Well, here we are, reality.
Life is pretty shit if you’re an Arsenal fan right now. But, things can improve fast if you believe. Positive. Mental. Attitude. Who said that? Kriss Akabusi?
For example, by thinking posi (shortened for impact), I managed to muster the energy to have the letter ‘T’ fixed on my laptop. Do you know how good that feels as a writer? Glorious. Absoluely glorious.
What doesn’t feel glorious is overseeing the current wreckage at Arsenal. However, spare a thought for Aston Villa who were beaten by the might of David Moyes and the strong backhand of Lady Luck last night. Also, pour one out for the main man, Brendan Rodgers, whose Leicester lost to Fulham. We’re still just five points from 4th, even after losing half our games. This year is going to be rough for everyone.
What those losses mean more generally is that you can go from fraud to not-fraud quite quickly. 5 wins on the bounce and you are in the mixer.
The main problem Arsenal has is there don’t seem to be too many escape routes out of this mess.
Thomas Partey is apparently out for a long time.
We banished the one creative we had at the club.
Willock, Eddie, ESR and Reiss are a long way from being ready.
Ainsley must have sat on the boss’s guinea pig because he’s out in the cold again.
Pepe, let’s face it, is not good enough. He can barely look elite against pub teams. No chance he’ll click and be the Zaha Senor Emery wanted him to be.
All the great solutions we have as fans just don’t work with the mix we have at the moment.
Let’s also be honest, we lost our three big games in fine margins matches. Aston Villa was the blip. Then all hell broke loose and we demanded a more attacking brand of football.
What did we get? Emery carnage.
What does that teach us? That maybe we’re not good enough to play a delightful brand of football with players that couldn’t do it last year.
So much for the fans that said ‘I’LL TAKE SHITTY RESULTS IF WE TRY AND PLAY MORE ATTACKING FOOTBALL.’ Monday morning after a loss and people are sacrificing sheep on the Armoury stairs hoping the gods of football termination are listening.
Arsenal are a five at the back squad right now. Without Partey and Mo driving the midfield, we’re fucking shite. WIthout a creative to connect midfield and attack, we’re pedestrian and anti-playing through the middle. It’s a real shit sandwich.
Things will get better because I don’t think they can get worse at the moment.
By January, we’ll have Partey and Mo in the middle. That gives us tempo and speed at the base of midfield. It also gives us players that can press for a full 90. We’ll bring Gabriel M back into the mixer, much needed, again, he gives us something we don’t have. He’s direct, good with his head, and no one attacks the ball like him. He’s the Leeds United energy we lack. Then you have Pablo Mari and Cal Chambers coming back into the mixer. Who the fuck knows what Pablo will be like, but he can pass and he’s built. Cal was playing very well before the break and he can move the ball with purpose.
Then you have the transfer kitty that the execs will go begging for. We’re being linked with a whole collection of players. Buendia of Norwich, Isco of Madrid, Max Aarons… there are rumblings that we’ll try and do something sexy so we can unlock some sort of exciting football in the back half of the season. I don’t know how much I believe that noise… Vinnai is like a gambler racking up bigger and bigger debts at craps table. How many more ‘please sir, can I have some more’ moments will the Kroenke family accept with the wage bill we have and the empty stadiums that are happening?
The hope is we’re not starting January thinking about next season. I’d like to be in the mixer. That could start with a win this weekend, though I’m hard-pushed to see us dealing with Kane, Son, and Mourinho who are all in excellent in form at the moment.
Still, crazier things have happened. Are we not due something crazy? DO WE NOT DESERVE A THING AT SOME POINT?
I tell yah, fuck being the positive beacon of hope in the Arsenal community. It is way easier to be a miserable c*nt. Just take a negative position on everything, because eventually, in football, you’ll always be right.
Why did I back the vision? I could have just taken it easy, but oh no, I had to treat the Arteta brand like I was selling cookies at work. WHY DID I CHANGE? Now I have nowhere to hide, but you know what, fuck all of you that come to the site to gloat. You may have won the battle, but the war isn’t over… and let’s be honest, the people that are crying ‘SACK ARTETA’ would be the guys at war playing cricket with live grenades.
I think most people are on board with the idea of keeping Arteta on the project. We’ve seen 3 managers downed by this group of players, I’m not sure the club has the stomach to give someone else a go. The pipedreams of Allegri, Poch, or Nagelsmann are just that.
- We don’t have the money for their salaries
- We don’t’ have the money for the transfers managers on the up need to fulfil their ambitions
- We’re a fucking mess. Until we address the issues that are 10 years in the making, it’ll be hard to attract the very best.
We took the young manager route. We’ve made some bad decisions along the way. We will hopefully learn from them and course correct.
Arteta turned things around once, he can do it again. He needs to get back to basics. For starters, we’re not pressing, something that was really effective before. Where did it go? Players should be picked on form, not on reputation. Players should be dropped if they don’t’ hit the standards. Why have we gone from starting Reiss against Liverpool at the start of this project to bumming around with Willian again? If 5 at the back is the way, fuck it, it’s the way. If Auba on the left is better for him because he won’t press like our system needs, put him on the left. If Xhaka needs a special system to look half decent, then maybe he’s not the player for an 11 that needs 11 players that can run.
My hunch is it is not over, we’ll get into a good run, and we’ll laugh and joke about this moment as a turning point.
Dream, not hunch… but I can dream grenade cricketer.
Listen to the podcast with Aash and Pedro. It’s is GOOD.
Edu isn’t the main problem.
He Didn’t decide to keep Leno and sell martinez.
He didn’t pick xhaka for games, or Continue to play out of form players
He doesn’t pick the formation,
Edu didn’t decide to keep xhaka, AMN, when the option was there to sell them.
If he was involved in the Mari, Cedric and Williams deals then he can definitely take the blame for those with Arteta. But he can’t be the scapegoat while arteta walks away blameless.
Why didnt Edu get into Arteta’s ear about some of his decisions? Seems like he just lays over for Arteta.
As a TD or whatever his role is, he needs to have more balls to put the team first.
This idea of making Arteta the manager was just madness….
of course a power hungry ambitious person would grab that.
Arteta is a very prideful person IMO. He feigns humbleness but his tactics and management scream the opposite.
When the players feel the manager does not trust them, they will rise to that occasion every time
Lampard, another rookie, written off by many and rather prematurely but he has shown the ability to learn from his mistakes and make amends. He is doing a good job.
When Arsenal signed Partey from Atletico Madrid on transfer deadline day, the Ghana international appeared to be the final piece in the Arsenal jigsaw. Arteta, however, reportedly didn’t want the 27-year-old over Houssem Aouar. Instead, he felt the Lyon star would be the right signing to take them to the next level. It was reported by L’Equipe that Arteta was denied his wish, however, by Edu. They had differing viewpoints and, in the end, it was the Gunners supremo who got his way. Sure, Arsenal have needed a player like Partey for years. But with Granit Xhaka, Dani Ceballos and… Read more »
Maybe Cavani can kneel down on both knees before the next United game to show he’s totally anti racism.
Is Thomas’ injury serious? Didnt look it at the time, thought it was just a soft tissue one?
Grabs “I think the defensive issues we seem to have stem from our full backs having to provide the width in a 433 or 4231.” I agree , For some reason Arteta wanted his full backs further up the pitch than willock and Ceballos (v wolves).. This is very Emeryesque and i was forever critical of this tactic.. All it does is leave you wide open to the counter , Bellerin was caught out of position too often. This starts off a domino effect defensively, it meant Holding had to pull out wide (an area he is not totally comfortable)… Read more »
Didnt lampard manage derby last season
TR7
He learnt his craft managing Derby not sitting on the bench next to Guardiola.
Stevie G is doing a top job up in Glasgow.
Likely being primed as Klopp’s replacement at Liverpool though. Give Klopp 1-2 more seasons after this one before he calls time and Gerrard will probably just wait out that time with Rangers.
Pierre
The goals of the last game cant be blamed on fullback tactics and bell, luiz was heavily concussed and should not have been playing. When youve got a CB bleeding from the head after being involved in a clash that cracked a skull, tactics are secondary imho
WengerEagle
“Is Thomas’ injury serious? Didnt look it at the time, thought it was just a soft tissue one?”
It doesn’t matter anyway, as Arteta never wanted him.
bennydevito
Arteta’s “intelligence” is not in question.
It’s applying basic common sense that concerns me.
Ok not quite a rookie Lamps but still a newbie in EPL and quite inexperienced.
Lampard spent 250 mil in the summer. That speeds up the learning
Champagne Charlie
Arteta inherited a £400m squad, that speeds up the learning too
“Lampard spent 250 mil in the summer”
It certainly doesn’t hurt, also ramps up the pressure to be fair.
I thought it would take chubs longer to work out his side, impressed thus far but F ing whisper that.
Allegri the bookies favourite.
I don’t know enough about him.
Most of us are wrong multiple times a day, Pedro, but we dont have worldwide audience chivying us everday. Dont let the haters and losers get you down, i admired you taking position on Arteta even tho i thought you was misguided. Makes for more interesting blog and not pablum a lot of other website provide.
Both goals came in the first half, while Luiz was bleeding out. Willian had an assist. Last two epl games have been gonzo, not great examples to cite in trying to crush arteta. We had chances to win in both games and we didnt. If we nick a sly win away at the weekend w the same tactics, it should but it wont stop the overwhelming rage that should be directed at covid, wenger and kroenke for creating this situation, not arteta for doing what he can to fix it. Edu i am lukewarm about, he seems like a fallguy… Read more »
Seconded jwl
Charlie
There’s spending well and badly though.
Emery spent close to 200 million and took us backwards.
Chavs have turned a mediocore top 4 challenging side in title contenders with their summer haul of Ziyech, Havertz, Werner, Silva, Mendy, Chilwell.
All look to be brilliant signings that have had an immediate impact on the XI.
Arsenal must act quick and get Allegri before things get even worse.
Zacharse
We conceded both goals against Wolves because we allowed Luiz to stay on the pitch.
Why is this not being scrutinised more?
Arteta cost us two goals that could have been avoided if Holding had taken Luiz‘s place.
An eighteen year old level 1 FA Coach, would not have allowed that to happen.
Mind blowing.
WengerEagle
Emery had very little say on spending ..donut.
I found Lamps’ work impressive even before his spending spree in the summer.
How can the other players trust in Arteta when he does something like this?
Early doors but some of us were wrong about Lampard and Mourinho, for different reasons obviously.
The league might be more competitive than ever before but also lacks a clear favorite this season.
Liverpool’s injuries and City’s rebuilding ( sort of) makes it wide open and let’s not kid ourselves that Spurs or Chelsea aren’t in the mix to win it.
We all know Lamps wouldn’t be in a job were Chelsea languishing in 14th place
I agree graham and to be honest its the first time ive felt that he blew a big decision. Its the first time i havent felt like theres a reason. You could argue that the concussion tests of the epl are {purposely or not } insufficient in comparison to almost every other professional sport, but when it comes down to it he was bleeding from the head. Will never forget one of the first passes he made to release either bell or willian was knocked about 30 yards too far. Thats the moment i take him off if im in… Read more »
Quite interested to see how Klopp negotiates Liverpool’s inevitable rebuild or if he walks away in 2024 and leaves an aged/past it squad to the successor like Fergie did.
So many of their top players are in their absolute prime. In 2024:
Salah will be 32.
Mane 32.
Van Dijk 33.
Firmino 33.
Thiago Alcantara 34.
Fabinho 31.
Wijnaldum 34.
Henderson 34.
Milner 38 (probably will still be mint lol)
Fat Frank had a good squad/team to start with then spent 200 million plus. That helps. Emery and arteta inherited a dog’s dinner of a squad and poor team. Emery had 70million to regenerate the team after years of Wenger buying duds. The second season he had 130 million of which half of that was spent on pepe. Pierre, Our best teams that won the league all had a flat back four. You build from the back. We had amazing strikers wrighty bergkamp anelka, Henry, rvp the list goes on but they all had a solid back four that defended… Read more »
At the very least, Arteta should be given a severe reprimand by the club, as well as the PFA.
I would have terminated his services.
I was wrong about Mourinho, like TR7 thought that Lampard did well last season though. Not just the top 4 finish, more the way that he had the Chavs playing. Some really top stuff to watch.
Graham
Wouldnt blame ya though imo youre allowed mistakes. Apologies and new protocols should be put in place. Surely luiz’ pigheadedness wouldnt have helped the situationand perhaps holding took a little shot in the dressing room at the half to help him through pain… i have now way of knowing
Pretty rich chastising the Arteta Out crowd considering your attitude to Emery. Especially when Emery had exactly the same problems you use to excuse Arteta.
The one thing about the FA reprimand idea that wouldnt work is that Luiz passed the concussion tests that were put in place by the FA while on the pitch. The FA should also apologize imo
Weagle
Of course it’s not just the raw net spend, but they’ve clearly got their shit in place and he’s left to do the rest.
Not really comparable to us.
EMERY COULDNT SPEAK ENGLISH MOTHERFUCKERS
I absolutely love Champions league anthem.
I’ll keep an eye on Dom Szobos… He is lined up as left inside forward. or left midfielder.
Interesting that the PL have allowed Newcastle to cancel their match vs Villa because of a COVID outbreak.
I wonder how long before they have to put a guide in place for what allows matches to be cancelled and what doesn’t.
“EMERY COULDNT SPEAK ENGLISH MOTHERFUCKERS”
Que?
First impression, he has good size.
COVID is spiking up so bad in my county… major restrictions are in place right now. The crazy thing is that all the travelers last week will lead to a major spike again in about a week or so. Then the holidays start, then another spike with travelers.
Will be interesting to see how world football handles this.. I anticipate worldwide numbers to spike around the holidays and after
My goodness, are some on here actually comparing Arteta with Lampard?
Lol!!
Look into their eyes.
Now who’s the better coach?
SF
Yeah but we’ve been under a month long lockdown that finishes at midnight tonight – cases have dropped.
My question is how the the PL stop clubs insisting matches are cancelled because 1 player is unavailable – Newcastle have had to close their training ground.
Sf
Are u still in sf?
It looked like the worst spiking was in san jose couple weeks ago
What has speaking English got to do with it. The Leeds manager has been there 3 seasons cant speak a word on TV yet his team ran rings around us and have been more than competent against most in the games I’ve seen. Some fans are just mesmerised by Arleta’s lovely hair
Zacharse
I no longer live in SF, Ive moved about 10 miles south in palo alto,. Santa Clara county. We moved from the city when we had kids, just no room anymore and the city is not the best place to raise them, especially when school age.
Graham will you fucking pipe down about Luiz and how Arteta dealt with it. He obviously passed the required protocol and carried on with player and doctor consent.
He didn’t feel right at half time so rightly he was subbed. End of story.
And what has looking into lampards eyes got to do with anything? You looking for a date?
Global but at least Bielsa had the decency to use an interpreter unlike Emery.
English is a prerequisite either from the horses mouth or via a 2nd party.
Edu comes over as a week person.
He won’t rock the boat as he has his dream job.
Trouble with us is that it’s club cosy , nice little earner
“Graham will you fucking pipe down about Luiz and how Arteta dealt with it. He obviously passed the required protocol and carried on with player and doctor consent. He didn’t feel right at half time so rightly he was subbed. End of story.”
And how did that decision pan out , Super Rob?
I mean Leaving Luiz in , considering he was at fault for their first goal……….not great I’d say.
Luiz is a liability against quick attackers in the best of times , let alone with a cracked skull.
Nah, was a shocking decision to keep Luiz on after that that headsmash. Totally agree, he should have gone off.
We couldn’t believe it that it took until half time for the sub to happen. You could see Luiz wasn’t moving right afterwards.
Bielsa has got that ‘ don’t fuck with me ‘ look about him.
Arteta has that greasy daigo look about him
Dom’s work rate is not high. He is only a supporting player in this Salzberg team. He plays with both feet.
Anyone got deets on Teto of Shaktar?
One game wonder or is he the real thing?
Tete*****
Would not mind Bielsa at Arsenal.
Great coach
Guns
He would wake them up!
Their arses would be sore
Spanish Dave
Attacking is a non negotiable for Bielsa
Guns
The players look very happy and they enjoy their football.
We look fed up and disinterested.
Salzberg is leading 2 – 0.
SuperRob
Played sport before Robert?
Could see after 5 seconds Luiz was not fit for purpose.
The problem with a 442 is pretty much the same as with other alternatives we’ve tried – the midfield two. Wenger’s title winning teams comprised a midfield of two high energy, powerful midfielders be they PV4, Petit or Gilberto, a winger (Overmars, Pires) and a hard working wide player on the opposite flank (Parlour, Freddie). We might have Partey as one of those MF two but we don’t have anyone near good enough to partner him in that system.
Arteta is as bad as Adam’s, Henry and all other ex Arsenal players that can’t cut it as manager
Andy,
AMN on the wing and elneney next to partey.
Saka on the other wing.
Pretty sure that’s a better punt than seeing ceballos or xhaka anywhere near our midfield.
U4GN
Yeah I thought about Elneny, possibly adequate but not really top drawer compared to what we’ve had in the past. AMN? Seems to be in Arteta’s bad books.
Either way I’d rather the manager try something different as I can’t see our fortunes changing if we just keep plugging away with the same system. And we don’t have the luxury that City does where you just keep buying players until you hit on the right combination.
Anyone on here with any coaching experience?
After watching Dom Szobos’s game for the 1st half, he is not a finished product. He can defend better than Saka due to his size. He can play equally well with both feet. He moves a bit like Kai Havertz.
Global
Bielsas smart enough to use his native tongue when dealing with the press.
GOOD EBENING GLOBAAAAAL
BTW, I like Mergim Berisha from Salzberg. 22 years ago. He scores both goals for Salzberg.
Nelson
“He moves a bit like Kai Havertz.”
Pity he can’t play like him…we already have a player who Havertz modelled his game on in our squad
…well, he’s not actually in our squad .
Yea Tom hindsight is a wonderful thing isn’t it? He passed the tests he was ok but he was at fault for a goal, Arteta and the doctor should have known that would happen.
I wouldn’t have kept him on, it looked horrendous but if he was cleared and he was ok that’s the end of it.
Kai Havertz: Mesut Ozil
“It’s safe to say that I copied a lot from Mesut Ozil,” Havertz told Sport1. “I just like how he plays. He has done a lot for German football. … Mesut Ozil is a really great player, who has done a lot for the national team and also his clubs.”10 Jun 2020
Andy,
He has to try something different until he finds the answer.
Playing the same way and the same formation and hoping it eventually works is a lost cause.
Yes Graham I was a centre half and have been concussed but on the other hand have also clashed heads and been absolutely fine, sore but fine.
Graham you know better than the doctor that cleared him do you? Of course you don’t.
I’m not sure i would say Luiz was directly at fault for either goal ..
He should have gone off though …as I said at the time, we started the match with 2 good headers of a football and a keeper who doesn’t come for crosses.
After ten minutes we had one good header of a football and a keeper that doesn’t come for crosses .
So, It was no surprise that our first goal was conceded from
a cross into the box.
Huh?
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/premier-league-transfer-rules-brexit-23100024
Grabs
Return to basica i say ..
A flat back 4 , 2 solid holding midfielders and cut out the fancy tactics for the time being ..
Arteta has already said there is hardly time for tactics(not that i believe a word he says) .
“Graham you know better than the doctor that cleared him do you? Of course you don’t.“
No, think Val does though
EU transfers to change post Brexit.
New restrictions on signing players.
Overseas players under 18 will no longer be able to sign.
Points system – players must obtain 15 points to be able
to sign for an English club.
Points will be based on international appearances at senior
and youth level.
Thought he was a bit sluggish to react Pierre and he would normally have attacked the ball coming in. The man wasn’t his it was a midfield runner dendonker
Pierre,
Once partey is fit again I think he can add to our creative and attacking side in midfield. While also adding a defensive steel to the midfield, his recovery rate is really good.
Having a solid back four that doesn’t have to attack and provide width will help as.well.
James Wood
Wow… This Shitty goverment even managed to kill the only successful British import left which just happens to be the game of the people.
The worst UK government in 40 years
Musrafi
Papa
Chambers
Holding
Maravanoupius
60 million on a right sided CB and he still wants another one… Not till you sell first BBB
Shaktar doing a double on Real Madrid,.beating them both home and away.
No one listened, after 4 games I said Arteta is shit. I knew by his team selections. I made posts here. Now we are EXACTLY where I predicted we’d be, but everything else gets the blame. There is only one main problem at Arsenal FC and that main problem is Mikel Arteta. The squad is not great, lacks something’s but under a good coach it Oda top 4 quality
Don’t know if anyone could have predicted just how steep a drop-off Real Madrid were going to have post Ronaldo.
Floom just broke the internet
Super Rob
Hardly hindsight. All you have to do is check Twitter in real time what most observers thought of the decision.
Pierre
Luiz was definitely at fault closing down Fabio Silva who was already being marked by Gabriel.
As a right sided CB he should’ve been more central and not at the near post.
Sure Ceballos didn’t cover himself in any glory ball watching but who would expect him or Bellerin to out jump the 6’2“ Dendoncker for the Traore cross?
That’s where Luiz should’ve been.
Arteta doesn’t listen to rap music does he?
just saying…
Felix looking better each time, what a ceiling this kid has.
@Pedro – the new pod is bloody delusional. Isco “plays like jack grealish…he can run with the ball, hes strong, hes got a low center of gravity, he scores goals.” You’re seriously going to criticize our recruitment for going after older players int he hopes of getting 4th a la “get the boys together for one last job” and then 10 minutes later pine for Isco who cant even get into the Madrid team who cant buy a win at the moment? Isco hasnt been a good player since 2017 mate!! What are you smoking?
Dani
Pedro’s in denial and clutching at any straw he can find.
Expect it to get much much worse.
Tom check Twitter? I dont think so, don’t make me laugh.
Were Twitter more qualified looking in from the outside than the doctor that cleared him, after all the checks, carried out face to face?
Were they fuck.
Hindsight. Ask Twitter what it means Tom
“Were Twitter more qualified looking in from the outside than the doctor that cleared him, after all the checks, carried out face to face?“
Do you know where you are?
What’s your name?
Follow my finger
Three of the handful of questions Luiz was asked by the doctor.
I’d say everyone on Twitter should be able to handle that.