Mikel Arteta has players rocking in stunning victory

by .

Mikel Arteta and his players launched 2020 by rocking The Emirates to its foundations with a brilliant evening of intense football. Arsenal kept a clean sheet, locked United out of the game for 90 minutes, and scored two brilliant goals to gift us a vitally important 3 points.

The game was so good, I don’t actually know where to start, but the line-up would be handy. We really weren’t in good shape with our starting 11. Kola had to be drafted back lacking fitness, we started Pepe who has been under a lot of criticism, and we had to roll with a group of players that have slugged it out hard over the past 3 games. One thing was for sure, there wasn’t much conservatism, Arteta went for it.

It didn’t make a difference, most considered the Chelsea game a great performance with a poor result. The football was at the right level of intensity, and so it continued. The main difference in this game was United didn’t have the same quality in midfield, so it was a little easier for Arsenal to control the game. I was interested to see how Kola would operate, we know he often leaves the defence exposed with his runs, last night, Granit Xhaka would regularly drop into the left-back role to cover him defensively, or to drop him to give him freedom offensively / allow him time to pick out passes.

Our first goal came from his run. He had a one-two with Auba, pushed into the box, his low cross squirmed out of a melee of 6 United players falling to Pepe who swept home. The lid blew off the stadium, everyone in the ground is so desperate for Pepe to be a thing, that was a great start to the night for him.

The half was dominated by great Arsenal chances. Pepe found Auba at the back post, his bicycle kick was skewed over. Torreira danced through the United defence to squeeze a shot just wide. Lacazette outmuscled Maguire and uncharacteristically pushed his shot wide from 6 yards. The closest came after we’d forced De Gea into an error, Pepe picked up the loose ball on the edge of the area and rattled the post.

We did make the pressure count. Pepe rattled a corner at the front post, Lacazette wasn’t tracked, he nodded the ball on, Sokratis bullied his way to the ball and roofed it.

The pace in the game did start to dip a fraction on 40 minutes again, but I still felt we were in control. My worry was that United had planned for us to start strong and fade, with the hope of picking us off in the second half. We did drop physically in the second half, but it felt like we had more of a plan to absorb the pressure. We sat a little more deep, forcing United to try and play football, and we attempted to pick them off on the counter.

What I loved to see was the compactness of the defence. We were nice and narrow, there was aways two midfielders protecting the back four, and we were aggressive. The players wanted the result, and they wanted the clean sheet.

We had some chances in the second half, Mesut Ozil played a defence-splitting pass that was stunning over to Auba who couldn’t link up well enough with Lacazette. We closed the game out well, limiting United to long shots and diving for penalties. Saka, Nelson and MG gave us some more energy late on to see the game out.

It ended 2-0. The fans stayed behind the congratulate the players who’d gathered in the centre spot with the manager. A brilliant show of unity. The last 18 months have been forgotten, a new decade, a new coach, and a new benchmark for how we play the beautiful game.

So what did we learn?

Coaching

Arteta has lived up to the coaching hype even after 2 weeks. I don’t think there’s any doubt that he was more than the cone boy at Manchester City now. He’s taken players that most fans had totally written off and turned them into beasts. The squad is a long way from Liverpool’s, no doubt, but too many people let Emery off the hook by stating the players we have at the club couldn’t be moved forward.

David Luiz was an absolute monster, he looked a £50m centre back out there last night. He was everywhere, strong in the challenge, he was coaching the kids, he was actually celebrating good passes between players during the game with fist bumps. He was immense versus Chelsea, even better last night.

Granit Xhaka was right up there with man of the match plaudits. His game was impeccable. He was measured, thoughtful, and disciplined all night. For a man that had one foot out the exit door, he sure didn’t play like it, a total professional.

Mesut Ozil has rightly rubbed a lot of fans the wrong way, but here we are, game 3, and he’s still putting in a dirty shift at the office. He worked like a dog, he ran further than any Arsenal player, and he made a huge difference. He made a 10 ball recoveries, which shows he’s paying attention and engaged. That’s all we ask for, it’s great to see him back enjoying a type of football many said he couldn’t play.

Lacazette didn’t land a goal, but he put in a workman like shift upfront. Auba, considering he’s looking to move, looked very much into the game. Nicolas Pepe showed us a glimpse of his talent. He had an incredibly productive day and banged out a shift. It was a pleasure to watch him.

Identity

There was so much debate about how long it’d take a good coach to give a club an identity when Emery was here, but look where we are now, 3 games in and we’re an aggressive possession-based football team that loves to attack. It’s not perfect, but we’re well on our way to unlocking a lethal front line of talented players. The Arsenal way we thought we lost is here, and we didn’t need to spend £400m to get there.

Defence

Defence is always about the collective. For too long we’ve focused on it being about individual greatness because there’s never been a collective system. That’s all changed now. Arteta looks to have focused on creating a solid foundation more than anything. Everyone had clear roles and responsibilities, the positioning is absolutely clear, and the whole team works to get the ball back.

The pressing is unbelievable. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. Everyone aggressively hunting the ball down in packs. Lucas Torriera was a machine last night, the guy was literally everywhere. Why? Because he has a system that allows him to be that player.

The Stadium

I’ve not been as much as I used to over the past few years, but I’ve been to big games and felt the misery. That atmosphere last night was something else. The players created a reason for the fans to care. They were brutal, intense and they wanted to win. We reacted to it. We sang all game, stayed until the end, and made The Emirates the sort of place you’d want to sit in on a cold night in January. We finally have something to believe in, and it’s exciting.

Moving forward

I didn’t expect a win, so we’re ahead of schedule in my head. Now we have a bit of breathing space. Unfit players can get some energy back in their legs, injured players can return to stock the bench, and Arteta and his coaching staff can continue to develop their ideas. The next two months are about laying the foundations for an attack on the Europa League, but interestingly, if we can find some form in the Premier League, we might be able to have a crack at the top 4. We’re 9 points off Chelsea who are desperately inconsistent, we’re within 4 points of United, and 3 points of Spurs. I’d rather not be in Europa, but Champions League would give us a tremendous financial opportunity this summer. All very exciting.

The road ahead will be bumpy, there is lots to do, but we can rest assured the club has made a stunning decision to hire Mikel Arteta. Next season is going to be special, but first, let’s see where this one takes us.

 

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Jim Lahey

Like I was highly sceptical about bringing Arteta in, just from the fear of the unknown. But it seems as though I was wrong, as I am often wrong.

Its perfectly okay to be wrong.

Edu me a favour

Bamford “i will go against the whole blog but please don’t reply because I don’t want any attention “ 10

Ernest Reed

“I don’t “crave attention” at all.”

Of course not, but its an odd coincidence that you seem to generate a lot of traffic – primarily because you are as combative as you are disrespectful of others. Never a day goes by where you aren’t into an argument or fight with someone. Why would that be?

What you did to Pedro, was that an insecurity thing or you not “craving attention”. The words “you are a jerk “ apply aptly.

Danny

Nelson
January 2, 2020 14:28:07
————–
Definitely!!

Bamford10

Marko

No, it’s not. Everyone who posts here posts here in order to be read and heard. That doesn’t mean they all “crave attention”. If it does, then this criticism of me is meaningless, as it’s equally true of everyone who posts here.

Graham62

Pierre

This is something Torreira is very good at doing.

Is it gamesmanship?

I think so.

My son said the same thing.

We both agreed though that Emery totally misused Torreira and that he is now, thanks to Arteta, showing us all what he’s all about.

Jim Lahey

@Bamford –

Last night I saw a man (OGS) who is out of his depth managing one of the biggest clubs in the world. But to be honest, long may he reign.

Dissenter

Enough of bashing Bamford, for the sake of Jah
Back to football and Arsenal.

Just Another Customer

yeah regarding Guen he’s need a lot more coaching to adjust to this new system

we know he’s industrious and have that engine but he really need to improve his strength and awareness

he knows to release the ball quickly now but most of the time it’s still imprecise and lacking purpose

Champagne charlie

Un
I think it’s 3 months no posting if we finish above United, and vice-versa if they finish above us for Weagle and TR7.

Romford
Yea he’s weird dude, really old fashioned approach he takes to butt heads with a player and lay down the law. So combustible, and realistically its outdated. Rather than get everyone pulling the same direction he’s happy with a core of players pulling one way and factions all hating him. Weird.

Bamford10

Ernest

Where have I been “disrespectful” to others? Please cite a handful of examples. After you do that, please compare the way I speak to people who disagree with me with the way that, say, Champagne speaks to people who disagree with him. I think you will find that I am actually quite a pleasant and respectful person; Champagne, not so much.

Yeah, I offer views that cut across the grain, and yes, I will argue my views until the cows come home, but this notion that I’m rude or insulting to others is false. I’m just not.

Jim Lahey

Mourinhois a relic of a bygone age. Modern football has passed him by.

Dissenter

I just read about the colossal money that Messi and CR10 have earned. They have earned a combined 1.1 billion USD.
It’s just mind-bogging but certainly deserved.

Minden Raider

Dont be surprised if MA turns Mustafi into a footballer You have heard it here

Just Another Customer

your lack of intellect is an insult to others enough

your lack of awareness of them insults them further

if want to debate give your reasonings properly instead of sliming away when been confronted

azed

Chambers out for the season.

Mustafi is back fella’s

Edu me a favour

“”” Mourinhois a relic of a bygone age. Modern football has passed him by.”””

And thankfully he went to spurs

If that goes bad it’ll be the funniest thing to happen this season

Champagne charlie

“After you do that, please compare the way I speak to people who disagree with me with the way that, say, Champagne speaks to people who disagree with him. I think you will find that I am actually quite a pleasant and respectful person; Champagne, not so much.“ You have a real chip on your shoulder with me, makes me laugh. You put great stock into what’s said on here and I dont, therein lies the difference. The language I use here is colourful and 99% of the time not remotely serious. You, by contrast, invade social media and harangue… Read more »

Romford Pele

“I liked their jersey in some FA Cup final against Sheffield Wednesday and was given a best of VHS when I was a kid and watched the absolute shit out of it. That’s my earliest memory. Anders Limpar and Ian Wright were my early favourites” It’s good to know. Because I never started supported Arsenal because they were successful. I followed them because my dad did and it was linked to community and a sense of belonging. Loved the camaraderie. Obviously like all fans you want to win but i’ve always found it quite odd people saying I can’t enjoy… Read more »

Romford Pele

“Dont be surprised if MA turns Mustafi into a footballer You have heard it here”

He’s a coach not a miracle worker. Mustafi gotta go.

Romford Pele

Annoyed I missed the Arteta press conference. Anyone got a link to the quotes?

China1

It hasn’t taken Mourinho long to let that nice guy facade slip has it It was all smiles and ‘happiness’ just a couple of short weeks ago. There was an interview with him where he used the word happy something like 14 times according to sky. A few days later he was digging out ndombele to the media for no obvious reason. A few days after that he’s getting cards in the match A leopard never changes its spots. He would’ve been doing the same shit at arsenal if he was here. Tho he’d probably get enough of a reaction… Read more »

Romford Pele

Against Leeds we should heavily rotate please. Let the likes of Saka, Holding, Mustafi, Willock, Guendouzi, Ceballos, Martinelli, Nelson and ESR play.

Maybe something like this:
Martinez
Bellerin Mustafi Holding Saka
Guendouzi Ceballos
Nelson Willock ESR
Martinelli

Could argue we could give Pepe more minutes. Maybe Nketiah if he’s back by then too.

Bamford10

Un Na “ Jim – Bamford also thought quite highly of Emery, so it’s really not surprising.” Yet another misrepresentation of fact. I never said a single thing indicating that I thought “highly” of Emery. The most I ever said of him is that he is/was smart, hard-working and competent. That is all, and that is a far cry from rating him highly. The difference between my view and your view was two-fold: one, I believed that the squad was the principal problem, whereas you believed that Emery was the principal problem. Two, you believed Emery was incompetent and that… Read more »

China1

I guess I was about 8 when I started liking arsenal. Born and raised to be a Chelsea and Bristol rovers fan but randomly found myself wanting arsenal to win and watching them more. I had a shirt in 98 so I guess I became a fan in 97. Good timing on my part in hindsight…

Ernest Reed

Your body of work on this blog and Arseblog tells the entire story of your behaviour, Bamford. Much to your dismay, you really are not as popular as you believe yourself to be. Truth be told, you always manage to piss off a lot of people with you just being you. The fact that you either don’t see or recognize it, thats your problem but it does become a problem for those on here who remain tolerant of your man child behaviour.

Champagne charlie

“It’d be interesting to know why people became fans in the first place“ Henry. Grew up early without an affiliation and just loving ‘the best’, liked Man United and had the black/white kit bought for me, had the green Spurs goalkeeper top bought for me, Rangers and Celtic tops bought for me because I loved Larsson and Gio, went on holiday and had fake Inter Milan, Juve, Barcelona, AEK Athens, Ajax tops bought for me. Then matured a bit and loved Thierry, then Arsenal, then its been nothing but Arsenal. Haven’t owned a football shirt since I was about 12… Read more »

PhD2020

Second day into the New Year and the drivel and almost dire need for constant attention and validation continues unabated. It’s just incessant.
This douchebag is beyond redemption…

Emiratesstroller

TR7 You are wrong. I have been an advocate of Arteta following the departure of Wenger. I was in the minority of those who supported Pedro’s viewpoint. I am not a fan of recruiting Managers/Head Coaches just because they have held that role with major clubs. I was never a fan of Emery but if you refer to my posts last season I stated that I would give him time and space to prove himself and not make a hasty judgment. That judgment came at end of September when it became blindingly clear that the club was underperforming and a… Read more »

Jim Lahey

“It’d be interesting to know why people became fans in the first place”

My dad is an Arsenal fan so there was no choice really!!

Marko

What age are you Charles? Henry got you hooked? You missed out on Limpar, Merson, Smith and a few others bub. Missed out on a certain Stefan Schwarz back in the day too. Gorgeous footballer

Ernest Reed

It does require tolerance, PhD. Always enjoy reading the opinions of others and even the healthy bantering back and forth, quite funny often. Then there is Bamford, seemingly unable to get along with others and drags down pretty much everyone with a behaviour that can best be described as petulance personified.

Jim Lahey

The first season I can remember was 94/95, George Graham’s final season. We finished 12th that year!

PhD2020

“It’d be interesting to know why people became fans in the first place”
—-
Dad was an Arsenal fan…Used to take me to the games.Also,used to play tennis indoors at the Arsenal.They used to invite me over..

Pierre

I’ll quite happily watch Bamford take all the stick ( deserved) as it used to be me who was in the firing line( undeserved) due to my defence of Mesut Ozil . I’m pleased to say that due to the arrival of Mikel Arteta , Ozil is proving a lot of doubters wrong ( and myself right) , so forgive me if occasionally I allow myself to gloat on here as I know there are many who can’t stand Ozil. There are also many ( not me) ,who allowed their judgement to be clouded by the criminal misuse of Ozil’s… Read more »

Marko

I know how Bam became an Arsenal “fan”. It was his mid 20’s and he came across a blog shit talking Wenger and in a drunken stupor he knew there and then after many months of searching for a club that he had found that club

Romford Pele

Telegraph linking us with Rugani, Ake and Upamecano. Yes to the latter two, no to the first. I’m a bit wary of the English media though. Hard to decipher what’s real and what’s not.

Upamecano still my first choice but I like Ake’s profile a lot. Proper modern CB. And he’s a leftie too.

RodneyKing

Who would have thought that Xhaka had a hand in Sokratis’ goal?

https://imgur.com/TY6iS3w

For that alone, he gets a 9/10 😉

Ernest Reed

Pierre, you have always remained consistent and true to yourself. Your persistence to stay on message is admirable, even if at times i may not agree with you.

Graham62

It always riles me when people say players are past it when they reach the age of 30.

Look at Zlatan. 38 years of age and about to showcase his immense talents in Serie A once again.

Project youth is all well and good but, come on, today’s 30 is yesteryears 22-25.

We all know that Zlatan is a beast but who’s to say he can’t keep going for another few years.

I, for one, look forward to Ibra causing havoc in Italy.

Champagne charlie

Marko

30, I dined on Scottish football until I had a go with the remote control and saw Football Italia and started raiding Ceefax for news about the Premier League.

And you’re wrong, it took the lad 20 years to carefully select Arsenal, which makes it all the more bizarre he barely resembles a fan at times. Must’ve been a United fan for a decade before switching allegiance, ugh he’s not one of those sorts is he?

Pierre

started watching the Arsenal , Joe baker and George Eastham in the mid 60’s up the clock end with my grandad who lived in McKenzie Road , just off Liverpool road….

we were a mid table team for years until Bertie Mee took over and then had some fantastic times in my mid teens travelling the country watching the Arsenal , culminating in winning the double in 71 , what a week that was , won the league at the lane on the Monday and beat Liverpool on the Saturday to lift the FA cup.

Jamie

Football Italia (on Channel 4?) was the absolute nuts!

Goooolazooooo!

Bill

Where’s Bamford?

Anyone want to wager that we’ll see a changing of goalposts by our resident Emery / KSE apologist to “prove” that he’s right about Arsenal achieving 10th place “at best” and the club being wrong about sacking the “genius” Emery.

Can we get an unequivocal apology from JM Bapple / Bamford / Mrs Emery?

——————–

Point proved

Bob N16

I can’t pinpoint the exact moment I became an Arsenal fan but as a 7 year old in 1972, I remember being incredulous when my grandfather came around our house after the FA cup final and said it had been a good game. I responded by saying ‘ how could it be a ‘good game’ when Arsenal lost ?’.

I’ve worn Arsenal-tinted glasses ever since!

Bill

Bamford
The irony of some of your criticism of me is that I don’t “crave attention” at all. You lot simply give me a ton of attention. That’s on you. I have a POV, and I like to be read and heard, but trust me, I don’t crave attention. Indeed, please go ahead and ignore me. That won’t bother me in the slightest.

——————
Is that why you begged Pedro to let you back in?

Is that why you spend every waking minute here?

Man up and be honest. You crave attention here because you don’t get it anywhere else.

Jim Lahey

My earliest Arsenal memory is the Cup Winner’s Cup final of 1995… Nayim from the halfway line.

Danny S

Pierre No one has ever doubted Ozils talent. He is a very useful player and good at what he does, when he does it. My beef with him has always been his demeanour and attitude. Personally, if I was unhappy at my work place and what my bosses were doing, I would move for my own personal pride. If for the last 3 years (yes his last season with Wenger was pretty crap) he has been unhappy, instead of sulking and going sick etc, he should have actively looked for a new club. The fact that clubs were not vying… Read more »

Bill

I supported Arsenal when five. No one in family liked football. School was full of West Ham, Liverpool and Man Utd supporters.

Bob N16

My dad’s boss was Denis Hill Wood so I got pukka tickets in the Director’s box a few times a season until I was around 14 at which time I realised I’d prefer to go on the terraces with my mates.

Leftside

Shouldn’t even give that clown Bam any mention, he’s not an Arsenal fan. He repeats the same boring rhetoric and it’s only a matter of time before he’s banned again and crying on twitter slandering Pedro.

Marko

Dunno why people are so against Rugani. I’d have him over Chambers, Sokratis and Holding personally

Romford Pele

“My dad’s boss was Denis Hill Wood so I got pukka tickets in the Director’s box a few times a season until I was around 14 at which time I realised I’d prefer to go on the terraces with my mates.”

Honestly I don’t know why anyone would ever wanna sit in those boxes at games. The experience is nowhere near the same. Once you’ve sat in the stands/terraces, it all pales in comparison.

It’s even better at away games although the atmosphere was cracking last night.

PhD2020

Ernest ReedJanuary 2, 2020 15:08:27 It does require tolerance, PhD. Always enjoy reading the opinions of others and even the healthy bantering back and forth, quite funny often. Then there is Bamford, seemingly unable to get along with others and drags down pretty much everyone with a behaviour that can best be described as petulance personified. ——- I know..Well,he’s done me a favour inadvertently.As,I’ll be tuning out soon,back to focusing on work. The New Year holidays is pretty much over and I’m certainly not going to spend 2020 having to be tolerant of a manchild suffering from arrested development.. It’s… Read more »

Romford Pele

Marko, same issue regarding lack of athleticism mate. He’s too slow. Need to be going for faster players.

Marko

Loved channel 4 Italian football Sampdoria and Lombardi Platt and Gullit was my jam

Marko

Also this Arsenal team needs a run in the FA Cup like it needs a hole in the head. Avoid it.

Romford from what I’ve seen of him he’s not that slow but I give him an edge over what we have because he looks like he’s a much smarter CB than what we currently have

Bill

Bam, you were kicked out of here, you were chased out of Arseblog with your tail between your legs when you were destroyed by their crowd. They ripped you a new one laughing at your lack of understanding of politics, history, current affairs and football. You were pretty much publicly castrated. You then run here playing the big man from Harvard and are proved wrong time after time but continue to say you are right. You have the front to say you are right about Man Itd having better players and better manager after we comprehensively beat them. You say… Read more »

James wood

Yes Jim L
Grandad – My Dad – Me and my Son
Arsenal and will always be Arsenal..

Samesong

Someone bought me a Liverpool kit as a kid and tried but I just didn’t like them.

Started supporting Arsenal after watching my mates cousin David Rocastle. I think around 85/86. Never looked back!

Romford Pele

Marko, honestly couldn’t care about the FA Cup this season. Rest of the season is about building on the style and hopefully challenging in the Europa.

RE Rugani, I think it’s quite telling that he couldn’t dislodge an old Chiellini or Bonucci. He’s not exactly young either and now De Ligt and Demiral are ahead of him. Don’t think it reflects well. Decent reader of the game but I don’t think he brings the level of improvement to take us up a notch, especially physically.

Jamie

Jesus, Chambers ACL.

How many of those have our players suffered in the last few years?

Wally
Welbeck
Holding
Bellerin
Chambers

Any others? So fucking unlucky. Defensive reinforcement(s) needed in Jan without question.

Romford Pele

Italian football in the 90s was untouchable. Elite teams with elite players. Classic fixtures every week and moments of magic from so many different players. Loved Batistuta, Totti, Del Piero. Ronaldo at inter was a phenom but I think Alvaro Recoba was probably my favourite player of that era man. Too much talent.

Marko

Romford the Europa League and improving our league form is of more importance and the FA Cup does fuck all for the current Arsenal team

Romford Pele

“Romford the Europa League and improving our league form is of more importance and the FA Cup does fuck all for the current Arsenal team”

Spot on. Maybe next year when we’re hopefully in a better position we can take it more seriously but for now play the young lads and fringe players who need minutes.

Ernest Reed

Happy New Year and all the best to you too, PhD.

Bamford10

Marko No, that’s not correct. I had always liked Arsenal — as I’d always liked Henry and Bergkamp and Arsenal’s lovely kit — but it was in 07-08 that I decided to make Arsenal my team. There were a number of factors behind this, but the principal ones were (i) how beautifully that team played, and (ii) players like Eduardo, Fabregas, Van Persie, Adebayor, Clichy, Sagna, Hleb, Rosicky. (In some ways, despite his short tenure, Eduardo remains my favorite Arsenal player.) I fell out with Wenger in 2009 or so and posted my criticisms of him elsewhere. I found Le… Read more »

Jim Lahey

@James Wood –

“Arsenal and will always be Arsenal..”

Yeah I am afraid it is! ha!

Bob N16

Romford, agree about the atmosphere on the terraces but on the half way line you get a brilliant view of the game particularly of the midfield. Having this perspective allowed me to appreciate Liam Brady’s brilliance even more.

Pierre

Personally, I think Arteta will extract the maximum out of the players but ultimately this group of players will not be good enough to win the league. I wouldn’t imagine that Arteta will settle for 2nd best ( top 4) so I would expect the team to have a completely different look to it in 18 months of so. As some have already touched on,the squad is lacking in pace and power throughout , so although Arteta recognises the importance of technique in a player , I’m sure he recognises that in certain positions pace and power are vital components… Read more »

Jim Lahey

@James Wood –

Also I was one of two Arsenal supporters growning up in a school of 700 people! The others were 50% Liverpool 50% United, was a fucking nightmare!

Romford Pele

Bob, that’s fair mate. I’m sat in the North Bank most of the time so maybe i don’t appreciate it as much. You do get a good view in the upper stand of the East/West stand though you’re right.

Marko

but it was in 07-08 that I decided to make Arsenal my team.

And they’ve been lucky ever since. At what exact point did you become a United fan though? When Ole got the job permanently or when he was caretaker?

Bamford10

Bill

I have no idea who you are, but I’ve been commenting here for nearly seven years. You can follow me around, you can misrepresent what has occurred here or elsewhere, and you can insult me all you like, but I am not a troll. I am an Arsenal fan and I am a Le Grover. You might not like what I have to say about this or that Arsenal player, or about this or that Arsenal squad, or about this or that opposing team, but that doesn’t make me “not an Arsenal fan” or “a troll”. Sorry.

Dissenter

Marko
Do we really need to pay a Jorges Mendes agent mark-up to get a player we don’t need .i.e. Lemar?

Jim Lahey

@Bamford –

In all honesty it is a shame you missed out on the glory years. I definetly did not appricate it enough when it was happening as I was a bit too young!

Marko

Do we really need to pay a Jorges Mendes agent mark-up to get a player we don’t need .i.e. Lemar?

We don’t need? I dunno about not needing considering our options in midfield and our playing players out of position at LW/LM positions Lemar can play in.

Jamie

Is anyone else here a Le Grover? Asking for a friend.

Jamie

Ok, my sources tell me everyone here is a Le Grover. Even Aubergine.

Bill

OK Bamford. Clean sheet. Start afresh Tell us how you have come to the conclusion that Arsenal will finish “no higher than tenth”. Also tell us how you come to the conclusion that Man Utd have a better team, squad and manager than Arsenal. To be fair to you, you have consistently said this, but you have never explained how you have come to this conclusion or given any evidence or facts. If this is solely your OPINION, fair enough, but you state it as fact and say there is nothing that will change your mind. That is the talk… Read more »

Batistuta

Earliest memory is when we signed Bergkamp…Dad and uncle who support Inter thought it was nuts that Inter let him go and so he followed up on his Arsenal games and there i was a young and staunch Milan fan following up also mainly just for the banter really and like they say, the rest is history

Cesc Appeal

At least Lemar has been to the Simeone school of ‘I reject what science says about the maximum output of lungs’.

Cesc Appeal

Demiral is the rumour again for CB.

It is likely Arsenal have Upamecano and Demiral as their options, discussions with Arteta and opinions on which represents best value likely will determine what happens.

Would prefer Upamecano but I’ve read a lot of fans of Juventus and Serie A in general saying great things about him.

China1

Happy new year btw bam

You might like ole but you still deserve a good Christmas and new year!

salparadisenyc

“Is anyone else here a Le Grover? Asking for a friend.”

Looool im not sure if thats some kind of strange affliction involving total and utter masochistic behavior i’m definitely in.

James wood

Jim Lacey
No such trouble here I went to Holloway county school
a huge footballing school.
Players at the time that represented Arsenal Charlie George and Tommy Youlden.
Boys from Holloway also represented Spurs and Chelsea.
Bob Wilson our past Goal keeper was also a part time sports teacher
so he got a good look at any potential talent ( scouting on a shoestring 😂).

China1

That talk of dayot at 80m is not serious

They wanted 70m in the summer

Since then he’s nearing the end of his contract and they’ve already been sounding out his young replacement

50m will do for sure on this one. 40m +mustafi could work. Or chuck in el bent and it’s could go to low 30s… depends if they’d like any of our rejects lol

China1

We could send Eddie there on loan if they want another sweetener

DigitalBob

I’d prefer Ake over Rugani – something about Rugani screams “not suited for the Prem”. Ake while a bit rough around the edges is still competent but first choice has to be Upamecano and I’d actually go as far as to bid £60 million as he’s worth it in today’s market. Sad news about Chambo, wish him a speedy recovery, I think he’s been good for us this year and would have surely benefited from the new coaching regime. I hope this doesn’t mean the club will keep Mustafi……….wheres Dino Mavropano’s, seems the lads been injured for a while. Also… Read more »

Henry Root

Graham
Am I being dim ?
Such a turnaround from last March when we were beaten 2 0 at home by Utd. A point at Bournemouth compared to our defeat last year and a narrow home defeat to Chelsea when compared to the 5 0 home defeat last year. The turnaround from Emery is astonishing.
We beat United 2-0 in March, won at Bournemouth in October 2018 and beat Chelsea 2-0 in January last year

Bill

Batitusta,
I remember very clearly that all press reports indicated that Bergkamp was going to Newcastle.
I was told by a disgruntled Man Itd supporter that Arsenal had come out of the blue and signed him. I didn’t believe it and continued not to believe it as I was part of a group of practical jokes.
Well the joke was in me. When I got home, I checked on Ceefax and found that Bergie had signed a d that I had wasted a day not enjoying the moment as I was convinced I wouldn’t be pranked!

Samesong

Who is the oldest grover on here? Pierre sounds like he was around from the caveman days?

Graham62

First clear memory was the 1969 League Cup Final, when we lost 3-1 to Swindon Town. Don Rodgers scored a brace.

I was not quite seven.

I remember crying because I could see how upset my Dad was.

Bloody hell, 51 years ago!!

Bamford10

Bill

I appreciate your fairness. Give me a minute to reply to your questions.

Chris

A great read on Arsenal’s ‘front five’ on The Athletic.

My earliest Arsenal memory was on the tv when I was around 7 or 8 and Kevin Campbell bagged a goal against Leeds on the way to the title in 91. That in the says when top flight football was free on terrestrial television. First game was the first of the following season, against QPR. 3rd generation Gunner!

DigitalBob

Arsenal are my first and only club, been a fan since about 1996(10 years old) when I asked my dad who our local team(live in hackney and born at homerton hospital) were, he said “Arsenal, don’t worry you’ll like them” and the rest is history.

TR7

Chambers out for 6-9 months

Marko

Leipzig likely postering on Upamecano who most likely wanted to move to us last summer. Their options at CB are him, Orban, Konate, Ampadu, Mukilele and Klostermann the latter two who can also play RB and their currently bringing in a RB in Henrichs. The sheer numbers they have coupled with wanting that PSG lad suggests that they could let Upamecano leave this month

Jim Lahey

“Chambers out for 6-9 months”

This is what happens when you build your training ground over an ancient indian burial ground..