via my whatsapp group
Seeing where Areta wanted to take Arsenal from an artistic point of view has been clear since the first game, we understand the patterns, the organisation, and the vision. What we didn’t know is whether classroom theory could be implemented with the sort of leadership that takes teams to the top… that changed last night against Chelsea, arguably, the most impressive moment of our fresh-faced Spaniard’s 7 game career.
You could critique the selection of Mustafi in a horrendously under-gunned defence, but the simple reality was 1) he’s all we had 2) he played very well at the weekend. Outside that, the team was all-out action, no conservatism, we went to Stamford Bridge to win. My Chelsea pal even text me to say he was scared.
We were largely bossed for the opening 25 minutes, Chelsea took advantage of our captain who was fresh into the squad after a year out, and a left-back that’s actually winger, we really struggled in wide areas. We didn’t deal well with the press, but it kind of felt like the Leeds game… until #MustafiTime. The German World Cup winner fluffed a simple pass to Leno, Abrahams picked up the mess, David Luiz slid in and crunched him to the floor — penalty and red card.
Jorginho finished. This was the first game rehashed. It was despair for me, more wretched luck for Arteta, there was no way this team was recovering.
What a pathetic waste of a man I was to believe in that notion. If I were a handshake, I’d be damp and limp.
Arsenal recalibrated without making a single sub. Granit Xhaka dropped into central defence, calmed the troops and played like peak Baresi. We changed the dynamic of the game, Chelsea’s levels dropped and we took over the tempo. We actually ended the first half with more possession than Chelsea.
The second half saw Arsenal come out with more aggression, you felt something in the air, we weren’t going down without a fight. Our passing in the final third was absolutely atrocious, that might have been because we didn’t really have an outlet, but it could also have been a continuation of our drab attacking form this season.
The final ball didn’t matter, Mustafi released Gabriel on the counter, the Brazilian broke free of everyone from inside his own half, he carried the ball into Chelsea’s area and slotted home like AN ABSOLUTE HERO WHAT A GOAL FUCK YES I LOVE YOU GABRIEL!
We had some great moments after, we looked far more dangerous despite ceding possession stats to the blues… but we let it slip, we fell asleep from a freekick and let Frank Lampard’s team in on 84 when Azpilicueta nipped in front of Mustafi and slotted in at the near post.
Tragedy, I began to wish I had the guts to slit my wrists with the bic biro I had in my hands…
Arsenal saved me from my attention-seeking ploy, a year after Bellerin picked up an ACL injury he took control of the ball on the edge of Chelsea’s area, he made a yard and placed a perfect left-footed strike into the bottom corner… OMEGYBOJKN CASDK . KNKOVFENLK VE VEIRN TYESESSSSSS I LOIVE YOUR VEGAN LOINS!@
The game closed out 2-2, QUITE POSSIBLY THE GREATEST 1 POINT OF MY DAMN LIFE.
So, to ground things.
What we learnt tonight is the Mikel Arteta is the real deal. He’s more than classroom theory, he’s a leader that players go to war for. That Arsenal team was not built to deal with a red card to David Luiz. It was not supposed to come back from a goal down twice with Granit Xhaka in defence. This was supposed to be a loss. Arteta showed that he is a captain, and he made the case that with better players, he can take us forward to the promised land.
Man of the match for me was Granit Xhaka. I have done a total 180 on him and I’m not even ashamed. I wanted him out, I’d have taken a stale kipper and a pair of your ma’s soiled panties in exchange for him. What the fuck do I know? Arteta has turned him around. He was brilliant. He played well under pressure, he led like a demon, and he showed true balls under extreme pressure. Unreal performance.
Hector Bellerin came back into the mix as captain in a game I suspect came too early for him. He looked off the pace in the first half, but he grew into a captains performance as the game went on. He never gave up, he constantly bombed forward, and he turned up with a superb goal at the end. I am so happy to have him back in the side playing under a proper coach.
Saka recovered well, making the most tackles with 5. The kid is going to be such an incredible player. Left back, left wing… it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t drop, he never stops, and he is a handful going forward. I love him. I am so happy he’s going to get the education he deserves. What a night for him, he never stopped fighting.
Lucas Torreira had a good game. Lacazette, though not the outlet we needed made a lot of recoveries from the front… and say it quietly, but Mustafi hit some numbers making the most clearances (9), blocks (3), and headed clearances (6).
GABRIEL I LOVE YOU. That kid is a superstar. The only bit of doom that came out of that game is the biting reality that this kid is our £150m player of the future every major club in the world is going to want. He’s always excited me like Anelka did when he first joined, he’s electric, a little bit of Robin’s flair, a bit of Anelka’s pace, and the work rate of Adebayor. He’s a gladiator on the pitch. That finish was absolutely outrageous, HE IS A TEENAGER, the composure was disgusting. He’s the first sub-20 player to reach 10 goals for Arsenal since… Anelka. BEAST.
I could go on with the individual performances, but for me, this was all about the TEAM. We have lacked a collective being for over 15 years. We now have a team. The players want to fight, they want to show the fans they are here to play, and they look ELECTRIC. We were more than the sum of our parts last night, quite literally, 10 versus 11.
I wrote this before the game from Phil Knight.
‘No matter the sport— no matter the human endeavour, really— total effort will win people’s hearts’
Did the away fans stop singing at any point during the game? No. They were our 12th man. Why? Because the players left it all on the pitch. Fans react to that, it’s as simple as that. So fuck all the ‘expectations’ merchants, all we wanted was something to believe in, and that’s what Arteta is bringing to the table.
Do we need to start winning some games? Yes. I think it’ll still be a rough end to the season, but I hope that the manager now gets a little bit of slack from the vampires. He’ll need a big summer, he’ll need to be allowed to assess who is right and who is wrong for the future, but at least we know that when the Arteta squad is built, he’ll be able to drive it forward.
Last night felt good, I feel invested in my team again, I felt sick at the sending off, I was up and down all game, I needed a nap by the end of it. That’s what football is all about. I’d forgotten what it feels like to be invested.
I am excited again… and that’s all you want as a fan.
Right, listen to the pod I recorded with Alex and give it a 5* rating (there’s a bit missing that I’ll add tomorrow).
Barcelona are up to the limit under ffp.
Unfortunately Laca has dried up which leaves us short.
Thank goodness arsenal are not signing Bruno Guimares, he’s the new felipe melo(n)
Melo was good prior to the kung fu kick in the world cup… he went downhill after wards
Arsenal need exceptional players good is what got us where we are, the bruno guy can barely run with the ball mostly relies on long passes would be useless playing compact teams
Im telling you for free!
I thought it was De Jong with the World Cup kung fu kick? Into Xabi Alonso’s chest? Melo did the same thing?
Yea I think it was DeJong sorry
But Melo has done his share too. I think Im remember this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iku7y4crIbo
Or this in the world cup… a stamp not kung fu kick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORPFkBSYCSE
Clearly Melo should have gotten into MMA instead…
Jesus, that’s ridiculous!
Jamie and guns of sf
‘ Jesus, that’s ridiculous!’
It’s seems that way for a couple of soy boy pussies.
Obviously never played grassroots football and the all the rough and tumble that comes with it.
”And Ozil pulling out to the side and giving you some problems and I think we ended up being in a kind of middle ground. So I was pleased for half-time .”
That manager is as clueless as Ozils fanboy.
Im not mentioning names!
Go Wolves Go!
Some posters on here like to harp back to the days when winning titles and trophies was, whatever way you look at things, a wee bit easier. Mid to late nineties, upto the late noughties, it was basically down to MU, ourselves and the new kids on the block, Chelski, as to who would win things. The onset of major owner investment along with commercial and TV revenue enabled the other teams in the EPL to compete when it came to resources/infrastructure and purchasing better quality players. Those folk on here who yearn for those halcyon days seem to forget… Read more »
Un I’ve tried my best to educate them about the different subtleties of the game and to be fair, Lego was trying as well. I Have a feeling we are fighting a losing battle but that won’t stop me trying to get my point across. This from the athletic is interesting “Arsenal’s former director of high performance, Darren Burgess has talked up Mesut Ozil’s physicality (via The Athletic). It’s the most common way to criticise Mesut Ozil by pointing towards his lack of physicality moving around the pitch. The former Germany international’s body language and expression-less demeanour is an easy… Read more »
Pierre
Didn’t you slag Ozil off the other night?
Damn. Already 1 – 0
The Pool is scoring even with the shoulder.
Man Liverpool are relentless
Most interesting challenge for Arteta this summer is what he does at Center Back. Let’s compare with Liverpool as they are the gold standard right now. At CB, they have one truly world-class player in Van Dijk (28 yrs old). His primary partner is the young, talented Englishman Joe Gomez (22 years old). Then they have two serviceable back-ups in the improved Lovren (30 yrs old) and skillful but injury-prone Joel Matip (28 years old). Finally they have two young prospects as deep cover in 17 year old Ki-Jana Hoever and 18 year old Sepp Van Den Berg. All told,… Read more »
Nelson
“The Pool is scoring even with the shoulder.”
Yeah not even a clean header that one.
Great corner routine.
Cleverly worked to negate Van Dijk.
Should have been an equalizer.
Wolves to end liverfools unbeaten run
You heard it here 1st
Chuckle over thinking back to all we need under emery to come good was bellers and it back. Feels like a different world
Kt
The Ox is very quiet in this match so far.
The Pool’s front three pass the ball very well. They can create good scoring positions. Our front three mainly try to shoot when they have the ball.
Let’s see what the JAP can do.
Not sure what the problem with Mane is there. Just looked shagged to begin with then after the attempted Salah backheel.
Ahh Lego Shit for Brains Head rears up again with some nonsense. Son, get a life please. Go do your homework or something else besides trying to beat your chest on here. There are many things you can do besides stalk posters and quote them over and over and basically talk shit because you need a little attention. Scared of a little soy eh? LOL Or do you need REAL MILK like a REAL MAN? LOL I get the feeling you actually might like a little soy. Get a life … “mr rough and tumble”….”mr no soy milk” “mr American… Read more »
Lol of course…
Imagine if VVD breaks a rib….
If wolves are to score, the manager needs to tell his strikers to make a near post run across the liverpool defender when the ball comes in the box.
Giuns of DF
You’re better off ignoring him.
Sometimes you don’t dignify stupidity with a reasoned remark
Un nai I know fella. Evidently Sf consumes a fair bit he comes out flapping his fanny at the slightest sign of injustice. Bet he’s a feminist too. Sf You were showing videos and commenting how horrified you were over a ‘stamp’. Take a look in the mirror pussy boy if that offends you. I’m merely pointing out that down the English pyramid it’s gets very rough but that’s enough for you start to crying. Don’t hate me cos you havent experienced it and don’t understand it. Must be the soy playing with your hormones. You haven’t played grassroots or… Read more »
Dissenters had so much soy he’s now got tits.
Marc
“Didn’t you slag Ozil off the other night?”
Constructive criticism.
What I said is that I wasn’t fooled by the media and fans eulogising over his performance v United because he ran about a bit.
I said he was nothing special , just Ozil being Ozil, exactly the same as the chelsea game , Ozil going Ozil , doing what the game needs.
I also said that in the coming weeks he needs to create more to keep his place in the side, if not then Arteta may or may not have a decision to make .
Carrassco to Palace on loan
Poor play from Traore.
It would be a surprise if Salah doesn’t get on the scoresheet tonight
Here it started. Another goal from the Wolves please!!!!!
Love Jimenez
What a goal
That’s better from Traore.
Raul Jiminez good striker.
Would have him at Arsenal
There you go , the near post header .
If Auba wants out, then sell.
Got to 60m tho.
If Liverpool will lose a game this season then it will probably be this one.
Wolves are a very resilient team, can’t believe most people here turned up their noses at Nuno.
I wonder when Liverpool actually lose for the first time what they will react like?
Jimeniz initially committed Liverpool players as well.
Liverpool were suckered though.
Pretty open there
Ish
Still had alot to do with the header, brilliantly directed.
Not inside the box. Should it be a red?
Liverpool big problems on their left now with Traore on the rampage
Thats Robertson first booking this season bloody hell!
Samesong
“Still had alot to do with the header, brilliantly directed.”
Yeah he’s good.
A classic style CF No.9
Traore has so much confidence with the ball.
“Carrassco to Palace on loan“
Zaha to Chelsea?
Neto could be worth a sniff, he’s a gooner too. Budget Bernardo Silva
Damn. The Pool GK uses the head to stop the shot.
Wolves have a chance to do them over here
“Carrassco to Palace on loan“
Wasn’t it his wages that was a stumbling block last year?
Not to say Arteta isn’t a decent manager but funny how Legrovers scoffed at the chance of signing Nuno. Eat that pie
The Ox unsurprisingly taken off.
He’s contributed there at times but it looks like he lacks confidence in thinking of himself as a big player.
A luxury to have Fabinho come off the bench
CC
Neto looks decent
Ozil had the least amount of touches.. of anyone in the last match… So basically did nothing.. Sure he complete d30 out of 30 passes… but only 1 was anything effective.. A cross. 100% of nothing is still nothing. Hence why he was rated by Whoscored.com as our worst player besides Luiz of course. We are paying him as the 10th best player in the world.. he isn’t even the best player on our team.. I would take him completing 75% of his passes if he actually took some risks in the final 3rd.. But he disappeared. as evidenced by… Read more »
Un nai
😂
Wolves final pass letting them down they could be 2-1 up. they may live to regret that.
Touches last match…
Bellerin- 67
Mustafi- 73
Saka – 81
Xhaka- 65
LT – 49
Pepe – 42
Martinelli – 39
Laca – 44
Ozil 34.
So this idea he somehow influenced the match and did what was right for the team is bogus.
Wolves are dogshit in defence, dogshit.
Lucky Pool!
The Pool have just got it.
They winners
Midwest
‘ Sure he complete d30 out of 30 passes… but only 1 was anything effective.. A cross. 100% of nothing is still nothing.’
Don’t think you’re quite getting it pal. 100% of 30 is 100%. You might have a point if he didn’t make a pass.
No one is saying he had a good game but to dismiss the fact he didn’t give the ball away, when we needed to keep the pressure off, is sheer ignorance of the situation we were in.
Classic.
They’ve done absolutely fuck all this half.
Feel for Wolves.
Firmino is like an assassin in that play
Wheres Sid for a loan???
Fucking Liverpool cunts. Wolves should have been 3 or 4 up as well ffs.
Pierre
But you were critical of him – I’ll admit I was surprised didn’t think you had it in you.
Cesc Appeal
“Classic.They’ve done absolutely fuck all this half.Feel for Wolves.”
Wolves were beginning to lull in the match though.
Wolves were lively before their goal and for around 10 minutes after but were slowing down.
MidWest ‘Arteta will have a decision to make this summer regarding the midfield and I hope he makes the right ones. I’m putting my faith in him he can.’ Absolutely. A massive issue for us. If we don’t make significant improvements in midfield then we might as well not bother. There’s a low ceiling for what we can achieve no matter how good Arteta might be. With regards to Ozil, he’s going to be here next year not because he says so but more because every other team on earth says so. But that cannot be a reason Arteta plays… Read more »
Lego-
Your not my pal.
. I get it .. your pulling a stat out of the air to try and justify something that didn’t mean much. If anything You keep the pressure off by counterattacking and dribbing . Which is what we did the second half.
I actually expect Ozil to be here next year.. due to his contract size. I just hope he isn’t our first option.
Midwest
” If anything You keep the pressure off by counterattacking and dribbing . Which is what we did the second half”
It was sit deep and counter attack.
Where this keeping the ball stuff is coming from god knows.
Ffs wolves should have scored that!
The man is on record just a few days ago saying he loves his contract, I mean who wouldn’t
Problem is some mistake that love for his contract as love for his club, while others defend his nothingness because they think criticising him for starting is criticizing Arteta for picking him, they can’t have that.
Arsenal should be looking to work a deal with Barca that sees them give us Coutinho for Auba. Not sure of his arrangement with Bayern but fuck them.
Midwest
‘ Your not my pal’
That’s what a copper says to you when he’s being a cunt. The same applies to you here.
Yank cunt it is then.
What a fucked up season – 4 points between 5th place and 14th!
Bloody Firmino
https://images.app.goo.gl/pupkeAjN5nBmjJqT7
Lego-
Maybe.. I am I cunt.. But I’m not the cunt who has been binned off this site about 20 times only to come back and be the same cunt with a different name.
But do carry on.. maybe you will make it more then a few weeks this time.
Bids coming in for Balogun.
Should not entertain them at all.
Arsenal should be looking to work a deal with Barca that sees them give us Coutinho for Auba.
_____________
I do like Coutinho. Wouldn’t be upset with that.. Does seem like Auba is looking to move. Would rather keep him then Laca but sometimes it’s up to the players and whether they buy into the new manager. I do think Laca will regain some form at some point as well. I hope.
Barthelona as Guillem Balagué pronounces it, reportedly interested in Eriksen
Mid
Auba is at that crossroads, we sell or tie him to a new 250k contract. He’s turning 31, I just think we need to be moving away from that kind of retention late end of careers in the immediate term. Laca has another couple of seasons before we can bin him in that same career window, unless someone cares to push for him.
Coutinho is a glorious footballer, and we missed out big time this past summer not getting him.
The great Nigel Pearson knocked out by Tranmare. Winner
Man United should cash in on De Gea in the summer.
They have a very able replacement in Dean Henderson who has done very well at Sheffield United this season
Coutinho is a glorious footballer, and we missed out big time this past summer not getting him.
____
Yep… I like that he is Brazilian so would fit in with Marti.. and Edu surely would know what he could bring.. And I like that he brings goals as well as assists from the AM position. Also, knows the PL. Saying all that it makes too much sense for us. So that rarely happens. Last transfer like that was Sanchez where I thought… this makes sense.
Coutinho is currently on loan at the biggest club in Germany and playing Champions League.
So rather than a case of Arsenal “failing” to get Coutinho it looks like just a case that he is out of reach for Arsenal at the present time.
Ish-
Yeah but I was just reading Bayern aren’t going to purchase him.. so might be available this summer. Although the same article said Chelsea was first in line.
Palace getting Carrassco on loan a year after we failed to get him is the most Arsenal thing you’ll hear today.
Lego, go put your Batman outfit on and go to your bedroom. You can play the big man on your own.
Marko
“Palace getting Carrassco on loan a year after we failed to get him is the most Arsenal thing you’ll hear today.”
Not that big or illustrious club for him to go and play for is it Crystal Palace.
At this point his career is nose diving.
From Atletico Madrid via China to the Shit Hawks.
I’d take Dembele and either Semedo or Firpo on loan for Auba. But we’d still be taking a massive risk having Lacazette as number one. He’s beyond struggling this season.