It’s hard to know where the bottom is for this squad of players. It’s tough to fathom whether the manager can arrest the decline. You wonder if the exec team has the knowledge to intervene and support. We’ve not seen a run this bad since the 80s. We’re rudderless top to bottom. The process is fucked. We are back to being a banter club.
Arteta is in big trouble. This is going the way of David Moyes at Manchester United. Listening to him insist 44 crosses to nobody was some sort of success for the future was painful listening. If you don’t have a striker like Robin, Ade, or Giroud, why would an entire coaching staff go out of their way to ramp up crosses per game by 11.3 since November (James Benge stat)? Last time we came close to yesterday’s number of crosses we at least had Danny Welbeck to aim for (Leicester 2016).
Steve Round said in one of his Youtube videos that in the end, not winning enough games cost him the United gig. Now we’re following that regime’s legendary path to the bottom… literally.
Cross numbers were the least of our problems yesterday.
Arteta is stubborn. He is trying to will a flawed plan into points. Everyone looked at that starting 11 and worried we lacked legs and character. We gave Willian another game to bomb. We started Granit Xhaka despite his terrible form, his lack of physicality, and the absolute nothingness he offers to the squad. We gave Auba another game. The guy is a disgrace. Arsenal.com shouldn’t have run that interview with him in the week where he looked like he was a hostage on day 57 after being asked to denounce his religion, family, and love for nice things. He is not behaving like a captain. Everyone at Arsenal knows this. If your charismatic leader can barely crack a smile, how are the rest of the squad meant to pick themselves up? Leadership is turning up when things are hard, he’s not doing that right now.
The Thomas Partey decision delighted us. He was really solid for the minutes he played. Then something popped, he rolled off the pitch as a counter-attack started, and Arteta tried to shove him back on. It reminded me of that time Denilson dropped to the floor against United and didn’t smother the ball… except Wenger didn’t run on the pitch to pick the player up and kick him towards goal. If Partey has the same injury, we’re deeply fucked. It’ll take longer, there might be all sorts of complications. We’d have just killed our escape plan. We took a risk on our best player and broke him in the busiest month. Unbelievable banter. The worst of short term decisions. We were always a long shot to beat Spurs away. Now we’re a longshot to beat Burnley next week.
That starting 11 showed that Arteta is not learning his lessons. He saw what athleticism offered to the starting 11 in the week and he ignored it. He continues to opt for senior players that can’t play his system. His system might be fucking magnificent in his head or at City, but if the expensive experienced players he has can’t play it, it’s total shit. We thought we were hiring in a manager that could rearrange a motley squad of players to be better than the sum of its parts… it now looks like we’ve hired someone that is wedded to something he can’t do. At least when we shithoused we were competitive.
Arsenal won’t change the manager. The players will go long before he does, but that might be predicated on Arsenal not being in the relegation zone come the end of the month. We are shite. Our players have a long history of pundits bemoaning their meekness. But Mikel doubled down on them, no one asked him to. He gave out the deals, he extended the stay of execution for about 8 players, and he insisted that the things they do at training was the stuff of top 4 teams. Things went to shit in the first 10 games and he excused it by saying he needed 6 players to get back to the top. GREAT, we needed that actioned in the summer, not now.
Hector Bellerin was leaving. He was convinced by the project. We thought he had changed. Yesterday, he dropped his 6th foul throw of the season. HE IS A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLER AND HE FOUL THROWS. Let that sink in.
The opening 3 minutes of the game was beyond parody. Lacazette was so slow from kickoff he was clattered as he passed the ball out for a throw. Granit Xhaka’s first instinct when Harry Kane burned him for pace was to rugby tackle. Hector gave possession away from a throw. 3 of our most experienced players dropping amateur moments like that, how can you progress with players doing things like this?
It might start with retiring the season and playing the system with players that can do it, even if it’s not at the ‘technical’ level Arteta wants. At the moment, the principles we set out with look like they’re being soiled every week by senior players that don’t give a fuck. How can Mikel be so ruthless jettisoning the ‘bad’ players to the far reaches of nowhere (right decision), but so accommodating for the absolute bums he rolls out every week?
Here’s an idea he should have adopted this summer. Play the young players instead. Just like Frank Lampard did at Chelsea. The guys that are attached to the club. The guys that want careers beyond current contracts. The kids that have ceilings. If we’d written off this season and binned the idea of yet more short-term fixes, the fans wouldn’t be as angry as they are right now. He promised Willian a Champions League final in 3 years. He can’t even get an accurate cross from the Brazilian.
Can anyone honestly tell me AMN, Reiss, and Eddie could have put in a drossier performance than what we saw against Spurs? I suspect Möller might have been better suited to a system built for Giroud like target practice and he’s never played a first-team game. Would he have bottled challenges? Would he have cowered aerial balls? Would he have been so half-arsed?
Leeds United cause everyone problems because they have a system built to accommodate subpar players. Worse players than we have. Jurgen Klopp said a good gegenpress is better than a number 10. Time to get real, the current players can’t play City football. ‘What can they do?’ is a must-find answer.
That answer should be geared around power, pace, and one-touch passing. We need to get back to the aggressive pressing, it’s shocking that Arteta let it slide like Wenger used to. We need to have actual athletes in the middle of the park. We need to find a modern take on creativity because we’re not getting it with the players we have right now and lobbing the ball into the box will not work without big players who love to rough it with slaggy defenders. If there is a vision of what the football could be, let’s play it, even if it’s only at 80%… because at least we could see where this process could take us.
Cedric has a final ball and he’s fast, I doubt he makes foul throws. Why did we sign him for four years if he can’t play?
AMN marked Mahrez and Traore out of two games. He moves the ball fast, he’s aggressive, he has some flair in his passing. Give him games. Hold him accountable. Make him better.
Reiss Nelson can move. He is fucking rapid. His career depends on making it at Arsenal. Give him minutes because he cannot be worse for the system than a player who complained he didn’t really understand what Arteta wants from him after taking a £250k a week deal.
Would ESR offer as little movement between the lines as Lacazette. Would he give you 4 pass attempts into the penalty box as a #10? Alex was one of our better players and he didn’t do much bar run around with some aggression. There was a moment in the first half when Thomas Partey broke the lines and none of our forwards gave him the movement he needed. Painful viewing.
Auba is droppable. Willian is droppable. Xhaka should be left off the January squad list. If you are not doing it, you should not play.
I know fans think they know best. We mostly don’t. But we do know that a chunk of our players will always let Arsenal down because we’ve been watching the patterns for years. I have said it time and time again, I’d rather watch kids fail who can get better, than watch older players stink out the place because they don’t care.
Arteta was hired as a rookie. We were told to take a chance on his coaching and promise. He should take a chance on players that want to be there. Kicking on with the seniors that have a history of mentally collapsing at every opportunity is unacceptable leadership regardless of how old you are.
Give the Hale-Enders a go. They have a culture, a shared belief, and drive. The understandable mistake Arteta made was being conned by bums, the unforgivable one is continuing with them despite their utter tripe performances.
Ainsley had it right. Get some legs in the setup. Get ‘a little bit of dynamics’ going. Find a way, because that’s the job. The stubborn approach is not yielding results. Big names are taking the piss. It’s time to get a grip. It’s time for shock and awe. It’s time to resuscitate the season because it is about to need an ICU bed, the nurse is revving up the ventilator and we all know that means it’s 50/50 prognosis in the worst of ways.
There are plenty of managers that have turned dire situations around, but most of them have admitted mistakes and made changes. We need that and we need it fast. Arteta looks like he’s unraveling and that’s not good for anyone. Let’s hope the soul searching this week is a little deeper than ‘just do the same thing.’
Fingers crossed.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Listen to our podcast from Friday. It’s evergreen. Most of it holds true today.
* not only illogical *
The season is so weird that if the club acts quickly with a new manager and a new elan we may still be able to get top 4.
Sal I hope we get to beer hard and fish sometime once the ugly Americans are through giving each other the virus.
“One can’t blame Arteta for not trusting or playing them enough though. It’s understandable. Right now, he’s at the point where he needs to produce results. And for that reason, he won’t stop counting on his more experienced players.“
It’s a rookie mistake. And one he may look back on and laugh later in his managerial career. If a player isn’t good enough or isn’t putting in a proper shift then he has to be dropped. What must AMN be thinking if he can’t get a game ahead of Willian?
Valentin, yeah, fire the coach exactly a year after the same thing happened. That feels fresh and not the definition of insanity.
Pedro
“Valentin, yeah, fire the coach exactly a year after the same thing happened. That feels fresh and not the definition of insanity.”
So letes keep him so he can keep on redoing the same nonsense over and over again
If you were the Dofa and you listened to that press conference about crosses being a measure of progress, would you keep Arteta beyond 24 hours.
I wouldn’t.
Remember this https://metro.co.uk/2020/06/24/sven-mislintat-arsenal-transfer-afc-arteta-football-12898616/ Have you guys noticed the pattern. Whenever someone tries to tell us the truth about the club (PV4, RVP, Petit, TH14, SVEN..Emery) to name a few. We turn our noses in derision. We scoff and label those people as snakes, traitors, agenda driven, patronising and disrespectful. Fans take it as disrespectful because those people are criticizing the club fans love. But really they are not attacking fans. They are really attacking the people who run the club and enable failure to continue. Ironically they are doing OUR job. Exposing the bulls#*t. But Arsenal fans get very emotional… Read more »
How about Arteta keeping his misguided tactics to himself & squad instead of telling journos in interviews as per his 50 crosses per game target. The rest of the PL managers are thinking thanks for the heads up Arteta and make preparations to nullify the supply route in midfield. What does get through their MF defense and ending up with the ball being crossed sees 2 or more 6’2″+ defenders looking down at short arse Lacazette and lightweight Eddie laughing to themselves as they not only clear the cross but mostly start a counterattack. Every time 65 minute max per… Read more »
La croqueta Sven’s a tough one because he clearly had pedigree when he came to the club. However, his record with us leaves a lot to be desired. Of course, we don’t know all the internal politics so it’s hard to say how involved he was in each transaction. Still, here’s the players brought in during his time: Auba, Mhiki Torreira, Sokratis, Mavrapanos, Lichsteiner, Leno and Guendouzi. The only unqualified success (at least until this season) has been Aubu but he wasn’t exactly a hidden gem and we paid handsomely for his services. Leno was decent enough for 22m but… Read more »
Tony-Ozil is not in the Premier League or Europa League squad. He’s simply not eligible even if a new manager came in. Part of the reason he was left out was to kill the endless stories about him returning but some people are still thinking it’s possible.
Is it too early to bring out a managerial candidates’ list ? I’d go with Benitez or Klinsman.
If Arteta s not sacked in 10 days, Arsenal will get relegated
I agree with Receding Hairline that beating Burnley is not a sign of team recovery. Getting 10+ points from our next 5 games is however a step in the right direction and worthy of keeping Arteta until the end of the season to take stock then. Pedro Bar the usual suspect trolls here you have the full respect of the majority of the posters here. Certainly you have my respect for your blog creation with Geoff and keeping it successful and current with quality writing that’s occasionally is marred by your blind agenda driven posts, such as supporting Arteta regardless… Read more »
This is really beginning to feel like a 1988-89 opportunity. In the summer of 1988 George Graham sold or released veterans like Sansom, Steve Williams and Rix and brought in 24 year old Lee Dixon and 26 year old Steve Bould (although he looked 50 even then) We had young,,talented Arsenal-trained youngsters who were first-team regulars like Rocastle (21 yrs), Thomas (21 yrs), Merson (20yrs) and Adams. (22yrs) and even the more experienced players were all 28 r under (Winterburn, Alan Smith, Marwood and Richardson). Let’s not forget the supersubs Perry Groves (23) and Martin Hayes (22). The only regular… Read more »
This was bound to happen. For Arsenal fans who don’t get carried away with flashes in the pan, this was waiting to happen. If Xhaka is retained at the end of another pathetic season (FY 19-20) where he hasn’t taken more than one SOT, then its a no-brainer this was bound to happen. there were at least half a dozen players wh could have been brought in to replace Laca – Jotta, Metheus DaCunha……. But Arteta simply sits on it. Why? Is Laca unsellable? if so, why not close his contract and let him go? Saliba? How shit is he?… Read more »
Bacary
“Tony-Ozil is not in the Premier League or Europa League squad.”
I know but would it surprise you if Ozil was reinstated to the squa, EL and PL lists in January if we can’t find a creative MF?
Right now nothing Arteta does would surprise me.
Arteta is in the Emery downward journey heading towards the unemployments lines.
Funny thing for all the Emery bashing Emery was quick to find work with Valencia and seems to be doing ok there.
Who would employ Arteta so quickly if he is fired?
This season is screwed anyways. Better to bring in the boys than the men.
And, bring on Ozil. Enough of Arteta
Tony-I don’t think there’s any way Arteta brings him back in January. I also think there’s no way Arsenal sack Arteta before the end of the season.
Also, what is really the point of playing Ozil in January? It will be about a year since he last played and he’s not part of our future. I would much rather he give Smith-Rowe and Willock more playing time.
Arsenal used to have a significant Masonic influence. I think it has returned. I can find no other reasonable explaination for this current turd of a club.
Tony-I think Emery might just be better suited to La Liga and Spanish players. It really didn’t work out at PSG for him either and it seems to be more of a communication problem for him in both France and England.
L’il Moyes should leave like yesterday, Per and the youngster wouldnt be as messy as this charlatan.
ES
Re your Ancelotti remarks what will you say if we lose to Ancelotti’s Everton?
I still say that directly post Wenger Ancelotti or Rafa would have been a safe hands option in steadying the ship that was all but sunk by Wenger.
Bacary
“I would much rather he give Smith-Rowe and Willock more playing time.”
Wholeheartedly agree with you and would add Balogun to that list instead of persisting with Eddie.
My question is a bit of a detour from the normal Arteta out, ive been spouting on here since Sunday. The question is how do we get our scouting network back and more importantly, can we pry a few away from Red Bull teams, Ajax, Dortmund ( again), Monaco, Seville and other teams that constantly seem to find gems that turn into world beaters? We have no one but Edu look at youtube videos or asking Kia what to do. Another bone head move to fire all our scouts including head scout Francis Cagigao We really cannot find these gems… Read more »
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/mesut-ozil-arsenal-transfer-january-23130092
Let’s hope this story has legs.
I thought that Arteta was sending his command from the sideline to the players. For the first goal, Son was running all free and Bellerin was so out of position. How come he didn’t order Bellerin to track Son. For the 2nd goal, it was even more absurd. Not only he ignored Partey’s request, he was watching four players, Xhaka, Laca, Tierney and Saka tackling one Spuds player who sent the ball out to start the 4 v 2 counter. Why didn’t he jell at his players to prevent this from happening. Why did he allow Xhaka to advance so… Read more »
Guns of SF
The club sacked over 50 scouts to save a few quid.
If they were interested in the methods of those teams you listed above, they would not have gone down the route they are in now
Nelson
“Why did he allow Xhaka to advance so deep into the enemy territory?”
Xhaka does what Xhaka does – he knows he is the first name on Arteta’s team sheet. When he is hopelessly committed up field it takes him 3 days to get back to ‘help’ in defence. His ‘help’ in defence consists of pulling players back who are way to quick for him (ie every player in the EPL), fouling them and getting his obligatory yellow card.
Allowing Xhaka to wear an Arsenal shirt – this is just one reason why Arteta is finished at Arsenal.
I just came across some information that I had never heard about before: Here’s some players from the 2001-2002 Paris St.Germain side. How did I not know this?!!!
Ronaldinho, Pochettino, Heinze, Okicha, Anelka and Arteta.
*Okocha
Even the stupidest of Arsenal fans must have noticed Arsenal isn’t scoring from headers for last 3 years now. Has heading in a goal suddenly gone out of fashion in London? If not, why not get a striker with a smart head?
this was waiting to happen
Arteta Out
LOL
When he is hopelessly committed up field it takes him 3 days to get back to ‘help’ in defence.
Xhaka retreating against Traore was so classic they put it on their official Tik Tok
As soon as he gets the ball, Xhaka retreats, not even trying to stop him…. just get back and pray mentality.
This fella needs to go to Italy or some slower league… or just leave our team!
F me!
“Who would employ Arteta so quickly if he is fired?”
Arsenal. Again.
Olly would have buried at least 2 of those 44 crosses.
SO in Jan, we need someone like that….
A tall, brute and good headerer of the ball….
someone with good head work
“Guns of SFDecember 8, 2020 06:37:23
Xhaka this. Xhaka that.”
It took you Arsenal fans FIVE YEARS to find out what a donkey Xhaka is. This is one vital reason Arsenal is where it is today.
Tony
Good morning.
I agree.
After Wenger, either Ancelotti( in particular) or Rafa would have been a good fit.
Just to steady the ship and significantly to get all the behind the scenes in order.
Guns of SF: you are right. Certainly two, if not one more. Either heading in or with his left foot.
Wnger was a bigger donkey. When Olly was around, he did not have wingers to cross. Check the number of crosses Arsenal made in last 3 years of Wenger – has to be a fourth of what Arsenal had ben doing after Olly left.
p&m
We’ve known for 5 years.
It’s just that Wenger, Emery and Arteta didn’t.
It just goes to show that some managers are not as good as they think they are.
More specifically, our managers.
To be fair, it’s a no-win for managers sometimes. When Giroud was our CF everyone complained about his lack of pace and it limited our playing style. Now everyone wants a strong player in the air.
Even the ex pro’s were shocked at Arteta’s tactical naivety against Spurs, so much for a generational coach . He really is a Snafu manager isn’t he. No fucking clue whatsoever.
Guns
“A tall, brute and good headerer of the ball….”
We have one playing in the u23’s – Nikolaj Möller.
Giroud as plan A was the problem, every team would defend with a high line,
With Auba teams defend deep, what fans call for is having plan A and B. If we had between lines creators Auba would still score like Vardy at Leicester.
Or have the strong player in the air like Edourd if the style is crossing.
DT from AFTV re Xhaka
“..he will probably drive home tonight and he will be in reverse”
bacaryisgod
It’s all based on the belief and confidence of the players.
You could have Bryan Flynn playing up top but if the players have bought into the system and structure set up the manager and believe 100% in what they are doing, chances can be created and goals scored.
If they don’t buy into it……………….
Shite, Brian Flynn.
Showing my age with that one.
For you youngsters out there, Brian Flynn was 5’ 3.5”
When we had Giroud, we were trying to pass the ball into the net along the floor.
Now we have 5’9” Lacazette we’re bunging everything in to the middle, often from deep.
Giroud was wasteful anyway. IT’s only because we’ve sunk so low that we’re pining for him.
Can anyone explain to me what GX offers us.
Bulletin points will suffice.
Giroud loves it at Chelski.
You can tell.
I always found Giroud to be a bit of an annoying cunt. Having said that, I would rather have him that the Invisible Willian any day of the week
Graham
I’m pretty sure the only thing GX brings to the table are pictures of Stan Kroenke at Epsteins island because that’s the only way I can fathom that manages to get played week in week out through 4 managers.
Graham Xhaka offers us nothing he should be bombed out immediately useless players no pace nothing
What have we become
We need investment to the magnitude Chelsea have just done to even get into top 4
This is the worst team since I can remember when Terry Neil was in charge it’s that bad
Good morning Graham
Over the years on LG it seems as though we agree on most points each has raised.
Maybe it’s our similar age or that our spending so much time as expats adds to our agreements.
Hope the freezing fog isn’t in your area.
We were in a situation this summer where we finally had some light at the end of the tunnel with regard to lightening our heavy, CL wage bill. Then we added Soares, Mari, Willian, extended the awful Luiz and an ageing Auba. We sacked our backroom staff and Gunnersaurus. In a buyers market we managed to pay top dollar for Partey and sell barely anyone except our best keeper, despite rumoured offers for AMN and Lacazette. We now have a whole set of players who look likely to sit out the expiry of their contracts and leave on a free… Read more »
Jumping on the bandwagon i call it, it’s a typical Le Grove trait. Months ago, myself and CG were warning you of what was coming and it didn’t go down well with all the typical groaners on here who were fooled by Arteta’s rhetoric . I called the bullshit months ago and i said the non negotiables would come back to haunt him… Now here you all are jumping on the bandwagon, you’re not fooled by Arteta’s bullshit anymore and realise the non negotiables is a ridiculous policy… I was slaughtered for saying the binning of Ozil would be disastrous… Read more »
It’s only the star but I’m fucking hopeful!
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/mesut-ozil-transfer-arsenal-january-23131484
“I was slaughtered”
Ever the victim. You, Val, and Diss the three resident snowflakes always whining about your treatment on the internet.
Bamford back now too under his 12th moniker to complete the band of pathetic cry babies. Hard to believe you’re all adult males.
Pierre
You’re deluded, Arteta is a busted flush.
Pierre would probably file for divorce if his other half agreed that Ozil was no longer fit for purpose in 2020.
Everytime I log on here, it’s woe is me, Ozil wah wah wah crying from Pierre.
Isn’t there a golf stick you can accidentally smack yourself with?
If your gonna bat for someone, someone like Pepe may do. He has a good game (with every manager he’s played under here) and he’s right out of the starting line up, then publically criticised for not being consistent.
Yet, the usual suspects are consistently shit and will walk back into the starting line up. It’s that bad for me that whenever I see a Xhaka (Willian is getting to this stage) in the starting 11 I won’t even bother to tune in.
Pierre, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel based on what? …Arteta has realized he’s not the footballing genius? (you won’t be saying this if you watched his last few press conferences)..
Can you kindly share you thoughts..
Leftie
I have a habit of calling it right…some people just know whats coming and most on here jump on the band wagon after it all goes tits up ..
That’s how it is.
Pierre you have selective memory, there were lots of Arteta detractors on here with good reason. When he was finally appointed, most had hope that he could surprise us and get us competitive and now we are where we are.
And most jumping on the bandwagon as you say? Get over yourself. When a manager isn’t performing fans will want change, thats just how it works in sports.
Who’s even on the board at arsenal? It feels like there’s no clear person taking charge of things.
If we fire arteta, we have to fire the people who thought he was a great fit in the first place. The club top to bottom is a laughing stock.
Tony
Yes it is. Pea soup down here on the south coast.
Oh the joys.
Yes, spending 18 years working overseas gives you a slightly different perspective on things.
I’ll be entering my 60th year pretty soon.
Those on here who think they know it all at 40, ain’t seen nothing yet.
How’s like in the Far East?
Pierre 👏👏 What you fail to realise(as always) is that because your master overstayed his welcome by approximately 3650 days, every nook and cranny of the club became infested. Our owner and board would have been given a kick up the backside by a top manager, who would have jumped at the chance to come to Arsenal back then. Because Wenger jumped ship, I mean was pushed, when it was far too late, it was always going to be a monumental struggle to move forward. What you also fail to realise, as you contemplate the correct grip on that golf… Read more »
Graham Thailand life is generally good and especially suits retirement. No country is perfect, though, Thailand is no exception in that respect. Winter has just started – my preferred time of year with cooler breezes and temperatures around 25*C to 33*C. I find my wife, son and daughter’s daily complaints about early morning temperatures of 12 to 19*C funny, as I find such cool mornings refreshing. The Thai government sensibly closed all borders with the Thais obeying lockdowns and restrictions that left us with only some 58 Covid deaths in total. The only real bane in my life is the… Read more »
Graham
Totally agree with your last post.
Should of given Emery more time.
If RSPCA doesn’t show in the next 48 hours, then Snowkid (diabolical name) is he.
Pedro, “Valentin, yeah, fire the coach exactly a year after the same thing happened. That feels fresh and not the definition of insanity.” Fixing things until you get it right is not insanity. In fact it is the opposite of Insanity. It is the only logical thing to do. Lots of successful clubs fire their unsuccessful managers until they get it right. Real Madrid, Chelsea, Bayern do it all the time. ManCity used to do it. Spurs kept firing managers until they got Pochetino appointment right. And when he started to floundered, they gave him a chance to fix it,… Read more »
What is arteta’s current mission objective at arsenal?
is he rebuilding the squad?
reimplementing our core philosophies?
bringing us a certain brand or vision of football?
I would love it if arteta was reinventing the wheel but it’s turned into a square and can’t get rolling.
No matter what it is he is actually doing it is none of the above listed cause I haven’t seen evidence of it.
Arteta can go fark himself. Hes clueless.