The less we say about that game the better. Arsenal put on their worst performance under Arteta. The team was fatigued, the energy was pedestrian, and we were god awful in the final third.
To make matters worse, we conceded a goal early in the second half from a set-piece. Just standard Arsenal, a total mess.
We absolutely controlled possession, but somehow, Olympiacos still looked like they were dictating the terms of the game. In the final third, we were a real mess. Bad decisions, heavy touches, and a real lack of a final ball. I didn’t ever feel like we knew how to win that game.
When the game rolled into extra time, you started to fear the deep block was going to win out. However, Arteta had a trump card, and it was Gabriel for the second 15 of extra time. He made the difference immediately. Olympiacos struggled with fitness and the live wire Brazilian made it difficult with his drive and energy.
The sub paid off. Mesut Ozil found Gabriel with a good cross from the right, his flicked header in the box sat up for Auba who scissor-kicked home. What an outrageous goal. We thought we had a winner.
We did not.
Leno gave away a stupid corner. We cleared at the front post, they picked up the ball, slipped a teasing high ball into the box, Luiz let it go to the back post, Sokratis was beaten to the ball and Leno was late off his line. They equalized.
It wasn’t over for chances though, 2 minutes into the added-on time and Auba was found in the box from 6 yards and somehow he fired wide. Absolutely horrendous.
Arsenal drop from the Europa League. Embarrassing, upsetting, but absolutely deserved. We didn’t show up, we lacked quality in all areas of the pitch, and we didn’t know how to make possession count. These days are hard to stomach, but they were always going to happen as we build to a brighter future. The key thing is that we learn from our mistakes.
Now it’s all about the league. Let’s hope the team has it in them to brush this off and pursue the Champions League the proper way, but winning the 5th place trophy.
I recorded a bonus podcast with Matt last night, we don’t talk about Europa and we do a nice section on Ian Wright.
But come on guys…what did we really think would happen when we welcomed back players who threw Wenger and emery under the bus?If this xhaka,ozil,mustafi,laca experiment continues we will be absolutely destroyed by the time we play liverpool…I am struggling to even see who would pay 30m for all those guys combined
Saka is not a left back or wing back, yet he attracts global interest, if that sucks . . . Send him off with Gnabry
Leftside, Ishola, G8, Rollen, Danish, JWL, Reality Check, Plato
Good stuff, all.
As with Backpass, I kindly request that you be here more often. Cheers.
I turned the game off, deep in stoppage time, must see the Aubameyang miss before commenting…
I remembered when Leno said things were a mess under Emery and most people used those comments as stick to beat Emery.
Since Arteta came, he’s cost us 3 goals and we lost 2 games as a result.
What a great article perdro….NOT Not once do you mention the shit in game management on display, not once do you question what the fuck was torreira supposed to do when chasing a game? Not once do you question the lack of balls shown by Arteta by playing his favourites and the senior players over and over and you had this to write… However, Arteta had a trump card, and it was Gabriel for the second 15 of extra time. He made the difference immediately. ….are you kidding me? Shouldn’t the question be why the fuck was martenelli not brought… Read more »
I’d say Mr Thorough summed it up perfectly
Spot on, Olumide.
Why the fcuk Martinelli wasn’t brought on much earlier is a question for the ages.
Aubameyang miss was like Giroud when he joined the club…
RockyRoe
….are you kidding me? Shouldn’t the question be why the fuck was martenelli not brought on at 60 when the Greeks were pulling our pants down?But hey it’s ‘others’ with the agendas.
—
Sshhhh. Only plastic fans would complain about Arteta right now. Every real fan would shut up and support.
Well auba is gone. The once who need to go will not ofcourse, saka would probably be advised not to sign an extention when he has big clubs sniffing around. And you can’t really blame them.
Funnily enough artetas in-game management was brought up here multiple times over the last few weeks and got swept under the carpet…
Leno must be dropped
Arteta has to get some balls.
Bellerin sell him get rid .
He said on joining us he needs to be ruthless.
Words are cheap actions harder
Grow up Arteta
I think Arteta is only making use of what is available atm. Xhaka days should be numbered by the summer.
Hypothetically, What can Arteta try out in midfield apart from using Xhaka and Özil.
If you place Pepe behind the striker rather than on the wing. That won’t work because Pepe also slows the game down at incorrect times.
. RockyRoeFebruary 27, 2020 23:41:03 What a great article perdro….NOTNot once do you mention the shit in game management on display, not once do you question what the fuck was torreira supposed to do when chasing a game? Not once do you question the lack of balls shown by Arteta by playing his favourites and the senior players over and over and you had this to write…However, Arteta had a trump card, and it was Gabriel for the second 15 of extra time. He made the difference immediately.….are you kidding me? Shouldn’t the question be why the fuck was martenelli… Read more »
Incredible that some people here are still talking about this team competing for 5th place. Holy shit, people. Wake the fuck up. Let me make this as clear as possible: there is no chance whatsoever of this group competing for 5th. None.
Spanish
Arteta talked about the issue of competition between GKs in his prematch conference so I expect him to follow his words with actions(being ruthless) . Once beaten twice shy for Leno now.
Imagine the post if this performance dropped under Wenger or emery….there would be blood, blud.
But Arteta ofcourse needs a full preseason and 2 transfer windows to hold on to be able to hold on to a away goal lead at home against Greek opposition in Europa league.
Good stuff from you as well, Dani. Please be here more often.
We cannot be reactionary tonight. We played like a team abrupt of ideas fatigued.
Arteta will learn from his in game management. Who he can trust and who he cannot.
As much as I’ve liked Laca, I’m afraid he has to he dropped for Auba central or even Martinelli. We’ve got to prepare for the inevitable.
If the CL is not within our grasp, we need to start being honest with ourselves and start preparing for next season.
Auba I think will stay. I get that feeling -even though this has got to hurt.
Could be wrong, but if we do sell him, I hope we get more than 45m
God Knows we need a reinvestment in the middle of the team
The club need to revamp in the summer and rebuild the midfield.If not Arteta matters not a jot. The manager matters if he’s still making dumbass decisions and still picking certain types and overlooking others. I mean we could revamp whatever next season but if Arteta is still continually picking out of form players and leaving abject performing players on the pitch for 90 mins then we’ve got a problem going forward. He gets a significant amount of leeway already for some reason especially considering that he brought Mustafi back into the team, built the attack around Ozil and convinced… Read more »
Rocky Roe
Great comment at 23:41:03.
Major
He will put Martinez in for Portsmouth but will not let him in for the next game.
Arteta is Wenger lite
Martinez is not in Leno’s class so stop laying into Leno. Essentially Leno has no one pushing him to stay at his best.
What about all the buffoon players that were slating Emery over and over again?I’m sure Arteta is communicating his tactics to them properly.
The line between objectivity and subjectivity for Arsenal fans is very thin. When a player is starting you complain he supposed to be benched when the other who was bench is allowed to start you say the first one ought to have started.
Just choose one side already.
Leno’s. class!!!!
He hasn’t got it.
Poor decision maker just watch him.
Pompey and fratton park will not be an easy place to go. They’re doing alright this season.
Had we progressed tonight some momentum would be there.
Definitely need a reaction on Monday. Arteta needs to see the players react.
Marko
That’s why I said Arteta will not matter if certain players are still relied upon next season.
Do we want to see Arteta try to turn water into wine but ultimately fail no? No.
We simply need new faces in midfield as a starter.
Major General are you saying what’s available to Arteta in terms of playing personnel isn’t good enough to beat Olympiakos at home?
“Arsenal drop from the Europa League. Embarrassing, upsetting, but absolutely deserved”
Perfect summation, Pedro. This group of players, year over year, flatter to deceive like no other.
lets be honest…. I hope the scoucers get the unbeaten record & the invincibles tag it’s been a millstone around the neck for years which the club ‘ not the players ‘ have been living off for years to excuse themselves of properly investing on the field ,it needs to be jettisoned now starting with relieving ourselves of any wenger connections inc Holding & Bellerin both great players in their own right but tainted . I dont like dragging this old shit up but it was all there on open display tonight the crap defence the complacency the poor final… Read more »
My critique of Arteta is a worrying trend of favouritism for some players. Especially a few senior ones.
Perhaps tonight is the night to start the massive cull we need.
Chop chop.
So much to work on – but realistically- why are people not giving Olympiacos the credit they deserve ? They were a champions league team that dropped DOWN to OUR level A bit arrogant to think we should be beating them comfortably If we can’t beat the CL team that dropped down this season then we have no business looking to be in it next season – the outcome would only be us dropping back down to europa if we’re lucky I’ve enjoyed what Arteta has brought to the table but he has to learn from this tonight – don’t… Read more »
Pedro, “Arsenal drop from the Europa League. Embarrassing, upsetting, but absolutely deserved. We didn’t show up, we lacked quality in all areas of the pitch, and we didn’t know how to make possession count. These days are hard to stomach, but they were always going to happen as we build to a brighter future. The key thing is that we learn from our mistakes” I see what you did there Lots of negative descriptors to make it seem like you’re hard hitting and frank but then you just seemed to embrace failure like a pusillanimous choker. You can’t leave out… Read more »
“Essentially the away side in the second leg get an extra 30 mins over the tie in which their goals count for more than the home side.”
Really DM? How bout taking care of fucking business at home like any home team should!
Edu,
100%.
Laca has to be dropped now. Luis and bellerin. Certain players will cost him dearly.
He has to stamp some authority on this now. Ceballos wasn’t all that either today. Xhaka gave the ball away loads.
Monday and the game after some players need leaving out .
At SpanishDave
Let’s wait and see. He already talked about GK in ref to Caballero taking Courtois place at Chelsea lineup. If it was Wenger Martinez would have started both Olympiacos games.
Anyone that thinks Arteta has favorites has no proof for this. Yes his substitutions especially to bring in Martinelli was late.
But this was the same player that was trusted to play the game at Chelsea even when the team was 10 man down.
“It’s going to be depressing if we keep this manager for next season..”
Red, in all honesty, if you are not part of the solution then you clearly are part of the problem. Again, give Arteta a fair chance – he deserves that much at the very least.
Honestly are you even an Arsenal supporter?
Daniel I have a fear that Arteta is a very good coach but might not be a very good manager. There is ofcourse a world of difference in coaching and managing a team. I mean I seriously would like to understand what was going in his head when things were looking dire in the 1st half, what motivates him keep things as is till the 70th minute? Why does he keep playing pea on the left and laca in the middle, I mean if it was working I can understand shafting pea to the left. You see your team playing… Read more »
Ernest
He’s been here for years, since the Geoff days posting under many guises.
Wind up merchant.
Decent point Edu.
But it is always the way.
Over-rate your team but under-rate the opposition.
This Olympiakos side gave Bayern Munich a match in one of the CL group matches going down 3-2.
And we all know Arsenal are on a lower rung than Bayern Munich.
“Anyone that thinks Arteta has favorites has no proof for this.”
You don’t have powers of observation?
What proof are you seeking; a leaked video showing Arteta and certain players having an orgy?
Most manager has favorites, Arteta is no different.
Rocky roe
What you’re are asking are valid points.
Everyone is allowed to ask them.
When youre winning games and don’t lose. You assume and see things differently and are ok.
It’s in defeats and abject performances like that, tou expect a manager to see what’s wrong.
I’d like to believe that, after tonight some things will have to change for our season to move forward and at least finish on a high.
I wouldn’t actively seek to sell Leno he’s the least of our problems but if a German club were to come in for him I’d probably sell him. He’s good but I think he’s fairly easily upgradable. Andre Onana for one Henderson at Sheffield United is another. Lafont as well is another with great potential. Always liked Anthony Lopes as well.
Dissenter
Do you still want to see Xhaka get a standing ovation from the home crowd soon as you wished a few weeks ago?
What an embarrassing comment from you that was.
And you want to go after Pedro regarding Arteta but are quite happy to indulge dross players at the club.
Laca has to be dropped. It’s clear as day, them 2 goals have done nothing for his overall game and it’s becoming a detriment to the way we play.
Sometimes its amusing PieAFC, but lately its like listening to Rainman, over and over. At least get some new material!
Ishola70
Olympiacos finished bottom of the group winning only one game and that came via an 87th minute penalty in the last game against Red Star…
I didn’t think we had a chance in hell of winning the Europa league this season so tonight doesn’t bother me. Five to six teams in the competition are better than us and have better managers to booth. Notice the use of the term manager not coach.
Well articulated @ Dissenter and Edu me a favour RHairline I am saying what is available in playing personnel for the rest of season. Not just for today. Yes better decisions could have been made ,we can talk about the starting 11,substitutions, setpiece defending, in game management etc but it won’t change the outcome now. We move on. Arteta, his players and his coaching staff will learn from this. There is no 100% guarantee that if we had different coach to Arteta in the dug out that the outcome of the game against Olympiakos won’t still be the same. Also… Read more »
Yeah still really gnaws at me that we nearly sold Xhaka in January for close to 30 million only to convince him to stay and meanwhile an absolute prospect like Bruno Guimaraes went for less. Hertha have Lucas Tousart signed up for the summer so that ship has sailed. But I hear it should be easy enough to get rid of Granit Xhaka so I’m not worried
None of what happened today should come as a surprise, should it? This team has played poorly for some time now and on occasion show some zip or spark. The reality is that management know they have a dysfunctional squad of players and despite Arteta’s best efforts at trying to teach old dogs new tricks, the facts remain, they are indeed old dogs incapable of anything other than what they are, marginally adequate only at the best of times. This one sits with Raul and Edu to right many wrongs. Only a fool would believe this squad capable of anything… Read more »
Imagine nketiah, you have just scored a delicious volley and hit the post in the last match and then you get dropped. Won’t the FA Cup match be a better fit for laca in his current form? Lower league opposition, might be he gets a couple building his confidence. You know, we all dissed Giroud but his hold up play was class and if laca can’t do that and can’t get goals or run ehind creating space why not give nketiah an extended run in? I’m so fucking mad right now, we lost this game not because the opposition out… Read more »
Major general they are no 100% guarantees in football that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try
The game wasn’t changed from the bench and that’s not good enough
The starting eleven gave room for the fatigue excuse
Arteta just broke Mustafi (not that I care, this one is for Pedro)
And bringing on Martinelli when he did was more ass covering than tactics, boy should have been on much earlier, many in that front line were begging to be subbed
Yes he may learn from it but that wasn’t what Pedro sold on here. Work placement wasn’t the dream
Redtruth “Olympiacos finished bottom of the group winning only one game and that came via an 87th minute penalty in the last game against Red Star…” They had some shit results as well yeah but giving Bayern a match suggests they may not be as hopeless as some want to portray. Drew with Spurs as well at home and thought they were a bit unlucky to go down at Spurs away as they gave Spurs problems in that match for a while. I suppose it depends on how highly you rate this present Arsenal team and going by your posts… Read more »
The less said the better. Arsenal are ponderous and laborious in
their attack. Too many passes. Don’t believe me.
Look at how other teams stage lightning attacks and score.
In saw the first half and didn’t wnt to lose my sleep. I have been
vindicated.
Arteta obviously sees himself in a player like Xhaka, pedestrian, can’t tackle an all-round liability
PedRo
“”””These days are hard to stomach, but they were always going to happen as we build to a brighter future.””””
There ain’t no bright future under:
Silent Stan.
I doubt he even knew the match was on.
And to ponder a thought regarding fifth place or better, as some of you continually chime in with? Do you honestly want to watch these clowns get thoroughly embarrassed next season in the Champions League? This team, right now, in this form – its guaranteed they will get their asses handed to them in the prettiest of ways.
Think about it.
Sacking Emery was bad enough but replacing him with a non-entity is a bloody nightmare
Shut the fuck up already Red, you hate Arsenal.
Red
Sacking emery was on point he wasn’t getting the results, hiring a complete greenhorn is another matter.
Dissenter
I already gave an example of how Arteta does not have favorites so far,. The impetus is upon you to prove otherwise. If have the evidence share it.
We won away at their place and should have attacked them early on to put the tie away.
Instead Arteta went to hold on at home!
Rookie manager , Wengerish, poor.
Auba will go now.
You*
Although, I always thought our chances of winning the EL were slim at best, I was confident we were going to beat Olympiacos again… maybe even over-confident. I guess Arteta and the players felt that way too.
Performances have been so-so over the last couple of games. We were bound to have a bad result at some point. Let’s see how Arteta and the team respond.
Mustafi, Xhaka, Ozil and Lacazette is such a piss poor spine and Arteta is the man who keeps selecting them.
Pedro spinning the fact that Martinelli didn’t make an appearance until the 105th minute as Arteta playing a trump card. Should have played from the start.
Major
Explain laca selection match after match with little or no positive results? When he has other options available to him.
Good teams remaining in the FA Cup:
Manchester City
Chelsea
Liverpool
Leicester City
Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur
Chances of Arsenal winning it:
none
Maybe now the absolute whooper of a narrative that we have some ultra-talented squad can finally be put to rest.
We won away at their place and should have attacked them early on to put the tie away.
Instead Arteta went to hold on at home!
Rookie manager , Wengerish, poor.
Auba will go now.
Very poor management
I do think we need a keeper who dominates the area. The mistake Leno made v Chelsea has affected him as he rarely , if ever leaves his line in the fear that he may misjudge it. I haven’t watched the deciding goal again but surely Leno’s starting position should have been 3 or 4 yards off his line and then he could have walked out and caught or dived to punch it clear to relieve the pressure as the ball as it came over Luiz head. The ball came in from a very deep area so he could have… Read more »
“Let’s see how Arteta and the team respond.”
Feels like we’ve been down this road far too often, doesn’t it Rodney?
Pierre
We have faaaar more pressing concerns than Leno and not a whole lot of money
“Chances of Arsenal winning it:
none”
There is always a chance, Bamford. Recall Wigan taking out Man City. There is always a chance.
Wrong, Emery should of been given time and not blasted out and replaced by a freak…
Just a question….
Are you actually Arsenal fans or fair weather plastics?
One defeat no matter how painful in 11 isn’t exactly a disaster class.
Very few fully functioning teams can handle the rigours of a full Premier League season, Cup competitions and the Europa League talk less of a dispirited and shaky team like Arsenal.
Onwards and upwards.
Stop running your petty agendas on the basis of trying to prove yourselves right.
No ones listening.
“The mistake Leno made v Chelsea has affected him as he rarely , if ever leaves his line in the fear that he may misjudge it.”
There is no proof of that Pierre, thats speculation on your part. Leno is far from Arsenal’s problem this season.
He was pretty open about what mistakes were made in the post match conference. I really want Arteta to succeed. He’s walked into a shit mess. 2 losses in 12 games. Cracks have been papered over. I want Arteta to be ruthless. Start playing players the way he wants us to play, not to cover for lack of attributes or particular talent. Fuck all that of. Some players do need dropping. And I believe they will be. Bellerin feel for the lad. So many games he has been roasted on that right hand side. 24 and career at the top… Read more »
“Also shows we have got stuck in a pattern of play that is too easy to defend against, in that everything has to go out wide.Also shows that we are still playing with too much fear through midfield in that no one is prepared to commit a player and take them on.”
Fortunately that will all be sorted with coaching………..
Dolomite
It wasn’t fatigue that did us in, it was piss poor team selection.
The only one with an agenda is you.
Receding Hairline
Indeed the biggest fault is that of Arteta. I also expected Martinelli to start at home in this game.
Regardless of the manager trying better, Olympiacos are never a tough nut to crack though even at home. The last game arsenal played at home ended in a loss. I hope I am right about that stat.
Pierre: “Shit happens , that’s football, out on away goals.” Unbelievable the protection that Arteta gets when he made a gazillion of schoolboy errors that ultimately cost us a game versus a laughable opposition. Then we have the dudes pleading “player poverty”. On course to finish 3rd last season but NOW somehow we have a worse squad than Olympiacos I guess since we got KOd by them? Completely understandable logic. Couldn’t make this shiet up. Imagine the outburst if this was to happen last year under Emery. The Spaniard proved himself as clueless but, dear lord, Arteta fucked up a… Read more »
Pierre, Even before the Chelsea game, Leno rarely came off his line. Last summer I stated that we needed an upgrade on the goalkeeper. Because he is a decent good shot stopper, people marvel at his stops and he is given a free pass. Meanwhile he keep committing mistakes that lead to opposition goals on a regular basis. Statistically even 7~8 games he will make a mistake that will directly to a goal. More than any goalkeepers in the 5 top European leagues for the last 2 years. Also his poor distribution, slow restarts, reluctance to come for high balls… Read more »
Pierre: “Also shows that we are still playing with too much fear through midfield in that no one is prepared to commit a player and take them on.””
Your idol Ozil the main culprit. Tried to make something happen in around 1% of the times he received the ball. Sideways passing till the game was over. Attacking midfielder?! Who?
Hopefully against Pompey may see some youngster given a go.
That Balogun from the youth for 10/15 in the first team would be decent. Kids got pace to burn. He’s rapid.
Maybe now the absolute whooper of a narrative that we have some ultra-talented squad can finally be put to rest.
I would add the whopper of a narrative that we have this infallible manager who oozes class and can do no wrong.
We’re in late February Rocky Roe
The intensity and pace of the League always tells at this stage of the season.
Certainly not the main factor but something worth considering along with 4 must win games in roughly 2 weeks.
It’s funny how so many here have seen through Pedro’s weak ass transparent mock outcry of an article.
Paulinho
“Maybe now the absolute whooper of a narrative that we have some ultra-talented squad can finally be put to rest.”
“Ultra talented “?
All teams can lose a game Paulinho, Juventus lost to a mediocre French side last night, so is it an absolute whopper of a narrative to call the Juventus squad ultra-talented..
All teams have off days and we paid for it.
People going to make it out as a Leno mistake LOL!
Some people know no limits.
A needless corner sure. But in no way an error leading to goal. A shit ton of errors happened before and after the Leno “mistake” to give them a corner.
Now we suddenly need an upgrade on the Keeper cause he gave the opposition A CORNER. That we didn’t even concede from right away…
Anything to keep the blame off Arteta.
Leno, one of our best performers for 2nd season running, being talked as a big problem in our squad. When walking disasters like Xhaka, Ozil, Mustafi, Lacazette are now our core and start every single game. Deluded.
Arsenal are a too big a club for a novice like Arteta.
He should cut his teeth in the Scottish league like Gerrard…
Dolomite
Ofcourse it is, but then you go and compund that with shit selection and substitutions? Where’s the genius in that?
Were you not crying out for martinelli at 60? Millions were, and he did make a major difference when he came on, can you explain the torreira sub then?
Questioning that doesn’t make me a plastic fan, especially when 3/4 of my life had gone supporting the red and white.
As I said before, Arteta will find himself in the exact same quandary as Emery with this squad.
He will end up chopping and changing every week, and could well find himself in a similar graveyard spiral.
Rickyroe
When Arteta dropped him against Newcastle and Everton, I guess hi Arteta replacements was still lacazette
Lol no mention of Ozil from Pierre. How predictable.
Pierre – Losing the game is not really the point. It’s the awful football, which you still seem to think is some mental issue/lack of confidence that can be solved by coaching, when the players are simply not good enough.
How many times does Ozil have to sling in aimless cross after aimless cross before it becomes apparent he can’t do much else.
Paulinho
A part of me agrees with you there…
Certain players need to be dropped and left out. For Artetas sake and the teams sake.
Pierre
“All teams have off days and we paid for it.”
No off day, par for the course, muppet…