A second dreadful day in the office for Mikel Arteta where questions will rightly be asked of his in-game management. After taking the lead against Brighton, his players managed to flunk out again and lose to 2-1 to a side that hasn’t been able to score all season.
A lot of fans are rightly looking at the subs he made late on that looked confused and woefully naive.
The themes of Arteta with this squad so far have been: 1) Fairly solid 2) Bereft of creativity 3) Poor in-game management
We saw all three of those on display today. Arsenal controlled the game against a side that is pretty good in possession, we create limited chances we should have done better with, we took the lead with a piece of exceptional skill… then we let the game go to shit.
Everyone switched off to a pre-planned corner straight out of the fantasy training ground. Then, the man that wiped out Leno early on the game scored late on when we drifted off in the 95th minute. Abysmal, distressing, very, very sad.
Was the reffing absolutely shit? Yes. But it’s not an excuse. You have price that in. This is the Premier League.
Were Brighton overly physical? Yes. But come on, this IS the Premier League. We cannot continue to moan about this and play the victims all the time, we’ve been doing it for 15 years. The character of the players was perfectly summed up when Maupay caused a horrendous injury to Leno and the only person to give him shit was… Leno, who took a moment out from excruciating pain to give him shit. Where was Auba? Where were the 8 players around the ref demanding justice? It was pathetic to watch. No fire whatsoever.
Our midfield continues to be a problem. No control, power, pace or vision. Dani Ceballos was terrible, constantly slowing the pace of the game. Matteo doesn’t know what he wants to be in life, he’s a clogged, he offered very little. When the engine of your team is that bad, you have no chance.
The season is finished, but I kind of hoped this squad would be able to give a little more than this.
There is a lot going on behind the scenes. We have players contracts that are expiring, 4 of them, and that is a problem. We cut players pay by 10%, that could be a factor. We have players who have no security around their future. Then we have Mesut Ozil, our best player, as a grey cloud again.
Outside that, nothing seems to work on the pitch. We have no balance, we lack power, the intensity of pre-covid has disappeared, there’s no creativity… and look, it’s the same with Ozil in the side, his contributions to the team recently have been as midtable as our general output.
Also, we lack leadership. It’s so apparent. No one stood up today, bar Saka. It’s a team of soft boys outside that.
So where do you go from here?
The kids aren’t good enough to go it alone.
The senior players aren’t up to it and lack character.
The blended mix of the two hasn’t worked for three managers in a row now.
It is not a good time to be heading into the transfer window with very little money to make a difference.
The rock bottom I spoke about the other day might come faster than we thought.
Here’s to another shitty weekend courtesy of Arsenal.
Have a good one, go get drunk, let’s talk next season xxx
SMH
fisrt
Where is Martinelli?
Tr4phy
trophy
#freeMartinelli
This feels like stepping on a rusty nail in slow motion.
Feels like there is absolutely zilch in the way of positives.
For all of you Wenger critics. Congratulations. You got what you asked for.
Yep I am here
I feel you, mate.
Not easy motivate yourself to pen a piece after this week’s performances.
Fair play.
PEdro
Then we have Mesut Ozil, our best player, as a grey cloud again.
What you smoking brother?????
“When I’m talking about competing, there are details when you go ahead and game management and that’s something we have to improve. I don’t want to use excuses. At this level you can’t do it.'” Mikel Arteta I hope by we he means him and his coaching crew. I didn’t like the profile of the guys he picked to work with him, it screamed mid-table and a desire to be in total control. Read about the man Pep is picking as his assistant next season, a guy who has been hailed for his innovative ways. I hoped for some of… Read more »
“Mesut Ozil, our best player”
Ehhhh?!
AKBs back in force as was preempted a couple days ago. Funny.
So nothing about Arteta. It was all about the players. Terrible performance. Well in that case Pedro, why do we bother with a manager? We might as well just do without one because so far I can’t decide whether he’s part of the problem or the solution and I don’t think you can either.
OC Gooner
You’re a mug.
“For all of you Wenger critics. Congratulations. You got what you asked for.”
Arsene wasn’t pulling up any trees at the time of departure and needed saving from himself. Lets not conflate things.
Its 10am here in Cali.
Got the day ahead of me. Nice sunny day…
Going to get some exercise in and try to forget the shit show I saw when I opened my eyes today.
Im telling you…. Southampton will kick our ass
“For all of you Wenger critics. Congratulations. You got what you asked for.”
Thank fuck for that, we’d be even worse off otherwise. Who do you think created the pathetic culture that has continued to ruin our club?
“Juan Manuel Lillo: Lillo’s most lasting contribution, though, probably wasn’t his mentoring of Guardiola — it was his creation of the 4-2-3-1 formation, as much as a single person can create a formation, in the early 1990s, as a way to press high up the pitch while maintaining balance between offense and defense. By the next decade, the structure had proliferated just about everywhere and its inherent, almost indefatigable balance has allowed it to remain maybe the most widespread formation in the game.” That’s the man who sources say will soon be unveiled as City’s no 2 coach. I hoped… Read more »
Watching leno get stretched off still gets me pissdd, and what’s more bellerin the bellend is the closest player and he’s just strolling around.
Was lost for both goals and has been a liability at RB for a while now. Need to sell and upgrade asap.
Arteta has no in-game management, we dropped the ball in choosing Arteta, we should have stucked with Freddie till the season end and get a good mabager like Eric ten hag, Alegri, Poch, maybe even Salzburgs american coach, instead we’ve gone with Pep’s cone man.
I think we need to write off next season as well, and start interviewing Managers for 2021/2022 season because Arteta cant last past that.
If Arteta still remains manager come beginning of 2021 season, then we’ve effectively become the new Everton.
We have Five A Side players
O C Gooner
“”””For all of you Wenger critics. Congratulations. You got what you asked for.””””
I concur wholeheartedly.
The Delinquents all think/thought managing The Arsenal was easy or A Walk in the Park.
Well, maybe big time soccer management is not so easy after all.
You have seen the good times, and they ain’t coming back for a while.
Saints next,
Chin up & good post.
O C Gooner
“”””For all of you Wenger critics. Congratulations. You got what you asked for.””””
I concur wholeheartedly.
The Delinquents all think/thought managing The Arsenal was easy or A Walk in the Park.
Well, maybe big time soccer management is not so easy after all.
You have seen the good times, and they ain’t coming back for a while.
Saints next,
Chin up & good post.
Stroller, look on the bright side, looks like you’ll get your wish of no European football next season.
Pierre, Arteta can make your day and play Ozil now, it’s not going to make any difference. Might as well make him run around a bit for his £350k a week at least.
To top it all off we’re going to have to watch the Scousers lift the PL trophy.
Pedro is right… the 12 % pay cut should mean we DO NOT sign some of these overinflated contracts again… Saka, yes Auba something reasonable. The season is over. No top 6. He needs to make up his mind next week. If he does not want to sign, then no need to play the remaining games. its impossible now to make a EL or CL spot. Give Saka a deadline too. Luiz and co, let em go. Kola is free money- sell him too Listen to any offer for ozil- him being around next season will be a cancer to… Read more »
Leno is a great shot-stopper and his injury is unfortunate but his injury has given Martinez a much deserved oppotunity. He is very good at commanding his box and terrific at handling crosses. Overall he is a very safe pair of hands.
“You on the other hand were pretty sure was squad was top 4 but you will not judge Arteta till he improves a top 4 squad just to beat Brighton?“ Azed your inability to grasp a persons POV is really something. I’m not going down your player poverty rabbit hole again, it’s an embarrassing claim you continue with despite us finishing a whole two points off CL last season. It’s just….I won’t. I’ve also stated nothing of the sort that judging Arteta in isolation for a game against Brighton is reserved for when he’s had a preseason and money to… Read more »
Pathetic performance. Apart from Sake and the two goalkeepers, everyone else was garbage. This job came too soon for MIKEL ARTETA. This team is weaker than the one Wenger left. You can’t tell what the game plan is. It’s Just so uninspiring
Wait, shouldn’t we be offering Saka £150k a week because he’s the hottest property in Europe?
Remember last season when we needed to double Guendouzi’s wages after 1 season because his value had sky-rocketed to £70m?!
Pure comedy. It would be so funny if you could click on posters’ names to see a history of their comments/wild predictions.
Maybe something for Pete to think about for his next iteration of le-grove.
“Leno is a great shot-stopper and his injury is unfortunate but his injury has given Martinez a much deserved oppotunity. He is very good at commanding his box and terrific at handling crosses. Overall he is a very safe pair of hands.”
I don’t think the man between the sticks has any relevance at this point, Leno didn’t drop any crosses for us to lose the last two games. I am sick of all this talk of his handling and distribution, he is the reason we drew some games we should have lost.
Just a quick word on the referring.
Shocking once again, the incompetence of premier league referees is astounding.
How many fouls did Brighton’s number 8 make this afternoon? One on its own could have been red.
What happened to Leno happened due to an intentional foul and nothing was done about it. The Laca gets booked for putting a tackle in on the Brighton goalkeeper?
We’ve got a top 4 squad, so says some pack of idiots here last time around.
“Arteta on players not showing commitment for full match: “It is all my fault because I need to make sure that they do.” [Sky]”
Well lets hope you do so. July doesn’t look kind to us at all. Top four/five is gone but finishing second half of the table wouldn’t be a good look
Oc gooner. Care to explain your profoundly idiotic comment seeing how this is a squad made up by a vast majority of wenger signings. Don’t think laca, xhaka, mustafi, ozil are good enough? Tired of a weak mf? Porous defense? Hmmm, i know the OC is filled to bursting with morons but this comment is something to behold.
The only players capabable of starting in the top4 sides in this squad are Leno and Aubamayang, yet we’ve got a Top 4 squad.
Leno has faced more shots than any other GK, bar the the Newcastle one, all season apparently. That alone should tell you the issue exists outside the 6 yard box.
Leno was doing just fine, much better than that even. This enforced switch isn’t going to result in an upturn on that fact alone. Simply isn’t.
RH
‘Leno didn’t drop any crosses for us to lose the last two games. I am sick of all this talk of his handling and distribution, he is the reason we drew some games we should have lost’
I have always rated and liked Leno. Not trying to diss him, merely suggesting Martinez will do a good job in his absence.
I still see statements like “Arteta is clearly a great coach…”
Wonder what this is based on.
His PR team really did a swell job building up an image of him based on City training sessions. Its not doing him any favors now because it sort of raised expectations on where we would be at a few games in.
Wankers, the lot of them. No spirit, no balls. Fuck the lot of them.
Jim Lahey Agree completely. Atkinson was appalling today, he let so much go for Brighton, yet Lacazette I think was booked for his first offence. Yes this is the Premier League, I get it, it’s a rough and tumble league in a contact sport, but it is the inconsistency that is maddening. Again, Bissouma was allowed to kick anything in red and white that moved with next to zero repercussion. Even the commentators were chilling about it, saying that he would be kicking bits of paper blowing about in the wind if he could. It is games like this that… Read more »
We gambled and failed again… the pay cut is going to piss a lot of players off, now that CL /EL is gone. Im sure some of them might want to leave on their own. Xhaka I see going, Torreira too I think the English kids stay…. If there is a renewal for Luiz there should be a protest that never ends… that would be criminal and show how utterly useless and rudderless our execs really are…. Im telling out, Southampton will beat us or best result is a draw. The demoralization is in full force. A good coach will… Read more »
““For all of you Wenger critics. Congratulations. You got what you asked for.””
I didn’t I wanted him gone several years before he went.
only a manager who does not know what he’s doing will be playing a player who was Golden Boot winner in Bundesliga and in the premier league just last season on the wing,
did you all remember when Wenger was playing Bendtner on the wing? so tell me why you will have the Golden Boot winner winner and decides to play in out of position to just to accommodate another player who have not proven to be equal or better?
I like he took responsibility. But we need to fix our structure this summer fully. No more playing players everywhere. We need to determine our first eleven in their own positions. Two players for each position and some utility players. No more of this trying to fit 2 strikers in to a one striker system and chopping and changing formations. We need to pick one, Stick with it and play players that are going to start for us. A starting eleven is needed. If some are out of form they need to be benched. Not this changing every game shit.
By the way Ceballos is a crap footballer, will never make an impact in this league.
Return to sender ASAP. Slowed down everything we did today. Guendouzi seems to be playing a bit too timidly too these days, he used to be bolder
#sackarteta
Pedro, I like the title headline…
Now going to read the post..😀
“By the way Ceballos is a crap footballer, will never make an impact in this league.“
Best since Cesc I think you’ll find.
SF
After Southampton we have:
Norwich – H
Wolves – A
Leicester – H
Spud’s – A
Liverpool – H
Right now the best I can see out of those is 3 point against Norwich – you’d hope for a draw against the Spud’s but you just know Mourinho a washed up manager will manage to bite one last time. After that it’s Villa A and Watford H who will both be likely relegated by the time we play them – all in all finishing on 50 points is about as good as it looks now.
The team does reflect the manager. Watched Arteta play and he is way too timid, never liked him being signed in the first place as a player.
What great stuff did he ever do playing for AFC? Anyone?
Look on the bright side guys, we can’t get relegated this season… Maybe next
Guns of SF
“”””We gambled and failed again… the pay cut is going to piss a lot of players off, now that CL /EL is gone.”””””
Nailed it,
Arteta like the novice he is unfortunately , has gone where no experienced manager delves – the players wages.
Gormless Josh once again letting the team down – by not doing his own dirty work.
As for Raul and Vinny. Gutless and spineless- take your pick.
Will Arsenal get relegated please…?
Ceballos must be sent back to RM. He is a nothing player. Not a fan of Ozil but even he offers more.
I said it in a lost this morning, the lack of balls in this squad is by far the most disappointing, frustrating and embarrassing factor about this ‘team’ at the moment. I literally can’t imagine any other top flight team allowing the Leno injury to go unchallenged as it did. Shows everything you need to know about the current Arsenal.
andy 1886
It is not my wish that we don’t play in Europe, but the reality of our current situation.
This team is currently bottom half of EPL standard and we need to focus on
building a team which can perform in EPL and not spread our resources thin
by playing in two different competitions.
@Chris –
Yeah, I am not looking for excellence from the referees, I am only looking for constancy.
When will Arsenal sack Arteta?
There is a positive correlation between Arsenal performances and alcohil intake. Heres to a pissful weekend!
Pierre on the other thread:
Ozil Ozil Ozil Ozil Ozil Ozil Ozil Ozil Ozil!
Yeah Ceballos has been awful.
This club is finished for 20 more years if Arteta is not sacked by 29th June.
What a bizarre couple of games, have to feel for Arteta on that level. Hit with injuries at worst possible moment, hearing Leno screaming out was pretty gut wrenching in crowdless stadium. Clearly effected everything after but instead of embracing the fire and pushing on we crumbled in similar fashion post Eduardo’s leg break.
Arteta struggling to find a mid field that works, until he does its going to be dire with zero cutting edge in final third.
Edu & co must have realized their #artetaerror. Why not correct it now than getting relegated?
Freddie: your time has come again
No managerial/experience/credentials
Asking Xhaka to stay
Signing Mari
Pressuring the Club in extending Luiz deal
Not playing Pepe
Not playing Martinelli
Playing Ozil in his first 10 games
Substitutions
In game management
Wrong starting lineups
Poor assistant coaches
Aligning himself with senior players who aren’t good enough
Making all the best noise in press conference and the team doing the opposite on matchdays are just too much negatives for MA to make it as Arsenal manager.
#artetablunder
There was a lot of talk about how we needed a young coach but I’m not sure what benefit artetas age brings to the club outside of inexperience
Is arsenal getting relegated this year? Or next?
We are so lucky to have an elite manager…,. Mikael Arteta is the biggest AAA bullshitter the club has ever hired. 5 million a year for that, just think about it. A serial lying bullshitter who gives zero fucks about Arsenal. This club is utterly fucked and what we are seeing is people stripping the carcase, mikael Arteta being the chief culprit.
The worst nightmare was the day Kroenke was invited to buy Arsenal shares. The beginning of the end!
Arteta is a scum cunt, a vulture, a parasite on the glorious history of arsenal.
A season ticket is for 19 PL matches and 7 cup credits which cover European matches and the FA Cup. Right now Arsenal owe me 6 match credits for this season, assuming next season manages to go ahead with fans in the ground (massive question mark I know) and there’s no way the club can offer a season ticket for more than 20 / 21 matches total and that’s before they discount the 6 credits from this season. We’re talking about a drop of circa 45% in match day revenue unless we get drawn at home in the FA Cup… Read more »
The biggest question Arteta supporters should ask themselves is what was it that gave them the faith that has was going to turn around Arsenal?
I’m really asking this seriously. Was it:
– Assistant to Pep
– Ex-Arsenal player
– Charming press conferences
It almost feels like a religion like fanaticism. I can’t see any logic because he simply had not proved anything.
Crazy to write Arteta off so early on. Just as crazy as expecting his ideas to stick with far too many mediocre players in the squad.
I’d prefer we played for nil-nil draws in every game until season’s end than try to win games we end up losing. Stop the tailspin, prevent the confidence in the squad for diving off the edge of a cliff).
Summer transfer window, bin shite players. Hit reset button and see what Arteta can do next season.
Arteta, you are a much worse manager than you were a player. Oh! What bullshit you disbanded n Arsenal management! Why the fuck could they hire you???
GunnerDNA owch that is not a pretty list!!!
Arteta no thanks
Should get experience in lower leagues first.
To bigger job for him , why should we be his experiment?
Arsenal relegation
What we do from here on is what matters.
Getting as many free agents who still have something to offer seems to be Raul’s current play.
We need to sell Lacazette and get tougher players in midfield to stand a chance next season.
#evenemerywasbetter
Jamie
Bearing in mind my previous comment how are you going to replace the mediocre players in the squad with better ones?
A manager who comes from a champion club and the. Says he wants Xhaka, Xhaka is a great player, should have got aacked that day itself.
#arsenalsuicide
“Bearing in mind my previous comment how are you going to replace the mediocre players in the squad with better ones?”
Literally no idea, mate.
Relegation relegation relegation. Pl fet relegated and let me take my mind off PL for few years. I am sick.
Pedro, is Arteta a great manager to get relegations
Relegation please…
What bugs me is that other Premiership clubs have destroyers in the middle of the park acquired on a cheap, but we are hung up on some yet to materialize promises in midfield.
you guys should stop making reference to the pay cut as if the team were winning matches before now, and if i may ask has the same pay cut affected Barcelona players? so why are we making excuses for this players when obviously half of the team and the Manager are not good enough for the job? you Have Martinelli who is second highest goalscorer and the second best thing (Saka is the first) to happen to arsenal this season not even coming on as sub and you wonder what is going on here. if Arteta must succeed then he… Read more »
Raul, Edu and Vinai: who of you will resign first?
Relegation please …
Relegation please ….
Has Graham62 been binned for his appalling language and outrageous behaviour the other night
Calm down folks…Arteta will learn from this ..
Arteta, may you never ever manage even a high school team
‘Calm down folks…Arteta will learn from this ..’
Fuck the calmness
Give it a rest, peanuts.
My main issue with the subs isn’t that they’re dumb as hell or because I disagree with them (I always do…) it’s that I can’t actually understand what Arteta is thinking with them usually Like can someone actually explain to me the thought process he has gone through with the subs and their timings because trying to understand is like me trying to read Korean… He wanted to bring on tierney for saka around the 70th minute. Saka had looked possibly our mos dangerous player and this would leave us with a crap LB on the pitch and a good… Read more »
Give us a break for a few years: pl get relegated