Good morning my darlings. I’ve been to hell this week. Arsenal has been shit. Advertising has been worse (we won that Ad of the Year award though, so thanks). I’m on my 4th accommodation in 2 weeks after dealing with rodents. The only joy has been finding out that lizards are quite social and like to hang out when you work. Weirdos.
It’s time to get back to business though. I can’t have Arsenal being shit forever. Mikel Arteta’s fall from grace needs a swift turnaround. He’s going nowhere and he needs to fix the problems.
Southampton are not exactly shit these days. Ralph Hassenhutl overcame a similarly shocking run last season, now he’s fighting for the league. They’ve been so good even Theo is looking like a player.
Still, at some point, something is going to click. I know everyone is crying that we’re going to get relegated… it’s not going to happen. Here’s how bad the season has been: if we’d beaten Burnley and Southampton tonight, we’d be 3 points off Chelsea.
What does that tell you? If we put a run in, we could climb the table pretty fast. Now, we have good players. Some are downing tools. Some are out of form. If we can work out who is who, then we could find some sparkle.
Auba looks shattered confidence-wise, but we were finding him the other night and he didn’t stop working. It’ll click for him. I simply refuse to believe he’s an Ozil-like issue.
Granit Xhaka can’t be used tonight. He’s been fined and now he can’t play. That means there will be a change in midfield. A lot of fans were critiquing Arteta for not savaging him a week after savaging Arteta for going off a Nic Pepe. I think he learnt his lesson, his post red reaction was virtually the same. Everyone fucks up, let’s move on.
Hector Bellerin, bless him, is finally being dropped because he’s suspended. What will Mikel do? I really hope he plays Cedric Soares and puts Ainsley in midfield. If he doesn’t, we’ll know that the Kia deal for the Southampton player last Jan was probably some sort of final straw for Raul.
I think we should go back to being Shithouse FC. Play 5 at the back until we have the players to roll with a back 4. Our midfield base should be Mo and AMN. Let’s have Auba left, Eddie centre, and Pepe on the right. then maybe Joe Willock or ESR in the creative position.
We need a win. The players he’s forced to pick have to come with the goods. This has to be a stepping stone to a better starting 11.
My fear is we see another round of Willian, Lacazette, and Ceballos.
The reality is we’ll probably fall somewhere in between.
I keep on calling every game a turning point. It never happens. But if you were honest about the last game… we were pretty decent. We played some good football before Granit saw red and we ended the game with an xG win (lolololol I am soooo desperate). I know it means nothing right now, but at least we saw less aimless crosses, some structure in our attack, and a bit of variety.
Arteta was asked if the players are behind him. He laughed and said, ‘my feeling is yes.’ Honestly, I don’t think we are in ‘downed tools’ territory. The results are worse than Emery, but the situation is very different I think. That said, you need to see some wins at some point. Today would be a nice moment.
There was a lot of talk about bad situations and what you learn in the presser. Mikel has never had his squad do to him what they did to Emery. He needs to remember this moment. How it feels. What people said about him. How close he came to getting the boot. Those are the things that need to be written in a diary so when May next year comes round, he’s ruthless. I don’t want to see Mustafi given another chance. I don’t want to see Luiz here next year. If we get an offer for Xhaka in Jan, let’s push him out. Arteta will escape this dip because industry people think he’s the next big thing. The execs will ride out the calls for his head this time… but he won’t get a second chance. This moment needs to be like the first time you licked a plug socket. Let me tell you friends, you only try that once.
Those conversations can happen later, today, is about the win. I liked it when Mikel was asked why we’re so shit.
‘This is football.’
Very true. Our team is more than capable of getting back on track. The talent in the squad is way above where we are in the league. Mikel is a great coach. Let’s see what the counter punch at our shitty form looks like.
P.S. Now listen to The Arsenal Opinion. I bring together Janan and Matt for the first one. It’s a good one. Therapeutic listening.
Thank you and goodnight
This is generarional. Worse ever run of games at home in Arsenal History.
Nobody in more than 134 years manage to lose 5 games at home in a row at Arsenal
And you are fortunate to witness it, so BE EXCITED just as Josh Kronke said.
Jesus Christ, we look appalling. We are NOT going to score any goals in this game. Somebody call Poch already.
We ate showing everyone that there are levels to this banter game.
Feo scores, lol.
The irony, Walcott loses a yard of pace and gains that bit of composure he always needed.
Still fucking rapid.
Being totally dominated.
Team is going through the motions. No intensity.
looking at the team defend a corner really illustrates how weak this team is when you see them standing together
They are toying with arsenal
I wanted it to work for Arteta but as gifted as he may be, this situation is becoming irretrievable. If we lost tonight he has to go, for his own sake and Arsenals.
Willian has been sent out to warm up…
These are committed players trying their best.
The issue is with Diet Pep.
He needs to make each player understand their roles. Clearly many do not.
Also why do we have so many youngsters in the lineup. Would any of them walk into any team in the top 10…
Axes
Stop smoking that stuff lad.
IQ
Ya, that’s what I see.
We just look so mediocre all over the pitch. Not even flat, just genuinely the second best set of players. Soton have looked like the home team since the start.
Southampton are pushing for more goals. We are that shit.
What is going on?
Balls to the walls time.
Now we see how much this team believes in Arteta.
So far no fight and yet again unbalanced. 4-3-3 is giving the midfield away.
I can only agree…. What gets me is how Arteta still cannot figure out how to try and get that ball to the top.
I mean a 4-3-2-1 could work to ensure the ball goes up top.. But then we still don’t have the players for it. Our team.is so imbalanced it’s staggering.
Has a manager ever been sacked at half time?
If we’re going to set a record let’s at least make it a positive one.
How can it be good for the defence when Tierney plays as a conventional left back when Arsenal have the ball but goes in the back three when Arsenal don’t have the ball.
Tierney is all over the place.
Pathetic from Arteta,
Leno is fucking wank
This team needs two bastards in it, we shouldn’t be sending them away.
What about balogun instead of eddie…
Southampton look more clued up than us.
Mind you every team we play looks more clued up than us.
As fergie would say squeaky bum time
The WORST Arsenal side ever! Absolutely zero quality and hopeless
We haven’t been beaten by Soton in 25 games.
We haven’t lost 5 home games in a row in our history.
Just call Arteta.
Better, thats the kind of pass we’ve been missing. Fuck you XHaka.
We’re 1-0 down but we’ll cross the fuck out of them in the second half.
Walcott better than Auba
Yep… I’m not really seeing a bunch of players.. fighting for their coaches job. Maybe the urgency will step up as time runs out.
Expect pepe to shoot better on his left
How far is Saliba from a first team? Holding is a squad player at best. Arteta has put his faith in average players because of his ego and trusting senior players.
Honestly, we could win this.
Team just don’t look like they want it.
Sad thing that we kicked out the cerebral players and the bastard players.
We have to attack also from the right. They are expecting us from the left.
Albany needs to pass properly. No hospital balls
Auba underhitting it twice in a row. That’s intentional.
Let’s get in
David Dein for Edu
Poch for Arteta
Tony from Untold for Pedro (at least his obsession was with a once great manager).
Obviously there are 60 mins left. We could charge back and get a point or three, just dodge the historic defeat. Would I bet money on it? No. Soton look more likely to win by more goals at this point.
Raptora
“We haven’t lost 5 home games in a row in our history”
You like it or not that is generational stuff.
We like signing older players over 30. This theo bloke looks good, anybody know anything about him?
But quanon or whatever his name is says he the bright one on here and told he knows all.
Arteta is the best most generational manager to ever win the fa cup!
He may have surpassed chapman by winning the fa cup
We need 3 bodies in the midfield, this is such a weak tactic. I think we’d dominate this mid if we did.
Marc
Now that would be another first for The Arsenal if that ever happened…. buuuut with the spineless fucks at the head of our club, they will do absolutely zilch.
Maybe a total drubbing by Chelski will do it.
I said earlier that this game would suit Southampton. No pressure. We were are the favourites. players shitting themselves.
Especially as there’s no Xhaka fucking us
There is no spark whatsoever in this team
Auba and Eddie are both passengers of sort.
Both poachers don’t do well linking up nor carrying the ball.
Arteta is done
Good night guys!
WP and Romeu are bossing the midfield. Need to match them.
3 bodies in midfield is needed here.
I definitely have better ingame management then Arteta.
Bertrand trying out Pepe
Just tuned in
0-1 down
Take Eddie out, push Saka ahead, bring on Cedric and put AMN central.
Or put Willian on.
We win this with 3 midfielders
He’s lost the team. They’re not busting a guy.
Edu doesn’t look happy.
He’s lost the team. They’re not busting a gut.
Edu doesn’t look happy.
Pepe, Eddie and Auba offer nothing playing together up front.
Especially with Pepe right wing.
They just showed a shot of Edu shaking his head and looking angry.. not looking good for Arteta so far.
Bring back wenger, Ozil , et al
lol Edu is having a fit in the stands
The camera just zoomed on Edu
The dude looks shaken
If Bamford had managed to rope in a few more into taking his bet he would be eyeing up properties on the French Riveira next summer.
Edu caught on tv throwing his hands up and shaking his head. He’s about as happy as we all are.
Edu, should walk down and sack Arteta. With a slap for a good measure.
Auba caught alone in that left corner with the ball is indeed sorry scene
Auba out of shape ..too much praying celebrating his new contract
I think arteta will go back and coach in Spain…
Mid,
I think that’s directed at the players as Edu ❤ Mikel.
Here’s the thing, the dickhead types on this site call me a negative poster, but every match day I look at our genuine positives and how we play and what we can do to improve whilst the match takes place.
They only react to the midweek comments but surprise surprise, they aren’t ever fucking around during the game.
Didn’t look like a pen at first sight.
Auba is just too far from the penalty box.
I said it earlier, Tactically the last 2 games were ok. It was just the wrong players. Today it’s the right players and wrong system.
Left
No he hasnt. Quantum(pedro)says he hasnt and he knows. Hes knows most on this blog.
It was just emery who lost the dressing room. Arteta is god like figure. Ask quoanon
Was veballos caught or he just dropped??
My man Theo I am glad for him revenge must be sweet. If Arsenal will loose 5 home games in the row will that be a new record?
Embarassing Dani.
He asked for a fight
No one is stepping up to take a bullet for Arteta
He’s lost the dressing room?
No penalty?
Edu looking like Hannbal Lecter in the stands.
Why didnt dani shoot ffs ?!
McCarthy taking the piss, how dare he catch the ball so easily.
Ceballos would rather take a fall than press on so weak.
Left… could be .. but if the players have given up.. on Arteta it’s over. Too many jogging about right now. I’m sure that’s what EDu was mad about was urgency level.
Replay suggests ceballos anticipated more contact that didn’t come
Doesn’t he know real keepers flap?
Why can’t Kieran speak to the ref – when I played as a kid and my Dad was ref he gave us all the decisions.
Ceballos playacting
I can see it now McCarthy man of the match 😆
that close to goal. embarrassing by Dani
How easy ings won the ball. Elneny brushed away
This is abysmal
Good question. Why the hell ceballos didn’t shoot
Edu needs to pay a visit to the dressing room at half time.
Ancelotti doing well with Everton …please hire Allegri
I mean look at Auba.. looks like he actually slowed down rather then get the ball.
I’m looking forward to AA clearing out the dead wood in this squad..
Something beach bum should have done
AA will be more ruthless
The defender did touch the bottom of Ceballos’s shoe.
Dani looks to me as the only player showing some fight
You need legs in a premier league midfield. If you don’t then the players have to be top quality like David Silva. our midfielders are neither. Put AMN in there. How can no manager of ours see that?
Where’s Pete pace gone??