Today, it is my birthday, I am now at the age where I’d be getting a one year deal and everyone would be clapping like it was some sort of a major achievement, or worse, I’d be landing that deal because I’d done well for the club. A sympathy contract. I’m basically Dennis Bergkamp right now, slow, but I’ll still pick out the top corner if you let me.
The real birthday story is… I am sad. Yep. Really sad. Arsenal is not joy at the moment.
… but, I am ready to bury that sadness deep within, because I can’t be miserable any longer… metaphorically, I’m one walk to the fridge away from my career being over, so today, we hunt for a bit of positivity, because honestly, the lunatics were out in force yesterday after the game and we have to right some of the wrongs that are being spewed into the Goonerverse.
The surrounding noise
I had the view that the covid-disaster was going to take us places with this group of players. Turns out, I was totally wrong.
My hypothesis was that the uncertainty in the market would push players to find another level on the pitch as they fought for a contract, or, they fought for a future in the game.
This really was naive… no, it was stupid.
When you take people’s money away and they see that no one else in the league really took a pay cut, that has a negative affect. I know personally what pay cuts can do to people and their thinking. At first, it’s like, oh, ok, I’m saving the world out here… then, the dark clouds settle in and you start thinking… fuck you.
Some other factors that aren’t helping.
When Arsenal players are flogged in the press as potential exits or swaps, that has an affect. Lacazette, I am looking at you. He had to come out and call a random Twitter account a liar. Mentally, he’s been affected by uncertainty.
When four players don’t know their futures 2 weeks before they might be cut loose, that can be problematic. Firstly, it can have direct consequences on the pitch, and we saw that. Secondly, people who are at risk can spread misery in the squad. You’ve all had a Karen in the work kitchen telling you that the company is going to collapse, that happens in football.
There will also be a collection of players that know they are leaving in the summer. Do you think they are going to put their bodies on the line? Absolutely not.
Those above issues, at a club with a stronger culture for winning, might have been ok. But this is Arsenal. A place that has allowed our best player to take away days off for the last two years. Each one of those problems takes you further away from an elite culture, where perfection is what you strive for.
I don’t think this season will be a total disaster, but it’s apparent that we have a more complicated set of mitigating circumstances than most and it literally played out in a red card in our first game, and it certainly looked like there was a lack of effort in some quarters for the second.
Time
Arteta has been in the job 6 months, but he’s 13 games into his tenure, with a squad he’s spent zero money on. Why are so many fans jumping down his throat after every bad result? It is quite incredible. He’s picked up a squad of players that are on their 4th coach in 2 years at a club that is at its lowest ebb in about half a century. Freddie hated the senior players so much he fucked them off and played the kids. This is far from an ideal situation.
Picking up clubs midseason is very, very difficult.
Jurgen Klopp took Liverpool from 10th to 8th and he started in October. He had a far better squad to work with.
Jose Mourinho picked up Spurs from Pochettino, a club that was in the Champions League final last season and he has them sitting a whopping 2 points ahead of Arsenal.
OGS at United. A great start going 12 undefeated to… losing 5 of his final 9, notably losing to Cardiff in the last game of the season.
The mighty Carlo is 3 points behind us and barring a miracle today, will likely stay there.
That’s four pretty relevant comparisons. Picking up someone else’s players midseason when they’ve been utterly shit is not an easy job, so when all the new high-standards-bros are chirping away, put a little perspective on things. There is no manager in the world that was solving our issues in 13 games. Also, we have bought into a manager that wants to play like Pep, do we have players to do that right now? No. But we will at some point.
Mistakes
New managers are going to make them. Guess what, experienced managers also make them, especially at new clubs when they’re trying to work out what’s what. Arteta’s in-game management was not at its best at the weekend, but he’ll learn from the experience. Overall though, it’s hard not to watch that Brighton game back and think that we should have come away with three points. Our defending was just criminal, as it has been for years. We’ll hopefully fix that this summer with more suitable players.
Also, I say this in a hushed tone, for fear of waking the Gooners with the heavy set tattoos on the table behind me, but… we missed Granit Xhaka in our side. Our two best players at moving the ball between the lines are out. Mesut Ozil is on an effort holiday and Granit is injured. Say what you will about the Swiss, but the good parts of his game are sorely lacking at the moment. Dani Ceballos is not the full ticket, he’s been a huge disappointment. I like Matteo G, but he’s still a bit of a head-scratcher… I can’t work out what his thing is. That is not the sort of midfield that’s winning you games consistently. We need a Thomas Partey desperately.
Selection
This is my favourite debate at the moment. Every time we have a bad result, every man and his dog knows the exact reason. This week, ‘WHERE WAS MARTINELLI’, which is fine, we’re fans, we’re allowed to have opinions… but come on people, do you really think we’re a Martinelli away from cracking the code?
Last week it was Nic Pepe, who, outside an outrageous goal, was largely anonymous.
If the Brazilian isn’t playing, I suspect there’s a reason. At the moment, it’s because Saka is ahead of him in the pecking order, and I have to say, that’s absolutely fair. We all have this quick win solves that the entire coaching staff are missing, but we need to be real, there’s not a silver bullet in this squad. If there were, they’d be playing.
The Past
I know there are a lot of wounded Emeryista out there. They go into hiding during the good times, then as soon as we drop a few points, they’re out in the street, ringing a bell, messing their pants in public. We have to move beyond this. I could absolutely tolerate the AKB pining after their leader, because he was more than just a manager, he was… a father figure to a lost generation of fans. Yep, I know that’s weird, but it’s true.
Unai Emery? That’s a whole bag of weird. He was an abusive stepfather who didn’t even take time out to work out how to pronounce your mum’s name. How anyone can still be trying to litigate his passing is beyond me, but it has to stop, and I have to weed the poison out of the comments section here.
It’s time to move on.
On the Arsene piece, there’s also a collection of muppets that think the Wenger Out fans are getting what they deserve. No my friends, the sycophants that supported Wenger’s prolonged tenure are getting what they deserve. Wenger held onto power too long, he crashed the culture, he didn’t innovate, he held on to average staff, he spent bad money after bad money, he didn’t get contracts right… and then we doubled down on a terrible succession plan.
Wenger is not to be blamed for Arteta’s mistakes, but it is disingenuous in the extreme to say his exit was the problem. The problem is we didn’t move him on soon enough. We should have hired Klopp before Liverpool. We should have snapped at Pep when he was interested. We should have moved on a whole host of managers that could have moved good squads forward. Remember, Wenger blew the league to Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester.
Also, you don’t have to look at me for clarification on whether Wenger was finished. Just look at where he works now. That’s not because he was the magic wand keeping Arsenal together, it’s because his slow-motion crash over 10 years made it very clear that his idea of what the game should be was for 2004.
Conclusion
Onwards and upwards, we have to pick ourselves up the same way the players will be expected to. We have to get out the end of this season with a few wins. We have to hope the kids can pick up their game. Then we have to look forward to fast-forwarding 3 years transfer windows and reshape Arsenal into a lean, mean, battle machine.
The real focus for us should be on Stan Kroenke. He’s a real estate mogul, the market has crashed, he should move in on the weak clubs this summer and bring the squad up to standard in one quick hit. There will be SO much value to be had, but I fear we’re going to have wheel and deal with zero funds.
Josh and Stan need to step up, Raul needs rip the emergency cord and do something special this summer, Arteta needs to make sure he’s heard so there are no excuses next season.
Right, next up, a team we always have a good time against… Southampton.
CC
“DNA
Can you translate half of that for me, it’s written in absolute bullshit. Literally not close with any stab in the dark you’ve went for, can’t even praise the effort.”
You don’t understand a lot and that’s why you thought it’s was cool to lie about having a season ticket. As I said earlier you’re canceled. Get some rest for work in the AM
Happy birthday Pedro.
I think we are a similar age, perhaps slightly ahead of you. I would be cast out into the MLS or Chinese Super League, maybe even the Australian A league on a one year deal by now.
Anyway, genuine thanks for the blog and podcasts.
Happy birthday, Pedro. I agree with almost every word of today’s post. May I suggest this one change:
Delete “Raul needs rip the emergency cord and do something special this summer” and replace it with “Raul needs to leave this summer and be replaced by someone with the vision and ability to build Arsenal into a title-contending club”
Happy Birthdday Pedro! Its a shame the arsenal players couldn’t provide you with an early gift yesterday.
Is this Mari transfer confirmed from reliable sources? All in at £14 million seems like a lot for a player so untested in the prem. Maybe he’ll look better with Saliba next to him.
I think Arteta’s age is a red herring. Plenty of examples of young and relatively inexperienced head coaches in sport doing the business early on in their careers.
Harder to find examples of teaching old dogs new tricks..
DNA
That just another factoid you’re hitching you’re wagon to? I’m shocked.
So fuck all substance to your unsubstantiated nonsense? Again, jaw on the floor.
60 year old Ty, ran away from London etc you’re a few sandwiches short patently.
Redtruth, I am old enough to remember when a goal by Liam Brady against Sheffield United in a dour 1-0 win on a terrible weather day in 1976 was enough to keep us from sinking into the relegation zone. Five years after winning the double. Believe me, I didn’t think that day that I would be going to Wembley for three cup finals (when that was still a big deal) in the next few years under a manager, Terry Neil, who was 34 when he was appointed (ring any bells, people?) Times have changed and getting back into the elite… Read more »
Guns of SF Spot on with the starting 11 and the subs. here is something else MA needs to work on: Arsenal are a team that lacks resolve on the road, having failed to win a Premier League away game under Arteta. Seven attempts, five draws, two losses. Part of the problem we are in is at the feet of the executive. The very latest Wenger should have gone was after 2017/2018 season no new contract offer. But maybe they wanted to buy time to get of the sinking ship as they foresaw the problems once AW had left. This… Read more »
Happy birthday Pedro
Many more returns
For the sake of the club,hope Arteta does well though at the moment it’s not looking like that,I actually don’t envy his job at the moment, wish him well
NJGooner,
“But when I hear people talking about us heading to the championship, well, it all sounds pretty daft to me.”
There is a hope, wishful thinking and method to this. Hoping by playing in the Championship we get rid of Kroenke. This has to be the number 1 priority as long as those morons dictate the business at Arsenal we can only expect more mediocrity from Arsenal.
CC
“you’re a few sandwiches short patently”
That’s exactly why you lie about having a season ticket because you’re an early dictated fool.
Color your nose red kid! I’m bored of the life your still working to live. That’s the last thing I will say to you because this is highlight of your life.
*educated
I haven’t read all your replies , as I haven’t the time at this moment. Just wanted to say I loved your post, very good & some very good points
Thank you
I just have one question: If we can’t beat Brighton, who can we beat?
Upstate
Norwich?
DNA
Highlight of my life and haven’t posted in months, about as logical as your other musings.
You know someone is struggling when they resort to cringeworthy attempts at personal attacks despite knowing absolutely nothing about the person 😂 chin up lad, you’ll get something right at some point.
azed
Norwich? We played a 2-2 draw with them back in December. I think they can sneak a draw again or maybe even get all 3 points. After all, we’re Arsenal, the gift that keeps on giving.
CC “Arteta, Auba, Leno all noted how happy they were to get through the game after a tough physical week.Think anyone denying the physical drop off is on one. Interested to see Pablo Mari and Cedric get introduced into the mix in due course. Could provide us the relief to make the back end of the season something of a fight, especially if they hit the ground running. Bellerin needs protected, he’s very off imo and when Cedric is match fit I can see that spelling the end of him for the majority of the season. Apparently Pablo Mari has… Read more »
At this present time it looks like we have gone from an Emery team that had no organisation to an Arteta team that are so regimented that any semblance of individuality has disappeared. There is little or no freedom in our play with little or no expression. Maybe that is why Martinelli is out of the side as he is an individual and is finding it difficult to conform, same with Pepe. To a certain extent, one can understand the reason for this. The discipline in our team had gone under Emery, the team was a mess and confidence was… Read more »
Isn’t Dangote done with his business plan by now?
He said he would come in with an offer for Arsenal after…
Why wait- just do it now… !
Kroenke’s other teams are not in session- only Arsenal
SO where is Josh right about now anyhow?
Come to think of it, he has not really done much to begin with. so hmm
Guys, we will never be relegated from the league while Stan owns the club. He’s a real estate guy playing the long game (beyond his own lifetime) and he operates as such. He won’t fund the fitting of marble bathrooms to properties he rents to mid-level tenants, but he won’t stand idly by and watch the roof collapse either. Literally makes no business sense whatsoever. Says nothing of the fact that although we’re kack right now, our starting 11 (when fit) isn’t made up of Championship-level players. Let’s not lose our heads here because of a few disappointing results. Also,… Read more »
Happy birthday Pedro
As for the football typical Arsenal at the moment.
HB Pedro for the best Arsenal blog going.
Pierre,
“Of course, the other option is an obvious one .
Saka left, pepe right , Ozil in the hole and Aubameyang up top…..or is that too simple.”
Been waiting for someone to suggest that as that would be my choice with perhaps choosing between Martinelly and Saka for the left depending on Saka’s contract progress.
Pierre you do bring up a good point. I was also thinking of the Pepe goal… its almost like how dare you do something so cheeky like that” I am glad he took that chance… but it does seem that our current system is very rigid. There is not a lot of freedom – its all very attack down the wings, and cross… Our play outside the box is woeful. Take City, they hold the ball and move it all over looking for the faintest opening… they use every inch of the pitch to move into, to create something… Once… Read more »
“Why are so many fans jumping down his throat after every bad result?” Because he’s making poor selections and then not influencing the result during the match. This isn’t a “fucking hell Mustafi fucked up again” this is a “why did he wait so long to make a change?” “but come on people, do you really think we’re a Martinelli away from cracking the code?” No one’s expecting him to single handedly win us every match but yesterday we brought on Willock, Nketiah, Tierney and Nelson. I’ve no problem bring on a defender to shore things up except we’re incapable… Read more »
DNA
Yea what a gem that is, me thinking Mari and Cedric could give us a bit of relief given the injuries that had mounted in defence. Obviously I should’ve known a pandemic was due, Cedric was going to break his face, and Mari was going to have a season ending injury.
Got me there 😂😂😂 how old are you with this patter you’re spewing?
Pierre
“Saka left, pepe right , Ozil in the hole and Aubameyang up top…..or is that too simple.”
Doesn’t look like we’ll ever know because Arteta’s too busy fucking about with favorites and trying to force square pegs into round holes.
Marc, trying to enforce standards, which is good leadership
Pedro
What standards?
Pierre “””Of course, the other option is an obvious one . Saka left, pepe right , Ozil in the hole and Aubameyang up top…..or is that too simple.”””” These young coaches with their all coaching badges , that’s the last thing they want. To keep the game simple. (Puts them out of a job ultimately) I am genuinely amazed folk constantly fall for all these systems and all this tactical claptrap. Its bunkum. Play all your best attacking players. All of them . Get them on the pitch and go out and beat B.H.A Get Pepe,laca,PEA,Marinello, Saka, Ozil and tell… Read more »
Marc, the non-negotiables. He is selecting players based on training output. If he stops or bends, he’ll lose faith of the players.
It’s a new dawn. Can’t be making the same mistakes as Unai.
Marc It’s gone from being able to predict the team Emery would trot out plus the subs to having a guy in charge that’s actually willing to do and see things differently. Have you stopped to consider Arteta might be privy to more info than the average fan so absences and inclusions might have more to them? Subsequently witnessing players in different roles might be a baptism of fire for them to see if it’s a longer term solution? I really don’t get the toys being thrown over this, I want to see a guy fiddle and test concepts with… Read more »
CC, one of the biggest critiques levelled at Emery was the lack of consistency. Now we have a coach that is making decisions and I trust they are coming from a good place. If Martinelli isn’t starting, there’s a reason. If the club is trying Saka in different roles, it’s because they value him and he’s doing something good in training to justify it. If Ozil is benched, it’s because he’s not pulling his weight.
Arteta has to escape this season, then move hard on his vision this summer.
With Xhaka, Torreira injured, Guendouzi likely to be banned for 1 game I wonder who will be left to play central midfield.
So we may see AMN, Willock and Ceballos unless Mikel does not to risk Ceballos for a third game in a row in less than 7 days.
BTW, Ceballos may not be the best going forward, at least he is attentive to his defensive duties. There was a few instances against Brighton where he made some vital blocks because he kept tracking opposition players in the penalty box.
CC
How many good performances have we seen under Arteta?
Valentin
The way we’re going Ceballos will start and get injured.
The most disturbing aspect on Wednesday’s game was Man City had nothing to play for.
Had lost more games than Arsenal prior to the fixture,
Were playing in an empty stadium against a Manager who was once a member of the coaching staff and yet still we get stuffed.
If that doesn’t convince you we hired a dud then I give up.
Walcott noticeably absent again. Another legendary Arsenal player of yore.
“Pre lockdown, Arteta looked to be on the right track but as I said earlier in the week, during lockdown he has been over thinking things .”
Fair comment, Pierre. Not knowing the cerebral machinations of Arteta, what you say can, in fact, be quite true.
“Why are so many fans jumping down his throat after every bad result?”” Because the current set up of football post-covid 19 is bult for the quintessential coach-manager. Arteta looks lost during games. -Arteta is still shocking bad at managing games even though he has five sub opportunities and 2-3 water breaks in a game. -He has favorites in the team, that’s obvious now -He’s struggling to manage big name players like Mesut Ozil 😁😁😁 He’s failed to get a new manager bounce rpm the easier run of games against the lower and mid table teams. -He couldn’t get us… Read more »
“If that doesn’t convince you we hired a dud then I give up.”
Wish you would give up.
Pedro
“Arteta has to escape this season, then move hard on his vision this summer.”
Which is?
Also if you think there’s going to be a clutch of “top” quality players joining during the TW you’re even more delusional than I thought. We have no money, no European football, we’ll get pennies on the pound to unload overpaid players and the club are going to see a massive drop in season ticket revenue.
The only players we’ll have leaving willingly are the handful we should want to keep.
Pedro you are completely and utterly compromised.
You are do biased in your eyes arteta can do no wrong.
My issue isn’t that you back arteta and that you put forward arguments defending him, that’s fine we all do that with our favourites, but at least have some grace/perspective/be in touch with reality and admit sometimes that Arteta had made some mistakes and currently his in game management is lacking.
Pedro Too many are filling in the blanks with their own version of reality and calling it the meta. It’s absurd to sit and think you’re in any position as a fan to offer a reason for a decision beyond pure speculation – especially with a manager 13 games into his entire venture solo who offers no previous history to judge any patterns. I’m like you, a very interested observer at what’s going on and someone willing to see good practices and standards implemented despite the slow burn nature that’s inevitable with them. Arsenal have been sick for a long… Read more »
These dudes going after Pedro on his birthday are ice cold.
Marc
1 in 13? 5 in 13? I honestly don’t know what you’re angling at with questions like that.
Like what’s your point come whatever the view? Should we have seen a certain number by now that we haven’t?
What are you suggesting if so? Just screams of someone totally without any patience in seeing this ship turned around.
CC
I expect to see the signs of a coach who knows how he wants to play and who can make a substitution that can influence the outcome of a match.
Arteta is over cautious and is still conceding late goals when it comes to subs.
Champagnd Charlie
Emery was sacked 13 games into the season giving whoever took over more than enough time turn things around.
It boggles the mind how anyone can watch Arteta talking up the likes of Luiz and then wonder why some may want to get off the Arteta train. AT the very least all the grandiose notions that we have a Pep-isque manager is gone. The halo Pedro coronated him with is gone. All we see is just another young manager using Arsenal to learn on the job. Will the club clear out dross? NO Where’s the breakthrough going to come for him? He’s not going to get better players next season, very few top talent will come to a club… Read more »
Jamie
Pedro is always on call, 24-7.
His favorite birthday gift is a good dust-off on legrove.
Jamie
“””””These dudes going after Pedro on his birthday are ice cold.””””
(He loves it.)
He is the Arsene Wenger of the Arsenal blogging world.
( just surprised he is not more sympathetic to our Wenger)
Pedro,
” If Martinelli (or Ozil) isn’t starting, there’s a reason.”
Sure but it can’t be football related.
This picking players because of what they show in training or pre match work, misses the players who with a moment of brilliance can change a game. It is a good manager that can see that in players that don’t live up to his expectation during training.
Jamie, ruthless… Le Grove is the opinion jungle, carry a machete at all times, especially in moments when you’re not expecting to be savaged.
Dissenter
Right now we have a striker who won the golden boot last season and at this moment in time is second in the table for this season whilst being played out fo position. We will sell him this summer which many will be happy about.
Next season with 8 matches remaining do you think we’ll have anyone even close to the above?
We can’t score, we can’t defend, we have no midfield and no money to sort it and a big chunk of that is down to Arteta.
MD, it’ll absolutely be football related. Arteta is an absolute obsessive, he’ll not be keeping players out the team out of spite.
CG, I am both offended and honoured at your comment.
“CG, I am both offended and honoured at your comment.”
Come off it you’re just an attention whore!
Happy Birthday!
Marc, absolutely, and thanks!
“We can’t score, we can’t defend, we have no midfield and no money to sort it and a big chunk of that is down to Arteta.”
And it was that way even before Arteta arrived, Marc. You are not even giving the guy a chance.
MD-Gooner I agree with that notion that keeping payers out because of training performance is a bit dim. The goal Pepe scored yesterday is a good example, Nkettiah can dominate training 7 days a week but is not capable of producing a magical moment like that. Martinelli gives everything … and then some every time he’s gotten a chance to play so forgive me if I call BS on the whole training mantra. I think it’s just implicit bias favoritism from the manager. When his job is on the line, let’s see if he will keep playing Nkettiah. Ultimately Arteta… Read more »
Dissenter, who would you drop for Martinelli?
Marc
Precisely, it’s a matter of your expectations and inability to process the environment surrounding the club at the time imo.
We’ve gone from conceding 20+ shots a game to being “over cautious” in your eyes. I was personally desperate for us to start back at basics and go from there.
CC
I wouldn’t mind the back to basics, in fact I’d welcome it but I think Arteta’s trying to be too clever by half.
Remember back to basics includes playing players in their natural position.
Pedro
“Dissenter, who would you drop for Martinelli?”
Pedro
He has 5 subs a game, with 2-3 water breaks and he still can’t sort it out.
Laca or Nkettiah need to be rotated for Martinelli
It”s a question of placing him high on the rotation. Give him his minutes and see if he merits more minutes.
You’re too quick to trust Arteta forgetting that he’s a young manager who’s still growing with each game.
He allowed players like Luiz to blow smoke up his arse earlier in the season and can’t stop advocating that we extend their contracts now.
I like serie A alot nowadays and I support Lazio but Atalanta just play orgarsmic football maaan….in my view they play the most entertaining football in Europe
Diss, he had Luiz playing like a warrior so I’m not sure the faith was unjust.
As for Gabriel, your view is that he’s our lead striker at 18?
I see him as a left-sided attacker, which is where most 18-year-olds start out life. That area is a little blocked. But we’ll see, like I said in the post, we clutch at the one thing when things go wrong… there’s no silver bullet at the moment.
Pedro
“Dissenter, who would you drop for Martinelli?”
It’s not a case of dropping anyone it’s a case of bringing him on instead of Willock, Nketiah or Nelson yesterday.
This time next week we’ll be 3 points 2 if we’re lucky further behind ManU and the Spud’s, 5 or 6 further behind Wolves and out of the FA Cup.
I have just seen Pepe’s stats and the guy has 7 goals and 8 assists from 35 appearances…..for a guy who just arrived here and played under 3 different managers,those stats ain’t that bad….not the stats of a ‘flop’
Laca’s leaving in the summer – why wouldn’t you give Martinelli a run out in front of him?
I heard that Pep Guardiola was asked the question; “what would you like to be changed in the modern game”
His answer was to have time-outs like American sports to keep players fresh and to allow managers to impart coaching. He felt that would raise the standard of the football.
Can you imagine how much fun Pep is having now with all these water breaks and opportunities to make five substitutions?
Any manager that can’t take advantage of these opportunities has dubious pep-like qualities.
CG
Are for real, your fondness for Wenger is blinding you from the truth…
Ok, so you’d like to see him come on as sub… and we don’t rate eddie even though he has a better goals per minute ratio.
Diss, Pep trains his sides like NFL coaches. They learn plays so he can change formations at the snap of a finger.
Le grove becoming Untold 2.0 I’m afraid. As a blogger you should be fair in your analysis and be ready to eat the humble pie when needed. Each post sounds like its revolving around defending Arteta more than presenting an honest report.
And a happy birthday to you pedro
Pedro
Martinelli can play several positions …I mean Arteta played Saka in the number 10 role so why not give the Brazilian a few minutes here and there.
Martinelli should have come in yesterday instead of Nkettiah.
Pedro
“and we don’t rate eddie even though he has a better goals per minute ratio.”
Mate just because it’s your birthday doesn’t mean I won’t bitch slap you all over the blog.
Nketiah 1 goal and 330 minutes played in the PL.
Martinelli 3 goals and 656 minutes played in the PL.
Marc
Who is wildly out of position to you? Explain.
Having any kind of justification about not playing Martinelli consistently is nothing but a joke.
Buzzy
Say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Pedro before you start to have a go at him 😁😁😁
Ah yes..Happy birthday Pedro!
Another goal for Osei-Tutu today,Four goals in 10 games for him..playing as a winger now…I was also watching our former player Josh Dasilva yesterday for Brentford and he looked like exactly what we miss n midfield…
Geez Buzzy, way to ruin the day
Red truth “”””CG Are for real, your fondness for Wenger is blinding you from the truth…”””””” Not at all. I remind you and all. Wengers last home match 5 zero v Burnley Wengers last away match 1 zero v Huddersfield Town, But they say – he left such a mess/such a poor defence/such a soft culture/such a poisoned chalice blah , blah, blah. Well now, after over £250 million spent and on our 4th manager- we still cant beat little old Brighton and we have tried 4 times since the Great man departed! We will try again next year! Attempt… Read more »
Pedro
All goals in all competitions.
Martinelli 10 in 1463 – 146.3 minutes per goal
Nketiah 8 in 1173 – 146.625 minutes per goal
Not only is Martinelli’s goals per minute ratio better but he’s getting them in harder competitions.
CC
Auba Left wing
Saka Right wing
Xhaka on the fucking pitch.
CG
I agree with your take on these over complicated“systems
and tactical claptrap”.
Arteta has to be careful. If he continues to mess around with the structure of the team and with negative results, fans will quickly turn against him.
He may be experimenting but at what cost to the confidence and belief of the players? It won’t take too much to set us back even further.
Paralysis by analysis was Emery’s main failing.
Please Mr Arteta, don’t go along the same lines.
Marc, Eddie also scored a hat trick in preseason, and my numbers are before because that indicates the why.
Arteta isn’t benching Gabriel because he wants to spite people.
We prioritised the likes of Willock, Iwobi, the Niles, Chamberlain over Bennancer, Jeff Adelaide, Malen, Dasilva, Gnabry ffs
Liverpool been very average so far..take out Mane and VVd from this team and they’re only just above average.
Pedro
Pre season – come on don’t be a dickhead!
“”””CG I agree with your take on these over complicated“systems
and tactical claptrap”.
Thank you Graham
Arteta should go down to the Saints,
Not fuss around with all these tactical formations players don’t understand or want to understand and go full on ‘Kevin Keegan’
Play every attacking player we can muster and go for the 5-4!
Watching Everton play, you can already see that an Italian has been drilling them how to defend.
Doesn’t mean Liverpool won’t find a way to eke out a victory.
CG
“Get Pepe,laca,PEA,Marinello, Saka, Ozil and tell the players score me a goal each and go out and beat boring old
Brighton.”
Ha ha ..” Marinello “..he was supposed to be the new george best all those years ago when we signed him from hibernian(I think)..
Scoring a debut goal ( I think) at Old Trafford with a goal that best himself would have been proud of raised the expectations to a height that was never quite justified.
Let’s all the accept that GM is not performing in training although we all know it’s an excuse, what are the reason for trying to extend Luiz deal and signing Mari. There’s just too much negatives surrounding Mikel time at the Club to date. I won’t even mention convincing Granit to stay 🤦🏽♂️
Happy birthday Pedro
http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-wants-fans-raise-money-fund-deal-arsenal-player/
Fenerbache trying to crowdfund an Ozil signing. If they want him that much why don’t we just give him away? Has to be bullshit, we can’t be asking money to get rid of him.
Maybe it’s for his signing on bonus after he fucks off next year after sucking out every drop of his undeserved contract like the vampire he is? Can’t wait, that will be the turning point for the club, that’s when I expect to see some progress.
Freddie
No they should extend it to Arsenal fans.
Fenerbache fans contribute £1437.13
Arsenal fans contribute £13,427,041.
Marc
That would guarantee it for sure. Would get done in a matter of days.
You can see that Carlo Ancelotti isn’t washed out yet. This Everton side look well coached.
Im yet to decide whether its fun or tragic that Supreme leader Kim Peh keeps digging