HAPPY NEW YEAR! HOW ARE YOU FEELING? Ok, ok, I’ll stop the shouting, but I will maintain a quiet energy with the prose because I need you up for the BIG game today.
It’s a huge one, Arsenal takes on Manchester United at home for Arteta’s 3rd game.
I think it’s a stretch to think we’re going to take points from them today. A draw would be excellent work, 3 points would have us all buzzing, but when you look at how their squad is fitness-wise and look at ours, it makes for grim reading.
We are missing a lot of defenders, which is difficult to deal with because even when we’re fully fit, we’re not exactly 90s Milan at the back. There might be some good news with regards to Bellerin who is close to returning, but knowing how fragile he’s been, you’d be hard-pressed to imagine he’ll start.
The manager was keen to impress that the defensive failures at Chelsea; with a very weak backline, were not structural.
“It wasn’t a transition where we had a bad structure or a bad organisation, when we are defending big spaces on equal numbers or are outnumbered – it wasn’t the case at all,”
“We made one half-bad decision [to back off] and these teams, when in space, they punish you, for sure. But the other option is to defend all the time and be there [in defensive areas] and we don’t want that.”
So at the very least, we’ll be prepared to deal with United. They have extremely fast forwards, they’ll probe for counter-attacks and they’ll look to stretch us using width. Arteta only recently tasted a loss against them when he was at City, it was quite a lucky United performance, but OGS had his team of workhorses make last years Champions look very old.
Going forward is where we’ll have to provide something more interesting. Containing their threat won’t be enough, we need to create chances. The good news here is Gabriel might be back in contention, his aggression in the press and all-round threat could be highly valuable to us. I’d also imagine we’ll be seeing a start from Pepe, there has to be some rotation today and that seems like the most obvious place to start. It’s hard to work out what the issue is with the Ivorian because no one will say explicitly, but it reads a blend of work rate and general fitness levels. 3 managers in a row can’t be wrong.
Ceballos is also back in contention, people forget he’s a young player, under a coach that helps him, he might be U21 Championship Dani, so it’s a new start for him.
Xhaka is also fit. Again, not my favourite player, but he’d start in our midfield at the moment. If he doesn’t play, we’ll know he’s off to Berlin. Worry with him is he mails it in as a final fuck you to the fans that booed him.
I mused before the manager started that he’d look for a turnaround project, and it seems he has one, he’s going all out to make Mesut Ozil the star of the show again. Makes sense, he’s used to having lots of #10 like talents to work with at City and on his day, no one can touch Ozil. Additionally, we have no one that gets close to him on the creativity front. We are a more intelligent team with him at his best. The German looks happy on the pitch, he’s put in two dirty shifts, he’ll have another chance to find his level again today and hopefully offer something more decisive.
“Mesut is putting in everything he has and his numbers, physically, have improved so much,”
“On his own he can’t do it. He needs the collective structure, organisation and his teammates. He needs the team to play in a certain way to facilitate his strengths more and more in the game. That’s what we’re trying to do.
“I put him in the team if I see every day that his attitude, desire and understanding of what we’re trying to do is there. The moment that this changes, then he won’t play.”
At the end of the day, he loves living in London, he loves his contract, and he’s a human… he’ll want to be impressing the fans, no one wants to be hated. He might also have the afterlife on his mind, if he tanks another manager, no one will risk giving him the big bucks in 18 months. Wenger didn’t have a machine that worked for him towards the end, Emery couldn’t see past running him into the ground in a shit system… it seems like Arteta has a more thoughtful approach to extracting creativity from him, whilst pushing him to support the system. It’ll be very interesting to see what the physical output looks like today, because he has done a lot of work in a short space of time. Some will say we’ve seen this film before, but maybe with a more elevated thinker in the dugout, it could be a different ending this time.
The main worry I have about today is how another loss will affect morale. Bournemouth was just an unlucky day at the shooting range, the Chelsea game was bad luck with fitness and Mustafi… we really need a result to prove out the hard work and progress. The fans will be buzzing for the game this evening, a classic win would be a great way to start the year, let’s see where we land.
Right, that’s me done, see you in the comments x
Bamford is not an Arsenal fan, he is a narcissist with a chip on the shoulder. He is more concerned of being right despite the evidence showing the contrary than Arsenal winning.
bennydevito
Looking good guys. Confidence is looking like it’s returning and Arteta already squirting his sauce on Pepe.
😂😂There’s something fundamentally wrong with that statement.
Maguire is a dirty fucker .. 85 m
He ain’t no vvd
Remember that when signing defender,,,
Unai naa
None of us are responsible for what the Arsenal executives do or don’t do.
Arteta is the manager now and we all want him to succeed because if he does, we all win.
I think some of you people trying to prepare the ground for him under-estimated the transformative benefits of a young manager getting his first Arsenal win. That’s why you were being so defeatist with the acceptance of a 2-2 scoreline.
Let’s clean out the manure once and for all.
Is this bamford cunt a troll or something?!
That James doesn’t track back. Maybe he was given the order waiting for fast counter!!!!
Left TesticleJanuary 1, 2020 20:59:16
Who the fuck is Perez Hilton?
—-
Bumford..Work out the similarities…??
Or you can call him Triple S-(Sneerer,Smearer and The Snitch)
Would love us to double down and really send a message with a hammering of these cunts but I’d opt for Ishola’s approach, no need for us to force the issue in the second half and play chances into their hands with easy counters.
We have enough pace ourselves to sit back, absorb and hit on the break.
Arteta though hasn’t instilled confidence in me with his sub, kola should be brought off now for saka
I pray that dissenter doesn’t mention relegation Bamford mention United or Ole and Val doesn’t mention the Lille manager. Please it’s making my ears bleed
I hope the energy levels and stamina stay up
Would hate to see a Chelsea situation happen again.
Marko
I’ll stop worrying when we have moved out of trouble.
Criticism of Arsenal,we’ve been wasteful in front of goal.Should have been at least 4-0 up.Let’s hope,those chances wasted don’t come back to haunt us in the second half..
PhD,
Forgive my ignorance but I don’t know who Perez Hilton is.
He is more concerned of being right despite the evidence showing the contrary than Arsenal winning.
Pot and kettle comes to mind
Again..
All I wan5 is a honest ref.
That was right in front of the assistant. He just grabbed Pepe’s shirt so brazenly.
They used the hand to stop Pepe!
Put Saka on for Kola?
This ref is poor and giving far too much to Man U.
Key today is Lacs neutralizing Fred ?
Recently he can’t shoot but tackling and hold up is excellent. So utilizes his plus points. Good going Arteta
Left TesticleJanuary 1, 2020 21:05:01
PhD,
Forgive my ignorance but I don’t know who Perez Hilton is.
—
Oh he’s some LA Gossip columist/blogger.Really poisonous ,horrible individual.If he doesn’t get his way,he goes all out to smear you and basically destroy your credibility.He has a huge complex problem..Google him and listen to him..Similarities to Bamford are quite striking.. He appeared on some reality show a few years ago..Nasty,spiteful individual..
Kolac is not know for being smart. But leave your hands off the back to save those stupid fouls
Why do linens people always look at refs before raising their flag….
Do they need the ref to tell them what they saw.
Auba looks tired
Auba is a poor footballer generally.
Auba still can’t fucking pass
Wot a waste
Ffs
Feels like chelc again
Why? Auba is not a good passer.
Fuck off xhara
How many times Fred foul already??? Where’s the card
Really poor from Aubameyang
Give Pepe the ball
2nd half pooooor
Comon
Xhaka reminding us all he’s still playing
Need to wake up
This is worrying.
Bit too deep again though like that second half the other day
Push up a little bit
Guns
Yes we need to get on top again it’s going to be a long half for us.
Need to win
Arteta can’t sit on his hands if this keeps going
Gaps appearing.
Greenwood coming on
May be fun to watch Laca needs to release the ball sooner
Arteta needs to observe United changes now.
Hopefully some of the detractors of Laca will also tone down their criticism of the guy.
Laca is a dumb player. Why didn’t pass
Arteta needs to make changes quickly
There’s no petrol in the tank of some of these players
TR7
Laca is playing very well alright but it’s not enough to just turn up at home the odd time, he’s shockingly poor away from the Emirates and he rarely plays this well even at home.
Don’t do anything stupid and we should be fine. The likes of Rashford are garbage unless you leave them loads of space, like City did.
Combative performance more than anything. First goal reminded of some of the classic wide play we saw under Emery with Kolasinac getting in behind 😉
First manure chance. Bit lucky too.
Hopefully some of the detractors of Laca will also tone down their criticism of the guy.
Eh? Sure. Gervinho mark 2 though no way he’s still shit
We need a couple of subs on.
Loosing it at the moment.
Changes.
Changes needed.
Don’t wait until it’s too late again.
PhD
Can you point out where I have been “nasty” and “spiteful”? Seeing as you say this is a defining feature of my commentary here, you should be full of examples — recent and historical. In truth these words far better describe your bizarre and insult-laden commentary here.
I may say things that cut across the grain, but I say these things because I believe them to be true, not because I am “nasty” or “spiteful”. In truth I’m a million miles from either of those two things.
You carry on with your weird campaign, though.
Shit in this second half mind. Need to wake up.
Waiting for the inevitable. He has to change something.
Leon’s goal kick is very inaccurate
Look tired and lethargic
Losing midfield battle now
I mean Mikel has got the first half down so far but he hasn’t had a decent second half so far
Matic has actually been one of their better players on the ball.
We need subs right now.
Our two strikers are bad passers
Auba pass poor
Pepe was completely unmarked there
Auba is so crap seeing things.
Pepe is still too leggy and dopey in general play.
Nelson on for PEPE to shore up defence?
Maguire fat head cunt
PEPE did v well today plus an open goal too.
Pepe off right move?
Idk
Hopefully some of the detractors of Laca will also tone down their criticism of the guy
Same for Pepe TR7
Ceballos for Ozil, Kola For Saka needed.
Get Ceballos on to regain a semblance of control in CM.
Atm it’s a free-for all, we can’t keep the ball for five seconds at a time.
Pepe still needs a season under his belt.
Ceballos needed
Holding?
Guns
He tired
Plus him don’t press..
He played well.
Ishola
Not at all. He’s been on the ball a lot, and he is decent on the ball as always, but he holds on to the ball too long and he plays too slowly. They are better, like most teams, when they move the ball more quickly.
Luiz continuing his fine form.
Lol ffs why couldn’t we have gotten Reiss’ mate Jadon Sancho instead.
True …
Liuz plying well.
Two third of the game done.
Cmon.
Looks like Ozil is finished for the day.
Agree @nelson
Saka coming on
For kola I hope
Saka on for kolac who probably has injured
Kolac did well with a much needed assist kind of
Marko/Same song Regarding Pepe, I have said he is a player who will produce moments in every game but his overall game will leave a lot to be desired. When I call him Gervinho MKII I don’t mean to say he is trash but that he lacks composure and poise real top players have. WE Laca has been underwhelming away from home and this season he has not been playing well even at home. But he is still a 7/10 striker for me, hearing some of the comments on him from some you would get the impression he were Chamakh… Read more »
Risky kola off. good management.
Real test for Saka. I expect United to target him
Again we can’t command possession in the second half when the opposition press higher.
Book the diving cunt
Someone must have poked a knife at Kola today. He was lively.
Fuck off. Flew himself into the box. Ffs
Bamford10January 1, 2020 21:17:21 Can you point out where I have been “nasty” and “spiteful”? I may say things that cut across the grain, but I say these things because I believe them to be true, not because I am “nasty” or “spiteful”. In truth I’m a million miles from either of those two things. ——- Dishonest as well..I see ? Let’s just jog your short memory shall we?? ———- Pedro December 22, 2019 19:11:57 I’ve got Bamford on here after he savaged me to my journalist friends and went onto a rival site to sell the story on Le… Read more »
TR7
Your assessment is based on his first season. He will get better with fitness and adaptability.
Legs in midfield needed.
This ref is crap should have booked him for diving!
Why is that not a yellow card?
Really need to sub out ozil for ceballos.
Decent performances from AMN at right back. Is this a thing we’re a player, that’s got something there, being coached right can perform…