Losing a North London derby isn’t supposed to be easy. It’s not supposed to come with positives. It is always utterly shit. Losing to ‘that’ Jose Mourinho mess stung like a wet towel to the backside in a cold December Sunday League dressing room.
Everything about the loss hurt. The simple summation of the game is we didn’t take the sort of chances we normally would and individual errors cost us big again.
Kola was unable to execute a standard 10-yard pass to David Luiz. The Brazilian, low on pace at 33, didn’t have a recovery in him. Martinez, maybe didn’t make himself big enough for the Son chip. You cannot coach that sort of idiocy out of players (Emi is subtracted from that comment), it is absolute Sunday League basics. The second goal was another set-piece calamity. Kieran Tierney found himself picking up Toby from corner, no one else was paying attention, we conceded.
In attack, you saw Auba air shot from a cut back cross in the first half. The second half saw him rattle a fairly standard finish against the bar. He forced an electric save from Lloris on the half volley. Normally, you convert those. Yesterday, we didn’t.
We deserved the result. You know what Jose is going to do to you and he did it. At the highest level, you need to concentrate for the full 90 and we have players that are rarely capable of that. The Kola piece was particularly irritating. Arteta said that no one complained about his defenders when we were keeping clean sheets, I’d disagree with that. Kola was absolutely awful in the last game, so we knew something was brewing. What was alarming was how everything fell to pieces, particularly when we went a goal down. Mustafi was attacking shadows, the shape started to pick apart, and the usual suspects weren’t sharp enough.
The other absolutely key issue is the personnel in midfield. Dani Ceballos was excellent, he really put in a dogged shift, but we still struggled to create from midfield. I think part of the gameplay was to have Lacazette drop in as a 10, but that came with its own problems.
Someone asked me after the game if I still thought the players were coachable. Absolutely. It isn’t even up for discussion whether the players have been improved by better coaching. Our team is better structured, we’ve beaten some good teams on the road, and nearly all stats point to clear improvements across the board. Coaching though, will not solve for Kola making a mistake that bad from 10 yards. The mistakes, sadly, always wait in the wings with certain players. Sometimes you’ll see David Luiz have a towering game, other times, he looks like the least experienced player on the pitch. Mustafi had a great run, now he looks like he’s playing with fear again. The only way you solve for those issues is new players. The only way you deal with them this season is to continue to give them confidence and hope we see more games like those at Leicester / Wolves / Sheffield United… versus the messy output today.
On the match, I was a little confused with the post-game buoyance from Arteta. I thought we deserved the loss and couldn’t quite match his enthusiasm for the performance. I suspect maybe he knew there were a lot of tired legs out there and he knows if we go into the Liverpool game feeling sorry for ourselves, it’ll be a rout.
What I will say is the whatever you think about the game is at least we’re looking at that match as a lost opportunity. We weren’t battered or opened up. We were shithoused, but like, barely even shithoused. We should have won based on chances and not making stupid mistakes, and that’s the talking point.
We have 3 more games in the league this season and an FA Cup game that looks like it’s going to be very, very tough. Then the real work starts. This summer has to be big. If we don’t buy well and upgrade the clear areas we’re struggling in, we’ll have more games like this. Our summer needs end with a squad that is built for the vision of the coach, if it’s not, then what is the point?
Liverpool in 2 days. My word I hope we have something to give. See you in the comments.
Top 4?
Boom
2nd?
Triple threat
Trophy?
Alas, 5th, which is NOT a Champions League place this season …
Kola to Luiz to Mustafi….the triple play combo nobody wants
It’s a North London Derby and we didn’t start any of our Brits.
Rambo would have won that midfield.
I would rotate heavily on Wed and play the starting 11 for the FA cup semi. Auba needs a rest. Last game he was lack of concentration. Early in the game, he let the ball roll over his foot in the penalty box.
By the way, Sven Mislintat’s Stuttgard earned promotion to the Bundesleaga. He may want to take Dinos Mavropanos from us. Could we offer him Guen and PapaSok also.
So where do we go from here in the next three league games? Do we give some tired legs a break for Liverpool and sacrifice that game to get us a better shot at the two winnable games we have at the end?
Auba is a flat track arsehole. 100% not worth his wages or extension. His performances will get worse. We have to sell. Have to! Apart from Laca swinging a leg at the ball…nothing. Zero. Again, sell on and fast. Kola. Zero player. Luiz. Luiz. The midfield was pedestrian. Again, no way should be even consider signing Ceballos full time. He’s shit. The only player I think that’s coming out of this well is Martinez. He’s a better goal keeper than Leno and very impressive. If you think that Auba going missing against decent sides is a one off, check his… Read more »
Totally fed up with Arsenal How the hell are they giving contracts out to shit defenders just don’t see the end to this shower of shit
EPL
“Arteta said that no one complained about his defenders when we were keeping clean sheets,”
Then Arteta is fully guilty of being wilfully naive.
Those defenders have been pure shit forever and are incapable of being taught anything for for a sustained period.
F365 pointed out: “Fourteen teams have more shots per game than Arsenal, including West Ham and Norwich.” That is Norwich, people, on more shots per game. “Mesut Ozil has started little over half of the club’s Premier League games yet has still created more chances (37) than any teammate.” Whether Ozil should come back or not, it tells you a lot about the lack of creativity. Arteta tried to gloss it over, but his team selection and game management contributed hugely to the performance. Pepe looks like Walcott the second, but considerably more expensive. What chance will Arteta have to… Read more »
Good write up overall. But David Luiz was championed on here for leadership and experience but when you hear that he can look the least experienced player on the pitch in games then that previous championing collapses. Early stages of the match Kane got in on goal in the Arsenal penalty area after he had bypassed Luiz all too easily. Luiz just let him run by him. The first conceded goal was not the fault of Luiz it was Kola’s fault. But as was noted Luiz was awfully slow in pace in trying to make a recovery tackle on Son.… Read more »
“Someone asked me after the game if I still thought the players were coachable. ”
No they are not, Pedro. If they were then shitshows like yesterday, which happen more than often enough, simply don’t happen and certainly not often at all.
You cant teach old dogs new tricks and lets face it, They have been defensively crappy for a long time, too long to be honest.
We are a laughing stock.
Just read a Liverpool blog previewing our game and the title is:
”Newly Inconsistent Liverpool Prepare to Face Consistently Inconsistent Arsenal’.
Now, that stings!
“What I will say is the whatever you think about the game is at least we’re looking at that match as a lost opportunity. We weren’t battered or opened up. ”
Hmmm, setting the bar very low when not being battered by Mourinho’s Spurs is viewed as a something to be glad of.
Actually I don’t agree that we deserved to lose although I expected the sucker punch that duly arrived. And that’s the problem, new coach same old story.
I understand it takes time to rebuild and all, but I really do not think Arteta will make it at Arsenal. If Usmanov was our owner, Arteta would have half a chance. With the Kroenkes in charge he’ll probably have a 50M max budget this summer.
We need to spend a good 200M+ to get back into the top 4.
We can’t and won’t be able to compete with Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool.
If we start next season with Xhaka and Mustafi still in the first 11 we are fucked.
There has to be better options out there within our budget, and if we arnt looking then Arteta is not going to make it at arsenal.
Bellerin, laca, xhaka, mustafi all have to go. I think even Auba to be honest. He’s kept us up at times, but if he’s not going to be used as a striker then his legs won’t carry him for 3 more years on the left.
I am grad I am not living in north London. Thanks to Arteta, I would be ashamed to show my Arsenal color.
No they are not, Pedro. If they were then shitshows like yesterday, which happen more than often enough, simply don’t happen and certainly not often at all.
Thanks Ernest.
I was the one who asked the question. Having Mustafi, Luiz and Kolasinac means we are always on the edge in big games.
The reason they looked looked solid is because we drop really deep and play keep ball.
Basically Arteta is trying to win 1-0
‘“Arteta said that no one complained about his defenders when we were keeping clean sheets,””
This is the same manager demanding an apology from a 20 year old like he’s some goddamn school principal.
That was a very twatty comment from Arteta. We weren’t solid defensively in the games we won, there were hints of luck involved.
Pedro
Your optimism holds no bounds.
You can be coached and coached again on certain plays but when you have the likes of Luiz, Mustafi and Kolasinac as your defensive line, you know that shit will still rise to the surface.
“What I will say is the whatever you think about the game is at least we’re looking at that match as a lost opportunity. We weren’t battered or opened up. ””
That doesn’t make an sense to be honest, even “pathetic” Emery never lost a NLD but Pedro will re-invent the shape of the wheel to buff Arteta.
For those who love xGA stats
Since the restart, Arsenal have shipped nine with an xGA of 10.7.It seems we can’t outrun Expected Goals.
Hacker,Laca,Mustaphi,kolasinac.louisa,Bellend.,ozil,caballos ( despite a Renaissance). Gwen Dozy & Torriera.Thats ten .F.** ng ten players to move on & dump plus perhaps one or two others.Its an almost impossible task.Its going to take maybe four windows.cant see it happening any quicker.even if we did a fire sale.I feel for Arteta I really do.What a shit sandwich he’s been left to chew on.
“Arsenal have won just one of the 10 Premier League games under Mikel Arteta where the opposition has scored. W1 D5 L4.”
Why is this stats been overlooked or never mentioned?
Into the red: “Mesut Ozil has started little over half of the club’s Premier League games yet has still created more chances (37) than any teammate.” This is the trouble with lies, damn lies and statistics. “Chances” are meaningless. That could be a free kick or other set piece that comes to absolutely nothing. Or playing a ball to a player with his back to goal surrounded by four defenders. Look at the PL’s official stats for MO this season. He has created ONE big chance, just one. Saka by contrast has SIX, and has also logged five assists to… Read more »
Uwot
“Hacker,Laca,Mustaphi,kolasinac.louisa,Bellend.,ozil,caballos ( despite a Renaissance). Gwen Dozy & Torriera.Thats ten .F.** ng ten players to move on & dump plus perhaps one or two others.Its an almost impossible task”
Sounds like you’re doing a police report 🤣🤣🤣🤣
“Arteta said that no one complained about his defenders when we were keeping clean sheets,” what against the mighty Wolves, Norwich, or Southampton. or maybe West Ham, Portsmouth, olympiakos, Burnley or Newcastle. These are the teams we should be keeping clean sheets against. its not like we played the Bindippers City or Chelsea and kept them at bay. Even the 2-0 win at home to united was more of a shock. The Defence and midfield is atrocious, kolasinac isn’t even a left back let alone a center back but Arteta didn’t want to drop him while holding is in the… Read more »
“Dani Ceballos was excellent, he really put in a dogged shift, but we still struggled to create from midfield.”
So how was he excellent if we struggled to create from midfield? Isn’t it part of his job description? He is what I call a “busy player”. Runs around a lot but without much of an end product. Personally, I didn’t see much of his “excellence” yesterday. I saw someone who was constantly losing the ball. Reminded of Jackie boy for some reason. And no, those were not good memories.
No matter what anyone says , dont let anyone deceive you that we deserved to win yesterday. Not at all. We had a lot of possession(it was pointless possession) but Spurs had more shots on target(double) , chances created(double) and ofc goals scored. We may think we got hard done by because Auba wasn’t his usual clinical self but lets not forget Kane had better chances than Auba and 1 or 2 very simple ones at that. Martinez came to the rescue for us again and again and again. What I can say is that its clear we are moving… Read more »
Uwot?
“Hacker,Laca,Mustaphi,kolasinac.louisa,Bellend.,ozil,caballos ( despite a Renaissance). Gwen Dozy & Torriera.”
Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grubb.
Uwot
“I feel for Arteta I really do.What a shit sandwich he’s been left to chew on.”
He didn’t have to take the job, you know.
If City are clear of the allegations, why do they still have to pay a 10m fine.
💸💸CAS💸💸
ishola gotta love a trip to trumpton!
Pedro You mention a ‘big summer,’ but do you really anticipate that happening? You’ve previously covered that the forthcoming transfer window’s budget had already been allotted last summer (i.e increase to our amortisation charge), and that was before: (A) Covid decreasing our revenues by £100m; (B) the reality of no European football at all next season (one of three scenarios for the summer Tets mentioned he was aware of, with this scenario meaning no money to spend at all). Last season we made £32m from the EL, plus gate receipts (7 home games, so very conservatively £10m assuming really discounted… Read more »
i said it when Arteta was brought in, if you wanted to go down the rookie route then should have gone for Vieira.
at least he cut his teeth as a coach at city then New York and had a season at nice.
an invincible for the kids to look up to.
and wouldn’t have taken any shit from the likes of AMN, Guendouzi or Xhaka
“Arteta said that no one complained about his defenders when we were keeping clean sheets,”
Feeling the heat, passive aggressive
It was a rookie move to substitute three players into a game in the 84th minute.
There was no way they would settle in to change anything.
Arteta tends to sit on his arse way too long.
Auba under Emery when we won: Clinical finishing saved Emery for too long. Look at the xG trend, Auba should’ve been scoring fewer goals.
Auba under Arteta when we lose: Auba let Arteta down with his poor finishing. He should’ve scored a couple goals and we would’ve won, even though our xG for yesterday was 0.69.
Our strikers aren’t the issue. It’s everything behind them that has let us down for years. It was the same under Emery – score 3 goals or lose the game. How have we been so shit at defending for so long?
Absolutely spot on post from Pedro. To repeat his major point: the personnel needs additions and subtractions this summer. Most importantly, a creative midfielder (oh for Cesc in his prime) and the elimination of players lacking 100% concentration.
Blaming the manager when things go wrong is a habit hard to break. But given the dire circumstances, Mikel has dome amazingly well thus far. He knows what he wants and, most likely, who he wants. and, by now, who he doesn’t want. Let’s hope it all happens for him.
It’s fine to make comments and observations – positive or negative, but it’s premature to come to any definitive conclusions about Arteta as a manager and his ability to take Arsenal forward. Based on what I’ve seen so far, here are some observations: 1) The shape of the team is much better, particularly when we’re out of possession. 2):(Even after yesterday’s shitshow) defensively we are making fewer mistakes, but very definitively haven’t been able to eliminate them (hello Kola, Xhaka, Musta and Luiz). 3) We haven’t been able to dominate a match from start to finish.Every match has featured extended… Read more »
Elmo,
I don’t know about ST’s but I had notice last week that the club are collecting Red Membership fees for next season this week.
Not sure what I’ll get for that exactly with no access to tickets but I’m happy to make a minor contribution in difficult times.
Elmo, bang on. From her until the start of next season we will all be making lists of the deadwood that we think needs to be cleared out and that list could easily be 10 players and should be 10 players but realistically we all know that is not going to happen. Of the likes of kola, Mustafi, Xhaka, Torreira, Bellerin, laca, sok, Luiz, I would be surprised if even two of them left. That still leaves At least 5 of them remaining, which for next season simply means that nothing changes. Talk of the clear outs that we need… Read more »
Not sure where the ‘should have won based on chances’ comes from as Tottenham had more chances. The tired legs is an odd one as well as Tottenham had 2 days less rest and were out on their feet at one stage. Arsenal had a lot of possession but created very little. People mention Aubameyang hitting the bar but this was after Davies had done so. Ceballos was decent but he certainly didn’t ‘run the midfield and often flattered to deceive. How many chances did he make? How often did he get in threatening positions? Arsenal have some fantastic young… Read more »
“I don’t care if you’ve got Pep sitting on Jose’s lap, on top of Fergie’s lap, on top of Wenger’s lap and all four are one manager: if you’ve got a defender who can’t pass five yards, you’re in trouble” Gotta love Paul Merson! To think we’ve gone from Adams Bould Keown, Kolo & Sol to Luiz, kolasinac and Mustafi. Defence has been poor for a decade, midfield has been soft with no steel since Gilberto left, its only the fact we could outscore the weaker teams that we kept afloat so long. and we cant even manage that anymore.… Read more »
Are we gonna stop this Mikel Arteta is the saviour bull now. Let’s compare him to Emery . Emery finished 5th and got us to The Europa League final. Arteta joined us when we were 9th, we’re still 9th. Emery beat Napoli and Valencia. Arteta went out to Olympiacos with an away goal. Emery changed things tactically at half time and late in the game. 2-1 down yesterday, Arteta changes a winger for a winger. What??? Just cos Pedro fancies Mikel, this club deserves better. Sack him NOW and bring in Hassenhuttl or we’ll spend a year mid table
“, Mikel has dome amazingly well thus far. He knows what he wants and, most likely, who he wants. and, by now, who he doesn’t want. Let’s hope it all happens for him.”
This is bullshittery of Baghdad bob and Agitprop proportions. This is happy talk-happy hours.
How can he be doing well when his “failed” country man predecessor had us in 8th place when he got sacked…currently we are in 9th position.
Pedro, put a spin on this and let’s see how far you are willing to go:
The very first job of a head coach is to pick a proper team for games. If in 2020 your idea of proper defenders are Luiz, Mustafi and Kola, then you are as shit as they come. And if in 2020 you are fighting for contract extensions for these guys then you are a fake ass guy who loves ego massage.
Now, your spin please.
There is no sense in judging Arteta now, least of all here.
Let him have a full season to coach this squad. If he tanks top 4 next year by a similar margin to this year’s, he’ll probably be sacked too and we’re back to square one. Frankly, that’s the stuff of nightmares.
I’m guessing the bar will be lowered to achieving a top 6 finish (EL) next season ‘until he gets the players he wants’.
I don’t believe for one minute that we are trying to extend Mustafi’s contract
‘How can he be doing well when his “failed” country man predecessor had us in 8th place when he got sacked…currently we are in 9th position.’
Dissenter,
Here is not a space for reasoning…just agendas.
“I don’t believe for one minute that we are trying to extend Mustafi’s contract”
Dissenter this is arsenal nothing would surprise me!
‘I don’t believe for one minute that we are trying to extend Mustafi’s contract’
Even when before you very eyes Luiz was extended right after his Man Citey’s demonstration of capability?
Jamie “I’m guessing the bar will be lowered to achieving a top 6 finish (EL) next season ‘until he gets the players he wants’.” When you lower the bar even further that can really be the course for that slippery slope. Yes I know Arsenal are already on a downward spiral but this can just accentuate it. The ask of him should be that he gets top four or at least gets within a reasonable distance of top four. That was the ask of Wenger in his later period. That was the ask of Emery when he was at the… Read more »
Good write up Pedro. I’ve been one of the many pointing out Kola’s and Mustafi’s flaws. True, Mustafi has improved defensively. And his ball distribution stats look better because he has been told in the last few games to never pass more than 10 yards. But when I look at the three defenders who played yesterday, the first thing that comes to mind is “they have a mistake in them. A hand grenade waiting to happen.” We’ve had some awful defenders over the years (Stephanov, anybody?). But I don’t remember feeling that way about each one simultaneously. And I believe… Read more »
The only thing to feel good about right now
Is that Gazidis is gone. Funny to see his incompetence keep going. Hope Rangnick fails bigtime and the club tries to rehire Pioli
“Our team is better structured“ Really? It is certainly structured differently, but better? You are putting that loss down to individual mistakes but we looked so weak. TBH it looked like we would concede on most of their attacks (they also had great chances they didn’t convert), or at least I felt that way. It felt like we needed to score five to be sure. Has Rob Holding been banging Arteta’s wife? Why would you be putting Kol or Luiz in over him? I just don’t get it. We are a house of cards at the back, added to that… Read more »
“ There has been a clear improvement in terms of defensive structure and strategy at the Emirates, precipitated by managerial change. It’s just that those players have their limits and it hardly took long for Arteta to find them and raise their collective ceilings. The only problem then is that it will always cave in eventually.” From F365. Yep. The likes of Mustafi and Kolasinac always have mistakes in them. That had been evident plenty over the last few year’s. They can be coached to be a bit better, but they will never be good enough for the ambitions we… Read more »
Jamie I don’t think anyone’s calling for Arteta to be sacked now. I only want people to acknowledge that Arteta is a work in progress and be honest about his shortcomings and what impact they could have on our results. I’m wiling to write this season off as a learning curve, but what about the next ? Can we reasonably believe all the problems will be sorted about magically by the start of next season ? If not, can Arsenal afford to lose points and European places because the Manager is learning on the job ? What is the realistic… Read more »
I used to criticise the U23 team for having defenders who look good on the ball but can’t smell danger. Now the senior team has defenders who can’t make simple 10 yards pass AND can’t smell danger. Maybe it is time to give a chance to those U23 defenders. They may not have the “experience” and “leadership” quality of David Luiz, Kolasinac and Mustafi but I doubt that they would do worse mistakes than those. I dredd to think how those senior defenders will play against ManCity and Liverpool. Their trident of attackers will pull Arsenal defenders out of position… Read more »
Yes prvhc If Arsenal retire from seriously competing for the top four for a good few seasons because of the notion of starting from scratch with a novice manager that can be a very dangerous road to take. The longer you remain out of contention the harder it can be to get back. It’s a nice idea to start from scrach fall back for a few seasons and then come back storming a few years down the line. But really the idea should be the same as it has always been since Wenger failed to get his CL place. That… Read more »
When you look at how our ‘rivals’ are doing, it’s is more obvious than ever that KSE need to start acting like ambitious owners and front up the cash to get this club going ik the transfer market. They have overseen a chaotic mess since they took full control, from allowing Wenger too much power and to the mishandling of player contracts that have cost millions, and more in between. They need to back Arteta in the market. To compliment some of the promising academy players we have, we need 2 or 3 ready made players in the 21-26 age… Read more »
It saddens the heart to think we paid Chelsea 8 million for Luiz.
If here was any justice in the world, they should have paid us 8 million to take him.
Chris
“It is now up to KSE to continue to attempt to clean up the mess they have made and overseen, and back Arteta with serious budget to allow us to challenge at the highest level.”
That would be the course taken at any other big club.
But how does this fall in with self-sufficiency?
prvhc/ishola – No sensible supporter is calling for Arteta’s head. CG is the only buffoon shameless enough to think Arteta should be replaced by Dyche or Warnock. The further away we finish from top 4 this season, the harder it is to make the leap next season. Now without the EL money, the chances of us making any serious moves in the summer window just got that much worse. No big issue, though. We are told ad nauseam that this current squad is top 4 quality under proper coaching/leadership. We aren’t losing any key players this summer because they’re all… Read more »
Chris, as has been mentioned before over the last five years AFC are behind only the two Manchester clubs in terms of net spend. More than double that of Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea and Leicester.
The owner has invested unfortunately the people he hired to make the investment decisions have spent very, very badly.
Can’t say I trust Raul and co. to recognise a decent player if they had their image tattooed on their eyeballs.
Really the requirement regarding a credible top four challenge shouldn’t be abandoned.
It was a taken requirement just several months back at the start of this season.
If fans feel that from the start of this season till the end of this campaign that this requirement is no longer valid and in so short a period we then really need to talk about squad poverty. And I mean seriously talk about squad poverty because that would be the only reason to drop said requirement in such a short time span.
A manager who picks and plays Kos is out of his depth.
That back three set up was so amateurish is beggars belief.
He’s a wimp he hasn’t got anything special he’s got to earn a reputation not be given one.
Good write up Pedro, agree with most. Would liked to of seen mention of Pepe who I thought was pretty weak overall. In the end if you told Arteta we’d be even at 1-1 then showed him the PEA missed chances over course of the 90 ( without showing the actual miss) he’d be very confident we take the 3x points.
But there were certainly missed chances at the other end as well, what a shit result to take on board. Stings more today.
Ishola
We’ve dropped 15 points from winning positions under Arteta.
How many can we afford next season ?
In fairness, I guess, we shouldn’t talk about squad poverty yet either.
This is an extended preseason, everyone gets a clean slate. If Arteta gets us top 4 next season with largely the same squad and no Europa distractions, a few of us will have to take a massive L. I’ll be front and centre, no stress.
Usual garbage on here about shit players . Auba is a Golden Boot winner because he scores regularly and if he goes who replaces him and for how much? If we get a good deal for him we ought to sell but he must be replaced . Ceballos shit? Not on his recent performances. He was the best midfielder by a country mile on the pitch yesterday . Where I would differ with your report Pedro is that we are not going to be able to spend any money on this team – and with that defence coaching only takes… Read more »
prvhc
“We’ve dropped 15 points from winning positions under Arteta.
How many can we afford next season ?”
It’s not good to have a revolving door in regards to managers keep coming and going but Arsenal need to try to aspire to certain standards.
Arteta would know this himself.
If you give up on those previous aspiring standards it can be deadly.
“How can he be doing well when his “failed” country man predecessor had us in 8th place when he got sacked…currently we are in 9th position.“
The extent of your analysis is painful.
Emery gave up 8 points to 4th place after 13 games. Freddie a further point in the 5 he oversaw.
So Arteta took over 9 points back of 4th and we’ve arrested further decline and remained 9 points back of 4th.
Only a fool would equate the the circumstances of the two, yet here we are.
Afternoon Grovers, Good and fair post Pedro. For me the season’s a write-off and was already towards the end of Emery’s tenure, I think we can all admit that. Unfortunately for some though, we can’t all agree that some of the players just aren’t good enough, some worse than not good enough, and player for player we do not have a top 4 squad. We dont. Not at all in the slightest, and don’t give me the “we were 1 penalty kick away from top 4” bollocks because all the other teams above us and below us have improved from… Read more »
Jamie
“”””No sensible supporter is calling for Arteta’s head. CG is the only buffoon shameless enough to think Arteta should be replaced by Dyche or Warnock.”””””
Arteta should have been SACKED the very moment he wanted Luiz’ contract to be extended.
As for Cedric,
Arsenal will be paying him lucratively for the next 1460 days.
Arteta is totally complicit in these scandalously inept decisions.
He is as naive as they come.
I want him gone ASAP.
The players gave up on Emery when they couldn’t match his technical level.of expertise.
Benny
“then the knives will be out by Christmas.”
In uncertain times for Arsenal this would be the only certainty if Arteta is seen as lagging next season.
Champagne Charlie defending mediocrity lol
“If he fails quite heavily in getting top four then there should be serious questions against him.” If he fails? Hard not to when he has been set up by those above him, to essentially fail given the sheer magnitude of dross on display, Ishola. Its going to take some time for Arsenal to achieve anything newsworthy, given their current fiscal predicament- not to mention questionable spending habits. For me this one is not for Arteta to fail with, thats a given, given the failings above him. Its more whether he can polish a turd sufficiently so that it passes… Read more »
We wouldn’t be having this conversation had Aubameyang converted his last minute spot kick against Spurs….
“Only a fool would equate the the circumstances of the two, yet here we are.”
Only a fool would believe what you wrote there made any sense and you are undoubtedly one. You lose all sense of reason once you decide someone is good or bad, you are on here daily defending every single Arteta decision like you are part of the coaching staff.
Calling you a fool is doing fools a disservice
Ernest Reed
There is certain types of failure.
It’s not just failure per se.
As said before if Arteta fails to make a credible challenge to top four and is some way off the mark in points total come the end of the season there will be inevitable questions asked I’m afraid.
“The players gave up on Emery when they couldn’t match his technical level.of expertise.”
There’s that spirited humour from Red!
CC tying himself up in knots
If Emery’s 8th place position in the league was so unacceptable, enough to get a deserved sack, why is Arteta’s 9th place position in the league so bearable?
It’s like the pig’s snout just got a different color of lip-stick.
It’s amazing how people can embrace mediocrity so quickly to protect their vested interests.
Receding
You’ve failed to follow plain English more than anyone else on here so id maybe avoid the lecture that’s come about through your lack of understanding once again.
Similarly look at the great irony in you of all people telling me about investment in managers and defending this or that. Emery is still on your breath.
Rumours Mavro will sign on a loan with Stuttgart ( Sven’s team ) for the next season.
Good move if true imo. Newly promoted team , technical director who really believes in the player’s potential and a step up from B.2.
Hope he stays fit and returns as someone ready to challenge at Arsenal for the CB spot.
“We wouldn’t be having this conversation had Aubameyang converted his last minute spot kick against Spurs….”
Would have made no difference Red, Emery was always going to implode. Trying to pin his poor man management on one incident shows a one-dimensional viewpoint.
We are a better team than under Emery but it is very clear that our defence needs a complete clear our apart from Tierney. Luiz is a squad player at best… disaster waiting to happen at worst. Bellerin is a fashion model, vegan social justice campaigner posing as a part time footballer. His pace is gone, but more than that his heart is not in it. Mustafi is simply the worst defender to put on our shirt, despite his recent upturn in form. One of Wenger’s worst buys ever, and his WORST defensive acquisition if you consider how much we… Read more »
Dissenter
Stunning stupidity.
Emery put us 8 points back, not Arteta. Who honestly dresses you in the morning?
Some arguments are fruitless, this is one of those. You simply don’t get it if you can’t separate the two.
At best, Arteta is a young manager gaining experience on the job and making the predictable errors that rookies make.
Anyone who’s practiced in a profession knows you make certain mistakes when you’re green, mistakes you don’t repeat with some experience.
Some here would rather attack Arteta skeptics with puerile name-calling than acknowledge that the new manager is indeed making errors left, right and center.
Gentle
Here is not a space for reasoning…just agendas.
This is a space for arsenal SUPPORTERS
With Arsenal anything good that happens is always few and far in between. We can beat City one week and lose to bottom teams for the next 5 and people will still talk about the City win. What does that tell you? It tells you that most of what happens when we win or score happens more by luck than by design. And guess what? We’re not that lucky, haven’t been since Wenger started on his downward spiral, stayed too long, matastasized the club and now we’re meandering like a lost ship with a blind captain and a deaf owner.… Read more »
Why is Mavropanos being shopped around ?
He’s 22 years old, either he’s the future or he’s not. Do we still think he needs development ? If so, don’t we trust Arteta with it ?
It’s this kind of half arsed decision making that’s cost us time and money
“Some here would rather attack Arteta skeptics with puerile name-calling than acknowledge that the new manager is indeed making errors left, right and center.”
Yes he is, but enough to be calling for his head given his short tenure thus far and inheritance of a completely dysfunctional group of players?
Those calling for Arteta’s head are impatient at best and ridiculously foolish at worse. Give the man some proper time, then judge him. Why is that so difficult to grasp?
Good post pedro! We have to be honest with our assessment of our manager and he made a few in-game mistakes yesterday, the subs being a very clear one. He needs to read the game better which I have no doubt will come in time, we have to hope he gets it sooner rather than later or more and more points will be dropped from winning positions. In regards to the diabolical Luiz, Mustafi and Kola in the back line. That was a mistake(Kolas horrendous pass) waiting to happen, an inevitable individual mistake most Arsenal fans could see a mile… Read more »