I’m late to the party, buuuuuuuuut… welcome BACK to Arsenal, Dani Ceballos.
This is huge for our season. Dani started 2019 well, then slumped into averageness under poor leadership and an unstructured system. He then made things worse by trying to cut his loan spell short under Mikel… but then something clicked for him and he hasn’t looked back since. His restart stats were amongst the best in the league. He’s proven to be an aggressive presser of the ball, he loves to tackle, his reading of the game makes him expert at interceptions… he’s looked the real deal. Could do with some refining of that final third passing, but that’ll come.
Here is what he had to say.
“I think everyone will have seen last season that from the moment I joined, I bought into the club completely and always gave 100 per cent both on and off the pitch,”
The fans love Dani because of this. He also seems to love the adulation he gets from the fans and he always looked like he wanted to crack it in England. I’ve not seen a player enjoy the fans as much since Patrick Vieira donned the shirt.
“The fans repaid me for that by showing me a lot of love… when I was at home they were sending me messages asking me to come back and saying that they needed me here. I think they’ll be as happy as I am that I’m back and I’m sure we have a great year ahead of us this season.
“When the coach, the club, the players and everyone is asking you to stay for another year, you realise that they see you as a good team-mate and a good player,”
“I feel proud that the club, the coach and – most importantly – the fans wanted me to stay. I didn’t doubt it for a second. We’ve been negotiating around my contract all the time, right up until today, but I’m very happy to be back here and that I’m going to be with Arsenal for another year.”
Now, I know we like to think the players don’t pay attention to the fans, but here we are again, a second player in a week commending the lunatic fanbase that DMs and begs them to join. I feel like it’s quite a unique Arsenal thing and it amuses me no end that Arsenal’s digital fanbase is now an official secret weapon of the recruitment team.
Edu, who is trying to cement his importance in a post-Raul era, had this to say.
‘We’re thrilled to have Dani back with us for the new season. We all know his qualities after an impressive 2019/2020 campaign, which ended with him playing a key role in our FA Cup success. We’re excited to add Dani to the list of quality players we are bringing in.’
DID YOU READ IT: ‘to the list of quality players we are bringing in’
That’s great news. I’m hearing whispers that ESR might be loaned out this season. If that is true, it might indicate that we’ve found someone for the role of ‘playing in the pockets’… could be Willian or it might be someone else. Either way, it seems Edu is confident that we’re going to bring in more names.
I suspect we’ll see a big week next week for exits. Sokratis, Torreira, Holding should find new clubs. I also wonder if we’ll start to see Matteo, Lacazette, and maybe Bellerin noises grow louder. It’s clear we need to sell to buy, and it seems like clubs are starting to move. The season literally starts next week, bumming around on deals makes little sense to anyone…
Interesting to see Wolves moving hard. They offered £15m for AMN. 100 games in the Premier League. Just pocketed some of the deadliest wide players. Won an FA Cup and Community Shield. We turned them down. So what do they go out and do? Drop a club record £35m on an 18-year-old from Porto with 12 games and 1 goal to his name during a pandemic. He’s the Football Manager wet dream, but that valuation seems nuts (especially as his break out season last year didn’t really come to much). That’s Van De Beek / Partey levels of money. I do not miss ‘contacts’ scouting.
Arsenal were beaten 3-2 by Villa today. It was a behind-closed-doors affair. Not great, but hey, preseason is all about experimenting. Ceballos, Auba and Willian played… annnnnd, Mesut Ozil! No blonde hair this preseason. Is this forgiveness? Has he found a way back? Is ESR going out on loan because Mesut is back in favour? It’d be a huge 180, but in keeping with a manager that doesn’t hold grudges if you do what he asks of you. You can’t say our midfield doesn’t need the playmaker’s creativity… question is, can we get it combined with the off the ball work we don’t normally get? Jury is out.
Let’s hope we’re ready for the big game after the international break! Also… let’s hope Arsenal speed up those midfield signings!
Right, that’s all I have for you today… see you tomorrow. x
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Red Army
“What you’ve interpreted is evidently wrong or he wouldn’t be training with the first team again.”
When wasn’t he training with the first team?
That was never a thing. He just wasn’t included in any games. A preseason game when we lack bodies and match fitness doesn’t exactly prove that he’s back in Arteta’s good graces. I hope to fuck he hasn’t been conned by Ozil again because we’ll suffer for that 100%.
Sorry Fred it seems the club and Mikel disagree with you.
The only reason I can think of Ozil playing again is, if M10 tshirt sales in Turkey covering Auba’s extension fees.
Red Army
Want to be more specific?
Ozil got some minutes in a preseason game, that’s all at this point. Doesn’t mean he’ll get to play in the league, doesn’t mean we want him to stay.
Maybe you have special sauces at the club like Val though so please share your exclusive information with the group.
The only olive branch ozil should be getting is one that will take him the furthest point from the Emirates stadium. It’s in Mikel best intrest to continue with the players who helped him winning his two first trophies. Ozil shouldn’t be anywhere near the first team squad, but let’s see how this plays out. MA certainly gets away with a lot because Emery was the only reason for Arsenal terrible league performance last season according to some. His grace period is certainly over so it’s game on!
Red Army
I don’t care what the manager thinks. I’m saying he’d be wrong to suddenly reconcile with Ozil now.
If Ozil is being brought back in, then Arteta has failed to implement his ‘non negotiables’
Any manager who shows faith in Xhaka, Mustafi and Ozil is doomed to fail. Is Arteta going to commit the same mistake that Wenger and Emery committed ?
TR7
If he does Pedro will have to be put on suicide watch because it’ll get him the sack.
And by the way, you’re 100% a troll, making nonsensical arguments just to support a specific player and manager.
In a pattern that’s all too familiar by now
Is Arteta going to commit the same mistake that Wenger and Emery committed ?
This place would be something to behold if that happened. Head spinning stuff
Ffs Ozil was holidaying in Turkey while his teammates were playing 3 matches a week and toiled their way to an FA cup.
What could Arteta possibly say to them to justify dropping one of them for Ozil ?
“However, for Ceballos, because he is part of the “elite sports” bubble after starting pre-season with Real Madrid, the midfielder is allowed to go straight into playing and training with the Gunners.
The government’s rules for quarantine mean that elite sportspeople are exempt from needing to isolate after arriving in the country.”
Answers my question on how Ceballos could play today and gives hope that we can have a team ready for the first few games if we can get a move on.
The mistake previous managers have made with the players is not knowing how to use them.
Xhaka > decent
Mustafi > decent
If Arteta can deploy Ozil in a way that brings out his best creativity and makes hims useful to the off the ball play, then clearly, he’d not be doomed.
Not 100% he’s back in the squad, but if he is, something changed which we should assume is a positive.
Red Army, Get a grip dude. the majority of posters on here cant stand Ozil. Emotional or not, sport is not logical, nor is being a fan. There are many many good reasons to not want him in the team. Sorry you are butt hurt over my comments about Mr Ozil. Seems being called an Ozil fan boy triggered you. Not sure where you came from, but if anything you sound like a young idealistic person. Im 48 BTW so no need to come around telling me anything Mr. johnny come lately. Lets see what Ozil does. And ESR going… Read more »
Great point….
Ffs Ozil was holidaying in Turkey while his teammates were playing 3 matches a week and toiled their way to an FA cup.
What could Arteta possibly say to them to justify dropping one of them for Ozil ?
The players are professionals, not schoolboys FFS. I’m not keen on Özil period but the players are not going to rebel if Özil is selected.
Very few things in life are certain except death taxes and Arsenal will not be successful with the likes of Ozil Xhaka and Mustafi at the club
Pedro
Don’t tie your bow to the Ozil ship now, it’s absolutely going to sink.
‘ The players are professionals, not schoolboys FFS’ said every terrible man-manager ever.
If you fail to observe Arteta’s non- negotiables you will become undesirable and even deplorable.
But if you can’t be shifted on , then you can and will become tolerable.
Tom
Exactly. It would be horribly inconsistent. Guendouzi was ostracized and is being shopped around for far less.
Prvhc, you can’t say what is inconsistent, because you literally have no clue what is going on.
Honestly, if Ozil came in like an Eden Hazard and tore it up Ill shut up. gladly. However, as Freddie and others have pointed out, that will never happen. he is simply not the type of player we need given Arteta’s system. Hell, Emery and even Freddie left him out, then Arteta. So this pre-season stuff to be is a red herring to me. I certainly hope that ESR does not go on loan again. When is this young man going to his chance? No doubt he can do a better job than mr Ozil Ozil hinders our game on… Read more »
Pedro
Please enlighten the ignorant
Also, I didn’t say Arteta IS inconsistent. I said it WOULD be inconsistent if Ozil was suddenly part of the first team.
Like some posters have pointed out, maybe it’s only for pre-season adn due to lack of bodies.
So there’s no need to put up the shield just yet.
‘Arsenal will not be successful with the likes of Ozil Xhaka and Mustafi at the club’
All will be here too next season Marko
I’m very disappointed in Arteta’s about-face regarding Mesut Ozil. Arteta/s best moments as manager was when he dropped Ozil.
He’s creating drama for himself.
Come on people, this had nothing to do with non-negotiables. Pierre, who literally knows Ozil inside out (he really does), said he was only left out because of his refusal to take the pay cut.
So Ozil must have agreed to it now, either that or Pierre was talking out of his backside….
Mind everyone, I’m not reading too much into todays selection or result, we know we’re short in the middle and i think things are being done to rectify this.
Matteo G and Mesut are two completely different issues.
One has fought the manager, been very problematic with the staff, and has refused to apologise to the team.
One has been in a pay dispute with the club and failed to deliver to the non-negotiables.
If Mesut is back, it’ll be because he’s playing ball. There is nothing horribly inconsistent about the way Arteta operates, hence the squad harmony and output.
Leadership isn’t about having entrenched views. At least not under Mikel.
Ozil doesn’t even have the energy and aggression to play like Arteta desires.
Then you consider that he’ll be saving his legs for the las major contract of his career next summer.
TBH I wouldn’t expect MO to play a great deal even if MA will have him in the squad. As has already been mentioned he simply hasn’t performed well enough to merit a place over the last two or three seasons. Maybe use him as a last desperate throw of the dice if we’re struggling to break a team down but that’s about all he’s worth.
I literally cannot fathom that any arsenal fan thinks that Özil should be anywhere near the team. If he is our answer to a creative midfielder next season then my renewed optimism will be well and truly gone. I’m all for clean slates, but not for this clown. Lazy, weak minded, uncommitted, unfocused waste of space.
Pedro
I agree they are different issues.
Matteo has shown himself to be a passionate, arrogant and petulant young man who needs to be humbled a little.
Ozil has, through his actions and words, shown he doesn’t give a shit about anything or anyone at Arsenal, including his teammates.
Who do you think deserves to be given a second chance ? Who do you think the players will forgive easier ?
Matt
A guy who I used to work with favourite saying was “Leopards and Spots”.
Can we really expect Ozil to change what’s been his default behavior for at least a couple of years now?
Marc
Some people will and that is the scary thing. I remember Arteta saying after (I think) the Liverpool game in the cup, if he keeps doing what he is doing in matches and in training he will keep playing. Clearly he didn’t hence why he was no longer on the team. You have to assume Arteta made it pretty clear why he was no longer being picked. If he couldn’t find it in himself to address that to get back in the team at the end of last season, why the hell is he going to start now?
People get far too emotional about Ozil, for (I’m looking at you “stat man Pierre”) or against (Freddie, Marko, Marc, etc etc etc). He ain’t world class any more, and he ain’t shit, cos he still can do creative things all our other players struggle to do. He is contractually an Arsenal player, and he has the right to see out his contract. Why should he go to Turkey and take a pay cut? Why should he go to Saudi, where they’re not exactly fans of his best man Erdogan? So if he’s with us for another season, and he’s… Read more »
WOAB
I’d point out that Ozil is a player I don’t get emotional about – I’m resigned to him seeing out his contract and leaving next summer playing hardly any football. It is what it is.
Xhaka and Mustafi I get emotional about because Arteta put’s them and keeps them in the team. Ozil will soon drop out again assuming today wasn’t a freak occurrence.
Words on a Blog
You forgot the part where Ozil wins the Ballon D’or and Arteta wins the PL and Europa league.
Arteta would have to be Mad Dog 357 Plutonium No. 9(It’s supposedly the hottest sauce in the world)
Ozil played in an informal pre- season friendly for goodness sake . Half the team are injured playing internationals or quarantining. It doesn’t constitute an about turn unless you are looking for any stick you can find to beat Arteta with .
WOAB
I think you’ve missed the point that most people are probably making. Özil has talent, that is not the question. Will he preform consistently to Artetas standards for an entire season, of course he won’t. So if Özil is the reason that we do not bring in another creative midfielder, Özil is a big problem.
Marc,
Apologies – didn’t mean to mischaracterise you. When I think about it it’s really only Xhaka who still gets you feeling tired and emotional 😭 (I note a certain Zen-like calm recently on your part about Mustafi.)
“Half the team are injured playing internationals or quarantining.”
Unfortunately the other half are rubbish.
Can’t wait for Fulham!
WOAB
I’ve got to a stage where it’s history, the guy who made the crazy decision to put him on his current contract has left and he’ll be gone next season.
I’m more concerned / worried about what signings we’re going to get done.
“The mistake previous managers have made with the players is not knowing how to use them.Xhaka > decent Mustafi > decentIf Arteta can deploy Ozil in a way that brings out his best creativity and makes hims useful to the off the ball play, then clearly, he’d not be doomed” You certainly believe Arteta have all the answers, but I’m gon tell you that’s bs. Ozil has been stinking up London from 7 months in his Arsenal career. He gets away with a lot because of his religious beliefs and his PR stunts that all the jelly fish in the… Read more »
Prvhc,
As a certified chilli-head (I like a dollop of psycho Juice Naga chilli sauce with my pasta, and always fry a slices of Trinidad Moruga Scorpion chilli with my fried eggs) I’m gonna have to get your Mad Dog Plutonium 357 sauce.
I’ll let you know if I’m still alive once I’ve tried it.
DNA
“You certainly believe Arteta have all the answers”
Pedro doesn’t think Arteta has all the answers – he thinks he’s the second coming. Going to win the PL, CL, cure world hunger and stop climate change.
And that’s all by half time next Saturday!
Matt,
My point is simple: Ozil ain’t going anywhere before his contract runs out.
Ozil is also erratically talented and lazy. If Arteta manages to extract some value out of him that is likely to be on an intermittent basis.
Anything more than that, then we’re into Tabasco sauce territory.
WOB
Do you really think I get emotional about Ozil ..
Have a read through the obsessives comments of the last few hours and you will see emotional ….that’s what obsession does to you.
It’s sooooo easy to flick the switch to get them going .
prvhc, not sure how being a massive whopper gets blended in with ‘passion’
GunnerDNA, no offence mate, but you spent the first 10 games of Arteta’s rein telling us you couldn’t see the improvement and that we’d made a huge error hiring him. Not sure you are one to tell me my takes are BS.
There are plenty worse players Arteta has turned around in his short stint. Ozil would be the least of my worries. If he’s back, maybe there’s a plan… if not, hopefully there’s a signing, because we are desperatley short of game changing creativity.
Hilarious Pierre calling posters against Ozil obsessives, what would you call yourself then? He makes up the majority of your posts.
A lot of Arsenal fans lack self awareness.
Marc, you are correct.
I seem to remember that Emery was heavily mocked and criticized for reinstating Ozil after ostracizing him looked very weak was just one of those criticisms. We’ll see how the blog responds to Mikel reinstating Ozil it’ll be interesting to see if it suddenly becomes acceptable
Pedro
And?
No change as far as I’m concerned.
Marko, the same as I’ve treated every other reinstatement.
Arteta doesn’t close doors.
He has non-negotiables, if players break them, they are dropped… if they play by the rules, they are brought back in.
Super clear.
If Ozil is back, it’s because he’s doing what the coach wants.
That’s good leadership.
Pedro
The poster on your bedroom wall of Arteta? Precisely where do you kiss it before you go to bed every night?
Marko
“Arsenal will not be successful with the likes of Ozil Xhaka and Mustafi at the club”
Does 4 FA cup victories in 6 years not constitute success. ..
At most clubs it would ..
Marc, do you keep your humble pie on the kitchen top, or in the fridge?
Kitchen top I suspect… easy because you are constantly needing to access it. lollolol
Marc,
Arteta is to Pedro what Ozil is to Pierre.
Now put a sock in it.
Pedro
Strangely I made (2 actually buts that’s a long story) a rather excellent Chicken and Gammon Pie the other night.
Rick Stein recipe – but I don’t do humble just button pushing.
That’s good leadership.
Bringing back into the fold someone who calls in sick when he doesn’t feel up to it who couldn’t be arsed to attend a cup final win so he goes on holiday and let’s not forget it was only a couple of weeks ago that he was openly and quite hypocritically criticizing the club to the media. I really hope for Mikel’s sake that it was just a one off behind closed doors friendly and nothing more because otherwise that’s appalling leadership and a hard warning potentially
WOAB
When Pedro finally finds a girl daft enough to marry him you do realise that when they divorce 2 years later Arteta’s going to be named as the “third” party.
Words, not really.
I came with a view on Arteta and what he’d do for the club, so far, I’ve been bang on.
I’m not propping him up.
Marc,
I love the certainty of “when they divorce two years later”!!!
Gold.
Marko, I don’t think you have any understanding of what it takes to lead. You live in a black and white world. Leadership at the highest level requires an acknowledgement of the grey.
If he’s back, which is a big if, he’s doing what is needed.
Pedro,
It’s Saturday night and I’ve had a few.
Only ribbing you.
What are you drinking, WOAB?
Does 4 FA cup victories in 6 years not constitute success. ..
Against the backdrop of a declining club no it doesn’t
Pedro,
Writer’s Tears Irish Whiskey, appropriately enough!
Pretty smooth.
Pedro, “GunnerDNA, no offence mate, but you spent the first 10 games of Arteta’s rein telling us you couldn’t see the improvement and that we’d made a huge error hiring him. Not sure you are one to tell me my takes are BS” I just told you that what your saying about all those trash players is bs and you could fact check it. Xhaka and Mustafi are 70 million worth of mistakes. I won’t even mention the other clown. I’m watching the game longer than you to know when you’re capping. Don’t ever get it twisted, there still a… Read more »
If he’s back, which is a big if, he’s doing what is needed. I highly fucking doubt that in fact I’d say it’s damn near impossible to course correct some of the things that he’s done and said but what do I know about leadership and all that apparently. Truthfully though considering Emery tried it and backfired on him and Mikel makes exactly the same mistake after all the soundbites he’ll honestly look dickless out the other side of it. Like seriously how can someone come into the club and preach about changing the mentality and the culture of the… Read more »
Fancy as… I had a bit of a bourbon thing after going to Charleston. Not jumped into Scottish whiskey… but the label speaks to me. GunnerDNA, when you were trolling the site everyday telling everyone he was a mistake and a novice… I said he’d make us tough to beat, he’d make us more intelligent, and we’d give the big teams better games. Didn’t expect the FA Cup and Community Shield, but here we are. Xhaka and Mustafi two of our standout players during the turnaround. There’s a long way to go, but I think he’s a generational coach and… Read more »
Pedro
You were bang on about Gazidis until you weren’t.
PRVHC, Ivan ran a tighter ship than Raul. We’d not be in this mess if he saw out the project he started. That is for sure.
Marko, Arteta hasn’t preached, he’s literally changed it.
” Ivan ran a tighter ship than Raul. We’d not be in this mess if he saw out the project he started. That is for sure.”
Oh come on now you’re just making it too easy.
Pedro,
Have to say ( and this isn’t just the Irish whiskey speaking) that I’m coming round to your view that Arteta is indeed a “generational coach.”
Gonna have to acknowledge that you took a big risk and went out on a limb for him before the crowd. Could well have turned out ugly.
Pedro
What are you talking about ? Gazidis brought in Raul
And a leaders work is best judged by what he’s left behind.
Words, too much good noise around his name to be a flop. The perfect storm at Arsenal for him to make a mark.
Marc
I really didn’t think he’d take the Ivan bait 😂
prvhc, yeah, he did, but he had a pretty decent plan on paper.
Raul does the deals, like he did at Barca
Sven finds the players
If Ivan had stayed, you’d have seen a different outcome. I also reckon we might have signed Arteta from the start.
He left a mess, no doubt. I’d not want him back. But he was a far better leader than Raul was.
Hence Raul getting fired after such a short amount of time.
Pedro
Arteta may turn out to be a generational coach. In fact,we’d all be over the moon if he does.
The point is, there’s not nearly enough evidence for that yet.You’re speculating based on what you’ve heard and trying to pass it off as fact.
This has been the problem from the start.
Pedro,
For the first time in a while, I’m really looking forward to next season in a reasonably serene way – how we’re set up, who gets to play etc.
Strangely enough, I’m not even too bothered as to who comes in or who goes out, even if we end up with a midfield axis of Xhaka and Mo!
“GunnerDNA, when you were trolling the site everyday telling everyone he was a mistake and a novice… I said he’d make us tough to beat, he’d make us more intelligent, and we’d give the big teams better games”
He’s still a novice, go fact check it. Arsenal is playing with two banks of 4, a tactic that was laughable to Arsenal fans. Let’s see how things work out when we actually try to play
prvhc, the circumstantial evidence is pretty strong so far. 2 trophies inside a year, turned a sinking ship around, the fans absolutely love him. Not bad going. Plenty more to come.
I think he’s a generational coach because I know what people in the game think about him.
GunnerDNA, pretty limited view of how we’ve been playing against big teams.
Pedro
Raul was never a leader, and he was not brought to lead anyway.
But if Ivan had plans of running off to Milan, the decent thing he could do was put a competent man in place.
I put the entire Raul/Sven fiasco on Gazidis.
Arteta hasn’t preached, he’s literally changed it. If he preaches commitment at the club and then brings back in a player who was in Turkey instead of celebrating a cup win with his teammates then he hasn’t changed shit. It’s that simple. This isn’t some great big misunderstanding or something from a long time ago that can be forgiven. This is a wank player who goes missing when he wants to who openly criticizes the club and someone who couldn’t be arsed to attend a cup final. Now apparently all is forgiven for some reason meanwhile Guendouzi is public enemy… Read more »
“I think he’s a generational coach because I know what people in the game think about him”
😂😂😂
I don’t disagree, Ivan was deeply negligent.
Marko, so let me get this straight. The clear culture change at Arsenal that has happened, has not happened, if Ozil is back. And it’s that simple?
Pedro
What do you think of Vinai ?
I have deep reservations about him knowing he’s a Gazidis man.
And he didn’t really move the needle forward when he was the Chief Commercial officer.
I have no idea about Vinai. People were quick to tell me he was good and a really nice guy. So we’ll see there. Gotta give everyone a chance in the new world. Fingers crossed he delivers
“Gotta give everyone a chance in the new world.”
So a year extension for Ozil is OK?
Marc, a chance, not a new deal
The clear culture change at Arsenal that has happened, has not happened, if Ozil is back. And it’s that simple? So if one of his core principles is hard work and total commitment and he brings back in Ozil then he hasn’t changed shit. If you preach commitment you can’t come along and pick someone like Ozil and it is that simple. One of the biggest sponges conning a living from the club refusing a temporary pay cut when everyone else does and we’re to believe that he’s committed all of a sudden? I don’t buy it even if Mikel… Read more »
Marko, you are not well placed to determine what commitment looks like at the training ground.
If he’s back, it’s because he’s doing what is needed. If the coaching staff can get a turn out of Mesut in his last year, then we should all be happy.
Yeah sorry but regardless of how good Arteta has been so far, going all soft on ozil now would be a monumentally weak thing for Arteta to do It’s not like years gone by when ozil was one of our better performers and he just needed a push to be a bit less lazy in training and show up and work a bit harder on those away games etc He’s now full on cunting off the club. His footballing contribution has fallen off a cliff. He landed the club in hot water with political outbursts despite being a total hypocrite.… Read more »
you are not well placed to determine what commitment looks like at the training ground.
Listen there’s no need to be spikey because it’s the first sign of Mikel looking like a complete fucking dud. I don’t even understand how this is something that you feel you need to argue about. Who gives a fuck about training literally everything about Ozil screams sponge and nothing about him says commitment. Like I’m honestly very shocked (I’m really not) the stance you’re all of sudden taking given how you reacted to Emery bringing Ozil back into the side.