Oh god Arsene, make it stop, make the bad pictures stop. Serge Gnabry scoring 2 goals at The Bridge last night then tweeting that London was still red, I AM CRYING. Wenger spoke up though.
‘He has no real limitations it’s more how much does he want to suffer,’
‘Because he has pace, power, technical ability, he’s very intelligent, sometimes he looks for the easy way in football. That’s what was his problem. He lacked a bit.
‘I gave him to West Brom, it didn’t work out at all. In fairness I think we had an agreement with him but Bayern stole him away from Werder Bremen.
‘He’s a good player. He has individual ability and collective ability. We had an agreement with him but because he didn’t play at West Brom I let him go with the U21s in the summer with the German national team and he did very well of course. ‘
‘We had prepared him for us to sign his new contract but then suddenly he wanted to go to Werder Bremen. But it was not Werder Bremen that bought him it was Munich that bought him. Because six months or less than one year later he moved from Bremen to Bayern but it was a done deal before’
No limitations? We kept Joel Campbell? We let Theo Walcott stink out the club for ELEVEN YEARS? When all along, Serge had NO LIMITATIONS?
I was told from a good place that the player wasn’t offered a deal until AFTER the Olympics he absolutely smashed up. I was also told that he was utterly horrified by how baffled Wenger was by a change of formation he couldn’t deal with against a pony French team in a preseason game. Still, Pulis had the same opinion, so maybe I’m being harsh? Arsenal were badly run, we just have to move on from that. Bennacer and Malen another two that we let slip during the bad times. Fran Merida too… remember when we hid him in the mountains until he was of age? Sounds kind of, you know, wrong when you look back at it.
I thought the Lucassen interview (good read on his history here) grounded everyone in what a mess we were in. It’s not surprising, Wenger had lost it, if the manager doesn’t know where the club is going, it’s hard to expect people below him to have clarity. I spoke to plenty of people that thought Joncker was a disaster, I wrote about, still doesn’t stop these comments coming across as utterly brutal.
“Before I started, Arsenal had told me that we had to build everything from zero,”
“But when I started the job, I told (Academy boss) Per Mertesacker that this information was not correct.
“We were not starting from zero – but from two below zero!”
This next bit was so perfect because it summed up 10 years of writing about the importance of a footballing philosophy.
“In my first month, I asked 20 different people at the club to describe the so-called ‘Arsenal Way.’
“Everybody spoke about it, but no-one could actually answer my question. Three people just said ‘it’s the passing game.’
“I had worked with other clubs where the objective was for a player to pass the ball to someone else in the same colour shirt, so what was unique about this Arsenal philosophy?
“They had all kind of academy plans, but nothing was based on a proper football philosophy, a playing style, or certain principles.”
I’ve seen people snark at ‘The Arsenal Way’ like it’s not possible to define. I think it was very clear when Wenger first started, however, it became dated because it was never upgraded. I remember Wenger bragging that he hadn’t changed his training in 16 years after taking a beating from Blackburn in a cup. CASE IN POINT BRUH.
Lucassen also went after Unai Emery. The below commentary is for all the people that thought the Spaniard was just a little misunderstood (he was that too because he couldn’t speak English), or badly treated. He was just shite.
“The problem we are dealing with is that the philosophy after the Wenger (above) era has not been developed.
“You can see this in the passing. Players make passes just because they think they have to pass the ball.
Worth noting that Lucassen worked under Ralph Rangnick, so he knows the game. Interesting that he also said Freddie wanted him as his assistant but he was too ill to take the job. He also said most managers are just talk, they don’t know what they are doing, pretty amusing because Emery in interviews (in the press) was an impressive talker… shame he couldn’t convert the theory into action.
Lucassen finished on a positive.
“Bukayo Saka is the best example of what we want at Arsenal.
“He has the potential to become one of the best three wing-backs in the world and I really think Arteta can help in that process.
“Arteta, with his vision, is not far from what we want in the academy.
“Talents like Saka, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith-Rowe and Joe Willock should benefit from that.”
You cannot knock it. Saka is so exciting. Young kids breaking into the first team at that level of performance is outstanding. It’s great for the squad, great for the academy, and great for the fans. Hopefully, Edu has some great ideas about how we prop up the academy with the best kids in the world, to complement the work we’ve been doing at a local level. Also, another person saying that Arteta is on the right track.
Right, short post from me today, listen to my podcast, celebrate it with a little fist bump, then give it a 5*.
Thank you so much, I actually love you. x
dont fuck it up
Ozil and xhahaoutlinesexactly why we will never be able to sustain a challenge for the league one good game between them every 10th game is not what is required.
Torreira? Wheres the in game management?
73 mins 0 shots on target to 3.
Arteta is fine with it I guess.
On the edge boys.
It’s on the edge.
Has Martinelli been a naughty boy like Guendouzi?
Emery ball easily qualified for the Europa league final. This is much worse than Emery ball.
75 minutes gone against a very average side and not a single shot on goal,how pathetic.
About time.
Ceballos has been shite.
Still got the flat footed lummox parading about in midfield though.
Zero shots on target versus a second rate Greek side.
In game management so so poor
I mean it really feels like Pepe has to go through 4 people so we could score. Zero creativity and idea how to unlock their defence.
The players didn’t take this match seriously. They won the away leg and likely thought they had it in the bag.
If Arteta is saving the subs anticipating extra time…I don’t know how I feel about that.
Ceballos was useless today.
Wtf was pepe doing
it is horrible stale crap.
It’s all too static making it easy for them to defend against us.
Lacazette………………
hard way is Arsenal way. Win on pens
What is Pepe doing?
Aagh Laca
Wow a shot on target!
Where the fuck is Pea great idea selling him in the summer………………..not.
Why didn’t he kick it
Pepe only outlet we’ve had all day long. Martinelli is so made for this game.
Last ditch tackle by Mustafi. Walking on a very thin rope now. Not much time left at all.
First shot on target.
Laca is pony.
£70M for a one footed player!
Mustafi motm for us so far
Laca is done! How he’s still starting games is beyond me.. Pepe’s lack of weak foot is actually painful to watch – so awkward!
LACA
HOOOOWWW??????
Well they have woken up a bit
“”” Emery ball easily qualified for the Europa league final. This is much worse than Emery ball.”””
Yep and The first decent team we came up against in that final – what happened again ?
The way they muck around I thought we were 3 nil up !!
Why’s Martinelli said ass still on the bench??
You just want the ball to fall to Auba.. at some point. Laca is so off form.
Does this go straight to pk’s in the event of a draw?
What’s martinelli done wrong, someone remind me?
Is Martinelli injured or something? Did he too get in a fight with Arteta? Why would he be on the bench for 3rd, 4th game running if he wasn’t alright? It’s getting dire out there. Why not trust the boy? But Willock….
Don’t want penalties ffs. Get a goal
Really don’t see how Arteta fielded that midfield
from the start.
Oh ffs laca man….
Extra time if it ends this way in the 90 mins.
Ok Thanks Raptora.
lol Xhaka
Shit I’ve had to change streams and now I’ve got the lady commentator 🙁
Laca to save the day and the season
Lacazette is just too temperamental and inconsistent.He’s the one who has to be sold in the summer.
We have to put up with another 30 minutes of this shite?
Willock for Bellerin. Hope it helps.
Pepe, too much shows but no final ball.
They seem to be tired.
Leave the lady commentator alone and watch the game
Hang on hang on. Where the fuck is martinelli. Where the heck is Nketia. This novice is bringing on torriera and now.. willock???? He does know its 1-1 on aggregate right. I mean this doofus does understand that we are not winning anymore right?
My god this is so bad. I watched Bayern tear Chelsea a new one the other night, we are quite literally light years behind.
Better to be cautious now. An away goal and we are out. Better waiting for extra time. We lost a CL tie (and likely CL title given the other teams through) to Chelsea years ago making that mistake.
Luteo,
I don’t see why you shouldn’t have to suffer. 😉
Final pass has just been impossible to come by.. Auba getting frustrated.
“Hang on hang on. Where the fuck is martinelli. Where the heck is Nketia. This novice is bringing on torriera and now.. willock????”
Exactly how I feel. The fuck with the subs?
Hairline
Who the fuck died and made you Batman? Not everything is an injustice. There’s no crime to fight here, move on.
Receding is a feminist.
Arteta is a rookie manager and it shows.
Team selection poor tonight.
Laca is a liability now.
This is the group whose quality I’m not allowed to question?
What a f*cking joke.
Arteta won’t last long. Mark this down.
Why the heck is lacatrash still on the pitch and auba still out wide smh.
Arteta is scared as shit of the senior players. This game confirms it. He don’t want no problems from the senior players. Strong coach? Not bloody likely ha!
Great defensive header by Laca lol
Ffs. PEPE can’t run at all with his right foot carrying the ball Jesus !! 72m my arse. K
Hamford
Calling poor play what it is during a match is one thing. Slurping on the nethers of every team not named Arsenal is another.
Never ever thought I’d say this…but Mustafi probably our best player tonight
Today, we can’t shoot, we can’t pass.
He lacks in game management. That’s one of the ingredients of a top coach. And he’s also scared to ruffle feathers.
If we concede from this corner, we are out.
It’s like Wenger is control again. This is exact what he would have done.
Least we can concentrate on not being relegated if we lose this
Lol pierre said we were on a run of 5 home game without a defeat and first sight of trouble, we are shanking it..
Arteta is clearly pissed about martinelli, since he told xhaka to move his ass, since then Arteta has been punishing him.
Joke aside, even Wenger plays a forward there. Martinelli has scored a lot of goals. And how is Nketiah not in the group?
Pathetic overpaid wankers
Lol pierre said we were on a run of 5 home game without a defeat and first sight of trouble, we are shanking it..
Pierre jinxed it just like he jinxed Ozil.
Once again we are faced with the reality that the students run the classroom. It happened to Wenger eventually. And every “authority figure” since. This is why some if us wanted a strong ALPHA to come in and kick these brats into shape.
Extremely poor. Can’t have been any worse. So laboured.
Our worst European performance for quite some time.
We barely got ourselves to Extra time.
Another thirty minds of shite
“He assumed we would need defensive players to shut the game out.”
Shut the game out at 1-1???? What the actual fuck???
Why no marinelli?
He’s scared of the senior players. It’s that simple.
Emery out.
Arsenal ruining accumulators since 1906
Valentin
Did you just see Torriera marking the tallest man on the last corner?
Why the hell is torreira marking a player twice his size??????
Celtic hammered at home
Well I think Arteta has put a lot of trust in Laca and it’ not really paying off.
Can’t say as I’m too excited about extra time. So much for a stress free match.
Extra time we must go e-i-e-i-e-i-o
If I catch you slacking I’ll saw your legs right off.
Our coach is hopeless. Said so from the start. Has no idea how to shake things up. Carlo was the man. People may disagree with me but that’s my opinion. We ended up on the defensive at home! Dreadful.
Ozil and Lacazette finishing the 90 minutes is criminal. Arteta, at this moment of time, is a weak manager. His in game management is atrocious. Clean slate my ass. He chose his favorites in couple of months and would play them regardless of anything.
Shocking 90 min.
Let’s reset.
And add some sauce. C’mon.
Disgustingly awful,if you told me these players are highly paid pros i wouldnt believe it this is worse then the final against Chavski ergo we havnt progressed one bit in 8 months.
This was shocking. I expected so much more of this team.
It was so laboured, it was an eye sore to watch.
Arteta better sub in Martinelli.
Backpass
Sorry, but when did Martinelli tell Xhaka to “move his ass”?
(Good for him, btw.)
“That went right over your head
We were 1-0 up when he selected the team”
Yeah and what about his subs – Torreira and Willock?
If I’m martinelli nketia and saka I’m asking for guaranteed game time or I’m off. Sterling and Jadon sancho gave all these youngsters the blueprint. Believe in yourself, your ability. Don’t let these trash coaches ruin your development.
Hard to think of a permanent Arsenal manager who has made a shakier start than Arteta. Terry Neill perhaps?
Has to be said, This is an Emery performance if you have ever seen one.
Welp! Hopefully auba saves us again, like he always does. Nothing wenger, emery, freddie or arteta has done has made any difference. Auba saves us. Thats the bottom line.