Well, we are sailing down choppy waters on the Straits of Panic.
Aulas has told RMC that Lyon have cancelled all negotiations for their players. PSG pulled out of the Aouar deal. It doesn’t look particularly handsome on the face of it.
Thomas Partey has been playing for Atleti dropping promising performances. That seems very dead.
Outside that, there aren’t really many hot rumours. We’re all out here warming up for Jorginho, which would clearly be an improvement on our current midfield, but it’d certainly be a bit of a flaccid way to end the summer. It’d be like one of those sexy videos your builder mates send you that starts on a beach with all the babes but then cuts sharply to a dog taking a poo.
I don’t need that dog in my life right now. I need beach boys that look like athletes that can role as a #8 role or a #6.
There’s no point in spewing your guts about anything just yet and there are some things to remember.
- The problem we have is a lack of money. We’ve spent badly over the years. Last summer, we not only spent badly, we also borrowed from this summer in a gamble for Champions League that failed. We are skint.
- It is hard to operate at the level we need to operate at when you don’t have a lot of money. It seems like Arsenal just want game-changers. Aouar and Partey are those two players. We seem to be running it up to the line in the hope that we have a selling spree.
- We haven’t sold the players we thought would fetch money. No one wanted to buy Torreira. Sokratis, Mustafi, Cal Chambers, Reiss Nelson, Guendouzi and Lacazette have all failed to attract suitable bids. I don’t think the club thought that was going to be as much of an issue as it was.
- The COVID nightmare got worse, not better. We’re now in a situation where the world is spiking in cases and most authorities are shutting down the game. That changed the numbers for lots of clubs (all) and I think some of the lighter traffic we’re seeing in the last week is the uncertainty.
You know I have deep reservations about Edu, but I don’t think we can pin too much blame on him for how this is panning out so far.
Also, it’s not over until Jim White sings.
My main criticism, if things go to shit, is that there doesn’t seem to be a back-up plan. I’m not sure I can buy into the idea that there are literally only two players that can improve our playing style. We’re not 2002 Arsenal needing a special cherry to go on the tastiest cake ever baked. We’re a team that can’t create chances from a midfield that lacks any sort of power.
Clubs all around Europe have been making good signings with players that have high ceilings. Sangare went to PSV for £9m, Sourmare is attracting bids from Italy as two examples of talented players in the Thomas Partey shape. I would love a Champions League creator, but if we can’t afford one, there are plenty of attractive players that could do a great job for us in the interim. Though I am a bit worried Oscar and Jorginho is as creative as we’re getting. Hopefully just agent talk.
It’s not over yet, so there’s still time to be shocked, so let’s save an explosion and look forward to a good game tomorrow against Sheffield United. An absolute MUST WIN.
See you in the comments.
raptora
I also think it’s worth noting that whilst Pepe has not set the world on fire he does have some talent and it’s up to Arteta to find a way to bring that out as best as possible.
Right now peak Pires would look shit in this setup.
Victorious, one. of the most successful hedge funds in the world hired Gazidis, so hardly in bad company.
I went to bat for Mikel and we have a trophy inside a year, we’re beating top 6 teams, we can defend, and our points tally under Arteta has on track as a top 4 outfit this season… all this while you cried about him being a novice and shifting your view to be more about aesthetics.
The worry now is that we’ll make a signing or two to save face that’ll be rushed and not what we need moving forward.
Can’t wait for the story the next day about how furiously they were working to get the papers faxed in at 11:57pm.
Marc, peak Pires would be ideal in this system. Powerful, fast, unbelievably creative, goal scorer. What a terrible take.
Marc
Against sides at home where we have more of the ball, I’d put Xhaka at the base, then Ceballos + Saka as two number 8s
With Saka on the left of Ceballos.
Same with Smith-Rowe.
I think we have two internal options.
I wasn’t expecting too much this season anyway.
Outside of Liverpool, and a few clubs at the bottom, I can see just a few points splitting sides from 15th to 3rd
With everyone taking points off each other.
prvhc, both aren’t ready a year on. We massively overpaid for Pepe. We spent a huge chunk in a CB that has to go back out on loan for another transition year. Raul didn’t fix the now problems with 100m. Not smart.
Pedro
Convince Xhaka to stay when you know he cant fit into your expansive formation
turned down 20M for AMN, then sold Martinez for 17M
When the team is crying out for competent midfielders
Mistakes upon mistakes to ultimately end up with a midfield of Elneny and Xhaka going into the season
At what point will you admit your man is getting some things wrong?
Can’t get near Europe with such shit, sorry.
Looking forward to see how you spin this if he fails short this season.
Pedro
That wasn’t a criticism of Pires – no way absolutely loved him as a player. It was making the point that none of our attacking / forward players at the moment look great because our central midfield cannot control a match or help create chances. If we don’t bring anyone else in I wouldn’t be surprised to see Willians numbers not look great at the end of the season.
Pedro
You’re awfully tetchy at the mention of aesthetics these days..
The narrative about Arteta brining exciting ‘Pep’ football to Arsenal and ridding us of Emery’s dreary football has quickly disappeared.It’s all about the ‘winning’ and ‘trophies’ nowadays.
Partey and Aouar will be Arsenal players before the window close. Arsenal want Aouar deal done at a reasonable price before they get Partey for his release clause. If they do Partey deal first OL will want more than they’re willing to pay for Aouar. No need to panick, just seen SK cousin on Whites Plain Road. I’m telling y’all that for free ✊🏾
Marc,
Agreed. Pepe deal made us all go crazy. We never thought we’d get a big name like him.
1 year forward, manager says he’s shit and wants another starter in his position (Willian).
He had 35 goals and 15 assists in 70 games for Lille. That’s top talent numbers.
Now he looks like he’s going to fall on the ball and is afraid to run at the 19 yo, 5th RB of Pool.
Say what?
Let’s play Willock and Nelson I guess.
Although trailing by a goal, Leeds has now better ball possession% than City.
Rich so you’d change formation?
I agree with the 3 at the back for certain games but I’d like to see us move towards either 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 in matches we expect to win.
Victorious, they might be mistakes for you, but not most people. Selling your reserve keeper and keeping your most improved player isn’t’ bad business. We haven’t ended the window either.
If you have no money to spend, it’s very hard to buy players.
If no better midfield creativity option arrives, Tets should just play Saka there. Think he has a chance to hold his own in that position with this skill set.
Get in Leeds
prvhc, not really. I just find it a weird angle to go on when the reasons as to why we’re not playing expansive football that is pleasing to the football gods has been on clear display for 10 years.
I grew up on 1-0 to the Arsenal. I can handle it for a season if it gets us where we need to go.
We might be about to see the PL gift Liverpool back to back titles because everyone else has issues.
Is Pep been found out? This dude keeps fumbling the bag 🤦🏽♂️
Vic
Are you just not following? I’ve not backed every decision and literally am critical of potential outcomes I’ve mentioned above/previous page.
Do you see everything so black and white so you you can have good and bad posters? Mundane as fuck if so.
Such a massive fall from what the football used to be in those peak Wenger years to what we’re watching these days, you know the time when we were the darlings of all football lovers
Very painful viewing watching arsenal play football at this present time,its truly sad.
” I can handle it for a season if it gets us where we need to go.”
Mate you misheard – we said we wanted Champions League not Championship football!
Marc
Same as you, I think we need to do something different against sides who sit off us.
But with our current set of players, I think there’s certainly times for pragmatism.
With the group of players we’ve got, I think we’re probably better as a counter attacking team, but that will only work against certain opposition.
I’d quite like to see Aubameyang moved centrally, he’s wasted on the left against sides who sit deep.
Putting Smith-Rowe + Saka in, might give us a bit more control of the ball.
Leeds catching up with a Rodrigo goal. Do they have better player than us? Just wondering.
Okay if we lose both targets in aaour and Partey who were the backups
The only ones I remember is danilo perriera amadou diawara jorginho countinho Oscar
These the only players we been linked with this summer
Anyone know similar players
Unless edu pulls it out of the bag somehow
Pedro what u
Victorious, interesting that you are so sad. Nearly every football pundit in the land is looking at how we play and how we’re coached and they’re excited.
I’m still willing to wait till Monday night.
At this rate, Leicester will be above City in Sunday evening’s power rankings table.
Ederson!
Leeds 1 – 1 City.
Rodrigo was a smart signing.
Rich, big hopes for ESR, but he’s still so young…
Leeds deservedly back in it
“Nearly every football pundit in the land is looking at how we play and how we’re coached and they’re excited.”
Yeah nearly every pundit supports ManU or the Spud’s!
Victorious hasn’t had an original thought maybe ever.
Bamford,
Predictions might need to be amend if Leeds manage to get anything against City. They actually looked the better team 😀
Pedro, we bringing back Oscar from the dead?!? another shit Brazilian ??..and you think it’s not suspicious ?
God help us if that happens!
I think Oscar might be the back up option on loan
How old is he am sure he 28 now
G8
Apparently the scouting and the data all fully support the signing.
The difference between Bielsa and Arteta is the courage that managers have when they are the underdog.
Bielsa spots a weakness in the opposition and instruct his players to insist on it.
Arteta is more afraid of the opposition spotting a weakness in his team.
Against Liverpool and Manchester City, Bielsa told his players to specifically target a player and both teams kind of wilted. Despite Arnold being on a yellow card, Arteta never instructed to have a go at him.
Pedro I agree with you, we need to give Arteta time. Another manager will just have the same players, with the same limited skill sets. Building a young exciting team around the likes of Niles, Tierney, Saliba, Gabriel, Willock, Smith-Rowe, Saka, Nelson, Nketiah, Martinelli will take time I’m completely at peace with us having a big scrap this season between 3rd and 10th Place, I don’t think we’ve got a coaching or management issue, it’s a squad balance and lack of quality in key areas issue. The same issues Emery had, the same Arteta has, and the same his replacement… Read more »
Jamie
I missed the last rendition of the Power Rankings, where did Arsenal land? Actually never mind I’ll just wait for the next one, probably due within the next hour or so.
The guy is as reactive as a jumpy novice day trader.
B silva is top qualdee!
I don’t why Pep dosnt usually include him in the starting 11
Valentin
Arteta does appear to be an ultra cautious manager – at least at this stage of his managerial career. He’s slow to make sub’s and why we’ve stopped some players leaving reeks of “what if I need them” rather than “I can get better”.
So close to a 2nd for Leeds
Pedro So you’re implying this is not Arteta’s ‘true style’ and he’s deliberately being overtly conservative because we don’t have the players to play ‘his’ style. That’s pure BS and you know it. That’s not how coaching or style of play works. You give any set of players to Klopp or Pep (or Bielsa) and they’ll have the players playing the way they want. They may not be initially be good at it, but the progress towards a coherent approach can be seen. So if you’re trying to sell me the idea that Arteta will suddenly have us playing expansive… Read more »
Apparently Pep went to visit Bielsa at his ranch once and they spent 11 hours talking shop. And amongst the topics was how player improvement is a true measure of coaching genius and not lavish spending.
Considering Pep has spent half a billion on defenders alone that conversation he had with Bielsa must’ve really left an impression.
Ederson with a world class save.
The good bets these last couple weeks has been the over for goals in any Everton match and betting against City.
DNA
Yeah, I have Leeds just beneath us, Spurs and Wolves at the moment.
7. Arsenal
7. Spurs
7. Wolves
10. Leeds
I could see Leeds moving up, though. They’re really something.
Sterling is a great player, make no mistake. But the misses he’s making. He can be up there with the elite of the elite. But he keeps missing fantastic chances.
Twittet is in complete meltdown lol..dont ever remember it being this bad..just have a look at the replies to tweets by the Arsenal account lol
Luteo –
“Actually never mind I’ll just wait for the next one, probably due within the next hour or so.”
I can see you’re familiar with Realtime Revision Elite Power Rankings Predictions Table for Students of the Game.
Yes, the next iteration is due after City result. They’ve added to their squad with a £60m CB but still managed to drop some points in the Squad Strength rankings between the start of the season and earlier today.
Algorithm checks out.
Partey is over guys.
Cmon, everyone already left an Aouar ago.
….
I didn’t even need to wait an hour.
Pedro The notion that we imvested 30 mil in a CB who wasnt gonna be ready is superficial. Nobody knew he was gonna get injured that bad + all the things that happened in his life. Saliba has all the talent in the world and had he been fit and played the full season, I believe he would’ve been ready to play for us. + Arteta doesn’t want to throw him into the fire because that is the worst thing you can do to a 19 year old’s self confidence and he had had some personal setbacks too. You’ll see… Read more »
When do we play Leeds?
Jamie
Of course. What kinda mug isn’t familiar with the RREPRPTSG table?
Hallo
I am from Denmark and have supportet Arsenal since the late 1970
I am afraid it’s gonna take 2 – 3 years
Before Arsenal Will be a top 4 team.
Marc, Because Arteta was Pep assistant, everybody assumed that he was sharing the same philosophy. I had doubt at the time. I think that is clear now. Arteta is more cautious, but also while Pep could not organise a defense, I am starting to doubt whether Arteta can organise an attack. Now the duo has been split, we started to see deficiencies in both manager. Regarding the squad, I am now agreeing with you. It smell more like the fear of needing them rather than a willingness to gamble on a better player. It made sense when Raul was in… Read more »
“Only problem is in our last three games we’ve slowed down too much.Has this anything to do with the fact that we no longer have a top notch keeper to motivate the troops?Could be.”
Lol. The trash you get to read from some fans here.
I’m working on my own power rankings and final table prediction.
I will be posting these the minute the season is over.
I’m very confident of my algorithms………
Rich quietly acknowledging that we could finish as low as 10th this season.
Rich also says Emery “slightly over-achieved” with the squad he had in 18-19, btw, and also says that Emery was dismissed because of a “knee-jerk” reaction by Arsenal fans.
I appreciate your clear-sightedness and honesty, Rich.
Edu needs to get sacked ASAP, hes freaking useless, by end of the season arteta needs to follow him out the door
I’ve noticed that the moment Pep brands KdB as the best player, he stops performing at his usual level. Why repeat the same mistake time and time again?
I will gladly take no transfers this window, than to to get a last minute Jorginho or something similar.
As an Arsenal fan, I have to!
“Edu needs to get sacked ASAP, hes freaking useless, by end of the season arteta needs to follow him out the door”
Words of wisdom 😀
Val
Arteta doesn’t have Pep’s sources. He tried to play fancy football with Bravo and the likes too and was getting beat by small teams too. Then he went and spent 460mil just on his backline.
Dont even mention the amounts on the players upfield.
Arteta knows he cant play the same fancy football with these players. Some of them are not good enough to start for lower end mid table clubs.
We cant sign 1 player to solve our biggest friggin problem.
If you ask me, Bielsa appears to be a very good coach. He has demonstrated that you don’t need to park the bus to play against the Pool and MC to compete.
Does anyone know what the “new interpretation” of the handball laws are?
It looks to me as if they might have just told the ref’s etc “don’t be a cunt”
“I’ve noticed that the moment Pep brands KdB as the best player, he stops performing at his usual level. Why repeat the same mistake time and time again?”
More to do with purple patch for KDB. He soon will find his form
Damn the Bamford. One on one we fired right at the GK.
It was offside anyway
The audacity to talk down Martinez’s heroics as ‘just the reserve keeper’ because your boy is being criticised rightfully on some big points.
Sensitive much…
ASSE his formative clubs, who therefore knew Saliba better than Arteta thought that he was ready to play against PSG.
No offense to Fulham, WestHam, Sheffield United, but I think PSG with Neymar, MBappe is lot more challenging than them.
The idea that he is not ready to even take part in League Cup games is preposterous. Arteta just does not fancy him. Clear and simple.
Anyway, we want Arteta to succeed, but we’re seeing issues that aren’t being addressed and genuine criticisms to where improvements should and can be made.
Meanwhile you’re papering over it and blaming everyone but the guy you spend 2 and half years building up.
Valentin
It’s look that way and I think that’s more of a criticism of Arteta than it is for Sanllehi signing him.
What position are Leeds in the powerleague? They’ve shown plenty power this match.
Kaz
I think the new manager sorry I meant next manager needs to be given clear KPI’s.
The first of which should be finishing behind the Spud’s will result in the sack.
Not good enough from Man City.
Only a draw after that previous heavy defeat.
Leeds handling themselves pretty well so far in the EPL.
Good result for Leeds, Arsenal hsve obviously hired the wrong manager.
I remember Bamford being a serious poster once.
When did he become this clown ?
Leeds play like that against us and A) they’ll beat us B) Xhaka will end up in a padded cell.
Edu needs to be sacked?
Only problem with that is we’re running out of scapegoats. Who next? Will be Vinai then become the problem that’s holding us back? Then Doris the tea lady (probably already had her P45 in the summer).
It has to come down to the whole management team, not individuals, and then up to the people that appointed them. Might have something to do with the owner knowing jack shit about football and refusing any real power to anyone who actually might have a clue.
PRVHC
Please tell me what I have said that isn’t “serious”. I think there’s a chance that you, like others, are misinterpreting something I am saying.
Bielsa squat = Power +100 points
Emery should of been given 2 years to weave his magic.
“What position are Leeds in the powerleague? They’ve shown plenty power this match.”
The RREPRPTSG is fluid. Leeds were 10th an hour ago, but things move pretty fast if you aren’t paying attention.
Radio
See 19:00:15.
With no mid-field reinforcement, I am taking it as a long term project now where we generate some funds each transfer window, buy couple of non- proven players and work it out.
Might as well would have sold Auba and started already than to wait for next TW!
Bamford so desperate to pick up any scraps of any comment from any poster referring to Arsenal being mid table or praising Emery. He doesn’t get acknowledgment so he creates his own, it’d almost be admirable if it he wasn’t such a smug prick.
Val
“Arteta just does not fancy him. Clear and simple.”
I am afraid you are right. No one can convince me that Kola is a better CB than PapaSok. A lot of CB’s are right footers. If Arteta doesn’t like someone, then he is out.
“Leeds play like that against us and A) they’ll beat us B) Xhaka will end up in a padded cell.”
Every cloud…..
Possesion
Leeds 53% man c 47%
The narrative has been 10 men behind the ball is the only way to beat man c.
Luteo
Rein it in, your pride and joy is doing a shit job.
Jamie
Of course it’s fluid. The season has just started and each match gives us a little more data.
If you like, I could share the Google spreadsheet with you so that you can track the slight adjustments I make to it in real time. ; -)
We and rein Brewster was the same money as james madness
Ashamed of what Arsenal have become.
City have dropped a fraction. Need to regroup and come again stronger.
However I still see them as Champions. Ellend Road is one of the toughest places to win at – fans or no fans.
A good point gained.
For the record I am not saying James is a bad investment it’s a great one just not free