So I’m watching Everton lose to Leeds United at home. Ancelotti, a manager plenty of Arsenal fans talk about when we lose, is just 3 points ahead of us going into tomorrow’s big game. He’s had money, he’s one of the most experienced managers in the game, he has an excellent squad to work with… but it’s still hard.
If we beat Wolves, we go from 14th onto the same points as the clubs in 6th position currently.
Say what you will about our miserable play this season, we’re still in the mixer, and if this is our bad patch… we’re more than on target to compete for top 4 this season.
Therein lies the challenge, to keep up with the pack, we have to start winning games and we really have to start scoring goals. Wolves is going to be a big test for us, on paper, they’re basically the same team as Arsenal this season. Defensively, they’ve conceded 10, and going forward, they’ve scored a meek 9. They average 3 shots more per game than us, but only about 1 more on target. They have one more point than us though.
Both teams need to find a bit of spark in front of goal. Both are dealing with very different problems. Most of our first team issues stem from experienced players bombing, and new signings not settling or picking up injuries.
The biggest issue for Mikel is getting Auba scoring again. He’s massively out of sorts and in our low margins system, we simply can’t afford for that to be the case. We get these fake hits of dopamine from the Europa League that don’t really tell us much. I have my doubts we’ll play a 4-4-2 against Wolves, but what we might see is more of our wide players going direct and coming inside.
The hope is Thomas Partey and Bukayo Saka are fit. That should immediately give our midfield and attacking options more sex appeal. Seeing Xhaka in the starting 11 again isn’t going to be good for anyone. The question then becomes who compliments the Ghanian. I reckon we might see Joe Willock and Dani Ceballos given a role again, mostly because it’s the only real options we have at the moment.
The front three, assuming we’re going 4 at the back will hopefully be Saka, Auba, and maybe Nelson. I think we need directness and speed tomorrow, Reiss has those vertical runs, and he looks very, very motivated at the moment. That said, if anyone is going to get played into form this season, it’ll be Willian. Salt Bae’s best friend needs the same love Pepe gets. However, he needs to ball into his feet faster.
Tomorrow really has to be about speed. We’re rubbish building up slowly. If we have pace in our frontlines, we need to exploit it with quick balls. We can’t afford this slow passing combined with players running the ball up the pitch from deep positions.
We also need to take chances. Have a shot. Play a speculative pass. We are so predictable at the moment and it makes us easy to defend against. To achieve that, it means Willock has to step up, it means Saka and Reiss have to be at their best, and it means Auba needs to lead by example and get back to form.
Arteta had this to say on why we are playing the way we are.
“In football, time is very precious and people are very impatient. But if you don’t respect the processes and you ask certain people to do certain things when the foundations are not there, it’s a really dangerous thing to do.
He’s basically saying we don’t have the player to do the things he wants right now, and if he were to prove out that he doesn’t have the players, he’d look even worse than he does now. It seems very certain that we’re going to make moves for a creative player to help us move towards a better Arsenal. Isco is the latest to be linked. The Spaniard is very much out of favour at Real Madrid and they are in all sorts of financial bother. The rumour is a loan move to perm signing. I don’t like these deals for older players, but he’s certainly an outrageous talent when he’s focused. I just get the Ozil jitters when I read through the stories about why he’s not playing. If he bombs, on the money they’d want, we’re in another bad situation without a sell on clause.
We’re still being linked to the Hungarian from RB Salzburg. The Athletic reckon Arsenal are worried about his ball retention rates and his lack of ability to go past players. However, Jesse Marsch loves him and reckons that can all be developed. He called him the Hungarian Beckham. I think we need two players, we need someone that can beat players like Isco or Aouar, and we need someone that gives us goals and final balls from midfield. We’ll see where the club takes it, but at least it’s looking good for improvements.
Finally, Dani Ceballos dropped an apology press tour. He had this to say on Emery and Arteta
“The team was almost dead – but after Arteta’s arrival we won the FA Cup and the Community Shield.
“It’s not even a year since he arrived and he has given a radical change to the club.
“He’s the soul of the club and he’s lucky that the players trust him 100 per cent.
“Arsenal need him, in part because he takes the initiative most of the time.”
I will say it again, the weirdest people in the Arsenal community are those that try and right the wrongs of the Emery tenure after we have a bad game. It is incredible. The fashion equivalent of of defending a gilet. The fine dining equivalent of taking your wife to a Jamie Oliver restaurant for a 25th wedding anniversary and asking for some ketchup for your bread roll. Defending Emery is a keyword trigger for MI5 that warns “DANGEROUS PERSON.” Just stop doing it. It’s really weird.
Right, that’s all you’ll get from me today. See you in the comments!
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Boom!
Hi, already enjoy the posts
Jamie Oliver’s try Oslo court Regent’s Park.
3 Points onwards and upwards.😀
Upstate is becoming the new DM!
Except no one is “DEFENDING EMERY”, that only being brought up to distract from the now acceptable player poverty pleas and Xhaka is now also shit and a liability, wasn’t long ago he was a revitalized reinvented vital cog in the Arteta process.
Trophy
Partey and Xhaka is the best pairing available to us imo, think Ceballos is Xhaka with beer goggles and Elneny is Elneny.
We need to find a solution ahead of a midfield two that can make the front three tick because there seems to be such a disconnect presently. Hopefully we’ll see Saka, Auba, and Nelson start up top.
Partey’s out.
RH, you have alerts setup in Google to right the wrong of Emery. You defend him. Marc defends him. Dissenter defends him.
You cannot continue to deny this is your mission.
And there is no radical change at Arsenal, I know because I have followed this club longer than Dani Ceballos
Partey is out?
oof… not great.
Saliba doesn’t have to be registered to play for us, he’s u21 FFS.
What is arteta doing?
James, I tried Barbacoa and it was shit. View was nice though. Real nice.
“You cannot continue to deny this is your mission.”
Whatever gives you peace
Pedro
You really need to get over the idea that some want Emery back. I’ve never heard anyone say that. Emery is used as a yardstick for Arteta because we really don’t have any other options and as much as you don’t like it Arteta will be measured on results and performances.
Hopefully Partey and Saka are both fit for tomorrow – both are going to be such important players for us this season.
Pedro
If you want to try a restaurant in London with a great view and good food then Sushi Samba is worth a go.
Receding
Pedro is deflecting and using us as the bad guys. He’s a tantrum from becoming Kim Dumb Haw Haw Pedro.
Marc, you are happy to use Emery’s points total after 29 games, but not Rioch’s or Wenger’s.
I wonder why that is?
That’s a blow Partey being out, we need his athletic attributes in midfield. I think that is half our problem, not just the lack of a creator. Look at Liverpool last season, did they have a truly creative midfielder in their team, they relied more on a really hard working midfield who would also move the ball quick to 3 very good forwards.
RH, I wish you’d find peace, bury the anger about Emery and move on. Let people enjoy Leeds beating Carlo A.
Saka and Willian both training.
No sign of Partey.
Think we’ll see Aubameyang being flanked by Willian and Saka tomorrow
Pedro
Actually I’ve been using Emery’s points after 13 matches last season as a measure, there was a conversation yesterday when someone (can’t remember who) said Arteta and Wenger’s points totals after 29 was very close.
I can’t for the life of me remember where Rioch was after 29 matches – his end was far more to do with falling out with Dein than anything else.
“I wonder why that is?”
Only one of the three has been called trash or a bum. We brought in a special manager, generational, to replace a bum, the only logical comparison should be how he is outperforming said bum in all known metrics. The fact he isn’t with a better squad is why you are objecting to the comparison.
lol. More of the Pedro vs Emery apologists/Arteta hater wars I see. Real interesting stuff!! Can we all jut acknowledge Emery was a disaster and Arteta has a way to go? Maybe Pedro was a bit premature in declaring Arteta was a generational coach?? So what? He still may well be in time. Seems some on here are more interested in dragging Pedro/Arteta above all else…it’s pedantic and petty, lets move on, eh?
Pedro. Smiths fish restaurant on the river exceptional.
As is Oslo court old style but food is memorable.
I have tried all those Steak gaffs I’m sure Marco
Pierre white here in Folkestone passes Horse meat on to it’s customers.
oh and above all else – its uninteresting
“RH, I wish you’d find peace,”
Way ahead of you on that. Arsenal have nothing to do with my state of mind. I have more important things going on.
Expensive restaurants are generally overrated, overpriced and ridiculously small portions.
I can’t stand Jamie Oliver, if you don’t like Turkey twizzlers or chicken nuggets, just don’t eat them, but don’t try taking them off the menu for everyone else.
Didn’t his restaurants go broke?
Given the form of the two sides tomorrow’s game could be pretty awful. Then again with this bonkers season it could be an absolute thriller. To be fair one decent performance and a convincing victory would lift the spirits significantly, I doubt that anyone expects much from the game at the Spuds so a win tomorrow would generate a fair amount of good will for the coach.
Marc, you are happy to use Emery’s points total after 29 games, but not Rioch’s or Wenger’s. I wonder why that is?
Could it be that both Emery and Arteta have worked with some of the same players and against mainly the same opponents, give and take a player or two here and there?
Why would anyone compare coaches from 30 years apart when even 10 years ago the PL was a different animal.
Venga pointing our football is slow,boring and predictable isn’t digging out Pedro. I barely think of him when I watch us play.
The fact most of you think this way is on you. Leave me out of it.
Again its just folks projecting their brand of “support” onto others. I didn’t agree with this appointment so the team has to fail so I am right on a faceless blog. Get help.
‘more important things going on’
On a blog, furiously defending the honor of a managerial bum that was dating a white witch.
Busy with important things indeed.
The Spurs game may well send this blog into Chynobl levels of meltdown
Dani
Pedro’s trying to shift the narrative, it’s a poor attempt at a slight of hand magic trick so he accuses me and one or two others of wanting Emery back.
That is not the truth – what some of us are saying is if Emery was terrible and did X then why isn’t Arteta held to the same standards?
Arteta has to go for it tomorrow even with a labouring Xhaka involved.
I fear a cagey game will suit Wolves.
Throw caution to that wind Teets.
Tom, you’d compare the last 29 to the first 29 if you wanted comparable with the same squad.
30 years difference doesn’t make a difference. Well, you could say Wenger had a much better starting point to work from. You could say Bruce Rioch had a transitional job to do after a shocking finishing position the year before.
No Partey tomorrow, Saka on the bench.
Let’s hope we still pull out a strong performance
Ish, bar the cagey game we played away from home when we beat them.
“On a blog, furiously defending the honor of a managerial bum that was dating a white witch.” You have far more interest in Emery than anyone on here, you mention him every chance you get. Now you are even getting involved with his women!! You need to find peace. I am on here because I enjoy talking football, some folks on here also enjoy having exchanges with me. Couldn’t give a rats ass about the honor of Emery or who he is dating, that’s your department. You need him to distract from the turd being served up and I will… Read more »
John
That would assume a bad result
Marc, you are trying to pass off your miserable analysis as something more than a vendetta.
Emery was shit. Arteta at the moment looks even worse. There, I summarized it for you.
“30 years difference doesn’t make a difference. Well, you could say Wenger had a much better starting point to work from. You could say Bruce Rioch had a transitional job to do after a shocking finishing position the year before.”
What the fuck does that even mean? Pedro just say no to drugs.
RH, you are either on a blog thinking about Arsenal, or you have better things to do. Make up your mind. Seems like you are thinking about Arsenal on a blog if I’m honest.
Pedro
Swing and a miss.
Mate I’ve got Rhino skin it’s bullet proof – shame your sweethearts record isn’t!
Pedro
“bar the cagey game we played away from home when we beat them.”
They are bit different this season so far Wolves. Not as vibrant as last season.
I think they would prefer cagey.
They certainly ain’t going to come out and try to play like the game you quote this time around.
Marc, someone with Rhino skin wouldn’t be bleeding over Unai Emery and a cancelled booking at a Jamie Oliver Pizzeria
Marc, as things stand either way will do lol
Pedro
You’re really losing it now.
Happy holidays my fellow American fuckers
Arteta has to go for it tomorrow even with a labouring Xhaka involved.
Ish, you should’ve stopped at Arteta has to go. 😁
‘ Could it be that both Emery and Arteta have worked with some of the same players and against mainly the same opponents, give and take a player or two here and there?Why would anyone compare coaches from 30 years apart when even 10 years ago the PL was a different animal’
Ding-Dong ….Ding-Dong
Dinners ready
Upstate
That’s funny!
Weak come backs… Very weak
You sound like Donald Trump. Anything to distract from the fact we are underperforming under the chosen one.
You were right on one front though, he brought Man City IP. The man has no problems wasting other peoples money.
Refusing to sell Xhaka and AMN
Driving Guendouzi’s value straight into the gutters
Paying Ozil 350k a week to tweet during games
Paying a CM 200+ in wages
Constantly talking about the need to buy world class players to help the “process”
Tom
10 years paints a stretch these days. The PL is a different beast each year. Can’t for the life of me understand why game stats between coaches seasons apart should prove relevant. Even if Tets was doing better than the good ebening maestro. Rather dull imo
Shame about Party…
Emery was blamed for every single injury occurred to the players, citing over training and double sessions conspiracies ,
even Tierneys shoulder dislocation and Holding knee injury were his fault
I wonder if the same would be applied to Arts coaching staff!
Pedro has labeled Emery as a pathetic failure yet he doesn’t want Arteta judged by the same metrics
He’s declared Arteta’s floundering start to this season can’t be compared to the manager who managed the same group of players. We can only compare Arteta with another manager three decades ago.
Some logical contortionist is at work here, I swear
Partey shouldn’t be rushed back into games.
Nothing stops us from getting the job done tomorrow against Wolves, with or without Partey.
Pedro Fair comment. There are as you suggest a number of “fair weather posters” on Le Grove who seem to enjoy see ing us lose, because it gives them the opportunity to express negative opinions about the club, owners, management, coaches and of course the players as well. They have no concept how to build a successful team and how difficult it is to win league titles. Rome was not built in a day. Andy 1886 I accept your opinion that developing satellite clubs may not serve the best interest of community football. The discussion with Ken Friar revolved around… Read more »
Dissenter
Please get your facts right.
“He’s declared Arteta’s floundering start to this season can’t be compared to the manager who managed the same group of players.”
Arteta’s squad of players is significantly better than the squad Emery started with last season. Unless of course you consider Iwobi the next coming.
Emirates
“Fair comment. There are as you suggest a number of “fair weather posters” on Le Grove who
seem to enjoy see ing us lose”
You might want to consider who you aim that comment at.
Emirates stroller
I see you’ve changed your toga from Wenger apologist to Arteta apologist.
I’m glad Arteta has set higher goals fir Arsenal than your lordship
He wants us to win the CL in three seasons but you sir, are satisfied with less.
Signed,
Fair-weather fan
Dissenter
It’s a difficult one at the moment – we need our best players to get results and some confidence but at the same time want everyone available for next week where they will definitely be needed.
Marc
It could be argued(and rightly) that the quality of squad we currently possess is not independent of the general quality of teams in the PL. Whatever Emery had to deal with is then irrelevant to Arteta’s current struggles in the league. The general quality of teams in the PL has so far been progressive. We on the other hand, seem to be on a slide, with a majority of the usual suspects still at the club.
It’s going to be a tester for Tierney.
We all love his overall attitude and his willingness to get forward but he hasn’t always shone defensively and Troare looks back in the fold now and had a full 90 minutes against Southampton.
And we would all like Raul Jimenez leading our line wouldn’t we. He would fit Arteta’s style.
*dependent
Guns
Arteta has a more mature Saka, Partey, Gabriel who I’m really impressed with and Willian who was his choice.
Who left of any note in the summer of 2019?
Marc’
Arsenal FC existed before Partey came in.
These days we seem to be reduced to individual player talent when we need a manager who can get the team playing more that the sum of the collective parts, problem is that Arteta;s system does not enhance individual player strengths.
What we have is a reductionist system where individuals s are being misused and are operating well below their abilities
That’s why some are already warming up their excuses about Partey’s injury.
I’m slowly coming to the conclusion that Pedro is trolling his own blog. I think we’re 2 dropped points from him jumping out shouting “April Fool’s I never wanted Arteta anyway”
Ishola70
Arteta pulled Tierney in the last game against Wolves, brought on Niles, who was actually quicker than Traore.
Could be one to watch out for.
Does Arteta go back three with the danger of Traore running rampage down the wing.
We all saw that corridor of uncertainty on the wings against Aston Villa. The area between the wingback and the wider CB coming out ti defend that area.
I think a flat back four is the best way to combat a dangerous opposition wide player.
Dissenter
It’s strange that as a fair weather fan I should be happy that Partey or Saka could be out but what I really want is our best players fit and available.
Does that mean I’m a real fan like Emirates?
Rich
“Arteta pulled Tierney in the last game against Wolves, brought on Niles, who was actually quicker than Traore.Could be one to watch out for.”
mmm could be a key element of the match.
Batistuta would love your thoughts on today’s matches. Absolute blood bath out there.
The bookies must be as giddy as Charlie
No Partey tomorrow, Salka being assessed and I hope he can play at least a small part, he’s the only spark we have without Pepe playing. Elneny available, would prefer him and Ceballos in midfield over anything involving Xhaka. Much more mobile and quick, going to be needed against Wolves. Martinelli back training with the squad, hope he can get some games with the u23s soon, he looks like he’s put on some muscle too, if he can hit the ground running when back it could be exactly what we need to animate this corp (along with a Cam in… Read more »
Rich
AMN had a very good game that match – the question is do we start him? Do we go 3 or 4 at the back?
My guess is Arteta will go 3 at the back – it’s hard to predict beyond that until we know who’s fit / available etc.
I expect the Arsenal full backs will show up for tomorrow’s game with liquid chalk all over their hands to negate Adana Traore’s baby oiled arms.
If the referee objects to that, they can always say it’s baby powder. If you let Traore lather baby oil then we will use powder; the arms will be grabbed
Marc
True enough, one would thing he would know enough to see those names lift the club above its current murk. Still suspect there’s factors we aren’t clear on. Is diet Pep just a poor coach or are there still present(despite the generational front)
the factors that saw Emery fail?
Marc
You don’t know Ken Friar so you’re a piss poor fickle fan.
Dissenter
I was never a Wenger apologist in last 10 years he was a manager at Arsenal. I was highly
critical of his decision making.
Also I was careful not to criticise Emery until the last 8 weeks before he was sacked when
it was blindingly obvious that he had lost control in the squad. This was despite my reservations about him when he joined the club.
As I posted today a manager needs time to build a successful team. Arteta has actually
outperformed expectation in first 12 months despite what you think.
Dissenter
I know and it’s actually worse. Usually I go to the Tolly before a match meaning I don’t even walk over the Ken Friar Bridge to get to the ground.
It’s actually cathartic to be able to come clean after all this time.
Marc
Niles is rapid, and has improved in 1 v 1 situations.
He clocked the second highest speed in the PL before the lockdown last season, 37.4 mph.
After the way he handled Adama Traore last time, it’s got to be tempting to give him another go there.
Tierney was getting roasted before he went off,
Just popped in. Marc as always sniping at Pedro, wtf is that all about?
Emirates You do realize that all I’m asking fir is that Arteta has to be assessed with the same metrics as for any manager. Arsenal is not a crèche and the moment you start lowering expectations to nothing just to keep any manager who;s,underperforming…that’s the day this club will be reduced to mediocrity. My criticism is it specifically directed at Arteta, it is directed at any rookie manager who’s wrested too much power from the club than he can handle. You have a first year manager who’s acquired the same level of control as the technical director. He’s essentially a… Read more »
*’ My criticism isn’t specifically directed at Arteta, it is directed at any rookie manager who’s wrested too much power from the club than he can handle”
Ashburton
At least pretend to care mate. Too much on already to be negative about
Dissenter
Your football knowledge is remarkable. I suggest that you contact Arteta and advise him how
to do his job.
I am sure that he will accept the advice from someone as expert as you.
Bob
Just holding Pedro to account – it’s never abusive although I’m getting the horrible feeling he’s beginning to enjoy it a little bit to much.
Snarling at every one now are we Emirates
Unnecessary and out of character. You are feeling the pressure more than Arteta.
You can see why we’re linked with Sander Berge, looks a cracking player.
Best player on the pitch
Emirates
“Snarling at every one now are we Emirates Unnecessary and out of character. ”
That is not an unreasonable comment – it’s most unlike you.
Everything OK?
How did Liverpool get £23.5m for Brewster when we can’t sell established international players for that sort of money? He’s been garbage.
RH
No I am not snarling at everybody.
Just fed up reading the comments of the obsessives who are completely irrational when
expressing their opinions about Arteta.
As Pedro suggests they crawl into a hole and disappear whenever Arsenal play well and reappear whenever we have a bad game.
Sorry ES but I do believe that Pierre has copyrighted the term ‘Obsessives’.
Andy
The price received for a player isn’t just based on the value of the player, it’s linked to the size and length of the contract.
We pay average players far too much, that has a knock on effect on the transfer fees we receive.
Rich, well no argument from me about our wage structure, hopefully that’s changing although we still seem determined to pay over the hill players silly money.
I doubt that would have been the case for AMN though, an England international on modest wages until we decided to keep him.
Marc, that’s two people calling you out. Not sure it’s them you need to be concerned about.