Arsenal finished out the first mini-cycle of Premier League games sitting pretty in the top 4 having taken 9 points from 12. That was the target for Arteta and his team and they will be very pleased they delivered on it.
The Sheffield United game basically showed off our glaring problems that are a hangover from last season, they also painted the way forward. The grim opening 45 minutes had us in complete control of the game, but at a very slow pace, with absolutely nothing to show for it. We had shots on target, but they were stat-padding shots, the chances weren’t good enough. It is worth caveating this with the exhausting reality that we played Liverpool back to back inside 4 days. It was a safe half though, Sheffield United, who finished one place behind us last season, gave nothing to the game.
My biggest worry was seeing Bad David Luiz show up. He nearly had himself sent off inside the opening 5 minutes with a shirt tug after he mistimed his control of a pass, only the footballing gods and quick thinking of Bernd Leno saved us. He really is an infuriating player. You always know whether it’ll be his day or not within 60 seconds, it was not his day and he was a shambles.
The 4-3-3 that we adopted looked good for shape though. Our defending was solid and moving Saka further up the pitch worked well. Also interesting to see Mo dropping in as a false right back.
Gabriel was very reassuring with his assertive defending. It’s extremely impressive how fast he’s adapted to the league, he feels like our best defender already, he’s rapid, his passing is getting better, he’s careful with his sizeable power, and he seems to have a good grasp on communication with the rest of the group.
The second half saw an early recognition that we needed more edge in the final third. Nicolas Pepe was brought on for the largely anonymous Eddie Nketiah and we moved Auba into a more central role after watching him die out on the left all game. The team also started to pick up the pace, the passing was more aggressive and there was more of a one-touch vibe to our play.
Pepe was involved in the first goal. A fluid move that finished with Bellerin finding Saka at the back post. The newly-minted England international guided a very clever header into the top corner. What a week he’s had.
The goal after was all about the Pepe magic (Hector assist), his driving run and placed shot was exactly what we wanted from him when we bought him. He not only played a huge role in speeding up our play, he also defended with dogged aggression. He really wanted to change that game and he did. The 19 pass approach to that goal was the largest of the season. We might be meek going forward, but when we do make it click, it’s glorious to watch.
We still let Sheffield back into the game. McGoldrick made some space on the edge of our box and curled a perfect shot past Leno. Not sure there’s much you can do with a shot like that. We defended erratically closing out the game, Hector tweeting that we love to suffer was spot on, but we saw out the 94 minutes for the win.
So what did we learn?
There’s a formation and selection in this squad that gives us a more free-spirited kind of football… and it probably involves Saka, Auba in the middle, and an interested Nicolas Pepe. When Arteta made those changes, the whole vibe of the game shifted. Everyone kicked their play up a notch, our attackers looked more threatening, and we took chances in the final third.
We need to see more of that a lot more often.
As it stands, we have a painfully conservative midfield. They are much more comfortable pinging it around our half than they are in the final third. Mo Elneny is a solid player, but his instinct is backwards or sideways. There is very little desire for verticality in his game. He’s not a risk-taker. Ceballos was much better in the second half, he took some chances and some of his play out of the back was daring. He needs to be more involved in our final third play. His one-touch pass that slipped Auba in shows he’s capable.
The bright spark in the game was Saka. He’s probably our second-best player. His movement out wide was great today, he worked nicely with Tierney. I thought he also looked impressive when he drifted in and played more through the middle. He has the tools to unpick defences and he has the awareness to move through tight spaces. If it all goes to shit with the transfer window, he’d be worthy of giving more time in attacking positions.
Pepe also showed there’s still fight in him. He’s spent a long time not delivering goals (12 games I believe). The talent is there, but he lacks belief. Yesterday, he flew out of the traps with a chip on his shoulder. He doesn’t always play like that. His instinct was always to move forward, he’s better when he’s doing that, too often he looks for the cut back instead of forward locomotion. Hopefully this can be the true start to his season, it needs to be, because our attack looked bland before his arrival. He lifted Willian’s game in my view.
Let’s also talk about Hector Bellerin. He’s getting back to something that resembles form. 2 assists today that were absolutely vital in a game that offered nothing; from a player that has struggled with fitness and end product. He’s really starting to look a player, long may that form continue. It was interesting listening to Arteta after the game, he basically said he gave it straight to Bellerin about what he thought of him, then the player came back and said he wanted to commit to the project. Some might not like that, but I think you need people that love the club to stay at the club. It seems fairly clear that though the Cedric deal was unsexy, it was done because both Bellerin and AMN weren’t committed to the project.
Also worth pointing out that Arsenal were perfectly boring today. No drama. A simple win built upon the foundations of good defending. That cannot be said for many other teams we’d like to consider our brethren.
Let’s talk about that…
It was a fucking delight to see United get an absolute pasting at the hands of Spurs. I’m not sure how much you learn from that game because United were utterly, utterly dreadful… but, as I said yesterday, spending a shedload of cash doesn’t equate to points. It was totally nuts to see Liverpool trounced by Villa 7-2, shock of decade there. Exactly the same thing over at Leicester who were beasted 3-0 by West Ham. City were held by Leeds, they look lost.
Football is played on the pitch. We overplay the noise and the micro-moments we dislike, often losing sight of the bigger picture. As Carlo said at the weekend, it’s a simple game. Great prep, good coaching, and some luck goes a long way. There is no reason we can’t be decent this season if we continue improving on the basics and slowly build on the process. There is a plan there, it might not be sexy right now, but that doesn’t matter if it continues to be effective.
Good coaching does have its limits though. The fastest way to shift our fortunes is signing new players that can already do the specialist things we desire. This group of players are largely Emery’s vision (or Raul’s). Someone asked what Carlo would do with our squad, the response from everyone was ‘buy a new midfield.’ We need square pegs for square holes. That means a Partey or an Aouar. If you can’t get them, find players that look like them on Wyscout but at a lower price point. We cannot see out this season without addressing the midfield. We cannot excuse doing nothing.
Arteta sounded bullish in the press conference after. He said we are in for multiple players. The club is backing him. They are charging ahead.
Plenty to improve on, but hopefully, we can do that in conjunction with some excellent signings. Today is a big day. Matteo is off to Hertha, expect a lot more action… hopefully with some fresh meat coming our way.
Over to you, Edu.
Yep Left
They have to be some of the dumbest professionals you can think of.’
For fucks sake when will Zidane stop tapping up every young talent that has North African origins and plays in France? He’s like every single one of their heroes.
Very solid window.
Extending PEA who looked all but gone was deal of summer for me, Willian on a free, Gabriel, Partey and the big one baby Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson.
Decent statement of intent and faith in current direction of club, we slate the shit out of Kroenke but KSE clearly just backed this horse more that we thought we’d see from this window considering losses they are taking.
Felipe Andsrson on loan to Porto is also another we could have tried. It would have gave us a short term solution if we wanted to honor aouar in January. I can’t see Aouar moving to Arsenal next summer. Real Madrid, PSG and Juventus will all be in for him next summer.
Dissenter,
What the fuck is a “cuntless girl”?
Have to say, I’ve never come across one.
You learn something new on Le Grove every day.
Thank you for educating me, Dissenter.
Go for* Honor
Words
You’ve not been paying enough attention. Legrove has been harbouring a number of cuntless girls and dickless boys for years.
First time I watched Partey at Atletico I was wowed.
Then watched him for the Ghanaian national team, bullying people, dribbling through crowd like Kroos at U17 world cup. I even spent quality time arguing with my friend that ‘the Ghanaian guy’ wasn’t a defensive midfielder. That’s how accomplished he looked.
I’m giving Edu and Arteta an A. If they get Zaha or Felipe Anderson I’ll upgrade it to an A+.
I absolutely love this.
Genuinely feel sorry for jack wilshere, at 17 he had the world at his feet. Shame he was so injury prone. Feel sorry for the lad
Diss put away the Barbie and Ken dolls.
Marko Agree, I’d have just been happier to see us get another player in CM and ideally earlier than the 11th hour, though I’ll hold my hands up to the nature of things with us this particular summer. I’m getting a kick out of Aulas’ master plan falling to bits. Depay staying, Aouar staying, Jeff staying, another dude staying, not brilliant for a club reliant on turnover, especially so after they’ve missed CL football. Would be talking sweet for a couple of months with them and looking to strike a deal in Jan for Depay or Aouar, maybe use Laca… Read more »
Rich is another boring bland blanket of a poster.
Luteo,
You’re right, my mistake – I just don’t pay enough attention when I’m on here.
Wasn’t it a cuntless girl that was stalking Dissenter on Facebook?
ZZ whispering sweet nothings in your ear… what’s a lad to do?
Oh man I left the Icelandic Oly Kahn off my list of incoming transfers this window .. how could I. 🙁
TYAGN
Don’t feel to sorry for him. He’s a multi millionaire still playing football for a living.
I’m getting a kick out of Aulas’ master plan falling to bits
Fuck him. Watch him get desperate in January and see Depay go for 10 million euros at best.
Right Pedro
Now he’s out the door Whats the gossip on Mattie behind the scenes …
You said you would say when him gone.
Partey sets me at ease. My biggest fear for our mf is injuries. Weve got slow players trying to keep up which imo will result in an injury sooner than later. Partey covers this imo.
Still surprised it’s looking like we’re gonna be pulling it off. Big deal for us. Best signing since auba for sure
“Mi Bebeee ❤️ all the best for you in Germany. Show them that you’re a great football player 💪🏼 Will miss you here Bro 🙏🏼 @MatteoGuendouzi – Mesut Ozil”
Looool Ozil getting his name out there deadline day to big up Guendouzi, his frozen partner in crime. Scenes.
“Wasn’t it a cuntless girl that was stalking Dissenter on Facebook?”
The wound is still fresh and he doesn’t want to talk about it.
Tim Howard live on SSN.
I thought he suffers with Tourette’s Syndrome?
What’s a transfer day deadline day without some good laughs.
I was willing him to say ‘Jim White you f#*king wank stain’.
Left-
He does.. But his Tourette’s only effects him in a muscle twitch way… not an F bomb dropping way.
Still he isn’t the best pundit. Pretty boring analysis on most things..
SO glad we got Partey!
Let it begin!
Now onto our line up,
we doing 4-3-3?
Or does Xhaka sit down in the 3-4-3?
Got to feel sorry for Wilshere but Westham should have read the writing on the wall.
Jack was broken irredeemably before they signed him.
Hope he’s put enough money away to retire. Maybe he can do his badges and join Arteta’s team someday.
According to SSN, Ozil got no bids whatsoever!!!! Pierre will be happy to know that he is still an Arsenal player until the end of next season.(he will be put in the shop window this Jan….in the right back corner down there in case you can’t see). Good to see that we also trying to get rid of Kolasinac. It would be good if we also got rid of Sokratis. In his case I am not sure if selling him to a football team is the best option. We’ll have a better chance of selling him to a Greco-Roman wrestling… Read more »
Personally I don’t want Wilshere anywhere near our coaching team.
Heard we offended the contract clause. Snowflake.
Anyhoo, was a tad disappointed with Aouar compilation I saw against City so pretty content that Partey is the one we’ve snagged out of the two. He should feel right at home with Arteta’s tactics against the top sides.
Hard to get a bid when you are in love with your wages. Ozil and co will sit on their assess all day long collecting pay. Heard Kolasinac couldn’t agree with Leverkusen on wages too
Dissenter
You a bit optimistic about the current management set up remaining intact by next season.
Jack has not finished playing yet left… Still a few years left if those ankles hold.
I hope the club plays sime hardball with some of these players who have refused to leave. They are more interested in running down their contracts.
We can afford to not register them for the season. They can rot in the reserves/U-23 then we wait till January and it will a case of see how they run.
Paulinho or Arteta’s tactics in general. He will be a more willing forward runner than Xhaka or Elneny though, could get some goals from some Bellerin or Saka pic outs, both usually look for the late runner as opposed to Tierney who goes for the striker when he crosses
I cant see Jack in management at all.
RH
It was obvious from day one. He locked his retirement with his last contract.
That tweet just shows us one thing: he doesn’t give a shit anymore.
Paulinho
Just who are the top sides, is it L8verpool being smashed 7-2 or maybe Man City being walloped at home 5-2.
Receding – Ghana produced some quality central mids in recent times. Appiah, Muntari, Essien, now Partey.
Even if we do sit deep, he should instantly make us more menacing. Chelsea used to drop off and yet you always felt on edge attacking them with Essien etc so wouldn’t mind be the ones picking teams off for a change with Partey transitions.
For me the best available team if we signed no one else would be clear. It would be a 4231 with
Leno, Bellerin, Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Ceballos, Pepe, Willian, Saka, Auba.
You can move Auba to the wing depending on games and Lacazette can come in.
Bench would be
Runarsson, Soares, Saliba, Holding/Mustafi (now he is staying)/ Niles
Xhaka/willock, Elneny/ willock
Nelson, ESR/Willock, Saka
Lacazette/Nketiah.
Chambers and Kolasinac can be sold in January. I am hoping Sokratis leaves now. If two of Nelson, Willovk and ESR leave on loan and buendia Comes in it would be a perfect window.
If it’s done and he is any where as good as
Patrick Vieira he could in all respect earn the nickname
Paddy.
I wait in anticipation😛.
I suspect that since Arsenal will likely not be able to move Ozil, they will not register him and essentially he is a lame duck – a very highly paid lame duck, but one just the same. If only he had personal integrity and pride as a couple of character traits, things could be so much more now.
Onwards and upwards for the Arsenal!
DB10 all his tweets of late point to a retired footballer. Guy just doesn’t care.
Paulinho shame about the injuries when it comes to Appiah,a very complete footballer.
Sulley Muntari never quite got the respect his game deserved.
4-2-3-1
………………………………………….Leno………………………………………………..
Bellerin………….luiz……………………………gabriel…………….Tierney
……………………Ceballos………………………..Partey…………………..
Pepe……………………………….willian…………………………………….saka…………………………………..Aubameyang………………………………………….
All in all I am okay with the football as long as we are winning matches. Diego Simeone is considered a top manager but his teams play crap football, as long as you are winning no one cares. Teams will hate to play us for a change.
Back 4 bellerin luiz Gabriel tierney
Centre mid..Ceballos partey
Pepe Willian saka
Aubamayang up top
4-2-3-1.
Really no excuse to start games with Xhaka is there Pierre?
Pierre
You’re lineup consists of 3 rejects two from Chelsea and one from Real Madrid. A youngster and a very expensive flop thus far in Pepe. Leno is Flapianski Mk2..
Oh, I forgot ozil. As I should. Pierre will be reminding us about him though. I am totally disappointed by his lack of any professional pride. At the top of his game, I loved him. But now him choosing to sit out the whole year for doing nothing is just terrible to see. No money is worth that in my eyes. I suspect he won’t even be registered to be used. That’s horrible as a professional.
What I really would love is for Arsenal to go back to Aulas & low ball on their last offer.To really piss him off!
Teams will hate to play us for a change.
Something I have been longing for a while. Teams actuslly fearing us.
——-
I really like that line up Pierre. It has real potential to make some damage.
Let’s hope Arteta thinks like you do.
I dont think we see much 3-4-3 now with TP
He alone can act as a single pivot,
I think its trying the 4-3-3 or even a 4-2-3-1 with Dani.
Depay stays at Lyon, Dembele doesn’t join Man U.
Guess that’s good news
Calypso
“PierreYou’re lineup consists of 3 rejects two from Chelsea and one from Real Madrid. A youngster and a very expensive flop thus far in Pepe. Leno is Flapianski Mk2..”
Tell that to Habesha..he chose the same line up and system
I would say sending Saliba to Fulham is better than to France. It will help Saliba to gain experience playing in EPL matches. The question would be the playing time. Last few days, Arteta sounds confident that a deal could be made in this TW. I have a feeling that KSE has promised him something. Triggering this RC of Partey was their plan all along. They probably has already calculated exactly how much time it would take to complete this process. The board knew that millions of Arsenal fans are watching them. With the impact of COVID-19, this EPL season… Read more »
Habesha, Pierre
Please let Arteta hear you. That line up looks excellent.
Bellerin will need upgrading and so will Luiz… but they will do for now
I really do consider Bellerin to be the weakest link in that team.
Vieira wants the Jeff
Apparently we declined a loan deal for Sokratis from PSG. Everton and Roma in for the pkayer as well. Shocking..
CalypsoOctober 5, 2020 19:20:36
Partey will not address the lack of creativity in Midfield
He will free the more creative players to do what they do best he is a beast
Legdb10
Bellerin is probably the weak link, though I did think Cedric had a decent game v liverpool last week ..plus there is always AMN ..
None are what I would call top quality…can Bellerin improve..doubtful.
Left TesticleOctober 5, 2020 20:43:00
Personally I don’t want Wilshere anywhere near our coaching team
I agree I met the lad a few times he is not the sharpest tool in the box
It’s PARTEY TIME!!
Aulas can go suck lemons.
On that thought I KNOW Wiltshire is very very injury prone But since he free, any of you fancy a short term 1 year contract?
He does say he has been fit for a while.
I’d take Jack back on a pay as you play contract, doesn’t have to be done today, can be next month or whenever.
RockyRoe
———-
Great minds……..
Danny
He was brought up in the wenger school of pass and move and played with arteta, a play as you pay won’t be bad at all
Truth be told I’ve always had a soft spot for Jack, he is arsenal thru and thru, a proper fan.
If he agrees to a pay as you play contract I think him terminating his contract when we are crying for creativity is destiny.
So we signed the new Ibra and Thomas motherfucking Partey.
🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉
Pierre
That ACL killed off the only asset that Bellerin had: his speed. This always allowed him to get back into position whenever he was caught out.
I admit I was surprised with Cedric’s performance. Those performances will be needed and i hope he continues like that through to next season. After that, on the bench and then upgrade. That 4 yr deal was absolute bollocks by Raul.
Guillem Balague saying on the radio that Partey was the lowest paid player in the entire Atletico squad, so has been keen to leave. Also thinks he has room to improve, despite his age, because it feels he’s plateaued in the past couple of years at Atletico due to the role allotted to him there, and he should get more freedom in possession at Arsenal.
Elmo,
so more like Dani type role vs just DM?
__________Leno___
Bell___Holding___ Gabriel__ KT
_______Partey time_____
—–Dani_________Saka______
Willian____laca________Auba
Saka acting as a 10, or CAM being played in attack
Being greedy but 1 more MF would turn this TW into a grade A for me.
Essentially an option/replacement for cabellos who isn’t willock. As things stand cabellos would have to play every game as partey+xhaka/elneny doesn’t work at all.
·
12 min
All that is left for Thomas Partey’s move to Arsenal is the announcement. [BBC] #afc
Watch this space! Due to the signing of Partey, Artekkers is going to unleash ozil against low block teams. Elneny and Partey going to give Arsenal a solid base for the 4 forwards to run riot against shit teams.
You heard it here 1st!
Rocky Roe, Danny As much as I loved Wilshire and hoped he would become a legend for the club, he fell short. He will always be a crock. He never recovered from his first injury. And by that I mean he was never able to rebuild it to be 100% match fit ever. He always broke down 3 matches in and spent half his time not getting his body in the right shape to be athletically ready as he was off for 9 mth straight not exercising. He will never survive modern practice sessions. He’d break down just getting warmed… Read more »
This could be a great day…
Karim-
According to NBC sports who is doing a live countdown on tv and discussing all the teams .. We have 54 mins. left in window.. So would expect an official announcement, soonish.
GunsSF
No idea, but he was suggesting as he’s better on the ball than people give him credit, at Arsenal alongside being a solid anchor in the midfield, he’ll be expected to express more of the ‘footballing’ side of his skillset, which Atletico never expected of him (hence the low wages).
Karim
There is another 53 mins to the window. It closes at 11pm.
As long as the deal sheet was completed between 9-11pm and signed by Partey then there will be an extra two hours. Hopefully official confirmation is given before then.
It can go through after 11 as long as some paperwork is submitted between 9-11 apparently
Lol
It seems we signed the wrong Thomas
Thomas Lemar showed up for the Arsenal medical 🙂
We don’t have to make it official before the deadline, just have to complete the paperwork and send it in on time.
Partey gives us so much more control and mobility in midfield, hope this signal the end of 5 at the back in most games. Him and Ceballos as a CM pairing is pretty fucking good and we have a couple of players that can play Cam like Willian, ESR, Saka.
Captain cheese fucker can take his zimmer frame to the Carabobo cup.
It seems we signed the wrong Thomas
Thomas Lemar showed up for the Arsenal medical
Good one?
Carabobo haha
what I like about partey is he could get out from deep midfield without the need to pass. both Xhaka and Elneny are poor midfielders because if you cut out their passing lanes and press them the will do nothing all game. Partey has mad dribbling skills for a DM. with ceballos next to him teams will be afraid to press us higher up the pitch because they know there is a chance we might bypass their entire midfield. so they will be more cautious. what I am worried about is hat we will do in the final third. Willian… Read more »
Simeone better be nice to LT.
Dont take it out on him…. poor fella facing the wrath of Simeone by virtue of being an Arsenal player.
I mean one punch and its over for lil LT
how*
Hopefully the 2 kids we added today is going to make an impact in the future too, the CB from Hertha and the Swedish striker that I should probably know more about but don’t because Swedish football is wank and I don’t want cancer in my eyes.
Would have been nice to add a Martinelli level talent too but those doesn’t come around very often, so oh well.
have a look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzXCLoO50SQ
Habesha
I think both Saka and Pepe can be these creators that we need to open space up. Partey is capable of feeding them up with speed.
Pepe is craving this right now.
And Saka will adapt with ease
Come on let’s do this pleAse
Wally back to Southampton.
I will give you a good national team.
Why are we in talks to loan Saliba back to Saint Etienne? Can’t he go elsewhere?
FL
Heard the kid from Hertha Berlin won’t be joining till January. Apparently, we couldn’t complete the paperwork early enough.
because Swedish football is wank and I don’t want cancer in my eyes.
________________
I can confirm.. from watching years of MLS and Liga MX you will not get eye cancer from watching wank football. However, I can not speak to the condition of your liver.
Partey is such an immense signing for us. Still can’t believe we’ve got him.
Chika we have not got him yet