Well good morning to you, I wrote a post yesterday and it didn’t post, so you’re getting a double hit of the good stuff today. 💉
It’s Mikel press conference time, I’m still getting over the novelty of not spending 45 minutes trying to decipher the buried messaging of an Unai prezzer. I also like the fact that for the first time in 10 years, tuning into the pregame chat is actually interesting.
Let’s jump face-first into what hasn’t changed in forever… an Arsenal manager on transfers.
‘I’m happy we have the squad that I believe we can compete for what we want. I’m fine. I want to keep the players and get the maximum from the players that I want, but if this scenario changes and we need somebody, I’m expecting that we will go into the market and try to solve the issue.’
On whether he has a wishlist just in case.
‘I have, yes. You need to have one always, just in case!’
So the reality of our situation hasn’t changed, we blew our load last summer, and unless a very cheap deal or loan pops, we’ll be tasting the consequences of that until we can shift some of the deadwood in the summer… but at least Mikel has a list of players he likes, hopefully Ever Banega and Big Steve Nzonzi don’t feature. That’d be like finally landing a date with Sienna Miller and finding out she farts when she drinks, which to be honest is how I felt when he started Xhaka… I have grown to enjoy that fragrance though.
The most interesting theme that has run through the last week is that Arteta is very publicly calling Auba his most important player. I can’t deny that it’s true, but it seems to be a very purposeful narrative that he’s pushing.
‘Auba has been around, he was very sad after the game. He was disappointed that he left the team with 10 men. It’s an action that is completely accidental in my opinion. He’s been superb under me, he’s trained really well, he’s working so hard. He’s scoring goals and has probably been the most important player on the team. So to lose him, obviously, is really bad news for us.’
‘I don’t know. I haven’t experienced it. I hope not, I hope we can play better and even win the games and he will be pushing for that as well. Players have to step up. You know, when one of your big players is not there, they have to take responsibility. I’m sure when they’re not playing, they want a chance and they talk. It’s time to talk on the pitch, not outside. You come on there, you make the impact that he made and you sure me that you are as good as him or even better. You have the chance.’
Keeping your best sharpshooter motivated is obviously important, is the extra effort because he wants him to sign a new deal, or is it to keep him motivated despite playing him out of position? Or is Arteta just a really fucking massive fanboy of the man. He has a gold car, that is way cool imo.
My abiding memory of Sheffield United is from the Highbury days when we cheated and scored a goal and Steve Bruce threatened to take his players off the pitch like a giant pink snowflake, an incident that culminated in Arsenal offering a replay for the unfair result. I also remember the FA Cup semi-final when David Seaman made THAT save from Paul Peschisolido.
Things are different now. Chris Wilder, one of the sexy breed of new managers doing big things at small clubs, has made his team quite the spectacle this season. Mikel likes him.
‘The work he’s done is phenomenal and he’s done some special things as well with some movements and characteristics of how he moves his team around, and the demands that he puts on his players. What I like about a manager is when I see a team and they are a real team that fights for every single ball with their attitude and behaviour, as well as their intentions for what they want to do every time. It’s very clear what he’s trying to do, so I have big admiration for him.’
The reality of our season is that this game is very important to our progress. Sheffield United are running away from us, we lose here, it’s a 7 point gap. Staggering considering their outlay compared to ours.
Things are still not looking positive on the injury and suspension front. Kola, Tierney and Bellerin likely won’t feature. LT ‘might’ be back in contention, but he has a hip problem. Our best striker sits out the first of three games. The only thing going for us tomorrow is that this has been the first full week the squad has had with the new training staff. We’ll be a little bit fitter, the plan should be a little more clear, and hopefully we come out all guns blazing for an expectant home crowd. Miracles don’t happen overnight, but a nice run of results against sides we should be beating would build belief in the squad and make us fighting fit for the big games in the cup and against the top 6 sides when they land.
One interesting thing to watch out for is the captaincy. Who does that go to in the new era? The way the team has been playing, I’d expect someone like David Luiz. I feel like he’s bought into the vision and his performances have been immense.
Finally, Head of Medical Services, Gary O’Driscoll, has left the building to take up a new role at Liverpool. I had the pleasure of being toured around the Arsenal facilities by him a few years ago, it basically qualified me to have PHD after my work signature, and it’s part of the reason I’m so revered in the Sports Science community. The article is here, think that was back in the day when Wenger was blaming injuries on hair pills and bad luck. What a time to be alive.
What I think is important about this move is, whilst sad, it shows you how good our backroom team is. The amateur injury specialist scene on Twitter is quite something, generally always wrong about their assessments of what goes on at the club, always wrong when they point the finger out the medical team. This is a vindication of that reality. Anyway, if you fancy the job, you can apply here.
Right, find me in the comments where I’ll be giving a seminar on the latest WADA regulations, have a great Friday night x
This cunt is Wenger in disguise
No discernible pattern of play and we’re back to making pregame subs…..
Disappointing result. We cant expect to win games scoring 1 goal. It’s too tight. Think we had opportunities to create but quality in final 3rd was missing.
Fundamentally without aubameyang there are not many goals in this squad. Pepe still finding feet, laca not scoring. Torr and xacka no goals. Ozil no goals. It’s hard.
Still hopeful and seeing the shape I want.
@ CC
Mike Dean voted Leave 😉
Zacharse
3 wins from the next 4 matches would definitely qualify as a change in form – technically so would 3 losses.
My point was more you actually think we’re going to get 3 or 4 wins from those fixtures?
“Xhaka is a Gazisdis buy who was enforced on the team”
Yeah right Wenger didn’t have any control on transfers at the time!
Fuck me.
Paulinho- I cant really comment on today’s game as I missed first half and saw second through a mobile screen. But in general I’m seeing progression more cohesiveness in attack and playing vertical. We have very few people who have the confidence to bag a goal atm and or have young kids with little composure in final 3rd. Its coming but we are not there yet. If you want to use these draws as a stick to beat arteta with and raise emery aloft then fine. But it’s clear we are at least playing as a team now. Uuder emery… Read more »
Someone forgot to release the handbrakes for 2 years 😉
Must be the Krankies.
AFC is now populated by average players who remain average. The good players are also becoming average.
The good players who do not become average will fuck off during the next transfer window.
Could it not be Arteta trying to salvage the season by keeping xhaka and Ozil happy until the end of the season, knowing no serious offers would come in for them.
Have to work with what you go. Our squad is inexperienced and young. One of, if not the youngest in the league.
It’s going to take time.
Mgooner
“Many underestimated the difficulty of being in the CL and fighting for the PL.”
True, quite often we would be top or near the top at Christmas and then the wheels would fall off as the fixtures came thick and fast .
The thing is, the last 2 seasons we haven’t even had to contend with the champions league so there should be no fatigue or tiredness excuse as we played the kids in the europa group stages and we don’t have loads on international duty these days.
“Ah yes blaming the referee. Back to the good old days of Arsene.”
A solid tradition at the AFC.
If wenger was yoda, maybe mikel is luke skywalker ??
@ Marc
You are entitled to your opinion.
I disagree because the old clown used to leak stories to some journos in France and this is where I picked this up.
Xhaka was bought early during the window at a high price for the time, Very unlike our pattern of buys at the time.
And oh, people on LG celebrated and welcome him as he just had a great WC.
“If you want to use these draws as a stick to beat arteta with and raise emery aloft then fine. ”
You keep saying I’m having a dig at Arteta (same after Bournemouth), when it’s the quality of the SQUAD I’m criticising. Any mocking tone is to bring attention to the laughable over-estimation of our players when Emery was here, and knowing full well how these same fans will gradually change their tune over the next few months. Most already have in the space of a few weeks.
@ Pierre
the ting is that the owner has not supported the club sine he came on board 10 years ago.
Asking a football club to build a stadium and pay for it by selling players is absolute bollocks. It is a miracle that we were in CL during that time.
In 10 years the shares of the Krankies has benefitted from massive capital gains and he has shamelessly benefitted without contributing a cent into player acquisition.
Paulinho
Every defeat or draw is met with player poverty, has been since Wenger left comically. Can only surmise Emery overachieved last season as Banford claims.
I see you’re another trying to cling to the call for players in the summer as an abstract admittance of player poverty. Very good, because we don’t arrive at every summer window with the explicit hope of recruiting ‘better’ to improve or anything.
Maybe that’s why folk will turn their attention to that in a few months, kind of like its an annual thing.
The most important thing next summer is too keep granité, mustardi and ozil, aka the 3 stooges. Lol
Just returned from game. Same old story we cannot hold onto a lead and once again drew a game we should have won. Firstly the positives. 1. Both Saka [wing back] and Martinelli [left wing] were excellent. Frankly I don’t know why we need an additional left back because Saka is a footballer full of talent. 2. Torreira also had an excellent game. The negatives. 1. Our right flank is awful. Maitland-Niles is the most unintelligent footballer on the planet and on current evidence Pepe is little better. The right flank is Arsenal’s achilles heel and once again cost us… Read more »
“Whether he can turn it round without recruitment is debatable.”
Lol just wait for Pedro’s answer to that question.
“Every defeat or draw is met with player poverty, has been since Wenger left comically. Can only surmise Emery overachieved last season as Banford claims.”
Well that’s complete bollocks that you keep repeating.
Wenger was pilloried non-stop for bringing in the ‘player poverty’, unless the thousands of Xhaka/Mustafi criticisms when Wenger was were encrypted for you or something.
Summer? How about next four months with this top four squad, with plenty of upside such “build your team around” Guendouzi, Willock, as well as Pepe settling in, as well others.
@Highbury
We are currently in Phase Project Youth MkIII
By 2025, it will be Project Youth Mk V
Just enough time for the Krankies to increase that capital gains by another 50 to 70 %.
Absolutely need to fool these fans, absolutely need too. Too much capital at stake here folks.
Paulinho in as much as none of these players are artetas than I agree we need recruitment to buy for his mould. We are also crying out for a goal scoring mid( insert crying noises of emery hounding out rambo) Players alone wont sort this though. If the players we have got had some confidence in front of goal we would be in jub better shape. Names wise laca pepe ozil sounds great but none are confident in front of goal atm(and ozil is probably shot in this department). We need some shooters, the arteta way comes with goals I’m… Read more »
Ozil back to normal.
Xhaka half arsed.
No midfield.
Nothing up front,can’t scored.
Need to replace Leno his ball distribution is slow.
Arteta needs to wake up.
Has anybody got stats on arsenal scorers outside of auba since the start of last season. I bet there is a massive gap to laca and then something mad like a joint 3rd place between chaka and torreira on 4 or something
Arteta probably sticked with Xhaka as they told him he would have to play a midfield of Gwen and LT otherwise. and rely on the reserves to warm the bench.
We know what our club is like now 🙂
Paulinho
Have we not been better under Arteta with the same players than we were under Emery ? I have written numerous posts criticizing Xhaka, Mutafi, Ozil etc. There’s no denying we have work to do on our squad. But Emery was never the guy to take us forward irrespective of the quality of our sqaud.
@Spanish : Pedro should wake up, him too.
Any suggestion on how we could put a positive spin on this for the blog guys? 😉
It might be of help.
We will get knocked out of the Europa.
Revenue will go down again.
Perhaps Stan will wake up, but I doubt it.
TR7 – No, we haven’t, at least not in the areas that mean something long term.
Our football is still poor and it always will be with this midfield and limited forwards. Unless Arteta surprises us all and tries to emulate Graham circa early mid-90s, then this defensive solidarity will mean very little if we don’t improve on the ball because we will lose confidence, push more forward to convert draws into wins, and then lose the defensive aspect anyway.
@TR7 : we’re not saying hiring Emery was not a mistake.
But to hired Arteta, while Ancelotti (among a few others) was available, that is highly debatable.
A comment I saw on Twitter:
“Ole’s first 6 games as United manager = 100% win rate
Arteta’s first 6 games as Arsenal manager = 33% win rate
Yet Arteta has totally rejuvenated Arsenal I keep hearing.”
Make of that what you will.
Paulinho
Yea except facts are on the side of us not having player poverty as an excuse. Ones that have been ignored and twisted beyond belief.
Again? What’s with the barbed bollocks? There a benchmark you have for this side in the Pl this season or something? The goose is cooked, but seemingly it’s not a new manager bounce you want it’s a new manager light switch that unlocks all the previous ills.
Every defeat or draw is met with player poverty, has been since Wenger left comically.
I’m sorry but you are painfully ignorant and pick and choose what to remember to suit whatever argument you’re in that day. Player poverty hasn’t been a thing just since Wenger left grow up we’ve been complaining about the squad for many years you were just unaware of the discussions on a DM, a goalkeeper, a proper defence, a winger, pace at CF etc etc cause you were too busy pom pom waving and defending you know who. It’s not new
Paulinho = fair play of you think we have seen no improvement. My eyes tell.me otherwise, stats wise we are also much improved. It’s funny we are in the exact opposite situation of last year. We were dogshit but had 2 shooters that bagged us goals and we did relatively well. Obv long term it normalised and we went to shit. This year in game stats and stylistically in the eye improved. Now only 1 shooter and a bit of bad luck and we have like 8 points to our name. Take your pick which side of the coin you… Read more »
“light switch that unlocks all the previous ills.”
Ills that were player poverty induced.
You’ve already a week or so ago said you want the squad completely gutted apart from Martinelli which is a bit of about-face from someone that claimed this squad just needed to be rid of Emery and replaced with sexy managerial talent to flourish.
Can’t see us wining the next two games, the players looked down after the game absolutely no confidence left in them.
We are going nowhere until we freshen up the midfield.
Olumide That suggest the new manager bounce isn’t something to worry much about given OGS is toilet. Emery had a good start to life too, but maybe, just maybe there’s more to management than how things occur within a month or two? “You’ve already a week or so ago said you want the squad completely gutted apart from Martinelli which is a bit of about-face from someone that claimed this squad just needed to be rid of Emery and replaced with sexy managerial talent to flourish” Twist it up more why dont you, I said there’s nobody I wouldn’t sell… Read more »
Paulinho
My sense is Arteta wants to use this season to assess the quality and attitude of players and inculcate in them discipline and work ethics and then try to push the team to the next level if we find 2 quality CMs in the summer.
We need a cb a cm.tk replace xacka and a goalscoring mid.
Where are all these players. Please list me some names that are not untouchable(neymar , halland ect) that magically lift this squad immediately.
Let’s get rid of complete duds mustafi xacka ect but the main way this thing improves is by arteta extracting from the body of this current squad
Charlie- Quite a dramatic revamp. Quite the ‘tweak’.
Interesting how eager you are to ‘gut’ the squad, one would think you want to change the squad as quickly as possible so your argument about it our ills being solely manager-induced get shown up for the complete bollocks it is. You want the team built around Guendouzi a few months ago, and now it’s sling your hook. Certainly doing a lot of twisting in regards to players you used to bat for only a couple of months ago.
Dance around it all you want in order not to seem like you’re backtracking, player poverty is indeed a thing at Arsenal football club…. Saw AMN revert to type again, same with Ozil, Mustafi for Sokratis bless us we have a top 4 squad indeed
TR7 – Yep, with a big emphasis on those two top CMs.
Duifg
The only way Arteta will be successful is by going into the transfer market and replacing least half the squad…Any other thing is utter delusion at this point
Also a big fat LOL to folks wanting us to sell Auba for anything less than an outrageous bid, he’s basically been carrying that whole team with his goals this season, our midfield is such a joke you’d get better inputs from teams in the championship
Quietly like the effort of the manager towards defensive organization, David Luiz coming up in leaps and bounds too but deary me our midfield is Vomit inducing at this stage bar Torreira that is
This is the worst squad we have had for twenty two years.
We have been put in his position by the owner who hasn’t a clue what a football club is.To him it’s real estate ,to us its our lifeblood.
Until he goes we will mirror Newcastle with its rotten owner who doesn’t give a shit.
John Jules seems to have started off his loan well.
That’s something.
Paulinho What did I literally just say…. I haven’t stated I want the lot gone except Martinelli, you’ve just flat out lied about that. I said I’d sell anyone except him because I have no emotional attachment to them and think we should be big enough to sell whoever and turn it into an opportunity. That’s not remotely similar to the bollocks you’re trying to offer as my view. There’s also nothing interesting about me being open to gutting the squad, I said following Wenger it was a perfect time to turn over the squad and start fresh properly. So… Read more »
@Olumide
So because OGS and Pearson had a good “new manager bounce” means we should too?
Performance and commitment can only take you a bit far in the short term. If there is no quality and proper management you cannot achieve your ultimate objectives.
We need more quality in the final third if arsenal is going to score more goals. And that midfield was not up to the races today. Laca is out of form. The odd goal is not enough. If Arsenal got a goal in the 83rd minute perhaps we may have won the game but if you score early in the match the team have to devise a method to keep the pressure up and not allow even a half chance for the opposition. Otherwise Arsenal will continue to concede the so called “lucky goals”. We need to sign players this… Read more »
“Champagne“There isn’t one player on the books, except Martinelli, that’s worth clinging onto … Gut the place and start from scratch, with Arteta pulling the strings.”
Yeah nothing ‘interesting’ about claiming a squad is top four quality, crying out for a new manager, then when the new manager comes in state 99% of them are not worth keeping and we should gut the place.
Isaac Hayden just scored against Chelsea. 👍🏼
Paulinho
So exactly as I’ve just said twice then….. “there’s not one worth clinging onto” like some were doing when stories of Auba surfaced.
Lolz Kepa is really shit at this goalkeeping thing by the way
Hayden wins it for Arsenal, sorry Newcastle.
Funny thing is that we wouldn’t be out of the top 4 race if we just managed a few more wins instead of draws given how United, Chelsea and Spurs are dropping alot of points this season. But alas
Charlie – At least it’s clear now you can drop the facade of denying player poverty (you already have in a moment of weakness). It will stop six months of embarrassing drip-feed of you wanting this player or that player, and that all totalling 11 players by the time the summer comes around.
Marko
Yes,” if and only “.
Right now it is 10 points difference between Chelsea and Arsenal.
What is Arsenal stats at Stamford Bridge.
My sense is Arteta wants to use this season to assess the quality and attitude of players Awful awful excuse thrown up for Mikel. Why exactly does he need 6 months to assess certain players? Has he not been watching Arsenal these past few years? Is he unaware of our season so far? Even now is he blind to the fact that Ozil has reverted back to himself? Look it wasn’t an excuse for Emery and it’s not an excuse for Mikel he should have come in straight off the bat and insisted that certain players get replaced. And that’s… Read more »
Paulinho
Jesus Christ, a moment of weakness? You rehashing what I’ve said and trying to pass it off as something else isn’t a weakness of mine…
I said the same thing when Emery was instilled as manager, wanting the club to aggressively back a new manager isn’t a new or foreign concept. It’s also not indicative of squad quality but about giving the new manager backing in delivering the objectives with players suitable to his philosophy.
I’m not claiming player poverty, but we need accelerated squad evolution.
The last time Arsenal beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.3-5 (2011 vanpersie with an Hattrick), Both current managers started for their respective teams in Midfield.
Legends.
Christ it’s yet another manager at Arsenal and we still have Ozil, Xhaka, Mustafi and AMN starting for Arsenal. When will this nightmare end.
I asked a question here last week whether we would beat Sheffield and they followed the exact same blue print I talked about….packing the midfield,put two big men forward and press us to death…
.we seem to struggle against these tactics….I love John fleck,tidy little player who can do everything
The absolute scenes when Elneny and Mkhi rock up for preseason at Colney.
“I said the same thing when Emery was instilled as manager” When Emery was manager Guendouzi was a player to build around, and by the time Emery had barely had a chance pour a glass of wine in his Valencia restaurant you wanted him gutted, and deemed him not worth clinging onto. If a squad is genuinely top four quality then it only needs a couple of signings to challenge for the league, yet supposedly our one needs gutting, to be replaced by another set of top four players presumably. No rehash, you’ve just made a hash of whatever argument… Read more »
The absolute scenes when Elneny and Mkhi rock up for preseason at Colney.
Has to be done. Mikel will need to assess them.
Internal solutions like new signings.
“objectives with players suitable to his philosophy.”
Yep, hence player poverty. We don’t currently have the players to suit his philosophy and everyone knows what philosophy is, same as every manager: Quick, attacking football blah blah blah.
Players that can’t adapt to suit philosophies are generally not very good.
“When Emery was manager Guendouzi was a player to build around, and by the time Emery had barely had a chance pour a glass of wine in his Valencia restaurant you wanted him gutted, and deemed him not worth clinging onto.“ Again, you can do your best to twist and twist like I want the bulk of the squad gone but you’re talking bollocks. “If a squad is genuinely top four quality then it only needs a couple of signings to challenge for the league, yet supposedly our one needs gutting, to be replaced by another set of top four… Read more »
Charlie – Liverpool only made a couple of signings to compete for the league while keeping what they wanted.
City signed two full backs and then won the league.
This is what is so frustrating with Arsenal at the moment – a couple of the recent draws into wins and we’re 2 points above the Spud’s and 6 points behind Chelsea.
Arteta has to start earning wins.
Don – And your point is?
He wants Guendouzi gutted so it’s irrelevant who he preferred over Willock and Ceballos.
Daniel Altos
“….I love John fleck,tidy little player who can do everything”
Fleck is a player that I have said many times on here that I rate highly.
G8 “our passing is still sideways and backward most of the time” Passing sideways and backwards is not a major issue per se. Man City pass sideways and backwards in deeper positions to create different attacking angles. But their sideways and backwards passing is quick and sleek and there is plenty of movement between the passers to receive the ball. And it is shorter passing. Quick and crisp. Therein lies the difference. Arsenal’s passing from deep is too many times slow and ponderous and lacks movement from the players of any intent. And we get these longer sideways passing that… Read more »
“Liverpool only made a couple of signings to compete for the league while keeping what they wanted.“
– Liverpool finished 8th on 60 points when Klopp took over mid-season.
Brought in: Mane, Wijnaldum, Matip, Karius
– Liverpool then finished 4th with 76 points in Klopps first full season.
Brought in: VVD, Chambo, Salah, Robertson.
– Liverpool then finished 4th on 75 points
Brought in: Alisson, Keita, Shaqiri, Fabinho
– Liverpool finished 2nd with 97 points.
“Liverpool only made a couple of signings to compete for the league while keeping what they wanted.“
How many times are you going to lie and assert something I’ve explained isn’t true 3 times?
Don – You’re so dense, truly a marvel in that regard.
Liverpool had most of those players you listed in the years they finished fourth. Only when they signed VVD did their defence become good enough. Only then were they good enough overall to challenge for the title.
If Klopp improved those other players then Arteta should be able to do the same with ours.
So Liverpool actually went from 60 points to 97 points in 3 seasons adding 11 new players over the duration to what was already there.
Meanwhile at Arsenal we need 6 new players to reach top 4 quality levels apparently.
Do we expect Arteta to do better results wise with the current squad than what Emery was achieving?
Don – The key signing was VVD. Allison added something important, Fabinho didn’t play for six months, Shaquiri a squad player to contributed in spells, Keita barely kicked a ball.
Thanks for proving my point.
So Liverpool finished made up twenty points adding one or two players that played consistently, and Klopp coached the rest to incremental improvements.
Why you don’t want to give Arteta time to do the same doesn’t say much for your confidence in his coaching.
Un
And how long do we wait to see the improvement?
“Who says he won’t?”
Well, Charlie for a start. Wants the squad – apart from Martinelli – completely gutted and to start from scratch.
Un na
He shouldn’t have to improve what can’t be proved… You’d vet the odd game or two out of our lot of misfits but in the long run, they’ll all revert to type…
Oh and Arteta isn’t Klopp so he’d be best served demanding for better players to work with of he’s going to be successful
Paulinho
You’re boring at this point, I’m not going to sit and argue what I’ve stated already. Carry on and lie through your teeth about what I’ve said, you would know better than me naturally.
So Liverpool actually went from 60 points to 97 points in 3 seasons adding 11 new players over the duration to what was already there.
It’s technically more than 11 and it’s 400 million as well.
Charlie – It’s all there. Don’t need to lie about anything.
As Freddie says, seek refuge and claim misunderstanding in desperation is the go-to.
Paulinho
There’s no claim of being misunderstood, dont get it twisted. Just a pretty common case of someone taking what’s been said and speaking an entirely different truth to it because they’re desperate to score a point or make something fit their narrative.
Go ahead and post the quote you’re hanging your hat on, time stamp and all.
Got to ditch Leno if we are to improve at the back.
Distribution is awful. Dilly dallies too much. Doesn’t communicate positivity in any shape or form. Everytime he has the ball at his feet, I sense impending disaster.
Put Martinez in goal asap.
Pierre
“I thought AMN was not aggressive enough closing down for fleck’s goal.”
AMN made the mistake in getting drawn in central to deal with the incoming cross and he vacated his right back position area where Fleck stationed himself to score.
This is a defensive error you see many times from many defenders.
They get drawn away from their position on the pitch and get punished for it.
Do we expect Arteta to do better results wise with the current squad than what Emery was achieving? Apparently not and that’s okay because we’re building towards something. In my mind though it’s less about Arteta and more about the squad now. Don’t get me wrong as infallible as some people like to make him out Arteta has made some mistakes that have cost us points. I’m talking in game management and certain subs and him insisting on Xhaka staying obviously is on him as well but in saying that what you’re currently seeing and getting out of this squad… Read more »
Graham
Sorry but then that’s another fault to lay at Arteta’s feet. If Leno’s poor with the ball at his feet why do we insist on playing short passes round our box so much.
Charlie – Ha ha, asking for the time stamp.
Thinking to yourself ” was I really that stupid?”
Yes, Charlie, you were.
Marko
Ceballos is one of the most highly rated young players out there at the moment yet Arteta won’t even give him 10 minutes.
My main issue is I’m seeing Arteta make mistakes that he’s repeating. I don’t expect perfection but he needs to start producing results. We cannot be a training vehicle for Arteta’s ambition when the life span of a manager is so short in the modern game.
Yeah and we’ve done £300m on a team that came 5th in 2016/17 and added a higher number of players
Good point?
Paulinho
Yea you keep claiming absolute bollocks that I’ve corrected about 4/5 times now, but its me that’s stupid? Nice one.
Le grove is the place for this sort of patter though, still have morons on here saying I claimed Wenger had another league title in him with backing. So this casual level of bs is just par for the course for a few dishonest sorts that are so militant in their views they need to rebrand other peoples to make theirs fit. Lord knows we’ve seen enough of that shit from you with a certain Welshman.
Ceballos is one of the most highly rated young players out there at the moment yet Arteta won’t even give him 10 minutes. Yeah I’ll be honest with you initially I wasn’t concerned cause I assumed that it was because of injury and I was looking forward to seeing if Mikel could get Torreira like performances out of Dani but now I’m thinking it’s a bit of a red flag because it looks like favouritism right out of the Arsene Wenger handbook. He brought back in Xhaka from the cold and convinced him to stay he’s basically saying you’re my… Read more »
Charlie – Unless your scroll has been disabled I’ve already posted it.