Well, I felt pretty terrible about life waking up yesterday morning, but then the mighty Spurs brightened up my day when they gave up a 3-0 lead inside 18 minutes after the second coming of Gareth Bale.
Beautiful stuff. That killed off ‘THEY’RE GONNA WIN THE LEAGUE’ talk pretty fast. Spurs will be up there this season, but contending the title? Have my doubts people.
Even better than that, Emi Martinez kept another clean sheet and Ross Barkley fired the impressive Aston Villa to another win against Leicester.
So, the weekend shook out quite nicely. We’re 5th, level points with Leicester. United, City, Wolves, and Chelsea are all behind us in the table.
Suddenly, losing 0-1 to Manchester City in a very tight game doesn’t look so bad. I mean, not great, but I’ll be the perspective police here and say it could have been worse. City are a very good team, we had good enough chances, we forced them into a cagey response. Games like that should be close and live on a knife-edge… I suspect if we add a little more flair to our attack in those sorts of games, we’ll not have that top 6 away record hanging around our neck much longer.
Additional good news: We currently have the second-best defensive record in the Premier League. Arteta is building from the back, if he maintains this sort of record all season, we’ll be in contention for the top 4.
A lot of fans are throwing around our dismal attacking numbers, and rightly so… but that will develop and if we’re honest, we’ll probably have to buy to really solve those challenges. We don’t have an Aouar or a Grealish in our squad and it is very unlikely anyone is going to develop into the role. The gamble for this season is that if we have a strong foundation, we can live off less chances because we have Auba. A lot of eggs in that basket though. We really need to up our creativity and share around the responsibility for scoring.
We do have a chance to experiment. This Thursday is sandbox time. We’re playing Rapid Wien, currently 2nd in the Austrian Bundesliga. This game is important as it sets the tone for the competition. Arteta will want to win, but he’ll be all too aware that we do not have the depth of quality in our squad to deal with an injury crisis this season. I expect some experience, but I also hope we see a lot of young players. Joe Willock and ESR are the best candidates for more attacking flair in our play… hopefully, they deliver a good performance. This is our back-up for top 4 this season, but we should really be walking the groups with our reserves.
We also have a really big game on Sunday. Brendan Rodgers, top 4 contenders, needs to make amends for the Villa loss. Arteta, will be desperate not to lose ground at the top of the table. It’s a huge game, how will the team react? We shall see.
Short one today, see you in the comments. x
‘On another subject Souness has apparently come out and called the Pickford tackle “an assault” ‘
Marc, in all fairness though, if anyone knows about assault tackles and how to execute one it is Souness.
Marc Last summer fans were bleating on about our best transfer window ever, I did warn you all, you just didn’t listen. Tierney: injured, no pre-season, Kolasinac isn’t good enough, and we’ve lost Monreal who was our best defender Luiz: Not an upgrade on Koscielny, and Chelsea wouldn’t have sold him to us, if he’d significantly improve us Ceballos: signing him without an option was stupid, because by the time he was settling, he’d be on his way, fortunately for Madrid, we’ve taken him again to educate him for them, for another year. Saliba: 18, and we’d be unlikely to… Read more »
I promise this will be my last comment on Martinez vs Leon. People don’t see an important fact. Martinez is a leader in defense. He communicates with his defenders. The whole defense felt calmer and had more confidence. Leon is not a leader. One time when he was alone with Luiz in the six yard box, most GK would ask Luiz to let him have the ball. Instead, he let Luiz make a bad header resulting in a goal.
Just a thought but ‘keepers that are vocal, command and organise their defence don’t need to make as many spectacular saves.
Beat me to it by 14 seconds Nelson.
Btw I was also wondering where Reiss was, worth a punt I would suggest in Pepe can’t get his act together.
Oh man. “Monreal was our best defender”…
“Losing Iwobi”
Broadmoor is one patient down today.
Yeah Marc.With sourness it becomes “ assault” cos it’s a scouser player.A very important one.Certainly couldn’t be the standard( love this word as an excuse) “ ROBUST “ tackle that other really nice lads who wouldn’t hurt a fly ,did on the likes of Ramsey,Diaby,Eduardo etc.The favourite word used by the media & pundits to excuse the Arsenal don’t like it up em approach.Hypocritical c**ts the lot of em!
Tom, “Every long ball from Leno towards Auba or Pepe in the City game resulted in quick turnovers because neither showed enough grit to fight for winning and keeping it.” How can you consider those two players as not good enough in counter-attacking situation. That’s what they are. Counter-attacking speedy merchant. Both players have made their careers of receiving long balls at their feet or in space behind the defense and scoring from those positions. Of course if the ball is long aimless punt up the field, they can’t be as efficient. Expecting Aubameyang and Pepe to compete in their… Read more »
“Like I suspected, Torreira is doing brilliantly at Athletico with a MoM performance in his first game. It just prove what I have been saying, any DM can look half decent in a defensive setup.”
A whole 90 minutes to “prove” something? Doesn’t take you long.
Do you have the link to where Torreira was MOTM? Oblak was favoured in every report I’ve seen.
Uwot
Can you imagine the outcry in the media if an ex Arsenal player came out and said VVD should man up, should have got out of the way etc?
“A lot of fans are throwing around our dismal attacking numbers, and rightly so… but that will develop and if we’re honest, we’ll probably have to buy to really solve those challenges. We don’t have an Aouar or a Grealish in our squad and it is very unlikely anyone is going to develop into the role.”
Anyone here remember when the author of the above expected exciting football with Iwobi and Mhki?
HighburyLegend I disagree, Pedro and many who thought Emery underachieved in his first season, were wrong, he slightly overachieved In his second season, Pedro like many others overestimated our squad, and they equated our investment with instant improvement, they were wrong, we were weaker at the start of the season, than we were at the end of the season, blooding young players in takes time, as does building cohesion in a team of new players, the same transition is currently happening at Chelsea. He told us Arteta was a generational coach, who’d get us playing different football to the drab… Read more »
CC,
Torreira had the best score from that game 7.9, Oblak was second.
AFC forever your analysis is correct & spot on.Arteta inherited a shit show & in little time has turned it around from being calamitous to an effectively drilled side.Stage two will come eventually wherby he can concentrate his efforts to a more aesthetic style of play.This takes time but will the muppets who have already raised the bar to unrealistic levels have the patience ?
Marc- would love to have been in the studio insisting with sourness that the tackle was “ robust”.Id keep using the phrase just to wind him up.
Uwot
I think you would’ve ended up on the end of a genuine assault.
Funny thing is he’d blame you for that as well.
Nelson, the only important fact is Martinez is at Villa now.
Like GoH said in his infinite wisdom, Arteta chose to keep certain players, sell others, loan out some, and resign a few, and now he’s accountable.
Trying to prove a point about Martinez is beyond flogging a dead horse.
Nelson
This will also be last comment on the subject.
With Leno in goal we will never be able to maximise our potential.
In fact, with a Leno in goal, we are going to suffer badly.
End of.
2 more transfer windows to get an AM, CF and right-footed right wing
Ok Valentin, I’m not gonna waste my time to go over every play reviewing the City game…. it was too boring and I don’t really care to win this argument, or any other actually.
But out of the two of us you seem to be the one with a bigger agenda here since you called Emi’s saves vs Leicester a difficult kind made look easy.
There weren’t any.
Next to Saul and Koke, Torr will do a good or better job like he does for Uraguay.
Partey will have a harder time next to Xhakalson you can take that to the bank.
Lol Marc- He’d prob say it was u know ….Robust!
There is a middle ground in fact several levels of middle ground between how we’re setting up in matches like Saturday and going “gung ho”. I’d like us to see us just push up 5 yards when starting from the keeper, if Leno’s can’t pass accurately enough throw the ball out and if it’s a goal kick we could look at getting one of the outfield players to take it. There are plenty of different options to improve what we’re doing it’s down to the manager to make it work better – waiting till next summer to buy new players… Read more »
“Torreira had the best score from that game 7.9, Oblak was second.“
Ok, but according to which source?
If the manager is brave enough to use Partey & Willock, the later will have a phenomenal season
You heard it here 1st!
Highbury
Maybe we should send Arteta over to manage the ladies team and bring their manager over to manager the first team.
In a months time if the ladies are playing out nil nil draws every match we’ll know that the problem is!
Even before that incident, VVD was bullying a few Everton players. He probably thought that he could do the same thing to Pickford.
Arteta had been extremely lucky with the goal keeping situation then he fucked it royally with that 95 % shit he is not an experienced manager and that is what we are seeing and yes he should get the criticism , the goal keeping fuck up will affect us all season unless someone has some strong words with Leno , the parrying and flapping shit has to stop because as others have alluded to it will soon become a tactic and we will face a lot more shots from distance so teams like Brighton, Palace and Southampton will definitely be… Read more »
If Torreira had a good game that’s great news, I hope he’s killing it in Spain since he’s still on Arsenal books………..isn’t Celta Vigo a relegation fodder?
Nelson what are you talking about? It wasn’t a 50-50 challenge.
VVD leg was planted and Pickford has gone in knee high at him. He was looking at the ball pickford the man.
Willian as a false 9 when you have a fit Auba in the side is horrific. Shocking decision.
Willian was poor and it was a strange one why he didn’t play on the left.
Ok long post from me. What Arteta wants is to build up on one side, commit the opposition’s defensive block and switch to the opposite side,you get 1v1s/2v2s and crossing opportunities. He probably wants to do it on both sides. Build on the left, switch to the right Build on the right and switch to the left. Have laca drop deep hoping to get a CB to follow him and have Auba and Willian/Pepe make blind side runs in behind. He also wants to press high and win the ball high up the pitch,break quickly and score. Many things have… Read more »
Pickford is a good English lad, he wouldnt hurt someone lololol
“Nelson what are you talking about? It wasn’t a 50-50 challenge.“
A 50-50 in that there was a 50% chance VVD wouldn’t get up
Slightly worrying that Willian looks off the pace in the last 3 games.
Possible reason
1) carrying an injury.
2) unfit
3)his legs have gone ( doubtful)
4) not being used correctly. ( positionally)
5) struggling with the work load involved in the pressing game.
6) needs time to adapt to Arteta’s style of play.
Willian is a very decent player but is obviously struggling and we can ill afford to carry a passenger.
At the weekend , Saka was the only Arsenal player
Who looked capable of causing city problems
“Pickford is a good English lad, he wouldnt hurt someone lololol“
In fairness to Pickford the way he tackled VVD is how he looks half the time in goal.
While we may rejoice at being 5th in the table, people shouldn’t be happy at all we didn’t get even ONE point from the Poo and City games and questions ought to be asked on the tactics and game management (including zee mental strengths) of these not un-winnable matches. Ditto, ‘good’ defence record is pale to comparison in face of our shitty shots for and in target stats. Literally relegation zone stuff. Where are goals coming from? These games and earlier ones also unfortunately highlight some players many (most?) fans voted down during acquisition and /or who haven’t signs of… Read more »
auto change ..-and light colour …sorry
pale in
on target
Useroz
I can see a distinct style.
It’s very similar to Pep on the ball and in pressing.
Similar to Jose/Simeone/Conte/Allegri in settled shape.
If Arteta gets the right players in,it will become obvious.
LFC
Wasn’t it Ancelotti who said last week that football is a simple game when asked about james.
““James is doing really well. A player with quality doesn’t have a problem to adapt. The quality is there.
“Football is not so complicated, the pitch is always the same, the opponents always have 11 players, the ball is the same and the goal doesn’t move.
“Football is simple.”
“
Pierre
In man City’s all or nothing series ,in one episode,Pep says football at the highest level can be very complicated.
Anyway I didn’t write anything complicated
Saliba not playing
This one this
That one that
all because Arteta thinks that….
Suppose Arteta has acted without thinking things out or acting Don Quixote el Líder
Then what ?
We have to make independent judgements sometimes
The recurring theme on Le grove is our lack of creativity.
It really isn’t a coincidence that our creativity is reducing on a weekly basis without Ozil in the side..
Creativity is not just about creating chances , it includes
1) creating space for team mates
2) creating doubts in the opposition defence
3) creating passing options
4) creating confidence for the strikers to make runs in the knowledge that the ball will be delivered with the pefect pace, timing and angle.
We have 4 goalkeepers in the Europa league squad…let that sink in.
Credit to Arteta to have given a tough fight, no matter their possession or dominance, to City.
What is frustrating is what a simple swap of Auba and Williams could have achieved. Maybe bringing in Partey for Xaka earlier !
Not hindsight. Lot of Grover’s been posting that during the game, without getting paid for the advice.
“It really isn’t a coincidence that our creativity is reducing on a weekly basis without Ozil in the side..”
Enough already Pierre. If Ozil weren’t such a lazy shit then he’d be playing. Your constant regurgitation of what he once USED to bring, acting as though he’d do the same today, is beyond pathetic- it’s downright disingenuous.
If you cant get over this particular hurdle then that is solely on you. Face the raw hard facts, Ozil is done at Arsenal and he truly has been his own worst enemy throughout it all.
LFC
“Anyway I didn’t write anything complicated”
Just banter..
I like that you look a little deeper at tactics than the usual this players shit or the manager is shit..
Though maybe you do go a little too deep into what is happening and why ..
Sorry Ernest but i am allowed to have an opinion. The fact that 99% of fans bemoan our lack of creativity since coming back from lockdown , is confirmation to me that we should be using our most creative player . Just my opinion( and a few others) … Ernest , how would you address our lack of creativity … Obviously Ozil is not your choice , is ot the players who were being lauded as Ozil’s replacement…ceballos or Willian … Personally, i believe Willian would benefit from having Ozil in the side as he meeds a player to bounce… Read more »
“Has anyone seen signs of a positive, distinct ,stylish, sort of play being developed game by game…anywhere close to your expectations?” Apparently people are happy we defend better than before and expect us to improve our attacking play. It’s such a wishful thinking though. As things stand we are decent in defence and the most boring, dull, one dimensional, predictable team in England in attack. It’s literally painful watching us construct attacks after a billion passes between are CBs, Full backs, Xhaka, Ceballos and goalkeeper. People ejaculate how we’ve scored a goal after 30 passes but out of them literally… Read more »
raptora
Difficult to argue against that.
Graham
Jacinda Ardern is indeed an inspirational leader of New Zealand, a young woman with a young child and bags of courage. Not only the success of keeping a lid on COVID but also her handling of the Christchurch mosque massacre was exceptional, showing true leadership and compassion. Many a world leader could learn from her. And she has just been voted in again to lead the country for another term.
Kudos also to our Premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan who by enforcing strict border controls has ensured that WA is virtually a COVID free state.
Spending years bad talking AW, fast forward 2020 our victory now is celebrating other teams draw and loses. I didn’t want to believe “be careful what you wish for” but I have to. Time to ask for forgiveness 😭
Nice post left foot cutler
The creativity issue existed when Ozil was playing under Arteta too. We had a lot of draws with him too. He seemed finished physically. He used to constantly move around looking for spaces and provide his team mates with an easy passing option pre 2018 He was just waiting for the ball to come to him or went deeper under Arteta. I recognise the lack of creativity. I wanted Sancho/grealish/Coutinho/Maddison/Brandt/buendia as I have said on here multiple times. Not getting this player profile is going to be costly in the quest for top 4. Hopefully we get on some kind… Read more »
I get that Arteta wants us to play a possession based football. The possession based football, however, is not Bayern Munich, City of two years ago, multiple passes around the opponent’s half and infront of their penalty box. It’s passing to Leno, then to our CBs, then to our full backs, then to Xhaka then back to Leno. Time and time again. We are 18th in shots per game in the League. We will start losing points if Arteta continues to take zero risks in our game. Pragmatism is one thing. Aubameyang scoring 1 goal from probably 4 chances in… Read more »
Just read the stats. Auba has only 6 shots on goal in this EPL season, among the least of all attackers. Arteta’s “system” has been found out. Let’s hope that he has a plan B and not playing Willian as a false 9…
raptora
It will actually go further than what you say – in a years time (or so) and life is returning to normal and crowds are back in the grounds are we playing the football to sell the ground out? If you’re a large company looking at hospitality options are you going to buy a box at the Arsenal or are the Spud’s looking a more interesting option right now?
No one expects miracles but it’s really hard work watching us at the moment.
Nelson
One of my main concerns with Arteta is he doesn’t seem to adapt during a match. He tried something on Saturday but at some point why not just switch Willian out wide and put Auba through the middle?
Raptora,
‘Since Arteta’s first game at the helm on Boxing Day 2019, the Gunners have scored 11 Premier League goals following sequences of at least 10 passes – more than any other team in the top flight over the same period. That means over a quarter of all the Premier League goals scored by Arsenal under Arteta (40) have been preceded by a sequence involving a minimum of 10 passes.’
So boring to watch Arsenal…
Absolutely Raptors. Nothing flows through from the back. It will be a Xhaka come Partey ball over the top. type game nothing flows at the moment. Watching the under hit balls to players “do not blame the pitch” was so frustrating. The lack of a door opener Is self evident to everyone Aouar or similar is a must It’s a shame his agents/family are such Greedy Barstaffs. One thing I did notice with Partey was an high arm swing when going away from a player please don’t tell me his red card material. He will certainly be tested more than… Read more »
What Arteta could do that will almost instantly improve our play is, for starters to play the best team on paper. Best team in my eyes would involve Saka and Pepe on both sides of Aubameyang, with Willan the most advanced player in a midfield three alongside Partey and Ceballos. Willian will give Ceballos, Xhaka, Luiz, Gabriel the chance to make a forward pass to a player moving between the lines, a player that can then direct our attack in a way that will make us times more dangerous – to the flanks or to Auba. It will give us… Read more »
Pedro
Come on.
I think Arteta is a genius.
But the football is boring.
It will continue to be unless we increase our chance creation.
Raptora What’s Arteta’s coaching supposed to do? Turn Xhaka into Cazorla? Turn Elneny into De Bruyne? Turn Luiz into peak Sol Campbell? Turn the clock back 5 years, so he’s got a peak Ozil who’s semi interested? Teams progress and regress in cycles, and right now we’re hopefully at the bottom of a cycle. You don’t undo years of poorly thought out recruitment, and signing subpar players on overinflated wages, inside 10 months, during a pandemic. If you sack Arteta, very little will change, just like when we sacked Emery, very little has changed. The changes will come gradually, as… Read more »
“Ernest , how would you address our lack of creativity ” You don’t Pierre, not with the current group on display. Bringing in Thomas does not solve the lethargy in midfield, not him alone. To be honest what they have is never going to work at the Premier League level and likely Arteta knows this too. I remain troubled with how Arsenal move the ball out from the goal, Gabriel is currently a timid passer and having Luiz brings calamity as a given. The team is slow at the back and it isn’t until you hit the wings does speed… Read more »
Pedro,
read this part of my previous post:
“People ejaculate how we’ve scored a goal after 30 passes but out of them literally 3 to 4 actually matter, and half of the 30 are passes to our goalkeeper.”
James, really struggling with that comment… to state that nothing has flown through the back is a incredibly ignorant statement. Playing out the back has not only led to important goals, it’s also played a huge role in Arsenal not getting rolled by heavy press teams.
From the previous blog we had the squad described as a “car crash”
And on this current post we have it described by another poster as a “shit show”
Please tell us the reasons why this squad is being so underplayed by more than enough on here.
Raptora, you being bored of effective football over the course of 9 months is really quite something.
As Rich points out, if you beleive that we have the players to play like City, tell us how that happens.
If you don’t, then you are basically complaining that Arteta doesn’t make the exact mistakes Emery did when he was here (and you were defending him like a zealot).
This year Post lockdown Premier league Played 16….won 8 …drawn 1….lost 6 .goals for 24……goals against 18 Pre lockdown Premier league Played 8…Won 4…drawn 4 …lost 0 Goals for 14…..-goals against 6.. Basically since lockdown , there is not one stat that improves on pre lockdown. Wins per game ….down Losses per game …up Points per game….down Goals scored per game ..down Goals conceded per game ….up To me , this is concerning…the trend is going downwards not upwards and needs to be reversed. Fans are rightly concerned of our lack of creativity but they should also be concerned that… Read more »
Pierre… concerned about creativity, yes. Concerned about having the second-best defence in the league, not so much.
Pedro,
Granted, we play much better out of the back than we used to, and are now much more press resistant.
But where raptora and others have a point is in the poverty of our chances creation stats, which are pretty dismal. Raptora’s point, that we spend too much time passing in our half to draw out opponents is also pretty accurate.
“f you sack Arteta, very little will change, just like when we sacked Emery, very little has changed.”
This would be so very wrong on so many levels, Rich. Arteta inherited a squad that was totally dysfunctional in every conceivable way. In short order he has delivered a a plan, a purpose, and a desire to compete. In due course he has made Arsenal relevant again. If you cant see that then, well, you cant see it.
The difference between Arteta and Emery is significant.
Pedro, I said what I think would be a good step. Start Auba as CF, Saka and Pepe on the flanks with Willian in a more or less a free role but doing his defensive bits in a midfield three along Partey and Ceballos.
Pedro 14.38
I was quite amazed by that stat.
I’m sorry but it just feels every thing
is so slow this playing out across the back.
If you like the fact it stops teams rolling us over
then all well be it.?
But It’s not the football I enjoy limited talent or not.
Ernest Reed “This would be so very wrong on so many levels, Rich. Arteta inherited a squad that was totally dysfunctional in every conceivable way. In short order he has delivered a a plan, a purpose, and a desire to compete. In due course he has made Arsenal relevant again. If you cant see that then, well, you cant see it You do realize that Emery was not responsible for the squad. that you describe as “dysfunctional” People want us to stop talking about Emery but that cuts both ways. If people like you can stop trying to rewrite history… Read more »
I know exactly why this squad is being so underplayed by more than enough on here.
It’s to put Arteta is a no lose situation.
He fails to get top four or make a credible challenge for it and it’s the line what do you expect with this squad.
He makes top four and it’s a case of isn’t he wonderful and incredible to achieve this with such a squad.
It’s very transparent.
To be fair to Pedro and posters like Champagne Charlie they have never gone completely down this line certainly not CC.
Emery lost what squad he had, Dissenter. Even Freddie could not dent the damage done by him, or have you forgotten that as well?
Ernest Reed
“Arteta inherited a squad that was totally dysfunctional in every conceivable way.”
And here’s another one.
Grow up Ishola, your act has worn beyond thin.
Our squad strength is a lot better tat it ever was under Emery. Emery was signed because he promised to be docile to the board/Raul.
We’ve reached a point where we don’t register a 30 million defensive talent for the EL and can leave out a sub like Ozil from the premier league squad.
That’s the squad strength we now have. It’s hypertrophied in certain areas and completely absent in others, but it’s a lot stronger than it ever was under Emery.
Ernest Reed
I see absolutely no maturity in your latest post.
Just absolute untruth.
And to cite Freddie Ljungberg is even more ludicrous.
Even Freddie couldn’t sort it out?
Freddie was uncomfortable from day one in his position that was thrusted upon him. He only did it as a favour to the club in difficult circumstances. He was so clearly not ready to be the top man at the club by a very long stretch.
Really, where exactly are the “untruths” in my statement, Ishola? Im quite open minded about The realities of Arsenal, can you say as much about yourself?
Look, Arteta is not perfect and he does make mistakes, but to say that there are some (including myself) who can see no fault? There’s no pleasing you, you simply wont have it.
Keep digging that hole of yours, Ishola.
If there is any digging going on Ernest it’s only me trying to help you and extract you from the slop that you currently find yourself in.
You are up to your shoulders in it atm.
Pedro, Instead of celebrating the fact that we need 20 passes to score a goal, maybe we should look at How many of those passes that create the goal. Because to me it looks like a lot of those passes are sideways passes that do not contribute at all, except maybe sending the opposition to sleep. I would rather take 6 well placed passes that dissect the defense and end up with a goal than than handball type of passing between midfield and goalkeeper. A lot of the time, we keep possession for the sake of keeping possession without going… Read more »
Ish, the squad isn’t being underplayed… what is mostly being debated is whether there’s an explosive brand of football Arteta is not playing because he’d prefer to keep it a secret.
This squad can make top 4, but not playing like City.
It’s really one extreme against another here these days. First off certain types like Pierre and Bamford I just totally disregard what they say cause it’s caked in agenda and then you have people who are having second thoughts on Arteta cause the football is problematic and worrying and others who are so entrenched with Arteta that they’ll argue that everything is fine and we’re on the right path and god forbid anyone speak out against his decisions. I personally am in the middle I think we are on the right path and he has more positives than negatives working… Read more »
This isn’t me attacking Arteta btw.
Arteta knows himself that certain standards and requirements are needed even if this is his first managerial job. He knows this.
Unfortunately some posters want to give him a free card.
Arteta wouldn’t be impressed with you even if it is done out of what some think is support for him.
Pedro, Starting 1 more attacking player when hopefully Partey benches Xhaka, would make a world of difference. It will not solve all of our problems but it will provide more proactive options to the players, who are at the moment circulating the ball just for the sake of doing it. You are wrong I was defending Emery more than I am Arteta. I’m treating them the same. A week ago I said I believe we have the 3rd best manager in the league behind Pep and Klopp. Why would I say it, if I don’t rate him? However, I don’t… Read more »
Wow, you are a visionary there Ishola. You haven’t made a single salient point and yet quote the visionary you are.
Whatever
“Arteta wouldn’t be impressed with you even if it is done out of what some think is support for him.”
What the hell does that even mean?
Pedro
“Ish, the squad isn’t being underplayed”
Errr when I read on this blog in a space of a few hours that this current squad is a “car crash” and a “shit show” and “totally dysfunctional” all by different posters then I would say it is most definitely being underplayed.
Re : Last post Tom I cant understand how its a financial decisions. He is on relatively lower wages. Ish Leno is weaker than Martinez in certain areas of his game. Agreed. But some on here (including you I believe) go to great lengths to point out any little mistake he makes while COMPLETELY overlooking the positives he brings to the team. For starters- He is probably the best shot stopper in the league and makes world class saves week in week out. Eg. Leno made two top quality saves to keep us in the game yesterday, but I havent… Read more »
whether there’s an explosive brand of football Arteta is not playing because he’d prefer to keep it a secret.
What???
“hopefully Partey benches Xhaka,”
Raptora, do you believe that this will actually happen? It would be certainly ideal, but something tells me it wont.
Ernest Reed
“What the hell does that even mean?”
It means he would tell you to your face to take a running jump if you said to him that he had inherited a “totally dysfunctional squad”
You bust me up, Ishola!!!
I think it is wrong to label Arteta’s work wonderful or shit. The truth is that we have improved in some ways (defense, organization, we are more difficult to beat). However, the work also has flaws, the team creates few attack scenarios, it is a huge mistake to provide very few chances for Auba. At least when we score goals, they are the result of well-built moves, not random moves. I know we don’t have the ideal squad, but I think we have enough to improve in this department, we are not going to become a machine to create chances,… Read more »