via Arsenal Instagram
We did it. Arsenal finally broke their 5-year ‘WE CAN’T WIN AWAY AT A BIG 6 CLUB’ hoodoo (29 games). The last time we won away at United in the league was 14 years ago, I was like, 8 years old or something?! Make no mistake, that wasn’t a lucky win, that was the performance we’ve been waiting for in a big game. Arteta is the first Arsenal manager to win his first two games against United since Herbert Chapman. A super day for Gooners all over the world.
The starting 11 saw quite the reaction on the cyber terraces.
‘HE NEEDS TO GET OUT’
‘TOO NEGATIVE’
‘SERIOUS QUESTIONS MUST BE ASKED’
It’s quite a stretch to suggest that taking a pragmatic approach to United away was ever an incorrect way to think about this game. They absolutely destroyed RB Leipzig in the week. 5 goals against last seasons Champions League semi-finalists who have the best young manager in the world was a warning sign that things could go awry if we weren’t at our best… and at our best defensively we were.
I am rubbish at blow by blow football reports, but I’ll give you a list of things I really liked.
I thought Gabriel and Rob holding were absolutely excellent. Our new Brazilian centre back shaded it for me, he was unbelievable. He’s such a monster defender. He didn’t give anyone an inch all day. The performances of both were made all the more monumental by the fact they both picked up bookings around the 25-minute mark, Catnip for a ref like Mike Dean. Gabriel made 5 tackles, 4 clearances, combined with a 92% pass completion rate. Stunning numbers. It’s early days, but my word does he look like an incredible signing. Rob Holding also went a long way to justifying the faith Arteta has shown in him, rocking 91% pass completion in an assured return to action (after 1 training session). Also, side note, a massive shout out to the medical staff for getting him back ahead of schedule!
You need more than a good defensive pairing to win in games like that. Thomas Partey started his first big one for us and boy oh boy was he fucking unbelievable. The man is the coldest, crispest beer after running a marathon in the Sudan desert. How have we not addressed our midfield with someone this classy? He is such a difference-maker. If he loses the ball, he gets it back. If he breaks a press, he controls the ball out the other side. His passing is elite and he is so, so efficient. Most importantly, he gives us power in a place we’ve been weak. Watching him slug it out against Paul Pogba and win was special. Seeing him do it with 92% pass completion, with 12 of his 53 attempted passed heading into the final third was joyous. He had the most take-ons, he had the most ball recoveries, he made 4 tackles, 2 interceptions, and he had a shot on target. A superb game. What is even more amusing for me is there was actually a debate about his arrival because the Twitter spreadsheet merchants didn’t like his radar. It just goes to show you that data without good analysis is just a shit opinion.
My man of the match though? It was Mo Elneny. I give him the award mostly because he gets so much shit. People are having to face up to the reality that he’s actually a very tidy player. He’s been good all season. He was immense yesterday. His engine is outrageous, watching him lead the press in the 91st minute like Maradona after a bathroom break in the 94 World Cup was nuts. His passing has added some much-needed verticality, and it’s always fast and positive. He reads danger really well, he fouls when he has to, he plays with a smile on his face so he gets away with more. It already looks like he’s the bag man for Thomas Partey. Arteta says that the players love him and he transmits special energy in the dressing room. Good for him, that was his best performance in an Arsenal shirt, let’s see that consistently.
The game was won via a Mike Dean awarded penalty, which was super odd. Not sure many had that on their ‘how it happened’ bingo card. Auba buried the kick, he said after they practice a lot, which is nice to know. I think the biggest critique of our performance is that the players you need to be the difference makers aren’t firing on all cylinders yet. Auba isn’t taking his chances or gambling on balls like he was last year. Willian looks out of sorts, his composure is a little off, though he did show some nice moments. Saka was a bit overwhelmed by Wan-Bissaka. Lacazette had a better day, creating two chances, but he is still very easily overpowered by fridge like defenders. He had to drop really deep to involve himself and I wasn’t always sure that was part of the plan. It’ll come, but the fact we still won with that going against us made it more special
Still, you can’t argue we didn’t have the better chances. We tried harder to make things happen in the final third. The game was more Dundalk than Leicester. That part is important as well… Arteta used the Europa League as a live test run for what he did versus United. Mo was brilliant in that game as well. Our manager is young, he will make mistakes, but if he learns quickly from them, the fans will always forgive. He set out to make us competitive in big games, and we are exactly that.
Arsenal fans do need to accept that we’re more Simeone than Pep G. That game was fine margins like Liverpool, City, and Leicester. All those occasions were battles of chess and we didn’t win out in the decisive moments. The United game was the first one that rolled our way. It was hopefully a watershed moment. The Halloween ghouls can go back in the cupboard for a few more games.
We need an Aouar like talent to really unlock those moments. In the meantime, we need to hope that Gabriel M can give us a focal point through the middle… and we need to cross our fingers that maybe ESR can be more than a star in the Europa League… but a good start would be to show he can start in the Europa this Thursday against Molde.
Last weekend people were calling time on the Arteta project, today, we’re 2 points off 2nd place, with Villa up next before the international break. We’ve also played 4 teams that’ll be in the top 6 this season. We have the BEST defence in the league after 7 games, pretty great, right? Things are starting to feel positive… let’s see how we handle the next two games, in the meantime, enjoy Zoom gloating to all those sad United fans.
See you in the comments. x
Did Kamal Ignore Pierre completely.. . LOL
Left
On athleticism and technique
I agree with you. I just assumed that as a given, you need some standard of technical prowess to play for The Arsenal.
So for you to be considered good enough for Arsenal, you must be a baller.
The physicality is what I believe should separate genuine transfer targets from mere consideration.
@countryboy : amen to that!!
*might see Auba
I’ve just watched Tim Cahill bigging up his former tesmmate and Keane slapping him down for being an idiot. Lol
Calypso
It was actually Keane who was talking like and idiot and Tim Cahill who was talking sensibly.
*an idiot
Country boy
I appreciate your contribution but maybe just maybe Man Utd are shit and the test for Arsenal will be in the next two or three games.
United aren’t shit.
They were shit pre international break. Not yesterday.
All these hypothetical signings are all well and good but plenty of games between now and January and Aubameyang is still being wasted on the wing.
Villa going to be a test.
I believe it wouldve been fair to say that if we had managed to nab Coutinho , even on loan . Things wouldve been massively insane right now who knows. Just imagine Coutinho behind Partey and Elneny , with Pepe ,Auba upfront . Title contenders ?
Divine
Not title contenders. But top 4.
Need 85+ goals and concede less than 35 for the title.
Not possible with just Coutinho
HL, Marko and everyone that thinks Auba should be moved central.
Hard agree.
Especially versus the smaller teams. Just put Auba + one or two more in the box, whip out crosses from good positions, and we’ll score a lot. The sight of Auba crossing towards Laca who mistimes an absolutely delicious delivery is going to eat me from the inside. You know, it would make sense to play your world class finisher in the place where he is most dangerous – the penalty box.
Arteta dropped Matinelli twice before he was injured. He tends to wander out of position, which doesn’t fit with Arteta s rigid planing
“Arteta has an opportunity here. Partey and Elneny have the required athleticism to give Arsenal the solidity in its spine. Its time to move Auba to the middle. He can always drift wide if he wants. Let Laca be his Kanu or DB10. Laca may not reach the heights of those two but at least han serve as foil for Auba.Do that and the spine is sorted.“ The spine isn’t sorted until we get a better CB (Saliba), a better AM, and a better CF. As admirable as Elneny’s performance was yesterday its peak Le Grove to now offer him… Read more »
The spine isn’t sorted until we get a better CB (Saliba), a better AM, and a better CF.
A better CF than Auba or Lacazette?
Yesterday, Arteta gave me the best birthday present have gotten in ages. Two in one birthday present.
1. Finally beating Manure in the league away from home since 2006.
2. Finally beating a big team away from home since 2015.
I’m fucking grateful 🙏
I heard 70% of the earth is covered by water and the remaining 30% by Thomas Partey.
Pogba, and Bruno PENandes would definitely agree.
Spanish Dave
Martinelli is very disciplined lol.
He was basically 2nd option after Auba at lw.
Arteta wants a CF who can hold up the ball and link up with other attackers.
Neither Martinelli or Nketiah suits that.
Nketiah is a goal poacher like Auba.
But He is made to hold up the ball and try to link play whenever he played CF.
Changing an attacker’s natural game is quite risky.
I just think Arteta felt,for some reason, taking the risk with Nketiah was the better option.
But yeah you saw it yesterday charles that’s exactly why I thought Partey was THE most important signing that we could have made to the midfield this summer and more important than Aouar. Such was the injection of quality and personality that we got with his signing. And he’s only 3 games in. Imagine what he’s going to be like when he actually develops a partnership with someone when we actually bring in better players if/when we get back into the champions league. Could be seeing the makings of an actual functioning title capable midfield at Arsenal in the next… Read more »
Marko
Referring to Laca as per that game/lineup. He had a good game I thought, but when you talk about our spine being “sorted” I cant agree until we fix the front 4 for balance, get Gabriel a partner, and find a standout creator.
“2. Finally beating a big team away from home since 2015.”
So the last time we beat one of the “big” teams away from home was before Xhaka signed for us.
Xhaka not playing was the difference. No lapses in concentration and lazy lunges and losing runners….he isn’t suited for the league….simple. Great win!!!
Good on Mo to take the opportunity…..Loyal servant to the club
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat upon him was Granit Xhaka and Europa League followed with him.
@ Marc – so Xhaka has finally beaten a big team away from home?
Oh…….
“Arteta wants a CF who can hold up the ball and link up with other attackers. Neither Martinelli or Nketiah suits that.” Neither does Laca then. The amount of time he get’s dispossessed, loses the ball due to pressure, can’t fight for that first or 2nd ball is off the charts. I’m not saying he did terribly bad versus Manure, he tried hard and ran his socks off, but fuck me is he world class? He’s really far from it. There is not one single quality that he is top notch in. Not that good at finishing, positioning, aerial play,… Read more »
andy
The only worry is Arteta might drop him back into the team.
Charles yesterday was probably Lacazette’s best game of the season and it’s probably the best example of this little experiment and for me it’s still an unmitigated failure. Not least because it still wasn’t good enough and the balance was still off but in order for it to work and in order for Lacazette to have a good game it means Aubameyang has a bad one. Like I still don’t get it it looks scrappy and unnecessary and it’s not worth it. But yeah spine won’t get sorted until we have a point of reference in attack and that’s not… Read more »
Yup. Xhaka is the common denominator.
Raptora
Yes laca doesn’t suit that role.
I have said on here before that there is no one on our squad who can play that role to the required standard.
So we have to buy.
lol both of them are Gabriel M
Ornstein: Emery wanted to sign Harry Maguire, Thomas Partey, and Wilfried Zaha over the summer. Partey was ‘desperate to join’ but the club wanted to focus on signing a winger. Pepe was preferred ‘predominantly because of his younger age.’
Nketiah was a weird sub yesterday not gonna lie. Don’t get the thinking behind it. If it was about being a willing runner and potentially someone to hit on a rare late counter I feel like Pepe could easily have done that. And AMN… less said the better
“ more so Auba, Laca and Willian our most senor experienced professionals not taking them chances with enough conviction or determination .” I think that’s unfair to some degree, United were jammy as fuck with little touches and deflections at crucial times yesterday. Also add in the younger players who have to mature at this level still (for e.g. Saka buries that header at some point in the near future) I thought we put in a good performance. One time we will diddle them Spurs did, I’m still waiting for the 8-2 revenge, but for now I’ll take yesterday. We… Read more »
Marko
I agree with that but it asks 2 questions.
1) If Auba is the CF then who/how do we structure the creative support around him
2) Who replaces Laca like-for-like in that current role that helps Auba and our overall potency
I still cannot believe how much doubt there was after leicester. I feel personally vindicated AGAIN by arteta
Ornstein: Emery wanted to sign Harry Maguire, Thomas Partey, and Wilfried Zaha
Hopefully Emery isn’t left with the shopping list at Christmas
Ornstein is another moron journalist. Think about that quote – Emery was desperate to sign players in one summer who’d cost circa £210 million.
SkySports presenters are an embarrassment, it’s a competition from ex-players competing amongst themselves over who can throw the biggest hissy-fit after their team loses The analysis is so poor, there’s no balance, there’s no composure, just overreactions to every little things, combined with grown men pissing their own pants. It’s the problem with 24/7 news, it’s not about reporting the news, it’s about ratings, and luring people into the next big crisis Politics is less about policy and the benefits and pitfalls of those policies, and more about turning our entire democracy into a giant soap opera. I blame reality… Read more »
zacharse
I picked Arsenal to beat Man Utd a day before the game, and i still have doubts.
This isn’t about Partey on his own. We saw against Leicester that he was isolated and didn’t have a notable match. It’s about Partey and one other midfielder that can engage central midfield with him. We saw against Manchester United Partey and one other midfielder that can engage the middle of the park that being Elneny. The difference in performance from Partey against Leicester in comparison to Manchester United was stark. Properly engaging in central midfield means being able to play in the heat of the battle in central midfield amongst opposition bodies. It doesn’t mean dropping deep, drifting wide… Read more »
Who replaces Laca like-for-like in that current role that helps Auba and our overall potency That’s the thing charles Laca CF isn’t helping with our potency and he sure as shit ain’t helping Aubameyang in fact he’s hindering it. Like even yesterday as well as he played he didn’t really create anything of note and bar one cut back and a Lindelof touch he didn’t look like scoring at all. As things stand now Saka Willian and Pepe are the creators in the team and Aubameyang despite being played out of position and being asked to do things that hinder… Read more »
CC Who replaces Laca like-for-like in that current role that helps Auba and our overall potency
Why do we need a replacement for Laca.? he hasn’t been that good since his first year
Simply put Auba there and use 2 of our many wingers
Hopefully Xhaka has been relegated to Spursday night football. The fluidity in the midfield yesterday was such a joy. Now to. Fix the final 3rd issue…
But if you’re asking me who I’d bin Lacazette for honestly there’s a few in Europe I’d choose and it wouldn’t be hard at all to replace what Lacazette brings to the team these days. I’d consider someone like Eduoard/Boadu/Daka who can rotate and are young and highly rated enough that they can take over from Aubameyang in a couple years and lead the line. But I’d also consider a Thuram/Depay type who could play CF/LW/LF. But realistically this January we aren’t likely to do anything
Marko So you advocate Auba through the middle with who surrounding him? Because ill say this much, the idea its as a simple as putting Auba CF is a nonsense. We will see an isolated figure there if that’s the only change, and he isn’t a well-rounded footballer no matter the sentiment held for him amongst Arsenal fans. Lacazette can get criticism until the cows come home but outside of goal scoring and general movement he functions as a much better footballer than Auba, and its reason for him playing a withdrawn CF role. Auba cannot simply trade places with… Read more »
Leftfoot
Surely we have better depth than Everton , look how massively Rodriguez has impacted their game. Even our signings Gabriel and Partey , if we add Coutinho to that . To be honest even someone like Buendia wouldve been great considering our options
Rich
Spot on about Sky . I would say Ian Wright is one of the best not sure if he is on sky though . I was watching in India and Wright did a brilliant job , it was him and Paul Scholes. Scholes was fuming xD .
Marc It didn’t take 3 seconds to fix our midfield. It took €50million cash, £200k p/w, an elite midfielder entering his prime, who was willing to accept a big pile of cash, during a pandemic, in exchange for taking a small backwards step in his career. It only took us 15 years, hopefully KSE have some type of epiphany, and come to the conclusion that spending £200million on 3-4 players who are 24-25 and coming into their best years, and have a good level of PL experience, might cost you initially, but if you get your recruitment right the first… Read more »
It seems it needs repeating for certain people on here.
This is just not about Thomas Partey.
He will not shine unless he has another midfielder that can engage central midfield with him which we saw from Elneny yesterday.
So you advocate Auba through the middle with who surrounding him? First off I advocate him through the middle because he’s better than Lacazette because Lacazette isn’t playing well and because Lacazette at CF with Aubameyang LW isn’t working. Auba centrally with 3 of Willian, Saka, Pepe, Reiss Nelson and Martinelli when he’s back behind him. The funny thing is we’ve seen this season that our CB’s are being instructed to play long passes forward and that’s kinda tailored made for someone on the shoulder of the last defender and that’s not Lacazette that’s Auba. Because ill say this much,… Read more »
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/12120966/manchester-united-roy-keane-really-worried-after-arsenal-defeat
Roy still besotted with Ole and blaming the (“level above Arsenal”) players. 😭 you love to see it. Keep Ole at the wheel, spend another 400 mil, has Maguire got a brother?
“I have always believed that Arsenal’s decline started when we began replacing ATHLETES with ARTISTS in central midfield.Some might disagree but it started when Cesc replaced Vieira.”
Fully agree. Got us to one UCL final but screwed us longterm. Been tryna say this but this is the hammet on the nail
CC, standard united commentary… ‘MORE MONEY’… they should bite the bullet, put the family dog down, and get Poch in.
Cahill did a great job explaining the difference between the two coaches.
https://twitter.com/LeGrove/status/1323247734233698304
Lacazette can get criticism until the cows come home but outside of goal scoring and general movement he functions as a much better footballer than Auba
I dunno man I think goal scoring and general movement is pretty important for a CF. Also the whole much better footballer than Auba stuff is just words at this point. He’s playing poorly has been for a while now and if we’re honest hasn’t had the impact we were hoping for since coming over from Lyon. If he’s better than Auba at certain things he ain’t showing it.
Gary Neville sometimes me, but bar his blind spot for OGS, his analysis are usually on point. The issue is the guests they invite for games. Most are excited puppies, brought for the emotional values. Some simply can’t make coherent sentences. it is not a language barrier, it is an intelligence barrier. In French Evra is the same loud simpleton everybody avoid in the pub/bar. Very few guest have insightful points to make nor do they have the tactical nous to understand what was happening on the pitch and even less have the ability to convey their understanding in a… Read more »
Marko How has Auba’s body language been the last couple of months? Always find it a bit suspect when sound bites like than enter discussions. I’m fully aware of Laca’s limitations, and the fact he’s not scored enough goals, but you cant ignore the role he’s playing for the team to make your point simplistic. Laca is playing as a withdrawn CF which creates space for Auba and the other winger to move into. I dont personally like it and would rather we build around the CF instead of a lop-sided attack pandering to Auba who is out wide. Move… Read more »
Houghton is the token black manager, who will not be controversial.
Eh ..sure…
I’m not sure you know what token black guy means
“I don’t know what it is with people talking about signing players from PL teams and thinking they’re not going to cost 50% over market valuation.“
Marc, that’s jus it.
This is Klopp on the Jota transfer: “We fought very hard to sign him”.
Translation – the player wanted to come but Wolves didn’t want to sell, so we had to pay more than what we really wanted to.
There are instances of clubs poaching players from other PL clubs at market valuations but mostly you have to pay the premium.
Pedro I saw that, Keane was so desperate to dismiss Cahill on a superficial basis citing results when Cahill was making a deeper point about understanding exactly what is going wrong and how to fix it. Ole is approaching 2 years in the job and not one ardent fan could outline an evolution of any sort. Keane is brilliant tonic after a game like that, the archetypal clueless fan that has preconceived ideas he’s totally wedded to. I mean he spent the pre-game talking about how we’re suspect defensively but always a threat with the attack we have. Finger on… Read more »
Just saw the Southampton goals again..one clear weakness Emi has is his leap is no where as high as Lenos..his body stays really close to the ground…Leno is better in this department…Emi fan here by the way
Pedro, I absolutely love the fact all ex United players/ pundits can’t bring themselves to state the bloody obvious OGS is not the answer. Lol.
Champagne charlie
We are in a worse position in the league than this time last season.
Let’s judge Arsenal against a decent side before saluting the gaffer.
That video of Roy crying is superb! He’s absolutely livid!
Pedro
United shouldn’t put the family dog down, not any circumstances….
They should stick him on life support, and if that’s not enough? They should get him stuffed, framed, and placed in the dressing room
And out of a sign of respect, admiration and underlying love for that dog, they should never ever replacing him with another dog called Poch.
How has Auba’s body language been the last couple of months? Always find it a bit suspect when sound bites like than enter discussions. Oh it’s been fantastic. Always a willing runner always helping out the team smiling and signed a new contract. You also notice that despite being played out of position and despite struggling because of that he hasn’t once come out and complained about it. Instead it’s platitudes about the path the club is on under Arteta. Lacazette meanwhile has been moody for quite some time. but you cant ignore the role he’s playing for the team… Read more »
Move him central and build a structure around him that will provide and create.No room for Laca in that, no room for Pepe in that either. We need a creative winger like Mahrez/Bernardo Silva PLUS an orchestrator like Aouar/Coutinho
I dunno about that Aubameyang can play with wingers he flourished at Dortmund with Dembele
ust saw the Southampton goals again..one clear weakness Emi has is his leap is no where as high as Lenos..his body stays really close to the ground…Leno is better in this department…Emi fan here by the way
Emi is the weight of a grizzly , Leno much lighter.
gambon, good to see you around these parts again geezer.
Yet to cunt-drop anyone for old time’s sake? 🙂
Marko
What widemen do you like that would be affordable right now?
I really don’t understand the criticism directed at OGS on here.
I think he’s doing an amazing job.
None of the former ManUtd pundits have the courage to state the obvious. Yes OGS has not been helped by Ed Woodward scatter gun approach to recruitment, but he clearly is out of his depth. ManUtd is a currently playing not as a team but as a collection of individualities. They win games because of the players and not because of OGS tactical or coaching abilities.
marko Sheffield United are 18th in the table, they’ve been horrific this season. Citing a half of football against them isn’t a smart foundation. Like I say, you aim for the simplistic argument to avoid going near nuance and genuine difficulty. Bit weird to think a 3 managers at the elite of the game all didn’t spot that all that was required for us was to put Auba centrally, meanwhile the average fan knew about it for ages. Again just not a very sensible claim. I want Auba central now we’ve signed him up and he’s 31. But I’m not… Read more »
Guns, ability to leap higher depends on the power to weight ratio not just the weight…Baksetball wouldn’t exist otherwise..just like any other skill it can be developed irrespective of the frame
Valentin
The ridiculous number of penalties they get helps a bit as well.
Tom It’s such poor analysis, they shouldn’t be commenting on United games, there’s a clear conflict of interest. They’re never going to publicly question their friend. They got tanked by Spurs, and instead of asking where the internal improvements were from all the previous investment in the team, they were crying over their mate not being backed to sign a £110million winger. When it was unlikely a left or right winger would have made much difference to that score line or result anyway Why aren’t they demanding that Wan-Bissaka, Maguire and Fernandes are better this season, than they were last… Read more »
What widemen do you like that would be affordable right now?
Dunno. Might need to think about some in the summer but January I can’t think past some CAM’s or creative types. Szoboszlai and the like. I wouldn’t mind if we went full sesame street got in a couple highly rated kids and build for the future like Szoboszlai and Gio Reyna if I’m honest
Marc
OGS is shit which makes it difficult to understand the over the top reaction in beating them.
Citing a half of football against them isn’t a smart foundation. It is or it should be when it’s the only real example of anything fluid or balanced from our attack this season. I would argue trying to justify what we’ve seen offensively this season isn’t smart either. Like I say, you aim for the simplistic argument to avoid going near nuance and genuine difficulty. Eh sure. Bit weird to think a 3 managers at the elite of the game all didn’t spot that all that was required for us was to put Auba centrally, Actually there was a time… Read more »
But I’m not going to pretend all that needs to happen is him move central for us to become this potent attack once again. If that’s your expectation I’ll stop you right there because its fantasy. Well first off it’s not being argued that we’ll become this potent balanced attack with Auba instead of Lacazette CF instead it’s being argued that it’ll be better than the current shite we’re witnessing. Do we still need others and better players still to improve our attack? Sure but with what we have and going forward then it has to be Auba over Lacazette… Read more »
Tim Cahill played with Arteta at Everton , probably knows him better than anyone else on that Sky sports panel.
Lacazette did miss that chance on the goal line.
Putting Auba central will take a shift of personnel and tactics to accommodate.
Right. And what’s the problem with that given personnel and tactics currently have us struggling in offence? Like where’s the justification for keeping things as is and not trying something different in attack?
Marc,
True, but you need to be in the penalty box for a corrupt referee to give you one. For all the criticism of ManUtd, OGS crude counter-attacking tactics often results in an onrushing player running with the ball at his feet in the penalty box.
I read a stats on twitter that against both Liverpool and ManCity, we had one half when we did not have a single touch in open play in their penalty box.
We are facing Martinez at home on Sunday
That should bring in the best banter here.
We still have Martenelli as a viable pacey option to Laca and Nketiah. I like to see Pepe to have a more clinical and fiery attitude. He is still no where near Giggs despite his premuim price tag. I like to see more combative character in Partey like Bryan Robson or Roy Keane at the spine. To me Xhaka will fall in the pecking order as many dont see him as a ball winning player like Gerard does. He is mediocre at best as a functional player. I like to see him making the difference but sadly its hard to… Read more »
We know who you’ll be cheering on dissenter
Marko
For next summer say.
Off top of my head I like Reyna as well (may be too expensive though not sure on his contract situation), Ocampos, Oyarzabal, Cunha, Rodrigo de Paul, Thuram, Leao, Boga, Malinovskiy, Barrow.
All varying degrees of RW/LW/CAM/CF that can score, create, dribble and hopefully sync well with Aubameyang.
Roy Keane is slowly becoming a caricature of himself: the mean angry former ManUtd player. His problem is that it is a lot more difficult to bully a more intelligent man in a television studio than on the pitch with a bent referee.
Tim Cahill did not say anything extraordinary. He just stated things that were obvious, but that clearly upset Roy Keane to see somebody he consider as a lesser player daring to criticised his beloved ManUtd.
WE Reyna has less than a year on his contract. The expectation is that they’re playing him so much to convince him to sign a new deal. Could be potentially got in January but are we even looking at him?
Oyarzabal is out of the question though he’s too good. I dunno if we have to target any wingers though
De Paul and Boga would be a great pairing either side of Auba. Both would be affordable too given Udinese/Sassuolo likely won’t qualify for Europe.
De Paul gives you an inverted playmaker that creates, scores goals and is a grafter off the ball whereas Boga gives you one of the very best dribblers in all of Europe, superb athlete and can net you goals.
Cunha and Barrow have both been brilliant for Hertha/Bologna since their January moves, both gettable too. 21 years old the both of them with massive upside.
So the Mighty Gambon drops in to tell us we need to get in 4-6 more world class players. hahaha Sounds familiar, just like old times. Last, time I checked Stan Kroenke still the owner, our wage bill is huge, we aren’t in the Champions league, and due to Covid we have no income. So yeah.. if your waiting for that to happen you might as well wait another 6 years to drop back in. . Anyhow, It’s pretty much established we are looking to improve 1 or 2 players each window. There isn’t gonna be some mass overhaul..so I… Read more »
Yeah out of that list we can probably forget about Oyarzabal, Leao, Malinovskiy and Reyna if he signs da ting.
Ocampos and Thuram imo are price-dependent. Hinges on Sevilla and Monchengladbach securing CL football, if not they won’t really be in a financial position to turn down a good offer and we are a much bigger/more attractive club.
“Well first off it’s not being argued that we’ll become this potent balanced attack with Auba instead of Lacazette CF instead it’s being argued that it’ll be better than the current shite we’re witnessing” I haven’t seen the extensive thought beyond ‘move Auba central’, so it often is suggested we’ll simply improve on that basis. In fact almost nobody has mentioned Auba is a pretty one-dimensional footballer, it’s like that facet is ignored on account of his elite goal scoring. He’s an elite Theo Walcott, and that isnt a criticism, purely an observation of his skill set. Weagle What are… Read more »
Charlie Yeah Thauvin is a smooth player. Struggled for Newcastle although he was 22/23 at the time. Has been great for Marseille since the return, scored and assisted a lot of goals. I would be reluctant compared to some of the names that I listed for a couple of reasons: – 28 in Jan. Unlikely to get 5 good years out of him compared to say a Reyna, Cunha, Barrow, Thuram who all can give you well over that with resale value. – Missed all of last season through injury. Last thing we need is a potential crock considering how… Read more »
Charles again I have absolutely no idea why you’re arguing against Auba centrally given what we’re witnessing with Lacazette centrally. And if he’s one dimensional well I dunno what you’d say about Lacazette. At this stage it just looks like you’re arguing against possible Arteta criticism for sticking with it because I personally can’t understand how anyone could argue for Laca CF and Auba LW given what’s being seen.
Yeah that Musa Barrow lad looks a prospect
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11945/12122028/champions-league-coronavirus-ajax-latest-club-affected-with-11-positive-tests
This is going to happen alot in the coming months. I wonder if there’s a number at which they’d cease football
Also creates a potential scenario of foul-play/meddling.
What’s to stop somebody infecting a player off of a team before a crucial run of fixtures? I’m not talking about some crazy fan even necessarily.
Christ WE you hear that one from Rush Limbaugh? Put the tin foil hat down for a moment