The winter break is OVER and the football can begin.
The good news is the squad will all boast a light bronze tan coming out of the Dubai camp, good for confidence. They’ll also have had some time to mentally recalibrate and they’ll no doubt have a bit more juice in the legs (legal juice).
The injury story is finally starting to look a little less bleak. The Newcastle game this weekend will see the return of Reiss Nelson, Saed Kola, and Bukayo Saka. Three crucial players to the Arteta model. Power and pace. Something we miss too often in this squad.
Pablo Mari is being earmarked for the Europa League game against Olympiacos on Thursday. Cedric has some work to do to get over his problems. Cal and Kieran are still a way off.
Quite a lot of the pre-game chat was about squad rebuilding for this summer. Mikel had this to say on the planning process.
“Absolutely, we have to plan,”
“We need to know the direction we want to head and to do that we need bear in mind different scenarios.
“With that in mind I have to tell the club what we need, where we think we can improve and where we need to aim.
“If we all aim for the same things, we put a plan in place to execute it, and make the process as short as possible.”
I suspect the direction of this summer will be far more pointed than it has been. Mikel seems much more clear in what his plan for the squad is and hopefully that will be reflected in the types of player we bring in, but more importantly, the emergence of Edu should ensure that this summer, things move a lot quicker.
The Mirror reckon we’ll likely move on a lot of the players with one year left on their deals. They expect to see Auba, Lacazette and Leno receive big money offers… and I’d be fine with that, provided we don’t bring in a load of bums in to replace them. Youth, power, pace and elite levels of football intelligence.
There’s a story doing the rounds that Saka is nowhere near on his deal negotiations. I know he’s a top talent, so the interest from other clubs is likely real, but I think he’d be made to leave a club that’s giving him what he wants: trust, coaching, game time. He has a good thing here, the fans love him, and he’s living in London.
The Newcastle game is big. I think we need to see an uptick in output. Arteta has been working his process through the club, he’s spent some time with the players, had some good moments, some bad.. but the squad is united.
Now let’s see what it has to offer.
Mesut Ozil has been taking a pasting from everyone this week. His output has declined at a rapid rate, and he’s under pressure for more than his body language. He needs to turn up, convert the effort into assists, and he has to start influencing games like he used to.
Overall, the team needs to be more ambitious in the final third. We have a very exciting front three however you package them. Better finishing, more ambition, and faster movement.
The next 5 games are about finding the balance. We are harder to beat, no doubt, but we’re not protagonists at the moment. We’re a little bit Wenger of a few years ago. It’s almost a tactical ploy to give us the ball, because we’ve no idea how to use the advantage. I think Nuno said he doesn’t believe in ‘pointless possession’, that’s where we are, we need some edge… and for me, there is no doubt we have the players to move to the next level there at this moment.
We have a pretty fair run of fixtures over the next two months. We need to make it count, get some wins, improve the football, and build some belief going into the summer.
See you in the comments. x
He’s playing Ceballos and Ozil together?
Arteta is really trying to square the cycle. This selection is strange to say the least.
Hope it’s a stoke of genius but it’s like seeking prime numbers.
Pierre,
A midfield of Xhaka, Ceballos and Ozil will not dominate and they will not press. Ozil may put in the kilometres but he won’t put up any fight, Xhaka is Xhaka. They are going to walk through that midfield.
Can you imagine if arsenal were able to attract talent like Song!
I don’t get this honestly.
Newcastle are going to play a robustly physical game and then we put up a lot of players who aren’t comfortable with physicality.
They are going to put balls in the air but then we put up a team with players that will lose 9/10 headers on a good day, talk-less for a windy day.
Cutter, you’re coming across as a spud.
“I don’t get this honestly.”
Are you doubting SSA?
When you look at that line-up you realise why Arsenal are where they are atm and have been in Europa League now for several seasons.
It ain’t a quality team.
May be enough to get past Newcastle though. Who knows.
Alex
Pardon my ignorance sir, what’s ’ SSA?
Social security administration?
Is hola,
Agreed, but there are better options on the bench.
Left Testicle
“A midfield of Xhaka, Ceballos and Ozil will not dominate and they will not press. Ozil may put in the kilometres but he won’t put up any fight, Xhaka is Xhaka. They are going to walk through that midfield.”
Newcastle ain’t got no midfield either.
That’s why Arteta maybe went for this line-up today knowing that whatever Newcastle put out for their midfield would be hardly scary.
“Cutter, you’re coming across as a spud.”
1) Don’t care what you think.
2) Son has more sack than any five arsenal squad members combined. Current or over the past 10 years.
3) I’m pulling for Pool to smash the “invincibles” record just so akbs cant use it as a crutch anymore.
we clear?
It’s fair to say that the mood around the club has improved since Arteta joined. On the pitch, the players seem happier too.
But we need to see more. Our play is still really slow. And still, those goal kicks where we put a defender either side of Leno to receive a short pass, even if 4 opposition players are pressing.
Arteta needs time. And at least 2 transfer windows. But it would be nice to see us playing great football while winning comfortably. It’s been too long.
Horrible mistake by the Villa defender for Spurs late winner but has to be said a classy take from Son.
Very surprised no martinelli or torreira who for me are unquestionably first choices. But ozil and xhaka are artetas favourites who mustn’t be questioned.
Come to think of it…all the players that blew smoke up Arteta’s arse during the break re all starters.
Luiz, Mustafi and Ozil
I’ll try not to draw any connection to their ass-licking.
SSA = Special Sauce Arteta
Good win today.
Nketiah goal….
Yep, Spud
Hi Ladies… How’s everyone? So glad to have the football back.. Really need a win today.. To me it looks as if Arteta is still picking lineups based on the past when we could flat track bully poor sides. I don’t think that’s the case anymore. Anyhow… I hope Eddie doesn’t let him down. To be fair Auba and Laca have been finishing very poorly as of late. Would like to see us put a complete match together .. not just 30 or 40 minutes of good football and the rest bad to terrible. A midfield without LT could be… Read more »
The midfield is physically weak and unbalanced..
Long balls gallore for their wide players to run behind our full backs.
“It’s fair to say that the mood around the club has improved since Arteta joined.”
“Come to think of it…all the players that blew smoke up Arteta’s arse during the break re all starters. — Luiz, Mustafi and Ozil
I’ll try not to draw any connection to their ass-licking.”
Which one is it, ladies?
I must be one of the only ones who likes the line up. An off form striker has been deservedly dropped for an academy player who wants to prove himself.
The midfield has more creative players in it, we will likely be playing against a parked bus so it makes sense for two attacking players in the midfield.
Confident of the win today for us.
9 points and – 11 GD to this garbage Spuds.
Bad team selection again. Lets hope for easy win.
That line-up is making me nervous.If we don’t get the result today,Arteta’s got to get the blame. Starting Auba wide for Nketiah ? Straaange move. Putting Ceballos and Xhaka behind Ozil ?Might as well build a highway through the middle of the pitch. Luis and Mustafi in defence ? Might as well put a +1 against errors leading to goals. I really hope I’m wrong and we smash them,but I see an all too familiar script playing out.We score a goal but struggle to create chances,then gift Newcastle a goal late in the game and play on the back foot… Read more »
Ishola
Newcastle. Have no midfield? You plum
Jonjo Shelvey is as good as any passer can be, Almiron is a good runner and Longstaff was wanted by United in the summer
They have two former spuds -layers who will be up for it- Bentaleb and Rose.
I see them actually wrestling the midfield from us.
NewCastle is going to park the bus. There is no need to play double DM’s. This lineup will have both Ceballos and Ozil feeding the front attackers. I hope Eddie can take this opportunity and shows us his quality.
alex c.
Lots of managers pick players based upon who buys into his philosophy.
But a clever player could then brown nose his way into the team I suppose.
“Jonjo Shelvey is as good as any passer can be…”
His entire presence on the pitch is valuable to most clubs.
Dissenter
You daftie.
Shelvey isn’t starting and Almiron isn’t a central midfielder.
Prvhc
“That line-up is making me nervous.If we don’t get the result today,Arteta’s got to get the blame.”
On the flip side, if we do get a result ,he deserves credit..
Shelvey is injured.
Nelson
Newcastle ain’t gonna park the bus, maybe against Wenger’s Arsenal.
No one fears this Arsenal team. Brighton beat us at home and we were very lucky against Southampton. Sheffield outplayed us for long portions of the game.
They are coming to play ball not park the bus. We aren’t good enough for anyone to park the bus against us.
Anyone have a decent stream?
Eddie over Martinelli is a strange one.
Awful line up. The only player auba should be moved out wide is Laca. And in this form even Lacazette should be dropped. Front three of Martinelli, Auba and pepe must be our starters on this form. Midfield has no legs either. A xhaka and ceballos pivot is asking for trouble. Let’s see if the gamble pays off. I know he has one eye in the Europa league but we could have played a more balanced lineup.
Ishola
Almiron is an tacking midfielder, you plum 😀
You said they have no midfield, don’t move the goal post.
Dissenter
“I don’t get this honestly.
Newcastle are going to play a robustly physical game and then we put up a lot of players who aren’t comfortable with physicality.”
You don’t have to fight fire with fire, skill and technique will win the day.
“Anyone have a decent stream?”
https://youtu.be/-mrkbrlJ_X0?t=12
https://soccerstreams100.co
Dissenter
Keep to blowing bubbles up Xhaka’s bum.
I don’t think Nketiah starting a league game for us paints us as a serious club. Kid couldn’t get a game at Leeds
I hope Arteta’s got it right today. A loss and we’re right in the shit.
Think you’re wrong here Dissenter. Newcastle have a threat with Almiron and Saint Maximin but we will have more of an attacking focus now to add to our recent defensive solidity.
Think we will win by 2 clear goals.
Streams – https://my.soccerstreams100.tv/
Tons of empty seats as usual.
Pretty sure not even Nketiah knows how he became from a Championship sub, to a Arsenal starter in the space of a month.
If Arsenal fails to win this, all eyes on Arteta again! Pepe, Auba, Martinelli looks like our best front 3 on paper and he’s not tried it even once.
Lol
Well here we go…. guess we will find out… Let’s GO!!!!
Good looking out AC.
Why buy 2 defenders who can’t play. I understand they’re loans, but buying a defender who’s not match fit, and one who’s injured when we’re in dire need of help in that department is madness, isn’t it? I mean we all mocked the kallstrom purchase, isn’t this slightly the same thing?
We just love back passing
“Tons of empty seats as usual.”
It’s part of the “dress up as an empty seat” costume promotion going on today.
You get a free eel pie.
What a bad corner from Pepe.
Ceballos doing well in the opening exchanges.
Auba can’t cross.
I told you that Mustafi is a starter for Arteta now ahead of Sokratis. Not that I rate Sok either. But axis of Lacazette (Nketiah), Ozil, Xhaka, Mustafi is straight out of a horror movie. And it’s the one that Arteta goes for game in game out.
The Cedric Soares deal was very dubious
We have Saka having a break-out season and then there’s Tierney and Kola.
To make matters worse, he came to us injured
Xhaka with a mindless yellow in the 8th minute. Who would have thought?!
8 minutes for Xhaka to get a yellow, what a cunt.
Xhaka receives a yellow in the 8th minute.
Xhaka is too slow to play upfront.
Ishola
“Keep to blowing bubbles up Xhaka’s bum”
I’ll start doing that when you stop throwing tomatoes at the lad.
That was a dumb yellow from Xhaka so early in the game
Ozil passing sideways or back.
Xhaka picks up the customary card.
Xhaka is a useless twat. Arteta is at fault for continually picking him.
Long break in Dubai. What’s changed?
Newcastle already slowing the tempo.
Xhaka has no choice, dude can not tackle and is too slow. Ceballos is spraying passes about so not mad at him so far. Just would have preferred LT to Xhaka. Not gonna talk about Ozil anymore.. so over it.
Take Xhaka off before we are down to ten.
Arteta game management needs to improve.
Why we give up the FB/LW overlapping plays.
People already lining up to blame Xhaka.
The team is set up with two attacking midfielders in central midfield
What do you expect a slow midfielder like Xhaka to do.
Arteta wan’t to keep playing Ozil at the expense of the team. He should have dropped him for Ceballos and played Torriera.
Ffs Xhaka
Why do we seat away fans so close to the pitch?
We operate like amateurs.
Who said Newcastle were going to “park the bus”?
Arteta left his sauce in Dubai.
We’re getting dumpstered by Newcastle at home.
Newcastle looking like they’ve been revitalised from a mid season Dubai break here.
No pace, no urgency to our play. Not direct enough. So slow and very tepid.
Things need to improve this afternoon.
Making it easy for the Geordies.
Auba on the wing is useless.
Pass back, sideways, back pass, sideways, then back,
Yawn
No Eddie or Ozil in the game so far…Newcastle very comfortable on the ball
We need to be more flexible with our play. This doubling up the left is becoming predictable now.
Do the right as well. Switch it up.
Passing the ball in front of the Newcastle back line. No penetration.
Same song
It’s a very daft thing really, he’s a CF, play him there…Don’t think Nketiah has had a touch yet, just running around
Easy win some people were saying lol
Leon’s delivery is bad.
The “midfield” is non-existent
I just don’t understand this line up! We need a convincing win today but Arteta is going conservative again. Did he get too much sun on his head? Abu out wide (again) Nketiah leading the line and of course the usual suspects Ozil & Xhaka. Fair play starting Ceballos but he is going to be exposed in this midfield – I can already hear the usual crowd on here telling anyone who will listen that Ceballos is crap! Is Arteta doing this deliberately in order to get rid of him? Why are proven form players like Martinelli, Torreira on the… Read more »
Fucking hell, 20 minutes in and Newcastle have been the better team . Truly shocking.
Same,
how could it be an easy win if you handicap yourself by picking this starting lineup? I’m curious to know wtf is Arteta thinking.
This is too slow from Arsenal. This isn’t good enough I’m afraid. We have to be honest with this.
It’s like were trying to contain Newcastle with a possession based game. We’re at home….
Every horrible thing stems from that midfield no place, no power, no energy and It’s not compensating with creativity like some people think.
How will Pedro spin this shit show?
pace*
It’s like we need to change this already.
Eddie isn’t a CF. He’s a poacher in a two up top. He cannot play up front on his own. He isn’t strong enough yet.
Why would Saka sign a new contract?
I agree on Auba. Ffs when you’re fighting relegation you can’t fuck about playing players out of position. I think Arteta is trying to hard to be Pep.
Arsenal restricted to playing like Newcastle – long diagonal balls