ARTETA BINS EX-CHELSEA DUO FOR SECOND GAME IN A ROW. GOOD NEWS!

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Let’s start with a quote from Mikel.

‘It wasn’t like we had to play them {young players}, because we had enough senior players. We played them because they fully deserved it.’

The most beautiful words I’ve heard all season.

The most beautiful Arsenal.com words of 2020?

INJECT IT RIGHT INTO MY EYES I WON’T EVEN BLINK!

My major concern after the Chelsea game was that Mikel had been pushed into dropping the toxic exChelsea duo by an unlucky covid exposure. That we’d see them return as soon as they were available. Well, it appears they were dropped because they are toxic. There might be something in the stories about the two of them bitching to Edu. It might be the shitty behaviour behind the scenes. It might be Willian’s shit performances in nearly every game. It might be David Luiz trying to shame Mo Elneny on the pitch. Whatever it was, I’m fucking glad it happened.

Phase two of the season starts today. Mikel is placing value in people that want to do the work. His embargoed press conference didn’t just land on ‘the kids done good’, it went to ‘they showed you a glimpse of what I’m trying to do here.’ He spoke of energy, movement, forward momentum, risk. All the things we haven’t been seeing from the senior players.

Now, it’ll mean very little if we play Brighton and lose like we did last time. My hope is that the temptation of complacency is overpowered by a desire to impress. We won’t destroy Potter’s team, they’re too well-coached, but I fully expect all 11 players to be present and to put on a show. This needs to be the 95 minutes that shows the Premier League the Chelsea game wasn’t a fluke.

We have some things going for us. They haven’t won in 5 games. Their last 3 games have been draws, though they have deserved more if I’m honest. We’ve also been lucky enough to have an extra day’s rest, huge at this level.

I don’t know how Arteta is going to think about squad rotation. Right now, it’s probably best to stick with what worked. Saka, Martinelli, ESR were absolutely key to our attacking game. Brighton like possession, just like Chelsea. I know Martinelli has played a lot of games, but damn, it’d be a big call to rest him. Lacazette was very good against Chelsea, he links play well when he has the space to do so, but you wonder if bringing Auba into the mixer would be a good move. Surrounded by 3 energy merchants is exactly what his game has lacked. What I don’t want to see is Nic Pepe on the field again. He’s not it. He offers very little. Our game dips with him in the 11. He’s had enough chances.

Midfield might see some fresh legs. Granit Xhaka will probably land minutes, deserved based on what he did on the last game, and also worth remembering he’s fresher because of his suspension. Mo Elneny had a pretty horrible game against Chelsea (lots of minutes), I’m hoping his place goes to AMN, who offers far more to the attack that Ceballos ever seems to.

The defence has to stay the same. Gabriel is out with covid. Mustafi shouldn’t be anywhere near the first team. Cal Chambers hasn’t had enough games. I worry a little bit about Kieran Tierney. He’s so imperative to our game, and Kola just isn’t a footballer, so he’ll likely play… but at some point, we’re going to have to get real about an RPL for him so we can keep Kieran going.

Tactically, we need to keep things straight-forward again. It was interesting to read Arteta say this after the Chelsea game.

‘We need to make life as clear, as simple, as efficient as possible for the players’

He’s owning the reality about the players he has. His vision of the game is too complex for the now. There’s too much to think about. The controlling nature of his ideas paralysed the players and the output was consistently robotic and uninspired. Giving energy to the frontline gave the midfielders permission to release the ball fast and early. Loosening the positional rules on the forwards gave them permission to improvise and create little pockets of art. Let’s do that again. If we can replicate that against Brighton, we’ll score more open play goals. Arteta’s big learning is that too many rules for creatives kills the joy. Freedom to express was Wenger’s strength and his downfall. Arteta needed to find a middle ground. Structure should be a platform to create in safety, not a bunker to launch occasional sneak attacks from. Planning creativity in a game of chaos is like scripting sex. You don’t do it, unless you’re in the industry, or a freak (which I know many of you are).

What I found very interesting about his prezzer is how chastened he sounded after a pretty exciting win. I suspect he put a lot of energy into crafting that win. He sounded broken, like he’d lost the game 3-0. Clearly, he’s been to some dark places over the past month. Questioned his worth. Doubted his abilities. Probably read a few mean tweets and wondered if he’d ever escape the moment. Well, that’s a good thing. Everyone goes to hell in their job, especially in the early years, the best don’t cave to the bad moments, or blame those around them. They learn their lessons, they make the changes, and they power forward.

Mikel loves this job, he gushes over how much he enjoys being the manager. He loves the club. But he’s made some very, very bad decisions in a structure that lacks proper checks and balances. Today is a chance to move forward, to show that the 2.0 version of our season is going to be better, to prove to the fans he’s the right man to take us forward.

Let’s see what the boys have for us. Hopefully, it’s something special so we can put 2020 behind us. Over to you, Mikel.

P.S. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST RIGHT NOW. Another one coming after the game.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Play

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Useroz

The ‘senior’ players are the problems. Old habits die hard.

Danish Gooner

There are acres of land between the Brighton players.

Habesha Gooner

ESR is good. He needs run in the team. We cant do worse than what we have done so far.

Danny

At least we’re attacking this half till Arteta’s ex team mate Danny Boy comes on but Giroud didn’t so who knows.

Time Up

Is Elneny working from home?. Take him off ffs.

Buffalo

wonder if henry has turned his tv off yet ?

TheBayingMob

We always seem to hold on to everything a moment too long. We never shoot quickly enough. Ever release enough. Never cross quickly enough.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Auba dropping the tools init ?

Useroz

Contact it looks 50/50

Arena better keeps martinelli, saka and esr. Ok to sub auba

Matt

Please be aubamayang coming off.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Artetas crab style football is boring

Samir

We need Bissouma. Would be perfect next to Partey.

Dissenter

Don’t stress Laca’s calf muscle strain

Time to give him a break and let Laca start his hustle

Danny

Ok to sub auba
——-
You know he wont.

Saladin

Fucking hell Auba. How do you manage to hit a stationary keeper from that close?

Danish Gooner

We are gonna be in Big trouble of they score.

WengerEagle

Trying to look at the bright side, our three best players today have been ESR, Saka and Martinelli.

Guns of SF

Bissouma is quality

Useroz

Ok martineeli looks tired by dejected to have been sub’d

1 up

Zfree

Leno been sharp. Aside from when he juggled it a few times with an on rushing attacker

Danish Gooner

Laca !

Elmo

All Saka.

TallestTiz

Saka is good

Buffalo

woop woop

Dissenter

**Don’t stress Auba’s calf muscle strainTime to give him a break and let Laca start his hustle

Buzzy

Great finish but that was all Saka

Danny

Great play Saka, brilliant.

Guns of SF

Saka!!!!! LACA!!!

Samesong

Look at that. Lacascores

Nelson

Yeah!!!

Samir

Saka you hero!

MidwestGun

Yes!!!!! finally… needed that.

TheLegendaryDB10

Well, well… Laca scores!!! That sub has worked put… even tough I would have subbed Auba off instead of Gabby.

Habesha Gooner

Would be delighted with Bissouma. Partey is more of an all rounder than a DM anyway.

Venga, Dani

FINALLY

azed

Yes!!!

Gazzap

Around blind side on Dunk. Great finish. Laca back on form?

Dissenter

Saka is such a talent
Such a talent

SAGG

Laca again. Instant game changer

Samir

Easily a 100m player Saka is! Give him a 20 year contract!

Useroz

Saka made a great pass. Simple but looking up all the time to assess his options

Paddy+Gooner

Sakaaaa lacaaaaa

Danish Gooner

Scum Maupay !!!

Nelson

Saka is faster than I thought.

Saladin

Keep a clean sheet now you handsome cunts Holding and Mari

TheBayingMob

Get in! The minute we make quick choices …

WengerEagle

Lacazette doing more than Auba in 30 seconds.

Guns of SF

here comes the hunchback…

Lets get another one just for him…. the POS

Matt

Space on behind now. This is aubamayang chance.

Samir

If only Pepe could play like Saka.

Useroz

BHA can’t park the bus now.

Let’s pull down apart

Radio Raheem

Saka – Laca

Told you fuckers Laca the sub to bring on

Guns of SF

Saka needs to own the right side moving forward…. Martin on the left!

Ishola70

Lacazette should have started this match

Dissenter

We went ahead after project restart and they came back to beat us
Can’t let that happen today

Venga, Dani

Guns.- totally agree. Pepe and willy can fuck off

MidwestGun

Eagle add in Tierney to your list… That’s the thing we have the makings of a good team… no way we should be bottom table.

Paddy+Gooner

Don’t blow it now

Habesha Gooner

Saka is a Sancho level talent. I am not exaggerating even a bit. You cant teach this level of decision making skills in young players.

Useroz

Oil testing Guendouzi that his pal Mopay is coming on

Time Up

Saka has moved his level up. Best teen world wide atm.

Danish Gooner

I havnt seen bigger shower of shit since allardyce took over wba .

Dissenter

“ Lacazette should have started this match”

Hindsight and all that.
Laca ran himself into the ground on Saturday
He couldn’t have started

James wood.

Will Arsenal do what they usually do with SAKA.
He really has found another gear brilliant run and pass.

Venga, Dani

Lazy from Rob there

TallestTiz

Aubameyang is a zero threat from the wing

If he can’t beat Laca to CF, bench him!

Useroz

Not ceballos

Guns of Brixton

Laca what a guy

Venga, Dani

Concentration is going a little. Worrying

Guns of SF

El neny is such a momentum killer

ARgunner

Boom saka lacca…..now do it again

Danish Gooner

We are carving Them open.

Habesha Gooner

Actually this suits Auba more than at CF when we have no runners from deep.

MidwestGun

Another good chance… Need another so I can get my 2-0 prediction spot on. Because it’s all about me. 😀

London gunner

takes a moment of magic from saka just like the Southampton game except from the other wing.

saka is top team quality would make the first team squad of all the top teams in the league

Buzzy

Looking tired now

Useroz

Funny. Bellerin the most advanced player! Fighting and won a header with no mates in sight……

London gunner

we carving them up like Christmas turkey

Useroz

Wot happened to saka

MidwestGun

Mmmmm Saka in real pain.. twisted ankle.

Useroz

Hopefully impact injury only. Not looking good

Samesong

Someone jinxed Saka ffs

Useroz

Where’s the slow 👎

Dissenter

The classical over use injury
Saka has been living in the red zone for a while

Guns of SF

Saka will be ok

Chika

When Aubameyang is not scoring, he’s completely useless. Lacazette is easily a better footballer.

Hope Saka is badly hurt..

Danny

That’s all we fuckin’ need, at least he’s walking.

Habesha Gooner

No please no. We really need him.

gunnerman

Once again our best performing player gets injured. We are cursed.

Guns of Brixton

One of you evil eyed Saka.

Effin morons!!!

Chika

Hope Saka is *not badly hurt.

Useroz

Saka up and walking about. Sub him anyway.

Where’s the Willian??

Dissenter

What happened to Nelson?

TheLegendaryDB10

Crap…. Saka looks injured…. that does not look good for our best player….

Phewww. He has gotten up.

We really cannot lose him. Sub him now to preserve him.

MidwestGun

I think he stepped on that dudes foot defending and twisted his ankle.. Hopefully not a ligament thing and can run it off.

London gunner

he looks in severe pain

Guns of SF

Dissenter, where is Eddie N? 🙂

S Asoa

Arteta sacrificing Daka. Pushed back. Bastard will damage the best player

Dissenter

Take him off ffs

Paddy+Gooner

Wow. He’s back on

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