Late post today, things are a touch quiet in the world of elite-level soccerball.
The theme we’re going to touch on is the chase for a higher league position.
The Premier League gods were kind to us today, after treating us very shabbily over the past month with injuries and some horrendous luck, they opened the gates of the Top 4 to us once more.
Manchester United drew against Wolves.
Chelsea drew against Leicester.
Spurs have to play a wounded City tomorrow with a side in such bad shape, they tried to loan Olivier Giroud.
This season for me is still very much a write-off, but I doubt it will be for Mikel who seems to be very aggressive with his timeline. He wants to win a cup this year and he wants us to challenge the top 4 this season.
The Burnley game presents itself as an opportunity to see what we’re made of when chances are presented to us. 3 points takes us to 9th. Assuming Spurs lose, that’d have us 1 point behind Jose Mourinho’s sinking ship. 2 behind OGS. 8 behind Chelsea.
Making top 4 is a massive stretch goal regardless of how inconsistent Chelsea have been. We’d be expecting Arsenal to turn a huge corner inside a month and have consistency of results, something this squad hasn’t managed since the 22 game unbeaten run in 2018.
Stranger things have happened though. We are defensively far better than we’ve been in years, there are sputtering signs that the team is responding to the attacking demands Arteta is placing on them, and we’ve added a bit more depth to the squad that could help reshape how we play by opening up other areas of the pitch.
Also worth noting that Chelsea plays United, Spurs, Everton and Bournemouth in their next 4 games. Only one banker there. United, amirite?
Unai Bummery has been reimagining his tenure at Arsenal.
“The process was good. When we played possession, we did it; when we had to press, we did it. And we were competitive, playing as the game required. With moments of possession game and moments of three quick touches.
“This second year, we have not played well; we have not defended well; We have not been competitive; We did not transmit. And I told the players myself. There were several problems: four captains; the Ozil-Kolasinac case; Pepe’s signing, which needs time to be that of France. We didn’t play well, that’s for sure.
“That brought us bad results, there was no improvement, the fans focused on me and they threw me out.”
The process wasn’t good. Let’s clear that up right away. Players found the video analysis dull, no one knew what they were doing, and no one could be bothered with pressing. Then let’s land on the last bit, there was no improvement in the first season, statistically we regressed everywhere on the pitch, then the fans turned in the second season when their continued to be no improvement. What a joker. We didn’t run him out of the club, his shocking tenure did that all by itself.
There’s another piece where he basically says Arteta is doing the same thing as him. True, similar setup, similar starting line-up… the difference is Arteta leads, communicates and implements strategies on a different level.
Mesut Ozil sums is up nicely.
“He’s doing a good job. He’s hungry for success. Everything about him is positive.
“Arteta’s story is a bit different because I don’t remember when he quit football, but it hasn’t been over that long. In this way, players can understand more easily.”
Connection. It’s so important. Emery didn’t have that with the players. That’s one of the ingredients in the special sauce. Still baffles me that there was an actual debate about that for so long, but here we are, half the internet still thinks Pep Guardiola is a fraud because he hasn’t won a Champions League with Preston.
Staying on Ozil, we apparently turned down a bid from Qatar for the player. Rumour has it the player and the coach were interested in the deal. I’m struggling to fathom that. We have very few players that can move that ball through the line, so the idea we’d stifle our attack at the last minute seems a bit absurd for me. Ozil is important to the manager, hopefully we see a return on that faith with some assists and goals over the next 3 months.
Read some sad news that Jack Wilshere is broken once again. He really has had the roughest of 10 years. I mean, not by normal human standards of disability, but I feel for the guy regardless. Could have been a generational talent if he’d stayed fit. That Barca game he dominated was one of the most special performances I’ve ever seen from a teenager.
Anyway, I hope everyone in the UK is having a banger of a Brexit party this evening, let’s hope the Tories make it easier for us to sign players from South America in this new era. Next Messi needs to be at The Arsenal.
Right, see you in the comments. x
Very poor team. Needs an overhaul.
As for the selections I don’t think Arteta has much choice there to be honest.
Have to laugh at all the praise Gwendolyn got after Bournemouth, a team that tanked the whole match and woke up a bit towards the end.
He did nothing in that game either. Exactly the same as today.
Burnley players look disappointed
Our Lot look pleased with the point.
Useless, clueless, potless and trophy less.
(Team selection was an utter scandal.)
T.H
Its a combination of dog shit players and poor game management.
Can’t really see the attacking sauce yet, no combinations, no patterns nothing inventive.
Absolutely shocking, and Arteta needs to take some of the blame. Persevering with Lacazette, when it’s clear to everyone he’s shit. Switching Martinelli on to the other wing, persevering with Ozil,playing Guen. Sorry Arteta. You need to learn fast son.
Midfield is a big problem.
Ozil, Xhaka and Guendouzi. Is so unbalanced it’s a joke.
None of them knit in with our forwards, and they cannot assist in scoring.
What is Arteta going to do?
So far nothing
Say what you will, but this is our worst league total points in the EPL, not even Wenger era with all the embarrassing loses wasn’t this disheartening. The club just seems badly run. All these players can’t even put in a creative shift. So bereft of creativity.
*sigh* Another draw.. keeps the pressure on. Until some of the senior members of the team move on… can’t see us improving much. Hopefully next season but with our budget. I don’t know. Depressing.
How many Prem wins has Arteta had?
Well a draw is not the end of the world is it away from home and Burnley are a half decent competent side but has to be said that overall team performance today was as bland and dull from Arsenal as seen from anything under Emery.
I must admit that Handsome Mikel nose best how to not lose a game!!
This performance was a throw back to the Dark days of emery.if Arteta is special sauce he surely didnt show it today.
We ain’t moving an inch with the slowtards in our team.
Pls pls pls ship out ozil and xhaka.
Arteta 3/10. David Luiz probably our best player at 6/10. Abauzette 1/10.
Shit team selection. Ambitionless. When you know Lacazette cannot score to save his life you bench him. Period! Be brave play Martinelli through the middle but no continues to play Lacazette and waste Auba and Martinelli on the wings. We are dropping into relegation zone soon enough. Draws are not wins and neither are they progress. Should’ve signed a box to box beast of a CM but no bought an injured RB to do what exactly. Pathetic club! It just never ends this fucking circus! Vomit inducing!
Maybe we can define Arteta-ball from next season.
Atm it is hard to see what it actually is.
Poor second half. Saka going off, injured was a massive factor to the system. If it was meant to be tactical – awful decision by Arteta and Round.
Disjointed, slow and tepid second half. Lacked any pace and aggression.
But years gone by, luck or shit performance we would have lost.
It will come together. Some players need to be dropped now.
What a wasted evening. Though the defense played well, along with a make shift LB. Got lucky but we need that sometimes Arteta and his in game management sauce is useless. Most of the time he looks clueless on the touchline. A game we should have won but he clearly has his favourites, like eddie, laca and ozil. Should have given game time to dani and pepe and tried to get them match fit so we don’t have headless chickens running around. I don’t care if dani ceballos is going back to Spain at the end of the season, he’s… Read more »
Where was the spirit we showed against Chelsea???
that team – we had a lot of youth in it!
Dont persist with Ozil anymore,
Start Torr,
Drop Guen
Give Eddie more mins!
drop Laca!
its plain to see……. this late subs is just humiliating… shows a lack of in game management…. need a team to start that has energy and better attacking !!!
Now let’s wait for the classic Pedro’s excuse for his loved one…
Our lowest ever total at this point of a campaign.
This all stems from keeping Emery past a shocking EL final, when every man and their dog could see Emery was done.
I feel for Arteta, he should have been hired earlier, when the team wasn’t at its lowest point in ages.
That was an incredibly naive performance. Burnley weren’t that rough, we couldn’t finish or flow the ball properly on counters that involved guen.
Laca did Jack shit.
Arteta seriously needed to change it up on 70 mins, not 86.
Very disappointing.
The only player that changed the game in our favour was Willock when he came on for ozil
Midfielders that can’t move the ball upfield….what a horseshit midfield.
LOL someone thinks we got lucky tonight. watching the wrong game kid
Apart from more underlying factors, specific errors today
– persisting with a rotten laca who looks completely shot, thereby playing Martinelli and laca out of position.
-granit guen midfield which has never delivered.
– keeping guen and laca on when stinking up the place.
– no Pepe or Ceballos when the initial shape wasn’t working
Please keep it simple, torr is a lock for Dm, breaks up and keeps our possession sharp. Pepe is frustrating but the balance is better with him there.
Losing Saka showed he is KEY to our offensive production
Willock coming on didn’t change shit.
Arteta has to be more ruthless- you cannot keep starting a forward that hasn’t scored away from home in 12 months
Ishola
Arteta ball is basically just like later Wenger years, squeeze in all your favourites and just sit wringing your hand hoping for a result.
@Un dos tres : I thought you had decided to ignore me ??
Djokehead….
Arteta has consistently shown a few key weaknesses he has 1) team selection – players are getting picked in spite of shit form. Ozil and laca have done so little this season and are still straight in the team. 2) in game management – these 87 min token subs are a completely pointless exercise in futility. We’re chasing the game but he’s so passive with his subs you’d think we were defending a lead. 3) I don’t think he knows how to set this team up offensively. He’s getting results out of the defense but strategically our offense is really… Read more »
Highbury
you really are sick . seek help
@Gonsterous : agree, but where is the Zip Coat ??
Laca need to go.
I think Arteta is trying to much – like Freddie to keep the seniors happy.
Its not working… so so much for the “clean slate” he spoke about when starting at Arsenal.
Some player need time- Eddie, Torr, Willock, Saka,
Ozil, Laca, Guen need to sit… they are not performing.
Gonsteorus
Bit over the top there eh?
Poor second half. Both had chances either end. They finished strongly.
Game of two halves.
Alan shearer saying it as it is “I keep on hearing things have improved for arsenal this season but have they really?Only Watford and Norwich have won fewer games than Arsenal this season.”
Ffs let’s not start this arteta out nonsense, he had a bad game today but what do you want, a proven winning dinasour like Mourinho, we are in the boat now, got to see if arteta can improve us
Emery never dished up this kind of turgidity.
Poor finishing stopped Burnley racking up a cricket score.
One shot every 50 minutes under Arteta
One shot every 20 minutes under Emery..
Don’t care what Mikel is seeing in training, but Ceballos would have been better than one or all of Ozil, Guendouzi . Willock has not shown since his heroics in Europa League game where he scored some goals. Why he’s refusing to play Ceballos
No midfield drives, arteta needs to pull guen to one side and tell him to drive forward with the ball, something I think he did to a certain extent against bournemouth but today he reverted to type, backwards and sideways passing, mincing about the pitch. We def missed saka, nothing down the left as soon as he got injured. We keep saying at least we did not lose but we were very lucky today.
Aubameyang, Martinelli and Lacazette front three doesn’t work. The former two can’t do combination play and lack technical refinement. Lacazette looks to be losing the limited athleticism he had when at Lyon. He’s on the cusp of exiting his prime years. Difficult how he’ll reinvent himself after 29. He doesn’t have the stature of Giroud/Llorente to be a plan B option
Two weeks rest now, thank god.
“Willock coming on didn’t change shit.”
Another that disappears when challenged to impose himself against teams that can be bothered to defend.
Bellerin saka and xhaka were our best players today. Very good from each of them
Zarcharse
You seriously think we didn’t get lucky?
Crosses raining down with Burney players connecting to almost all of them? Jay rodriguez coming closest to scoring from both teams.
Auba and laca didn’t threaten half as much as the other team.
Or were you watching highlight reels of leno instead of the game?
@Zacharsenic : lol.
Early days but please stop making out Arteta is something special. Hes obviously not. They are as bad now as when Emery was here. How many bloody draws? A draw is losing 2 points. We all know pedro loves Arteta but open your eyes, hes nothing special so far
WOW, BRUTAL PERFORMANCE!!!
Who wants to bet that Mesut Ozil will be starting the next game?
I was hoping Arteta would’ve come in and try his best to build the team around Pepe who’s clearly a talented player but he’s just repeating some of the mistakes Emery made. I hope at the end of the season he get some better players in because if he continues with this lot, he will be under pressure by December. That was a horror show! 🥱
Emery was sacked almost 3 months ago and how many Prem games have we won in that period?
We’ve won 1 bloody game and drawn how many? Arteta has got to start getting wins on the board. In game management is horrid and he’s come in and aligned himself to his favourites like the three before him did.
Gonsterous
“Arteta ball is basically just like later Wenger years, squeeze in all your favourites and just sit wringing your hand hoping for a result.”
It does seem all a little bit underwhelming atm but we hope after Arteta has a full pre-season with them in the summer the team will be more defined in what they are about.
This was what was advertised yes?
And maybe one or two additions.
The team look to have a better overall spirit for sure since Arteta took over but it is going to need more than that.
The funny thing is, we’ve seen such an improvement at the back WHICH EVERYONE CRIED OUT FOR Now suddenly wants the offensive side of things to come. We’re slow and dire moving forward and chances created are at a premium. It will come. We wasn’t dire today. Arteta will get it right. Ozil hasn’t lasted 90mins in ages now. Arteta is seeing the limitations already. The players need to step up. Laca up front, for all his hard work – desperately needs a goal. We were crying out for someone, albeit his failures, Pepe can open space with his trickery… Read more »
Emery never dished up this kind of turgidity.
Shut the fuckup Redlie
Majestic, indeed turns best strength probably is his ability to drive with the ball and at least pull,opposition a bit out shape, when he isn’t doing that his game is weak and meandering.
Get 25 m from PSG for him and start again
But as I said, the defense did a great job. Attack was poor, especially laca. Gone from most exciting ST in Europe to non stop fouling machine.
Guen was another terrible player.
One of the worst matches EVER.
Another wishy washy performance from a useless manager…
You are only as good as the players you have in your team.
Ive said all along- even with Emery, that we have pretty much hit our ceiling.
Improvements will come with better players…
Sure Arteta might move the needle some, but its also down to having the right and best players for our team
Until that happens, we will always be at about 75%
This summer needs to be another fire sale…
Arteta has no idea how big a job this is. He got the same “bounce” (in performances not results) ole got after Jose.
He hasn’t improved them. They improved themselves. They hated emery. Utd hated jose. Both sets of players happy as larry they got their managers fired. So sure better performances ensued.
Then reality sets in. They are not good players. They have burned out their enthusiasm. And its back to the shit.
He won’t be given 100M-150M to spend so… Wtf is he going to do?
Un nai agreed but it’s on arteta to be self aware and work on his offense. It’s good that he worked on the defense and that should always be priority n1 imo, but there’s a concerning lack of offensive ideas and strategies. You would never guess our manager sat next to pep for a few years taking notes based on just how few ideas we seem to be working with offensively. Arteta deserves time but if he wants to do any better than emery he needs to pay attention to what’s not working and make some changes. Repeating the same… Read more »
Willock, Guen should see no way near as much game time as they do. Arteta could probably do a better job right now than they muster up.
No more boring boring Arsenal, just drawing, drawing Arsenal.
Would Ramsey have helped in this game… im starting to think yes.
However, keeping him would be a mistake long term…
We need better mids!!!
Well, well. That was an eyesore. Our problems are trully rooted in our midfield. There is no creativity, but more importantly, there is no leadership in midfield. We need a Viera type player, who can pull the players socks up and drive the team forward. Far too often we are going backwards when we could move forward. And when we do move forward, we are far too slow. The opposing team has regrouped by the time we are looking at crossing it in. Finally, we can’t have Laca as CF. This should either be Auba or Martinelli. And why break… Read more »
Martinelli is in form. Everyone on here would have been up in arms had he be dropped and Pepe started.
Auba is our top scorer. He had to play.
Lacazette needed to be dropped and hopefully Arteta will see that. Moving forward.
Auba limitations centrally especially against a team like Burnley would have been so apparent thoug.
Emery seem to have blamed Pepe as part of his sacking, Arteta doesn’t seem to fancy him as well. Oh boy, did we overpay for an ok player?
2 wins in 4 months lol
Willock did change it. Burnley were dominating midfield and winning every loose ball. They were creating chances until Willock came on. Arsenal were at least able to control the game more with Willock on.
At least Arsene won 10 trophies before we had the AKBs. Arteta hasn’t even won 5 games and we already have AKBs on Le Grove. Maybe Arteta will win the league next season to show us his genius. But right now, I can’t see it. And we were lucky to get 1 point from this game.
The midfield is a big problem, and worse is we have too many average, slow moving midfielders.
Not really, Auba has a great scoring record against Burnley and is the only player who fancies scoring for Arsenal away from home. You have to start calling out Mikel for his insistence on playing the likes of Laca and Ozil now.
“We need a Viera type player, who can pull the players socks up and drive the team forward.”
I’d take a Vieira type manager at this point…
Another terror attack just happening in Streatham
Really???
Has anybody ascertained what redtruth is? At best he’s a spurs fan, at worst he’s an internet troll. Interesting to see.
Still if drawing gets us 8th and we can get rid of a bit of excess in the summer and focus on domestic next season
I’m happy
Papa
Luiz
Musaffi
Lacs
Pea
Mattie
Xhara
First out the door
Auba has 7 goals in 4 games against Burnley but you put him the right today?
Martinelli better on the left should of started on the left. And was moved to left in second half. best chanfe came from Martinelli cross to Auba in the centre.
Not rocket science.
we finish around 10th this season.
Not sudden spurt.
Its Euro League or bust for us
Maybe FA luck??
Forget the league
we are toast there
Un
Were Londoners …
This is just a skirmish with some cunt Muppet.
Only one manager can manage Arsenal competently when you have Silent Stan in charge.
Arsene Wenger
You can have your Clowns, Freddies and MA……none of them will ever get to Wenger’s level- whilst KSE are in charge.
No one.
Wengers teams used to go to Burnley play badly and win.
Not now.
12th.
Relegation battle v Newcastle United on the horizon.
(They are decent on the counter.)
I used to be a big lacazette fan but its been 3 seasons now. Wengers, emerys and this one. He’s not very good. I critisized Deschamps for over looking him. But i see why now. Auba not getting any younger. Martinelli – eddie – pepe
Lets look to the future.
Our formation was awful in the second half.
Not having a left back on the bench will limit any tactical change a manager can bring in.
We’re down to bare bones on that side.
We had a 3 at the back and Martinelli as a wing back on the left. Definitely not ideal.
In reality we were awful against Chelsea but for a spirited performance everyone was happy then.
Patience. Arteta will get it right.
PieAFC
We wasn’t dire today.
—
Seriously?
This Wenger clone picks his favourites just like the aforementioned muppet..
We are fucking lightyears away from challenging for top 4 let alone the title. Even the squad in George Graham’s last season as manager was better than this squad. Fuck off Kroenke
We are a terrible selling club, last yr you might have not 40m for laca or more. We didn’t bite the bullet and went into the season with 2cfs completely unbalancing the team, it’s so obvious he needs to be sold and who will buy, 29 , no goals since Xmas and last year of deal, 25m, 30 tops, it’s not good business.
Burnley get one good chance that theyre mediocre striker misses but somehow we got lucky. On yellow card given to burnley and 3 to arsenal but somehow we got lucky. Subpar offensive performance w lacazette and guen, but we got lucky. Blah blah fucking blah
Strange thing is , the much maligned players on Le Grove were actually our best players today . Talking about Mustafi, Ozil and Xhaka plus Luiz had a decent game. Saka started well , pity he was injured .. Not sure why Martinelli was moved to the right, Aubameyang is more than capable of playing there. Our right side was very poor today, Bellerin struggled , hopefully the new lad will be fit for our next home game . A clean sheet is always a positive , both teams missed chances , so a draw was probably a fair result… Read more »
Pedro
Would love to know more about deadline day ozil offer…
Everyone’s favourite Emery sausage jockey is spilling his load, saying Emery better than Arteta. Can’t contain himself.
Is it true he’s transitioned?
Auba wants out
Lacs cant score a goal. Pepe 72m bric n brac
Lodge them all out
Reminder Grahsm was sacked for unrelated football matters
If we can beat Liverpool, that would be like winning the CL for me about now.
That should be the trophy we shoot for this year.
Beat fucking liverpool and stop these trolls from taking the invincible for us.
And how df can Ozil be anyones favourite is beyond me in this side.
This side struggles to win games let alone in succession. 3 wins in 18 games and drawing something like 52% of our Prem games this season is wretched. Those are appalling statistics.
Versus
He got the same “bounce” (in performances not results) ole got after Jose.
—
Ole won 6 straight matches. Arteta has won a single match. If the draws continue, watch how players will lose faith quickly..
It’s really all over the shop, neither ozil or laca should really get near this team, yet they are on some of the biggest money, bad descions compounding.
Again can’t legislate for Pepe though, 72m not getting played, caballos 15 m loan not getting played. We are in transition big time, never ending transition
This bunch of cunts are jetting off for a week in the sun? Completely out of order. They should stay on the practise pitch putting in double drills. Wankers the lot of them.
‘Boot em all out’
Who is ‘em’?
Ozil.limped off with his tail between his legs on 60 minutes lol lol
The Muslim community isn’t doing enough to stop this senseless butchery.
Un
Plod Did
Not sure bout the cunt tho.