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.
Arteta cost us the game with his team selection and in game management. He’s got away with it a couple of times, incl most recently against Everton but last night his luck ran out…. Still say the balance is wrong. Why doesn’t Klopp start Shaquiri when fit or even Origi and his front 3? There would be no room for Ozil in the Lpool team. We are trying to play like Lpool, front 3, attacking full backs but there is room for him in ours…… Looks to me like Arteta’s team selections and hence the balance of the team are… Read more »
So after the positive vibes about Arsenal and having enjoyed a couple of good CL games on previous evenings I thought I’d enjoy a beer and see what the Arteta revival was all about. More fool me! I’m sorry but what has changed? I know it’s one game but it was an important one. It was the sos. Ozil wandering around doing nothing very much; players that have supposedly come to life under Arteta passing the ball to the opposition or completely out of play; just plain bad defending; vulnerability when put under no apparent pressure; a general lack of… Read more »
Bamford, It’s going to be an easy decision cause no way that Auba would stay anyways. It’s exactly what happens to every world class player we’ve had in the last around 10 years. Happened to Cesc, Nasri, RvP, Alexis, even Chambo and Gnabry in a way. The few world class players that wanted to keep playing for us in Ramsey and Cazorla we managed to let go for free. Auba has done wonders for us. He should hold his head high. Interesting to see if Arteta is going to waste Martinelli and Guendouzi, both of whom he literally refused to… Read more »
TR7 You’re missing the point ….again So the club wants to keep Auba, nothing wrong with that What if Auba refuses to sign an extension because he wants to test himself at a CL co letting club Do we keep him for the last season and let him leave in. Bosman in 2021 or do we cut our losses and get something for him. That was the argument at hand, not whether the club wants to keep him. What would you do is he doesn’t want to sign an extension? I recall you were one of those that argued for… Read more »
Dissenter – Yep we are in agreement then for sure as from a financial aspect and due to our previous messy contract management logically selling Auba for the highest price this summer makes a lot of sense, especially if he doesn’t want to sign a new deal. The other course of action is, much like TR7 has said, keeping him so his goals fire us up the table next season and then he leaves on a free having helped restore us to a somewhat competitive level. For me its a tough one as he’s a very likeable player and not… Read more »
Clive
Fans like yourself would have benefitted from a more sober, critical and realistic assessment of what this group was capable of post-Emery. A number of writers and bloggers got a little carried away with an Emery-was-the-problem-This-is-a-quality-squad narrative, and this gave many people false hopes, in my opinion.
Bamford
It’s not just United though, is it ? Wolves, Spurs, United and Sheffield are all above us. United really were not as good as you made them out to be but now they have signed a very good midfielder who may play a big role in upcoming games. For me since Arteta took over, it was always about the process. I knew results would be up and down given Emery left us in a very bad shape.
Dissneter
No not advocating to keep him if he doesn’t sign an extension.
“ I want my Arsenal back! That’s all.”
This is so Spurtz.
What Arsenal do you want back?
The near relegation fodder of the 80s? The arsenal that one nothing for decades? We gets 2007-2018 vintage that got progressively worse with a horribly weak megalith? GG vintage of horrible turgid football but was a decent cup team?
Or do you want the short blasts of decent Arsenal that are more the exception than the rule.
TR7
I didn’t say it was only United above us, and all I ever said of United back then is that they are better than we are. So, I feel like that response is a little … off.
If you previously thought we were much better than United — enough to wager three months’ time on Le Grove on our finishing above them — why do you now not believe we can finish above Wolves? Or above Sheffield? Or above a Son-less, Kane-less Spurs? Or above United? That doesn’t seem consistent to me.
And i get sick and tired of hearing the same tired excuse,they are running on empty if they suffer from fatique after having spent 14 days in sunny Dubai there must be something wrong with them physically mentally we know they are bottlejobs but missing physically too they should be put down.
TR7
“I knew results would be up and down given Emery left us in a very bad shape.”
This gets repeated a lot, but how exactly is last night on Emery? Could you please explain that? What did he do that was so horrible, so terrible that three months later, an Arsenal squad (that you and many others rated) can’t beat Olympiakos at home? Please explain that. That’s one of several things I don’t get.
Bam
United are 4 points above us after 27 games in a season we have had 3 different managers at the helm. That’s not the definition of ‘better’. They just happen to sitting above us in the table.
TR7
Yeah, that wasn’t my point, and this isn’t about United. This is about your pessimism about our moving up the table or finishing above them. And again, if you don’t think they are better than we are, then why are you so pessimistic about our making up four points on them?
Again, your views don’t strike me as consistent.
I just hope many of you are not taking the trip to Portsmouth as an easy one.You know they will be up for it and if we turn up like yesterday they will skin us.
‘This gets repeated a lot, but how exactly is last night on Emery? ‘
Nah, we should have beaten Olympiakos, no excuses. This is why I am very disappointed with the result. Reference to Emery was more to where we find us in the league table.
Daniel Altos: “You know they will be up for it and if we turn up like yesterday they will skin us.”
If Arteta plays give or take the same squad in a 5th game straight in 15 days time then we are in for another big cup night.
We can’t put out the same team or one made up of 7 or 8 of the same outfield players on Monday and then complain about fatigue or tiredness, mental or otherwise in the West Ham match.
I see posters predictably blame the individual players they never rated while trying to absolve their favorites. Fact is Arsenal as a whole just aren’t good enough and haven’t been for years. Pedro and a few others can claim this is a top four quality side that’s been ruined by the inept Emery, but if you can see past your own agenda( I know it’s hard) you will realize Arsenal have no backbone and are as soft physically and mentally as they come. Players choked under Emery last season when it mattered and they’ve just done the same under Arteta.… Read more »
TR7 is probably worried in Arteta’s current quality and capability. I’m not saying he won’t become a great manager in the future. But he’s been making schoolboy errors. Which, for our sake, I hope he swiftly learns from. Some of his visible problems like selecting the same team until they basically drop dead like it happened to Mustafi, not rotating, having his favorites (who are not our best players) and playing them regardless of form or fitness, the inability to influence games and help his team when in need, the actual fear to make a substitution when things are visibly… Read more »
Bam
There’s no inconsistency in my stand. Arteta has done a decent job post Emery but we are still a work in progress. None of the teams in the chasing pack is in any rich vein of form and thus, it is likely that the ones ahead of us may eventually finish above us come end of the season. For us to climb up the table we will have to go on a mini run which although not impossible is still unlikely.
I hope all those arguments for keeping Auba even if he doesn’t extend his deals have been dutifully dispelled by the events of last night.
Oh yeah absolutely that miss really puts everything into perspective now forget the 60+ goals in 90 odd appearences since he’s joined us the possible two golden boot awards for top scorer it’s that one miss that we should really get rid of him for. Excellent point from the lad who forgets the previous 3 and a half seasons of poor Xhaka performances to focus on the recent few games and half decent performances.
It doesn’t add up . We had Wenger out brigade who for a number of years were in the belief that Wenger leaving would propel us back to the top . Finishing in the top 4 for 18 years on the bounce , winning numerous trophies and numerous runners up playing effortless attacking football with little money wasn’t good enough they said . The Wenger out Brigade supported Emery to the bitter end , he was involved in the process of spending over 200 million net and taking the club to the lowest point in 40 years. What I don’t… Read more »
TR7 You’re wasting your breath mate, this result has done nothing but fuel the bellies of those that want to absolve Emery, or throw shit at Pedro because he’s talked up Arteta. Arteta took over a complete shambles, we’re where we are in the league thanks to Emery, the imbalances in the squad are with his input, and the options at Xmas were to go with a manager like Benitez to perform a mid-season salvation, or go with a young manager for the long haul. We’ve went the latter and here is every cretin that held a candle for Emery… Read more »
I have never witnessed a more rubbish bunch of high paid players that are so inept as a unit.How come a player of the calibre of ozil can resemble a players that has just returned from hackney marshes is beyond me the guy is on 350 grand a week and is not a better player then David Hillier was in his prime,outrageous.In the early days a standing joke was “He is not as bad as Gus Ceasar” it was underlining he was bad but not as bad,today last night David Luiz could rewrite that sentence completely,so bad and error prone… Read more »
What a silly rant Pierre
Very silly from an adult
The front to question Arteta? He has been a head coach for four months, more questions than answers when it comes to him.
Three FA cups isn’t success , FA cups is a trophy big teams win to go with their league and European triumph.
Snide remarks at Arteta, we have just been eliminated at home by Olympiakos, who do you want the questions directed at if not the head coach?
Reference to Emery was more to where we find us in the league table. I mean he left us in 8th 7 points off 4th. I don’t know why he gets referenced so much given not only arguments about how bad he was this season and how good the squad is but how good Arteta is. With all that in mind you’d think it’d be a little easier but no bad results and performances still get linked to the previous manager. You also had Pedro going off on Emery cucks last night despite the really obvious mistakes and poor decisions… Read more »
Arsenal had the best record in the Premier league at defending set pieces under the stewardship of Emery.
Now look at us, back to the bad old days of Wenger…
Olympiacos have played 2 more games than Arsenal this month so the fatigue excuse is bollox…
“Arteta who is trying to clear up the mess that Emery, Raul etc have left .” Yes, they signed Ozil, Mustafi, Xhaka for a combined 112m and on deals way above their ability. Apart from the obvious stop gap signings made since Wenger left there has not been one dud signed on a long term deal. Except some of the extensions to Xhaka and Elneny, presumably to protect any perceived value they have. It’s still the leftovers from Wengers last inept years that are holding us back. Things won’t change to any meaningful degree until they’re all gone. Auba the… Read more »
How is it plain and obvious we are at the start of a build to something of substance. Not that your definition of substance is hard to achieve. We beat Everton,Newcastle and a few mid table teams,that’s substance? xG and xGA have told their own story in this unbeaten run. You say the sample of games is too small to draw criticism from yet you are predicting we are at the start of a greatness from the very same sample. Have a word There is still lots to do and Arteta hasn’t shown much to inspire this blind confidence some… Read more »
The grass was too long against Burnley, now he’s proud of the players after losing to Olympiacos, when is this clown going to be sacked…
“Snide remarks at Arteta, we have just been eliminated at home by Olympiakos, who do you want the questions directed at if not the head coach?”
The “grass was too long” and “we did a lot of positive things” with 0 shots on goal for 75 mins playing full senior team vs a Championship side.
Dissenter, The case to keep Aubameyang is different from Sanchez. Sanchez wanted to leave and sulk his way out of Arsenal. Would Aubameyang sulk during his last season or would he play to his full potential trying to help us reach the top 5 position? That is the real question. Personally I don’t think that he will. So the second question is how much are clubs offering for him? My view is therefore If they offer less than 35 millions then keeping him makes more sense. Between 35 and 50 millions and if we can get the proper replacement why… Read more »
https://arseblog.news/2020/02/agent-no-chance-ozil-leaves-arsenal-before-end-of-contract/
Even more devastating than the loss last night if true. Great timing by the agent too…
What you always fail to notice Pierre is that the goal posts of football are constantly moving, every single year As we have been getting steadily worse over the last ten years, the barometer of what success means relative to where the club is is constantly changing Liverpool didn’t win the league for decades and only competed a couple of times. Even being within 8 points of first would’ve been a great success for most of the last 25 years – and yet next season if they get 85 points and come second, it will have been a bad season… Read more »
He sulked at Dortmund
Are we going to simply ignore he went on strike to move here?
And what exactly do we gain from keeping him for his last year and letting him go on a free Valentin? And this top 5 thing is dependent on City losing their appeal. Arsenal fans do love a lowered bar
I’m not as pessimistic about league as some, next run of games up to Wolves are all very winnable. Were 7 points off 4th, 4 points off the new 4th in 5th.
If we can find some form it will go down to last game or two.
Read on the beast that is twitter our win percentage is 26% when Laca starts and 50% when he does not. Thats a pretty rocking indictment of his season thus far.
Interesting piece in the Telegraph suggests the entire season – Premier League, FA Cup, etc – will be written off as “null and void” if there are wholesale cancellations of matches and the season is not completed because of Coronavirus.
Receding “You say the sample of games is too small to draw criticism from yet you are predicting we are at the start of a greatness from the very same sample.” Mentioned nothing of greatness, I said were at the start of a build toward substance. Learn to read. Also, it may not be obvious to you, but you were valiantly defending Emery until the death so maybe your observational skills can be swerved altogether. Does Arteta have the same profile as a Rafa? No, and the 3-year deal is clear indication of a long term commitment and growth project.… Read more »
Champagne
Yes, Arteta has not had even a transfer window to bring in the players he want and offload those he thinks are not of Arsenal standard. Even those who are not convinced by him should hold off their judgement until he has a summer to bring in changes in personnel.
Kinda speaks volumes of where Ozil and his camp’s head is at. Right after an embarrassing defeat he just wants it to be known that he has no intention of leaving. This summer is going to be a real test for those convictions that Arteta has got. We’ll see what his word is worth
Yes, Arteta has not had even a transfer window to bring in the players he want and offload those he thinks are not of Arsenal standard.
Have to point out that that isn’t accurate. He had January to buy and sell players and in that January he convinced Xhaka (who had intentions to leave) to stay not to mention that he brought Mustafi back into the starting 11 a player we tried all summer to sell. He did that by himself.
Bets on, the same team that played last night will play on Monday.
No one will be rested.
Marko
Absolutely right
Keep Auba for his last season even if he doesn’t extend his contract.
I never mentioned anything about a miss so your post season was just another silly rant
My reference to last night is that Auba can score one goal a game and we lose 1-2. All of his goals don’t cover up the squad imbalances we have. It was purely about selling him if he doesn’t extend his contract
Val
I will never agree that keeping Auba without an extension is wise. He’s been a brilliant goal scorer, but it’s so painfully reductive to claim we’d be nowhere without his goals.
1. He’d be replaced in some capacity either directly/indirectly
2. The goal scoring burden would no longer be levelled at him and it would force others to step up
I’d bin him if he’s not extending and aim for a best case scenario exit. I see that coming via a swap vs looking for the most amount of cash we can muster.
I don’t want a manager with Rafa’s profile Charles, the Rafa thing is yours alone. Started at the root of the clubs defensive issues? Have you even been watching? We just exited the Europa league because we conceded two goals at home to Olympiakos. Our xGA and quality of opposition chances has increased as the games came thick and fast Emery’s hot mess Mid season.. Lol. Keep consoling yourself with that. Improvement that comes with time and resources, yea sure. We also need our head coach to improve. You are taking that for granted he will turn out to be… Read more »
It was purely about selling him if he doesn’t extend his contract
It wasn’t really. You were trying to downplay the importance of such an obvious important player to I dunno make some sort of intelligent point and it failed. He’s a massive player for us his goals have carried this club for the last two seasons and if he goes he’ll need replacing.
It is pretty obvious that all players make mistakes. Yes even prime Adams, Henry, Viera, Bergkamp et al. But the Arsenal players of today are making too many mistakes too often. Why is this? Are they not fit for purpose? Do they panic under pressure? Do they not have the right mental attributes to play high level sports? I thought that we had sports psychologists to deal with these matters? Take Leno for example – a good shot stopper, instantaneous reactions. However when he gets time think, nerves take over, like on corners, crosses and playing out from the back.… Read more »
I’m happy with Arteta. But I can’t hide that I share the inkling he has his favourites. He’s given players clean slates, some have let him down continuously. If not dropped, then thats on him and him alone. Xhaka improved, but was off the pace last night. Ozil has been awful, no running stats or anything can tell me otherwise. 1 assist and goal is terrible return for someone of apparent quality. Finding pockets and sideways passing, do me a favour. Just really hope Arteta and Arsenal find the right balance moving forward in recruitment. Would be great to see… Read more »
Wolves will easily despatch Olympiakos btw
Valentin “ The case to keep Aubameyang is different from Sanchez. Sanchez wanted to leave and sulk his way out of Arsenal.” That’s false The people that argued for us to keep Sanchez used his keenness and enthusiasm as reasons to make him run down his contract. It was only when it dawned on them that he wasn’t happy that the club panicked and moved him out in Jan. We are t gonna have Europe’s football revenue and our lower placement on the table mems less league revenue. I can’t see a reason why Auba should be kept without contract.… Read more »
What an overreaction to what is simply a manager who was inexperienced got out thought by another one who was more . They employed a deep deep block , with ten men always behind the ball. We had no answers to that simple. Arteta didnt have the tools to counter it , heck even Liverpool didnt against Atletico and they had 70% possession. What you can criticize is our lack of composure in AET when we were in the lead , minutes away from qualifying . That is what this side needs . Only one side played football yesterday. Arteta’s… Read more »
All this criticism of Arteta is a bit OTT in my opinion. Arteta isn’t the problem, it’s some of the players. I stand by my view that we have the 6th or 7th best squad in the league and as long as we keep playing Ozil, Xhaka and Mustafi together over the course of the season their weaknesses will always outweigh their positives. These players let Wenger down, Emery down and they will let Arteta down. We need a big clearout and start from scratch. I would let go the following because of a lack of quality, age and transfer… Read more »
Receding I have belief in Arteta because of how he views the game, the priorities he has, the demands he makes of the side, and for where his ideals lie. I don’t much care that you want to reserve any excitement or anticipation until the fruits of the labour are so abundant the blind can see it. I can recognise the changes already and need not your permission to comment on them or be encouraged by them. And yes I’ve been watching plenty thanks, we’ve been a much, much better defensive unit since his arrival. We’ve conceded 4 goals in… Read more »
What is depressing is seeing Manure becomes a much better team with Bruno Fernandes and our January loan signings are still not ready. I predict Manure will get Top 4.
The ones calling for Arteta out now don’t realize the mess and how big it was before he took over.
This rebuild is going to take years, even longer without certain competition finances and commercial revenue if we fall away etc, not including adidas.
The culture, from top to bottom, more ruthlessness needs to come into it. Certain way we are run needs an overhaul. The academy is slowly seeing changes, we need that at the top level now.
Champagne wages for players with sparkling water quality.
Argh Freddie that is an anchor on us. I still believe we could do business by selling players. we just have to target the right ones. Sell Auba( want him to stay but if he doesn’t sign we could easily get 50 mil), Lacazette ( having a horrible year, still will go for 30-40 mil), Kolasinac (rated by Italians 12-15 mil), Mustafi (10 mil), Sokratis ( 5-10) mil, Mkhitaryan (10 mil), Elneny (10 mil), Ozil free ( someone will pay 350k contract for a year), Xhaka( 20-25 mil). That gives us around 150 at least. And Given the wages of… Read more »
The only assholes who’ve damaged this club are kroenke and the board. They allowed Wenger to go on 5 years too late when we could if had either klopp or pep. They’re buying policy has been a fucking joke for years. We signed kallstrom who was injured at the time. Lukas Perez, denis Suarez etc etc. Look at Luiz, not good enough for a poor back line at Chelsea, do we buy him. Same with sokratis, not good enough at Dortmund yet we buy him. Same with mustafi. Look at Tierney, he was removed for being made of glass and… Read more »
the demands he makes of the side
Which are? Genuinely curious of these demands considering that he plays people who are in rotten form, keeps players on the pitch who are playing poorly and plays players out of position to shoehorn in poorer options.
Diss, without Auba this team will get in relegation fight. This just goals talk is stupid. Its all about goals, a specially for team like us without midfield.
Never said you needed my permission to be excited so whatever How does he see the game? This is a phrase you have been using on and on when it comes to Arteta, it means nothing As for where Emery left us, well 7 points off fourth and still in the Europa league, what’s your point? Lol You can wank yourself silly over perceived improvements, seems Arsenal players completing a pass as seen as great footballing vision these days. Anything to support the notion the good times are just around the corner. What happened to those two loan signings you… Read more »
Failure to progress beyond the last-32 means that Arsenal will only bank around £15m from this season’s European campaign.
That is less than half of the £40m they received for reaching last year’s Europa League final.
That dream summer overhaul isn’t likely.
Just saw a 15 year old rant on Twitter about how overrated Zidane was! CHRIST! ha!!
@Un na
So you’re claiming the board isn’t to blame for any of this? Emery was never the man to take us forward. It was obvious to most people even before we made him our manager. That was the boards fault, allowing Wenger to go on 5 years to late, again the boards fault. Aside from Auba, most of the shit we’ve signed has been the boards fault.
Marko
You forget that Freddie managed a few games too after Emery’s departure during which we lost further ground on the teams ahead of us. Arteta took over when we were in absolute pits.
I agree with you on being more ruthless with players who put in a few odd good performances here and there but eventually flatter to deceive. I recognize that Ozil,Xhaka and Mustafi have a few good qualities but we got to cull them if we want to move forward.
benny: “All this criticism of Arteta is a bit OTT in my opinion. Arteta isn’t the problem, it’s some of the players. I stand by my view that we have the 6th or 7th best squad in the league and as long as we keep playing Ozil, Xhaka and Mustafi together over the course of the season their weaknesses will always outweigh their positives.” Who begged Xhaka and Mustafi to stay? Who basically made them the first names in the starting lineup for how many games in a row? Blaming the obvious 3 players (which I 100% agree with especially… Read more »
@Marko –
Best case now is we get good deals on some of the chumps we need to move out and invest it wisely into players in the £15-20m bracket. We have some very decent youngsters in the sqaud would should be starters next season.
If Leicester City can do it, so can we.
Michael if the season did get written off as void (I don’t believe this can or would happen mind) the whole of England would laugh so hard at Liverpool’s expense
The corona virus will have in some way been an act of Divine intervention by god himself (bergkamp) to stop Liverpool doing the unthinkable
Fella’s look on the bright side. Not having Europe next season means we can attack the league ferociously and make top 4. I know our finances will take a big hit but we will survive.
I have said it a number of times here, our squad is full of names that are good on paper but past it or not fit for purpose.
Pierre
How’s the just play Ozil in the hole behind PEA, Lacazette and Pepe working out?
Receding
That’s it, waddle away because you’ve nothing outside empty criticisms and baseless claims. I was critical of Wenger years before he left, but don’t let fact get in the way of you waffling bollocks.
Speaking of, back you go to Emery’s paella palace lad go on, back up the trouser leg and tell your master he did a bang up job. Deluded melt
– One thing I noticed when Martinelli was playing the CF position, he moved around and invited teammate to pass him the ball. Laca and Auba were too static inside the box.
– Both Saka and Pepe would function better with FB’s opening up space for them.
– Luiz had a bad game. I can’t see Mari doing worse than PapaSok.
– Laca is slow and static. Play Martinelli instead. Even Eddie looks better.
@Un na
What chance has Arteta actually got when the club throw money on shite. We are 6 to 7 players off fighting for top 4, you genuinely believe Arteta will be given the funds for these purchases? Or even that he has any actual say on the signings? Emery made it clear Pepe wasn’t his signing. So what idiot authorized his purchase when the club was calling out for DM and a virtually complete new back 4 .
You forget that Freddie managed a few games too after Emery’s departure during which we lost further ground on the teams ahead of us. Arteta took over when we were in absolute pits.
Yeah but it’s more in reference to what Emery left us in it’s always what Emery left us in how bad the mess he left was.
“You forget that Freddie managed a few games too after Emery’s departure during which we lost further ground on the teams ahead of us. Arteta took over when we were in absolute pits.“
No we didn’t actually, Freddie stopped the bleeding.
Emery cost us an 8 point deficit to Chelsea
Freddie kept us at an 8 point deficit to Chelsea
Arteta has us at a 7 point deficit to Chelsea
We’re behind 4th by the margin Emery left us, plain and simple.
We’re going to register a massive financial loss again this year.
Ozil is staying. Looking forward to his numbers next season after a full pre-season with Arteta. If we keep the squad intact, top 4 is guaranteed next season.
Wenger/Emery/Arteta aside.
We need to talk about the strange culture around Arsenal. For the past decade there as been this loser mentality throughout the entire club. It has permeated through the club to all sectors. We have become okay with losing, its actually almost expected at this point. We have not had a solid defence since 2005… madness 15 years of being “a soft touch”. What other club has been plauged with the amount of individual errors leading to goals?
No matter who is in charge there is something truly rotten within the club.
If Leicester City can do it, so can we. I mean our wage bill is such that we can’t really do it a leicester way either. We’re in such a mire these days that the only way to get out is to spend money but unfortunately we can’t because we don’t make enough. Some tough decisions to be made in the summer but it’s been the same way for the last 3/4 and yet we keep seeing the same disappointing players start the season with us. And given Ozil’s recent comments, Arteta bringing Mustafi back into the team and convincing… Read more »
Exactly what’s the point of our January purchases!?
Why Bellerin is still our first choice right back?
And what happened to Toreira?
Perry Groves knows what’s up. Notice the 6 Wenger signings in there, and only a loan player and our 2 stop gap CBs in there from after he left. “(Arteta) needs to get rid of players,” said a man who won the First Division title with Arsenal in 1989 and 1991. “I thought it would be about five or six, but I think you’re looking up to about nine players. “This is not about talent. Sokratis, David Luiz, Mustafi, Ceballos is going to go anyway because he is on loan. “Ozil, Xhaka, Chambers, Elneny and Mkhitaryan. Elneny and Mkhitaryan are… Read more »
Looking forward to his numbers next season after a full pre-season with Arteta. If we keep the squad intact, top 4 is guaranteed next season.
You’re thinking of the following summer pal with the Euros this summer there’s no full preseason. Excuses already lined up for next season
Michael if the season did get written off as void (I don’t believe this can or would happen mind) the whole of England would laugh so hard at Liverpool’s expense The corona virus will have in some way been an act of Divine intervention by god himself (bergkamp) to stop Liverpool doing the unthinkable. China: I don’t think it will happen, but it is sensible forh the authrities to consider all options. Lots of other sporting fixtures are being cancelled and any serious spread of the virus will force the government’s hand. If there are whoelsale cancellations, the football authorities… Read more »
Fair comment Jim, we have a very sad losers mentality and hate to say it by probably the worst fans in Europe, blimey Highbury was the library was is the Emirates? And by the way drop jump around by House of Pain although the name is quite apt even the song is so dated and annoying!
Arteta has probably heard a million times how Guardiola stuck to his idea of playing football through thin and thick, no matter what.
I wonder if his big idea was to pick his favorites/senior players and play them in every minute of every game. Was this going to repeat if we were to go through in the next round as well? Same 11-12 players starting every single game. What was he thinking? Then again, he didn’t even pick the strongest players in that favorite 11.
No matter who is in charge there is something truly rotten within the club. Yeah I totally agree with this. Been like that for the longest time but what do you expect we make poor signings and keep them around until it’s too late. Been that way for years no accountability no ambitions or expectations. You fuck up you’re still in the team next week you’re in poor form you stay for 90 mins. Was that way under latter Wenger is that way under Mikel. Bless Unai he tried to buck the trend in a really clueless dumbass way but… Read more »
Un “Really? Hasn’t done Aguerro any harm. Owen and fowler were two of the greatest strikers in premier league history and both were short. Neither of the 3 were the best at hold up, Fowler probably the best of the 3 though. Jamie Vardy is short Kevin Phillips was little” They wre completly different types of CF to Laca. They had speed and attacked the ball, run at defenders and had a lethal shot on the run. Laca can’t do those things. Hence his CF role is more like a Giroud but without the physical attributes, heading ability or hold… Read more »
@Marko –
I remember when Sol came back for his loan spell he commented on the culture change, he said something along the lines of when he left Arsenal he left a team of winners and when he came back he found a team of players that thought they were winners.
“no accountability no ambitions or expectations”
I think this nicely sums up what we have experienced for the past decade.
No matter what we news a make over in Midfield. The only ones I would keep are Torriera, Guendouzi, Willock and Smith-Rowe. One of Willock and Smith-Rowe needs to ho out on loan though. We need a Starting CM, CAM, and a DM to at least compete with torriera.
Jesus typos. News*need. Ho* go
Wasi “””CG ,How can a Hardcore Wenger fanboy fathom the thought of Sean Dyche managing Arsenal who is the literal opposite of Arsene.”” But are they that opposite? I would say they are remarkably similar in so many ways : eg. Very loyal to their players 442 men at heart. Never shirk from anything or anyone. Defend their players through thick and thin. Durable. Can build and improve their clubs incrementally, Burnley played Man United off the park the other night at Old Trafford ( 2-0 win) They beat Soton at their place with some Old Wenger style counter attacking.… Read more »
raptoraFebruary 28, 2020 15:07:21 Who begged Xhaka and Mustafi to stay? Who basically made them the first names in the starting lineup for how many games in a row? Blaming the obvious 3 players (which I 100% agree with especially the notion that their weaknesses will always outweigh their positives) but not the one who laid all of his trust in them after he saw them cost the job of 3 other managers before him. >>>>>>> Raptora, I get your point but maybe because Arteta was new he wanted to keep the squad together to evaluate everything for himself. Perhaps… Read more »
I remember when Sol came back for his loan spell he commented on the culture change I mean it’s there for all to see some are a little slower to catch up but it’s been pretty obvious in hindsight. It’s more than we used to fight for titles now we fight for top 6 as well there’s just not enough fight and ambition at the club for a long time. I feel like there’s people who are now at the club who do want to address that but it’s really fucking slow to fix it and a bad signing and… Read more »
It has been reported that the Arsenal Group declared a loss from last season.
“There is no point debating you now. Because black is white to you and the sky is red. You can’t debate someone suffering from that level of denial.” Arteta on Xhaka: “I wanted him to hear from me my opinion on him, and that I was ready to support him and that I was ready to push the club to be supportive of him too, because I thought he could be a really, really good player for us and he could enjoy playing under me in this football club. I tried to convince him that way. He thought about it,… Read more »
Don: “All the championship managers are out in force. Gleaned all of their footballing knowledge from computer screens. Now they think they have their gold badge. Jokers”
You want me to dig for diamonds posted by you in the comment section from when Emery was in charge? I guess it was okay to criticize then, but now it’s not. I could look for some if you want me to.
Yeah some alarm bells ringing out for sure rap. But I’ll give him the same benefit of the doubt I gave Emery replace in the summer these players and I can get behind you don’t and you’ve only yourself to blame for the likely let down and disappointment.
I know this is an Arsenal blog where you can have an opinion but don’t you think, sometimes, just sometimes, what’s the point?
We’re never going to agree with each other, we’re not going to make a difference to team selections or when substitutions are made.
I’m seriously thinking about giving up on Le-Grove and maybe even watching Arsenal. I just end up feeling angry and frustrated and, to be honest, I could be doing better things with my life than reading the comments of people I don’t care about and, in turn, don’t care for my opinion.
Some of his visible problems like selecting the same team until they basically drop dead like it happened to Mustafi, not rotating, having his favorites (who are not our best players) and playing them regardless of form or fitness, the inability to influence games and help his team when in need, the actual fear to make a substitution when things are visibly falling apart in front of him, then giving an interview how he is proud of us (not having a shot on goal for 75 mins vs a third grade team using so many senior players) or how the… Read more »
@Marko –
” I think though that that season we make it back to the Champions League we’ll be set on the right path and fine again.”
i truly hope so.
Correction – Ozil has started in each of our last 12 games, but 2.
The stats are with Arteta in charge obviously.
Ozil has 17 starts in the EPL. Wе scored 26 goals in these games. He has 1 goal and 1 assist. Better make him an auto starter.