Matteo G has been training on his own. Sad to see so much talent, with so little control. There are folk painting this as ‘caring too much’, but it’s nonsense. He’s badly behaved, he’s unpleasant to the staff, and he refuses to get on board the new direction the club is heading.
He had issues with Freddie before him, so it’s not just a Mikel thing.
So what do you do? Do you truly believe that elite players behave like this? They don’t. If he won’t play by the rules, he has to go. We’re not far enough along in the process to absorb a player like that. This is not Nik Anelka here. The delivery on the pitch doesn’t merit the problems off it.
Barca had something similar when Pep landed. He booted out problematic players way more accomplished than Guen, all in the name of making sure Messi and the kids coming behind him could thrive. Arsene Wenger did it when he landed, moving on senior players he thought were a bad influence.
We’re not quite Barca, or the squad Arsene inherited, but we have a lot of youngsters giving more than Matteo, and preferential treatment would not be helpful. That is Emery-style thinking.
The only shame of the blow-up is it might reduce interest in him, or lower the asking price.
I think it might work out well for us though. He’s a pretty sexy make-weight. Might be perfect for Simeone. He’d look like a smart move and allow them to save face on the Partey deal. Let’s see where it goes, but don’t cry over someone that thinks they make the rules at 20.
In news that I didn’t speak on, Tim Lewis joined the Arsenal board. I’m going to stick my neck out here and say that sort of hire from the Kroenke’s makes for ominous reading if you are Raul.
A few things stuck out for me:
- The KSE group don’t exactly have a lot of trusted confidantes in London. I’m pretty sure this guy worked with them on the stadium or takeover move. He’s trusted.
- Tim is a lawyer. They ask questions, they probe, they get to the bottom of things. What Arsenal need right now is someone assessing how we landed on deals and why we did them. Having someone with laser focus and the time to assess is going to be very valuable to the family. We don’t have a counter to Raul, a Clifford Chance partner; if activated with a mandate, is a force for good.
- He’s a ‘lifelong Arsenal fan.’ I don’t know the guy. I’ve never had a beer with him to assess how much a fan he is (‘DO YOU GO TO AWAY GAMES MATE’). But if he is like you or I and spends over 16 hours of screentime on Newsnow, reads all the blogs, pays for The Athletic, mainlines AFTV, and has a google alert set up to catch transfer stories from Eastern Europe and beyond, my hope is he gives a fuck about Arsenal and wants the club to do right by the fans.
- This move has happened as leading bloggers and journos write about the wacky goings-on at Arsenal… combined with very senior people at the club clearly leaking hard. I just do not believe that billionaires don’t pay attention to their most valuable assets. For me, being a total amateur, this looks like a statement addition to the hierachy.
My hope, at the absolute minimum, is this means Raul and Edu have a very long think about how they want to conduct this summer. Do they want to bring in players that have been recommended by Arsenal people? Or do they want to continue suckling the contacts teet of Kia and Canales?
We shall see. We’re rooting for you, Tim.
Arsenal has a huge game later today. Spurs beat Everton in a horrendous game. We need to make some space before Sunday. If we go to 52 points, and beat Spurs, we’ll be 4 points clear of them with 3 games to go. Lose tomorrow, and lose Sunday, we are in biiiiiig trouble.
Let’s see what we’ve got.
I’ll leave you with a solo podcast. It’s a good one. So listen. x
Indeed
Y’all are seeing Dani doing his thing.
Dude covers the most ground easily in the team
Best half in a long long time…need to get the second though
The first time I feel we play a particular style. Tactical or not.
If we’d keep 2H that way would be a perfect game.
Decent match.
Decent test here from Leicester
Decent pace to the match with wet pitch helping.
Decent being the word. Decent is the word.
Y’all see what laca brings on his day, if only he could be more clinical
In sauce we trust.
Ceballos agreed playing well.. Never rated him since he came but maybe he was still adjusting new league new country
Really happy with that first half. You can tell that the team has really regained their confidence.
We did have some hairy moments but we handled them well.
And I am really happy with the goal scored by Auba assisted by Saka.
I understand those of you who want a second goal to ease the worry. But I am strangely very confident with being only 1 up. And I am looking forward to the second half!!
Will we start the second half in our usual sluggish manner?
Leicester showing again tonight like other teams that they don’t like standing up defending when Saka has a run at them.
I thought ‘Grease’ is the word?
Un
Very nice hear that 😊
We are due an unbeaten run with good performances
Hope it lasts till the end of this season
Leichester is missing Maddison, Chilwell and Ricardo. Their build up play suffers a lot.
The thing is lacazette isn’t non clinical because a lack of skill or talent but just decision making.
He doesn’t have the lethal finishing brain that auba has. You can’t teach that.
Hahaha never take opinions on here seriously. Caballos is now Xavi Alonso? Hahaha
Simply back the sauce as long as he’s doing well irrespective of who he picks. Sorry Holding, Pepe…….
So many players Martinez , Ceballos , Bellerin even Kolasinac looks as if they have stepped up their game. Kolasinac has absolutely bullied Iheanacho.
The issue with Liecester is they are always one long ball away from creating a really goal threatening opportunity! Liverpool do that from the wings..Liecester through the center..need to be wary of that especially when front men lose the ball
Think bellerin also playing well
Going to be a leggy second half with litany of subs, hope we don’t get punished for not putting one of those chances in.
Arteta getting the balance right… thats golden.
I really like how we’re closing them down. Forcing them to go to their fullbacks and then there’s no easy pass to the middle of the pitch, so they have to go long. Then we’ve one quite a lot of those attempted long passes
RR
Not saying he is as good as him of course he isn’t.
But when ceballos is playing at his best. Its a similar style of play. Problem is ceballos goes missing in moxt games and we only get glimpses of his talent far to seldom
.
Some really good chances there
Saka s composure is like wow!!
Good first half from Arsenal. The dissapointing thing is we should be leading by at least 2 goals. Lacazette missing chances but he’s having a good game
Danis movement and work rate means Xhaka stays put mostly
That is a good thing
Okay since it worked the last game,
I’m gonna nervously watch Netflix
Until the game is over!
COYG!!!
My heart can’t take live Arsenal games any more 🤬
If Dani had a proper holder playing behind him he would be amazing
Whiff of confidence about us collectively and it’s telling. Starting to see little understandings between players bear fruit and add solidity.
Back like is nicely balanced, if not air tight. Same in midfield, with Ceballos and Saka particularly showing more about them on the ball vs last time out.
Laca frustrates at times but he’s causing issues and making good moves, was very unlucky with his snapshot. Game finely poised at 1-0, we need another imo especially with the conditions.
” Auba Lacazette and Saka seem to really compliment each other”
100%
Laca linking up well
The Arteta effect is happening…
London
Fair enough, I know what you mean. My comment was more a general one just used your comment as an example.
I agree Ceballos is having his Burnley game again.
Would be surprised if Brenda doesn’t switch it up.. and try to sit deeper and counter. He was writing something on his notepad in the rain.. lol
Need a quick goal to dust these guys
We defo need an early second to break them
Un
Hahaha enjoy
Slack couple of minutes as per.
They are pressing us with 2 men every time, need to counter attack these trolls.
We are showing good counter attacking power
Good defending from Ceballos there in his own six yard box
Doing better in aerial duels tonight
Like the way Tierney plays.
Good shot Luiz
I wonder if Mesut Ozil watches these games from his sofa. He really should be doing more to help this football club.
Need something from one of these corners
C’mon
Somebody get Ceballos a hair band.
Dissenter,
The longer Ozil stays out and we are doing well, its a good thing.
The Luiz freekick was spolit by seeing a big picture face of frog eyes on the back advertising hoardings
Mustafi putting it all on the line today. good work so far
“ wonder if Mesut Ozil watches these games from his sofa. He really should be doing more to help this football club.“
Reckon Ozil in bed with wife already in a cold rainy night.
Is it a nap break? everyone laying on the floor. Alright then need to recapture some of our momentum.
lol even adboard make you guys seethe
For the Muslim folks on here doesn’t Ozil’s behaviour warrant a Fatwa?
Again, Xhaka loses the ball easily.
Haha Frog eye
LEI pinging the ball much quicker
Where the ticking card??
Mustafi got hole marks in his face grom that dirty Vardy earlier.
Good save again Martinez
Who got caught on the ball there that led to that Leicester chance?
Ihenacho is dangerous…
need to always have an eye on him
Arteta is going to have to make one of the most difficult decisions of his nascent career; who is the number one goalkeeper?
Martinez has done enough to turn the screw on the manager. He cannot just go and warm the bench after these sequence of games. He brings a lot of calm to his defense line.
@radio, premium fatwa I swear
Evans Bennett and Vardy should all be on a yellow
Referee left his cards at home, letting them kick the shit out of us with no reprisal
Hit a plateau.
Need to lift the game. Fluency gone.
At least the players look engaging and willing to press. With passion it seems
Fuck off laca. You keep fouling like this and put the team in danger
Too close for comfort right now
Get Pepe and Torreira in…Ceballos and Laca out
Martinez coming out for that free kick and gathering it so comfortably is what Leno never does…top keeper
Guns of SF
I made that Ozil remark because Ceballos who is on his way out of a one year loan is showing more commitment that Ozil who’s the highest pair footballer in our history.
Ceballos is going to run of legs soon. He’s playing too many minutes.
Remember when our backup keeper was Ospina? Good times.
62”. Time to think subs. Some players get tired in such tough away game.
Luiz at least doesn’t shy away from blocking shots
Yea make a change here mikel
Dissenter,
Indeed Dani is going full 90 almost every game. Ozil however is not the answer to anything in life really.
Id rather Willock spell Dani about now…
Game has devolved into shit houssery. Maybe that was the note Brenda was making.. Rough them up… slow down the match with fouls.
Ceballos drops off in his play. Gets tentative in passing. Xhara also caught out a few times. At least back 3 still holding up
They’re getting closer
They are getting way easy chances
Need Subs in now
We completely stopped playing
Time for a good sub now
Getting nervous. LEI very much in the game.
Yes some counter is good.
Backs to the wall
Laca offside goal.??
Has he subbed in Eddie yet?
Take Saka off and put Pepe in
Willock and Eddie on for Saka and Laca
My feed is one minute delayed
Lol
Ohhhh… damn. offside.
Pepe / Willock in please
Unlucky. Replay well off.
Loving Tierney
Where is Pepe? I have the fool in my fantasy team but he never playing now!
Soaked up the pressure and inches away from going 2-0 up.
Laca has 3, 4 xG tonight for sure but …
The moment I saw Martinez play, i could tell he had more in his bag for us than Leno did.
He is confident, and his confidence and his ability to organise his defence (ie speak up) is really an asset to keeping our defence calm.
Aaargh to the offside goal by Laca. But we are getting there!!
Laxa’s offside by his moustache?
Put AMN on, Tierney is really struggling defensively. Like I thought he would be, very good going forward, but a little bit suspect defensively.
Saka has been neutralise during that second half. Willock just in to revive our second half performance on that right side.
Love KTs crosses..always dangerous!
Anyone else think we will get rid of pepe.
Seems like arteta doesn’t rate him.
Tierney always plays a sweet ball across.
Bellerin gonna get 90
Like what Eddie did despite the card.
We can’t hold onto the ball.
Fuck off. Possible RED for Eddie. That’s camera angle
Oh man… what we don’t need is Red card.
Hes off
Calm down Eddie