Mikel Arteta stayed true to his word and treated the FA Cup with more respect than you’d show your grandma at a Sunday lunch. He fielded a very strong team for Bielsa’s Leeds, though it was loaded with some oddities. He stuck with a back four that saw Sokratis as right back. His midfield had Xhaka and Matteo, which always scares me. He continued his run with Mesut and capped it with Pepe, Laca and Nelson.
We started off in appalling fashion. Our manager hilariously said after the game, “I’ve watched Leeds United a lot and they batter teams every 3 days,” and batter us they did. We were absolutely second best for the majority of the first half. Leeds pummeled us, they beat us to every ball and they didn’t give us time to turn out of our half. It was utterly embarrassing. We managed 3 attempts with 1 on target (they had 15 attempts at our goal, 5 on target).
Matteo Guendouzi looked frightened, he was awful on the ball, he did not know which way to turn or where to stand. He resorted to slipping into the back 4 like he’d been doing under Emery. He wasn’t helped, Rob Holding has gone from looking like peak Baresi, to Pascal Cygan after 5 beers, he was very rusty and struggled with his passing. Then up front, Lacazette looked sluggish and low on confidence. Our players were bunched up, we didn’t fight, and we forgot all the good things from the last 3 games. The only bright spark was some good keeping from Martinez.
There are always going to be lots of questions of the manager when things are going badly, the one we wanted to know last night was whether he could motivate ‘this’ group of players to come out fighting. Well, Lacazette said, ‘he shouted a lot.’ Which always moistens the loins of British fans who think a good hairdryer treatment can solve any motivation issue.
Were the Brits wrong to dampen? Absolutely not. Brexit means Brexit and shouting at players appears to mean they pull their finger out, the dirty slaaaags.
The players put Leeds on the back foot right away. We became the protagonists. The shape was much improved, the midfield moved quicker to close down danger/angles, and the team worked really hard to get Ozil and Pepe on the ball. The German, in particular, made the most of the ball, he created some great opportunities, every touch had intent and seemed to dent the confidence of a tiring Leeds side.
The breakthrough came from some dogged work from Pepe. He slinked away from a pile-up with Douglas just inside Leeds half. The Ivorian reminds me of a fast Kanu sometimes, I don’t quite know how he’s staying on his feet, but it works and he escapes. He powered through the middle, released Lacazette out wide, he quickly slipped the ball into the box, it deflected and Reiss Nelson was on hand to bundle home. Not the tidiest of goals, but a confidence jab for all three involved.
That goal really took the steam out of anything Leeds could offer. We continued the half with the same intensity. I thought the fans were in fine voice, they kept the boys going with their singing. Arteta was able to bring on Gabriel, who looks the absolute business. His intensity is going to be a game-changer for Arsenal next year.
The game finished 1-0. We somehow kept another clean sheet. The team passed another test, they can be motivated, they do want to play for the manager, and the FA Cup could be a real opportunity this season.
Leeds is a bruising team to play against, the squad underestimated them, and they nearly paid the price. It’s a lesson learned. Mikel is good, but he’s never going to shake old habits in under a month.
Fans have to accept that finding consistency is going to be very hard this season. There will some great moments, but there are also going to be some horrible ones that might leave you questioning whether we have the right man in charge. We have to work through it, this is a proper manager with ideas that will take a year to start delivering consistency… but when they land, it’s going to be beautiful.
For now, let’s hope the lessons of today were learned. At the highest level, even against Championship sides, you cannot afford to take your foot off the gas. Leeds has a tiny squad that’s been somewhat out of form and they dominated us so badly in the first half, we only managed 37.5% possession.
Arsenal are still weak when pressed hard, we’ve known that for years, we’ll have to get better there. Xhaka looked really poor in the first half, but he was a different beast in the second. Matteo looked ready for the scrap heap in the first 45, the second he looked like a man who was told his family were in the boot of a car with their lives dependent on him playing like a man possessed. Everyone looked better when they moved towards the Arteta instruction pack and that can only be a positive for his authority as a manager moving forward.
Next up is Sheffield United. A tough game against a coach that will have watched what Bielsa did with intrigue. Chris Wilder will have a plan, we’ll have to rise to the occasion again and hope the squad wants to continue to prove the doubters wrong.
What did you think? Let us know in the comments!
P.S. I don’t normally care much for press conferences, but man, I love listening to the clarity of his comms. He knows exactly what’s going on, very refreshing. Also great to know Auba is committed.
Marc,
Comparing the Arteta and Emery won’t rub. The same as when people were saying, ‘if you’ll give the job to Arteta, why not Freddie.’
Different beasts doing different things.
One is moving towards a clear vision that everyone understands inside 2 weeks. The other had people defending his ways even when our players were visibly crushed by December.
Crystal Palace away and Sheffield Utd at home will be very tough tests for us. Play like we did vs Leeds in the first half and we’ll get punished. Sheffield Utd are hard to break down. They may not have a terrific frontline but they have players like McGoldrick and Mousset who are prepared to run all day. I’ve been particularly impressed with Mousset’s holdup play. On paper, Palace is the more difficult game especially if the Palace that love to play against us turn up. Win it though, and the players will go into the game against Sheffiled Utd… Read more »
Pedro
” He’s trying to raise the capacit of the players to do what he did at City”
Would you like to rephrase that?
Mental fitness is as important as Physical
fitness players will not perform unless they
are in the right place.
You can push players to hard physically a balance is vital.
Guns, exactly. Arteta said very specifically that distance run isn’t that important. He also said he is convincing players where to position themselves so they have to run less.
Emery got a raw deal because his methods didn’t produce. Hours of video analysis and player dumb as bricks. Over the top training that didn’t result in better pressing or more intensity on the pitch.
Mahrez/zaha would not be a good idea in a team with Auba/pepe rather bernardo but he is not what Arsenal need
A while back, like 10 plus years back I read that when Arsene was looking at new players, Arsenal had a test of how the player would fare in the last 10 minutes of a game when fatigue was kicking in… they had some metric that they were using to determine whether the player had the mental and physical capacity to see out games that was superior… Under Wenger, ironically I can recall players not really breaking down as much. Perhaps his sisssy training sessions were helpful? Who knows… hopefully we can get the players rested and fit enough to… Read more »
Pedro
You’re so blinded by Arteta that you can’t see what people are saying. It’s not about Emery vs Arteta it’s about judging people on a fair and consistent basis.
Unai Emery didn’t break players, indeed.
You heard it right folks Unai Emery broke Aaron Ramsey. By that same logic Mikel Arteta broke Calum Chambers. That’s the world we live in apparently where managers are solely responsible for players getting injured even injury prone ones. Remember intense training sessions and a player getting injured equals the managers doing. Let’s be consistent
Pedro Wow, double trining sessions in pre season, what a concept. No one argued that that wasn’t a thing, it’s like that for every team in every preseason. Valentin argued for weeks that the double sessions went into November based on an article that said Emery had to tone down the intensity of the training. Lies. Kolasinac did the same thing as Ramsey against Man U, luckily isn’t made of styrofoam. Emery breaking Ramsey is another myth just for the sake of it. He’s had 1 full season of football in what, 8 years? Still breaking down in Seria A,… Read more »
So your saying Emery should have been more authoritarian with Ramsey
That’s another thing Kolasinac just back from injury and was goosed the last game and what does Mikel do but start him in another game. Lad surely is in the red in need of a rest. Consistency
Marc, don’t get in the way of my love.
Guns, Wenger crashed players for years, was in total denial that his training methods were the problem… the club eventually caved and hired Shad and the issues reduced.
Freddie, it wouldn’t have made the papers if his approach wasn’t more extreme than normal.
Freddie, Ramsey should have been told he couldn’t play… because that’s what leadership is about.
Anyway, no idea why we’re talking about Emery, can’t we just park him and talk about the positives that are happening?
Pedro
Like the article I posted about the poor little babies being too tired to go on a fortnite party after the INTENSE training sessions?
Intense is not the same as double, unless my english lessons totally didn’t pay off at all.
danny “”””What would be different if Wenger were still here?””””” Well, how about this little lot for starters: We would not be 10th thats for sure. We would be playing attractively. Our players would not be cheating as much on the field. We would not be posting horrendous financial losses. We would not be paying spivvy agents obscene amounts. We would have spent the money on players so so much better. and we would not being outplayed by a championship side….. so not too much. And another thing Danny Spending more – does not mean you are spending it better.… Read more »
it wouldn’t have made the papers if his approach wasn’t more extreme than normal
Isn’t Arteta and his intense training sessions doing the rounds in the papers too currently. So again by that same logic any and all injuries suffered he gets the blame for it. Not by me though I don’t have the audacity to blame a manager for an injury prone player going down. It’s why I don’t blame Mikel for Chambers getting injured. Just bad luck nothing to do with the intensity of training
Emery was a necessary cog in the post Wenger scheme. Looking back a brilliant moves from Gazidis, knowing he’d set the bar so fucking low after stinking the place out his young protege Arteta would eventually be able to swoop in and deliver with a more sympathetic fanbase in tow, realistic goals on a timeline to match.
Pedro
Mate I’ve just realised who you remind me of – you’re Shallow Hal!
Let’s just hope Arteta’s going on a crash diet
Pedro, which players did Wenger crash?
Pedro
Kola was injured but said he could play against Man U. No outcry because he’s not made of paper mache, players do it all the time.
It’s not an Emery issue, it’s about consistency.
Double sessions seems to be the topic today. I actually don’t think it matters that much. Player conditions and demands on everyone’s body should be the job of the medical staff. Emery failed at playing any decent football. That’s all. In other news Ornstein says 12 players may be shifted. So let’s see Mustafi, Eddie , Smith-Rowe, Mavropanos all loan moves. Would love to get rid of Mustafi for good but a loan and him doing better might make somebody make a stupid decision and buy him. who are the other 8? Kolasinac may Go but Tierney is not coming… Read more »
Marko
Holding went down the exact same way last year that Chambers did this, landed awkwardly.
Who did you think got the blame for that? Yup. Fatigue it was, double sessions made him do it.
Now, complete and utter silence, smh.
We would not be 10th thats for sure. – No we’d be lower. We would be playing attractively. – The football under Wenger was pretty dire in the last few years and was getting worse. Our players would not be cheating as much on the field. – I don’t even know what that’s supposed to mean. We would not be posting horrendous financial losses. – The losses are due to not getting CL football something that happened for two seasons under Wenger so yes we would. We would not be paying spivvy agents obscene amounts. – No we’d carry on… Read more »
“You’re so blinded by Arteta that you can’t see what people are saying.”
lol so true.
We would not be posting horrendous financial losses.
He had us two seasons out of the Champions League
We would have spent the money on players so so much better.
He pissed away hundreds of millions on poor players.
and we would not being outplayed by a championship side…..
Short memory but off the top of my head defeats to Bradford, Blackburn and Forrest.
You sir need to get off that Arsene juice
Hi All
Interesting game last night, hope Leeds get promoted, so my prediction will be proved true.
If they play Bamford as a lone striker they will crash and burn , firstly he is not premier standard ( already proved } and not a natural goal scorer. Premier defenses will gobble him up, and spit him out,.Despite on last nights showing being the best unit in the championship, they have failed to win on 11 occasions so maybe the first 45 last night was us being shit poor rather than them being so bloody wonderful.
We shall see…. maybe??
Danny
“””””CG The one aspect we have improved is the wage structure.
And the transfer process.””””
Like Raul signing off Ozils Contract?
And David Luiz on a 2.5 year deal on £100 000 a week?
Pepe for £70 million. ? Tierney ?
That Leeds team cost £10 million
Dont think that aspects improved then ?
CG
Wenger was in decline…….
He finished 5th then 6th, who knows where that would have ended up as he was also, like you and most of the other AKB were in total denial that anything was wrong.
That I think, is the link between whenever and the AKB’s….. senility or general mental illness.
Now, complete and utter silence, smh.
I mean yeah but it was to be expected. Alot is to be expected though expect that good enough squad to get an eventual overhaul too. Expectations to be tempered a little that’s another one.
Pedro is the OG A[rteta]KB. It is what it is. People have their favourites and tend to see them through a certain prism.
In the end, we’ll all be super stoked if Arteta continues to do good work at the club for the next few years. He’s smart, no doubt about it. He needs some new blood in the squad for sure though.
Like Raul signing off Ozils Contract?
You need help.
And David Luiz on a 2.5 year deal
Can somebody please help this stupid stupid man realize once and for all that players signed at the start of the season don’t get 2 and a half year contracts. He’s really struggling with this concept
I’m pretty sure Gazidis signed off on the Ozil deal.
Luis, could yet be the player we need under arteta.
Tierney has looked like a class player when he’s played, and again under a proper manager we will have a WC LB in him.
Pepe has yet to bed in, but is looking better with every game.
If Wenger was here, iwobi would be on 100k now, welbeck would have got a new deal doubling his wages and so too would rambo and they would both be on the physio table right now.
Oh dear
Sanllehi reported to Gazidis = Gazidis was his boss. Ozil’s contract was signed in the January and would have been on the negotiating table for weeks if not months. Sanllehi joined us in February.
For Gazidis to ask Sanllehi’s permission on a contract before he joined would have completely undermined Gazidis.
Marko
Oh it was expected alright. Along with the squad is good enough. Now let’s sign 5 new starters though to “tweak” it a bit.
That’s not a tweak fam, that’s a rebuild.
Not an ounce of shame
Speaking of which hey Don. As has been explained before it’s okay if you don’t understand (or as you put it underrated) the things I’ve said in the past that’s okay
Raul had a hand in that Ozil extension, zero doubt.
On another note imagine playing for a side and you’re #9 was named Bamford, i’d enter the market sharpish.
Marko
“””””Like Raul signing off Ozils Contract?You need help.”””””””
Yes , Raul did fact.
100000000000% Fact
Nothing to do with Wenger whatsover.
CG
What about Wenger refusing a £60 million bid for Sanchez when he was in the last year of his contract and refusing to sign a new one?
Explain how that we good business?
If Wenger was here, iwobi would be on 100k now, welbeck would have got a new deal doubling his wages and so too would rambo and they would both be on the physio table right now.
Oh at least. Cazorla would be still here new deal and not likely to be having the same season that he’s having at Villarreal. Mhikitaryan would be here. God knows what signings he would have made. Scary thought
My sources tell me that Gazidis rubber-stamped Ozil’s contract extension, that CG is a moron and that the truth hurts.
Raul had a hand in that Ozil extension, zero doubt.
Or as CG said 100000% fact. Yeah we’ve been over this before and you didn’t convince me then and you don’t convince me now that someone who hadn’t even taken the job yet was responsible for the contract and not Arsene Wenger or Ivan Gazidis. It’s just more Raul the Boogeyman stuff.
Jamie
Gazidis didn’t rubber stamp Ozil’s contract – he typed the fucking thing up personally! Then signed it on behalf of Arsenal.
After Holding got injured at Old Trafford, a certain poster said that it was down to Emery’s double training sessions! In Artreta, Arsenal have hired a manager that is a better “fit” for the club. Emery was a portfolio manager. The instruction was clear – come in and get CL football. Was there ever talk about a vision more grandiose than that? I don’t think so. But let’s not kid ourselves. If Arteta’s remit is to get this club back into the Champions League and he fails to do so, you can be sure that he wouldn’t be here after… Read more »
“Not Marko and Freddie though. Proudly backed emery. Insulted torriera, wrote off Arteta Labelled him a cone man Claimed coaching wouldn’t impact the palyers. We had to sell half the team and replace the players we replaced the last player with, with new players. Marko even tried to deny it” Are you not tired of being a clueless cunt Don? Yes, backing a new manager, what a novel concept for a fan of a football club. I’m backing the new manager now too even if he’s inexperienced. No one insulted Torreira dickhead. There was questions if he could last a… Read more »
Danny S Don’t mention what we were giving the likes of Diaby, Denilson, Bendtner, Almunia etc etc all those years back. One of the reasons Nasri left was because he was on £60000/week, the same as those mentioned above. I mean, how the fudge could we give Diaby £60000 in 2010 when he never played? This was always our problem. Giving those players who couldn’t cut the mustard, or were crocked, far too much. Those players mentioned above should have been on no more than £20-30k a week. Our wage structure was warped beyond belief. CG’s deluded perceptions on “regression”… Read more »
Jamie I’ve a feeling that Arteta can be really special for us. He learnt his football at la Masia, so knows all about playing great football within a club who has a philosophy of being a tight knit family. He has worked for Man City, a club who wants to emulate Barca and has worked under one of the best managers out there, Pep (who incidentally has had his most successful period at Barca). Arteta is imbued with that entire philosophy. I truly believe that for our club this is our next natural step, a direct continuation of the fantastic… Read more »
Marko
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to grasp fact when new leadership comes in they are updated, asked opinion on current dealings, likely playing role as they will have to deal with said situations.
Agree though its a tired argument. Nobody’s trying to make Raul out to be a boogeyman, he did a fine job of that himself backing Unai into this season. Round 2 is looking far more promising.
Marko
“””””””that someone who hadn’t even taken the job yet was responsible for the contract and not Arsene Wenger or Ivan Gazidis. It’s just more Raul the Boogeyman stuff.”””””
Well since he has taken his job- haven’t we done well.?
He is a bloody marvel.
Arrived when we were 5th
£250 million on players and 3 managers later we are 10th!
How good is that?
No wonder why Barcelona could not wait to get shot of him.
(he only came because he was Gazidas mate.)
Just a hunch but I would say Wenger and Gazidis were definitely behind the Ozil contract fiasco, just as they were behind the Sanchez contract debacle.
It was in their blood.
LegendaryDB10 – That’s the dream! I like Arteta, he talks an absolute blinder. He’s composed, seems to have a certain presence only studs have. Hopefully he transmits confidence to the players and we kick on in the 2nd half of the season. I’d really like the board to back him this month. He needs the full support of the club if he’s to deliver success. It’s not an easy job. Took Klopp 4 years to deliver silverware. Poch still pissing into the wind without a pot in sight having been a PL gaffer for what, 7 years? Could be long… Read more »
“He was not happy because we knew they’d play like this and we didn’t respect what he had said,” said Lacazette on Arteta’s half-time dressing down.
A slip of the tongue or an insight into the heart of the team?
Yes, Emery had to go but clearly so does half the current squad. No heart, no pride and an utter lack of professionalism.
That first half should never happen to a new manager.
The squad needs to be cleaned out come the summer.
I’m*
Don Again with the rimming stuff? You need some new material. Ideally we need someone taller and more athletic in that role, I’m more than happy for that someone to play next to Torreira ( if he wants to stay) instead of Xhaka though. There’s also no denying that Torreira burned out second half of last season, probably because he had to do the defensive work of 2-3 players by himself. I always said if Ceballos adapts, he hasn’t, he’s also been injured, doesn’t mean you comparing him to Xhaka was right. He’s still a very talented player but I… Read more »
“You didn’t just back a new manager though did you? You tried to convince us all that what we were seeing wasn’t real. That he needed wingers That AMN and Torreira and chambers and many many more needed selling.” We had zero wingers, so yes, we needed wingers. AMN and Chambers isn’t good enough to start for us if we want to be serious about competing, don’t mind them staying as backups if we have the funds to get decent starters without selling them. Would have been much better to take the 20-25 offered for Chambers before and adding that… Read more »
Jamie I too hope that the BoD backs Arteta. It will be needed. Most importantly we need to be smart. It’s not always easy but, considering that we now have someone who has a system in mind, it will make it easier to go for the “right” kind of players that will fit the system as he’ll definitively know what is needed for the team. We’ll see, but I can’t see Arteta agreeing to join us if he did not have some sort of say in the kind of player he needs. The road will be bumpy, but it really… Read more »
Don He was left out second half of last season? Nah, you’re just confused again. The clamouring for an unproven manager and the level of propaganda from some quarters were absurd. The lies and made up shit was mostly what was getting a response, no one cared about Emery enough to go to war for him no matter what you think. If the discourse was more honest and level headed it would have been fine to want a new manager and try something new with someone that’s never managed a game before. You’re as big as a I told you… Read more »
Just out of interest what happens over the next 18 months or so if Arteta moves out Chambers and Torreira etc?
Personally I like them both – Chambers has probably been our best defender this season although it’s a best of a bad lot case if we’re honest and Torreira is currently the best DM at the club.
Nice:
CRYSTAL PALACE boss Roy Hodgson has claimed he fears he will be unable to field a competitive starting XI against Arsenal on Saturday.
The South London side could be without 11 first team players due to injury and suspension.
“We let Jeff nelson and cazorla go 3 players who can easily play wide We had Aubameyang Mkhitaryan iwobi and ozil who can all play wide He got his wingers and we actually got even worse You were just plain wrong so fess up” There’s so much wrong there that I don’t even know where to start. Cazorla on the wing after being injured for 2 years and out of a contract? Nelson isn’t ready now, he definitely wasn’t 18 months ago. Maybe it was a mistake letting Jeff go in hindsight, he didn’t do much when he was here… Read more »
Arteta came in and out together our best 3 performances since wenger left with 8 players out
What does that tell you?
—————
Getting carried away much?
Or did you not watch Tottenham, Leicester, Napoli, Fulham games from last season, all of which were much better and more complete Arsenal performances than the three under Arteta , although the United game comes close, and it’s obviously early days.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to grasp fact when new leadership comes in they are updated, asked opinion on current dealings, likely playing role as they will have to deal with said situations. He wasn’t even leadership though that was still Ivan the terrible who we know was capable of making a really dumb decision. I’d also argue given that it was Raul who pulled the Ramsey contract that had Raul been in play earlier we likely wouldn’t have seen the Özil contract. Also you have to factor in Arsene’s comments on giving Ozil the contract. Pretty disingenuous to… Read more »
“”” We would not be 10th thats for sure.
We would be playing attractively.
Our players would not be cheating as much on the field.
We would not be posting horrendous financial losses.
We would not be paying spivvy agents obscene amounts.
We would have spent the money on players so so much better.”””
If anybody needed stone cold proof that CG is here on a wind up , then the above list is it ..
“Where arsenal have unlimited funds for new players Where emery was doing a good job and just needed wingers Where Arteta was an inferior cone man. Where coaching alone could not improve the players we have.” Never said we had unlimited funds idiot. Always maintained that the rebuild after Wengers run down of the squad was going to take at least 3 years, maybe more. Good job or not we still needed wingers, smh. You think Arteta is sad that he doesn’t have another area of the pitch he desperately has to upgrade on? Arteta was an assistant, it’s only… Read more »
Don
“You sound like a televangelist.Televangelist? Yeah we don’t get those here. Must be a Swedish thing”
Yeah, we’re really famous for our religious fanaticism. Plonker, you know what it is, no need to make yourself look stupider than you are.
If anybody needed stone cold proof that CG is here on a wind up , then the above list is it ..
——————-
I don’t think it’s a wind up,
I think CG is like that homeless guy at an intersection with a “ Jesus is coming , Repent” cardboard sign ,flagging every passerby and offering tips for salvation.
The only difference he’s still selling Wenger instead of Jesus.
Marko has evidently never being involved in a hand over of any description in a role of any importance or responsibility.
Apart from the happy meals he dishes out at the drive through.
Un nai
‘ Like seeing your wife get double teamed and offering them a cuppa’
Get it right fella Freddie loves his early teens and lady boys. Wife lol
“Get it right fella Freddie loves his early teens and lady boys. Wife lol”
Just when you think Don is the depth of human scum here comes Aubergine to the rescue.
Hankering for ban number 9? Guess some people never learn.
Freddie don’t blame me for your preferences. Add in a bit of emery and you’re sorted kid.
The thing is Emery got too big for his boots. He would still be in a job now if he had stuck with the Torreira/xhaka midfield He had Aubameyang , Lacazette, Ozil and Mhkitaryan and he only ever started them once , in the home game v liverpool. That midfield and attack should have picked itself . He had Leno in goal , Monreal and Bellerin as capable full backs , so his main job should have been to select a centre back partnership and then build a solid disciplined back 4, but that never happened did it. All that… Read more »
Freddie, hardly indoctrination, I just knew what I was talking about… and so far, so good.
Pierre, I agree, think the timing is excellent… if the people give Arteta a future-facing squad, we should be competing for the title in 2 seasons time.
Anyone who thinks our squad doesn’t require upgrades didn’t see Sok at RB last night.
Also, when players revert back to type as easily as quite a few did first half, you have to wonder if this only a short term upturn in form.
End if the day, the players have shown, they downed tools, can’t absolve them all of responsibility. That’s twice in seasons too.
Arteta looked, after the game, like a man who felt his authority had been questioned , he will certainly considered if all these players are fully behind him.
#twice in 2 seasons.
Pedro Think we’ll have to agree to disagree about the indoctrination. “Pierre, I agree, think the timing is excellent… if the people give Arteta a future-facing squad, we should be competing for the title in 2 seasons time.” Agree about this though, him coming in with the squad we had 18 months ago and all the work needed to cut the wage bill would have frustrated the fans, much better to take over now with lowered expectations and more upside in the squad. I’m sure the extra 18 months of coaching experience helped too. Plenty of players that can be… Read more »
Unai, literally no one has ever said we don’t need upgrades. It’s a new narrative people who said the players were uncoachable are pushing to refocus a dead argument that was pushed to support Unai Emery.
Passionate persuasion.
I do agree though… fan love for the players is at an all time low, he can do what he likes with the squad… and nothing could be more miserable than what we’ve watched for the last 5 years.
Positive news for Arsenal fans regarding Upamecano. Player has told the club he wants to join Arsenal, so no problem there. Fee isn’t a problem. Still the same issue as the other day and that’s the fact Leipzig don’t want to sell until the summer and Arsenal want him now. Close
Dunno how reliable it is but sounds logical.
Unai nai
Stop being so smug, it’s not like you don’t make mistakes too.
Aren’t you the one who still wants Wilshere in the club?…even with the benefit of hindsight you still want him around to decorate the physio room.
Pedro
” people who said the players were uncoachable are pushing to refocus a dead argument ”
So out of interest how much would you offer Mustafi and Xhaka in their new huge extended contracts?
“and nothing could be more miserable than what we’ve watched for the last 5 years.”
Mourinho?
I am loving the optimism people are having here concerning our future. I agree that glory could be in the offing within a couple of years.
Interesting to see who might be managing Liverpool and City in a few years. Didn’t Klopp say he intends to stay at Liverpool until 2024?After that it will surely be the home coming of Gerrard.
I have a sneaky suspicion City will get through a couple of managers post Pep, before they find someone who can fill his shoes. Hopefully not his ex assistant!
I can definitely see Pep calling it quits at City fairy soon but Klopp lasted 7 seasons at Dortmund, enduring constant Bayern poaching his best players – something he doesn’t have to put up with at Liverpool. He could last there a lot longer. Arteta is showing signs of great promise but this Arsenal squad is ways off. Leicester’s midfield ,so often mentioned here ,is well into double figures with goals and assists in PL play ( Maddison alone has 6 and 3). Ours will need some serious strengthening. If Klopp is the elite at what he does and still… Read more »
“And you’re spot on in that he should have stuck with Torreira sitting BEHIND Xakha ”
I’d prefer Xhaka to be doing the sitting – five or six hundred miles away should do it.
Marko
Source on that?
Buy him and loan him back to them with majority of the fee being back loaded, we can get by with what we have for 6 months if it means we sort that position for the next 10 years after that with a world class prospect.
Add Soumare who Lille is apparently ok with letting go of in January to that and I won’t even be mad if we didn’t sign anyone else in the next 2 windows. Ok maybe a cheap upgrade on Ozil too but then I’m good.
Pedro…. it was a top 4 squad 6 months ago, that was the old narrative, now it needs upgrades?
Can’t say I’m overly fussed, wanted Arteta over Emery anyway.
Un, “The argument was wether or not Unai Emery was getting enough, not the best, enough out of his squad.”
To be honest, its not really an argument, more people just bringing up old arguments to score points. All it does is create a divide.
Its gonna get ugly when Arteta goes on a bad run.
The premiership is more relentless than most other leagues. It takes its toll on players but also on managers. Most managers are drained and can’t reinvent themselves at the same club after 4 years. In the EPL that effect seems to be even quicker. Between the stress but also the lack of any break during a Christmas and New year. For those reasons and because I really rate Arteta I think that Pierre is right. 2022 may be the year where Arsenal regain their premiership crown. Right now everything goes smoothly at Liverpool, but it will be interesting how Klopp… Read more »
I love his press conference. You get the impression of a won’t suffer lazy bastards kind of guy, which is what we’ve needed for years.
Marc
“So out of interest how much would you offer Mustafi and Xhaka in their new huge extended contracts?”
Arteta is being quite astute when he is talking up players like xhaka, Nelson, Torreira, Ozil , Pepe , AMN , Aubameyang
I can guarantee you that in the past 2/3 weeks the value of most of these players have increased massively due to their improvement in performance.
“So yeah, he’s turning me around a bit but he will need players”
Yeah, good man that Merson. He knows what’s up (at least in this instance)
Pedro
😂😂😂😂 laugh emoji
“Freddie, it wouldn’t have made the papers if his approach wasn’t more extreme than normal”
You trust the papers. What planet are you on they will make anything say anything for click bait, controversy to provoke an action.
Un, both sides are as bad as each other, and i did, with RH a week a so or ago 👍
Mikel Arteta 4 games in and already being predicted to win the league inside 2 years. It would absolutely take a massive shit on Arsene and his failure to mount a title challenge for nearly 15 years.
Unai
“Pedro…. it was a top 4 squad 6 months ago, that was the old narrative, now it needs upgrades?”
Upgrades to get to the very top , not to reach top 4 ..
Don
Yes, the team has improved. Is it good enough, no.
Emery didn’t spend any money, the club did and the squad is in a much better place for the future and with regards to our wage bill because of it.
Still need better players in midfield and defence, luckily Arteta doesn’t seems to be as dim as you though so we’ll see upgrades there soon.
Marko
“Mikel Arteta 4 games in and already being predicted to win the league inside 2 years. It would absolutely take a massive shit on Arsene and his failure to mount a title challenge for nearly 15 years.”
I could have sworn Wenger won the title in his first full season , the league and cup double in fact.
Pierre
“xhaka, Nelson, Torreira, Ozil , Pepe , AMN , Aubameyang ”
I haven’t slagged off Torreira, Pepe, Auba, Nelson, AMN or Ozil under Arteta – for the most part I’ve been impressed and complimentary.
People can say what they like about coaching this or managing that – Xhaka will not be at Arsenal next season. My preference would be so see him gone this Jan – he is still a massive cock up waiting to happen.
As Freddie said maybe try to get Upamecano and loan him back – we might have to loan someone else in the meantime or just make do for half a season.
He and Soumare change the dynamic of the team significantly.