What a depressing weekend. Spurs beating City capped off a very miserable day that started with a grim draw at Burnley.
This was the first really bad performance under Mikel Arteta. The players didn’t look like they were at the races and our defending, though largely resolute, relied more on luck than good technique.
The main problem for me was our insipid approach in the final third. No one seems to have the guts to play through the lines outside David Luiz. We had a lot of possession, but two shots on target to show for it (13 shots off target). Mesut Ozil just isn’t creating quality chances like he used to and there’s continuation of the balance issue we had under Emery… Lacazette and Auba don’t work well together in a front three.
It is odd that Lacazette keeps landing minutes. His confidence sinks a little more with each passing game. Against Burnley, someone with no physical prowess is always going to be eaten alive. His hold up play was subpar and his offerings to the attacking gods were limited. It was also a rare quiet day for Gabriel.
The real problem for us came when Saka picked up an injury and we had to drop Granit Xhaka into defence again. There was no outlet on the left and we had no one with the confidence to whip dangerous balls into the box.
LT came on at halftime to give us a little more bit, but he’s not really an attacking threat. Matteo had a bit of a stinker if we’re honest, he played a very meek game. Sometimes I think he’d prefer to be fouled because it means he doesn’t have to risk doing something that’ll progress the attack. His default was to pass sideways or behind him. He’s Denilson with better hair. That midfield needs someone that wants to move forward, or someone that can burst through the lines with sheer force of will. When the midfield lacks power and ambition, you get stuck in a rut of purposeless possession.
Mikel’s subs weren’t up to much either. The game was crying out for a Dani Ceballos or a Nicolas Pepe, but neither were called upon. That’s 3 managers in a row that have had misgivings about those two. Makes you wonder.
We did have our chances, Auba pushed a header wide and he fluffed his lines when he was played through by a beautiful Luiz ball. Another day, he’s taking those and we’re having an ugly win conversation.
Defensively, it has to be noted that Mustafi was a beast today. He won 6/8 of his aerial duels and he made 7 clearances and 2 interceptions. Not bad for a player that had to admit he was shite on the .com a month ago.
The usual suspects are jumping to call the Arteta hire a mistake. Again, I repeat, this mess was never going to be solved quickly. No manager had a magic solve for a club with so many problems. The manager will make mistakes while he works out what the right path is, today he made a few, and he’ll continue to do so. What we should look for are the positives. We kept a clean sheet, the team worked hard, and our defensive structure has taken grip far quicker than we’d hoped it would.
Chance creation wasn’t really an area I thought we’d struggle with. You’d think a Pep disciple would have us purring going forward, but it’s yet to happen. The plan seems to be: create a stable base, then move onto balancing solidity with some flair. That’ll need time. Hopefully a trip to Dubai will help the manager work on the next set of objectives… then we can destroy Newcastle 9-0 when we return.
We need some wins, 6 for the season is truly embarrassing, I have faith though… we have good players, their quality will shine when the ideas start to click.
Right, see you in the comments. x
“Tom, depends if you are dating an English girl”
If that’s the case Laca’s fucked!
Lacazette and Aubameyang isn’t a thing….We should stop trying to make it one.
7 games unbeaten
7 points from the relegation zone…….
True. We have no reason to not be winning the europa this year. My only concern there is Man U who, no matter how bad they do or how well we do seems they always pip us. I just want this season to be over. I’m expecting a proper football manager like squad turn over in the summer and I’m excited to see who we bring in. Cedric, Mari, Martinelli, Tierney all seem to have special kinds of attitudes and this is what we need in the team. Players like torr and guen and maybe even hector will feed off… Read more »
Wenger ran us right into the iceberg. Right now we are in the taking on water, tilting stage.
There is still the sinking stage to come I’m afraid.
Pedro
I am happy with the effort put in. It’s exactly what you said: the lack of know how.
Which is why we need a real leader in this team who during matches can ensure that everyone is focused.
But it’s not just that. We need someone who is not afraid to push forward. You know, create something out of nothing.
And we litteraly have no one in this mold.
It’s the kind of team where we would need a Sanchez/Viera type of character to keep the motivation of the team up throughout the game.
Marc
We seriously need a clone of Viera if that was possible.
These players need someone to look upto other than the manager during the game.
“Again, I repeat, this mess was never going to be solved quickly. No manager had a magic solve for a club with so many problems. The manager will make mistakes while he works out what the right path is, today he made a few, and he’ll continue to do so. What we should look for are the positives. We kept a clean sheet, the team worked hard, and our defensive structure has taken grip far quicker than we’d hoped it would.” “No manager had a magic solve for a club with so many problems” No manager except for Emery eh… Read more »
Marc I don’t put much stock in folk absolutely desperate to land a jab. Idk what your expectations are, or were, post-Emery but mine are focused on the long term and if you think that is going to waver in a 6-week timespan you’re off. Pep has lost three games since Arteta took charge, you reckon City fans think he’s a fraud for such a return suddenly? I’m sure some do, as they always do with Pep hilariously. What I’ve seen and heard from Arteta is precisely what I’ve been waiting for, and this hyper-criticism bubble that’s created on here… Read more »
Just imagine if Wenger had of managed to evolve. If he accepted a proper DoF, a technical director, proper defensive coaches and shook up his backroom staff to include modern coaches with new ideas. At the end of the day he was a good man manager and a good offensive coach. And since we lost that identity through emery, we now have double the struggle to regain it. Don’t get me wrong, Wenger had to go as he was a victim of his own hubris but it’s a shame he couldn’t have modernised then left us in a better state… Read more »
Which is why we need a real leader in this team who during matches can ensure that everyone is focused
/
If this is true. Well we just had a transfer window open for what, 30 days? Did the club ‘back’ Arteta by buying him this leader? No they didn’t. And they won’t. He’s the cheaper option in more ways than one.
Versus, you have to keep up here. No manager had the solve in >December< Emery had 18 months, 2 full preseasons and £200m.
Banford seems to have strong-armed one of his students to post under “versus” in his bid to defend the hero that was Emery.
There are so many short -termists who, who have no idea, none at all about what it takes to turn around a club run as poorly as Arsenal has been for years. I suspect the rest of this season will be frustrating with other poor performances but Burnley though playing Neanderthal football beat Leicester and United in their last two games .
And the pitch makes a massive difference as anyone who has played football at any level will know. But there aren’t many on this blog.
Klopp took Liverpool to 8th his first season, he took over in November and had a bunch of quality and suitable players in the squad if you hear some on here tell it. Arsenal is a multi-year project the same as Liverpool was, to fire into methods and approaches with a 6-week sample at hand is gloriously obvious bias/stupidity.
/
I see your “8th place” and raise you a Europa League final, sir.
I was behind Emery until his last day at the Club, so I’m going to do the same with MA. I don’t like some of the decisions I’m seeing but he’s a former player and I would be delighted to see him succeed as Arsenal manager. Don’t let Pedro’s relentless sauce pouring change the fact that he needs our support. Humble dude who’s just starting his managerial career and to be fair, this Arsenal team is not good enough. Hopefully the board supports him because he’s going to need it.
No one can predict the future with 100% certainty. However, one thing is certain – the pressure on Arteta and the team will mount if results don’t improve. That’s when we’ll know his mettle as a manager. My fear is that wins will be hard to come by considering the fact that we haven’t produced much better results than most of the other teams in the premiership. Only Watford and Norwich have fewer wins than us at this point. Ian Wright was speechless and it took a few moments for it to sink in when Shearer said that today. But… Read more »
Versus
Emery was in a spiral.
It was quite obvious to see, like Wenger was (although wengers was less steep).
He simply didn’t have the tools or the ability to rectify what was going on.
There were repetitive mistakes. There was an obvious lack of comunication and very little stability.
I’d given emery his first season to iron out issues and expected the second to produce a solid formation and game plan. After 5/6 games it was very obvious emery was going nowhere with arsenal.
Thought the press conference was accurate. He knows the issues. Just needs to work them out of the team.
The grass comment was geared around Burnley making it tough… he trained the team on a dry pitch this week. Still didn’t work, but it wasn’t a surprise.
https://youtu.be/9kdQDuG00zE
And the pitch makes a massive difference as anyone who has played football at any level will know. But there aren’t many on this blog.
/
They played on the same surface, sir. Goal line technology saved us an embarrassing defeat, sir.
Versus, the ball not going across the line meant it wasn’t a goal. Those are the rules. Nothing saved us.
“I see your “8th place” and raise you a Europa League final, sir.“
The league is the measuring stick, Liverpool have won how many CL since their last title. Just you listen to how much they value the Prem title.
A cup is a cup after all, open to luck and benefit of a good draw. Klopp finished 8th. He’d have been binned as worse than Brenda by numerous. That’s the level of chat from some on here, of which you’re front and centre.
Tom, depends if you are dating an English girl
——-
Pedro, out of curiosity I looked it up to see what Laca’s “cheating “was all about. And out of all the things , like expensive dinners and five stars hotels, expensive gifts and showing off his new girl to anyone he knows, the only thing I truly find outrageous is that he’s on 180k per week.
Now that’s cheating!
Pedro February 2, 2020 20:57:10
Thought the press conference was accurate. He knows the issues. Just needs to work them out of the team.
/
Every Arsenal fan for the last 10 years have “known” our issues.
Versus, not the last 3 managers.
CC
I want to see signs of coherence in what Arteta is doing. There have been signs of improvement and certain players are definitely showing signs of doing better.
I have not at any stage called for Arteta to be sacked. I have not put a time line on when he should be judged.
All I’ve done is A) asked questions about some of Arteta’s decisions B) asked questions of those who pulled Emery up for every tiny fault.
I find it amazing the amount of people who say Aubameyang’pads his stats’ and never scored when we need him too, I am sorry but that is nonsense. Winners against Burnley and Newcastle. – winning goal against Villa, vital equaliser in NLD. Equaliser at Man Utd, Bournemouth, Wolves. That is only this season. Doesn’t seem like ‘stat padding’ to me. And when exactly would we not need him to score?Imagine where we might be without him. We have much bigger problems than Auba. He was off the mark today. He may be off in the summer. But to say he… Read more »
Marc, you can’t see coherance?
” not the last 3 managers.”
Arteta is close to joining that exclusive club whilst he insists on playing Ozil, picks Mustafi again, plays Auba wide and Laca through the middle when he couldn’t score in a brothel, makes piss poor substitutions.
Pedro – I don’t want Arteta to fail I want him to be Elite.
https://www.google.com/search?q=burnley+fc+vs+arsenal+goal+line&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwj5rJmL4rPnAhXF4YUKHbU2D1UQ2-cCegQIABAC&oq=burnley+fc+vs+arsenal+goal+line&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-img.3…3733.6366..6900…0.0..0.144.937.8j2……0….1………30i10.sac4bLPiQ74&ei=_jg3Xvm1EsXDlwS17byoBQ&bih=562&biw=360&client=ms-android-motorola-gfw&prmd=nvi#imgrc=7N0-X2lrGtOgOM
Check that out on google images.
A third of the ball is across the line.
So Arteta’s Arsenal were 2 thirds of a ball away from losing a must win game against burnley
Sauce.
Versus. Very juvenile point. Ball didn’t cross the line. It wasn’t a goal. What saved us was poor finishing, which could be said of Arsenal as well.
Pedro
I see some signs but also some definite signs of poor decision making.
Do you not see signs of poor decisions making? Things that aren’t being learnt or corrected?
Chiefs will win it tonight but I don’t think it will be the points fest a lot of people seem to think it will be. Nowhere near as bad as last years SB though!
Inferior teams prepare pitches that negate the higher skill levels of the other team. Arteta knew Burnley would prepare a pitch that suited tgeir style. To say both teams played on the same pitch underlines my point about not understanding some of the basics of football.
@pedro
The last four have all been duds. Some moreso than others. However The Fanbase are smarter. Even the precious ones on here who give me verbal. All of them, all of us know exactly whats wrong with the team. We only disagree on who should be in charge.
Marc Can’t agree on the coherence chat, we’ve not looked like a side that is going to lose in any game we’ve played. That’s including the one we lost which says it all. We’re a bit of good fortune in the previous few matches from being 4 points better off and looking in a much healthier position. Even today we lost our only LB deputy and had to shove Xhaka there and deplete creativity from an already miserly midfield. Have your questions or comments, but I can’t take anyone serious with some of the chat above. Absolute nonsense is putting… Read more »
Henry
Opposition teams have been that or worse for decades. Back in the day you had teams narrowing the pitch to negate teams who had good wingers.
Good teams deal with it.
Henry RootFebruary 2, 2020 21:12:42
Inferior teams prepare pitches that negate the higher skill levels of the other team. Arteta knew Burnley would prepare a pitch that suited tgeir style. To say both teams played on the same pitch underlines my point about not understanding some of the basics of football.
/
Every team in the league will go to Burnley and play on that pitch. Its hard for us, its hard for them. But we’re precious.
I am watching Inter and damn alexis looks absolutely back to his prime self
Of course Marc, my hindsight vision is 20-20
CC
“Can’t agree on the coherence chat, we’ve not looked like a side that is going to lose in any game we’ve played. That’s including the one we lost which says it all. ”
Yeah but we don’t look like winning too many either.
Saka getting injured was a setback – it happens.
Bringing on Nketiah in the 88th minute when you’re chasing a result? Piss poor either do it on 70 or don’t do it. It’s unfair to a young player to expect them to come on and make a difference with a handful on minutes left.
Daniel
Alexis surely made the difference when he came on. It’s weird watching him, Lukaku, Eriksen, Young all play together for the same team in a different league now. All were in EPL just months/weeks ago.
Lets see how other teams got on playing on burnleys pitch.
Liverpool 3-0
Aston villa 2-1
Chavs 4-2
Palace 2-0
City 4-1
UTD 2-0
Burnley have had some good results at home as it goes. Mabey a point was a good result after all ha!
If we play four four fucking two
We could include those two up front if not… sell them.
If rumours are tue that art stopped ozil leaving.. well he is still in 3 month probation period.
Scandalous.
Pedro
Funny my hindsight is fucking perfect.
Be honest if you were offered a consultancy role at Arsenal and Arteta asked you to give him guidance on the existing squad would your advice include A) play Ozil and don’t sell him B) bring Mustafi back into the team C) play Auba wide and keep playing Laca through the middle D) turn down a bid on Xhaka.
None of that is hindsight – it’s history.
Marc, but there is coherance to what he’s doing.
Raise the fitness levels
Make the team work for the full 90
Make the team hard to beat
Revitalise broken players
Now he needs to make us more of a force going forward.
There’s a plan, it’s clear, but it’ll take more than 9 games to realise.
Night lads. Ill be back pushing my agenda tommorow. Happy trolling!
Marc
Fart won’t be elite…
Following the traits of previous failures by playing the same old dross in the same old way…
We need a proper and proven manager.
Jobs to big for him.
We learnt a few things from today’s game.
– The combination of Saka/Martinelli was our best attack outlet. Without that, the team is weaker.
– Martinelli plays better on the left than on the right
– Laca needs a rest. Currently he can’t pass and can’t score.
– Guen slows down the attack. He needs time to find a teammate. Torr is a better midfielder.
– Playing Auba on the wing is a waste.
– Our team has energy to play 20 minutes. After the team slows down, Ozil disappears.
– A health Mustafi can defend.
Marc We’ve not looked like winning many all season, you’re asking for that balance to be addressed in 6-weeks? Pretty inspiring confidence you have in Arteta to pull that off. We’ve been porous for how many years? We’re trying to lay a proper foundation as Arteta alluded to pre-game by being more difficult to break down and beat. Re: Eddie on late. You can chirp at that, but if he comes on and nicks a goal it’s reimagined as inspiring. It was a throw of the dice to hopefully land him the final chance of the game, not that serious.… Read more »
Pedro
Your begging to sound like the leader of the Waco fan club.
Too soon for fart. All hot air words coming from him.
Xhara should not have been given a 55th chance neither should mustafi.
Pedro
I really hope you’re right because a good chunk of what you’re saying Arteta is doing is pretty basic expectations.
Hopefully a break and a bit of sunshine will make a difference.
Knives out already? A bit premature isn’t it? Fuck me I’m just still glad it isn’t Wenger in the dugout. Small mercies and all that. Give the guy at least half a season before you try to bury him.
RSPC, you are calling the manager ‘Fart.’ Are you drunk?
When this turns, let’s chat about the club I run, you’ll be asking to join.
Players fitness comes down to the contented life styles who reall6 don’t give a fuck.
All grade b players that are only in money and not the rewards of winning trophies.
The ozil debacle shows it.
David “Arteta” Koresh.
Pedro
Real belief doesn’t panic or get narky.
RSPC, not really the sort of analysis that moves conversation forward, is it?
You cannot possibly judge Arteta on six weeks. The first serious judgement cannot be until May 2021. The defensive part of the team has already improved markedly in the first six weeks, otherwise that would have been a 2-0 defeat today. Why can’t people see that as a decent point , this team is not chasing for the title in fact the first target for this season has to be 40 points. It has also been good to see Mustafi improving. For all his previous clangers I have never doubted his desire to do well. Finally, once and for all… Read more »
Marc, I have no idea what you are talking about.
Not sure if will Pedro.
The club has been run like the owners of toys r us, Woolworths ,
Mother are.
There is no money to support him.
He should have sold at least 5 player this window.
Club is heading into an abyss like in the 70s.
Pedro
You’re biting at criticism of Arteta – if he is what you say then the correct response is that of the Zen master from Charlie Wilson’s War “We’ll see”
getting drunk now
GO NINERS!!!!
win the superbowl
SF Bay area!!!
RSPC, selling 5 players and trying to do business in January isn’t smart, which is why they didn’t do it.
Marc, I’d have no one to talk with if that was my stance.
Guns, good luck tonight!
I’m heading out as well… gonna get me some wings and cheer on whoever is winning!
But Pedro
These players are still letting the club down.
These players are worth a fraction of what the cost.
They don’t play for the love of the club
They play for the overpaid money.
Xhara
Mustafi
Laca
Auba
Papa.
Need to go.
Enjoy the wings Pedro
RSPC, no one does that much biz in Jan.
Arteta is working out what works, then he’ll do his biz in the summer.
Have fun Pedro – seems like to be a Zen master you need to make it into the Sales team not Marketing!
I’m pretty pleased with the January business this year.
At the very least it actually addressed the areas we needed cover in, and I personally like the look of the 2 players we signed.
And all for minimal dollar.
Would have liked to have seen Ozil go but I understand the logic in keeping him I guess.
All is being weighed on the summer.
At least it is not New England again, the cheating team.
The super bowl.
Kind of typifies America to me. Way over the top in every way.
Pedro Here is an analysis to take forward. Papa over priced when we purchased. Value now less the 3m cost 18m Saw the club asa pay day. Laca Moved to the club for a bigger salary, has not really shown the desire or quality to succeed in the prem. value now 22m cost 54 m Xhara Despite three managers seeing something in him Has not adjusted to the demands of the prem, there is always an air that he will fuck up soonwhen he plays. Cost 35m now worth 20m. Mustafi. Despite winning a World Cup. Has never played with… Read more »
R.S.P.C.Arsenal
You need to realise that JanTW does not bring you the best players.
This is why I’ve said earler that this summer TW will be crucial to Atreta. I sincerely hope that he will do the required surgery on this team in midfield.
We sorely lack creative impetus and the guile to be agressive from the midfield. Surely, Arteta, an ex-midfielder, can see this.
I hope he does Pedro.
Because the fans won’t tolerate much mote of this, and unfortunately for art, he will get both barrels as he takes the wrap for the board as well.
Look
I support the club
Support the manager
Ain’t really got t8me for the owners.
To many supporters like me art has till August to put the foundations as to where he is taking the club.
Time is against him.
Supporters want good football with trophies.
Board only wNt money.
Your see soon as they can sell Martinelli north of 100m they will.
“Arteta is working out what works, then he’ll do his biz in the summer.”
Pedro
Just a reminder that you and a few on here said the squad was good enough when Emery was manager so we don’t need a transfer window or new player’s before Arteta has to produce.
Pedro’s stuck in a chicken shop and keeps asking for wings with special sauce and the guy serving him is going “eh”.
It could end in a shootout!
Here’s a theory
Could it be that Arteta’s defensive improvement have come because he’s more conservative than Emery?
One RB doesn’t push up as high before under Emery.
Torriera is also a lot conservative in his play and doesn’t really go forward as much as he did under Emery?
Even with Ozil in the squad (the king of assist and Emperor of creating chances) we still have a whooping 25% decrease in chances created.
R.S.P.C.Arsenal
100M for Martinelli?? Would be stupid not to take it.
This squad is absolutely unbalanced and needs a lot of investment. First people out the door should be Ozil, Laca, Auba, Mustafi, Sokratis, Xhaka, Mhiki, Elneny, Kolasinac…. And rebuild
Unfortunately reverted to type today.
Players falling over complaining. Showing their pussy mentality far too often for my liking. Allowing Burnley to bully them. Slow and ponderous( pitch had nothing to do with it). Leno a major liability. Ozil was ….well…… Ozil. Lacazette totally out of sorts. Zero cohesion.
13 draws!!
Pedro Considering how much you love Arteta I expect nothing more than your continued over the top support for him, however I remember you were the same with Gazidis who was an utter disaster. But Pedro I’m pretty certain there’s a bit of doubt creeping in there because no matter what way you spin it his win rate is atrocious
31 Points after 25 games – 40 points is generally the safe zone – so we need to draw another nine matches – can’t see this shower getting many wins…….
Seriously what’s the point of having a GK who can’t come out for crosses or leave his goal line?
Sorry but Leno is a liability.
Pope is a far better keeper.
There were at least ten instances in today’s game where Leno’s slow distribution put us on the defensive.
Is he just dumb?
Is it that simple?
Earlier in the season,plenty of idiots on Legrove were calling for us to play ‘all of our best 4 attacking players’….having this weird dream of ozil threading through balls to pepe,laca and auba.How is that plan going so far?Ozil and Laca are completely shit…incredible Giroud was crucified for basically this same kind of form Ffs,but at least he was useful in defending set pieces and holding up the ball.What does Lacazette offer tbh?
Forget a trip to Dubai.
I’d take them to Skegness for a few days.
Arsenal is the only club that will get to the 34th game playing shit and still continue blaming Emery for hilarious things like ‘destroying the mental state of players’ and ‘fitness’. Why am I not seeing Watford or everton fans blaming their previous coaches despite us having superior players than them?Its time to be real here,we have shit players and to those who don’t see it then it means they think our new coach is shit,which is which?Up next is speed demon saint maximin and joelington who hasn’t scored in 1000games…we all know what happens when we face these kinds… Read more »
EddieFebruary 2, 2020 17:51:17 This is on Emery as he has left a toxic legacy of fragile confidence and 18 months preparation on letting the opposition take pot shots. Emery took over a shitshow from Wenger. Totally unbalanced squad with huge money leaching out of the club due to ludicrous contracts.Arteta isn’t a magician. He ain’t no Guardiola, although please note Guardoola’s struggle in his first Premiership season with huge backing. Arteta ain’t no Klopp, but he’s a huge upgrade on Emery.Club gave Emery half a season too long. Why is anyone expecting Arteta to get everyone firing on all… Read more »
Unfortunately, today the only special sauce flowing was down Don’s chin after CC pulled out and splunged in Don’s tearful face — Showering him in Charlie’s precious bodily fluids.
“This was the first really bad performance under Mikel Arteta.” Are your sure about that Pedro? This game was pretty much par for the course so far under Arteta. First 20 minutes on top and creating a couple of chances, then torpor sets in, nothing to offer, no structure, no energy, no motivation, zilch. Sorry to say this but compare our performance with that of the Spuds. Yes the singing chickens actually looked up for the game against the odds – yes they had the rub of the green but they chased down balls, tackled (note to Arsenal players: yes… Read more »
“Ozil and Laca are completely shit…incredible Giroud was crucified for basically this same kind of form Ffs…”
Ollie would always bother me for his dramatics, but his value and effort were impossible to ignore. Unlike those other two twats you mentioned.
Disappointing game , was expecting to see signs of further progress. But realistically it’s going to take time. Bold selection but it’s always going to be difficult with Laca, Auba and Ozil in the side unless they are really on song. Like playing with a man down, particularly at a place like Burnley. None add any real physicality or energy other than the odd flash from Auba. Laca particularly ineffective today. I reckon Arteta keen not to undermine his senior pros, but he has to be thinking about hooking Laca if things don’t improve soon. Can’t believe you compared Guendouzi… Read more »
Not sure what the problem is , on another day Aubameyang would have had a hat trick and Lacazette also missed a couple of chances , so we obviously created enough in a difficult away game . The difference is , last season Aubameyang and Lacazette were taking their chances , today they didn’t….that’s football. Of course it was a scrappy game , we were playing Burnley away , what would anyone expect. I look forward to reminding all the know nothings of their sad and one could say ignorant comments today , but of course it doesn’t surprise me… Read more »
Many dismissed it as a lame excuse when Jurgen Klopp lamented the dryness of the Anfield pitch after Liverpool were held to a dour stalemate by Southampton in May 2017. “I know nobody wants to hear it but I am brave enough to say it. The pitch was really dry,” he declared. “We gave it all the water we had but after 15 minutes it was really dry again with the wind. You could see it… a lot of passes you thought ‘why are they playing this?’ But it was difficult. “In a possession game you need to have the… Read more »
Pierre
For one thing it was particularly striking reading the comments that were made during the game, how many people were suggesting we should have sold Aubameyang in January and that he doesn’t score important goals. Know nothings indeed.
Arteta blaming the grass and the pitch for the result really is pathetic. I thought we were past this level of excuses? We were a whisper’s breath from losing the game.
Lacazette needs to be benched.
A draw is better than a loss though, and a clean sheet is nothing to be sniffed at.
Hopefully the coach will use the winter break wisely and get the boys firing for the rest of the season.
Just saw the article which could be why Arteta doesn’t mess with ceballos. You’re going to have to look it up yourselves. He might aswell leave. No jokes. No trolling. He seriously might aswell leave.
Here’s a business plan. Play martinelli till end of season. Increase his value. Give him huge exposure. Then sell for 100M. Rebuild the squad. The coutinho business plan. Once upon a time coutinho cost 500k.