Culture club

by .

Well good morning, apologies it’s been low key week. I’ve been in Texas, land of the mask-free. It’s wonderful to be living in actual normality. I sat in a restaurant, had a frozen marg at a bar, sneezed at someone and it was all just very cool.

But onto more serious chat…

This chat with Steve Round that Arseblog News uncovered whet my appetite no end.

“One, what a magnificent club Arsenal are…it’s just a great, great football club. It’s a massive club.

“The other thing [that attracted me], was to work with him [Mikel]. I knew he’d need a bit of experience and some knowledge from the domestic game. I think he’s got a real chance to become one of the best coaches in the world, let alone the UK. I didn’t hesitate to join.

I just like putting things like this in the blog, because that opinion Steve Round has is not rare in the game. I think we have an extremely exciting setup and though Steve Round isn’t the sexiest of names in the game, his expertise is deep and his experience is going to be hugely valuable to the club over the next 3 years.

The most fascinating part, outside how they use data, is how dedicated the new team are to culture.

“We’re continually working on emotional intelligence and leadership styles within the group, whether that’s the head coach, the two assistant head coaches or even the captains’ group within the team. How you formulate that is bringing togetherness, spirit. Humour is always a very good energy developer. You’re forever trying to build a resonant environment and take it away from dissonance. Discipline, self-discipline and making sure that our behaviour, positive behaviours are continually reinforced. Negative behaviours are pulled up, there are certain things we will not accept.

“If a teammate is showing disrespect to another teammate, perhaps the ball hasn’t come to him and he’s thrown his arms up. That’s telling the world this guy has made a mistake. We don’t blame like that. We don’t do that. If the guy has made a mistake our responsibility is to help him overcome that mistake. Our responsibility, me personally, is to try and make sure the next time he doesn’t make the same mistake again.

This is how big businesses, particularly with creative outputs, think about culture. It’s such a mature vision of how things should be. It’s been sorely missed over the last few years.

Arsene Wenger built an incredible environment for the players, but he didn’t build one that focused on winning. Also, contrary to popular belief, he wasn’t a big one-on-one guy. It was a culture of comfort that lacked direction and vision. That was his undoing.

Unai Emery just wasn’t a good people person. If the guy running the show is a bit on the spectrum, it’s going to be next to impossible for him to cultivate a culture built on empathy and strong communications lines.

Arteta is hopefully going to bring back the good bits from Wenger. Pride about the badge, a great environment, and the love the players didn’t get from Emery… but he’ll combine it with early years Wenger ruthlessness. We need a bit of winnertivity back at the club, we need updated standards, and we need the players to know that their job is more than turning up every day. I loved reading Martinelli talk about how Mikel asked him to assess his own movement so they could discuss. It’s a basic, but it’s a level of intimacy a lot of managers struggle with. The key to it all is this manager makes learning interesting. Engaging 21-year-olds who play football in education is no easy task, but it seems to be getting a good reaction.

To make all this fancy new thinking, you still need to have elite players coming through the door. There are major question marks over whether Edu has it in him to make that happen. Seeing us linked to players outside the coterie of agents we lean on would be a nice start. We’ve tried to bandage the squad with top 4-ish players and it didn’t work. We now need to focus on a sharper vision with youth, power, pace and high level thinking at the core.

The good news is we’re in Month 6 of Arteta and the good news is still flowing through. Let’s hope we can make some moves on the table when the game resumes. It’d be great to finish this never-ending season on a high!

Though losing 3-2 to Brentford isn’t exactly promising. Tears Emoji x3

Right, I’m off, see you in the comments x

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Wasi

Pierre

what are you on?

All the comparisons were funny but Luiz = Van dijk.

😂

Jamie

I thought Arteta had already massively improved Xhaka, Mustafi, Ozil and Luiz based on a few games in February though. What gives?

Thank you and goodnight

@Wasi

Yeah, Van dijk, he meant dick van dijk ( yes I know it’s spelt differently ) 😁

Thank you and goodnight

Actually that’s a bit unfair on dick van dyke, he’s not that shit. Put in a good performance in chitty chitty bang bang

Graham62

TYAG

This is true but what you must also remember is that there was an acceptance of this by those who could have acted, but chose not to.

This tends to happen when you fall into a comfort zone and you think you’re infallible.

Thank you and goodnight

@Graham62

Oh I agree people allowed it to happen. The other villains are the cunts who sold their shares to him. As someone mentioned before, it was out their for everyone to see kroenke’s handling of sports teams , and the way he operates. Would of been clear for everyone to see what future held for us under the kroenke’s

CG

Arsenal 2 Brentford 3.

Everyone and their dog knows we are distinctly average and we are currently on the road to nowhere
Maybe not everyone knows what a cracking outfit Brentford are.

They are the complete contrast to Arsenal.

A minnow club that overachieves
A monster club that underachieves

they will probably beat us next season too

Thank you and goodnight

In all my years as a supporter of this great club, even under the lean years I’ve never felt this disconnected to our club. A board and owner not fit for duty.

Pierre

Wasi

Hence the question mark for certain players.

And actually the comparisons are not so funny if you look at the each player’s ability.

Aubamayang, Pepe, Lacazette used properly are a potent strike force .

Individually they are as talented as the liverpool front 3, their talents were wasted by Emery and Arteta has still to get the best out of them.

Liverpool’s midfield are a hard working disciplined unit.

The defence is where they make a difference and the full backs are special.

Thank you and goodnight

As someone pointed out, Soares, 2 friendly games, the guy is fit yet still doesn’t make the pitch. Who sanctioned this signing as it’s pretty obvious it wasn’t Arteta.

Thank you and goodnight

@Pedro

You were very happy originally when Edu got the post at Arsenal, what has made you change you’re opinion of him?

Emiratesstroller

No-one knows as yet which players will be shifted out of the club during transfer window apart from Ceballos and most probably Mkhitaryan and Elneny We need most definitely to shift out at least 3 Centre Backs. Bluntly you can take your choice from Sokratis, Luiz, Mavropanos and Holding. I have also issues about Maitland-Niles and it would seem that Soares loan is unlikely to be converted into permanent transfer. Our striker situation needs to be also confirmed before end of month. Arsenal need to resolve in that time all incoming transfers. The priorities are clearly in midfield. Any money… Read more »

Bojangles

Not sure what all this wringing of hands is about over losing a friendly. It means SFA. Of course it’s always better to win but the point of the match was fitness and finding out more about the squad.

Arteta probably discovered more about the players in this game than he did in the Charlton game.

Jamie

Our front 3 ‘as talented as’ Liverpool’s front 3.. Ok mate. They won the Champs League and came within a ball hair of winning the league last season, and they’ve won the league at a canter this season and are still in Europe.

We’ve already crashed out of Europa in embarrassing fashion, currently sitting in 9th, and 42!!! points adrift of Liverpool.

Totally kosher and makes perfect sense to compare our squad with theirs. Glad someone understands the game so deeply.

Thank you and goodnight

42 points off Liverpool. That’s shocking. Imagine if Auba had left us at the beginning of the season , we’d be fighting relegation and with this current squad I don’t believe they would of had mental strength to avoid relegation.

Left testicle

Does anybody else see the double standards that players, quite rightly, can’t show any political affiliation but the club encourage the taking of the knee?

China1

Willock’s biggest weakness imo is he’s quite inconsistent and plays like ozil (invisible) when not on one of his good days

When he is visible he’s really impressive imo. For me the challenge is for him to become consistent and play as well as he can 80% of the time and it’s currently more like a 30-40%

China1

ET you forgot mustafi!

China1

Bojangles

‘Arteta probably learned more about the players than vs charlton’

You mean who needs binning off urgently haha

Pierre

57-24 56-15 “Our front 3 ‘as talented as’ Liverpool’s front 3.. Ok mate. They won the Champs League and came within a ball hair of winning the league last season, and they’ve won the league at a canter this season and are still in Europe.We’ve already crashed out of Europa in embarrassing fashion, currently sitting in 9th, and 42!!! points adrift of Liverpool.Totally kosher and makes perfect sense to compare our squad with theirs. Glad someone understands the game so deeply.” I always enjoy showing up the know nothings on here, Just for you Jamie. 2018/ 19 season Liverpool front… Read more »

Pierre

That was League only.

The stats for europe last season

Aubamayang/ Lacazette…13 goals

Salah/ firmino/ Mane …13 goals

Jamie

Pierre –

You’ve finally lost it.

Pepe didn’t play for Arsenal in the 2018-19 season. Only an absolute plonker would count the goals he scored in a piss poor league as if they counted as EPL goals.

Total cringe.

Jamie

Now he’s counting the goals Liverpool scored against Barca as equal to the goals we scored against BATE Borisov.

Amazing.

Pierre

Jamie
You have embarrassed yourself again .

Keep your snide remarks coming .

I will continue to put you in your place as I always do , it’ so easy …….I have yet to see a opinion from you that’s worth talking about , just petty snide comments .

Terraloon

Pierre

To suggest that Arsenals current three are any where near as talented to Liverpools front three is folly.

Let’s look at the 2019/20 season. The only season where all six are competing in the same league.

Liverpool 38
Arsenal. 28

Emiratesstroller

Arsenal’s strike force is not currently on a par with Liverpool primarily because the latter have been playing together for sometime and has therefore a better understanding of each other’s game. Pepe for all his promise joined the club this season and clearly needs time to adapt. Also Lacazette’s performance has been below par. What needs also to be discussed is that Saka, Martinelli, Nkietah and Nelson as forward options are all very talented players in the squad. Whilst I view Aubameyang currently as indispensable and would need to be replaced if he left at end of this season I… Read more »

Habesha Gooner

Honestly, I don’t think Liverpool are as talented as their results. But that’s when a world class manager comes in. They have good players and he is using them to full potential. The players I think that are performing on their own level are few. I would say Alisson, Van Djik, Fabinho and Mane. But Klopp has maximized the potential of these players , Wjinaldum, Salah, Firminho, TAA, Robertson, Henderson. Aside for firminho maybe in that second group, I don’t think they would be as successful as they have been had it not been for klopp. Honestly I would only… Read more »

Mikel's Immaculate Hair

when will people stop defending ozil? he’s not a good player anymore. no he isn’t the reason we dropped goals, but just as well having a hard working midfielder in his position instead would help out our poor defense, there is no getting around that. the team as it exists cannot accommodate him, and the fact he has to be accommodated is a key issue in itself, the modern game has no room for such players anymore. also it doesn’t matter who we put in against Brentford, i would legitimately expect the u18 side to at the very least get… Read more »

Jamie

Pierre, realising he’s done, tips over the card table and storms out.

Taxi.

Marc

It’s looking like Pierre has come off of the medication that seemed to dampen his obsessive compulsions. For a while he seemed to ease up on the Ozil nonsense and even seemed to cool it on Wenger, now we’ve got him pushing Nketiah as if he was a proven PL striker rather than a kid who couldn’t get a start whilst on loan at Leeds and distorting stats to fit an argument that doesn’t need making.

Emiratesstroller

Habasha Gooner

I would not disagree with your first 2 sentences. However, it should not be forgotten that Arsenal have a new Head Coach and there were wholesale changes made to our squad this season. So it is very much a “club in transition”.

I have suggested many times that we should judge the team and head coach when it has been operating for at least for two seasons. Unlike some who post
on here I do see some “green shoots” and we should not be too pessimistic
about our future.

Jamie

Who’s writing him off?

Jamie

Un –

I like him. He’s worryingly raw for someone his age, but I still have hope he can improve. A little confidence boost and scuffs turn into nutmegs.

Valentin

Habesha, I agree. Liverpool is a good team with a few great players, but the main difference has been Klopp. The 4 that you named are players who would elevate any team. The rest are good players who exceed expectations because of the system the manager build for them. Nobody is going to make me believe that James Milner is a great player. Good, hard working premiership player yes but no more. I also think that bar Van Dyke and Allison the rest of their defense is not that great. People are so afraid of their attack that they are… Read more »

Marc

Un

There’s a world of difference between wanting Nketiah to do well or thinking he’s got it in him to make it and to start claiming he’s at that level already.

To start using a hat trick in a friendly against Charlton is daft. All it does is put pressure on the kid that’s unnecessary.

I hope he does make it but this is about Pierre’s peculiar habit of locking into a single player and then despite any evidence claiming they are “perfection”

Marc

Valentin

Do Liverpool have any CM’s that you’d class as “top quality”? If you look at some of the CM’s that we’ve had or ManU title winning teams had they don’t get close.

As you say a very good attack and a couple of very good players at the back.

Marc

Un

He’s started the last 3 matches, got 1 goal and no assists. My guess is Arteta’s choice is more to do with the lack of form in Laca than the amazing form of Nketiah.

As you know I’d like to see Auba through the middle.

He might make it but building him up as a potential 20 PL goal a season striker for next season is premature.

Emiratesstroller

Leaving aside the Manager Liverpool have been playing as a team for
2 seasons with very few squad changes.

That also applies to some extent to Man City, Chelsea and Leicester.

It always helps if you have a fairly settled team something that is not the case with Arsenal where there has been a huge turnover of players.

andy1886

Testicle, I can’t equate taking the knee with political affiliation.

Surely opposing racism is something ALL people of whatever political leaning should be in support of?

I’m not aware of any political party that would actively support a racist agenda.

andy1886

Un has a point, if Willock has confidence and consistency issues then a decent run in the side is exactly what he needs to address that.

Any B2B midfielder has the Xhaka problem which unfortunately hinders their effectiveness. If they do make an attacking run to the opposition box they need to know that the space will covered and Xhaka doesn’t seem to have either the brains or the athleticism to do that.

Freddie Ljungberg

Testicle

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-take-knee-black-lives-matter-mikel-arteta-a4466056.html

It was the players decision. Not like statements against racism is anything new in football either.

Pierre

Will just add that Aubameyang and Lacazette spent last season playing in front of a midfield that is considered on Le grove to be the worse in the prem and the liverpool trio had the prolific Trent Arnold and Robertson to supply them compared to Arsenal’s kolasinac and bellerin/ AMN who have also received more than their fair share of criticism on Le Grove. Taking all that into consideration , I would say that for Pepe, Lacazette and Aubameyang to out perform the champions of europe front 3 is a remarkable achievement and is evidence that used properly , Arsenal’s… Read more »

Marc

andy

“has the Xhaka problem”

You’ve just really hit that nail repeated on the head.

Can someone please name another team in the PL who in almost 30 years has had a player who can be named as causing a problem for their own team mates like that?

Bob N16

Well said Andy.

All that be really said about Nketiah’s hat trick against Charlton is that it should give him a boost to his confidence which as a young player trying to make in the first team is a great thing.

What will be interesting is how well Arteta uses the temporary five substitute rule. I’d have thought that with our offensive resources, we should be able to benefit (although City are fairly well stocked too!) more than most teams.

Marc

Un

No I’m saying “we’ll see” but let’s give the kid a chance rather than build him up into something he isn’t (at least yet) only to then pull him down.

Also he had got some minutes prior to these starts.

Marc

On the 5 sub rule am I right in thinking whilst you can make 5 sub’s you can only make them on 3 occasions?

Left testicle

I’m no fan of Ozil, and don’t believe politics should come into sport, but he can’t discuss muslims in China. Yet the players are encouraged to take the knee over something that happened in America?

Sid

The culture of “we dont blame like that” continues, thats so sorority girl
We need guys who can swing their mandingo, Viera style slap Ozils eyes with it and the man juice be sprayed onto Xhakalsons mouth, it will give him energy to sprint like redbull.

Im telling you for free!

andy1886

Testicle, again what’s wrong with anyone protesting against racism wherever it may occur? If your implication is that it’s not a problem in the UK I’m sure there will be plenty that would disagree, it’s endemic in most cultures . Again, I don’t see it as a political issue, simply one that all decent human beings should be aware of and are prepared to stand up against. The latest incident in the US (let’s have the decency to use his name, George Floyd) is simply another in a long list of incidents that has triggered protests around the world. I’m… Read more »

Emiratesstroller

Pierre

On paper we have a very good strike force if they play to their full potential and also most of the young forwards in our squad are amongst the most talented in EPL.

The problem is that our Midfield and Defence is not fit for purpose and that
obviously impacts on our attack.

Arsenal are not realistically going to buy four new players good enough to
play regularly in starting lineup. If we are lucky we will get perhaps two and
the new players will need to bed into team which also takes time.

andy1886

Testicle, re: Ozil, I have no problem with his raising the issue of the Uighur Muslims in China, as far as I know the club hasn’t censured him for it.

Left testicle

Racism needs to stop everywhere, for all colours. We seem to be very selective of what lives matter. Surely all lives matter?

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Anyone else think that maybe art is playing a threevcard rule to certain players..

You know amn screaming want to play midfield…
He will get three chances ,… this season or be sold.
Luiz .. again sloppy mistakes

These both in last chance saloon.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Lest

What about
Fred n rose
Dr Howard shipman
Michael Ryan.
Graham young.

Did their lives matter.

Bob N16

Testicle, over the top of your head this whole racism issue isn’t it?

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Left…
It racism tha5 needs to stop period.

All races n cultures should all respect others…
Because their is good n bad in all of us.

Jamie

le-grove should stay well clear of divisive political events.

Just saying.

andy1886

Not sure where being anti-racism is divisive? Unless we have any Klan members on board?

Left testicle

Policeman attacked yesterday. Struggling on the floor with an assailant. What do the bystanders do? Take out their phones and video themselves with the struggle taking place in the background. Police Lives Matter.

Pierre

Terraloon “To suggest that Arsenals current three are any where near as talented to Liverpools front three is folly. Let’s look at the 2019/20 season. The only season where all six are competing in the same league. Liverpool 38 Arsenal. 28” Fair enough , let’s look at it per minute played . Minutes played league. Pepe 1591 Aubameyang 2315 Lacazette 1318 Total minutes played 5224 Goals 28 Equates to a goal every 186 Salah 2,250 Mane 2,084 Firmino 2,422 6756 minutes played.. 38 Equates to a goal every 177 minutes. Doesn’t look like folly to me ,there is very little… Read more »

Jamie

andy –

I always descends into madness, and Pedro has to waste time mopping it up. Best just leave it.

Jamie

It* always

Left testicle

Nothing to ‘mop up’ here. It’s just a differing opinion.

Marc

Left

Agree on your earlier comment re Ozil and China’s persecution of Muslims and the PL allowing (encouraging?) players to take the knee.

Ozil was certainly told not to comment in future purely because Chinese TV pulled coverage of Arsenal’s match after Ozil’s comments.

It appears that opposing racism is important to the PL unless it might affect TV money or it’s Spud fans doing it during a match when it’s then more convenient to sweep it under the carpet.

Marc

Pierre

If you had said that you believed that a front 3 of Pepe, Laca and Auba has the potential to score as many goals as Liverpool’s front 3 next season I’d agree with you.

When you use statistics of EL vs CL and different domestic leagues it just looks like you’re distorting the numbers to fit your opinion rather than letting the number decide it.

andy1886

Jamie, probably right, let’s focus on something that we all agree on.

Xhaka – what is he good for?…..

Answers on a postcard.

Jamie

And Pierre has spent the last hour looking for any statistic that will back up his silly claim that our front 3 are as talented as, even outperformed, Liverpool’s champions of Europe.

You can tell how much it pains him to be made to look foolish on the internet.

Anyone got ‘forward passes per passes attempted in final third per minutes played at home between November and February’ stats? Asking for a friend.

andy1886

Hate to throw any fuel on the fire but here’s a headline from The Athletic today:

“Has lockdown given Maitland-Niles hope of saving Arsenal career?”

Marc

andy

“Xhaka – what is he good for?…..”

Thought you were going to break into song there!

Marc

““Has lockdown given Maitland-Niles hope of saving Arsenal career?””

I’m guessing that was written before yesterdays result.

Sid

Protect, provide, penetrate
They are insecure coz the darker the berry the sweeter its juice, once they go black theres no going back.

Gentlebris

‘As I pointed out 2 weeks ago we have some difficult games until end of season
with games against Man City, Liverpool, Spurs, Leicester and Wolves.’

You know how you feel when you realize that you have series of visits to the dentist starting from the 17th day of June. You don’t feel excited do you?

Marc

“You know how you feel when you realize that you have series of visits to the dentist starting from the 17th day of June. You don’t feel excited do you?”

You do when you have perfect teeth and the dentist is stunning.

Bob N16

I assume you were being humorous Marc with your last AMN post- hard to tell.

Marc

Bob

I’m not entirely sure!

Gentlebris

‘You do when you have perfect teeth and the dentist is stunning.’

I’m sure you don’t think a midfield of Ozil, Xhaka and Guen can be described as ‘perfect teeth’?

Pierre

Marc “When you use statistics of EL vs CL and different domestic leagues it just looks like you’re distorting the numbers to fit your opinion rather than letting the number dec” If you put Aaron Ramsey ( midfielder) in there instead of Pepe , it would still have proved my point as goal contributions for the 2019/20 season would have been .more or less the same as liverpool’s front 3 As you know ( unless your thick , possibility) i was just making a comparison between our front 3 and liverpool’s front 3 as the common consensus is that our… Read more »

Pierre

201819 when Ramsey was playing not 2019/20

Marc

bris

No that midfield just reminds me of the dentist scene in the film Marathon Man.

Gentlebris

Come to think of it…how can we(as one of the richest football clubs in the world)not have a single midfielder we can be proud of?

Would have been Torrey, but he has the stamina of a beauty queen.

Pierre

Un
You should know by now that it’s a crime to talk positive about any Arsenal player….unless it’s Martinelli of course .

Gentlebris

‘No that midfield just reminds me of the dentist scene in the film Marathon Man.’

I will look for the movie to get the context.

Marc

bris

Trust me if you don’t like the dentists don’t watch the scene – you really won’t like it!

Gentlebris

Then with all the ‘top football people’ drawing fat salaries off Arsenal, how did we not recognize that Gnabry was a top talent and treat him as such yet Bayern recognized this enough to plan and pull a trick on us?

Sid

Protect, provide, penetrate
The darker the chocolate the richer its taste,

Gentlebris

‘Trust me if you don’t like the dentists don’t watch the scene – you really won’t like it!’

Marc,

I don’t like them dentists!

Marc

bris

Seriously don’t watch the scene then – it’ll scare you for life.

Marc

scar not scare!

Left testicle

I find dark chocolate a little bitter.

Dissenter

Gentle
I suggest you find a better dentist that doesn’t make you shit your pants in anticipation.
Better still take a valium before you show up

Dissenter

Championship clubs are supposed to be a bit behind premier league clubs in terms of physical conditioning since they started training 1.5 weeks after.

That said, I expect that the first 1-2 games for all clubs will be high tempo for 60 minutes and then flat-line because players run out of gas.

Bob N16

Testicle being cryptic about his views?

Dissenter

Dele Ali was banned for only one game for that sill social media post he put up.
Marc was indeed right that the league goes soft on Spuds way too much.

Dissenter

*silly social media post

Sid

Left testicleJune 11, 2020 13:09:11
I find dark chocolate a little bitter.

The ladies in your life would disagree

Freddie Ljungberg

Szobozlai banged in 3 yesterday, we need to get in there now while we can still afford him. After he moves he’ll most likely be out of our price range. Could be had for under 20m now, no brainer really. Him and Soumare in for around 50m and I’ll start to feel a lot more comfortable with this squad. Can easily be financed by selling Laca and Xhaka and some of the extra CBs and loan players, might even have some cash left over. We’ll still be missing a puzzle piece or 2 but a hell of a lot closer… Read more »

andy1886

Too late already Freddie. He’s already been linked with Liverpool (and a handful of Italian teams too).

Dissenter

Freddie
Would you take a chancre and sell Auba to buy both Szobozlai and Soumare?
If we get both, then what happens to ESR and Willocks, talk-less of Guendouzi?

It seems the club has to make some tough calls about truncating the path of some players because so long as we have these youth players around, we aren’t going to buy other 19-21 year olds.
We have to call time on some of our young players.

Gentlebris

‘Seriously don’t watch the scene then – it’ll scare you for life.’

Marc

That bad?
Is it on Netflix?

Gentlebris

‘I suggest you find a better dentist that doesn’t make you shit your pants in anticipation.
Better still take a valium before you show up’

Dissenter,

Never visited one and never plan to do. My teeth are so strong they scare me!