as in, WHAT DOES HE DO?) and mistake-ridden players of the decade.
This following quote kind of confirms my thinking, but as it’s Boxing Day, I’ll be honest, I read the below quote and built my blog around it to make it seem like I’m insightful.
“I don’t want to change everything drastically in two days,”
“I want to put my feelings slowly, I want to see what is going around, and in the right moment I will make the decisions for the benefit of the team and the club. At the moment I don’t think it is the right time, with the amount of games coming up and the amount of things that have to be done, to change too many things.”
The most important thing for today is the win (also insightful). Bournemouth is in a mess, they’ve won 2 games in 8 and lost the rest. Sure, they beat United and Chelsea in that time, but they’ve been awful. Their confidence is shot to pieces, they’ve conceded 10 in their last 6. Literally the worst team in the league right now… but remember, we are normally a gift for struggling managers, and it’s not a given that we’ll get a new manager bounce.
That said, we are still only 4 points off 5th – if we beat Chelsea, we’ll be 3 points away from top 4 at the start of January, which is unreal. There is certainly a very real chance we could make a power play for the Champions League this season if Areta gets things to click. Again, it feels unrealistic considering the drama, the contracts and the confidence… but hey, crazier things have occurred. Spurs are going to be up and down, Jose struggling to impact them like you’d have thought. Chelsea boasts a young squad with a young manager that will be inconsistent, and United are shite.
I still think the brief to Mikel is simple… find out who is worth keeping, deliver a quick appraisal of the kids, and lay the foundations for next season.
“The context is very important, and the context right now, here, is not Manchester City. It is completely different. So I can’t demand the players to do some things because I will expose them and that is the last thing I want to do. I want to give them confidence, reassurance and guidance. But slowly, slowly, slowly, hopefully we will get to where I want.”
Today is a huge first step and it’s exciting. However, I want to stress over and over, the next 6 weeks are going to be very difficult. We could well be replacing 7 first-team players this summer, he has to find out if the kids have the mustard he needs, and he has to win over the fans. Arteta has to somehow build a culture, lay technical foundations, and make brutal decisions all without a preseason.
Bear with it… it’ll come good. I’m certain. See you in the comments and listen to my podcast if you were rude enough not to have already.
*13th place Brighton
Bamford
The PL has always had banana skins ever since inception.
When you’re midfield options are Guendouzi and Willock, you’ll grasp onto anything – even a Swiss bollard, such is the paucity of quality options in central midfield.
Bamford have Brighton got a better squad than us?
Paulinho that’s the point. He’s the best of a really bad bunch.
Lego – Yep, he knows his game, while our other options are still trying to work whether where their strengths lie.
Excited about Torreira. Feel like he’s moving into form.
I would run as fast as I can away from Xhaka and Ozil even in my first few months until the summer window.
Those two might have been something in the past but they are now more of a professional coach wreckers than professional footballers.
If Arteta wants to gamble his new career on them…..by all means, let him.
Whenever I see a combo of Ozil and Xhaka filling out in Arsenal colors, I would temporarily suspend my football expectations and settle down to enjoy a great show of comedy.
Has anyone noticed that we have shipped more goals against than Bournemouth!
*more of professional coach wreckers
*13th place Brighton
We lost to worse though…
It’s so difficult not to be be consumed with the negativity that has enveloped the club over the past decade.
Arteta needs time and space to try and put his methods and philosophies in place.
I’m willing to give him that, even if it means backing off for the time being from the GX and Ozil bandwagons.
Charlie still trying to convince posters the problem with Arsenal started just two years ago. This on a blog that has been crying for change for the better part of a decade.
Yet he calls posters clowns.
There’s no one else in the squad that can play the better bits of Xhaka’s game like he does, so unless there’s a spare £50m in the pocket of the Kroenke’s, it’s very likely this is as good as we can do right now It’s not going to take 50 million to replace him though. Honestly it’s going to say a great deal about Mikel Arteta if he comes in and Xhaka yet again is irreplaceable to the team. It’s honestly getting beyond a joke at this point with that specific player. He’s currently being linked with Hertha Berlin for… Read more »
Pedro “if we beat Chelsea, we’ll be 3 points away from top 4 at the start of January, which is unreal. There is certainly a very real chance we could make a power play for the Champions League this season if Arteta gets things to click.” Sorry, Pedro, but I think you’re being overly optimistic about our situation, and such optimism will not help Arteta manage expectations within the fanbase. We aren’t going to beat Chelsea, we will still be nine or more points off 4th as of January 2nd, and there is no chance we will contend for 4th… Read more »
“Charlie still trying to convince posters the problem with Arsenal started just two years ago. “
Where exactly?
Brighton will live to regret that miss.
Too casual at the back.
OMG
It’s reported …
”Elneny in advanced negotiations with AC Milan – Nasser“
A grand finale of Gazidis reunion
Ultimately it’s going to boil down to if Arteta is legit. If he’s serious about fast flowing football then that’s not Xhaka
“The muck we have seen over the previous two years”
What does that mean Charlie? We have been witnessing world class football prior to the past two years?
Freddie was right, the poor misunderstood lad routine got old long ago.
Marko
“It’s not going to take 50 million to replace him though.”
Sure, but a January window is not an ideal time to be doing this replacing, and Arteta can’t know in advance that we’ll be able to bring a midfielder in in January who will successfully do this replacing. So he’s likely hedging his bets: he is making Xhaka feel wanted and self-confident, but he’s also looking at Rabiot and/or others in the window.
Paulinho, great point.
As much as we would all probably like to 3 or 4 of our players removed from the starting 11, we aren’t flush with alternatives.
Bamford, while I don’t think top 4 is out of the question completely (as football can be crazy) I think your right about managing expectations.
For this season Arteta should be judged on his ability to improve the current squad output and implement a semblance of style back into our football.
Rest of this season is basically a gimme.
People need to differentiate between what it would to cost to replace Xhaka and what it would cost to bring in a quality CM we need.#
You replace Xhaka with a card board cut out and it would a major upgrade.
Receding
The subject was quality of football and Emery had us at the lowest ebb we’ve seen for decades.
So it’s a clear reference point when I’m talking about Arteta’s footballing aims, and is going from that to the speculated. A change I deemed “radical”.
There’s no poor misunderstood anything, just the usual suspects trying to pot stir and score cheap points by taking what’s said and running down a rabbit hole with it inferring their own version of what’s said. It happens a lot on here.
Ok
Hour before game… what’s his team.
Great – the Spuds take the lead!
Arsenal XI confirmed: Leno; Maitland-Niles, Luiz, Sokratis, Saka; Torreira, Xhaka; Nelson, Ozil, Aubameyang; Lacazette
Charlie maybe wait to see the quality of football consistently over at least three games before proclaiming anything radical.
We did not play crap football for all of Emery’s 70+ games in charge. I know you want to sell that as a fact but it isn’t. We witnessed some thrilling games last season.
Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Saka, Torreira, Xhaka, Nelson, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Sub: Martinez, Pepe, Mustafi, Mavropanos, Willock ,Guendouzi, Smith Rowe
Not sure why Ozil back in the side
Cheers bam…
Don’t inspire does it…
Not confident in that line up at all
No radical change in the setup or starting eleven that’s for sure.
Arteta a Xhaka fan, noooo.
Would he get into pool or city side.
Nooo. Not even their reserves. Suspect judgement not a good sign.
Mikel failing even before his first match. This is risky appointment. Not convinced.
Let’s see what happens at Bournemouth though.
Really interested to see how he sets Laca & Auba up today.
Still no faith in Pepe?
RSPC
Not sure what Arteta’s supposed to do with the players available.
Gabriel Martinelli has a tight hamstring…..
Looking at the fixtures, we could easily not win again till mid feb, home to newcastle
Agreed Marc, looking at the bench and it’s hard to see many viable alternatives.
Just seen the line up. That’s worse than any Dick or Freddy sent out. Signs aren’t good.
Great lineup Arteta………said no one ever.
Marc
True I know..
But we have given some of those players to much game time already this season..
And luiz on a wet pitch will only produce a red card.
Hitman/Danny, what changes would you guys make?
Receding
In finishing 5th, Emery over-achieved. The football wasn’t fabulous, but it wasn’t crap either. It was just a little drab and uninspired. But that drab and uninspired football got us 7 more points and a higher finish in the table than the season prior and it got us a higher finish (2 points behind Chelsea, 1 point behind Spurs) than should’ve been expected given the weaknesses and inadequacies of the squad. Certain people here will try to tell a different story about last season, but they have it wrong. Emery over-achieved.
WTF is Arteta up to?..why is he shoehorning all all the ‘experienced’ wasters and less of the exciting youngsters we have at the club
Very very poor line up imho
RSPC
No argument but Arteta’s inherited this squad that’s missing a clutch of players through injury and also Chambers who’s suspended.
Again anyone not happy with the line up who should be have picked?
Sure the lineup is crap but at least we have a top 4 squad.
Have to spend 6 months giving Ozil, Xhaka, Mustafi and co their 456th chances, they’ll come good, you’ll see, they just need some coaching and a full body transplant.
So many jokers in that lineup, I think the only thing that will make me log onto Amazon Prime is to see how they perform with Arteta in the dugout.
So Aubameyang is back on the wings.
Squad is looking depleted at the moment.
Luiz and Sokratis & Xhaka? Come off it.
Give AFC Bournemouth the 3 pts already.
The only way we will win this is if we see defensive resilience and fight like we haven’t seen since 2008.
Only real questionable exclusion is Pepe possibly Guen.
Arteta seems to be going with the below. Not hugely inspiring, but can one argue that he has few other good options?
__________Leno
AMN__Sokr__Luiz___Saka
______Torra___Xhaka
Nelson____Ozil______Auba
_________Lacazette
Receding Maybe grasp what’s said and the intention behind it. I’m not claiming radical anything immediately, I said we’re at the start of a radical new era, which is exactly what’s billed with Arteta and the vision he’s laying out if you care to pay attention. That’s the goal, I’ve made no comment on how it will materialise, or who of the squad will be fit/unfit for purpose – in fact I’ve said the opposite, that the season should be left for Arteta to make those judgements. And I’ll deem it whatever I like thank you, you’re free to say… Read more »
Who would have thought that Reiss Nelson is playing ahead of Pepe.
Nelson “”Gabriel Martinelli has a tight hamstring….””” Probably because of too much headless chicken pressing at Goodison Park. I sincerely hope Arteta is not being ‘leaned on’ by Edu with this prosperous selection of David Luiz in a back 4. You can Talk the Talk – but if you cant do the basics…….team selection …….you really have to ask if he is up to the task. (Flabbergasting ineptitude) Does he realise that even if Luiz plays adequately today- he will be compelled to play him against Chelsea and Manchester United. Artetas first and only task as manager was to ostracise… Read more »
“Emery over-achieved”
😂😂😂
At least we have Saka at LB as I hoped. That’s my one positive
Btw has the formation been confirmed?
I gather he likes a 4-3-3 but on paper that team selection looks better as a 4-4-2
__________Leno
AMN__Mav__Mustafi___Saka
______Torra___Guen
Nelson____ESR______Auba
_________Lacazette
Now that really does look shaky…..
CG
Holding is still not 100% fit and Chambers is suspended, we have zero backup at fullback so this is the only way to do it, if one of Saka or AMN breaks down we have Mustafi on the bench.
Don’t let facts get in the way of a good moan though, never have before.
The only noticable omission is Pepe and since you already have another player in Aubameyang that doesn’t defend, there’s no point starting Pepe.
The question is why Pepe is not playing. Did he bang Don Rauls wife, or touched Artetas hair? We may never know.
I’d actually be more interested and excited if we’ve gone for a traditional flat 442 because tactically it would be a change even if the players are largely the same as emery days
“” If he selects him – in the 2 next games
I want him out.””
What happens if we win those 2 games with luiz in the side ?
He failed.
If he selects him – in the 2 next games
I want him out”
Not that I agree but I wouldn’t find issues with those who do, this very starting 11 against Bournemouth is mind-boggling and he better hope they don’t let him down
Ozil in the team is a headache but ozil on the wing is a real bollock puncher of a move tho
Let’s hope we get peak ozil flicks and through balls and if not I hope he gets shafted off by half time
Freddie, azed makes a great point actually.
More a choice of Pepe or Auba than Pepe & Nelson as with both Pepe & Auba on the pits your probably more fragile and less compact.
Charlie
Agreed
We have seen enough of luiz to know he ain’t arsenal.
Throw the young bubble lad on instead.
Really am disappointed with this team..
It’s arts first warning
How shockingly inept and lazy must Pepe be- that he cant even get in this team?
The Clown/Fred & Arteta have all favoured unproven teenagers..
Raul should be sacked for that deal alone.
No wonder why we are 11 th and stinking every place out we visit.
Jesus my autocorrect is a mess!
Well balanced team,4-2-3-1.
Good to see Aubamayang and Lacazette in the side.
You really do have to ask what’s going on with Pepe
I wonder if it’s a language thing. Does he speak any English at all? If not they might just find explaining stuff to him and giving instructions to him mid game etc super annoying and useless
CG is continual repetitive moaning all you have to offer?
I think Arteta will be emphasizing possession and dominating possession, so this might be why he isn’t going with Pepe. It could be the defending/pressing thing as well. Nelson will give you plenty of harrying and running where Pepe might not.
Unai
We’re still more balanced with Auba in the middle and 2 wingers either side of him.
Pepe is also one of the few players we have with that x factor, who can take on a couple of players and create or score out of nothing. He’s only shown it in flashes so far but at least we know it’s there with him.
Pierre
Aubameyang on the wings is not a balanced team.
Especially him playing infront of Saka who’s not a left back by trade.
That said, we literally have no other options so it’s a case of Arteta making use of what he has available.
At least we shouldn’t see ozil at DM and torreira at AM/wing as we got for large periods of one of emery’s Last games LOL
Pepe is a fraud and I hope we offload his ass the soonest we get the chance
How does a far worser player in Nelson get the nod ahead of him? I mean the same Nelson that can’t take a set-piece past the first man if his life depended on it. Very average player
Aeteta is either not grasping totally the task he has at hand or…
Whoever that approved of the signing of Pepe should be absolutely nowhere near the club. Sackable offense
In my opinion Pepe has fitness/stamina issues, adjusting to the premier league tempo. I’m making the excuses for him. However I think he will be better next season.
Vic
“””He failed.
If he selects him – in the 2 next games
I want him out”
IF Arteta takes 2 wallopings against Chelsea ( Abraham) and Man Utd (Rashford) with Luiz in the team – it wont just be me – that will be thinking the above.
Last time David Luiz visited Bournemouth he lost 4 zero.
My concern is he being leant on by Edu.( his client)
If I know it.
He should too..
Pepe hasn’t played that well but the reason I don’t judge him yet is he also appears to have been horrendously mismanaged Like every time he does better and scores he’s immediately dropped. His confidence must be at rock bottom and that’s not going to change when teenagers keep getting the nod ahead of him But that’s doesn’t mean I think he’s a good signing or will definitely come good, more that I won’t yet jump to any conclusions because the club appear to have made a complete clusterfuck of managing the guy and it’s hard to really know what… Read more »
I want a refund from Lille. Is there a return policy?
Pepe is not as good as some of you proclaim he is. The guy loses the ball very frequently, is easily dispossessed and his passing is below average. He doesn’t have a sharp footballing brain either. He may look threatening at times due to his one footed dribbling and may score a few good goals even but as a package he is always going to be underwhelming. That said Nelson is a very very poor player himself, so not sure what convinced Arteta to pick Nelson ahead of Pepe.
A debut for Ozil in an away game!
Let’s see how we flare with side/ back passes.
% Improvement => % reduction in # aide/ back passes
If half the team could press like Martinelli we wouldn’t be where we are ffs.
Brazil U23 is calling up Martinelli and may disrupt some parts of the season. Not cool but can’t not let him go.
‘ If he’s serious about fast flowing football then that’s not Xhaka’
You do know that the ball moves quicker than any player? Football 101 make the ball do the work.
Like literally what is going on with Pepe
I’d rather the club made a public statement about what’s going on frankly because it’s reached the point of being the elephant in the room.
Soon they’ll be selling where’s Wally books with Pepe as an extra character to look for in the stadium (ozil should be added to but can only be found on the page with a gaming room in a mansion)
Left
“”””CG is continual repetitive moaning all you have to offer?”””
Maybe if we were in the upper echelons of the table , playing great entertaining soccer every week – like we have done for past 25 years I guess I would not moan so much.
Worst position at this stage of the season for 38 years.
12th???????
I am not cheerleading for no one
I will state the truth. No more , No less.
You want to recite optimistic Fairy Tales.
You do that.
Amazon Prime, WTF?
Amazon Prime have Tony Pulis to talk about Arsenal. Is this a wind up or just scrapping the bottom of the barrel of punditry?
Pepe has been training with Arteta a few days now, if he’s fully fit then it’s maybe a concern. Potentially he’s a terrible trainer, or say it quietly….plain dogshit. Think maybe Arteta might’ve tapped into his character a bit and seen him struggling? Who knows. Personally felt we shouldn’t have seen much of Pepe early early on outside of our cup games and EL stuff. Maybe Mikel wants him just to have a breather and bed in under his guidance to light a fire? Idk. Its exciting again for me, we’re starting from the ground up and that’s what I’ve… Read more »
Auba and saka to attack on the left. Laca to press ahead of lazy ozil. Nelson to protect AMN thats the logic behind selection
CG
Luiz is another massive fraudster eating the life out of the club.. Will take a half fit Holding and chambers partnership all day
Still not sure how and why people rated our transfer business last summer
Players we bought appeared to have made us worse,Horrible dealings of both players allowed to leave and those we bought as well,very shocking
If we don’t start playing pepe and he ends up leaving this would go down as one of the weirdest major transfers in modern football history
It’s just weird lol
LEGO hair must be CC because he’s defended xhaka twice today.
Unless CC is still around today and I didn’t see him
What it’s Charlie asking hahaha
Sorry Charlie I genuinely didn’t notice it was you asking
Mikel Arteta pisses excellence, pregame interview confirms it.
China
😂😂 ffs, good Xmas? Still sauced.
Vic
Folk criticize me for being negative.( and I’ll take it on board)
But they should remember.
I did nt spend £250 000 000 and send us to 12th!
Ozil has had so many clean slates he could tile a roof.
Pepe to replace Auba while ESR will replace Ozil as the game progresses
You heard it here 1st!
I hope that the team is more compact. The attackers stay close to the midfielders and midfielders close to the CB’s. The Everton game is a good start
Haha Charlie I’ve had a whole two beers this week! It’s been a wild ride
I’m gonna blame it on getting 4 hours sleep a night twice in a row due to kid and wife having a stomach bug