Happy Sunday, I hope you’re all safe, tucked away from that nasty hurricane that’s harassing the UK shores today.
The BIG news story is that – shock horror – Juventus want to sell Aaron Ramsey. The lovable Welshman, who picked up and ungodly wage to leave us last year, is now being touted around the UK for a cut-price summer move.
Aaron was a great for us, exactly what you needed in a world lacking instruction or vision, but I’m not sure he was ever worth those sorts of pound notes. The idea that Juve think they’ll be able to sell someone that’s been in and out of the sickbay for 10 years to anyone is quite the stretch… he has a deal until 2023, if I were him, I’d sit on my fat arse and watch the Lira roll in. No way is anyone picking up that tab.
Crazy thing with Aaron is that I’m not sure we’d even be able to offer to subsidise half his salary for a season, he’s that expensive. Juve has themselves a problem there, a really odd move in the first place, looking very silly right now.
There are a few mental reports in the press that Arsenal were looking to bring Wenger back to the club to unite the fanbase. I honestly couldn’t think of a crazier sentence to write down on paper. The man divided us like no other, what sort of healing powers do the leadership team think he has? That sort of insight comes from the school of temperature gaugers that thought a strong Twitter following would see Jezza Corbyn over the line.
My assumption is that this is just Wenger fanning his own PR flames again, the real story is it looks like Rennes are interested in giving him full control of their club, which seems like the typical sort of mistake green billionaires make when they come to Europe to make a splash. The beastly reality is Arsene damaged himself on the back 9 of his career and the only types that would invest in his idea of the game are the sort of folk that have absolutely no idea what it takes to build a competitive outfit in 2020.
I wonder what he thinks of the bust they want him to sit for? When you’re struggling to find relevance and your old club wants to immortalise you as countries do for their dead war heroes… I dunno, I’d find that weird. But hey, not a problem I am likely to face anytime soon.
… unless you want to whip together a little fund?
Sami Mokbel reckons Arsenal are going to do their biz early this summer, one of the players he mentions is Orkun Kökcü. He’s Turkish/Dutch, a midfielder, seems fairly versatile. He has a great range of passing from deep, he’s athletic, and he has deft skillz around the box. He’s very young though (19), so the Premier League would be a huge jump, but he certainly has a lot of sharp tools in his box (that doesn’t sound right).
Right, short one today… see you in the comments x
GunnerDNA, I copy and paste things that the actual players are saying… it helps reinforce the arguments I made to much derision before Arteta started.
It doesn’t really matter what you think of their talents, they are the best we have right now and they are responding to a proper coach.
You can only judge a coach on how he/she manages the resources at hand. Most other business is beyond their remit now (ie purchasing/selling players, contract negotiations etc.) and they can not be judged on that. Emery was unable to manage the resources he had – could not select the right players, could not communicate his ideas (if he had any), could not manage egos, did not have effective in-game strategies, was unable to motivate players etc etc. Ergo he was useless at Arsenal and needed to go. I don’t care if he had previously won the World Cup, ECL,… Read more »
Aussie, agree with all that.
GunnerDNA It’s an obsession to quote the name of the only other poster to cry bully time and again? Makes sense. Not sure what your “oldest fans” bollocks refers to, and the very fact you consider a dismissal of a view as “beef” speaks volumes as is. Proper legend you are. Pedro Don’t get it at all, Wenger delivered champagne times so I can forgive good will being extended or rose tinted specs now he’s history, but Emery? Literally came in, tanked, got paid, and volleyed out of Colney. Nice guy, but why the fuck is there room for rewriting… Read more »
Pedro, let me decipher Leon’s quotes for you:
Player who wants to keep his place, says something positive about guy who picks the team.
Player who’s part of our train-wreck season, tries to absolve him and his mates,, from their responsibilities of our current debacle, by throwing someone else under a bus.
Rich, do you think he’s fabricating the whole thing?
He probably did lose parts of the dressing room.
He told Mustafi and Ozil to do one, which was always a dangerous game, unfortunately the club weren’t robust enough in clearing the decks.
It was the right move to get shot of him, even though I think 5th last season was an overachievement with a pretty bland set of players, and an unbalanced and weak squad.
The worry is, what happens when the same set of players throw Arteta under a bus?
The players have to take some of the flack here.
What a monumental fuck up by the board, mark my words this egregious appointment will end in tears..
Red, last time you marked down some words on a manager you told us Emery was top 3 in the world. Think we’ll pass
Rich, players didn’t throw Emery under the bus, he was just a bang average manager who wasn’t a leader of men.
What exactly did emery do in his 18 months to warrant any kind of defence of his time here ?
I’d love to read a serious answer to that
I said Emery had a bunch of bad players to work with and I waz proven right as no discernible improvement has materialised, in fact they’re worse than before….
Emery’s got a decent CV for someone who’s bang average.
You’ve dug yourself a big hole now Pedro.
Wenger delivering top4 from 2005-2014 on a budget was failure
Wenger delivering three FA cups was failure.
Top4 isn’t a trophy
Emery finishing 5th and getting to the Europa final was failure, and sitting in 7th 4points off 4th should have him sacked.
Your man Arteta has big shoes to fill, when he delivers a mid table finish next season, you’ll have a lot of egg on your face.
Red, top 3 coach in the world should have been able to do the basics.
1) get the right players
2) learn the language
3) work out a coherent system
4) play the talent in their correct positions
5) shape a defence
6) organize a press
What happened? Arteta is 7 games into his career and most people see he’s making progress with the same players
Rich, I haven’t dug myself a hole. I have faith Arteta is the right man, early signs are strong.
Emery has a solid streak in the Europa with Sevilla. Average in the league. 5th, 5th, 7th. You have to ask why he was always in the Europa.
Pedro. Bellerin got injured last January, our options have been Niles,Lichtstiner, Chambers This season we’ve had Saka and Xhaka at left back. Emery got slated for picking Mustafi and Xhaka, Arteta does the same, Xhaka unfortunately is our best midfielder, and Mustafi is always an injury away from becoming a starter. Pepe, a player you were screaming for us to buy, has been dropped by three separate managers now. Emery was right to go to war with Ozil, who’s clearly way over the hill, his mistake was bringing him back. This squad you said was 100% good enough for third,… Read more »
Emery promotion with Lorca for first time in their history, then 3 points off back to back promotions
Promotion with Almeria for first time in their history in first season, then an 8th place finish.
3x 3rd place finishes with Valencia, in spite of having his squad decimated every summer.
3x Europa leagues in 3 season with Sevilla, again having his squad decimated every summer
7 trophies in 2 years in Paris.
5th place finish and Euroa league final with Arsenal
Is this really average
If a top coach like Emery can’t make head or tail of the problems at Arsenal then what chance has the hopeless City reject….
Rich, Arteta getting a turn out of the so-called uncoachables inside 7 weeks. Not sure what your point is
Top coach that had Torreira as #10
‘The grass was too long” . Come on this is back to the future, how has someone with no qualifications ended up as Arsenal manager…lol
The point is the tip at the end….
You’ve tried to get our last 2 managers sacked, and you’ve laid down your benchmark for what constitutes success.
The benchmarks you’ve set are undeliverable for Arteta, and what you consider failure which is 3rd or 4th, is also unlikely in the next few years.
You write well, but you’ve been nothing but toxic to Arsenal football club.
“5th place finish and Euroa league final with Arsenal. Is this really average?” The season before was the worst atmosphere experienced in Wenger reign, there was fighting, protests, banners, planes with banners, and a constant media shitstorm about it being an end of an era and how the club was imploding. That season offered up 6th place and a EL semi final going out on away goals to the eventual winners – having Auba arrive in Jan for Giroud, cup tied in Europe. Emery’s first season had Auba drop a golden boot, see only additions made to the squad, yet… Read more »
Rich, who said the benchmarks are unachievable? You? Please. You’ve spent the last 2 hours defending our worst manager in 30 years. I’ll take your gut feelings with a huge pinch of nonsense.
You hope Arteta fails because I’m backing him. If I’m correct, it’ll mean the ‘toxic’ writing you speak of was justified, which will be a hard pill to swallow.
Pedro I thought Wenger was our worst manager in 30 years?
That’s what you were spewing for over a decade?
I can’t keep up?
If Arteta can keep us treading water next season by qualifying for Europa? And develop a young squad for an assault on CL qualification in 2021/22?
Then I think he’ll have done a good job.
But our squad really isn’t up to much, even though you were saying should be a shoe in for 3rd.
Rich, you can claim toxic, but I think you’ll struggle to find comments attributed to me where I said Wenger was the worst manager in 30 years.
You’re struggling to keep up because you’re not paying attention.
Bold ambition there Rich, you think treading water is the goal next season?
My oh my.
Pedro you and Geoff the 🔔 were spewing your bile from 2007.
Yet you claim Poch finishing top4 , is above winning trophies.
You weren’t saying that 10 years ago.
Rich, it’s not bile if it’s true. Wenger stayed on 10 years too long and here we are. Klopp is at Liverpool. Fans like you, that supported the stagnation, are the truly toxic people.
… but it’s nice that you are showing your true colors here.
You are coming for Arteta as a revenge attack. Very amusing.
I also didn’t claim Poch was above winning trophies. I said you don’t need trophies to be classed as elite.
** colours Pedro
You’re English – remember?
Wenger’s flops spilled over into Emery’s tenure which hastened ‘Muy Buena’s’ departure..
Where have I criticised Arteta?
I think he’s up against it, and I’m happy to give him 24 months free hit, whilst he clears out the dross, and has a chance to bed in some young players
Wenger stayed on 4 years too long, he should have gone after the FA cup in 2014.
Edu, I can’t fight my American auto correct 😀
Pedders
Lol
Oh , and good luck with Rich 😊
My pick for best movie in tonight’s Oscars: 1917
Rich, there isn’t a single person that doesn’t think Arteta is up against it… but you were literally crowing that he’d only managed 8 points in his 6 week tenure the other day… and shock horror, combining with some points about how much of a top-class coach Unai Emery was.
You have to let Emery and Wenger go.
Nelson, it was a great picture.
Preferred Dunkirk, but the ambition of 1917 was something else.
You’re missing my point.
I’m not necessarily defending Emery or Wenger, I’m saying you’ve set the benchmark for what constitutes failure and success.
And by your own metrics, if Arteta finishes 5th next season, 2 points off CL, then loses a Europa final?
Then Arteta by your own metrics has failed.
I don’t think he will have.
In fact you told us for years Arsene finishing third and 4th was abject failure, so if Arteta finishes basically anywhere but top, he’s failed.
But because Arteta is your guy, you’ll give him an entirely different set of metrics.
Rich, you are Bamford. I claim my £100.
GunnarDNA not sure about you buddy.
But you Rich. You’ve been busted fella
Eddie,
Why y’all so obsessed with Bamford? Dude got bin and y’all keep mentioning him at every given opportunity. You’re another one who’s suffering from BTS 😷
Rich,
If Emery delivers a season, with the exact same context and outcome as Emery’s first at Arsenal, he will be tarred a failure.
To do that:
He’d have to have zero playing identity
He’d have made the defence worse
He’d have to lose top 4 from a winning position
He’d have to put on an embarrassingly meek Europa Final performance against a side with a manager all the players hated
He’d have to regress against almost every Arsene Wenger metric (during his worse season)
For all you stats lovers, Stillman at 7am just dropped a post that will leave you drooling.
That is one dense article.
But basically, conclusion is Emery was shite, Arteta has to fix it.
Rich, you should probably jump on that read before you come back here defending Emery.
Dense as in stupid?
Dense like a Tolkien novel
On field progress + one of FA or Europa cups + summer clear out otherwise its garbage for Arteta. Judge him in December 21
lol Why u guys lie? Many on here and stadium was shouting ” we got our Arsenal back” so first 3/4 of the season he clearly overachieved. Later on all went to shit therefore the sack. Easy.
Parasite won the best movie. I have to admit that the story is quite unbelievable. Very well directed.
From Wenger’a last season, the Emery era to the recent games under Arteta, we have become much less potent in front of goals The following article attempts to analyse underlying changes by stats and personally thought is insightful. The numbers also help add credence to observations / conjecture/ theories etc that we share on here everyday. Long one though …
https://arseblog.news/2020/02/the-7amkickoff-index-mesut-ozils-stats-a-deep-dive/
Useroz Was just going to post that, interesting read. Guendozi is now our most progressive passer, which goes against what some on here are harping on about. Always said he was a better passer than Xhaka and more incisive, he just needs more consistency and cut out some of the dawdling on the ball. this was interesting too: “Mesut Ozil’s xA/KP in 2019/20 is 0.05. So, while he’s leading the Gunners in key passes, he’s creating shots that aren’t much better than layoffs outside the 18 yard box, folks. And this is a major decline from last season’s 0.10 which… Read more »
Guardiola is hinting that David Silva may need replacing ‘externally’ (he had previously suggested Foden would be taking his place).
What are the chances of Arteta persuading Foden to join us? Majorly speculative obviously, but he would certainly add a new dynamism to our midfield. Foden may feel he is ready for regular first team football.
The article is just trying to use stats to explain what everybody can see. Arsenal struggle to create chances and our attacking players have to drop deeper and wider to get the ball negating their effectiveness in front of goal. We need a ball carrying midfielder who can attract opposition and release teammates in space. The closest replacement to Ramsey is Willock who was excellent during the first two games and then was dropped for Xhaka’s return. Also our main strikers are not physical enough to hold up play, so we are pushed back. One way to counter that would… Read more »
People have really short memories here.If there’s one thing I have learnt is not to take players comments seriously.Cech,sokratis and others(even ornstein told us how insiders were impressed by Emery’s new regimes) were waxing lyrical about emery when he first came and look how that turned out.Players are just looking out for themselves and making sure theybarent in the bad side of the manager…what I do care is results on the pitch and tbh Leno himself is an error prone goalkeeper who should be working on his errors.
I also want to understand how Poch is ‘elite’ when when Wenger who was doing basically the same things except he added a few facups and charity shields here and there was shite and was hounded out of the club.
Also saw someone talk about buendia…the type of player we need he has the most
completed through balls in the Epl and he is quite good in tight spaces.Since we are shopping for cheap evening prices like we do in my local market,we should start looking at these type of players bennacer,buendia,cantwell,fleck etc because let’s face it guys who are talking about grealish are just dreaming
ValentinFebruary 10, 2020 07:21:26 “We have wingers who can’t cross or at least link-up with the teammates either inside with the strikers or outside with the overlapping right back. On the right Pepe is struggling to create a final ball. Being so one footed make it easy to defend against him, so we keep recycling the ball backward. On the left, we deploy Aubameyang who is close to redundant in that position. We use Saka as emergency left back but he mostly play much further up with Xhaka dropping in his position. However when Saka is injured (see the Burnley… Read more »
*xhakalson dropping
Been going on about Fekir for 2 years now, we really missed out last summer for 18m.
So many on here said he was done as a player, he just made a penalty and scored a goal yesterday against Barca (he also got sent off but who’s counting) Would have been such a massive upgrade on Ozil it’s not even funny.
If he’s not massively priced this summer he should be on the Cam list again, he’s too good for Betis.
Question for all of you: Ozil contract expires in Summer 2021 Ramsey contract expires in Summer 2023 In the unlikely event that both clubs, managers and players were in favour of this transaction, who here would approve of a straight swap? Ozil would go to a league that might be suited for him right now and Ramsey would need no adjustment. Arsenal can get out from under an approx 350k a week deal with a deeply divisive player that lasts another season after this one but would inherit an approx 400k a week deal with a far more popular and… Read more »
Maybe we should leave the “Arteta is achieving more with the same players” bit until he starts achieving more
Good article from Arseblog. Fans can cherry pick certain aspects of the article to suit their agenda (as Fred has already done) but taking the analysis as a whole , I think it’s fair to say that Emery was a disaster for Arsenal football club and it will take more than a few weeks to turn this around. It’s also important to mention that this article is focusing more on the creative/attacking side of our game. If our defence/ defending had shown any improvement under Emery then one could understand why the creative side to our game had dropped so… Read more »
Daniel Autos.
Do you do part exchange ?
“I also want to understand how Poch is ‘elite’ when when Wenger who was doing basically the same things except he added a few facups and charity shields here and there was shite and was hounded out of the club”
The “entitled ” fans have a lot to answer for don’t they.
Wenger trusted Ozil and was rewarded? Rewarded with what exactly.. The sack?
Pierre we scored 73 league goals last season… More than Chelsea, Spurs and United. Only bettered by Liverpool and City.
Our creative output did not regress alarmingly. You are name dropping two players whose regression has continued with Freddie and Arteta. If anything the player suffering a regression is Aubameyang and we were told him being on the pitch with Ozil and Lacazette will improve him. Hasn’t happened
Haha Pierre sure…it’s just baffling the love in Poch gets here.Someone who couldn’t win anything(even a charity shields)yet Mr Wenger who actually won things was receiving abuse for the same things right here in Legrove. Dont get me wrong,am not Wenger’s biggest fan but I give credit where it’s due.If you rate poch as elite then you should rate wenger as elite.If you rate poch as elite then dismiss Wenger as a fraud/failure then you are a hypocrite
Pochettino is clearly an outstanding coach, and the worry continues to be that he would likely improve Man Utd immensely should he go there. He has also had a lot of misfortune in his trophy hunt (much to our eventual amusement!) he has been in a league cup final in his first season at Spurs, an unlikely title tilt in his following year, 2 FA cup semi finals in succession losing against rival top four teams. He then lost out on penalties in another league cup semi final and tv en we all know what befell him and his side… Read more »
Agree on Pepe, Pierre
He is painfully left footed and can’t therefore really operate as a right winger in the classic sense and is totally reliant on cutting in. We’ve had this before of course (Overmars on the left) and it can still work but cuts down the options and so reduces the potential effectiveness. The best hope is to let him operate as a wild card – let him run at defences and attempt to cause mayhem – which was often how Sanchez also operated.
Daniel Altos
“”””Dont get me wrong,am not Wenger’s biggest fan but I give credit where it’s due.If you rate poch as elite then you should rate wenger as elite.If you rate poch as elite then dismiss Wenger as a fraud/failure then you are a hypocrite””””
(And a great illustration of Hypocrisy it is too D.A)
And Wengers head to head v Poch was better too.
Every month that goes by-Wengers work at Arsenal looks even more exceptional.
And to be fair- so does Poch at Spurs.
T.H