Mari and Torreira working on a Dirty Dancing gram for the lolz (via @Arsenal Insta)
It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, what class of citizen you are, everyone feels entitled to an alcoholic drink early in the am if you are at an airport, even the pilots. A bar I’m sitting in is offering half-priced shots, why not? I want to enjoy my last hours with my pangolin before the coronavirus kicks in.
Arsenal are hitting up that warm weather scene and sharing out the content like Sandra from work who just landed in Benidorm for that all-inclusive she hasn’t shut up about all year.
Mikel and the backroom team seem focused on three things.
1.Giving the players some mental recuperation.
The players were given a few days off instantly, they were allowed to go wherever the fuck they wanted (something Wenger didn’t really allow), then they met up with the squad, families in tow. I suspect the last 7 weeks have been pretty brutal on the players work/life balance, so some sun in a nice hotel will pr0bably go a long way.
2.Drilling home the ideas.
Arteta knows exactly what he wants from the players, but he hasn’t had a lot of time to reinforce the ideas verbally or implement them in training sessions. Unless you’re a freak of nature, you generally only learn from repetitions.
‘Hours together, to spend together, grab a coffee together, to have conversations, to have unit meetings, individual meetings, group meetings about the things we have to achieve. To review what we have done. I have made a big review of what we have done so far in these five or six weeks, the things where we can improve, the areas where we have improved and that we have to maintain, that we cannot lose. Hopefully we can make another step forward as a team now.’
He’ll be beasting the players on the pitch, he’s taking time out for unit meetings and one-on-one time with individuals. Much better to do that out of the cold of London. Less pressure allows ideas and instruction to percolate and sink in.
He’s also channelling some of that Unai Brent as well with cute trust exercises.
3.Fitness
It hasn’t gone unnoticed that the Arsenal squad has lacked fitness. We statistically tail off as the game goes on. Understandable, what Arteta expects is vastly different to what Unai Emery was able to get (even if he probably wanted the same things). The players need to think faster, work harder, and build resilience.
The club is also rehabbing players. In a new move, Shad was put on camera and he had all the positive things to say, most notably about Kieran Tierney. He has him doing non-contact ball work and a lot of running exercises. He seems to be very confident the players will come back very fit and well drilled on the ways of the new regime. He also seems very happy about where the other injured players are in their recovery, so hopefully, a new set of players will start to populate our battered squad.
Pablo Mari, who looks in great shape, has been training with the team. I think he’s a real roll of the dice, but one that I’m excited about. Rivaldo, the legendary Barca/Madrid attacker, had this to say about the Spaniard.
‘I think Pablo Mari will fit in very well at Arsenal and in the Premier League,’ Rivaldo told The Evening Standard. ‘He is a good player that struggled to impose himself in Europe as a loaned player of Man City for a while, but he really convinced people being part of a great Flamengo team last season. ‘He is very complete as a defender – capable of bringing the ball forward when necessary and a threat on set pieces. He has good passing skills as well and I liked what I saw from him. ‘In Brazil, everyone has good opinion about him, and he could be a very successful option for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.’
Remember Rivaldo? Wot a playa
Mikel had this to say on the two new loan players.
“The new players that we have, it is a great opportunity for them to spend time together with the other players, get to know each other, live together – the same with the backroom staff as well. I think it will be a very important break.
“With Pablo a little bit more than Cedric, but we have to go step by step. He is a new player and I am sure he is very excited and wants to prove everything in three days, so we have to manage him wisely.”
Who knows when we’ll see them in first-team contention, but hopefully it’s not too long!
Finally, we have a new talent in the building. Miguel Azeez is a versatile midfielder making a name for himself as a holding midfielder that can break the lines and cause a lot of damage with his Grealish like control of the ball and bursts of pace.
Put me down for a hype ticket, I’m there, he’s the new Jack Jebb.
Miguel Azeez is the new Arsenal talentpic.twitter.com/3yc6Mt34MY
— BNS Comps (@BnsComps) February 7, 2020
Jamie
Agreed.
It’s just media hype.
I mean, who in their right mind would go to Wenger for advice?
Northbanker
I am a very patient person ,unlike some on here.
I can see what Arteta is doing and I am more than happy with the progress being made.
My comment was more in keeping with all the impatient fans who want everything addressed in 2 months plus the news(probably fake) that Wenger has been contacted.
In saying that , I see no harm in asking for advice as I’m sure many aspiring managers have done over the years.
Pierre – I gather he gets advice still from Pep CG – your comments on Mari don’t stack up with the high line he played for Flamengo – which was the key reason i think Arteta was interested Marc -your comments on Henry and Pepe very churlish – i hope Pepe does come good but it doesn’t take away my comments on his current performance and the fact he can’t kick a ball with his right foot. If we’re looking for reasons as to why MA hasn’t yet succeeded offensively then that imo is a factor. i also don’t think… Read more »
Pires!
By accommodating a slow Xhaka, Arteta is playing two DM’s and a CAM. It strengthens the defense but the opponent can crowded out the CAM easily. It is important that our two FB’s can support the attack, stealing a page from the Pools’ attack..
Marc Had Dortmund, Leipzig, Spuds, Barca waited for Klopp, Nagelsmann, Poch, Pep to go out to a another big club do well for 3-5 years and then sign then then they probably wouldn’t be where they are now. Its a risk and reward system. There are not many managers who can just come in and guarantee success. Manu learned that the hard way. And I only mentioned 4 managers here. Bringing a club from League 1 to PL in 2.5 years, challenging for Europe in your first year at the top, having one of the best defensive records in the… Read more »
CG
You blame Luiz for our current form but its pretty clear that we are being held back thanks to our poor form in front of goal rather than bad form at the back.
Also if you replace him now you lose a player who helps in breaking the opposition lines in attack.
That will further decrease our attacking potency.
Other than the Red card at Chelsea I dont think he’s done a lot wrong under Arteta tbh.
Onto Sheffield vs Bournemouth now. Berge starts.
Wasi
Remind me what did the Poooooooch win at the Spud’s?
Wasi
On Luiz it’s also worth remembering that the red card at Chelsea was at least 75% Mustafi’s fault for playing a suicidal back pass.
Marc
He won hearts. If thats what you want to hear.
Maybe you just cant see tangible success
Without Poch Spuds would probably still be a mid table team.
It wasnt Mustafi’s fault Luiz got the red card.
It was Mustafi who put Luiz in that position but it was 100% Luiz’s bad decision making which led to the red card.
Wasi
Mustafi doesn’t play a stupid pass and Luiz isn’t put in that position.
Winning hearts is great, I’m sure in 40 years they’ll be some old cunt who’ll reminisce on the good old days.
Tell me who did the double in 71?
“Without Poch Spuds would probably still be a mid table team.”
Mid table? Spurs league finishes in the 5 seasons before Poch took over:
2010 – 4th
2011 – 5th
2012 – 4th
2013 – 5th
2014 – 6th
In Poch’s 5 seasons at Spurs, he finished 5th in his first season, and only managed to finish higher than 4th 3 times, and won zero trophies. Ridiculous the levels to which Poch is elevated.
Jamie
But he won people’s hearts!
Marc Mustafi does a stupid pass and instead of Luiz say a smarter Defender is put in that position. Instead of bringing Tammy down he tries to block the shot. Fails . concedes. Stays on the pitch instead of leaving the team 1 man short for more than an hour. In 40 years time there’ll be some old Spuds fan reminiscing the good times under Poch after they fall back to being Mid tablers again Or In 40 years time therell be some old Spuds fan thanking God for Poch who formed a solid base on which the club finally… Read more »
Does Wasi think the PL is made up of just 10 clubs? Why does he keep saying they were a ‘mid table club’ before Poch? Spurs haven’t finished lower than 6th in 10 seasons.
Poch took over when they were a CL/EL club. He left them in 14th place and brought home zero of 16 available (legitimate, not friendly) trophies.
Yeah, Spurs fans will miss all that unparalleled success.
Pierre “””CG,I think your criticism of Luiz is exaggerated.Since the arrival of Arteta his influence on (and off) the pitch has grown.””” Do you think his influence on and off the pitch would have been so marked – if an experienced manager and not an inexperienced one had taken over? Why all off a sudden – does Luiz want to be the model pro? To me – he is ‘ playing ‘ Arteta with his continued outlandish comments about MA coaching ability. He dont give two hoots about Arteta- he just doesn’t want to be sidelined. How sickeningly low we… Read more »
Ramsey must be one of the signings arsenal are rumoured to have completed for the summer loooool
You heard it here 1st!
CG, have you even watched any of Flamengo recently? All year long they played an extremely high line, Mari was rarely defending as deep as you claim. He is wonderful in regards to positioning and reading the game. Sometimes that’s all it takes. People relentlessly give Van Dyk shit on here about letting other players do all his work but he makes it look so simple by reading the game and always being in the right position. Obviously ,Mari, is not going to be VVD but cmon man, relax and let the man play a couple matches before condemning him… Read more »
We’ve hired a defensive coach who hasn’t a clue how to play open expansive football…
Zimmie
“”””CG, have you even watched any of Flamengo recently? “””
Off course not. Its garbage.
Quite simply- If he was any good – he would not be playing there.
Name me one defender, who in his mid 20’s arrived from Brazil that has ever made it in the EPL?
Just the one, will do.
CG
As a defensive minded player, does Gilberto Silva, club legend and Invincible, count?
The coach of Sheffield United can get quite emotional. I thought he wants to fight a Bournemouth’s player.
Marc,
You’re quick to downplay Poch abilities but at the same time hoping MA comes good. If a survey is done today to sack MA and replace him with Poch probably most Arsenal fan would welcome the idea. Poch was the only other manager in the PL who could go head to head with Pep and JK. He didn’t win anything at Spurs but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s a good manager.
DNA
Again you’ve missed my point – ultimately managers are measured, at the top level anyway on trophies. The Poooooooooch is undoubtedly a good coach but he really needed to win something to kick on instead he got sacked.
What I’d love to know is why are ManU supposedly interested in Southgate who’s never done anything at the top level of the club game when the Poooooooooch is available? I know which one I’d prefer to hire.
DNA
Out of interest this survey of “fans” who does it include?
Marc, at the top level, managers are not judged on trophies. That’s why Poch is going to have so many people salivating over him this summer.
Spurs transformed from a team with Kyle Naughon, Michael dawson , Ezekiel fryers, etc to a team comprising of Harry Kane, Eriksen, Son,etc under Poch.
Their finishes went from 5,4,5,6,5 to 5,3,2,3,4
For the first half of the decade everyone below 4th were very random. There was the concept of a Top 4 instead of a big 6. The competition also wasnt as intense.
This is the last I am talking about Spuds today.
Agree to disagree IDC.
Gunner
“You’re quick to downplay Poch abilities but at the same time hoping MA comes good. If a survey is done today to sack MA and replace him with Poch probably most Arsenal fan would welcome the idea”
Ffs not another one!- why does this even need to be discussed? MA has just been appointed!
Looks like ESR is getting game time at Huddersfield which is great. I’d love to see him press the Ozil-replacement next season for the CAM role.
I think this summer Pochettino takes the Man Utd job, with Solskjaer moving ‘upstairs’ in a similar role to Edu at Arsenal.
While this would be bad for us in terms of United stepping up a gear, it would be fascinating to see how it unfolds as a whole.