I started a Fat Chart in excel this year, where I’m looking fluctuations in weight against drinking and eating out… I have found a correlation, if you drink and eat out, you get fat. Game-changer. I can’t believe how easy it goes in these days, I literally have to starve myself to get back on track. Why is life so unfair?
Well, apparently it’s not unfair if you’re a mistake-ridden footballer under Saint Arteta. The Spaniard is more forgiving than Jesus himself, this time, he’s trying to bring Mustafi under his arm and rebirth his stale career.
“Yes he made a mistake, but it’s OK. I like more the reaction and I look more at the reaction.”
“I don’t believe that at 27 you cannot improve certain aspects of the game; I really believe you can,”
“I work with players like this and I have team-mates like this and there is always a moment where there is a click.
“I can accept a mistake, no problem. What I’m not going to accept is somebody makes a mistake and after he stops playing, and he doesn’t want the ball and doesn’t want to make decisions. That player is not acceptable for our team.”
I mean, we asked for a coach and that’s exactly what he’s bringing to the table, so we really shouldn’t moan. The point that he’s making is a fair one, we all gave massive praise to Xhaka for his performance when we went a goal down, but you’d be hard pushed and cruel to deny that Mustafi had a very strong game after the error. Also worth remembering we were burning Xhaka effigies in November now he’s seen as reliable.
My worry, as ever, is that we’ve been watching this episode of Mustafi on repeat for the last however many years and it’s tiring. That said, there’s a player there, he was great against Crystal Palace. His range of passing was solid and he gave us a great outlet, so if he can be coached back to World Cup winning levels, then I’m game for it.
One thing is for sure with Arteta, he doesn’t give a rats arse what we think as fans, and he’ll do as he pleases.
Another player who has been spending time in the Miki Confessional box is Nicolas Pepe. The £72m winger from Lille has had a very up and down season. He has an unorthodox approach to the game, it’s hit or miss, but there’s certainly no doubt there’s a real talent lying in wait. Nic had this to say of the godly work he’s doing behind the scenes.
“Things have been going positively so far, we’ve got some good results and have been playing good football,” the 24-year-old said. “There has certainly been some encouraging signs and we know that we do have quality and we have what it takes to do well on the pitch.
“Mikel Arteta has explained to me what he would like me to do on the pitch and he has shown me videos that have stressed the importance of my positioning. He has told me exactly what he would like me to do to help me progress as a player.
“We want to do well as an attacking force. We want to perform well on the pitch, score goals and get assists. As a team it doesn’t matter who’s getting the goals and who’s getting assists, but the important thing is we are playing well together and getting results.
“We support one another on the pitch and as an attacking player it’s always great to have someone like Mesut Ozil feeding passes into you so it’s enjoyable.”
I’m hoping we’re going to see some sort of Raheem Sterling project with some of our wide players. We simply don’t get enough end product out of our players in the final third. That needs to change as the team builds more stability from the back. One absolute basic I’d love Pepe to work on is his right foot. How you can make it to the top in football being one-footed in 2020 is a miracle. Also, note the comment about Mesut Ozil… the players like being around him.
One player who isn’t a rehab project is Gabriel. I liked these comments from Mikel about our superstar Brazilian.
“They said you’ll be surprised how prepared he is to compete with any other player in the squad. I always thought yeah ok but he’s 18. When you see in big games how he goes about everything it’s surprising.”
Big things expected of him for the backend of the season.
The Bournemouth game this evening will be interesting for us, it’s another chance to redeem an average result we had against them in Arteta’s first encounter. It’d be wonderful to progress further in a cup that has all the big boys still involved. The one thing we have to be sure to avoid is a replay. Spurs drew against Southampton and Liverpool slipped up against Shrewsbury… Klopp insisting he’ll not even manage the replay.
It’ll be interesting to see how we line up, we went all out against Leeds, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see the same again. Though I would imagine there will be an eye on a tough game this Sunday against a Burnley that appears to be slightly resurgent in the league (though they were beaten by Norwich in the cup at the weekend).
It’s a shame we’re likely too early for a Pablo Mari start, but maybe by the time I wake up, he’ll be confirmed as a signing. Was also sad to see Aaron Ramsey still benched for Juve… I’m not pining for an Arteta reunion, you are.
Before I go, some more sad news for the Arsenal blogosphere… Yogis Warrior from ACLF passed 3 weeks ago. I didn’t know him well, but he helped correct my Spanish to ‘Manos fuera Cesc’ back in 2011. I’ve always had huge admiration for his brilliant writing and his dedication to regular content for his community. He seemed like a top guy, our thoughts are with his family.
P.S. RIP Kobe. His career transcended sport. What a sad moment.
@Gazzap exactly!
Pepe’s role is not to get beyond defenders, his role is to cut inside. And hug the touchline. Martinelli role is cut inside and run beyond defenders while saka provides the width on that side. Open your eyes people
Willock surprises me. He is fast and energetic. Ozil and Ceballos must be worrying.
I must admit that Mikel is very cute… omg I may be about to make my coming out!!
Good first half from Mustardi.
Never thought I would written that one day.
I fear the worst for the second half.
Nelson
I think every fan in the premier league would want the most productive and frightening RW in their team right now
Mustafi doing a good impression of Beckenbauer tonight.
Guendouzi doing an excellent job in the middle .
Saka and Martinelli linking well as are Nketiah and Willock.
Eddie plays the striker role different to Lacazette.
He doesnt get involved in the physical battles , with Eddie it’s all about finding space and he does it very well.
Very composed on the ball , he drops off the defender and holds the play up well.
Rio going to bat for Arteta, waxing lyrical about how what we saw first half was all training ground stuff, hailing the “Arteta effect”.
Sanmi – agreed to a point. But for 72m you don’t get a to feet player, got to keep players guessing by going both ways. Pep would get him going in behind. Villa and Pedro we’re making cut in runs all day for peak Barca
Like I wrote before, Pablo Mari is trying to force the deal through. He has gone on strike at Flamengo, refusing to report for pre-season.
Flamengo bit more than they can chew.
Am I the only one who I seeing how opposition players are doubling up on pepe? The way he skinned 3 Bournemouth players for his chance makes me think if we are going to create enough space for him he will be our dangerous weapon. He needs to improve the speed at which he takes decisions though. he seems to hold on to the ball longer when he should pass or run at the defender quickly. I still believe there is a player there.
Duifg
Pep amazingly has same instructions for Mahrez and Sane. Dont run behind, take the ball on your feet and drive at the defender. Its Sterling’s job to run beyond and play as second striker.
Keep the game away from our defensive 3rd , have to keep pushing up to keep Bournemouth away from our box .
If we drop deep we will invite pressure.
Ozil and Ceballos must be worrying.
—————-
Sadly Ozil ain’t worried, he’s gonna ride out that disgusting contract to the bitter end.
Most important thing is that Willock continues his fine form from the first half and will start to keep Ozil out of the team.
CC
You beat me to it. I think this was a really honest assessment from Rio.
Overall what we saw was effectively this. Still a lot of shit to iron out but we are getting there.
Let’s score that 3rd to kill the game off.
Pepe is basically an individual player right now, he needs to learn and integrate into a team set up. Arteta will teach him when to make the runs, when to contain. I’m still very much team Pepe. He’s 24 too
Dissenter
Saw that. Player has asked for transfer apparently and it’s put the transfer back ‘on’. See how it develops.
The reason pepe is not allowed to run beyond , is so that gap between him and Bellerin isn’t that much because bellerin isn’t allowed to overlap, he is to play as part of 2 man DM when we attack
Sanmi true but does not mean those 2 are static when the opportunity presents to go in behind. It hasn’t got to be his bread and butter but I want more cleverness with that run. He needs to get back post ‘late arrival more when the play is other side and we are countering
Dissenter
He probably has a chance to quadruple his salary and return to Europe. Worst comes to worse, he gets a move to La Liga/Serie A from Arsenal. Good for him
The team will get better then we will go to more complicated play
Dissenter, CC
Interesting twist to the Mari story. This could work in our favour (unbelievably enough). I don’t think Edu would have flown down there for nothing unless there was a reason for it.
RIP to Yogi, so sad to the news of his demise. Really missed his blogs.
He stepped on Martinelli.
Glad to see Pat Rice in good health.
I don’t get this Mari story, surely loan or perm was the first thing discussed. You wouldn’t get edu going over there if such a basic point was still up in the air
Sunni
Agree
That’s why minimum games next season is best
No Europe.
Guen will get a card soon.
Looks like Bournemouth have decide to turn this into a scrap… since they can’t hang with us playing football. Fouls galore. Cooler heads then Matty G. need to prevail, though.
Guen is a fair slime ball- either on the floor or fouling, hate to play against him
We’ve taken our foot of the gas.
Don’t like it when we do this.
Mustafi is not shy of contact in this game.
Mustafi ain’t injured
Only done it so he don’t get sold this window.
Sometimes a player injured gives you some joy…
Mustafi has hurt his ribs?
Another blow at CB, Mari deal looks more necessary with each day.
Can’t keep the lot at the back fit for any length.
Poor goalkeeping from Martinez. That injury is on him
Thanks Emi, now we are stuck with Mustafi. Won’t be able to sell someone nobody wants when they are broken.
CC
don’t worry. We have Xhaka as supreme backup. 🙂
Guen and Xhaka becoming liabilities now.
Mustafi isn’t my favourite player but I never wish him harm. I hope he recovers soon. Looked bad. That fella from flamengo could be flying back !!
Really bad fall on his foot by Mustafi. That looks like it would have hurt. Let’s hope it’s not to bad. As clanger filled as he is, he somehow does the job.
“As clanger filled as he is, he somehow does the job.”
You have been Artetized.
Can’t we just chop him up and sell him as parts?
Might be more valuable.
What’s Martinez doing?
Pie AFC
We’ve taken our foot of the gas.
Don’t like it when we do this.
Me neither. And we are allowing Bournemouth back in the game.
We should’ve been going for that 3rd goal.
ffs Ceballos coming on
Lol Ceballos isn’t back in madrid yet ??
Willock has been quite second half. Nketiah too.
Pepe was the worse player from our team. Didn’t do anything at all.
Definitely a shirt grab on Willock is that not Var reviewable in the box? guess not.
They’re bringing Callum Wilson on.
The type of player who’ll trouble Holding if he gets isolated wide
Midwest Gun
That’s a stonewall penalty by the way
Pepe £72m let that sink in.
Dream.. I thought so too… Guess Willock should have fallen down on the ground and done some play acting.
I love how Guendouzi doesn’t give a shit when other fans are booing him. Easy to dislike by other fans but I love him.
Lemar 92 m
Dembele 115m
Let them both float soon.
Heb
Some players use it as motivation…
Seems he does N all
That Mustafi injury looks bad. Hopefully it’s not awful news for him. Injuries suck.
Simon Francis on. Time to stat pad for our forwards.
HL
Well Mustafi’s injury, if mid or long term, should definitively give the excuse to look for a proper first team CB.
I just hope the club gets it right cos we really do seem to have our own fucked up way of doing our transfers.
“I love how Guendouzi doesn’t give a shit when other fans are booing him”
Well… that’s how most of the players generally behave.
Mature second half performance. Not as aggressive, but hitting on the break.
No need to exert too much energy.
Seeing the still images of Mustafi’s landing and it doesn’t look great. Can often look worse than it is but a lot of stress on the Achilles it would appear.
I thought Xhaka will give away a penalty.
@DB10 : yeah that’s too bad, just when he was recovering some confidence.
(Can’t decide if I add a “lol” or not…)
This game has gotten scrappy as fuck.. game flow non existent.
Holding just gave the ball away. Is he blind?
@CC : never a good thing when one of your best players is out.
Guendouzi man of the match tonight.
Good pass from Ceballos.
Nketiah hasn’t impressed tonight for me, very passive, looks to have a nose for goal and not much else to him.
Ceballos just shows off. Impressive!
Holding forgot how to pass a ball
Whats the point in bringing AMN in at this moment of the game ??
Lol the Xhaka stupid card, he can’t help himself.
HL
Let me help you
lol
(That second half was dull as dishwater… And another 8 minutea to bear… aaarggh)
Thank god they didn’t score earlier. Lol
Good shot from Guen!
And there is our typical late game leak, right on cue.
Last 5 mins
Wtf was that? defensive lapses is our new normal. Was going to say good performance all around before that.
lolz
Can’t keep a clean sheet. And another 5 mins to go…..
Here we go….
Again.
I’m sorry but…. 8 minutes of added time ?? WTF ??
Easing off second half ,why?
Panic stations as usual.
Got to develop the appetite for more goals and really hammering home advantages.
Should never be a 1-goal game this.
Silly to concede late on and play for a clean sheet.
But this VAR is stupid.
Rob Holding asleep again.
Same old arsenal
Always cheating…
Sir Alex Ferguson is back in the job ??
Please no replays…
Years gone by we’d normally go for more and be shit at the back.
Suppose it’s trying to find that happy medium.
Not had a settled defence for ages this season or all season. I’m sure it will come soon enough. So many pairings at the back.
Surridge….
Add a T, and you got Sturridge. You’re welcome.
Not a lot else to Nketiah’s game other than scoring. Needs to do a lot better to make it here.
Martinez don’t know what he’s doing.
How many damn mins are they going to add to the minutes already added. Fergie time?
No replay.
Qualified.
Amen to that.
No replay.
Argh thank God for no replays
Ok then… anyhow though Saka was motm for me… Sweet goal and was everywhere. But Matty G and Willock and Marti played well. Need to start stringing some wins together in the League though take the pressure off.
Might see a CB incoming now. Holding looked lost when he came on.
Conceptually VAR is fantastic, in actual use its fucking atrocious.