Don Raul and his sidekick, Edu, have been given a ‘this is fucked up’ dressing down by Nick Ames in The Guardian who pulls together a list of sources to pour concerns over the way we’re operating. It’s not a pretty read and the opinions he’s pulled together come from a wide variety of people in and around the club.
It’s good to know that leakers are sounding the alarm. You know why they are talking? Because what we are doing doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. After focusing on the obvious WTF moves of the last week, Nick lasers in here with some new information.
Transfers of that nature would, while entirely legitimate, have been anathema under Arsène Wenger. He generally shied away from deals with bigger-name agents and had little time for heavy investments in older players. But Joorabchian’s hand has been evident in a clutch of moves involving Arsenal in the past year, the first being a move that was completed on 8 August, a month after Edu, a former player, returned to Arsenal. The Football Association’s list of intermediary transactions, released this week, shows Sports Invest UK represented Arsenal in Alex Iwobi’s £35m move to Everton.
Iwobi’s and Everton’s side of the deal was, according to the list, overseen separately by the agency that represents the player. It is not unusual for different parties to work on the different ends of a transfer, even more so when involving moves from abroad, and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing. Some experienced industry figures simply point out that given Arsenal and Everton are familiar rivals and worked together 18 months previously when Theo Walcott made the same move it appears a convoluted way to have done business.
The world of super-agents is not simple to follow, it’s not easy to unpick, and all of that is by design. It’s a little bit of Wall Street in the world of football. You create products and services that skirt close the boundaries and swim in the world of grey. The losers? The fans. Always the fans. Agents take money out of the game, which was fine when the fees were in line with the value they were bringing, but now you’re in a situation where the whole system is out of kilter with reality.
Agents of any sort should be a byproduct of scouting players the right way. What they absolutely can never be is an extension of your club. They should not be the Technical Director or the talent scout. They should not have so much influence they can push a shit manager into the club that cannot speak the local language.
Since then, the suggestion is that Arsenal have surrendered a coherent approach to player-spotting and handed too much power to the contacts books of Edu and the head of football, Raúl Sanllehi. Some members of staff are believed to feel frozen out and there is particular angst that Arsenal, who also conducted a revamp of their academy staff in November, may be losing ground in any chase for the best young players. One former employee claims the club’s approach no longer fitted their values and the high-performance culture fostered under Wenger has been allowed to ebb away.
The notion that Wenger was operating anywhere near a high-performance culture at the end is laughable, but what you could never deny with him is that every move he made was generally with the best interest of the club at heart, even if it was wrong. Can you honestly say that about Arsenal now looking at the way we’re operating?
This sort of pressure from the MSM is just the start. It is now a theme that we make ‘eyebrow-raising’ deals. Keep an eye on it. No one cares about the details when Messi is carrying you to the big trophies while you’re trying to bring in Jean-Michel Seri, but this is Arsenal, and all super-agents have offered Arsenal so far is a further crash in standards. How long until Stan pays attention to the mess his son is at the centre of?
We have an FA Cup game tomorrow against the SUPERB Sheffield United. Chris Wilder’s men have been absolutely excellent all season. They play with great intensity, they offer up a very direct game of football, and they are not to be trifled with. Make no mistake, if we don’t show up tomorrow, it’ll be a very sad journey back home.
The press conference didn’t give a lot away in terms of the game. Arteta seemed to make some cryptic points about Liverpool’s success.
“Well yes because they were in a very difficult position four years ago and they made a lot of right decisions. Some difficult decisions, some unpopular decisions but the right decisions for them. They have been very consistent with their messages, very clear messages from top to bottom, and a ruthless mentality to go every game with the mentality to win the game.”
We need to make better decisions on our squad this summer and the entire football leadership team needs to unite around a vision. Arteta doubled down on the decision making when he tackled the young players.
“I have a lot of faith on all the young talent we have at the football club but we need the right stability and foundations around them to make sure they develop in right way, at the right moment, with the right amount of pressure behind them. In order to do that, it’s a process. If you speed up that process, you risk burning them [out] and we cannot do that. We have some really young players who are playing more football than they probably should be but they are showing great maturity and personality to play in difficult moments which is great for their experience. But we need the other players to support them in the right way and that’s what we are trying to achieve, this balance to be very competitive but excited about the future ahead of us.”
The young players are keeping the club going at the minute. It’s the senior players that have been the issue due to talent, motivation, or contractual issues. If we’re going to elevate our game next season, we need to find players in their mid-twenties that can help elevate the kids. That’ll be tough to navigate in a market where there’s very little money, but there are plenty of players about,
The press tried to angle in on the truth of Matteo, who has told the club he is willing to go if rumours are to be believed.
“All the players that are here, I’m counting on them. If they want to jump on the boat they are more than welcome. That’s always my mindset – I’m here to help all of them to improve individually and collectively, and that is my job.”
That’s a pretty brutal comment to make, but it’s a fair one. Arsenal can’t be held hostage by players who break the rules. We are still a big club and all big clubs have standards with players. Maybe Arsenal are wrong for Matteo right now. Maybe the system could absorb him if we were an actual top 4 club in a better moment. Right now, we need 24 players pushing in the same direction, you can’t compromise on that. When Pep landed at Barcelona, he cleared out the players who didn’t meet the new standards. Huge names. Absolute icons. If you can bin off Ronaldinho because of attitude, then we can try and accept that if Matteo isn’t working out for a 3rd manager, it might be a Matteo thing.
Leave if you want to… unless your name is Saka.
More importantly, who told you Matteo was a problem before anyone else? Me. Same with the Raul worries. Come to Le Grove for the best narratives, unless you are hunting for opinions on CEOs, I have some work to do there.
Right, on that note, I have a little podcast for you, enjoy it, share with your friends, give it a massively good ratings because you love the work. x
Had that tackle made by Loise or Grant Hacker. Straight Red.
Willock roaming too high. Maybe its the game plan. But need more options in midfield.
Pepe is such a confidence player isn’t he? When things are going well for him, he looks better and better as the game goes on.
As welcome as this is, we need players who aren’t afraid to raise their games when our backs are against the wall however…
Water break is over soon after Pepe scored the penalty
Midwest
I might have stepped out for a bit. These games are boring without a stadium crowd.
Newton Miles passing is gone piss poor from bad
Granit Calamity Xhaka ..: Clown gives the ball away like the joker he is
I don’t understand people complaining about zonal marking, where it is obvious that Arsenal defend with man marking.
Usually at corner there is always 2 players free (nobody attack with 10 outfield players), those players are the one attacking the ball away.
AMN’s game is more direct compared to Bellerin. He didn’t make bad passes.
Really hope this ref doesn’t give this free kick against Arsenal when play is restarted
Pépé is quality when he’s involved and not isolated. Combines better with AMN than Bellerin.
Willock is a low touch CM. His strength is off the ball, where he can makes runs into the box.
Haha Diss.. well it is early.. I’m trying to make breakfast and keep on eye on tv. No crowd plus the pace of the game is snail like. .. injuries everywhere.
Scrappy game Sheffield trying to rough us up
That’s a nasty clash of heads; two British players playing heads down tackling like it’s American football.
Hope Willocks is fine, probably thinks it’s Wednesday right now.
We really need to better cm that can link between defence and offence
Not one midfielder in the mold of Cazorla, Cesc or Rosciky
TR7
Any of those three that walks up to the Emirates would instantly be our best midfielder today.
Nasty physical game
Not sure if Willock should stay on. Nasty clash of heads. Might have a concussion
Newton Miles can only pass somewhat competently to back
LoL
“ Not one midfielder in the mold of Cazorla, Cesc or RoscikyTR7
Any of those three that walks up to the Emirates would instantly be our best midfielder today.”
Azed you took the words right out of my mouth.
But we are growing into this game against a poor Sheffield United team.
We need that next goal though
I think Saka is a bit tired. He missed the ball badly.
Arsenal’s got to be the most boring team to watch.
Kttttt
I thought Pepe will score.
Damn what a great move … Pepe you gotta score that baby …
Great move by the Gunners
Damn seven minutes of extra time
Good pass by Tierney. The cutback was correct decision.
Willock needs a loan next season. Want the kid do well. Long term don’t see him being an Arsenal player. He’s a very limited passer. Bournemouth, West Ham or Watford would be a great loan for him.
Get 30 games under his belt and secure another move.
Slightest of pressure on the ball and Xhaka loses possession – terrible midfielder
Clash of heads and that Baldock is unflinched.
‘‘Not one midfielder in the mold of Cazorla, Cesc or Rosciky‘‘
We do pay Ozil as much as we paid all three combined.
Tierney has been our best player out there … I really hope he isn’t hurt.
That was a nasty head shot.
Some of our players do make poor decisions moving the ball around.
Putting unnecessary pressure on other players.
Everyone doing ok except Laca and Luiz for me.
3 games in and Martinez’s confidence is sky high.
Better than Leno with his feet no doubt.
Nice formation and game plan by Arteta. Covered the weakness of several players.
Clumsy Niles can pass a hundreds times better than the socially responsible , vegan and the tree planter Hector.
Very good first half after a shaky start.
We need another goal badly.
We aren’t the outfit to safely navigate our way to a 1-0 win
Mustafi needs to play longer passes down the right to Pépé and AMN. Avoid unnecessary pressure. Our defenders need to keep basic a bit more.
Team came alive after scoring. And this has been a pattern we are seeing from the time when Emery was in charge.
I wonder why is that?
Martinez distribution has been excellent. His long passes (passes not just long punts forward) keep bypassing the pressured midfield and put the attackers in good position.
This is exactly what I have been complaining about Leno. Great shot stopper but no distribution, and keep us under pressure with his poor short passes.
If Martinez keeps up his form, Leno will definitely have to fight to get his position back.
Either Saka is running on fume or that system does not suit him, but he has been anonymous.
Only caught the last quarter but having the wingbacks both going forward makes the team a lot more positive going forward.
Let’s hope the likes of Luiz, Mustafi and Kola don’t step on any land mines second half and if they do Arsenal already out of reach for them.
Arteta is the coach long term. We just need better players. Sell Auba (he will fetch good fees and doesnt fit in) buy a left winger and an AM. Bring Rowe back. Stick to 3 at the back if luiz plays or 4 without him.
Valentin
‘ Either Saka is running on fume or that system does not suit him, but he has been anonymous.’
Running in fumes
Hope he doesn’t break down at some point
“Either Saka is running on fume or that system does not suit him, but he has been anonymous.”
Because, he is effective as a wingback or left back.
Willock is the player who has made the difference as the half as progressed.
Always positive and looking forward and willing to take a risk.
I am hoping his confidence grows with the more game time he has ,there is a goal in this game for him.
Valentin
I’m not a fan of Saka as an advanced CM. Like him when he’s coming from deeper.
LB/LWB, wide midfied in a 4-4-2. Maybe as one of the deep CMs in a double pivot.
Mustafi should just boot it forward, why’s he playing high balls at the back.
If our midfield gets better, I think pepe will boss the league. I didn’t know Kola was playing, hardly saw him out there.
Worst players, definitely, luiz, xhaka and mustafi, the usual suspects.
Arteta unlike Emery recognize the need to flood the midfield, that way when you lose possession, opposition dont just go facing ur defense immediately
AMN is doing much better than the Bellend to be fair
Laca is struggling, but could come up with something special ,you just don’t know
He bought that penalty, in another day, different ref that would have been waved away
Even with the same set of players that Emery had, we look far more compact as a team under Arteta. Need to bin the likes of Xhaka and Ceballos if we want to raise our level by a couple of notches.
Dream
“I’m not a fan of Saka as an advanced CM. Like him when he’s coming from deeper.”
That’s where he has got most of his joy from running from deeper positions at defenders.
It allows him to build up a head of steam and momentum while dribbling on the ball towards the opposing defenders.
I
If you cant see that the midfield only functions when Xhaka is in it, then I dont know what to tell you. He has one attribute that cant be coached it is instinct. He is positionally aware. Rarely out of position. That’s why 4 different coaches always refuse to bench him. He is tactically ahead of all of our midfielders. His ability on the ball let him down at times but he is always given the most complex midfield job because he will stick to it. He makes the team fluid
TR7
” Need to bin the likes of Xhaka”
What’s he done or not done today?
Unfortunately missed the first half an hour of this game today.
Ishola
Xhaka is good at getting in to positions to receive the ball from defenders or fellow midfielders and recycle it. He did it well even today. But the moment an opposition player gets close to him he loses all his composure and awareness and ends up losing the ball. Those who like Xhaka focus more on his ability to recycle the ball which to be honest he does pretty well but as a team we won’t be able to raise our level if press shy non adventourous midfielders play in our starting 11.
Saka is on fumes, keep playing him and he will get an injury
We lost most of the headers.
Sanmi
“If you cant see that the midfield only functions when Xhaka is in it,”
Well considering Arsenal have fallen out of CL since Xhaka’s arrival and have regressed while he has been virtually ever present since his signing several years ago it can’t be much of a “functioning” midfield that he is bossing can it.
“Dissenter I made the same point last week, Guendouzi is an Arteta problem not an Arsenal one.“
How is this at all an honest comment?
He’s an Arsenal problem if he can’t adhere to the guidelines set by the manager in what it takes to be an Arsenal player.
Double standards by Arteta, he won’t play players because of the way they train, yet admits bellerin is inconsistent in training yet still picks him.
TR7
Xhaka makes the highest number of progressive passes in the team, if you’ve an issue with that aspect of the game it’s a bit odd you’d pick on Xhaka for his part.
Like bemoaning our ability to score goals and saying Auba doesn’t score enough.
Bellerin isn’t playing TYGN.
Expect a win now.
A midfield only needs one player to win a ball and keep it simple with easy passes. Seems arsenal only have that kind of player. We don’t have many creative midfielders at the club that are comfortable in tight spaces. When torreira is fit if only play one of him OR xhaka for example.
Does that count as a shot? hahaha
What guidelines Charles?
What exactly has he done wrong?
No body ever commented on Guendouzi’s attitude until Arteta came into the club. If he can’t manage the kid sell him but do so without all this negative press and posturing.
Guendouzi is 20, put your arm around his shoulders and he does what you want. He is one of our better players on the pitch with our backs to the wall.
We did not have a problem with him until Arteta took over, hence an Arteta problem
I don’t like Kola.
Offside. Good call.
Getting old Stoke vibes with this game, wind, long throws, high balls, aggression. Bit of a throwback.
Lacazettes passes back to his midfielders when he’s trying to hold it up are so bad. It puts a lot of pressure on us.
They are getting closer… really need that second goal.
Just a matter of time.
Xakha getting to be a lability. Sheffield got his weakness perfectly
Should have hit the target Basham.
Looks like he shut his eyes on the header
Well claimed by Martinez
CC
It seems you’re too willing to defend Arteta no matter what, even if it means throwing a 20 year old under the bus.
If we are going to sell him, sell him and stop the slander campaign against the young man.
Arteta has the discretion powers. of a coach to make such decisions but this smear campaign you’re running is ridiculous.
What exactly did hw do wrong?…specifics please
What guidelines re you referring to?
@midwest
Not talking about him playing today. Just saying you can’t drop players if they’re not training well, then admit someone who you
Receding Are you another wanting details you know we aren’t privy to? He’s been disciplined for his work on the training ground, that’s simple. You can take two views of it, either you accept the people in charge have cause for doing so or you’re claiming it’s a fabrication. “No body ever commented on Guendouzi’s attitude until Arteta came into the club.” Because there was no standards being upheld at the football club. The second someone has come in and held the squad accountable he’s ran into trouble on more than one occasion. Wasn’t he the fella who acted up… Read more »
Always play, is inconsistent.
Lacazette and Saka need to be substituted as they are clearly gased out. Nothing sticks upfield.
Niles is better than Bellerin. I’s add Bellerin to the ‘SELL LIST’. Cedric back up to Niles.
SELL;
Bellerin
Sokratis
Nelson
Torreira
Guendouzi
Ozil
Elneny
Chambers
Kolašinac
Lacazette
Laca done nothing to suggest he should start ahead of nketiah.
TYGN_
Oh ok.. How you been by the way? Been a minute… See you are still fired up as always.. How’s the fam…? Little one probably isn’t little anymore.
Willock who is still full of running is substituted whole Saka can barely jogged is kept. Does not make sense.
Please Arteta bring some reinforcements.
Why not Auba for Goodness sakes.
Where will the legs in midfield come from?
We’d better score ASAP
Good game from Willock.
The armband is given to Xhaka.
You lost me at standards, but keep at it.
You are a total believer Charles, it’s all or nothing for you. Devil or saint.
Standards lol.
xhaka the captain
Dissenter Do zip it. I’ve no agenda against Guendouzi, have you already forgotten the dogs abuse I got for often being the only one to claim him a superb talent? Yea thought so. It’s nothing to do with Arteta, quite telling that you and others are leading that charge. I happen to agree with the basic principle that the players in the squad should be serious about their craft. Especially kids in the game. Comical that some folk who have championed change in culture and attitude from the club are flapping their gums at how Guendouzi shouldn’t be held accountable… Read more »
surely Lacazette is moving this summer. We will have a difficult time replacing both auba and him.
@Midwest
Family good thanks mate, apart from fact my youngest 2 support city 😭😭. Miss N5 and rest on here. Still fired up mate as nothing is getting better, all the promises in the world but the fact is we’re going backwards under the kroenke’s.
You ok mate?
Saka needs rest. Sub him.
It’s finally come full circle. Xhaka handed the arm band. The biggest f U to the fans.
Receding
Not difficult to lose you clearly.
Thank God for the water break.
Arteta showing how poor his judgement
and regard for the fans are by giving that armband to Xhaka.
Pitiful
Samir,
You cant sell all your squad players. We just need 2 ex factor players. One in midfield and one on left wing.
Guendo -205.6 yards closer to the opponent’s goal per 90 minutes – only Nicolas Pepe and Ceballos have better numbers.
He also beats xhakalson in progressive passes 6.89,
No player in the Arsenal squad makes more progressive passes per 90.
Xhakalson has the most fouls in the league after Capuoe
whose decision was it to give the arm band to Xhaka?