SUSPENSIONS FORCE A BETTER STARTING 11. HOW MUCH BETTER?

by .

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.

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Gazza

Comfortable for Saints they look like a much better drilled & organised side than our dismal 11

MidwestGun

There needs to be a serious reaction this half… Again, I don’t see a bunch of players fighting for their managers job.. Elneny looks lost.. back to the old pointless Elneny.. AMN looks a bit lost. Auba looks like he is resigned to assists rather then fight for goal. Tierney not involved in attack.

Things have to seriously change this half.

Kaz

It all goes back to him letting Emi go.

It’s been shit since then.

Emi was the only leader in the team and the players loved him. They felt secure and safe with him.

All that feel good left when he went and we’ve been shite defensively since then.

He’ll look back at that moment and realise he fucked up so much.

Marc

“It’s that bad I’m reminiscing about the Emery era.”

I miss Bruce Rioch!

Trap

We make soton look like prime barcelona fgs

zaco

Samesong
December 16, 2020 18:56:59
This is where you need a player of Balogun physicality. Is he injured?
===
He is not 30 yet and his contract is not big enough for him to figure in Arteta’s team.

Nelson

Time to replace Eddie by Laca. Eddie has no chance against their CB.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Don’t feel too sorry for BBB he will get another job…

Not as big as the one he had tho….

Kaz

Arteta knows he’s getting sacked.

Rightfully too.

Pierre

Pity ozil is not comsidered good enough to get in eithet squad
Apparently he was left out for footballing reasons.
.
That really does deserve a million laughing emojis

S Asoa

Fed up of discussion about which one player will give ArtetaOut the tools he desires. This story of moving goalposts been going since Arteta arrived.
Foremost thing we need is ArtetaOut

NORG

Time for Stan to stop dithering and over ruling Vinai who is obviously a weak link. If Stan dithers it will lead to a billion GBP loss.

G8

Walcott was a Southampton player before arsenal, he can celebrate anyway he wants.

Saladin

We are not scoring a goal. No chance.

Guns of SF

The youth seem to not be able to get a chance.
No youth players on the bench even

Nothing changes.

Bar the supsensions Mike would start Bell and Xhaka I am sure

Marc Faber

First half clearly shows the difference between a top coach/manager/leader who warrants his role, and someone who was given the role for no good reason but populist bullshit.

We think he is good, so he must be good…

Marco

Ozil’ a curse haunting Arsenal
Players not interested any more
Rookie coach mistake

Bertfish

London gunner

Wolves goal was a set piece routine

Guns of SF

Kaz

You have the inside scoop?

Arteta knows he’s getting sacked.

Rightfully too.

Dissenter

Has anyone here ever been through a worse Arsenal slump that this period

You think you’ reached rock bottom and then you realize you’re on the edge of the Marianas trench.

It’s really sad stuff, Arteta-in or Arteta.-out.

salparadisenyc

Legendary DB10

Can only judge Arteta by what we’re seeing and what were seeing is generationally bad, not seen a rudderless Arsenal like this since i’ve been engaged in this club. My old man twisting up in the great unknown watching this unfold.

Left Testicle

I honestly don’t think he’ll be sacked if we lose tonight.

Kaz

Guns

Nope, just good at reading body language.

The hurt and dejection is obvious.

JOEL

If this is Arsenal playing for their lives then this performance is plainly not good enough.In fact its a disgrace.and the Manager really has to go!…There is no fluency,little determination or application and apart from five minutes towards the end of the half Southampton have been better in every department. AMM needs to come into the middle of the park and replace Elneny who keeps constantly falling over….Tierney has proved once again that he’s not a Centre Back and Neketiah has proved once more that he poses absolutely no threat playing against men as opposed to under-21 boys…Arteta is plainly… Read more »

London gunner

To be fair aside from the goal against us we are playing well. At least from 20 mins on. We had the best chances and should have a pen.

I get it arteta is performing well below par but it doesn’t everything is shit.

Kaz

An interested Auba would have fought for that and got a shot off, he wants him sacked.

Jay

If fat Sam does what he does and keeps West brom up, that frees up a spot in the bottom 3.

TR7

Most players not playing with any conviction, only Ceballos and AMN did well in the first half. Our players need to show more composure on the ball and more hunger. Still hoping we can get 3 points from this game.

WengerEagle

What does Tets even say to them at HT anymore?

MidwestGun

My old man twisting up in the great unknown watching this unfold.
______
Yep… mine would have been going ballistic watching this.. I still miss him though. Can see his face turning red now. with the steam coming off his forehead.

Kaz

London Gunner

Southampton haven’t had to leave gear 1 to be beating us.

Nelson

It is 5 v 2. We have to switch the attack.

Gazzap

Auba just doesn’t look interested.

Mr Serge

Hussenhutl making Southampton pop the ball around like peak Barca

Marco

Arteta was never a brilliant player like Ole or Frank..I dont know what all of a sudden made him a great prospect to manage a huge club like Arsenal…he should be managing League 1

Left Testicle

Look like Lacazette and Willian. Great!

Guns of Hackney

Lolling. Arteta has handpicked the players who will get him the sack. The irony is delicious.

What. A. Total. Fucking. Idiot.

No sympathy at all. He’s earned this all by himself.

Left Testicle

Get Auba off. He’s not interested.

MD-Gunner

Ozil lovers will have a field day during December, there is poetic justice somewhere with the MA decision to not register him.

London gunner

I think we still have a chance of winning this. We have gone toe to toe with a very good Southampton side in the form of their life

John T.

Watching from the colonies. Saw a match at Emirates Last December 10th, this team is worse now than in that match and Freddie was the coach. Admit the mistake that Arteta was NOT ready for this job, aka Moyes, and move on. Arsenal doesn’t ax him and they will be relegated.

Left Testicle

Toe to toe?

S Asoa

Auba seems has given up on Arteta. Laca warming up. Things getting full normal Arteta

Kaz

London Gunner

Yes, we really do still have a chance but the players aren’t interested enough.

raptora

Okay we got 1 back. Let’s win it!

WengerEagle

London Gunner what’s with the Arteta backing of late?

Pretty odd.

TR7

Get in, 1-1

Kaz

Saka always tries bless him.

Up 4 grabs now

Now that’s an arsenal goal

Samesong

I felt that goal.

I felt the emotion there.

Guns of SF

The way SH move the ball is great.
Great chemistry with the players

raptora

This goal is all Saka.

Marco

Finally

Nelson

Finally!!!!

MD-Gunner

If Arsenal looses this game it is a new record YEAH. Don’t dive a fuck anymore what Arsenal will do.

azed

Game on.

Elmo

The turning point. Back to challenging.

London gunner

Auba doesn’t give a fuck. There is more to the story there why is a striker who was given a killer wage deal acting like depressed emo.

Gazzap

Yes we actually scored a fucking goal !!!

Rich

Saka is magic ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

MidwestGun

Nice.. Saka sad fuck this shit.

Goobergooner

Saka is fucking brilliant

Kaz

Oh look, Auba in a central position played off the shoulder of a defender and he scored???

Who the fuck would have guessed….

Ishola70

Those midfielders are so deep.

Push this whole fucking team up Arteta

Nelson

Saka beat 3 players!!!

S Asoa

ANM is holding the midfield .
Saka making a difference. Best player

SAGG

Auba scored in open play is a miracle!!!

Chris

That could prove to be a huge goal, the players looked so relieved.

Marco

Shaka and Gabriel only players worth keeping

Useroz

.more like it

All Saka in the making danced thru 3 soton players

TR7

Brilliant play from Saka, a bit Iniesta like.

Ishola70

Nice goal.

Saka was our main boy in that goal

TheLegendaryDB10

Auba finally manages to get a goal!!!!

And Auba was in a …. central area.

He may not work as the lone CF… but ensure he can interchange and be where he needs to be, he can score.

Guns of Brixton

WE WINNING THE MOTHERF****** LEAGUE MY DUDES

London gunner

Told you guys

Guns of Brixton

ARTETA KNOWS BEST

😭😭😭

Mr Serge

Thank god

Radio Raheem

Told ya

Kaz

London, I said the same thing pages ago…

But Dani fucking Cebellos proving exactly why Real Madrid don’t want him with that counter attack ending pass.

Receding Hairline

Would this open the flood gates?

Habesha Gooner

Saka is definitely going to become World class

Dissenter

Finally

London gunner

Saka is a top tier young talent his finishing is shite but as was sterlings he can improve that

Marco

Did you see Walcott running back to defend ..wow

curse

saka does a neymar, Eddie with a silky assist. auba at fuckin last

Useroz

Yeah. A great pass by Gabriel to Saka

salparadisenyc

Was about to write: I’d give a testicle to see a goal from open play.

Glad I didn’t.

Cmooooon Arsenal

London gunner

I am not a big eddie fan but have to give him props woth the assist

Kaz

lmao sal

Guns of SF

yes we scored!

Loved how my stream is about 5 mins slow from the blog

London gunner

“: I’d give a testicle to see a goal from open play.”

You didn’t say whose though

Dissenter

Guns of SF
Click on “go live”

Kaz

I still want Arteta gone. I don’t want him stinking the joint up any longer.

Feels nice not to be losing though. Can we win the match and still sack him?

MidwestGun

I would have given one of Sal’s testicles too.

TR7

Southampton have enough quality to still turn it in to a bad night for us. That we have in our team players I like (AMN, Elneny,Saka etc.) gives me hope.

Mr Serge

Kaz no they won’t sack him anyway

Rich

It’s worrying how reliant we are on Saka at 19,

London gunner

Gonna be honest we are playing some decentish football. If we win today arteta may very well turn round this season

Useroz

Still way too many side and back lassers

Danny+S

Much better this half.

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