Sportklub Rapid Wien… formerly known as Rapid Vienna? Or known as both? What? The true Englishman coming out there. I’m sorry. But don’t make it confusing. One or the other, please.
That’s all I really have on that subject.
The Oziltologists took Per Mertesacker massively out of context as they look to push the notion that Mesut Ozil isn’t playing for non-footballing reasons. This is what was said.
“A lot has changed away from the field,”
“He got married, has a family. Perhaps his focus has changed. Nevertheless, he is still happy and happy to play football.
“He’s the only player I’ve played with for three teams – Bremen, Arsenal and also at the DFB (Germany). So I’m very sorry that he’s currently in a situation where he’s not really used.
Marriage is not an excuse for losing focus when it comes to your profession. More importantly, it is clear as day that Mertesacker is not saying that he’s been ditched because of non-footballing reasons. That sort of insidious rumour mongering is really not helpful. Accept it’s over and that if he was doing what was required, he’d be starting. Simple as that.
Rob Holding is now an injury doubt for the next 4 weeks. David Luiz licking his lips. He’s in for all the big games. I’m not sure how I feel about that, I hope he’s focused and ready for it. At this rate, we’ll end up with Saliba in the starting 11. Good move by him to not go back to France.
Thomas Partey shared some advice his dad told him.
“When I was young, my dad helped me a lot. He gave me so much advice because he used to play and he knew what I needed to be a professional. He talked to me a lot, how to be disciplined, how to respect my coaches and everyone around me.
“Then he told me to always be training and not going out all the time, that I have to rest a lot. It’s simple advice that will get you to the top.”
Thomas Partey will not be accepting your late-night calls or going for Sunday beers with you. I am sorry. That’s the way it has to be.
Right, short one again today because I made a podcast for you.
Pierre You are completely wrong in your analysis of Arsenal’s performance level. Since resumption of football in June we have lost 5 games in EPL all of which were away from home. For the record we played more away games at tail end of last season. The two away games lost this season were against Liverpool and Man City rated by most pundits the two teams most likely to win the EPL title. Did you expect us to win those games? If you are going to measure performance then compare our results this season with those against the same opposition… Read more »
Stroller “Judge our performance level at the end of December and not just after 5 games.” I’m judging our performances from the 1st january this year and there is a definite downward trend Here’s the proof. . 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… Read more »
Pierre
Sorry but your analysis is ridiculous.
You need to look at who we played before and after lockdown and the number of away games.
Frankly I am only interested now in our performance this season and not disingenuous facts trying to prove that we were better playing with Guendouzi, Torreira and Ozil in team.
Guendouzi is a “nothing player” and Ozil is “finished” and has been contributing zilch for a very long time. Partey is most certainly an upgrade on Torreira.
Pierre
For the record Arsenal’s defensive record this season is only bettered by one team.
“How about this….instead of putting 4 goalkeepers in the squad , why not include saliba in the squad anyway … Makes sense..Also by saying Saliba can be added to the squad next year , you are all missing the point …It is highly unlikely that Saliba will get a game in the knockout stages , whereas in the easier group games it would be the perfect time to ease him into the team” Again, his ability is not in question, it’s his mental state at this time after losing his mom. If the management has decided to play him outside… Read more »
Lol Pierre you are an absolute master of nonsense
I forget the exact number but we’ve won something like 12 of our last 15 games. The teams we’ve lost to recently are city and Liverpool away. City was a close game we could’ve got something out of.
If that’s worrying form then deary me your standards make no sense at all
You have to let go of ozil man. It’s not healthy, it really isn’t
ET absolutely correct
Pierre you’re like a guy at a funeral shaking the corpse and screaming wake up
Ozil is done. No amount of selective reasoning, wishful thinking or reimagining history will bring him back to life. And all you’re doing is wasting your own time and energy desperately looking for ways to justify that he is better than we all think. Nobody cares. The funeral has already been held. He’s gone, dude.
Move on.
Arteta is doing a great job but we have to admit, we made a cock of the saliba deal. We wanted to send him out on loan so we removed him for the EL squad. Then we did a U-turn but now we are not going to include him in the PL team.
We are sending a player that was phenomenal at St. Etienne to playing a season for the reserves and U-23s.
It’s a right mess. I’d rather we had just sent him out on loan to one of the championship sides.
Scene from Pierre’s house last night:
Pierre affectionately stroking his Ozil monogramed well used sock with tears welling up and saying,
“All poor Ozil for I knew Him well”
Meanwhile poor suffering Mrs Pierre fearing she will now be the main thrust of Pierre’s carnal desires and witnessing Pierre’s meltdown says,
“It’s ok you still have Eddie, right Pierre?” And what about the new good looking lad, Saliba, shouldn’t you get behind him like you did Ozil and Eddie?
R.I.P Ozil finally getting the treatment he has deserved from the Arsenal for the last 2 years.
I think the next person to get fired maybe Edu. I don’t think he and arteta discuss anything. Arteta has the final say and does almost everything that edu does.
The only reason he’s lasted this long is because he has contacts in the south American market and helped to bring martinelli to the club. When that dries out, he’s going to get replaced.
Ozil will love his being dropped from the EL & PL squads. No responsibilities towards the club or results of games and for the next 8 months he will open his hand and will collect at the end of June £12 million plus for doing absolutely nothing. He is laughing all the way to the bank and the viciousness here towards him must be because he got away with murder because of the ineptness of the Arsenal front office. What a sweet deal, what it shows off is the absolute stupidity of Arsenal’s buying and selling players. But Karma can… Read more »
And so it has come to pass,
Ozil will not play for Arsenal anymore this season.
He will master the art of Fortnite surely. A world cup winner for Fortite gaming he shall be… a legend
MD-Gunner
Kkarma from where? Before he joined Arsenal we were always in the CL and started going down when he joined. We only win FA Cup with him.
He’s like the woman you shouldn’t marry and you did.
Let him take his gold and leave
Now he’s free to join his friend in Turkey
Arteta should move him to train with the Hale End group so he doesn’t instigate the other players.
@havyn Games are won by teams your lack of understanding this shows by pinning the lack on CL qualification on one player but then at the same time include him in the winning of the FA Cup. You are venting your disappointment of Arsenal’s performance on the easy target of one player. He was not responsible for the hiring of a failing manager, take a closer look at the owners. Karma: The force created by a person’s actions that some people believe causes good or bad things to happen to that person. Example the way Koscielny was treated, also over… Read more »
MD-Gunner Mark my words, Ozil is finished as a footballer. His body, mind and desire to run around and kick a ball has gone, whatever he may think and anyone else says. He also knows that his reputation will follow him wherever he goes and, because of this, I sense he will drift away from the game totally. Will he go into coaching, I doubt it. In any case, who in their right mind would hire someone to instil structure and discipline into a group of players when that person has zero concept of that aspect of the game himself.… Read more »
Ozil might be tempted now to negotiate a buy out. He could move to anywhere on a free during any point this season. What I like about the decision is the club is showing him up if he doesnt negotiate. He said he believed he could get back in the team during the season and how he wants to help and fight for his team (lol). But now he knows he isnt playing football any time soon. So lets see if he cares about playing football. my bet is he will stay, train and play fortnite.
Fred “Again, his ability is not in question, it’s his mental state at this time after losing his mom. If the management has decided to play him outside the spot light that’s fine, give him some time to grieve and adapt.” To defend the non inclusion of saliba in the Europa squad, I have heard on le grove at least 5 or more different reasons as to why Saliba wasn’t included in the squad.. They include Not recovered from his injury. Not fit enough Bereavement A loan move broke down. His mental state of mind. Not enough game time in… Read more »
China
“I forget the exact number but we’ve won something like 12 of our last 15 games”
Don’t act dumb …i was talking about the all important league form and we have lost 6 out of 15 games since lockdown..
That form will get us nowhere…except mid table.
Arteta needs to change something, on the pitch , don’t ignore what you see with your own eyes china.
I hate to say it but there are too many similarities to last season for my liking and too many poor decisions being made off the pitch.
Liverpool interested in Upamecano as a January option.
They sold Lovren and lost van Dijk for the season.
Pirlo chose to sign Chiesa over Aouar this summer. Rumors are that Juventus may go back for the Lyon midfielder in the next window
Really pleased Rambo is doing well at Juve. Never did anything but give 100% for us.
Pierre
Chelsea have FIVE listed goalkeepers in their squad including Cech as a non contract emergency player in case of coronavirus outbreak.
So why do you have to criticise Arsenal including FOUR?
We know that Arsenal have a surplus of players on the books at the moment. Hopefully that
will be resolved in January including the short term future of Saliba.
I thought that we were beginning to include on Le Grove more positivity, by you seem to be leading the campaign to reverse that trend!!!
ES
Pierre is making up for lost time.
He’s still about six and a half years behind me.
Ah yes, 2009-2018 was a real strain for me.
Wonder where Pierre will be in 2026?
China, I think that your number of victories is wrong. During the run to win the FA Cup and the community/chariry shield, we won ties, but we drawn games and won on penalties. I would not record those game as victories but as drawn won on penalties. Anyway Our performances in the league have been poor since post lockdown. Our results are in fact better than what we have shown. We are currently outperforming our xGA and xG, which we all know is not sustainable in the long run. The argument that we played more away games does not wash,… Read more »
Pierre You are constantly producing ridiculous stats in attempt to support your claim that our performance level has declined since football resumed in June. On the one hand you focus on EPL games but on the other choose to ignore the other games we have played. What is relevant is not how we played last season, but the results produced this season and that includes all games including FA Cup, Carabo Cup, Europa Cup and Community Shield. So far we have played this season 8 games in all competitions including 3 against Liverpool and 1 against Manchester City. Our record… Read more »
Stroller, I think that Pierre is right to exclude irrelevant games to talk about our EPL performances. Arsenal victory (draw but won on penalties) against a Liverpool C team in the League Cup bears no relevance to our or Liverpool performance in the League. Cup competitions are different competitions. They have their own dynamic. Under Wenger, the last couple of years we won FA Cups, but we were never close to sustain that same level of performance in the league. Players can lift themselves for a one off game, but can’t do it continuously as it is required in the… Read more »
Valentin
Which of fofana or saliba is rated the higher over in France amongst the experts out there ?
Valentin Actually I disagree with that viewpoint. Arsenal are playing 2 games a week just like most of the other top teams and we are expected to perform in all our games just like Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea and Spurs. So far this season we have lost to both Liverpool and Man City in two very difficult away games and it should not be forgotten that we are also playing away from home Man Utd and Spurs also in the first 6 away games. So the start of our season is very tough. When you look at the… Read more »
Mesut Ozil STARTED in 13 of the first 14 matches of Arteta’s reign before lockdown…..with the exception being against Olympiacos away which we won…..and in 13 games his stats were 1 goal and 2 assists (1 goal and one assist against Newcastle at the Emirates….a game we won 4-0) and the for the last game before Lockdown Westham……….
So I don’t see what a the fuss is all about…..1 goal and 2 assists in 13 games isn’t “top of the roof” creativity I’d say