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.
Tis a season to be jolly lalalalala lalalala🎶
roz
Well Arteta’s discipline will either start making a difference or turn out to be bollocks.
Hate these Ozil back passes. We have more than enough of the team doing it already. We need someone to feed our forwards
If Mhkitaryan was playing on our right side,he would have had 3 assists by now.
He’s considered to be having a very good season at Roma and he’s currently on one assist for the season so I doubt it. Besides we’ve got Ozil why isn’t he capable of getting these 3 assists?
Can’t polish turd
Another draw on the cards.
Relegation stuff this is, we are not used to it.
Hard to take
Sid
yeah we really fucking need you don’t we!
Receding
No I don’t need any additional info to judge the last 18 months thanks. He was sacked for being shit. Time won’t absolve that no matter how much you pine for the sweet memory of being right about Emery.
Let him go, the paella palace is in ruins.
Saka is looking confused now at LB defensively but as others have said it’s harsh to slate him being an emergency there.
no urgency in our play…and we “tackle” like girls
Auba’s pass sucks!
This team badly needs technical players, hardwork is for stoke city f.c.
See no visible passion or energy on show here, nor acts of playing for each other.
Rubbish AMN. Sorry scene but helps Arteta to rid of him ASAP.
excellent now get him off!
No I don’t need any additional info to judge the last 18 months thanks. He was sacked for being shit. Time won’t absolve that no matter how much you pine for the sweet memory of being right about Emery.
The irony is strong with this one
Dixon and Winterburn are apparently hitting the gym next week.
Wouldn’t do a lot worse.
Lol
Where’s the sauce, Arteta? Pep has the recipe locked in Manchester?
I think they asked Xhaka to do more back passes!
the playing out from the back is pathetic, and a waste of everyone energy when it gets punted up the pitch..and then gets passed back again and again..
Slow, slow. slow
It’s frightening how easily teams any team really can get at Arsenal. Anyway clean slates all round all that’s needed is a dash of sauce
Our attackers are blind. Couldn’t see the teammates.
Either we are unlucky or the final balls are still shit. They hardly reach players Km yellow!!
Feel bad for Arteta – this squad has been largely wank for years. He has one hell of a rebuilding job on his hands.
not sure about sauce…we are more like a load of gentleman’s relish..
How did we get so bad? Our final ball s so, so bad. They keep playing it behnd each other. Just so shit its unreal.
Wot the fuck this pass was by Luiz
Why is Ozil still on the pitch?
If we can’t beat Bournemouth then we are really relegation candidates.
This is not funny.
Thanks Stan well done.
Good pass by Ozil but too greasy and Auba slipped good try.
Time to consider subs man.
I agree, I we dont deserve to be in this league anymore, not with this shit on the pitch!
Rubbish defending Luiz. One touch and had a shot If the guy had a better left foot ….
It’s cool. Mikel will be managing a championship side in his first full season.
This is a fact finding mission. And the players are failing their audition. I’m not bothered.
Scruffy goal still count.
Goal!
offside?
Finally!!!
Back in it.
We haven’t scored for the last four hours of playing time!!!
We have serious problems folks
Hold on we have scored.!
Hallelujah
The players are making basic errors which I would scold my under 14s team for making! How does this happen in an ‘elite’ team? Is no one interested in playing for Arsenal anymore? This is the worst I have known in 55 years of supporting the club!
Auba goes centrally and nearly scores. Lacazette though better all round footballer who links up yada yada yada well
Scruffy or not . We have to take it
Auba right on!!!
Auba tap in. Trademark
1 all
Auba as always. Love him or hate him it’s always him that scores.
My stream is off it seems
@guns….I agree, if we dont go down this season, we will next, unless he can shift most of the “first” team….who the fuck would buy them?
The stats will show goal scored by Aubameyang with assist from Reiss Nelson when both players have been the worst on the pitch.
say we are 11th say we are 11th!…ROFL!
Bit lucky with the deflection to Auba but you can get the luck when you have plenty of the ball.
Goona
It’s just a season of bullshit. Nothing to fret about. 70% of what we’re watching now won’t be here
In this new system amn is actually our most important player. He will have over 100 passes as an inside fb. Hell of a change from 6 weeks ago
Now go on and win it
Auba with his customary tap in. This is when Arteta should show us what hes about. There is now enough time to pick up and the pace and try and score again.
In this new system amn is actually our most important player. He will have over 100 passes as an inside fb. Hell of a change from 6 weeks ago
You’re absolutely mental
Lucky. Auba made a poor pass to Laca who tried to set Ozil up for a shot but forgot Ozil doesn’t shoot anymore Ozil set it up poorly for Nelson to shoot whose scruff led shot ping ponged to Auba who showed his trademark first time tap in. Don’t need a drone to see clearly.
Auba should get to his left. Half chance gone.
67th minute coming up
@guns….we need Del boy then…to shift them on…I cant see us getting rid of them easily due to their ludicrous wages. I would love Arteta to wield the axe and get rid of them all…
Lovely weather there……..
Marko, cute analysis there
Shitty goal but we take these around these dark areas.
miss
What a miss by Lacazette. Auba scores that with his eyes closed. Push to win it!!!
22 min to win this. Cmon.
Arteta. Time to add some special sauce.
Oh fuck. So so close. Laca 1 on 1
I’ve actually managed to find a way to travel from and back to England on the days we were playing. Just saw that Auba levelled. Good (or at last by the sounds of it). From whst I have briefly scanned, our senior players are not performing. Nor surprised as they never will. They’ve gone past the poi y of be9ng coached anything. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: get rid of these “senior” players. Stick to youth. They’ll have some sort of ceiling to progress with until we start buying players who will want to fight for… Read more »
Arteta very vocal!
63 minutes for our first shot on target! 100% conversion rate then!
Fantastic ball by David Luiz for the Lacazette huge miss.
Goona
Yep:
Massive cull needed, Raul and Wenger brought this crap over the past two years.
Good solid ballers needed not Jonny wannabes.
still no urgency in our play…….fuck sakes put a shift in you lazy arseholes!
Laca lost it. Seriously that’s bread n better shot. Either side of the goalie or a little ding. …
Didn’t think Laca could pull it off At real time. He didn’t disappoint.
Martinelli scores that. Or Moussa Dembele
“Good solid ballers needed not Jonny wannabes” …..THIS!
I love arteta even more seeing him without his hood up 😀
Martinellii scores that 100%,=
Agree Martinelli would likely make it 2
Lacazette’s very face annoys me
Nelson, one of those gifted players that can run all day with the ball, but have to put their head down at the same time….look up you twat and play an early ball
Is Martinelli injured?
Awful defending from Xhaka
Par the course
End to end now
Chelsea 2 – 0 down – some good news for a change!
OZIL… pro footballs laziest player?…
Laca when’s the last time he scored a goal?
Tosser get him off.
Kick arse Arteta
Replay shows Laca aiming left with the goal on his right Should flicked it with his right boot when you have 20 feet open space to aim for
In the last 5 mins Ozil has looked like a pensioner with pneumonia… Professional footballer mind you… God bless Arteta has seen it. Ozil was glad he’s out.
Ozil plays like those players one sees in those charity matches for retired ex-footballers, they think they still have it but of course they don’t.
Mustafi on for an injured Sok. God bless arteta, and Arsenal.
Where’s the energy and desire ???
Mustafi on. We’ve lost
“In the last 5 mins Ozil has looked like a pensioner with pneumonia… Professional footballer mind you… God bless Arteta has seen it. Ozil was glad he’s out.”
Professional CON artist more like!…the cunt doesn’t move on the pitch, doesn’t tackle, then comes of tired? WTF
2-0, Southampton over Chelsea. I believe a certain former Arsenal manager lost his job for losing to Southampton and for having this group of Arsenal players in 8th, no? Yes, I. think he did.
Lacazette is so gash it’s unreal. He’s supposed to be a top player.
Need a win Chelsea down 2.
Rubbish Laca choice. This guy lost it.
What is that stupid pass from Laca!!!
@Danny spot on…Gazza and Merson are still better!
Lacazette, fuck off
I said after the Spurs match Chelsea would probably go back to struggling at home against teams they are expected to beat.
Chelsea turning into a weird team under Frank, can turn it on against the big boys but shit themselves at home against nobodies.
Paulinho called it after the Spurs game, said they will promptly struggle at home next game, should have put money on that
Laca has been garbage today. Need to bring in Pepe or Martinelli
Agian whats with these players running freely into the 18 and they don’t take the fucking shot. Fuck this I’m done watching.
Ha ha Receding.