Retribution.

by .

I’ve been powering through a lot of books of late, leadership and power are my favoured topics because I have no power in my life and I’m bullied by the man at the laundrette who charges me double for my shirts because he says they are dresses. Anyway, I’m just over halfway through Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog and I stumbled across this line.

‘No matter the sport— no matter the human endeavor, really— total effort will win people’s hearts’

He was referencing Pre Fontaine, a legendary American distance runner, and how he captured the imagination of the crowd with his ‘put it all out there’ there approach to running.

Mikel Arteta has constantly referenced the connection between the fans and the players and how important it is. The hot takers (particular from The Guardian) have lent many paragraphs to the Arsenal fans being a problem for the players on the pitch. I’ve always thought this was a junk POV that totally misses the impact blood-and-guts spilling has on the fans. We’re all pretty basic, if players give it their all on the pitch, generally fans respond favourably. The new trend for citing ‘expectation’ as a problem in football reminds me of the years-long assault on the notion of ‘passion’ in the game. ‘Pashun merchant’ was an insult, generally directed to the sort of fan who didn’t understand the nuances of Mesut Ozil’s body language, and was widely derided as an unsophisticated desire of stupid fans. Skip to 2020 and one of the most perfect teams ever to exist is being managed by a passion merchant. Every Chairman now wants a lunatic on the touchline.

Fan expectations have never been the problem at United, coaching has been. Same was true at Arsenal. Citing fan ‘expectation’ always sounds nice because it sets you apart as a different sort of fan, more elite, thoroughly considered, just attending football so you can rock the flat cap, have a pie, and mix it with the working class. It’s not reality though. Expectations hold clubs accountable, everything should be in the name of a better footballing output, that’s what makes you an appealing club to join… which player, coach, analyst or business person would want to join a club that didn’t think fan expectations were a positive? None that you’d want to give a £180k a week contract to, that’s for sure. I think Mikel Arteta understands that. I don’t think he’d decry fan expectation, I think he desperately wants to meet and surpass them because that’s what ambition is.

I have not sat in an atmosphere like the one the players created at that United game in years. What changed? The players giving a fuck and showing it with their performances.

I think Arteta is using the adulation of the fans as a carrot to provoke an outrageous work ethic. When the fans will the team on, the players want to go harder, it’s a symbiotic relationship that can push them onto greater heights.

Tonight, at Chelsea, we’re going to need something from the fans and the players. Chelsea offers us a very quick opportunity to demonstrate progress. The 7th game under Arteta is a return leg Premier League game that gives us the chance to show the fans that the ideas are sinking in and the players are moving forward. It’s also an away game against a top 6 side that are in the same mess we’re in… chasing top 4 badly.

The game needs to be an all-out assault. It has to be war on the pitch. Tired legs aren’t an excuse in a derby like this. This needs to be retribution.

We didn’t deserve to lose last time around, the outcome really spun on a Cal Chambers injury and the terror of Mustafi on the pitch.

This time, it has to be different. Mustafi looked much better against Sheffield United at the weekend, and generally speaking, the defensive approach of the team looked much better. We really kept Chelsea quiet. That needs to be repeated for the full 90.

The major challenge for Arsenal is going to be how we operate moving forward. We’ve lacked creativity and the goals have tended to come from one place, Auba. He’s out for the second game of his suspension. That means we’re relying on Laca, Martinelli, Pepe and maybe Nkeitiah. I know a few people in the comments have been questioning whether anything has changed at Arsenal, which feels like a weird thing for someone to say that is so obsessed with Arsenal, they comment on a blog… so here’s a video from Statman Dave to explain where the club is going.

It’s going to be a tough evening, but hopefully, the adrenaline of a big game and a huge greasy chip on the player’s shoulders (sitting there because of the rough luck we’ve had) should drive us forward.

The manager wants to go all the way in the table.

“It’s very, very important for us to win this game to fight for [the top four],”

“The game we played at home could have made a big difference and we were very close to it. Tomorrow we need to win.”

“If we are able to win three or four games on the trot, then we are right there. That’s the challenge we have and all the teams have at the moment. When you look at the results from the weekend, all the draws, and how one decision changed the whole game between Burnley and Leicester, the margin is not that big. So it is complicated. You have to dominate every aspect of the game.”

The squad should be motivated to be back in the big time, they make top 4 it means a big fat bonus coming their way, elite status amongst their peers, pride, as well as the excitement of playing the best teams in the world. This game will tell us a lot about their belief, so I’m hoping for a big one.

Right, nice and short today, if you’re heading up to the game, take a listen of yesterday’s podcast I recorded with Alex.

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Useroz

Saka is fantastic

DaleDaGooner

We can afford to lose one of Laca or Auba, I feel, Martnelli can do the job

Left Testicle

McManaman gives Bellend MotM. WTF.

DUIFG

I want hero’s on the pitch at all times. Ozil to be iced for me. Young lions needed

Useroz

Great fucking cross Chelsea to row zzzxxxxx

Marko

Martinelli is goosed. You love to see it he left everything on the pitch. One positive from the season Martinelli and Saka will be better next season

London gunner

I fucking love saka.

DaleDaGooner

Chavs are shit, we really should have been coached better from the start o the season.

MidwestGun

Come on!!! Hold on now.. this last 4 mins has lasted forever…

Bob N16

Respect

London gunner

Hudson odowi is so overrated. Never seen anything from him.

Useroz

2 2

Great work.

gunnerman

They should have more dressing room cams

vickingz

Ok ok ok, what a game

Marc

Midwest

I thought they’d added 40

DaleDaGooner

A draw would be ok, not ideal, but based on circumstances, I’d take it

Receding Hairline

Say what you like about Xhaka but he has heart, same can’t be said for Ozil. He needed to leave the pitch or he would have spent the entire half pretending to help out

Goona

Good second half ozil should be booted out tonight

Nelson

Good game afterall. Always keep the faith!

Gazzap

Indeed. We love you Arsenal we do

MidwestGun

Oh Thank God.. Happiest I’ve been in a long time for 1 pt. Now that was Fighting spirit.

DaleDaGooner

We’d have beaten them with 11 and no Ozil and Mustafi today.

azed

Great performance by the team.

HillWood

Lacazette was an oxygen thief tonight

G8

Well done boys
Great effort

Guns of SF

OMG this feels like a win

Receding Hairline

Kepa is rubbish by the way, imagine spending all that money on a basket

salparadisenyc

Can’t fault that spirit, this season will kill me.

PieAFC

That 2nd half. 10men. Credit where credit is due. Didn’t lie down.

Useroz

Extend Martinelli’ contract for another 3 years this summer with. 150m buy out clause to fend off the wolves and scum bag agents

Spanishdave

We play much better without Ozil.
Drop him for good.
Saka and Martinelli two youths showing some love for the club.

Samesong

Proud of that performance in the end.

Danny

When will Arteta realise that we don’t need fuckin’ Ozil? We only started playing once that cunt went off.
Decent draw!

Chris

Felt sick when they went 2-1 up again. We deserved our leveller and the point tonight. Great spirit and togetherness from the guys. Sort of feels like a win in a way. Chelsea will be mad not to win.

TheLegendaryDB10

What a fuckin game.

I’ll take the draw considering we were 1 man down.

Happy with our performance.

Good to see us keep on fighting!!!!

Come on The Arsenal!!!!!!!!

Guns of SF

It was the youth
The youth did this…

Goonah

Away fans sounded amazing again

Gazzap

Showed heart after ozil went off

Champagne Charlie

Loved that in a perverse way, soft touch we absolutely are not. Long may that continue.

Martinelli is brilliant, Saka is brilliant.

Frustrating situation first half, Mustafi with a genuine howler. But to his credit I thought he was excellent after that, and Xhaka alongside him was absolutely brilliant.

That performance will galvanise the boys, we’ll get better at some aspects but it was a superb effort from the lads. I can have some pride over that, even if there’s loads of room for improvement.

Get fucked Chelsea.

vickingz

Arsenal fans turning it on at the bridge

The backpass

Xhaka an average player but he gives his all, different from our highest paid.

Pedro

What a fucking game… I need to go to bed.

Leftsidesanch

Good result given the circumstances. They can be proud of themselves.

G8

Xhaka had excellent game to be fair

Guns of SF

Ahem

Earlier someone predicted 2-2 with Martinelli and someone else scoring.

Ahemmm

Should have bet money today

PieAFC

Can we say, Xhaka had a game at the back. Hopefully this will kick on our season.

Cesc Appeal

Good result under the circumstances.

Should do a lot for confidence.

As with last week, Martinelli and Saka are the real story. To stand up in those circumstances.

Arteta has to face his selection mistakes and get it right. Arsenal were playing with 10 from kick off, they were playing with 9 from 26 minutes until Ozil went off. Can’t keep doing this, resting on seniority.

FA Cup breather now and then a tough trip to Burnley.

Alex James

Like our teams of old. They own my heart.

Marc

Very very good result with the early sending off.

A few players deserve a mention.

Xhaka – really kept it together when he went in to the back 4.

Saka – A real talent, so so impressed by a kid playing out of position.

Torreira – absolute fucking warrior.

Leno – made some solid saves.

Bellerin – lovely goal

Martinelli – kids going to be a legend.

TheLegendaryDB10

Goonah

Away fans sounded amazing again

They were ace throughout the game.

Props to all away Gooners!!!!

MidwestGun

Think we have the right manager… just need to get rid the wankers. Y’all know who they are. Really happy for Marti and Bellerin. Bellerin earned the armband today.

TT

I haven’t seen true grit like this from arsenal in fucking ages.

Marko

Credit for the resilient performance and Martinelli and Saka were immense all game but has to be said this team will continue to struggle with the likes of Ozil, Laca and Mustafi starting and struggling. Credit to Xhaka as well he kept the brain farts to a premium today. Fair play

Habesha Gooner

So much shit has been thrown at bellerin since he has been out. I still love him. he is one of our own.

Ishola70

Well it’s a positive result.

The team really battled and competed well going down to ten men.

That Martinelli goal the boy took it like a seasoned pro.

DaleDaGooner

12 draws, some of which whould have been wins and we would be talking differently, sadly.

DigitalBob

Some great performances out there. A very satisfactory point gained.

Saka and Martinelli with the right development will be super players for us in the next few years. LT and Xhaka were solid in the middle.
Alot of gems mixed in with the dross at the moment but we’ll get there. Up the Gunners!

Marc

Pedro

You really are a fucking light weight!

Thomas

1 win in 6 in the league now for Arteta yet he’s hailed as the messiah lol.

Cesc Appeal

Would be great if that kicked Bellerin on.

Torreira has easily been the best player since Arteta took over, considering the work he had to get through today, amazing.

Martinelli…genuinely the most excited I’ve been about an Arsenal player in a long time, not even just youngsters, any player in general.

PieAFC

CA

I think taking off Ozil on the 55th minute mark, he was subbed last time.

I think the ruthlessness will come in soon.

He knows and can he offers nothing of any energy right now.

No question, build the team up front around Martinelli. We’ve got a hungry, energetic kid on our hands who could down in history.

Marc

OK can Arteta take tonight’s result and turn it into a run – Burnely A, Newcastle H and Everton H.

Come on 3 fucking wins.

TheLegendaryDB10

Un

Same here.

I think I pissed off some neighbours with my cheering!

Ustyno

One thing I have observed from this Arteta’s reign is that he seems to know how to motivate the players, Leeds game come to mind, against Crystal Palace we would have normally lose especially losing Auba and even today, playing over 60 mins with -1 at the Bridge yet we managed to come out with a point,kudos to the men and to him

Wish he will be given the necessary tools to work with

DaleDaGooner

Man U and Chelsea stealing 4/5 with some awful displays

raptora

Great point and a bad point at the same time.

Glad we had the mental strength to come back. I’m going to support Arteta as long as he pushes our players to be as best as they can and play with all their heart. I’m proud!

DaleDaGooner

2 18 year olds make Oil and co look like the crap they are. Bukayo and Gabriel MOTM for me.

Ishola70

Nelson

If the foul by Luiz was freeze framed at the actual time he committed it you will probably find that Luiz is the last man defending the Arsenal goal not Luiz.

Luiz had taken Abraham slightly to the right hand side and Mustafi had run into the Arsenal goal mouth.

And there is no way that Mustafi was a passive player in that play.

He can’t be when he is bang right in front of the Arsenal goal mouth.

TheLegendaryDB10

TT

I haven’t seen true grit like this from arsenal in fucking ages.

And to think we did it with one man down!!!

MidwestGun

Saka and Martinelli partnership for a long time hopefully. they were both immense today.

Ishola70

So encoraging display but of course have to get some of these twat players out that make it an uphill task in the first place.

Paulinho

Hector Bellerins steps up again. Alway defended him. Closest player we have to Ramsey in terms of mentality and ability to step up in key moments.

And to think certain muppets have the temerity to claim Maitland-Niles is better.

Cesc Appeal

PieAFC

I hope you’re right.

Emery had a similar thing with Ozil, played him until he realised what he was. I cannot stand Ozil but even by his rock bottom standards and my rock bottom opinion of him that was a shameful performance from the first whistle.

Agree on Martinelli. He is going to our star in a year or two. Madrid will be offering £200 Million for him and Barcelona will be making £40 Million bids whilst calling him a ‘hostage’, trying to put Barcelona shirts on him and stealing his picture from the training ground.

DUIFG

Saka has good poise, nice timing of runs. Keep him lb, at some point Martinelli goes central and push him mf

DaleDaGooner

I so wanted a revenge today, that pass back by Mustafi ruined it.

Jay

Martinelli auba pepe frint 3 going forward… and no ozil.

LeMassiveCoq

Hats off lads and Arteta. Good as a win…apart from the extra 2 points of course.

Great spirit, i hope they can bring it against the likes of Norwich, Villa etc.

Ishola70

*If the foul by Luiz was freeze framed at the actual time he committed it you will probably find that Mustafi is the last man defending the Arsenal goal not Luiz.*

DaleDaGooner

Xhaka…lol…..taking digs at criticism …..said no one should speak about “us” ater today….everyone said things about us…..what a tool

Pierre

“That Martinelli goal the boy took it like a seasoned pro.”

Great composure in front of goal,

It was a Theo Walcott moment away to liverpool, champions league when he ran the length of the pitch and he laid it off to Adebayor to score.

Paulinho

Hopefully we can use this as some sort of springboard.

If Bellers stays fit we move up a level quality wise on the right,but still dreadful in midfield in terms of linking with the attack.

DaleDaGooner

Xhaka said he can play CB….Bellerin MoTM…. scored with a left peg

GS88

Well done boys.

Possibly our best performance of the season, given the circumstances of being down to 10 men from the 26th minute. And being down a goal on two occasions.

Now let this be our turning point of the season, as we really need to start winning some games.

Marc

Cesc

I just don’t think Ozil’s got it anymore. He really stepped up the work rate for Arteta’s first few matches and then the last couple he’s dropping off more with each match.

We’ve either got to decide to play him every other / every third match or freeze him out of the squad.

Cesc Appeal

Yeah no more Aubameyang out wide.

Martinelli, Aubameyang, Pepe when everyone is available.

You cannot justify benching Martinelli for Lacazette.

G8

The sad reality is that Southampton has leapfrogged us!

HillWood

Magnificent effort from 9 man Arsenal

Marc

Pierre

You really struggle to give Martinelli credit don’t you?

He had a bit of luck with the Kante slip but to go on and finish was real quality.

Uwot?

Wel done boys.pride restored.Those chav bastards looked sick in particular azpilacueta or whatever the f** k he’s called.cant stand the c** t.love it.just love it.chavs 2nd goal had 3 players interfering with play.joke decision.if we had half the var decisions the thriving scousers get.wed be top four!

Dream10

Xhaka, Saka and Bellerin the three stars of tonight. Mustafi had a decent 2nd half after the 1st half car crash. Don’t think we would have got a point with 11 men. Great goal from Martinelli.

Saka can be first choice LB. Don’t think Tierney can defend at the level.

Guns of SF

Ozil is a waste
Slow, Ponderous, needs time and space galore.
taking him off was injecting the team with energy
No way, he is geared to play in this intensity at all.

The future was on show today. Great work from Saka and Gaby, everyone played with fire… I think the coach must have been shouting- “energy up , energy up!!!” during the last 15 mins… when we collapsed last time.

Pepe starting to show some determination… does the same move all the time and gets fouled a lot for it but doing better…

Marko

Cesc Fàbregas Soler
@cesc4official
·21m
And Francis Cagigao strikes again and again. Legend.

Love him

Habesha Gooner

Mistakes From arteta he needs to Fix
1) Move mustafi on. This should be his last game ever for a team that had the likes of sol Campbell as defender. what a disgrace
2) Ozil shouldn’t play away to any top team. He is a passenger in these games.
3) Stop persisting with poor players.
4) In game management has to develop a little.

Be ruthless he is our man. He just needs better players. If he can motivate some of these crappy players Imagone what he will do with competent ones.

Cesc Appeal

Marc He hasn’t had it for years. Said two years ago he’s semi-retired. Shocking that even his fans say ‘that wasn’t a game for Ozil’ or rest and play him missing out away games…well can we pay him half his (what would still be) ridiculous salary? Ozil doesn’t fit the modern game, the EPL is the best example of the modern game, this is the worst possible league for Ozil…there is no discussion around it. Arsenal are going nowhere with him as CAM. Our midfield looked better without a CAM at all playing literally with 10 men. I said at… Read more »

Cesc Appeal

Yeah, Cagigao better get a big bonus

Daniel Altos

Wow…that was some game….given the circumstances I think that was an excellent result…people ran themselves into the ground fighting for the cause….hope we can get that W soon.

Henry Root

So many stupid knee jerk reactions tonight on this board.
Arteta galvanised the team well. That was a terrific point. Martinelli and Saka were excellent in a very difficult situation for a young player.
Come on you Gunners !

Marc

Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole talking a lot of sense about Martinelli.

Marko

First teenager to score 10 goals since Anelka.

Dolomite

Some of you are so busy running personal agendas you cant see a top draw performance when it happens.

Credit Granit Xhaka.

However the players that have really bought into Artetas vision are clear for all to see

Saka
Martinelli
Bellerin.

I wont blame Mustafi(unnecesary panic) or Luis (irrelevant foul) but Ozil and Lacazette should be nowhere near this team. They’re still playing EmeryBall with Wenger attitudes