Let’s start this post off with a big congratulations to Man of the Quarantine, Marcus Rashford. The guys has been relentless in his giving, donating money when others dithered, then campaigning to land the kids of the UK a meal during a very challenging summer.
That there is a counter-argument to such a campaign shows the depth of misery some people voluntarily dive into. You have a dark heart if you think empathy, during the worst pandemic of the last 100 years, is misplaced here. There is no financial planning that could see parents in, say, the hospitality industry, through this moment. If you are chirping off about this on the internet, find a friend (if you have one) and ask them to confiscate your phone for a month because you are a disgrace.
Onto the football.
ARSENAL PLAY TOMORROW!
I couldn’t be any more excited about the restart. Sure, it’s likely we’ll get beaten, but who cares, we’re back in the mixer and we still have a European spot to play for. The manager says it’s one game at a time, and I agree. If the players react well to the full preseason we’ve just had, we’ll be in good shape… if they don’t, it’ll be problematic for the fans waiting in the wings to avenge the beheading of Senor Emery.
There’s a lot to be excited about.
We’re going to see the kids. The manager has a big bench and 5 subs he can make now. New youth will get a chance. This will set the tone for the summer and hopefully show the world the Arsenal we’re going to build over the next 5 years. We are one of the best-placed clubs when it comes to teenage talent, let’s hope we meet a new star
Better off-ball movement. Arteta has been trying to build a more cognitive style of football at the club. He’s teaching players shapes and triggers that help our off-ball movement. That was tough to do midseason, but a month in the training field is kind of ideal to implement this elevated approach to the game. The hope is that we see a better style of football, less mistakes, and more intelligence on the field.
Senior turnover is bound to happen this summer, but don’t expect it to be reflected in the starting 11. Arteta wants to win a cup and he wants to make the top 4 this season. That means he’ll lean on experience. Why ‘could’ that work? Well, our bigger names are low on contract in a very uncertain world. They are going to need to prove they are value buys so they can extend out their futures this summer. I expect to see fully committed players on the pitch because everyone is playing for their future. PUMP THAT VALUE.
Style. Yes, this something I’m looking for. I’d like us to move out of functional to something more elevated. We debated this on last nights podcast. What will we see? Getting by with what you have? Or something more exciting that shows the future? I’m hoping for a middle ground. But we’ll see.
The away advantage has gone in the Bundesliga.\
Since the Bundesliga returned in front of empty stands, where they call them the “ghost games” (“geisterspiele“), home teams have won 21.7% of matches (10 from 46 games), down from 43.3% before the shutdown of play in March. Home teams have also scored fewer goals — the pre-lockdown rate of 1.75 goals per game is now down to 1.28 — while the away teams’ winning ratio has risen from 34.83% to 47.8%. The same trends have been seen in Estonia (after 29 games there were just 11 home wins) and Czech Republic (after 32 games, just 10 home wins) since their leagues resumed when behind closed doors.
This works well for Arsenal because, you know, we’ve been shit away from home for years. The hope is that we level the playing field, win some games we might not have, then build confidence going into the future.
We can dream, right?
Ok, before I go, click my podcast and GORGE on its goodness. We cover about 500 topics. It’s great.
Cmon Laddies hang in there & don’t concede before the interval.
We’ve gotta regroup and refreshed the lines.
This ref is a cunt
Fact.
Ref is a Manc for sure
Take that cunt auba off
And Luiz
fucking Luiz
Headless chickens we are
Luiz gonna Luiz…
Luiz why?
DAVID FCUKING LUIS!!!!
Guen is not good enough….
Very timid performance.
ffs…
What a stupid goal to concede
Fucking Luiz!!!!
Seriously?? Luiz you really proves you are expendable and should duck off.
Fucking routine clearance and you fucked it up.
Well shit.
I know that CALAMITY WOULD STRIKE!
Whoever signed this POS … should lose their job immediately
That’s why Mari started. though.
Disaster Class
Auba should be off, he contributes nothing from the front, nothing whatsoever
Fuck Wilcox off as well.
Luiz is over, no option please
Luiz – seriously? Sideshow Bob strikes again….
Luiz has to go .
That half is about as arsenal as you can get. Injuries, hanging on until the 48th minute, then a standard defensive fuck up to gift them a lead. Willock and Auba off. Same old same old.
Both Luiz and Guendouzi should leave after this season ASAP.
half time we really could have avoided that goal mannnn
One of the worst first half performances I have ever seen us play
Its too engrained in Luiz at this point, get rid. Auba has done very little and I don’t think I’ve seen any of Willock.
Pete, I’m not too sure you know. This is Arteta having time with the squad. His game plan looks to be knocking it high and long to the pacy front guys, hardly the stuff of genius
Arteta wants to keep Louise. 😬
Where the fuck var for foul on Eddie
You see in two games they have not gone to it…
Season corrupt.. Fuck football
Deflated. Need a much better showing up front in the 2nd half.
Ine of the worst first half performances I have ever seen us play.
_______
Huh? you don’t watch much then. hahaha
izzo
Sick to death of this non existent midfield
Hear, hear.
I have been aching to see a much better midfield for years. The last great and intelligent midfielder we had was Cazorla. We have been lacking in intelligence and creativity since his departure.
—–
Aaaaaaand Sucker punch. What did I say?
I don’t want Luiz for these games. I want him for games where we have the ball a lot. He still should stay, Can’t start big games though.
Calm it down lads 😂
Xhaka trips over his own feet and injured himself in the process, the only thing missing was a red card from the ref for his stupidity.
Suckers still moaning……
Funny Mustafi silly foul. Luiz what was he thinking..
Thought Guendouzi looked ok. Midfield was getting dominated. But we should of held until half time.
Anyway hope you guys are ok.
For all of you Ozil haters… is Willock even on the pitch? I haven’t heard his name called once.
He must be up there with the likes of Gus Ceasar etc.
City played better in the 1H but nothing exceedingly beyond us. Just that we have ….
It was coming. Just inviting them to attack for the last 10. What will Arteta do at half time?
Midwest
“That’s why Mari started. though.”
He was dodgy himself before he went off injured.
Same old Arsenal always behind the pace against top teams.
Bright start, then pants from 20 mins. Willock? Saka? Auba? Mustafi and Luiz will get roasted 2nd half.
Who are the retards celebrating when Mari got hurt.
Hope yer happy now.
Right at the half too.
What a horrible Junk footballer.
Habesha – He has to go, its too risky to even have him in those games. Luiz is gonna Luiz regardless of the opposition.
Missing someone to retain the ball maybe?
Anyways Saka , Auba , Willock , Dani need to step up the game a notch.
Only good performer – Leno
Okay performers – Eddie , Kieran , hector , mustafi
Ishola… I know but even dodgy Mari can at least control a simple ball.. let’s face it when Mustafi is your best option … you need better options.
Arteta is not Big enough for this job .
Can anyone confidently say we have a chance at getting top four now? Shit CBs shit weak CMs. Just roll out the youth from the under 23s into the starting 11 at this point. I’d rather watch them. Season is done.
Team needs a do over
The entire midfield needs new impetus as well as the central defence
Attack and goalkeeping the only players of caliber we have .
Wasted Leno’s good game.
What position is Willock actually playing ?
They showed him on the right of a midfield four in the starting lineup,but Saka’s playing there.
Crap match of course and that fake crown noise is so fuckin’ annoying, I’ve stuck on some classic blues music instead.
Remember – TV MONEY MATTERS!
Sky showing a slow-mo of the taking of the knee for a second time.
they’re taking the knee. Un is having a seizure
I mentioned moving that air head to midfield.
Luis is Proper Shyt!!
Move Auba back to the middle … Arteta!!
“What will Arteta do at half time?”
Curl into a fetus position and suck on his thumb? Or maybe he’ll just cry softly in a corner.
Pedro
When are you going to agree player poverty is a thing?
Crowd noise = Sky 401
No crowd noise = Sky 402
When teams like Arsenal cant do simple defending how are we ever gonna progress.
UN
Just so you know Ceballos has been way better than Willock who has been doing his best Ozil impressions.
Digital Bob
If we had money I would let him go. but we need him as a backup next season. selling both Mustafi and Sokratis is needed.
idm the crowd noise tbh
Awful from David Luiz. The match was low key to say the least lacking intensity and pace until Man City upped the tempo in the last quarter. Lack of match football for these players telling. Mari was dodgy before he went off injured. Tried to give Man City an early lead giving away that freekick on the edge of the penalty area with a bad challenge, pulls up injured when Walker was giving him a roasting. So not very good from Mari but when you have a replacement such as Luiz you are just replacing with another dodgy player. The… Read more »
The Great British Sewing Bee = Sky 115
Mustafi has simplified his game under Arteta. He makes less error than Luiz.
Luiz should just retire, no serious club will spend a dime on him after seeing him tonight.
The second half will see whether this team.can salvage something from a shit season
Undie:
“ I’m kind of glad Mari is gone
He looked off the pace”
Typical Clueless Undie …. Dumb as a fcuking rock !!
Saka is a Left Winger. Play him in his position.
Leno was slow off his line for the goal .
Willock should never be on the pitch he’s not good enough.
Auba wasted on the wing, he’s off I think.
Same old shite
Ref is still an ass
It is ten years and counting On basic stupid Calamity defending that Costs us.
Thanks for the links benny
Only player to come out with credit 1st half was Leno which tells it’s own story.
David Luiz is a putrid mass of turd.
I don’t know why Arteta likes him and is tying to get the club to keep him.
Lampard was right to push him out of Chelsea and Arteta needs to reconsider his feelings about Luiz.
Honestly I would have Martinelli over Auba for these games.
Still don’t understand Auba on the left and exposing Tierney and Saka on the right …. Is Arteta still on the City payroll?
WTF
“Leno was slow off his line for the goal .”
I think he was caught by surprise.
It was never a foul by Mustafi and then the ref orders a retake
It was a foul. Rashtafi at it again.
‘Curl into a fetus position and suck on his thumb? Or maybe he’ll just cry softly in a corner.’
Or both.
The fucker…couldn’t even make proper team selection.
Arsenal doesn’t have a promising lad good enough in the dugout to come out and contribute a dime hereon.
It’s not player poverty. Its bankruptcy.
To many rubbish players.
Even behind closed doors with no crowd backing City, Arsenal are still incapable of taking advantage. lol
Undie STFU and go sniff some more of arteta’s dirty knickers you racist prick.
Arteta speaking about David Luiz; “I am really happy with David, I want to keep him here with us. He’s been a key role model since I joined,” …. “I like what he produces on the pitch, I like his influence around the players and the club.
This is the point CG has been making
Arteta hasn’t shown the decisiveness needed to make the necessary changes. The fact that he’s still talking up Luiz says everything about him.
Habesha – I’d rather try Mavropano’s at this stage……..its clear what we’ll get from Luiz, moments like that throughout next season, its not worth it to keep him.
Mari – in his first prime time cameo looked decent on the ball but to actually defend against a pacy premier league player looks short of the required standard.
And much as it pains me to say it, Mustafi should stay over Luiz and Sokratis.
no changes
“Saka is a Left Winger. Play him in his position.”
spot on
Arsenal has to change formation to attack from hereon.
Marinelli had replace Willock. But that change has to happen along with two more due to rules
Dissenter
“The fact that he’s still talking up Luiz says everything about him.”
And some posters on here and of course Pedders himself.
leno lumps the ball out of play lolll
Deffo take Wilcox auba off
Martinelli n Pepe on..
Miserable feckers, it’s only 1-0. Need to be more threatening in the second half though.
Auba central, Saka on the left.
And Luis gives up a pk
Fucking hell he is having a stinker.
City 2 Luiz 0