A not so happy Friday for most of us, the loss last night was hard to stomach. Olympiacos were not elite opposition and we’d already done the hard job in Greece, we really should have been able to drive that victory home and keep our Champions League hopes alive.
So where do we start on this one? For me, the key issue was fatigue. The players looked leggy and tired and that filtered into the stands. That was our 4th game in 11 days, which is a lot, but it’s something we knew about and unfortunately, we didn’t seem prepared for the realities of it.
The starting 11 should have been rotated. I understand that Arteta would have been critiqued whatever happened if a loss came out the back end, but I think he pushed the starting 11 too far in this one and the output was inviting for the Greeks.
That said, I don’t this was an effort issue. We weren’t witnessing players not giving a fuck, they just weren’t at the races physically. They still fought until the 2 minute of added-on time in extra time. The cost of fatigued players came in the form of a key injury to the freshly rejuvenated Mustafi. It’ll also now have a knock-on effect mentally. Tired legs after a soul-destroying loss will feel heavier.
The second criticism would have to centre around the subs. Ceballos for Torreira didn’t really do much for our attacking threat, LT just isn’t very good at penetrating the lines and when he’s pushing forward it takes him longer to get back. Joe Willock proved ineffectual when he joined the program, he’s just not there yet, he must be doing something incredible in training because we’re not really getting enough from him on the pitch.
The big one that we waited and waited for was the introduction of Gabriel through the middle. I really like Lacazette, he’s a good guy, offers great vibes in training, but he really, really struggles against powerhouse centre backs. Last night he was in the main totally neutralised by the Greeks hulking centre back pairing. I thought he’d turned the corner, that wasn’t clear last night. I thought the moment that summed up his season was a delicious fake from Ozil that fell to him in space, his shot blazed out of the stadium. 2 years ago he’s finding the net.
Arteta didn’t sub him until the second half of injury time. Now, I can see the idea here, the Greeks were fading badly, Gabriel is a hand-grenade on the pitch, and sure enough, he was, his nodded head in the box setup the Auba scissor kick. The game stays the same and it’s a celebrated substitute timed really well.
Football is a beast though, a Bernd Leno mistake started a domino effect of fuck ups that let them back in. Then, last gasp, Auba puts wide a chance he’d score 9 times out of 10.
Overall, we lost because of a lack of quality in the final third combined with customary defensive errors we’ve been making for 10 years (so, errr, everything). The attacking issues are of more concern. We had 19 shots and only found the target 4 times. This wasn’t a case of ‘well, we were reduced to poor quality chances’, this was bad misses (xG 1.5 (Ars) – 1 (Oly)).
two-legged xG map for Arsenal – Olympiakos
football is a good sport that people like for good reasons pic.twitter.com/3IFUHKqvUC
— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) February 28, 2020
The Greeks gave us possession and we didn’t know how to use it. We really struggled with the deep block and we didn’t have the confidence to invite them on. We chased the second goal because we knew that’s what we had to do. Imagine if that game was reversed, do you think the Greeks would have played like? Doubtful. They’d have sat back, invited us to attack, then spring a counter-attack.
… but we have to move on.
The ghouls will be out for the new manager, that’s just par the course these days. If you only come out of your box for the losses, you have to ask yourself some serious questions. The path to a brighter future was never going to be perfect, the damage to this season was set in motion 18 months ago. You don’t undo the problems in two months. Also, find me a single manager in the world of football that would pick up this group of players in this moment and breeze the season. You wouldn’t. All managers make mistakes, it’s how you find out what your squad is made of, it’s how you learn where the limits are. We are barely 2.5 months into this new chapter.
What did we really learn from last night? There is still a lot of work to do on the defence. We are terrible from setpieces. There are still a lot of individual errors that you can’t afford at the highest level. There are some players that don’t look capable physically at this current moment. Bukayo Saka still looks the business, but even he had his bad moments last night as the panic set in. Next season, it’ll be a different mix. Saliba will join, we’ll probably buy a player like Upemacano, and if Mari is any good, he might be a fixture. We’ll also be looking at right back.
It is also very clear that our midfield needs work. We need better athletes. I think this has been an agenda item for years. We need to look towards power and pace. Players like Denis Zakaria and Wilfred Ndidi never seem to find their way towards Arsenal. Even Bruno Guimarães, a huge fave in the comments here, looked brilliant in the Champions League in the week. Arsenal need to go young and really make sure our midfield represents what the league looks like in 2020.
On the positives, the squad is still working for the cause. You couldn’t put that game down to a lack of effort. The players powered through the redzone in a game they were clearly finding very tough. I’m not here feeling disgusted, I’m just burned by the way things went down. The Auba chance at the end said it all about the new mindset, even if it didn’t come off.
Success is very rarely a straight line, if that’s what you were expecting from the new regime picking up this bag of shit season, then you were setting yourself up for a failure. This was always going to be a long preseason. There is plenty to do right now and there will be big changes in the summer as the squad is reshaped in the vision of someone that actually has a vision. The manager has found out that he pushed his squad too far last night, now he has to deal with the mess. In his press conference after he was very focused on the idea that he has to lift the players for Monday’s game against Brighton. That was our first loss of 2020, the next test is the character of the squad and the power of the managers leadership to get them back winning and making themselves a nuisance in the race for top 5.
A huge challenge, so let’s see where he goes. Onwards people, onwards. Podcast below and the prezzer from Arteta.
Boom
2
Tr4phy
Trofee
Doh
Er, I think we face the mighty Bournemouth on Monday.
Joke Friday (headlines from the onion) –
Why Do All These Homosexuals Keep Sucking my Cock?
Look, I’m not a hateful person or anything–I believe we should all live and let live. But lately, I’ve been having a real problem with these homosexuals. You see, just about wherever I go these days, one of them approaches me and starts sucking my cock.
https://www.theonion.com/why-do-all-these-homosexuals-keep-sucking-my-cock-1819583529
Fun Toy Banned Because Of Three Stupid Dead Kids
WASHINGTON, DC–In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Wizco Toys of Montclair, NJ, recalled 245,000 Aqua Assault RoboFighters Monday after three dumb kids managed to kill themselves playing with the popular toy, ruining the fun for everybody else.
https://www.theonion.com/fun-toy-banned-because-of-three-stupid-dead-kids-1819565691
Boyfriend Ready To Take Relationship To Previous Level
COLUMBIA, SC – Following a romantic three-day getaway to South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island, 32-year-old Matthew Sullivan said he is now “more ready than ever” to take his 10-month relationship with girlfriend Carol Moag to the previous level.
https://local.theonion.com/boyfriend-ready-to-take-relationship-to-previous-level-1819568844
God Answers Prayers of Paralyzed Boy. “No” says God.
SAN FRANCISCO – For as long as he can remember, 7-year-old Timmy Yu has had one precious dream: From the bottom of his heart, he has hoped against hope that God would someday hear his prayer to walk again.
Though many thought Timmy’s heavenly plea would never be answered, his dream finally came true Monday, when the Lord personally responded to the wheelchair-bound boy’s prayer with a resounding no.
https://www.theonion.com/god-answers-prayers-of-paralyzed-little-boy-1819564974
Hmmmm ‘fatigue’ really pedro
It was unfortunate but very predictable. The first half we pissed up the wall as though we were 5:0 on aggregate. The second half things began to improve ever so slightly and when we scored, the complacency returned. Mistakes and lacking in mental strength (one of Wenger’s old favourites) were everywhere on the pitch. If you don’t kill off opponents, there is always a chance – a mistake – a wrong turn – loss of focus – anything and the game’s gone. So, with 1:0 up on the night and only around 13 minutes to go, the game looked in… Read more »
It’s Pompey on Monday. Not Brighton. All of our FA cup games have been Monday nights this year it’s pissing me off.
“ Then, last gasp, Auba puts wide a chance he’d score 9 times out of 10.”
Auba misses sitters. I’ve said this before. He’s our best player / striker but he does miss easy sitters on the regular which for me keeps him out of the worldy bracket.
Pedro I think you need to dial this love in for Arteta back a bit.
Pedro If every manager makes mistakes, why do people get stick here for criticizing Arteta for his mistake? Why are they called ‘ghouls’ for pointing out those mistakes? For instance, I believe bringing on Martinelli on so late was a mistake. Then in reply to that, someone will call me an EKB. Say I’m against Arteta. That I’m reveling in the loss of a team I support. And you particularly said, in the comments, that people were getting aggressive for ‘short-term adrenaline’. Meanwhile, the Europa league is one of our best paths to the champions league. Yesterday wasn’t about ‘short-term… Read more »
Auba is world class he can play for any of the top teams in europe. Yes agreed he misses sitters but hes still elite af.
Pedro all the reasons you list for why we shouldn’t expect much from Arteta for foreseeable future were true for Emery as well. I think Emery did reasonable job with terrible hand he was dealt, disjointed team where our senior players are inadequate and need to be moved on while introducing youth. And whole club it seems are still loyal to Wenger and Gazidis so there were employees sending gossipy emails to journos and bloggers to stab Emery in back. Emery had to go, all anger and frustration built up over end of Wenger years all got diected at him… Read more »
I haven’t confirmed the numbers but it seems that yesterday was Olympiakos 8th game in February as opposed to 5 for Arsenal. They were a poor poor team and for all the huffing all the puffing they took the lead twice and in the end their game plan worked a treat and was executed to perfection by some not very technical players. What is now the concern is just how much that loss is going to cost not just in financial terms but in terms of confidence. You would normally expect several players to be rested against Portsmouth but I… Read more »
TheBayingMob
Auba misses sitters. I’ve said this before. He’s our best player / striker but he does miss easy sitters on the regular which for me keeps him out of the worldy bracket.
—
Auba was the 8th highest goalscorer of the past decade. Except only 5 strikers in the world are world class, I’d say Auba is definitely world class. Elite.
We should have enough to navigate a fixture v Olympiakos at home. Very disappointing result and effectively renders the rest of the season as a procession.
JWL, Emery crashed us to the worst start in 30 years after spending 200m. He did a shit job.
“Yesterday wasn’t about ‘short-term adrenaline’. That loss could affect our finances next season.”
And the bad news keeps on a coming
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8056635/Arsenal-reveal-27-1m-LOSS-accounts-refund-fans-early-Europa-League-exit.html
Olumide, if you only come out of the woodwork when Arsenal lose, you’re a ghoul.
Last night showed the level of our squad. We have a squad of mainly mediocre players with a couple of promising youngsters. Willock is another AMN dreamboat half arsed player. Bellerin should be benched. Where is Tierney? A dislocated shoulder doesn’t take three months to heal. Where are the loaners ? Both have had a month and there not playing, why? Tired! Why not rotate all top teams do. A rookie manager is not the way forward, it’s costing us dearly and as the owner will not support the club our ability to improve the squad is very limited. Arteta… Read more »
Arsenal’s xG score over the two legs.
https://twitter.com/Caley_graphics/status/1233409597404327936?s=20
OK so let’s use a little bit of rational thinking. We beat Man U because we were focused, determined, skilful and overall played really well. Rightly so, Arteta was praised to the rafters. What has happened since? For the most part we’ve reverted back to type. No movement, no options – so having to keep going back to the defenders. Boring and ineffective. If Arteta was the great motivator behind the Man U game, who do we look at to ask why we’ve reverted back to type? It is ludicrous and the height of hubris to praise when praise is… Read more »
“Usmanov buyout might have been loaded onto Arsenal’s account by Kroenke.”
If this is true, we are in deeper financial shit than expected and the Kroenke apologists on here should hide their heads in shame.
Why is Emery even in the convo, dude lit us on fire then had the decency to look back on the blaze and sling insults from a far.
He’ll be lucky to find a La Liga Europa league club willing take the plunge.
Maybe address some of the other points Olumide made in his excellent post, seems today you are just going to resort to the “you are a ghoul” bomb “the damage to this season was set in motion 18 months ago. ” Still going on about the 18 months , the 18 months in which much better teams were beaten on our way to the final of the competition we got dumped out of the first qualifying round last season. You have been here before with Gazidis, and i have a sad feeling you will be there again soon. That’s me… Read more »
27 million pounds post tax loss. I wouldn’t mind if Pepe’s entire fee was covered, but I don’t think it was. This is a problem. If we don’t make CL, we won’t be spending much.
Sell the club Stan. It is much too big for a property developer.
https://mobile.twitter.com/timpayton/status/1233417918114910211
True or False?
Pedro
Mustafi barely played in the first half of the season how come he’s fatigued?
The players had like 10 days in Dubai after not giving any fucks during the first half of the season so where is the fatigue coming from?
Or is Arteta “over training” the players?
RH, I have a sad feeling that you are so desperate to get back on track with a correct view after your dismal views on Emery, that you can now only muster the energy to care about Arsenal when we lose.
You’ve been absent, we lose, you’re back. Not cool.
Jeff, the whole post is a critique of Arteta, did you not read it? Last nigth wasn’t a motivation issue, it was fatigue and not taking our chances. Players fought until the end.
Azed, if you don’t drive a car for a year and leave it in the garage, you quite often get problems when you start driving it again.
It was a soft tissue injury, that’s fatigue-related. Short burst of super intense games and he’s broken. Club should have managed that batter.
I believe a season outside of Europe will do us a world of good (Obviously we would miss out on the financial side but I believe we will be better for it.
On the over-training bit. I have no idea.
What we know is this:
He didn’t rate the fitness of the players
His style is far more intense than that of the old regime
There will be a short term cost of bringing the levels up, which we have seen in abundance
What’s the alternative? Continue to play at a level that sees you in the bottom half of the league?
Pedro “2JWL, Emery crashed us to the worst start in 30 years after spending 200m. He did a shit job.” Can we please stop this piece of propaganda / anti Emery miss information. Emery did not spend £200 million – the club did and Emery had limited input of who was bought. You want to say Emery was given £200 million of new talent and failed to use it, improve performances or whatever but you make it sound like Emery went out and bought the exact players he wanted – did he want Torreira? was Leno his choice? was Sok… Read more »
‘Usmanov buyout might have been loaded onto Arsenal’s account by Kroenke’
No, not true.
“Club should have managed that batter.”
Easy we’re getting back into “blog of lube” territory!
Marc, if you work in a brain trust of 3 and you don’t get the players you need… you are either a weak manager, have a unclear vision of the game, or your suggestions are shite.
I would say it’s a blend of the all three.
I don’t need propaganda, just look at the season he put on this year.
Pedro Good post, the over investment in results this early in Arteta’s tenure is precisely the wrong strategy to take acknowledged by the fact he’s been given a 3-year deal and scope to build. The game was frustrating as it comes, but if you’re out making definite statements about Arteta because of it you’re fooling nobody about where your loyalties lie. For me it boils down to squad suitability and some managerial teething pains that were inevitable – reason why many ‘wrote off’ the season and harboured hope vs expectation for anything this year. This isn’t Arteta’s squad, lets be… Read more »
Pedro
I’m not defending Emery I’m making the point that you don’t need to “exaggerate” his failings or imply he did things he didn’t.
I’ve already said before Emery’s reign will be remembered in the same degree of Riochs.
Pedro
You are being way too sensitive about any Arteta criticism.
Ghouls, vultures, vampires?
People have criticized Pep when his line ups, subs, or tactics backfired in a losing effort.
Who the fuck is Arteta that he should be immune to critique of any sort, let alone after getting trounced by a club put together on a shoestring budget, with no players anyone would want on Arsenal?
Marc, Rioch brought us Platt and Bergkamp and took us 13th to 5th.
“the damage to this season was set in motion 18 months ago” You’re better than this Pedro. Almost all the underperforming senior players (except our stop gap CBs) were in place long before that, and they’ve been mostly poor the whole time, some had decent starts years ago and are now too weak and slow for the PL. The problem was and is that they’re on wages that doesn’t reflect their ability so we either can’t shift them, or we can just send them on loan, or we get a very small sum for rhem that doesn’t come close to… Read more »
Tom, if you only come here to revel in a loss, you’re a ghoul.
Pedro “The path to a brighter future was never going to be perfect, the damage to this season was set in motion 18 months ago. ” We are stoic and we understand that we signed a younger manager that is still learning his trade. I expect him to shit the bed every now and then. I have no problems with Arteta. I do have a problem with the way you keep bashing the former manager to make excuses for Arteta. Emery got us to the finals last season and we lost out of 4th place by whiskers – easily ascribed… Read more »
Arteta was outwitted by Olympiakos coach , simple as that. He deployed the anti football strategy , his players committed to it the whole time. We play well against teams who attack , the game tends to be open nature . Just like Everton . Where we failed was when we couldnt make simple decisions like keeping possesion for 10mins or so , time wasting and cynical fouls. We defended one goal lead against Everton for the 2nd half. Fatigue + Mustafi’s injury + Arteta’s strange decision to go with back 3 of Sokratis , Luiz and Xhaka.
Every striker misses sitters. Its part and parcel.
Auba is world class and thats a fact. No point denying that. Barca want him. And I believe other big teams will also try to sign him. Madrid are heavily reliant on Benzema just like Barca on Suarez. Inter will try to poach Auba if Lautaro goes to Barca. Auba is gonna be a hot property in the summer.
Dissenter,
So we need to not blame the manager that tanked us to our worst start in 30 years… and we need to pin the whole loss on Arteta.
This is an unclear approach to how you apportion blame that seems to align with your bias.
Tom
There’s a very clear difference between critical views towards Arteta in isolation, and critical voices to satisfy previous narratives about his lack of suitability/competency for the managerial role he now has.
You’re not an idiot, you can see there’s numerous critical with throwbacks to the latter. It’s boring, as is harping back to Emery as if his tenure was anything but a shit show that had us bobbing about aimlessly until we thankfully put everyone out their misery.
CC
This isn’t Arteta’s squad but if you think it takes one summer to make it so then you’re in for a disappointment.
ESR making the most of this loan.
https://twitter.com/Between_TL/status/1233344183013957633?s=20
Emery wanted a clear out too. He wanted Mustafi gone and he wanted Ozil gone as well. He wanted a defender last January…these things didn’t happen.
The way Pedro writes you would think Emery got all the players he wanted. The bought him a raw Guendouzi and he had to make do with all the flawed midfielders Wenger and Guendouzi had stacked up. He has Liechtensteiner brought in by diamond eye who was no good.
He didn’t..same way Arteta is going to make that hot sauce football with the same bland players next season.
Dissenter, Emery’s issues went far beyond players. You have to leave it behind. He’s gone and you were very wrong about him.
Pedro
You just won’t see what both Dissenter and I are saying – it’s like you think saying Emery was a pedophile will make Arteta look better.
Most of us understand Arteta’s taken over a work in progress and if you’re taking over mid season from a manager that was sacked of course there were problems. If I was prepared to give Emery a chance do you think I won’t do exactly the same to Arteta? That doesn’t mean I won’t make a comment asking why the fuck did he wait until the 105th minute to bring on Martinelli!
Pedro, You have to stop the 18 months nonsense. If you’re been honest, Arsenal should’ve loss the first leg in Greece. Against Everton Arsenal should’ve loss again, so most knew that it was a matter of time before their luck ran out. You keep going on about Emery but yesterday loss to those Uber Drivers was beyond embarrassing. All the excuse in the world to prove what? Basically trying to convince grown folks that you can predict the future. All the “we are unbeaten in 2020” when all the results are identical to what you chastised Emery for. You better… Read more »
“”” Yesterday wasn’t about ‘short-term adrenaline’. That loss could affect our finances next season.””” Mate – you’re basing that on us winning the europa league which was by no means nailed on We lost – it’s shit – but I don’t get how people are going on like it was ours to win and all we had to do was beat Olympiacos Still people defend emery From the moment of emery’s League capitulation up until yesterday- or since last years final , Have we looked like a team that was capable of winning europa this year – no , we… Read more »
DNA
It’s the same with the Newcastle result. Fantastic result and I was thrilled with it but the performance was not great.
That’s doesn’t mean I’m suggesting we should lynch Arteta from the North Bank crossbar before kickoff next Saturday
“This isn’t Arteta’s squad but if you think it takes one summer to make it so then you’re in for a disappointment.“
I don’t think that, don’t put words in my mouth.
Next season we will start the campaign better balanced, and better suited to what Arteta intends to deliver. It’s really as simple as that and my expectations will increase relative to what Arteta has at his disposal to fulfil his role.
We make top 4 with a prime Cazorla in this team, so I wouldn’t dismiss the value of a summers business so quickly.
CC
Correct, but there are just s few posters , as far as I can tell, who seem to enjoy this loss and use it to score the I told you points.
The vast majority want Arteta to succeed regardless whether he was their pick or not, just like they did with Emery.
Tarring them with the same broad brush only antagonizes them it gives more fuel and ammunition for future negativity.
The starting 11 should have been rotated. I understand that Arteta would have been critiqued whatever happened…That said, I don’t this was an effort issue Arteta didn’t sub him until the second half of injury time. Now, I can see the idea here Given this has been a site that has by and large complained and critiqued the manager of Arsenal for well over a decade the sheer backflips and pivots from even the slightest bit of justified criticism for the current manager is painfully funny. You know just to point out some obvious fuck ups by him isn’t any… Read more »
CC
“We make top 4 with a prime Cazorla in this team, so I wouldn’t dismiss the value of a summers business so quickly.”
Out of interest who does the new Cazorla replace in the current midfield?
Marc, I don’t care what you guys have to say about Emery.
This is like a group therapy session for people who loved Emery and felt hurt by the way it all ended.
He didn’t deliver. It’s a new regime. That new regime is working with nearly the same squad but it had to pull it out of a death spiral. The players hated Emery, the staff thought he was a joke and the fans ran from him.
Why you have to keep rehashing how it was all so unfair is beyond me.
Marc
Dani Ceballos.
I’m NEVER going to understand how some still have these wedded feelings w/ Unai Emery.
Marko, this is why you’re so irritating to me. I dedicate a whole post to unpicking the game, the problems and your first comment is to state that I’m backflipping on an item I have covered.
Why is it such a struggle for you to follow the basics?
Pedro
Did Emery prepare the team?
Did Emery select the starting 11 or manage the game yesterday?
You were happy to endlessly quote players embracing the Arteta project. Wasn’t he supposed to have win the senior players over?
You can’t put the failure to see out a second leg at home on Emery. It was Arteta who shit the bed yesterday.
“””” I’m NEVER going to understand how some still have these wedded feelings w/ Unai Emery.”””
It’s the weirdest thing I’ve witnessed from other arsenal fans
The man made us a fucking meme , and people on here thank him for it
Pedro I’m not rehashing how unfair Emery’s treatment was – I was calling for him to be sacked in the November International break. I’m calling out posters and you on not taking an even hand on what is and isn’t good enough. This conversation started when I said Emery didn’t spend £200 million which you sort of admitted. The difference between us is I don’t care who manages Arsenal (I might change my mind if it was Mourinho) if we’re successful. I’d be thrilled if Arteta is a success but you’re so invested in Arteta you can’t see when you’re… Read more »
I really have sympathies for Pedro . Gets attacked for being right about Emery. And having to defend that every single time . I dont know if he’s right about Arteta but I do like Arteta . He has conveyed more about how he wants to play in 2months then Emery did in 18 months . & I still dont know what Emery wanted to play like.
I’m seeing reduced attendances till next season
unfortunately.
if you work in a brain trust of 3 and you don’t get the players you need… you are either a weak manager, have a unclear vision of the game, or your suggestions are shite.
Have to remember this for future windows. Also what do you call a manager who brings Mustafi back into the fold plays Ozil no matter what and convinces Xhaka to stay. Anyways
CC
I think Ceballos is a decent player but he’s certainly no Santi!
Marc, “DNA It’s the same with the Newcastle result. Fantastic result and I was thrilled with it but the performance was not great” It said it before and I will say it again, apart from 30 mins against CFC and 60 mins against United there’s nothing special happening at Arsenal since MA was hired. All the talk about fixing defence is bs. As soon as he tries to address the attack by playing DC we’re all over the place because the players aren’t good enough. He certainly deserves time but what I saw yesterday wasn’t becoming of a manager that… Read more »
Dissenter
Read the fcuking blog, He hasnt blamed this defeat on Emery . Are you so daft ?
Dissenter,
You’ve spent 18 months defending Emery, now you’re trying to convince me that the loss last night vindicates your disdain for the new hire? (and yes, read the blog)
Marc
Do you purchase Ceballos on his showings this season and our needs in the summer?
How much of so?
For me it’s a no, has some good qualities but he’s not athletic enough especially given who we already have in midfield.
DNA
I’ve been accused of being a Arteta hater / Emery lover because I moaned we didn’t get a new manager bounce.
It amazes me that others don’t see that if we’d have got that and turned 2 of those draws into wins we’d currently be above the Spud’s, on the same points as ManU and 3 points off Chelsea.
All I’ve ever wanted is for Arsenal to do well.
James, I suspect you’ll see reduced attendances across the country as coronavirus sweeps in.
CC
I’d like to see him in a few more games, it would also depend on who rest of the midfield were and of course how much he’d cost.
I get the feeling it’s a pointless conversation because a) I don’t think we’ll be able to afford him b) I’m not sure he’d want to join us permanently.
*have won over
I’d rather we go for Partey instead of Ceballos. ESR is gonna be big next season , save this comment. Genuinely feel he can be better than Ramsey .
Why is it such a struggle for you to follow the basics? I know right you complain about fatigue and talk about rotation but avoid criticizing the person responsible for such. You reference Emery every time someone criticizes Arteta thinking that it’ll distract them. But yeah I don’t get the basics. I’m criticizing the appropriate people I don’t know what you’re doing. Also why you keep bringing up ghouls who come out when we lose given that this site has thrived in such circumstances over the years is ridiculous. It’s not new the traffic on this place after every embarrassing… Read more »
Devine
“Read the fcuking blog, He hasnt blamed this defeat on Emery . Are you so daft ?”
Pedro is not denying he was pointing fingers at Emery. He’s been going that forever.
Mind you freaking business and you really are daft.
Marc
Was talk of him being in the 40 mil Euros range I think, but I wouldn’t go near him frankly.
Don’t think Arteta is sold on Torreira either, his stature and dynamism is an issue but his ability with the ball just doesn’t fit an Arteta side imo.
But…..
Our business will inevitably be down to expiring contracts and those wanting to move on. Hopefully the club use the summer as an opportunity to turnover the squad and freshen up the profile.
Mustafi may be a car crash waiting to happen but one things clear, he’s been a much higher level under Arteta this past month than at any time under his predecessor this season. Same could be said for Xhaka.
Term for that would be, man management.
Doesn’t change fact i’d not want to see them gone next season but in terms of gauging Arteta its a decent barometer.
Pedro
Banter aside – I think you’re right we could see people staying away because they’re worried and that’s before we see matches played behind closed doors. That could be an “interesting” period if it goes on for more than an odd match. What do the clubs do – broadcast the matches to ST holders with a refund?
Marc,
“I’ve been accused of being a Arteta hater / Emery lover because I moaned we didn’t get a new manager bounce”
Since Arteta was hired, it’s suddenly becomes be quiet and support the team. Once you have a concern, it’s suddenly linked to Emery. The same manager who most wanted to be fired after the useless players let CFC ran over them in the EL FINAL, but you dare not question been jumped by those Uber Drivers yesterday. It’s unbelievable fans finding excuse for yesterday performance when there was signs from the Newcastle game.
Pedro has been going on and on about this 18 month stuff. I’m not the only one calling him out on it.
So that’s that.
Divine
Good shout. Would rather ESR for 0 than Ceballos for 30 mil in this side. Mkhi might not be done here, although I’d gladly take some coin from Roma for him and those wages
CC
I said earlier it’s becoming obvious Arteta doesn’t fancy Torreira. AT least he should cover the cost of a decent replacement.
Off all the comments today- not one person has demanded the sacking of the man who without question has been the catalyst for the total demise of Arsenal.
RAUL.
Quite Amazing.
Not one person.
Marc
Auba, Ozil, Mustafi, Luiz, Sokratis have one year left on their contracts.
Laca, Xhaka, Torreira, Bellerin have questions over them.
Nelson, Willock, AMN, Nketiah are touch and go.
CG
That’s because everyone on here is too kind to take away your reason for living.
Forgot Mkhi and Mavro who seem to have a foot out the door.
Fuck me, and Elneny. Wasteman
GunnerDNA, it doesn’t become ‘be quiet’, it’s more about focusing the conversation on the future rather than trying to do the Liverpool fan things of starting a Klopp Out campaign whilst crying over Brendan Rodgers.
There are problems, obviously, but I’d rather talk about the merits of ESR versus Ceballos than pontificate if a manager that couldn’t master the word ‘evening’ in 18 months was actually really good for us.
CG, you are right, he needs a huge summer to get his value points up a few.
There’s talk in Brazilian that we are making the Pablo Mari deal permanent already
colunadofla.com/2020/02/pablo-mari-agrada-no-arsenal-e-flamengo-ja-considera-venda-em-definitivo-encaminhada-apos-emprestimo/
Shouldn’t we be waiting to play him first?
Elneney is like Joel Campbell, you forget he’s still here on a forever contract