It’s a quiet weekend for Arsenal fans as we play legendary Marcelo Bielsa on Monday night in the FA Cup.
My Uncle is a Leeds fan, home and away back in the day, he reckons they’ll rest heavily as they’re 9 points clear of the chasing pack for promotion and they have a tiny squad with a Chairman who doesn’t want to spend.
Arsenal will no doubt look to field a weakened squad.
I think Mikel is going to want to see what some of the kids can do for us. He doesn’t have a league cup to work with this season, so this is a good chance to start players like Willock, Saka (start him as a winger), Burton, Matteo, John-Jules and Eddie. Also a good chance for Ceballos to show he can cut it in the Premier League after a very stuttery start to his career. I also think he’ll be acutely aware that his players are dropping like flies and will continue to as he works with Shad to upgrade their fitness levels.
The FA Cup is important, we all love a day out, but it’s not more important than having a fit team to chase top 4 in the Premier League, and more importantly, giving us some solid foundations to make a good go of the Europa League when it starts back up in February.
Before we move onto transfers, can someone explain this?
Why… does this comic… have a picture of former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger… as a Zombie… as its cover?? pic.twitter.com/M3wYSqsMod
— Roger (@iamtherog) January 3, 2020
I think the brain-trust at Arsenal met over the past couple of days to discuss what’s happening with loan players, and I’ve no doubt they’re working out what they can get away with until the end of the season.
Auba reckons the English press are talking shite about him wanting away right now, I have to say, if his performances are anything to go by that’s absolutely true. I also suspect Granit Xhaka might give Arsenal a second chance, Hertha Berlin under Klinsmann sounded rough, but now Arteta is here, surely it must be a touch vom-inducing? The manager has worked out where his strengths are and figured a way to limit his weaknesses inside 3 games… an unreal achievement, and potentially the key to a lot of success in the backend of the season.
A false three… still makes me damp. I absolutely love that all the tactics nerds are perving over our minutes now. Makes a change to have an innovative coach in the dugout, doesn’t it?!
Chambers looks to have a very serious injury, that leaves us short a centre back. There’s talk about us loaning Boateng for the rest of the season, a move I really don’t like the sound of. Asking old players to adapt to a fast league rarely works out. The fact Bayern are saying they’ll take a zero fee tells you all you need to know there. There’s also a lot of hot talk about Upemacano, a player I falsely said had a bad knee because a website had duff data. I struggle with this one as Leipzig are in a title fight and though they are savvy business folk, I’m not sure they’d need to sell. That said, he is down to 18 months, they might want to cash in because they fear he’ll mail it in like Alexis did. The cretin.
A move that intrigued me was Umtiti. He was rumoured to be in the ground for the United game. He’s played about 7 games this season and could be open to a loan. Reeks of contacts scouting, but if he’s fit, you can’t deny he’s not a world-class operator and at his peak at 25 years old.
I’d also like to see us invest some power into the midfield. Ndidi is a fantasy, but a player of his ilk with a good range of passing is something we’ve cried out for over the years.
I have to say, I knew the squad was better than we thought, but I really wasn’t convinced Torreira could hit the heights we were looking for. I worried he was too small to hack it. 3 games in and he’s looking and absolute world-beater.
There are some rumours doing the rounds about Matteo potentially being moved on at some point. Some rumblings that his warm-up the other day wasn’t very good and he was called out. I have also heard that behind the scenes, his attitude has not been up to the standards you’d expect of someone so young. He’s a great talent, but he’s not performing. If his values don’t map to the clubs, he’ll be moved on. Hopefully, it’s just a case of being a dope, like most of us were at 20 years old. Surely he can see that he’s at the right place to elevate his talent?
The Max Aarons story is also one to watch. According to rumour, the club are worried about the lack of pace Bellerin has shown since he returned, so they’re considering Aarons who is very fast with lots of stamina. Have to admit, I thought the same when I’ve watched the Spaniard this season, he’s looked half a yard short. Hopefully that’s just part of the deal when you return from a serious injury, would love to have him back at the top of his game.
Right, that’s all I have today, more of a Leeds preview tomorrow. x
P.S. Jump on the podcast, I’m on with Matt.
Yo.
Boom
Whattsup?
Trofee
4th?
Bollocks.
Argghhh! Closest ever to tr4phy,
Bellerin without his pace is totally ineffective.
His defensive duties were reliant on his speed and ability to get up and down as well as cover. Without this he is not good enough.
To be honest AMN is far a better option.
I sadly fear the worst for Hector, lost half a yard and was ducking out of tackles. I hope I’m wrong about him but it’s not looking good.
Graham I agree I am afraid. I think we need to look for a replacement for Bellerin also. His injury has taken the edge off his speed and now he looks very ordinary. His crossing and tackling were never the best and without the means to keep up with play he is as much use as a chocolate teapot at EPL level. Sorry but that’s how it is. Unfortunately AMN needs to up his game and want to be a RB. He needs to put in the work now if he is to become a true utility squad player. His… Read more »
Pedro,
Where do you get these Matteo rumours from?
I suspect that someone will be sacrificed to make a broader statement (think of Pep dumping Joe Hart at Citae). But I didn’t imagine that it would be him. Too many other players well worth sacrificing.
On a different note two Arsenal goals have made the Mail’s top 10 EPL goals of the decade:
Giroud’s scorpian kick at number 9 and the ‘team’ goal against Norwich (well alright Wilshere’s goal!) at number 3! No spuds goals included. Kane’s penalties are just not that spectacular!
According to gambon, Guendouzi is worth £70m. I’d sell him tomorrow without any regrets.
Umtiti was indeed in the ground watching the match from an executive box. However is was just seeing in the New Year during his winter break in London! Last month he was talking about returning eventually to Lyon perhaps as a player/coach (oh and he is 26!). He has had a foot injury and a knee injury, hence the reason he has only played 7 games so far this season.
He won’t be pulling on an Arsenal shirt anytime soon!
I thought Umtiti was a broken bastard.
Zero point signing another guy who is made of wishes and pritt-stick. We have Tierney for that shit.
We need players with injury free records.
Unless of course we get him for a song and perhaps a play as you play contract.
Have to say xhaka has looked very impressive over the last 2-3 games, i dont think he would move this winter but even if he was to move in the summer, 3-4 months of good performance could be the difference between 30 million now and 40 in the summer. Same for Ozil, i highly doubt he will be given a new contract regardless of how he performs in the next few months as 350k is already too much unless you are messi/Ronaldo/mbappe but some good performances over the next few matches could convince some club to take him on this… Read more »
John Stones.
(No Baoteng or Utimindi.
No more Garbage. )
Arteta could get the lad playing to his potential.
He has the ability.
Just lost his way.
Saliba and Stones in tandem….arteta coaching them nicely.
As for Genduzi – he should have been transfer listed- after scything down Zaha.
I hope Arteta has laid down the law to the players.
We are The Arsenal.
So from now on.
No diving.
No demanding yellow cards for the opposition.
No cheating.
Others teams do that.
Proper clean soccer and decorum like Cloughies Forest played.
Umtiti was in an executive box, but as mentioned by others before he used to come quite regularly at the Emirates to see his friend and ex Lyon teammate Lacazette. No agent in play there. Same rumours surfaced when Dembele came to see Aubameyang play. Umtiti isbfar from being finished, but during his injury Clement Lenglet has been quite imperial at Barcelona. He took and kept Umtiti’s place at both Barcelona and in the France team. In the France team Deschamps is likely to recall Umtiti, because in the last France games Lenglet made a few mistakes including a big… Read more »
Is there any CBs of the right profile doing the business in the championship?
Often feel that’s a market sorely undervalued, it’s blood and thunder, competitive, and the players typically have a base level of tenacity and running hardwired into them to survive it.
Don’t watch it though so couldn’t begin to comment.
Shame Chambers got seriously injured .
Think Palace might have accepted Chambers, Nelson and Cash for Zaha this time around.
Zaha looks likely he will now join Chelsea.
He will be a sensation at the Bridge.
A huge strategic error in not signing him.
But we have Pepe instead..
Zaha if he goes to Chelsea in jan will score more goals than Pepe in a Chelsea shirt – and have given him half a season start.
Danny Drinkwater that midfield general is available! Having failed during his loan spell at Burnley he is returning to Chelsea. Let’s get the cheque book out now!
Yes CG – I doubt if Pepe will score any goals in a Chelsea shirt!
Anyone see OGS lose his tampon when RVPs comments were thrown at him about smiling following their defeat to us?
‘He doesn’t know me…..he’s got no right to talk about my management…..he took my number 20 that’s all he’ll take from me….’
Man is cracking, compose yourself Ole ffs we wish you a long stint as United boss.
Upamecano isn’t worth the money.
Can only see obtaining a defender in this window as a priority, given Chambers injury and the slow returns of others from injury. Its obvious that Arteta is going to make the most with what he has in front of him.
Regarding the photo of the Zombie Wenger, working for FIFA will do that to ya.
“Have to say xhaka has looked very impressive over the last 2-3 games, i dont think he would move this winter but even if he was to move in the summer, 3-4 months of good performance could be the difference between 30 million now and 40 in the summer.” 30 now for Xhaka? 40 in the summer? Thats quite the stretch given than few teams in the Bundesliga even have that much to cough up, Herta certainly not being one of them. Its very doubtful that Xhaka is going to fetch that kind of money, Herta is looking for a… Read more »
RockyRoe
” 350k is already too much unless you are messi/Ronaldo/mbappe ”
That is £18m per year. Messi is making $127 million in salary and bonuses before taxes.
Harsh but true if bellerin has lost his pace. He has lost his it factor and we should look for a replacement.
He has never had great technique, defensive accumen,,and his final ball product is really rough.
“That is £18m per year. Messi is making $127 million in salary and bonuses before taxes.”
Why are you comparing Ozil to Messi, Nelson? They are universes apart in their values as players. One is overpaid and the other is likely not paid enough given his continued pace of delivery.
“He has never had great technique, defensive accumen,,and his final ball product is really rough.”
Yes, but his fashion sense remains unrivalled, London.
PedRo
“”””the club are worried about the lack of pace Bellerin has shown since he returned””””
And then the club ‘worried’ about Bellerins physical condition then went and spent £30 000 000 on an injury prone left back from Scotland.
Tierney- pubis bone, hernia, dislocated shoulder – so far…..that’s in 6 months.
A complete and utter walking disaster.
But dont worry next season he will come good.
We will get 5 games in a row before he breaks down again.
“Anyone see OGS lose his tampon when RVPs comments were thrown at him about smiling following their defeat to us?”
I was more interested in his comments on Raiola, Pogba’s agent than i was on RVP, who should not be anywhere near an analyst’s chair.
OGS will be fine, CC. He may not be much of a Manager, but as a person i like his quality.
Pedro Yes we are short of “quality” in Centre Back position. The real problem at the moment is that we have SEVEN first team CBs on the books if you include Saliba who is out on loan. Realistically I would like to offload at least three of them in the next two transfer windows and recruit one world class player as a replacement. The three who I would choose to offload are Mustafi, Sokratis and Mavropanos. When you talk about top class CBs today you are discussing a transfer fee which is NORTH of £70 million. Can Arsenal realistically pay… Read more »
No diving.
No demanding yellow cards for the opposition.
No cheating.
Others teams do that.
Proper clean soccer and decorum like Cloughies Forest played.
Your going to be disappointed CG, Arteta won’t be bringing AW values, he has his own ‘winning mentality ‘ as can be seen in the way our players have been hounding the ref lately.
Take every advantage you can, no point hampering yourself for some abstract value while others profit.
Win first, worry about the rest later.
Hmmm, a CB and fullback on loan would be realistic options then?
Would love Santi back for 6 months, I feel he’d be a massive boist to our young crop.
UN “””””He thinks United are better? So what? That’s his view man. He’s not hurting anyone.””””” Well said UN. I have not the foggiest – why so many get so energised in what people say. I happen to think Man Utd have better players too. Certainly more athletic and powerful ones. Although technically they are dreadful. To be fair – there are a lot of similarities in the two 2 clubs. Both struggling to replace Powerhouse managers Distant American Owners Incompetent Decision makers behind the scenes. Inept transfer policies Appalling choices of managers Both infiltrated by spivvy agents Both going… Read more »
‘Bellerin without his pace is totally ineffective’
No
Actually, Bellerin with pace was always duff
He was never that good. A RB has to be able to defend, something Hector never mastered. We shoulda have sold him when we had a chance. I’m one of those that never rated him.
The one player that has to be rested is Saka.
Kolasinac was injured and Tierney is out so Saka has to be wrapped in cotton wool. He doesn’t have to prove anything right now.
Mustafi pls to be loaned out if we can’t sell him.
I like Ake & Mings as options, I think under Arteta they would develop into beasts, premier league ready, young, strong and athletic. With Holding & Saliba we got our centre backs sorted for the next 5 seasons.
Xhaka has impressed me and if he maintains it I will happily retract all the negative things I used to say (Mustafi is still shite)
CC, Arsenal has slightly different requirements than most clubs with regard to CBs. We want strong good players but we also want good distributors. Luiz long ball ability allows Xhaka to sit further up. We saw the difference when Chambers left. Without being as good as Luiz Chambers is much better than Mustafi in that exercise. Özil had to drop to fetch the ball from the right side. In the championship quite often managers do not want their CBs to to play that kind of risky passes. So it is quite tricky to know if a player does not do… Read more »
Ernest
Why should RvP be nowhere near an analyst position?
Not sure I agree about OGS as a quality human, he’s a bit deluded from what I can gather, very interested in preserving himself in the eyes of fans by preaching ‘what United is all about’ as an answer to every criticism or stall.
Think he’s a bit of meat and veg short for managing if the Pogba debacle is anything to go by. 3 years in and they’re still talking about whether they ought to build a side around him.
Val
Yea that seems accurate. I don’t follow the league at all so cant really comment, just appreciate it for the kind of honest (if somewhat lacking in quality) comparison to the premier league. We’d do a lot worse that having a couple of those sorts in the squad, perhaps not first XI ready.
UN
“””Everyone is jumping on the AMN bandwagon””””
Not quite,
CG has always been a fan of this player.
I stated we should tie him down to a 10 year contract-a year ago.
We have a £70 million player on our books.Watch Arteta polish up this footballing gem.
you wait when he starts playing in Artetas old position.
And only I knew it all along.
87.7% no more
88.2 % more likely
Ultimately, now that Arteta has arrived, David Luiz may prove to be a.superb piece of business for 8 million.
He has been faultless in his last 2 games and has taken over the role of leader.
Any memory of our players performances before Arteta arrived needs to be erased.
Freddie Ljungberg
Speaks volumes that’s you’re going into bat for Emery AND Bamford.
How can you be so wrong so often?
Im sure there is a good player waiting to emerge with Matteo he has unbounded energy but over enthusiasm and getting involved for the sake of getting involved getting in the refs face and trying reckless cross field passes have gradually crept into he’s game.? Im sure he feels he should be a first pick player and on our Midfield performances of a few games back he would be right he is a trier. If Arteta and Co can reign him in a tad and educate he’s play he would be a big keep.? If we where offered good money… Read more »
A few years ago, a scout told me that the League 1 was a better bedding for CBs because it had greater variety of strikers. Not good enough for the premiership and not physical enough for the Championship but who can still be effective in that league. So CBs have to adapt not only to big burly strikers but also to smaller quick players and to older slower but quick in their mind types of strikers. He also had that counter intuitive view that in the lower leagues often bad teams had better defenders. The difference was being made by… Read more »
I cannot remember the last time Bellerín looked rapid over 10yards like previous years.
He’s looked sluggish and slow, maybe the way he he reaches top speed has been affected. But he doesn’t look the same, hasn’t for a number of years.
Perhaps maybe cash in when we can, or he just needs nurturing back to fitness slowly and surely.
We can see it, I’m sure the club can see he doesn’t look full whack right now.
I will assume you have watched and heard RVP provide his “analysis” on a regular basis, Charlie? I have and he offers about as much and often less than Michael Owen. He’s just another shock factor ex-jock trying to find his left nut whilst feeling his right one. Loved RVP as a player, the analyst/pundit- not so much. Being a good player does not necessarily make one a good TV personality. Regarding OGS, what do you expect him to do? The attacks on the guy are relentless and often negative and brutal. Sure, it comes with the job but equally… Read more »
Zaha looks likely he will now join Chelsea.He will be a sensation at the Bridge.A huge strategic error in not signing him.But we have Pepe instead..
—————-
Zaha- 3 goals and 3 assists in 1850 minutes
Pepe- 5 goals and 4 assists in 1240 minutes of play
Also , Zaha’s Palace valuation of £80 m was way over the top which you seem conveniently omit.
CG , is this how you maintain your 87% prediction accuracy by ignoring data that points to you being dead wrong? Lol.
Un
Wan Bissaka is one of the best full backs in the league.
Completely agree with regards to Bellerin, would love to see him hit the highs of 2014-16, but I’m convinced he’s hit his ceiling and the injury has done him no favours, always been questionable defensively. If there is a deal to be done for Maxi Aarons we shouldn’t waste time; young, English, body of work that suits Arteta’s philosophy! Don’t wanna be kicking ourselves seeing him playing for Spurs and running riot! Also, the talk to get rid of Matteo is criminal! The boy has shown more than enough at age 20 to know that he’s a generational talent when… Read more »
Torreira is back to his best , he is obviously loving playing his more natural role of the defensive midfielder.
There’s nothing better than seeing him making vital interceptions and tackles sitting In front of the back 4.
It’s no coincidence that since he has dropped back to DM , we have only conceded 3 in 4 games and our chances conceded on goal have reduced.
Pedro
Torriera’s problem is not quality but engine. He’s not got the engine of a Ramsey or Kante to last the season in the EPL and he plays with Xhaka who isn’t mobile.
By April, we would know better.
Pierre
I haven’t seen you complain about Arteta making Ozil run more..
You remember your “Ozil should not be defending and how Rodgers told Vardy not to defend” stories?
Sorry mate. Genuinely not wanting to come across as rude but I don’t remember mentioning wan bissaka
Un
You said we have better full backs than United and I was pointing out that Wan Bissaka is way better than anything we have and he’s younger than all our full backs.
I’d be surprised if the club are looking to move on Guendozi unless a crazy money offer came in.
He’s by no means the finished article but there’s talent and commitment there, he may be getting a bit too big for his boots and a little slap down might be a way to focus him.
Thiago Motta s sacked
Pedro,
Arsene Wenger makes a very handsome zombie.
If your Guen rumors are true I’m not at all surprised by them.
His attitude has been ridiculous for a long while now and even though Arteta wiped the slate clean for all , Guen’s arm waving and remonstrating at his teammates, while himself not doing the basics – something he did all of last season and continued into this one under Emery and now Arteta( Chelsea game) – is a sign he might not be a type of a player Arteta wants in his team.
Thiago Motta s sacked
Kay
You mean his sauce and innovativeness didn’t work?
Tom “CG , is this how you maintain your 87% prediction accuracy by ignoring data that points to you being dead wrong? Lol.” ha ha CG is living off his Emery out by November prediction , though give him his due, he will always put his money where his mouth is. Would be interesting to know where CG thinks we will finish in the league and how far we will progress in the cups. I’ll put my neck on the line and predict a cup success and finish top 6 with a possible top 4 depending how Chelsea and Leicester… Read more »
azed
“Torriera’s problem is not quality but engine. He’s not got the engine of a Ramsey or Kante to last the season in the EPL and he plays with Xhaka who isn’t mobile.”
Firstly when did Ramsey ever manage to “last a season” I can’t remember him ever not spending at least 3 months injured. As for Torreira not having the engine – easy manage him properly and rest him for certain matches.
Marc
Injuries aside, Ramsey had the energy to run around for 90 mins, Torriera doesn’t.
It’s not a slight on him.
Un
For defending Bissaka is better and that’s it. I’m not comparing our team with UTD..
Pierre
CG has been predicting we’d be relegated for months. Of course he’ll shift that now but he won’t feature the former predication in his success rate.
I think we should be patient with our present squad.
After Emery’s and Wenger’s failures to stimulate the players, we should give Arteta the opportunity to cast his magic.
On another note, once the biggest day in the footballing calendar( FA Cup 3rd round) has become nearly as irrelevant as the Kangaroo Cup. Teams fielding their reserves, half empty stadiums, managers/clubs more concerned with league status.
What a shame.
Sell Guendouzi and I’d take Todd Cantwell from Norwich. If they could throw in in Max Aarons too that would be good business even if we have to wait until the summer.
I’ll put my neck on the line and predict a cup success and finish top 6 with a possible top 4 depending how Chelsea and Leicester finish the season.
Pierre
If we don’t finish in the top 4, I’ll rather we finish outside the Europa League spot so we can attack the league like Leicester are doing right now.
azed
Let’s see what happens with Torreira and his fitness, we haven’t actually had a normal season to judge him on.
Last season he went to the Qtr finals of the World Cup and joined a much faster league, this season he hasn’t played much so he’s not going to be fully up to speed.
Pierre
I don’t know what CG’s predictions for our league position are now but I’ll make a prediction here that if Arsenal do make the top four and win the EL , which would constitute a tremendous achievement under the circumstances, CG will still take the credit for predicting this being the “season from hell”.
azed
If a chance of top 4 depends on Chelsea and Leicester does that mean you see us finishing above the Spud’s and ManU?
Not looking for an argument just curious on this one.
Azed “PierreI haven’t seen you complain about Arteta making Ozil run more.. You remember your “Ozil should not be defending and how Rodgers told Vardy not to defend” stories?” Education time for you Azed . if you remember , it was nothing to do with running more, It was all about Ozil tracking back under Emery , often being asked to track back to our own byline, which meant he had to make 30/40 yard runs and then being expected to perform offensively despite being out of position . Under Arteta , Ozil has a much smaller area to defend… Read more »
Un
Only three of those players are actually full backs and they is an argument to be made that Kolas is actually a wing back and not a full back. The others are players playing out of position and covering – the fact that they’re doing a decent job (last 3 matches at least) is another matter.
Marc
Kane is injured and I believe Mourinho is past it so they’ll struggle for goals.
UTD need Pogba back and firing
Between us, UTD and Spurs, I’ll say luck and injuries will determine our positions.
The chavs have the upper hand right now and they are at home against us (we will win), Spuds and UTD.
I just don’t want us playing in the Europa League next season so if we are not finishing 4th, then I want us to finish 8th.
We don’t play our first team in the Europa group matches so it makes no difference.
It also gives the kids some valuable experience .
azed
I have a feeling that the Spud’s could be a source of endless entertainment for the next few months.
Pierre Ozil ran almost 12km against United and that’s the most he’s run in two years. Now let me educate you on logic and common sense. It doesn’t matter if you run 12km on the center circle or the length of the pitch to the bye line, 12km is 12km and you’ll burn the same energy. You might make less sprints running in the centre circle but at the end of the day, it’s not really much of a difference. Now let me point out your hypocrisy Europa League final I can’t remember Jorginho getting to the bye line because… Read more »
“” .As for Genduzi – he should have been transfer listed- after scything down Zaha.””
Lol.. Willy young as well should have been sold for bringing down Paul Allen in Cup final
Not surprised if Arteta doesn’t fancy Guendouzi. The biggest mistake Emery made was playing him every week, yet it was seen as one of his small successes; playing him every week and developing some long-term midfield servant for us. Last season he got shelved around this time of year and there hasn’t been any improvement so he will get shelved again, and probably moved on. Doesn’t possess anything definitive to be top player. As for Bellerin, it seems to be running theme that whenever a player starts looking good for us they get an ACL or some other career-threatening injury.… Read more »
Wan-Bissaka is the better defender. But now coaches expect more from fullbacks. Even Pep is willing to sacrifice a little of defending quality in favour of offensive and physical quality.
As little as 5 years ago, Wan-Bissaka would have be viewed as one of the best fullback in the world, now not so much. Offensively he is poor: can’t dribble, can’t go past his opponent, can’t cross.
Whatever happened to Gedion Zelalem?
CG, I too was championing AMN as a very useful player at RB and DM wholst most others were saying we should sell him. I wanted Zaha, Emery wanted Zaha but Josh and Raul went for Pepe. Palace were holding out for £80m up front with no installments and being a few years old than Pepe, figured he didn’t have as high a ceiling or resale value as Pepe, plus Pepe is being paid in 5 yr installments. I happen to think Pepe will come good and if it were me I’d sell Aubameyang and Lacazette this summer and go… Read more »
“Whatever happened to Gedion Zelalem?”
Probably similar to what happeded to Thomas Eisfeld.
Aaarghh…I see..Got it.
Same way as Daniel Crowley?
Kane is injured and I believe Mourinho is past it so they’ll struggle for goals.
Doesn’t Son usually step up and score the goals for them? Kane was out injured last year I remember.
Samesong – They actually played better without Kane.
Absolutely. Pals with Ryo Miyaichi.
JamieJanuary 4, 2020 13:26:40
Absolutely. Pals with Ryo Miyaichi.
—-
lol
Leno
Aarons Saliba Upamecano Tierney
Torreira
Cantwell Grealish
Pepe Martinelli Zaha
Absolute stuff of dreams. PL and CL winning team right there.
@azed
Motta s sauce wasn’t dripping as good as Arteta’s I believe.
Samesong – They actually played better without Kane.
Agreed
Pierre
“”Would be interesting to know where CG thinks we will finish in the league and how far we will progress in the cups.”””
With Arteta:
League position 8th
Loosers Cup – last 8
F A Cup winners.
With The Clown
League position 18th and Relegation
Loosers Cup last 32
FA Cup – 3rd Round
That’s the difference.And yet Raul wanted to extend his contract.
Off course the most important game of the season is Liverpool at home.
Azed
“It doesn’t matter if you run 12km on the center circle or the length of the pitch to the bye line, 12km is 12km and you’ll burn the same energy.”
The fundemental difference is , under Arteta, Ozil will be running a higher percentage WITH ball at his feet , whereas under Emery , Ozil will be running a higher percentage WITHOUT the ball at his feet.
Plus I also believe that tracking back 30/40 yards is tougher than closing down small areas of the pitch.
Looking at some of the best Arsenal goals in the last few years.
Arshavin, Nasri, Podolski, Sanchez…. Christ, we had some top attacking players.
Who have we now? Nicola fvcking Pepe?
Out
Aubameyang – £50m
Lacazette – £50m
Ozil – ? (Wages) £30m?
Xhaka – £25m
Mustafi – £25m
Mkhitaryan – £15m
Elneny – £10m
£205m in fees plus huge amounts off the wage bill.
In
Upamecano – £60m
Zaha – £60m
Grealish – £45m
Cantwell – £35m
Aarons – £25m
£225m in fees so a net spend of £20m
Pedro, please forward this fag packet transfer sheet to your contacts forthwith.
Azed “I can’t remember Jorginho getting to the bye line because he typically plays behind the ball and all Ozil was tasked to do, was make him uncomfortable and deny him the ball, what was your comment then? Ozil should not be tasked with defending.” If you care to watch the game again, you will see that Ozil was man marking jorginho , the same way Ramsey man marked him in the league game, consequently Ozil was never in space if/when we won possession of the ball Under Arteta, Ozil marks space/areas, so consequently he is in space if/when we… Read more »
Now we have a proper coach and not a complete and utter clown in charge – Mikutyrian -is a player we should 100% keep.
39 games played for Arsenal, 9 goals.
1in 5 …..ain’t bad.
Lots of assists too.
Mikityian next season under Arteta could be another sensational player.
The players has oodles of talent.
Totally idiotic to loan him this season.
Raul wont be getting up to no more mischief with Arteta in charge
CG
Agreed, Mhkitaryan is another player underrated on Le Grove .
Keep him
*And you’re a racist inbred degenerate.
Pierre remember this is azed you’re dealing with. The guy that doesn’t believe the players are unfit even though the players and managers themselves have said so. Azed ‘ It doesn’t matter if you run 12km on the center circle or the length of the pitch to the bye line, 12km is 12km and you’ll burn the same energy.’ Not really getting are you mate? Footballers are conditioned to do repeated short sharp sprints over say 10-15 yards in a certain area of the pitch but you extend that distance to 40-50 yards tracking back defending can you see you… Read more »