FINALLY, we’re back in the mixer and there are some tasty football games to sink our teeth into this weekend.
Spurs vs City today is the first of the thrillers. Someone is dropping points, maybe both teams. Hopefully, it’s Spurs.
Then we have Leicester vs Liverpool in a top of the table clash. Again, hoping it’s Leicester dropping points.
… and then obviously, the Arsenal take on Leeds in a flashback of yesteryears Super Sunday’s. Jimmy Floyd? Lee Bowyer? Mark Viduka? Oof… some names that make feel a bit queezy.
Mikel Arteta has a lot resting on this game. It’s not pivotal to his future, but it’s a huge test because fans are demanding to see that the club is on the up. There’s a lot of worry that we’re on the slide and it’s terminal. Nail a win against a side everyone seems to think is excellent and we’ll have a nice week.
My uncle is a massive Leeds United fan. I spoke to him yesterday and he has a lot more faith in Arsenal than most of us do. His take is that Arsenal will be wounded and Leeds can’t defend for shit. He’s hoping to score early and take a point. The game plan from Bielsa can only go one way. We’ve seen them ship 8 goals in two games. Surely there’s a clue in there somewhere.
I think we’re hoping that Arteta and his coaching staff have had plenty of time to stew on the conundrum that is our lack of attacking prowess. We’re hoping the team is as fired up as Dani Ceballos after a rogue ‘you mum’ joke flies at him. We want to see a reaction and see off the Villa game as an anomaly.
What we don’t want to see: Lacazette or Auba through the middle
What we do want to see: Big performances from big players and an attacking approach that yields more than two shots on target
Arteta was asked in the press conference if he was feeling a different type of pressure now fans are calling him Fraudteta on the Twitter.com. He answered like Arsene Wenger would. He said the loss last week really hurt him. He will firstly look at his own decisions and try to learn. Overall though, despite saying again that the road back to the top will be bumpy, he’s very optimistic about the future.
Arsenal fans want to know that the people at the club care and we want to know that our new coach who is learning the ropes is actually prepared to the learn the ropes. If nothing changes this weekend, then it’ll start to look like he’s just stubborn. If he changes things and it doesn’t work, it’ll look like he doesn’t know what he’s doing. The job is hard, because we are a long way from the top and fans don’t like to accept that.
The coach is staying positive, he wants more honeymoons, and he seems very confident that he’s taking us on the right journey.
The Leeds game is a great place to try and claw back some points and make a move on the table. Big teams are playing each other this weekend. Points will drop. We need to make them up against a team that will most certainly not be in the top 6 this season.
Should be a fun game. See you in the comments. Listen to the podcast if you haven’t. I added music and cleaned up the sound a bit!
The best signing we could make would be the bureaucrats at Leicester.
They’re a brilliantly run club, their scouting is superb, their succession planning exemplary, they sell high, buy low, and have a much more balanced squad, with a wage bill that’s a fraction of ours.
Soyuncu, Pereira, Maddison, Vardy, Ndidi all walk into our starting eleven, and we’re all signed combined for what we paid for Pepe.
Godfather The criticism of the Kroenkes is that they haven’t been able to appoint the right people to run the club for them, or even take on the guidance of someone they trust that can help make the right recommendations. They’re not remotely football people, and it shows. They bought Arsenal on the reputation of Wenger being a Billy Beane baseball-style efficient operator; as soon as the situation moved on from that, they were lost. We’re consistently underperforming what we spend on transfers and wages due to poor executive leadership throughout the club, but what’s equally worrying is that quietly,… Read more »
Son has scored as many goals as the whole Arsenal team. Shameful.
Calypso
Son has scored as many goals as the whole Arsenal team. Shameful.
—
Haven’t you heard that the Arsenal team is shit? Last season, we had a top 6 squad. But after adding Gabriel and Partey, we now have a top 12 squad.
Haaland is an absolute freak. Toying with the Bundesliga at age 20, hat-rick now tonight.
6 foot 4, lethal finisher, fast as a bull and very good technique. Just blows by grown men defenders as if they’re not there.
Cunha would be a great pick up from Hertha, certainly won’t be there beyond this season.
Top class dribbler/creator and scorer, few and far between those kind of players and most of them aren’t at a club as average as Hertha.
Weagle
Was at Leipzig until the summer, odd for them to ditch a 21 year old talent. What’s his story?
Penalchester United right at it. Mike Riley with a direct call to the ref. Jesus Christ!!!
Charlie
Just one that slipped through the net, never showed too much at Leipzig although he didn’t really get the chance.
Since he joined Hertha in January he’s been a top 5 player in the league. 10 goals in 18 apps, many of them spectacular. Close to topping the league for dribbles/key passes too and when you watch him, he’s a class apart.
Played a through ball tonight to die for before his worldie goal.
A penalty for WBA given by the ref overturned by VAR after clear contact shown multiple times in the replay. Commentators and Peter Walton both say it’s pen and shocked it got overturned. PGMOL class!
Weagle
Have never seen him, who would you compare him to in the prem?
Make that 11, just scored a pen for his brace vs Dortmund.
Haaland with his 4th, kid is the best finisher in Europe outside of Lewandowski now.
What’s the chances this pen stands!? It’s fucking sickening. When will this ridiculous bias for a United be stopped? I bet Trump is jealous of the control United have over the officiating in the PL. it’s outright cheating.
Baying
Not even watching it. A penalty for United you say? Call me shocked. A soft one? Get out, I don’t believe you.
Its quite amazing how simeone has managed to change marcos llorente,a defensive midfielder to an attacking midfielder and a very good one at that.In fact he is better than some of the real attacking midfielders
tbf penalties shouldn’t be awarded for barely touching a player if at all. Player threw himself to the ground and the slight touch on him wasn’t the cause of him falling to the ground.
Mong United making tough weather of dispatching WBA.
Correct on the Kroenkes Elmo. Let’s hope they are now getting the right sort of people into the club, I am sure there will be more to come, and their life long Arsenal supporter lawyer friend will keep a close eye on things. And fair play to them for recognising they need such a figure on the ground We are in a very good place to come out of this transition in a good place but it’s going to take time, the club slipped a long way I can see why Stan was so wary of getting rid of Wenger… Read more »
At this points it’s comical how United are getting helped by the refs game in game out. EPL is getting a big, fat stain for this. It’s blatantly obvious and unfair.
Charlie
Hard to think of anyone, he’s a typical Brazilian maverick type in that he pulls off some incredible moves but he’s a hard worker off the ball too from what I have seen.
Scores, creates and dribbles well too. Rare gems them kind of players.
Raptora
The penalty denial for WBA was correct.
I don’t know about their penalty. Didn’t see that one.
WengerEagleNovember 21, 2020 21:12:06
Haaland with his 4th, kid is the best finisher in Europe outside of Lewandowski now
Wait till you see yousoufa moukoko ..the 16 year old who looks like a 30year old …he is the next big thing apparently
Are we worried that Mong United are going to push Teets down one place in the table come the end of the season
Cause they ain’t winning the title are they..
In WBA’s penalty appeal Fernandes clearly hit the shin of WBA’s player. Bruno was trying to clear the ball with power so I assure you the hit was substantial. https://streamja.com/P3rOl They repeated it many times. Clear pen for me.
Not even watching it. A penalty for United you say? Call me shocked. A soft one? Get out, I don’t believe you.“
You couldn’t make it up. Well actually you could. WBA get a penalty, over turned on review. Straight down the other end, soft pen for United (ball to hand from 2 yards but given), saved but retaken on review because Johnson was adjudged to have come off his line. You get the feeling they would have kept retaking or until United has scored.
Ishola
Do you still think it’s a stretch to consider Spuds in the running for the title since they have two world class strikers, lots of attacking midfield and central midfield talent along with a manager who’s won tones of stuff before?
I ask because her last time I made this comment you thought it was heresy.
No one is saying they will win it but they will be in the conversation a lot.
Haaland is that player you create on a game console.
He hardly touched him Raptora if at all..
And the WBA player clearly threw himself to the ground not because of the so-called force of Fernandez but by flinging himself to the ground.
No pen.
“Are we worried that Mong United are going to push Teets down one place in the table come the end of the season”
Our team finishing higher than our direct rivals is pretty important, no?
Ishola,
Both BT commentators + the ex ref Peter Walton were shocked it was denied. Couldn’t believe their eyes.
Raptora
“Our team finishing higher than our direct rivals is pretty important, no?”
What? Mong United finishing 6th and Arsenal 7th?
Couldn’t give a shit in that instance tbh.
Raptora
“Both BT commentators + the ex ref Peter Walton were shocked it was denied. Couldn’t believe their eyes.”
Really? So we really are on the road where we will see games with lots and lots of penalties in every match.
Football is really going down a sorry road.
After Manure scored commentators said “1-0 to Manchester United in a controversial night for VAR. Look at Ole Solskjaer, there is no happiness on his face.”
Weagle
Sounds like the sort of operator we’re missing. Maybe Guendouzi can do some damage and we can propose a swap. I see they paid 16 mil for him, he’ll be a 30 mil player if he has a season like you’re suggesting he could.
Him, Hungry Dom, Aoaur, I can fully get behind a slew of vibrant young attackers like those in place of your Ceballos, Pepe, Lacazette bunch offering flaccid football.
Spurs are top we’re 12th, if we lose tomorrow it should be P45 time for cone boy
Atletico paid a fortune for joao Felix last season and he was stinking the place out but simeone kept on playing him until he came good.I am not saying that pepe is as talented as Felix but before discarding him we can at least try to make it work
VAR made the correct decision.
The silly pundits including this ex ref aren’t making the calls are they.
They are there to add debate and love to stir a bit of controversy.
They think they are selling the game with controversial talking points that they make up.
Keeps viewers interested you see.
No Dissenter Spurs won’t be winning the title.
Kane and Son will hit some dry periods.
Their central midfield isn’t that good.
But they are likely to finish a few fair points above Arsenal which is enough to dwell on.
Oh, the ref that changed his opinion is a suspected Manure fan. David Coote, formerly employed as Football Development Manager for football and facility development across Great Manchester. Was in charge of VAR when Pickford did that tackle vs VvD and didn’t get punished. Was in charge of VAR in the 1-1 draw between Manure vs Liverpool when Marcus Rashford’s opener stood despite a VAR check on a foul from Victor Lindelof on Divock Origi in the buildup. Referee David Coote taken OFF VAR duty for Liverpool’s clash against Leicester after fan backlash ahead of what would have been his… Read more »
Man Utd will continue to get this treatment as long as Mike Riley has a pulse. Riley May have no natural affinity to Utd but he exists for the brand, and Utd are part of that. But In general, there is favouritism going Utds way , and that by definition is a lack of a level playing field, therefore corruption, I am amazed this hasn’t been looked into
Apparently 18 penalties since the start of last season, guessing we have had about 5 in the same time
Rio Ferdinand and Scholes are “baffled” by the refs decision to overturn the penalty.
“Man Utd will continue to get this treatment as long as Mike Riley has a pulse. Riley May have no natural affinity to Utd but he exists for the brand, and Utd are part of that. But In general, there is favouritism going Utds way , and that by definition is a lack of a level playing field, therefore corruption, I am amazed this hasn’t been looked into”
My God ManU cheating – well I’m just glad it hasn’t been going on for almost 3 decades.
First it was Villa, then Everton, now it’s Spurs. Wake me up when one of them actually wins the league.
Elite power rankings for dickheads.
Raptora
“Rio Ferdinand and Scholes are “baffled” by the refs decision to overturn the penalty.”
That’s called trolling Raptora and it looks like they have trolled you well enough.
They will be giggling amongst themselves off air afterwards when they leave the studio.
It always makes me laugh when people criticise VAR – why?
Look at the problem and chain of events.
Problem: Ref’s are fucking useless and should all be fired.
Solution: Bring in technology to make sure moronic (and difficult) decisions are called correctly.
Not the right solution but a step in the right direction then it goes really bad.
Put the same useless cunt fuck up retards in charge of the VAR.
And people wonder why it isn’t working.
I heavily dislike Mong United with the best of them but that was clearly a dive from the WBA player under hardly any contact.
The game is going to get ridiculous if pens are called just because of “contact” and the merest of contacts.
We will have games in the near future where actual goals scored from open play will pale significantly compared to penalties scored.
But Raptora has always been penalty obssessive either for or against.
It’s going to disfigure the game badly.
The person who heads the refs is fuckin useless and should be fired , and I cannot fathom why he isn’t
At least the Italians had the good grace to call out for what it really is
David
Because it’s all about vested interests. Everyone involved with the current ref setup should be kicked out forever.
Apparently public executions aren’t allowed anymore – fucking snowflake do gooders.
Rio Ferdinand: “It’s a disgraceful decision. How can he change his mind? The more you look at it, the more it’s a clear penalty.”
Scholes: “I still can’t make up my mind. It’s 50/50”
Rio: “Paul, don’t lie, don’t lie. It’s unbelievable. It’s so clear.”
Spuds are top of the table WTF 🙁
Ishola: “The game is going to get ridiculous if pens are called just because of “contact” and the merest of contacts.”
A straight hit shin on shin with power is a “contact”. Okay.
Exactly, it’s still ultimately down to human error even with the technology because the Ref gets final say and his take can vary with the next man’s.
It has eradicated the really egregious decisions so has overall been good imo but for the borderline ones it hasn’t really helped much at all, at least not in the PL.
Another situation 2 touches of the ball before Manure get their penalty – obvious foul on Gallagher by Fred. Both Rio and Paul say it’s an clear foul. And neither VAR or ref give it.
We will end up where penalties in football will become like free throws in basketball such is the mania for penalties to be given. Same amount.
And I don’t want football to become like basketball.
Something should certainly be done about them Marc,
If the woke and snowflakers would allow, I would take the public humiliation route, starting with Riley Though I fear he might enjoy such things
David
Not if it’s left to me he won’t!
As for rivalry we have gone down Man United’s list in that regard now that Leeds are in the EPL.
Just find out that Szoboszlai is voted #8 in the 2020 Golden Boy award list, one spot ahead of Saka. Looks like there is no risk signing him.
Even OGS admits it’s a pen. Ishola knows better I guess.
Ishola
“We will end up where penalties in football will become like free throws in basketball such is the mania for penalties to be given.”
That argument has had people voicing it for decades – it was bullshit then and it’s bullshit now.
Marc
There are more and more calls for penalties then ever before.
It’s nothing like “decades ago”
Ishola
There are no more calls they are just getting more attention.
Take ManU’s daft numbers out the equation and I very much doubt things are that different.
Raptora
“Even OGS admits it’s a pen. Ishola knows better I guess.”
So why were his players arguing so vehemently when they thought it was given it was such a nailed on penalty.
OGS can troll as well Raptora.
It’s a game Raptora. They are all playing a game.
Man United are fully aware that they are called out in regards penalty decisions.
Do you not think that they are loving this and are agreeing that it should have been a pen but all the while they are laughing up their sleeves.
Raptora falls for it.
Ishola
“So why were his players arguing so vehemently when they thought it was given it was such a nailed on penalty.”
Have you ever watched a ManU match before? I’ve seen their players argue against a red card when a machete was involved.
They look to intimidate the ref – if it doesn’t work on this decision it might affect the next.
You really are being naive.
Marc
Fernandez was screaming at the ref that he hardly touched the player and he was in his rights to do so as well.
It would have been the softest of pens to award with barely minimal contact and an opposing player flinging himself to the ground.
I would have been very unhappy if that was awarded as a pen involving Arsenal.
And Man United are just being ironical now by agreeing that it should have been a pen.
They are trolling.
Wake up to it.
“and he was in his rights to do so as well.”
Yeah I hate to burst your bubble but you are not allowed to scream at the ref. Liverpool and ManU might get away with it but you watch a Burnley player try it and see what happens.
These call outs on Man United regarding penalties are most likely a running joke with their players and in the Man United camp.
And they were having a good old laugh tonight with it.
Apparently commentators, ex players, ex refs and the manager of Manure himself are laughing backstage all while saying it’s a pen in front of the cameras. What a weird opinion you have Ishola.
That’s not what they’re doing at all.
They are playing the PR game so there isn’t a riot that leads to a new law that ManU are never allowed another pen this century.
“These call outs on Man United regarding penalties are most likely a running joke with their players and in the Man United camp.And they were having a good old laugh tonight with it.”
Oh they are laughing – because they keep getting away with it.
Raptora
It’s already been explained to you that the purpose of the pundit is to give talking points and if controversial even better.
Man United camp manager and players alike are now having a laugh at this. They are being ironical.
And Raptora Ferdinand and Scholes are the Man United camp posing as pundits.
They are Mong United through and through.
They are in on the joke as well.
Yes we are Man United. Yes we get every decision in our favour. Yes that was a definite pen on the WBA player.
Stop sucking up their trolling.
???
Raptora
I don’t like to see you as a fellow Arsenal fan get trolled by these Man United lot.
Because that’s what they are doing. Good old fashioned trolling.
Who knew Ronald Koeman was not a top manager?
Sad seeing Messi decline so rapidly.
Always felt that Ronaldo would outlast him even though he’s 2.5 years older.
WE,
Can it be he is no longer giving his all in light of the Summer window things that happened? Haven’t watched a single Barcelona game this season.
Don’t think so rap although must be a factor.
He just isn’t anywhere near as good in front of goal as he once was.
Ronaldo is still pretty lethal in front of goal.
There are lots of crappy referees in the premier league.
Wasn’t David Coote the VAR official who didn’t know a red card offense can still occur when the whistle is blown dead?
Wenger eagle
Messi is not playing happy and it’s showing on the pitch.
It’s the beginning of the end for both really. Modric won Ballon d’or in 2018, and VvD deserved to win in 2019 ahead of Messi really. No award will be given this year but in 2021 Ronaldo could clinch it if he wins the Champions League or Euro 21 but I will not be surprised if neither of them is makes the top 3. World’s best player throne (or should I say thrones) might be empty at this point. For the first time in almost 15 years. Absolutely insane how long these 2 have dominated the world football. Will be… Read more »
Dissenter
It’s more than that, he’s struggled to find the net with the same consistency for about a full year now.
Doesn’t score away from home anymore either.
He scored 25 in the league last season but they came in clusters rather than week in and out like he has always done his career.
Messi deserved the Ballon D’or over VVD imo, even Van Dijk himself said as much.
It’s an individual award for the player that had the best season and that was undoubtedly Messi.
Always found it weird how much they favoured it being the best player on the best team even if there was a better player on a different team.
Modric definitely didn’t deserve it when he won it. He was never the best player in the world and it does the award a massive disservice.
LG being reactionary as usual. Spuds beat Citeh and they’re suddenly world beaters on the way to winning the pl. It’s not even joke Friday (what happened to that btw?)
raptor “Mbappe would be my candidate”
I prefer Haaland. I hope that Bayern won’t apply pressure to steal him from Dortmund.
Who leaked the training ground kerfuffle? I have a prime suspect but not sure if he’s training with the first team ATM.
Bojangles
“Who leaked the training ground kerfuffle? I have a prime suspect but not sure if he’s training with the first team ATM.
Who cares? It may not even be a playing staff.
If Arteta is so worried about leaks so he can have the club build an special indoor Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility for training.
His brief is to train the team, not to micro-manage them like he does during games.
Just checked Laca’s stats in the Villa game. He has received a total of 5 passes from his teammates compared to 35 for Villa’s Watkins. Laca was just a spectator in that game. .Eddie should have better chemistry with his teammates.
This much we now know…
1. What does it say for Arsenal if Villa put up a dud today?
2. Spurs, unfortunately, are for very much real!
3. Arteta better produce something more tomorrow than than pure abject crap he’s put out of late, he has to, period!
4. Arsenal MUST come up with something more than ZERO tomorrow.
If Arteta is bothered by a practice dust up being leaked, then he has far more serious problems than a slap to the nose to worry about. Get a fricken result tomorrow, Arteta! Anything less is sugar on a stick in front of a diabetic.
Pedro you say we don’t want Laca or auba through the middle so who should it be? Eddie?
Auba is a poor winger and Eddie is still very rough cut despite his international form.
Saka on the left and auba central is the only logical choice
I am now of the belief that Arteta may be so immersed in his beliefs that he no longer recognizes the reality that his methods are not capable of seeing the light of day. He wont be the first, and certainly not the last, but just the same the pattern is formed and the results are firm that he may not see his own reality. Just saying, but thus far….
Anything but a result against a newly promoted club is NOT acceptable. You can slice and dice the excuses but nothing more than 3 points is a requirement, or this version of Arsenal is destined for the scrap heap as a given.
Tomorrow will be really telling how we line up and if Art has actually done any offensive strategy
If not, and we get kicked, then it will say it all…
I have a feeling Saka will take more of the burden to make something happen.
I also do not think he will start Pepe but I hope I a wrong.
He needs to learn to make subs earlier. THis 60 -65 min subbing is numbing my brain
And for the record, West Brom got jobbed by the worst refereeing in history!
WE: “Messi deserved the Ballon D’or over VVD imo, even Van Dijk himself said as much. It’s an individual award for the player that had the best season and that was undoubtedly Messi.” I agree to an extend. I believe it should be the best player in the world but trophies should matter. If you were the best in the world, chances are you’d have helped your team win stuff. Barcelona lost a 3 goal first leg lead vs Liverpool to crash out the UCL. It was depressing stuff really as they repeated what happened the previous year vs Roma.… Read more »