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.
Back passing compulsively. There is your reward 😭
Ozil just sprinted…..ad pulled out of a 50/50….waste of time running if your going to do that…
Oh dear…. Sucker punch
Arteta out !
Our defence is woeful
There you go, playing out from the back and they score FFS.
PapaSok didn’t do shit! Just stood and watched
You and I feel it. When we lost the call there were 6 in our box with NO movements to try stop it. Criminal.
I guess 1 – 2.
So half way there BOU end.
Arteta time to use some special sauce
the whole team is physically weak…dont like a 50/50…or even a 60/40….
Poor to be a goal down with the chances we have and the stamp we’ve had on the game
up to that point.
Luiz Out
Arteta Out
Raul Out
Round it is……and Round and Round we will surely go.
Clowns everywhere.
I reckon Ozil could go past Maitland.
.
New special sauce.
Same ole Arsenal
If you think you are gonna win with a Xhaka/Ozil combo you are a joker.
Nelson now horrible.
Passing out from the back, fullbacks out of position and Xhaka making a poor defensive decision. That goal had everything you expect from Arsenal.
Laca lost his abilities to shoot. Rubbish attempts with not single shot off let alone on target.
Sell. And reinvest the 40m+
Lacazzett thinking extra second. Today not his day to be a striker Mr. Arteta
Happy New Year
“Top four quality squad”
😂😂😂
14th-place Bournemouth up 1-0.
….who the fuck would buy these players? Seriously who?
Someone tells Ozil that’s quite alright tussling in the EPL
Still no shots from Arsenal.
CG already “Arteta Out!” 37 minutes into his new job. Amazing.
Arteta trying to polish shit.
Its never been done
As I said Saka is exposed with Auba there and we conceded from a loose ball trying to play out from the left. Why???
This playing out from the back still doesn’t work well.
That didn’t take long from the resident imbecile to already want our new manager out.
Parody poster.
Bam
“””14th-place Bournemouth up 1-0.”””
With TEN players out.
Where is The new managers Bounce ???
CG’s turned on Mikel already. Hate to see it
Wot the heck. Nearly 2 or a pen.
Leno saves it.
You know when commentators talk about knowledgeable fans they will mention Liverpool or manu.. I’ve just realised why they never mention arsenal.. Lol.. Reading the comments in le grove I know why..
Leno
The only one worth keeping. Sell the lot
Great start but rubbish how we concede on the first real threat.
@Spanish Dave….perfectly put, I said before he was appointed, it doesn’t matter who take the job…..most of the squad isn’t good enough, they are so bad you cant shift them on, in any other career they would be under a disciplinary for under performance, in football they keep on earning their £200K pw….its a totall farce!
The curse continues….
Why can’t we play a leftback from the reserves? Bola?
Why is Nelson so shit at passing and crossing the ball?
Why does Ozil pass sideways when running into the 18 instead of taking the shot.?
I’m sick to death of the same mistakes repeating itself. We need to be rid of all the senior players and start again. Ozil, Xhaka, Laca, Auba, SOk, Papa, Mustafi and Luiz need to leave the club.
Saka should take a shot rather than cross the ball. We have little presence there nor abilities to jump and get a header anyway
Ozil’s debut doesn’t go to plan unfortunately.
Xhara is poor. So are AMN, Laca , Auba and Nelson.
Torreira ok.
Most teams play out the back comfortably
Its an indictment of the players we have that they struggle with something so basic.
I said a few games ago, that Aubameyang lackadaisical and careless passing keep putting his teammates in danger and today it did resulting in a goal.
All our own doing mind you, well on top but final ball and finishing lacking so you always knew the opposition would get a chance and be more clinical with it.
I can’t stress how much I hate seeing AMN in an Arsenal jersey. Sokratis missed tackle Reiss Nelson being pushed aside at RB all the while that horrendous footballer is literally jogging back in the distance. Thank fuck for Leno. Unbelievable player. Clean slates though all around
oh my fucking god….the crossing……….they are PRO FOOTBALLERS???
Saka’s crosses suck big time. Nelson’s crosses also.
There’s no way on earth Nelson is better than Pepe.
Saka and Nelson’s final ball has been beyond pathetic.
Endless thick youngsters with zero composure coming out of Hale End.
Boxing Day beers and Arsenal, perfect.fit. Looked solid but still conceded, bounce back boys it’s as if you’ve not seen you’re gaffers fashion.
Bamford still a cunt some things never change.
You don’t need your coaching certificates to see the errors –
Playing out from the back
Xhaka on the pitch
Nelson instead of Pepe
Abu on the wing
Laca not interested but still on the pitch
Martinelli not starting
Ozil ‘pulling the strings’ (more like pulling the pud!)
No decent defenders to speak of etc, etc, etc
Saka is very young. With experience he will improve.
Don’t compare him with experienced players. They too got there after playing and learning
Luiz looks a different player on the ball. Big improvement in that regard.
Paying for Saka & Nelson’s inexperience here.
That goal has lifted Bournemouth. We will be in relegation dogfight if we don’t start taking our opportunities.
Valentin
That’s why you play Aubameyang as the striker.
Saka doesn’t need to worry about choosing between England and Nigeria for some time. Not good, so far.
When Leno is on track for MOTM it’s sad !!
My grandma can cross better that Saka and Nelson.
Did their goalkeeper touch the ball that half?
I’d look to introduce Pepe for Nelson and not when an hour has gone.
I keep being gobsmacked by the level of work and investment this team needs.
Promising first half, sloppy goal to concede but we’re building attacks with intent and simplifying what we’re doing. Final ball has been abysmal though.
Interesting movement from the fullbacks who seem to tuck into DM depending where the ball is on the pitch.
Lets see how we respond.
Izzo can’t argue with that.
Big job , deep pocket needed.
It’s better to clear the ball and then regroup. Who tells them to play this way we never used to?
10 players out, losing 1 0 welcome to the arsenal manager’s gig mr arteta…..may the sauce be with you.
General play I’m happy. We are being let down by individuals atm. For my its inexplicable how we have an elite Wiseman on the bench and we are watching Nelson blast opportunity after opportunity into the stands.
Fuck me even ozil is having a good game. Aubameyang wide isn’t working but we know this.
Some nice play but same old same old. Players in good positions making dumb decisions time and time again, and us getting countered, and slowly losing confidence.
Why can’t Saka or Nelson deliver a final ball??? It’s so frustrating to see them fuck up every single promising attack with a pathetic cross
Remember when a certain poster was telling us about how good Nelson, Willock and Saka were, about how the big problem was that Emery wasn’t playing the young guys? Maybe Saka will be a good player in the future, as he does have quality, but the notion that these players would or will help us finish top four this season (or any time soon) was and is complete nonsense.
Tbf to amn he has actually played well.
Really poor crossing today. Final third is so bad.
Why is Reiss keeping Pepe out of the team? Pepe is more of a threat and can actually beat his man, also think Arteta has to drop one of Lacazette or auba if he is playing Ozil.
It’s too early to say it hit I’ll do so anyway, this is too big a job for Arteta’s first role. Mountain to climb.
Near dog shit performance.
Arteta now knows he’s got to sell the lot, bar Leno
Overplaying from out of the back in a tight situation led to their goal and Bournemouth pounced on poor little Saka.
Torreira had played pretty well but disappointing in the Bournemoth goal in that Gosling got the run on him to score and then Torreira made a few errors after that goal.
Not enough quality from Reiss Nelson I’m afraid.
Yeh let’s cross the ball to players who can’t head it.
Better to take it to the by line and cut back, Emery did this to great affect and then stopped it.
It’s hard to know what to change when they are all crap
Check the goal, xacka just backs off aimlessly, his mentality is so weak and lackadaisical. All this from supposedly a big oersonality.
Emery’s early spell was defined by positive early subs that got us a result. Arteta needs to be able to do that as well.
The CB’s today were forced on him and the same with the FB’s.
The only way I want to see Xhaka on the pitch for Arsenal again is if Arteta garrottes him on the pitch prior to kick off on Sunday.
Interesting movement from the fullbacks who seem to tuck into DM depending where the ball is on the pitch.
CC
You are right.
Arteta has taken that out of Pep’s play book. Must be the IP Pedro was talking about.
Leno….our best player so far says it all…
Nelson is terrible, again you can see the mentality, weak, smalltime thinks hes bug time. Martinelli would ha e bagged twice in the same situation
I can’t believe Arteta actually started Ozil and Xhaka together. What was he thinking?
What exactly were you expecting from Nelson that you thought Pepe couldn’t produce?
Majesticgooner
“Why is Reiss keeping Pepe out of the team?”
Pepe is erratic for sure and there are qustion marks about him off the ball but it’s hard to fathom how Reiss Nelson starts ahead of him.
“ “Top four quality squad”😂😂😂 14th-place Bournemouth up 1-0.”
LOL should a side with top 4 quality never lose, or be losing, to a side in the bottom half?
Man City lost 3-2 to 19th place Norwich, maybe their squad isn’t good enough for top 4 either?
……..oh and tell everyone again about how Emery overachieved with Arsenal Hahahaha
King and Fraser made to look like Messi and Ronaldo by our defence! What a joke!
Arteta’s effect is clearly seen, everyone seems to be at the party except nelson. This nelson guy is just a waste, what he lacks isn’t what can be coached. He’s such a lazy player who offers nothing whatsoever than supporting the opponent. What is it with these coaches and pepe? In what aspect of the game does nelson better pepe? Arteta will hang himself so soon if he continues playing nelson.
I am the biggest arteta sceptic but so far I like what I have seen from him. better passing and one touch football . we are just lacking the final ball. But we already knew we need better defenders.
Yeah there’s some improvements sure some of the passing and possession was good but 60% possession with zero shots is not good and the goal was typical you had sloppy play out from the back the full back out of position and Xhaka incapable of spotting danger and not tracking the run. All the positives in the world ain’t going to win you shit if individuals still make poor decisions and mistakes. If Mikel doesn’t learn that one quickly he’ll be fighting a losing battle during his time here
Chelsea down 1 to Soton
‘The CB’s today were forced on him and the same with the FB’s.’
Xhaka and Ozil forced on him too I suppose?
Don’t understand why pepe is not playing. Great player, just need the manager to back him. Bring him on 2nd half. Torr has been very good, ozil needs to better his final ball. Has tons of space but is not making anything happen.
Ye I’ve seen the tucking in of fbs. I’ve liked it and its worked. Final 3rd individual quality has been horseahit. Pulis is actually spot on with nelson hanging wide rather than attacking space to score a goal. I k kw I’m banging on but martinelli is brilliant at that
At least Pepe can shoot. Both Laca and Auba lost their shooting boot.
If Mhkitaryan was playing on our right side,he would have had 3 assists by now.
What more can Arteta tell this lot in the dressing room?
Its pepe time. It’s always pepe time
Pierre
“If Mhkitaryan was playing on our right side,he would have had 3 assists by now.”
Well you were one of those screaming for the kids so you get what you wish for.
Ya’al should stop lumping Saka and Nelson together. Saka is a youngster playing out of position who has justified his inclusion on a few occasions while Nelson is the Justin Hoyte of right wingers. He’s been shit from the first day I watched him, and he’s consistently getting worse.
……..oh and tell everyone again about how Emery overachieved with Arsenal Hahahaha
Looks like emery did exactly as well as he could have with the Arsenal.
Arteta’s Special sauce should have us firing
Or is Arteta no better than emery in getting special sauce out of this squad ?
“””If Mhkitaryan was playing on our right side,he would have had 3 assists by now.”””
Well said Pierre
Absolute ineptitude to let quality experienced professionals like that go out on loan -and then rely on the whimsical youngsters.
Another bit of Raul magic.
Hows his statue coming on?
Our attack looked OK until it reached Nelson or Saka.
Auba the world class striker who can’t play a straight 1 meter pass to his mate
See little difference how these guys receive the ball. Still get cornered and can’t release
Bris
No that my was point. We’ve all said on here repeated (well most of us!) that Xhaka and Ozil aren’t good enough but to put them both in a team away from home is asking for problems.
Our two wingers just passed the ball back. They should try to attack the defenders.
Old habits die hard but arteta can’t wait around for 3 years.
This is better. Auba curled just wide.
Any mention of Emery in anything but a negative light and Charlie is on you like an attack dog.
Maybe wait until someone outperforms Emery with this squad before deciding what’s overachieving and underachieving eh
Why is AMN taking his time jogging home when we had 3 v Sok bombing down our right?