I don’t know why it’s getting to me, but I keep seeing these rumours of Christian Eriksen being pushed around, and it really isn’t a pleasant vibe.
There are a few reasons this move would feel a bit off. Firstly, he’s having a rough time in a slow league, working for a manager that demands a lot defensively. Secondly, he’d cost a small fortune. Thirdly, he seems like a very Ozil-ish player. I’m not sure defensive rigour was ever something you thought about with him. Fourthly, if that is a word, he’s a bear-trap of a player. He looks like Willian, Cech, Lichtsteiner, Gallas, and Silvestre all over again.
On paper, you’re like, ooohhh, that’s sexy, but it just feels like another one of those deals you’d have fancied 5 years ago, but not right now.
Still, if it happens, you’d have to say that his creativity could probably be additive to 7.5 hours without a goal in open play. I swear our best creative player this season is ‘defensive mistake.’
There are some clear issues Arsenal are dealing with at the moment. Creativity is certainly one of them. Having a midfield that can’t deal with a press is another. Players like Eriksen and Szobozlai would both help with that.
I also think a major issue Arteta needs to solve for is passing speed. We move the ball in such a painfully slow and mechanical way. During the Leeds game, we had players running with the ball and slowing the pace further. It’s a basic, but if you don’t have the players to thread a well-organised block, maybe you focus more energy on moving the ball up the pitch faster. Our wide players pick the ball up so deep, it’s no wonder they aren’t causing problems in the final third.
On paper, our players are much better than those at Leeds. They are blitzing teams with shots. I’m not saying we have to go that far, but we can’t be so far the other way we’re barely registering a shot on target.
We have Molde tomorrow, I’m not sure we’ll see anything too wild, though I would be happy if the manager decided to blood a few of the kids we have no idea about yet. The next-gen, as ever, looks more exciting than the generation struggling to break into the first team right now. Ayeez, ESR, Balo, and Cottrell all look like the sort of players we could use in the first team, but I guess it’s going to take a while to find out of that’s true.
Right, short post today because there’s not a lot of news going on. See you in the comments!
No i wasn’t Pierre, you have me confused with someone else. I have rarely if ever commented on either.
Watching Bayern v Salzburg and even Salzburg looks better than us, young energetic players that moves the ball quickly, my boy Dom has been at the heart of Salzburgs most dangerous chances, missed a one on one with Neuer that he should have scored though and it’s now Bayern in the lead 1-0.
We’re so far away from playing in the CL it’s not even funny, we would get demolished by most teams as it stands, need to seriously up the recruitment from now on and get rid of the wasters. Luckily most of them leaves by default this summer.
whats your commission fee Freddie if we get DS?
got to be at least 20%
Guns
I’ll take that:) but I’ll settle with Arsenal playing some better football.
Several months ago I suggested a rather brutal but simple plan. Get rid of any non-goalkeeping player over the age of 25 from last season’s squad by any means necessary, with the logic being that if you really want to rebuild under a young manager then you have to go through a painful transition because otherwise you’ll be swimming in mediocrity and overpaying for some of the older players. Once the clean-up has happened we can buy the leaders we want as we’ll not be weighed down by lengthy overpriced contracts for ageing players. The flaws in the argument was… Read more »
Marcus Rashford at it again. He wants to decide whether he’s a footballer or a activist/politician.
The irony is that the one player Arteta wants to go, won’t.
Mikel Arteta: “I will give Nico my full support. We all know his qualities. I have a lot of responsibility, which is to get the best out of him… I cannot fault his effort at all.”
Amen to that
Szobz was weak on the ball in relation to Bayern’s second goal.
Pools got their ass kicked, down 2 – 0.
Liverpool fucking up my stake here, the one time I need them to be reliable
Conte sides are so poor in the Champions League, from Juventus to Chelsea to Inter Milan.
Wholesale changes rarely work out against quality European competition.
Liverpool’s second and third stringers aren’t much better than ours.
Atalanta totally deserved it today.
Bayern were playing within themselves. They looked like they had several gears to step up if they really needed to. Bit concerning that second Bayern goal in relation to Szobz. He got mugged off cental and looked a bit weak being disposessed. We already have one player in Pepe that looks suspect with the physical play. I was impressed with the Sbobz goal in that international game the other week but then again he had loads of space to run into for that goal. A little doubt now that Szobz will like the physical aspect of the EPL with players… Read more »
Tom
“Liverpool’s second and third stringers aren’t much better than ours.
Atalanta totally deserved it today.”
Klopp obviously thought he could chance a game in the group games scenario.
Makes it a little tighter now the group.
One phase of play vs the Champions League holders that a 20 year old looked vulnerable has you doubting his ability to make it in the PL now Ishola?
Seems reasonable.
Liverpool pulling off an Arteta masterclass tonight of managing 0 shots on target.
Well Weagle we all know the physical aspect of the EPL don’t we and that second goal for Bayern really stood out I’m afraid in relation to Szobz looking weak and being disposessed that led to their goal.
I did say a little doubt Weagle.
You do like looking for arguments these days don’t you.
Dont be so sensitive Ishola.
Just think that you’re pulling a bit of a Dissenter knee-jerk special considering he is a 20 year old kid playing the best team in Europe that bully everyone.
Who knows if Dom will even go on to be anything special but he has looked good from the bit I have watched of him this season and is getting rave reviews from Austria.
Not a dribbler though, we still need one of those line breakers.
Look at the outstanding job that Papu Gomez did for Atalanta tonight. Such a smooth baller, can dribble and weave his ways through tight spaces to find that yard of space for the final pass/shot.
Weagle
It was an isolated piece of play where he looked weak which could be repeated.
Why you so protective of him? because Arsenal are linked to him?
He looks a nice boy footballer. Looks like he will like to operate in space but don’t they all especially 10 type players.
Don’t get too excited about Szobo, seems he will be swapping one Red Bull club for the other one.
Ishola
Im not, have been on record here as being sceptical on him in fact.
Just think your example is pretty silly considering Bayern steamroller everyone and he is 20.
He played well against them in October.
andy
Don’t be ridiculous – are you seriously telling me a young player is going to turn down the opportunity to work under the best young coach in the world? A generational coach? A coach who knows precisely how Pep likes the cones laid out? A coach who got Pep’s morning coffee order bang on every morning?
I’m not sure Arteta will go in for Szobz anyway in January.
Look at Arteta’s management style so far. It’s been very pragmatic.
Will this pragmatism see him taking a punt albeit a relatively cheap one on a youngster where there could be seen question marks over him being able to adapt to the physicality of the league.
Lothar Mathhaus has been making the biggest noises about Szobz. He’s got talent for sure but not sure about him adapting quickly to the physical nature of the EPL.
Weagle
“Just think your example is pretty silly considering Bayern steamroller everyone and he is 20.”
Just to repeat it was an isolated piece of play and his weakness regarding the goal was very noticeable.
It’s a talking point. Has Sbobz got the necessary right now to stand up to the physical demands of the EPL?
I mean I could have kept quiet about his obvious weak play there just because he is linked to Arsenal.
fREDDIE
“Luckily most of them leaves by default this summer.’
But a new generation of wasters is taking their places already; Generation Arteta
Ishola
“He’s got talent for sure but not sure about him adapting quickly to the physical nature of the EPL.”
That’s hogwash and you know it.
Smaller players like Bernado Silva and Madison cope with the premier league.
Dissenter
If you had to make a choice on who’s performance has been better between Arteta the last 11 odd months and Trump the last 4 years could you come up with anything other than awful and worse?
Doesn’t matter about stature Dissenter.
More about mentally.
Hleb wasn’t the biggest player but he loved dribbling in and amongst players. Not bothered taking on players in tight areas.
Marc
For all Trump’s character flaws, he did get somethings done and knew how to cut through a lot of red tape.
Arteta…hmmmm
I’ll give him credit for the FA cup and understand that he needs time as head coach to work how his shot since he’s a rookie manager.
However his handprint on the squad has been particularly bad. Almost every squad decision he’s made has been pretty poor, from Mari through Cedric and Willian. From reducing an exciting talent like Saliba to a wreck and offering Mustafi an extension.
He’s not improving anyone this season in my opinion.
Dissenter
Arsenal’s transfer budget was very limited and the bulk was spent on Partey and Gabriel both of whom are considered good value acquisitions.
Soares and Mari cost very little money and are squad fillers.
Saliba’s performance level despite high expectations and a transfer fee of £28 million has
been sofar underwhelming. The player is struggling to adapt. You can hardly blame the
manager for that recruitment decision.
Emirates “Arsenal’s transfer budget was very limited ” The more reason why we shouldn’t have wasted it on squad fillers. We signed Mari …and they were seeking another left footed center back soon afterwards AMN was the squad filler already so what was the need for Cedric Saliba was good enough for St Etienne to raise a storm over him missing their cup final. he is rated the same level as Fofana, Dagba, Ibrahima Konate and the other players in the French U-21 set-up …at least until Arteta got hold of him. Now he’s the “orphan” who is still learning… Read more »
What is with arsenal and having useless captains? Auba is a great player but he’s not captain material. Does he look like he can get this team to outperform or get out of this drought? Miss the days when we had hard men as captains. Now we have a player who loves to joke and dance around when he converts a penalty. How is he going to get tough on the players and youngsters when they don’t perform to a certain standard? What message does it send to the rest of the dressing room? Atm, the only captain material in… Read more »
“Wow Maradona has died. RIP. What a player and character he was”
Yes a cheat and complete coke head, Luteo, but he probably had a good core, though.
Another player who ruined his legacy.
Erikson?
No thanks for all the ‘no’ reasons listed above.
“For all Trump’s character flaws, he did get somethings done and knew how to cut through a lot of red tape”
Dissenter, what things are you talking about?
It’s a lot easier to “cut through the red tape” when half the electorate blindly support every whim of the dear leader, and anything the other side decries as unconstitutional or unlawful can be dismissed as fake news and whining of triggered pinkos.
Hand of God was more joyful because it was against the stiff upper lipers who are the most deceptive characters.
Im telling you for free!
Sid
Hmmm could you give a break down of the stiff upper lipped ES type of people that were part of the millions of English who were bitterly disappointed and heart broken because of the hand of god moment?
Tom
I was just trying to make Marc happy
Eriksen on a season long loan with a deal to buy next season is a low risk investment. He is incredible on a dead ball delivery and maybe could help jolt Auba and Willian into life
The godfather
Another season long loan with deal to buy?
Didn’t you back the Willian deal as well?
When are you going to draw a line on us signing these high wage earners who have nothing to prove?
“I was just trying to make Marc happy“
Dissenter, that’s easy enough………just yell at a homeless person for being lazy or something.
Tom
Marc knows how too tickle me with the Trump jabs
Maradona is a footballing Icon . Very few who can transcend the game and inspire people. R.I.P. Never saw him play live but the passion he showed during 2010 WC as the manager, tells me he absolutely loved the game.
Hand of God was great for all the peoples colonized by England.
Finally the tables turned….
Falkland Island revenge
Anyhow, the hand of god, was a bit of a fluke. His eyes are closed… how on earth is he seeing the ball?
England feels cheated and I can understand but look at all photos. It was just pure luck
When Diego did some coke after a penalty in a useless friendly.
I am sure some of you have seen this before. Classic!
Look for the man in the blue polo shirt towards the end…
https://twitter.com/CokeEnjoyer/status/1331637638936342535
Guns
Maradona kept Escobar in business.
Maradona was the Tony Montana of football.
It hard to imagine him being clean and having a career like that. its just not him… he would not be Maradona if he was not football’s bad boy
Maradona… I can not believe the love in for a player who cheated not once or twice but probably a large chunk of his playing career ..?.? Like another little Argentine player……….steroids for growth..? Yeah right do me a favour….. The lack of understanding or knowledge in drugs use and the effects on players is amazing.. some of the comments on this cheat are very eye opening. I’ll be honest and say those posters I generally ignore anyway as they have a sense of self importance and an inflated view of their own options as if they are law on… Read more »
what were the other times he cheated aside from the hand of god fiasco?
A drug addict is exactly that, an addict who needs help….
He never had the proper support around him to get the help he needed. it is a sad story…
He could have been great (er)
Anyhow, Hand of God was a fluke, England are still butt hurt… they need to get over it already
‘Anyhow, Hand of God was a fluke, England are still butt hurt… they need to get over it already’
This kind of wisdom should not be for free!
First saw Maradona on TV as a 17 year old playing for Argentina against Scotland at Hampden Park in 1978. Watch the highlights on YouTube.
Just brilliant. His skill, his pace, his touch, his power, his desire.
For me the greatest footballer I’ve ever seen play the game.
Yes he cheated with the HOG goal, but I blame Peter Shilton.
Jumped for the ball like a granny.
Shilton was 6’.
Maradona 5’5”.
Work that one out.
Peter Shit on
Say no more
The discussion around 2nd/3rd choice players from squads is something that will become more focused as the season continues. We saw last night that scratch below the surface at Liverpool and you expose some very average players. That said the lack of sensible rotation or should I say the coaches confidence in squad players will impact performances as the season progresses Of an additional concern is the numbers of players currently unavailable https://www.premierinjuries.com/injury-table.php Horrendous indicator from both an Arsenal and Liverpool perspective So which clubs have the depth of quality within their squads ? For me it certainly isn’t Arsenal… Read more »
Pedro “The next-gen, as ever, looks more exciting than the generation struggling to break into the first team right now. Ayeez, ESR, Balo, and Cottrell all look like the sort of players we could use in the first team, but I guess it’s going to take a while to find out of that’s true.” Players like willock, Nketiah, martinelli, nelson , smith rowe, ,saka can only try and perform and win football matches , and that is what they have consistently done over the last 2 seasons . Forest Liverpool away twice Bournemouth away Portsmouth away Leicester away Frankfurt away… Read more »
It’s amazing how people forget that Diego embarassed half the English team to score one of the greatest goals in World Cup history but keep harping on a handball goal.
That’s the genius of Diego Maradona. Quick feet, quick mind and one of the Greatest sports athletes of all time.
You’ll be forever missed.
RIP
Maybe Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal was Karma coming back to bite England’s backside, after being gifted the World Cup in ’66 with the dodgy Geoff Hurst ‘goal’. No way that ball crossed the line for England’s third goal, but the match officials were all Russian, and the War had only ended 20 years earlier.
RIP Diego Maradona, you brought excitement and joy to millions.
Pierre
I like the way you emphasis getting injured “IN TRAINING”.
Are you saying Arteta’s training regime is in question?
Eriksen checked out the minute he started playing a chess game with Pochettino. He went in to the last year of his contract with the mindset he was going to sit out his last season at tottenham. That is what happened to Sanchez too. you cant automatically turn your form on and off as you like. Momentum is part of a players form too. So I dont think he is a sensible signing. Dominik szobozlai is a really good young talent but I don’t think he will turn our fortunes around creatively. He is still raw. check out the latest… Read more »
Maradona wanted that ball more than Shilton.
Our media should have scrutinised his part in not getting to the ball first.
Irrespective of his hand, look how much higher off the ground DM was.
Dare I say Shilton was scared?
Trump needs to be committed.
ARTETAOUT
Diego Amando Maradona RIP
In 1994 I watched him for the first time after his suspension from drug issue and palyed against Nigeria and was silky with his left foot even though he wasn’t that great as per what I saw before that time probably because of his off field issues but still didn’t take anything from him as one of the very greatest of all time
A great player rest on
Graham, the press did berate Shilton at the time I recall.
Again Maradona was a great player, maybe the greatest, but not a great human being. Being a great athlete should never mean you’re excused any more than anyone else for bad behaviour. George Best was a twat too, Gascoigne a complete dick and even Adams was a tosser for drunk driving.
So nothing to do with the Falklands GoSF, more to do with repeated drugs offences, tax dodging and links to criminal organisations like the Camorra when he was with Napoli.
andy1886
Shilton still moaning out of guilt.
Irrespective of all his flaws, Maradona still brought joy to millions.
Let’s not pretend like our very own TH14 didn’t have a shameful moment. I guess it happens when you really want to win. It might not neccesarily mean that you are a immoral, indecent cheat. Those type of decisions, like not admitting a hand ball, bring sorrow to some and extreme joy to others. I guess in retrospect being adored by millions and hate by millions is a decent trade off when you’ve brought the World Cup to your country. I assume I’d forever regret it if I was in the same situation, but I admit the hand ball and… Read more »
It’s also why VAR is such a phenomenal addition to the game. Something like the Hand of God will not happen again in a big game. As long as the people behind the screen aren’t corrupted motherfkers. Corruption was and will always be a problem.
We’re only human and none of us perfect, it’s just that the spotlight will follow those with exceptional talent, flaws and all.
I think we only qualify to judge someone else’s transgressions if they effect us on a personal level.
We all know football is corrupt at the highest level just as we know people have always cheated to win.
Just last summer England invented make-it-up-as-you-go rules so they didn’t have to share some Cricket trophy with New Zealand.
The will to win often gets childish and petty.
Arsenal do have a large squad. The real question is how strong it is?
Our 1st X1 is probably 4 or 5 players short in starting X1 for a team competing for top 4 place
or to play competitively in Champions League.
I would assess that we are probably also short of that number + second string goalkeeper in a regular 18-20 player rotation.
The positions which need urgent strengthening are:
1] GOALKEEPER – SECOND STRING
2] RIGHT CENTRE BACK
3] CREATIVE CENTRAL MIDFIELDER
4] CENTRE FORWARD
And let’s be honest, without the intervention of a dodgy Conservative MP, Henry Norris, we probably wouldn’t have The Arsenal around to support.
Emirates
Why would a backup goalkeeper need urgent strengthening?
We have no creative midfielders, one class CB, one class CM.
We could quite literally go three seasons without adding a new GK for all I care, the club is desperate for a new attacking unit to be built around Auba.
CC Do you consider Runarsson an adequate replacement should Leno get injured? I have highlighted Right Centre Back Position. Holding or maybe Saliba are adequate second string options. I am sure that Luiz or Mari are adequate second string LCB. We need probably two creative central midfielders. I agree that we are short in that department. If we play 3 midfielders in 4-3-3 formation Saka would play LMF. I think that Aubameyang will play wide with Martinelli as understudy when returning to fitness. Therefore we need a Starting X1 CF to replace Lacazette. I suggest that Nketiah will compete with… Read more »
I heard that Arteta’s priority for the Jan. TW is a CB. What do you think Saliba is thinking? Now he wants to go on load and will accept a pay cut. If I were him, I wouldn’t want to play for Arteta ever in my life.
Nelson
Are you joking?
Nelson Saliba has underperformed in both training and when playing for reserves. There have been also issues with his family life and settling in London. He is only 19. CB is a critical position in team and you cannot afford to take a risk with underperforming player. At the moment we have 3 options to play RCB in Holding, Mustafi and Luiz. None is ideal but they are ahead of Saliba in performance. Arteta has not written off the player just suggested that he needs regular football which we cannot offer Saliba. He made a mistake by not loaning Saliba… Read more »
“I heard that Arteta’s priority for the Jan. TW is a CB”
Arteta wants all the players. Fat kid in a sweet shop.
Emirates
Look at the number 2 goalkeepers in the league. It’s not a position of significant importance because of the risk associated with long term absence.
Our needs are vastly, vastly more important elsewhere. It’s not even on the list frankly, let alone in any urgent capacity.
Our midfield and attacking balance is wildly out of order, we simply won’t go very far without making that a priority over the next 18 months.
Let’s celebrate the display Maradona put on for us whatever your teams may be. He’s a football genius.
Even the hand of god was a stroke of genius, until it’s found out!
In theory Arsenal getting a cheap backup keeper who’s adequate should be a relatively cheap option. An older keeper who get’s the chance to appear in EL matches and should get a decent run in the FA Cup.
I have little to no faith in the current management set up to either sell the players who are surplus to demands or bring in the players we need to improve.
Graham62
Which part?
I heard the news from The Chronicles of a Gooner – Arsenal Podcast.
As for the 2nd part, Saliba has wasted his time here. The career of a football player is short. Arteta is playing around with Saliba’s career.
“ I heard that Arteta’s priority for the Jan. TW is a CB. ”
Where have you heard this?
Emirates
Saliba was playing in the France 1st division. He was valued at 28 m. Now he is not even good enough to play against Molde. Of course you are not Saliba.
It’d be criminal if Arteta uses any of the ‘regular’ first 11 tonight. Absolutely no need.
Release the kids. Up to them to showcase what they have Don’t think Arteta has taken ESR though.
If we didn’t win so be it. So close even Arteta cant fuck it up.
Marc I think problems with some that we want to move on is that no clubs are willing to match their wage demands and on the same token, the players are happy to sit on their wages. However bringing in the players we need is also a concern of mine, the latest being Eriksen. We have made mistakes constantly over the past few years in the transfer market and it doesn’t seem like we are learning from them. Eriksen would be like a kid in a toy shop splashing out their pocket money on the first thing they see rather… Read more »
Maradona, good footballer, shit human being…a bit like Ronaldo (the Portugese one)
Arteta has ruined Saliba. Can’t believe he’s that bad to be frank.
So he’s coming back from a serious injury? What about Bellerin, Holding, and soon Chambers??
Did they also need a transitional year because they were mediocre defenders before injuries?
Marc
You do not need to spend the earth to secure an experienced second string goalkeeper. You
can probably buy one for £5-6 million or even on a bosman.
The second string should be playing in Europa Cup and Caribo Cup. The fact that Runarsson
was not selected does not fill me with confidence that he is of the right quality.
Who’s that wearing Willian’s ’12’ training kit?
https://www.arsenal.com/news/arsenal-train-rain-norway
Nelson
I have spoken to a sports journalist who monitors regular Arsenal in training as well as watched the U23s play this season.
Saliba has been below par, which is why he was not registered for Europa Cup.
Hopefully this may be short term, but at the moment he is not ready for first team.
If that is Balogun why is he wearing Willians kit?
Willock dribbling out of control!
This time, he turned over a reportedly £140k Mercedes on his way to training!
Hasn’t warmed up enough?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8989321/Moment-young-50-000-week-Arsenal-star-Joe-Willock-loses-control-Mercedes-G-Wagon.html
Charlie
“Our midfield and attacking balance is wildly out of order, we simply won’t go very far without making that a priority over the next 18 months.”
You are basically saying that Arteta has either failed or is failing.
Aubameyang Pepe, Ozil, Willian , Saka , Lacazette….wenger would have that lot purring
Just checking.
Is there anyone on le-grove who has faith in Arteta?
Even Pedro is starting to turn.
Pierre
Not just Wenger.
Was Willock in the wrong lane?
Emirates
Then why was he bought? Just throwing good money after bad.