I don’t know how many times I have to say this, but the rampant media bias against OGS simply must stop. This guy is pure, unadulterated, intellectually elite, Norwegian football joy. He proved it today with a beasting of Carlo A’s Everton side. Give OGS more time, give him more money, let’s see where this United experiment goes.
Poch can go to PSG.
In Arsenal news, we can start the day with a sexy transfer rumour. We’re being linked with Le Grove comments section favourite, Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian #8 has been doing exciting things for RB Salzburg.
He’s an all action midfielder. He scores goals, he makes assists, he covers ground like all the best do for RB, and he is a setpiece demon. Apparently, he’d hit 200 freekicks a day… imagine that, having an actual specialist from distance? What a weapon.
He also has an elite mindset, something you need if you’re going to make it in a new country in the most competitive league on the planet. This article from FirstTimeFinish is excellent and had this clipping.
During lockdown with the football on hold, Dominik enlisted the help of Olympic Champion coach, Shane Tusup, to help with his physical and conditioning development.
The results of the pair’s work has been a huge increase in muscle mass. It’s something noticed by Christoph Freund.
‘He’s improved a lot on the physical level,’ Freund says.
Szoboszlai, who appeared timid at times during his first Champions League appearances last season, now looks far more menacing. He was able to dictate the play against the physically commanding Atletico Madrid late last month.
Shane and Dominik remain in close contact and talk everyday.
‘I work on helping athletes get the maximum out of themselves so that they can become true warriors when they enter the battlefield,’
I like Houssem Auoar, he’s undoubtedly a massive talent, but the fuckery of the summer might be a sign of things to come with him. He’d also cost about £20m more. Szoboszlai has a £24m buyout clause, is 3 years younger, and might have more of the all action features we need in an Arsenal team that desperately lacks goals scorers and final pass masters. It might take a year or so for the players to settle, but my word, what a talent he could turn into.
What I love about this sort of rumour is that he’s exactly the sort of player you hope your club is looking at. There’s a clearly defined problem in our midfield and we’ve gone out and looked at young player that could solve it. Is it a risk? No doubt, but a £24m risk for a player trained by RB feels like one worth taking. Arsenal should do this deal. It makes sense at every level and again reinforces the notion that if you have clear vision, it is MUCH easier to buy players against it.
I love clarity.
Before we get into the game. I want to take on a very pressing issue a lot of people have been sidebarring with me about.
Mikel’s jacket.
I’m all for fashion experiments. Like football, sometimes you have to take a chance. But this selection felt like a tactical misstep and the coach has to hold himself accountable for it.
The ‘I’m selling tickets to a Tottenham Court Road night club called FLAME’ euro chic vibes were unexpected and if I’m honest, unwelcome. I think he’s over-coached the choice here. He’s tried to blend fashion with ergonomics and he’s fallen flat. The textures are all wrong and I think we need to see a big response on Sunday with something a little more classic. It’s a young coach thing; we’ve seen it with Julian Nagelsmann a few times, so keep the faith, he’ll get it right.
The line of fire in his press conference largely focused on the underperformance of Willian and Pepe. The manager didn’t shirk. He was asked if he thought their return was good enough and he straight up said no… he wants 10 goals and assists from both players. He was pushed by one journo on Willian because he gets starts over Pepe, but the reality is Willian has shown he can play at the highest level consistently… we’ve never seen that from Pepe.
The Ivorian isn’t shirking reality. He dropped and interview on Sky and basically said he’s adapting to a new coach, a new system, and he needs to give more. I’d agree. The fact he canvassed Gabriel to join Arsenal tells you he’s emotionally invested in Arsenal, so at least his body language isn’t reflective of interest. A few people have floated the idea of him playing through the middle at some point. I like that idea, he could potentially offer quite a lot as a striker, though he does have similar strength physical limitations, he certainly has more speed through the middle, and that unpredictable nature is horrible for defenders in the same way playing against Kanu was back in the day.
I think the Aston Villa game is going to pose a real challenge for Arsenal. Last time we played them, we were taught a lesson in complacency. We’d made the FA Cup final and we switched off against Villa and they beat us. It’s hard to work out what they will do against us because they have players to do more than just deep block. Their attacking players are a joy to watch when they click, Jack Grealish an absolute dream of a player we could do with. There’s a lot we need to be careful of, but we also have to remember we have better players than them and we need to find the keys to our own attacking game.
We also have to be prepared to unpick an Emi Martinez guarded goal and not fall prey to their quick counter. It’s going to be a long afternoon.
Does Joe Willock get some minutes? He was the difference-maker against a shite Molde. He has pace, he’s unpredictable, and on his day he can make and deliver. Elneny was the star the previous Thursday and he started on Sunday. It’ll be interesting to see who makes it this time. Will Xhaka in a more advanced midfield position make a Premier League debut? How will Arteta configure his front three?
Lots of questions I simply can’t answer.
I’m looking forward to the game regardless.
Right, see you in the comments. x
CT
Because Arteta is afraid and he is not going to take risks and has entrenched himself deeper into his way of playing.
Where the fuck is Tierney again
What’s going on !!
Sounds like a song!
Arteta is just winging it , clueless again.
Willian is definitely here for his retirement package.
Every fucking time I begin to think there’s a glimmer of hope we go to shit.
Willian aiming for the corner flag
Laca is so useless against that CB.
Thats a big chance. Willian. Not pressed. Time to take a touch and mis cued.
Wtf was that from Willian?
OMG Willian
Everyone alive is saying put Auba done the middle. Auba didn’t sign the contract to be continued out of position.
Is it too late to return Williams?
Get Pepe on for Willian.
Saka hasn’t played well at all.
250 k a week 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂and they say Ozil is shit
Pepe on soon
On the bright side we can’t play much worse in the second 45, can we?
azed
“ s it too late to return Williams”
2.5 more years
Laca and Willian conspiring to fuck it up again. Auba must be shaking his head.
Why does Arteta continue playing Willian. Surely both Pepe and Willock are better options
Useroz
Might be quicker to list who has played well for us tonight.
This villa midfield are torturing us here. Playing with swigger….. Champions league we are having a laugh
Willian needs to be subbed off.
Seems like every Arsenal player is having a bad day on the same day.
andy
You’re beginning to piss me off now!
Elneny has been toilet today as well.
Elneny reverts to previous form. Even in 1H with Partey around.
Retreating to former shell
Lacazette is a fooking pussy.
Dissenter
Lol and they’re the remaining teams on an ACCA that’s been running since Friday, was more scared Qarabag and Villarreal would fuck me up but it’s my two favorite teams denying me a healthy end of the year package
I can already hear the post game comment.
We stayed competitive during the game and we lost only by 1 goal…
Wouldn’t that a yellow!??
Valentin
You missed off “bumps in the road”
Remember that Lacazette and Willian will start the next game, Auba will still be shunted to the wings too.
Ceballos needs too many touches before deciding what to do.
We’re soo slow in possession and attack.
Dire stuff honestly
Another poor FL routine. Too slow. Poor shot again.
Move Willian to the left, move Saka more in the middle…. try something new!
@Marc, just wait until Pedro takes a leaf out of the Donald’s book. Lost 1-0? No, we won, definitely won the game. Fake news. la la la la la….
We need Pepe !!!
This is very Wengeresque
Is there a worse set piece team in the league than us!?
Saka is isolated again.
Where is the interplay in this side. Zero interplay
Find whatever Arteta is trying to do boring and very rigid. Don’t get me wrong there’s been improvements and one or two good results but his brand if football is quite torturous to watch. Has to be able to mix it up
Grelish is some player tbf
That is an impossible save from Leno.
andy
Don’t give him idea’s – he’ll be claiming we’ve won the CL at the end of the season.
Ceballos looks the best hope to bring a bit of spark atm
They play much better than us. Holding is a joke.
Ffs. Villa went one end to another in 5 seconds!!!
We take 5 minutes??!
Should be 3 down here… Pish
Dissenter
Agree
Leno massive save. Massive
Clueless , another defeat for our best defense in the league side
Dissenter
Exactly my thoughts. He needs to change it up when things are working. He is very rigid. Wenger esque.
Free kicks are jsut awful.
We look like we could concede a second goal at any time.
So much for defensive solidity
To be clear arteta removed our best player when Laca and Willian are on the field. Ok
We are literally being bullied there!
We ate second to every 50/50 even 55-45 balls
Some dry ass pasta so far. No sauce at all.
Post match comment will be “Well Villa did beat Pool 7-2′ Wanks!
The Dani and Mo show is not working
Tierney took one for the team.. fuck that had to hurt.
Willian is terrible today.
We look like manure this week! So far…
Things arent working*
Not watching as got stung on PPV last time out & the links are shit. Am I right in saying we ain’t had a shot on target yet?
What is disappointing is we can all see this will be a loss and theres so much time to play.
We don’t have the ability to switch things up
Better team is winning
Still fucking about in and around our own box
We can’t lose at home again that’s not good enough
Arteta are you enjoying this??
This is embarrassing
How are Willian and Laca still on the pitch.
No plan no attack, no nothing,
What were the instructions at half time?
Holding needs to hit target from there. Cmon.
Holding from 2 yards.
We are so bad our CBs have are having to create chances for each other.
Holding, poor man’s Michael Dawson.
Just get Pepe on.
Martinez hasn’t had much to do at all.
Get the Spanish waiter gone
Let’s get a proper manager in .
@Ashburton
😂😂😂
Hate it more when camera pans onto Dirty Ugly Terry
Arteta got lucky last week, his stubbornness will backfire on him for sure
Whenever Saka makes a mistake in the First Half his confidence gets shot and he usually goes on to have a very poor game.
Nketiah for Laca
One piss poor striker for another
They are not even parking the bus. Our game sucks so much.
FFS
I have found arteta to be a less creative Benitez so far. Yes he has his moments in big games but we suck against teams that we should be winning against.
Neketiah and Pepe
should have been on 15 mins ago
#LacaSad and #Villian off
Pepe and Eddie on
Meek performance. Bring on two of the meekest players in the league.
Spurs go get a left back from real Madrid, we go to Scotland for their number 2 left back…. The owners need removing ASAP
We cant seem to execute even one of the practiced set plays.
We play with hardly any conviction
Watching Holding helps me understand why the Titanic was unable to turn away from the iceberg quickly enough.
Auba shall not play centre under my guard!
Beating ole does not wash away sins, we have been on a long term trend of not creating and not playing out best team. Arteta is making it hard for himself again
How are Laca and Willian still on this pitch. I’m losing it with Arteta.
Eddie Murphy time!