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!
I thought they revised then handball-penalty rules.
What’s a player to do when the ball is blasted at him from 2 yards?
The Brom defender turned his back against the ball and the ball was blasted at his hand
Arteta kinda feels like a cheque book manager. Not a manager keen on building young players. He’s strategy seems to be to bring in more experienced heads, even if they are a bit more expensive and have no re sale value.
Surely if not only being an absolute monster but showing up in big games and winning trophies matters than Lewa should’ve been ahead of Messi and CR?
China, owning in a one team league doesn’t count for much. One UCL trophy in a massive club like Bayern isn’t a great achievement. No big success with Poland either.
We have witnessed the changing of the guard in tennis today. Djokovic loss to Thiem and Nadal loss to Medvedev.
Nelson,
It’s a big deal, though it’s not a GS tournament so it’s not as important.
The logical system should be able to increase the amount of goals Auba is contributing, while getting more goals from a few others,
Basic and Brendan has done it with Vardy
Meanwhile diet Pep and fanboys are yabbering about ‘process’, which is the new ‘sauce’
Nelson
It’s called a fact of life.
Let’s not forget though that the ATP Finals is basically a glorified exhibition event.
Here’s a trip down memory lane, our last Premier League game at Elland Road.
https://youtu.be/zt4C1eCS3N8 (hope that works)
Our third goal, less than 20 seconds between Leeds’ corner and us putting the ball in their net.
There is no excuse persisting with playing Aubameyang out wide.
The current system is far too rigid and far too predictable.
Arteta must change things and quickly.
Have no clue what will happen today.
Good morning Graham,
Agree that we need to see evidence of some change today in terms of our style. I wouldn’t expect whole sale changes but yes, seeing more threat in our attack is a must.
Chris
Good morning.
Arteta also has to show more trust and support in those players that need it most ie- Pepe, Nketiah, Willock, AMN, Nelson, Martinelli, Balogun and not just those players who are putting on a false front for him.
You know the ones
Graham
Yes I am all for seeing more of the younger players. Willock and Nelson in particularly have looked bright and shown a spark when given the opportunity.
A lack of midfield options today may mean Willock sees some substantial game time today, it would be a good chance for him to show what he can do.
A Bisela team practicing for 2 weeks as none of their players were on International Duty versus an Arsenal team who only managed to return on Thursday. Just 3 days practice and a long travel up north. Its going to be interesting to say the least. I suspect this is a mauling and hope we can recover from this.
Also perhaps an interesting side plot today, how is Nketiah’s motivation today? I bet he would love to score today at a club that loaned him in but never really have him much of a chance.
If we don’t see a change today and Auba is played out wide and we fail to get a result, I’m committedly jumping on the Arteta Out wagon.
Raptora Ronaldo is an absolute freak though in the CL, you make it sound as if Messi is a big game shirker or something? Messi was the best player in 3 Barcelona CL winning sides, scored massive goals in two Finals vs Manchester United, SF goals vs Pep’s Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at the Bernabeu [his second greatest goal in his career] and how many times has he dicked over Real Madrid in the Clasico? He literally is the best Clasico player ever by FAR. I agree with your main point but for me it has coincided with Messi’s… Read more »
Arteta hasn’t a clue about using flair and imagination.
Watching Man City shows how he is trying to copy their possession with constant short, sideways boring passing. Our midfield and attackers are looking to pass rather than shooting.
We will loose today and scape a draw with Wolves and then loose to Spuds.
I don’t think we can wait three years playing like this
Big game
Who thinks the former Xhaka, now Arsenal manager has it in the bag to outsmart Bielsa? Leeds are licking their lips. If Auba crosses the ball to anybody today I am officially a smarter manager than Fraudteta
MC have become boring and predictable.
And re the Ballon D’or I agree that trophies should definitely come into it but it’s about balance. Messi was a cunt hair away from cleaning house and winning a treble by being by far the best individual player and instrumental in Barca winning the Last 16, QF and SF first leg, even on that near miss he still won La Liga. VVD you could just as easily say failed to win anything domestically. If Messi was dumped out early in Europe you may have a point. Modric won it in a year that on paper he only actually won… Read more »
The negativity is building.
The onus is now on Arteta.
Will he step up to the plate?
Always find it fascinating when a player like N’Ketiah is so prolific at youth level but looks average at senior level.
Hope for our sake that he can kick on this season and score us some important goals, the West Ham winner was a big one.
Eh, Spurs won today just as we did against City last season in the Cup, literally close to identical.
I’ll be terrified the day they outplay Citeh and win.
Seeing alot of memes and and jokes about “The non-negotiables”. Let’s put it this way. Respect and trust in Artetas non-negotiables is on the line with this team selection.
So he has 2 chances to keep fans onside.
1. With a good team selection.
And even if he gets that wrong
2. A win.
Now if he achieves glorious failure or a hard fought draw. These are scenarios Where its hard to guess how fans will react.
Either way for sure his non-negotiables philosophy is up for serious scrutiny today.
Wenger Eagle
One thing I do know is that T14 was robbed of winning it.
Shevchenko!!….Don’t make me laugh.
A travesty.
Nketiah is being misused by diet Pep,
in the right system he would easily outperform Gab Jesus
It’s difficult to take the Ballon D’or seriously when you see names like Michael Owen on the list.
Must win game today.
I’ve always been vehemently against Arteta’s appointment, today he needs to prove why he deserves his exalted position.
Graham Right on. Back then the award was so retar.ded. Ballon D’or winner was different to the FIFA World POTY and the top 3 weren’t even closely related. The year Owen won the Ballon D’or the top three were: 1- Michael Owen 2- Raul 3- Oliver Kahn The same year this was the FIFA World POTY: 1- Luis Figo 2- David Beckham 3- Raul From 2002-2006 Henry was the best player in the world and if not only second to Ronaldinho for a time there. In those 5 years in the Ballon D’or rankings, he didn’t win the award at… Read more »
In 2005-06 which as a season was Ronaldinho’s peak [most insane peak I’ve ever seen from a player outside of Messi/Ronaldo] he didn’t even finish top 3 in Ballon D’or voting, fucking joke. Henry who had his second best season ever individually while taking us to the CL and France to the World Cup Final which he lost on pens finished 3rd behind Cannavaro and Buffon.
If Trezeguet had scored that pen and Grosso missed, would have been Henry’s Ballon D’or. Was a WC wankfest.
Is it true that we are the only team that hasn’t conceded a goal through set piece all season?
Predicting a draw today.
2-2
Sid I’m not sure there’s Arteta “fan boys”, other than Pedro…. I’m not wedded into Arteta, and wasn’t wedded into the idea of Emery either. I just think managers generally don’t get enough time, football fans by enlarge are too knee jerk We live in a society of bedwetters, having a competition with each other over who can have the biggest emotional meltdown. If Arteta were to lose the dressing room, he’d have to go. But I think we need some cool heads, we’re a long way away from where we’d like to be, and I’m just certainly not convinced… Read more »
Leeds will score 2 or more. A draw is best result we can hope for
TH14 inspired a generation of youngsters.
Aubameyang, Lacaztte, Mbappe,Jesus, Sterling, Rashford, Martial, Hazard and many many more see him as their idol and role model.
The legacy of TH14 and the way he played the game is massive.
Samesong
Yeah we have yet to concede from a set-piece, even a PK.
Oddly impressive stat, imagine saying that to us back in Cescball days with Wenger’s obsession with midget CB’s.
Just a shame that we can’t actually score goals, lol.
Another 18 months under Arteta and we will be playing championship football when he does get sacked. Nothing I’ve seen about Arteta has made me change my mind.
Henry shits on all of those names too except for M’Bappe.
And I rated Henry higher as a player tbh. I know that M’Bappe will potentially go on to be better but in terms of technique, creativity and ability on the ball, Henry all day.
As amazing as M’Bappe is, I’m not sure just how much better he’ll actually get than he is right now.
Eden Hazard has admitted that in 2002, when Henry scored that wonder goal against Spuds at Highbury, he was inspired to do the same.
Hazard was 11 at the time.
The rest is history.
Ashburton
Bojan Krkic springs to mind. Was labelled the next Messi when Messi himself was still a teenager, lol.
Eddie keeps getting compared to Wrighty, I just don’t see it myself. Wrighty himself wasn’t even a pro at Eddie’s age but his story is exceptionally rare.
We have a top striker in Martinelli, the way he develops will be on arteta, we know he’s got the potential but can arteta see and nurture it?
if we get a negative result tonight, the fans will start to turn on arteta.
Were any of you at Highbury that day?
Probably my favourite ever a Henry goal.
If Eddie had an ounce of what Wrighty had in his body, you’d see a different animal.
The thing I loved about Thierry Henry is the pleasure he took from destroying Tottenham. Shame he had to leave to get his CL medal.
Wenger eagle
No player is turning pro at 23 in the modern day. Either you have an agent by 16-18 or no one is going to look at you.
If eddie turns into a good goal scorer or tap in merchant, that’s great but atm, martinelli when fit should start ahead of him.
Btw, I’m still pissed at luiz for injuring martinelli in training. How thick do you have to be, to injure your own team mate while training.
VvD was well on his way of winning the EPL in December when the award is given. 8 pts clear of Leicester, 11 pts of City. They had 13 wins and 1 draw in 14 games. Mental. And in the EPL before that VvD was part of a team that finished with 97 pts, 1 loss in 38 games. Barca and Real were dead even on pts. Modric I don’t think deserved it. If Croatia had won the Euros, he would have had a proper shot at it, as he was their leader. But not without it. As for Henry.… Read more »
My favourite ever Henry goal for aesthetics had to be his goal vs Slavia Prague to tie up Wrighty’s record 185, backheel first touch from a long ball to give himself a yard of space and a perfect outside of the foot half-volley from outside the box caressed into the corner.
For significance, it’s easily his Bernabeu solo goal.
For sentiment, it’s between his Spurs solo goal, United volley and solo goal at home to Pool in the Invincibles season.
Yep, we were so lucky to have him.
God, I wish we had him now.
HerbsArmy
Obligatory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6piJI4LL1Q
Back when Ledley and Spurs were his bitch. Oh the glory days.
Gonsterous
Agreed, that’s why I said that Wright was the exception and not the rule.
Henry’s goal against Spuds was exhilarating.
Power, pace, skill, control and a sublime finish.
His celebration was awesome.
Va va frigging voom!
Rap
Agree re Modric, winning the CL and World Cup as the best player would have had him more deserving although Ronaldo and Bale [Final] were both much more of a factor in the CL win.
Owen’s win was a joke and Beckham being 2nd in FIFA POTY.
I doubt that Henry’s cares tbh, anyone that watched the game that half decade knows that he was the best.
Is Ticka-tacka football dying a death?
Who gives a shite if you have 70+% possession if you can’t put the ball in the net.
Luis Suarez retiring without a Ballon D’or is also sad. 2013-2016 he was the best pure striker I have ever seen.
WE,
In Messi and CR7’s time it was hard for Suarez. Imagine him being in his prime right now and leading Liverpool’s attack…
It will be such an open race in 2021. Who will claim the throne as the best player in the world when the two greats are on their way out? Both sad and exciting.
Graham Football has moved past Tiki-Taka for now, who knows it may reappear again in the future these things can be cyclical. I’d say since Bayern Munich won the treble in 2013 there has been much more of an emphasis on pace, power and industry off the ball. Pure playmakers have been gradually faded out of the game. Ozil, Fabregas, Isco, James, Mata were all top chance creators around that time, look at where that list are now save for James’ resurgence. Ozil, Fabregas and Mata in particular declined pretty spectacularly. Past great Tens like Riquelme, Aimar and Guti would… Read more »
Rap
Haaland and M’Bappe for sure look like the leading candidates out of the next gen, both are already in contention if we’re talking this year.
Also think that Felix and Sancho will be up thereabouts.
Thanks WE, a very interesting watch.
Henry in his pomp should definitely have at least one Ballon D’or he was infinitely better than Owen.
I agree with you WE, the early 2000’s were all about Ronaldinho and Henry.
Zidane’s CL final goal for Real was top draw though.
Afternoon,
Graham I was at highbury that day, Henry was just different class at that time.
I remember the bindippers game losing and looking lost, then henry just dragging the team up and tearing the bindippers a new one.
Scandalous how he never one the balon dor!
Zidane was amazing, a real joy to watch.
I’ve never seen a player with the combination of such elegance, combined with that level of aggression.
Rich
Bergkamp?
Although he lacked Zidane’s power.
Invincibles season on Sky.
HerbsArmy
Only stumbled upon it myself recently, loved it.
Gloves are Off set up with Souness lurking in the shadows as Johnny Nelson’s stand-in adds to the hilarity of Henry getting to roast Ledley King once again all these years later.
Not sure who’s idea it was but cruel feeding King to Henry like that, lamb to the slaughter.
Since Bayern Munich won the treble in 2013 there has been much more of an emphasis on pace, power and industry off the ball.
Wengereagle what pisses me off is that’s what won wenger titles, as soon as he gave up on that it was tiki taka Barcelona lite football which we didn’t have the players for.
And we never looked like winning the league again.
We never replaced paddy, we never replaced Gilberto, I’m hoping partey is part of the solution.
Grabs
Agreed, take Messi out of that Pep Barca side and you likely have Arsenal under Wenger.
The disrespect that he showed to CDM over those years along with CB and GK was astounding given he built the bedrock of his success on Adams/Keown/Campbell and Vieira/Petit/Gilberto Silva along with Mad Jens.
Always essential to remind Tottenham of their place, WE, when they start flying a little bit too high.
Kane is obviously England’s best number 9, but he has yet to prove his pedigree against quality opposition.
WengerEagle
Bergkamp was similar, wasn’t anywhere near as ambidextrous as Zidane though.
Zidane had the balance and poise of a ballerina, flawless technique with both feet, arial ability of an accomplished centre half, and the aggression of a blood hungry predator.
He’s by far the most talented and complete midfielder I’ve ever seen.
Tika taca was abit of a myth in the end. Last 5 UCL finalists.
1. Bayern Psg
2. Liverpool Spurs
3. Madrid Liverpool
4. Real madrid Juve
5. Real Atletico
Did City NEED tika taca to win the prem? Last 5 prem winners
Liverpool
City
City
Chelsea
Leicester
Chelsea
City
Utd
‘Counter Attack’ has produced more success for teams over the year imo.
Wengereagle,
Amazed me that all he ever seemed to want to do was buy attacking central midfield players. At one point we had 5 of them for playing in the hole. The rest were farmed out to the wings or sat on the bench.
When he could have bought mark schwarzer for another 500k, who was a huge improvement on almunia, but wouldn’t pay it.
Refusing to pay the extra 2.5 million for gary cahill, both would have strengthened us in defence instead of the likes of silvestre or squillachi.
Rich
I only caught the tail end of Zidane because of my age, his Real days.
That World Cup QF match vs Brazil who were billed as an unstoppable force with Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Adriano, Kaka, Robinho it was watching a men amongst boys.
Zidane at age 34 was by far the best player on the park. An absolute giant of a player and as elite mentally as I’ve seen, imagine having the audacity and ability to pull off a Paneka pen at 0-0 in a World Cup Final on prime Gigi Buffon.
La croq
Tiki-Taka no doubt reigned supreme from 2008-2012 though with Barcelona winning 2 CL titles and it taking all-time incredible events/defensive masterpieces from Inter Milan and Chelsea in the CL SF to stop them cleaning up 4/4. Also won La Liga 3/4 times.
And Spain international cleaned house winning back to back Euros and the World Cup
Interesting discussion regarding the pace and power vs tika taka.
The Bayern team of 2013 was almost unstoppable and it was a joy to watch them dismantle Barcelona in that semi final.
Worth noting that Pep then took them over and changed the style? They didn’t repeat the continental success they enjoyed previously, although there are of course other variables to that.
Personally I preferred pace, power and fast counter attacks to tika taka, although Peak Barcelona and the teams we had 2007-11 were breathtaking no to watch with the movement and technique.
Grabs
Yeah plenty of baffling decisions, also passed up on Xabi Alonso IIRC.
Chris
It’s worth noting re the pace and power sides that they also had outstanding ball players too in Robben, Ribery, Kroos and Schweinsteiger for that Bayern side, Ronaldo, Benzema, Modric/Alonso and Ronaldo, Benzema, Modric/Kroos in those Real Madrid sides.
That’s why Bayern in Henyckes season were the most unstoppable and complete team that I have ever seen even if it was just for a year.
Barcelona 2015 were just as devastating but not nearly as complete, their front 3 was just comically overpowered and they still had Iniesta near his peak behind them.
WengerEagle The Alonso signing would have been a game changer, apparently he was keen to come as well. It was that season that Alonso then went into a challenge with Cesc, and Cesc got injured, fate conspired against us. The other signing I think about was Suarez. That was our Cantana moment, signing the best striker in the league at 25 years of age, from one of our rivals, I think that signing would have won us at least one title, particularly if Barca had still binned Alexis, those two together would have been a sight to behold. When Rodgers… Read more »
There is no doubt in my mind that with Suarez in our team we win a couple of EPL titles. He’s in the same bracket as TH14 and he would have had a similar influence in our team. I will always regret we were so close to signing him, but in the end we didn’t.
Tiki-taka can easily be stop with a better defensive set-up with a big striker who’s good at holding up play but you see power and pace it hit you everywhere,it’s unpredictable especially when they executors are of top quality,I will always prefer power and pace anyday anytime
Tiki-taka is becoming boring with high possession but no end product
Eagle thanks for that YouTube video,I just love Henry the class and arrogance but on and off the pitch
The problem was wenger having a price in his head and never paying over it.
That’s why the loss of david dein had such a huge influence over transfers.
Wenger would tell him who he wanted, deon would do the deal and get it done, smooze a player on his yacht and the deal was done.
As soon as wenger took over transfers they deteriorated quickly.
So Arteta has said there will be “consequences “ for whomever leaked information about the Luiz/Cellabos dust up.
Methinks Arteta should be more concerned about “consequences “ if Arsenal fall to Leeds today, rather than some ridiculous handbags moment in training. Winning takes care of everything, period.
Not much talk on here today in respect to the game.
Every Arsenal fan has their doubts.
Let us enjoy the trip down memory lane Graham lol, will be plenty of time later on to agonise over the Leeds game.
Graham,
I think no one knows what arsenal team will turn up.
We could smash them, or get smashed ourselves.
We could sneak it one nil or get beat in the last minute.
I think for arteta sake he needs 3 points especially with everyone else winning yesterday.
Auba to score today, have a feeling.
Hoping for 2-1 to the Arsenal.
Graham It’s not a cliche anymore, there really are no easy games. The top 4, became the top 6 The top 6 is now the top 8 And the sides below that have also improved. What’s changed IMO, is teams would regularly park the bus against better teams, but the organisation and quality has improved. The financial might of the PL means lower placed clubs can pick off Europe’s elite talent, the academies have also improved in this country. More teams have consistent match winners, and better players. Today we need to win, but that’s not a given, Leeds turned… Read more »
Guen won a penalty for Hertha yesterday. He looks almost too good for them, but at least he’ll be guaranteed to play most of the time.
Still think we should not give up on him yet. His ceiling is clearly higher than Willock’s for example, so selling him for a pittance would be a mistake IMO.
The only consistentency about this season is that there is consistently no consistency..
Raptora
“There is no doubt in my mind that with Suarez in our team we win a couple of EPL titles. ”
We did buy Suarez…….the wrong one
Calvert lewin on fire 40 seconds in.
Kris Guendouzi and Willock are two entirely different players. Guendouzi is a talent, what he was doing for us at 19/20, was overlooked His inexperience cost us at times, but that’s the price you sometimes pay for putting young players through the education process, particularly in central areas I’m not sure his talent or tenacity on the pitch is in question, but he’s another player who wants the game played in front of him, who picks the ball up in deep areas, and wants to control the game. Willock provides direct penetration with the ball, he’s all about movement, direct… Read more »
Rich
“Guendouzi and Willock are two entirely different players.”
Of course they are , they also have different mindsets.
Guendouzi has a very high opinion of himself (not a bad thing) whereas Willock is the opposite and needs to show more belief in himself.
Both players can play in the same team and would compliment each other’s play.
Willock could be our surprise package this season…
Someone needs to put Fulham out of their misery.
Someone needs to put Fulham out of their misery.
You mean Scott Parker
It’s weird Marc because on paper they have some useful players.
Anguissa, Mitrovic, Lookman, Loftus-Cheek, Areola in net has pedigree too. Seri on the books still too.
Parker in over his head from the looks of it.
Marc
Pickford is shit
I can see Fulham scoring.
Just as I said it Fulham score. Good Goal Bobby Reid.
Forgot, for as good as Everton can be, they will always fall to earth with a terrible keeper in Pickford. They really do need to it sort out.
Reports of arsenal still being after Jorginho today
This better to speculative rubbish because if it’s serious arteta literally has lost his mind lol. He’d be an awful use of our limited funds
As much as he was world class I’m glad we didn’t buy him. Would rather we bought someone who doesn’t have a reputation for racism and biting
He was elite as a player but for the same kind of money he could be had for you could be in for most elite strikers at the time.
Mina and Keane have mistakes in them too at the heart of the defence.
And their quality falls off a cliff if any of their front 3 get injured/suspended.
Suarez I mean in my last comment not Jorginho