A GAME OF ROTATION + BAD EGGS MOVING ON

by .

WOW, I leave you for a day and everything goes crazy.

Arsenal borrowed £120m for a special covid loan to tide them over until the TV money drops. It’s not a shock. We built our future on having fans in the stadium. There are no fans in the stadium. £93m down the drain with many huge outlays.

This money is for cashflow. It’s not there so we can put in a cheeky January bid in for Haaland. What it does remind you is that we’re really not in great shape as a club. Kind of maddening that we dropped such huge wages on certain names if this was what was going to happen… but here we are. Also odd that KSE doesn’t put the cash up. Tells you all you need to know about the idea they’d bail the squad out this summer.

So, as I said in my last post. The priority is going to be clearing people off the wage bill this month.

We moved on Saliba to Nice. He had a mixed bag first game, not surprising considering how little football he’s played, let’s see where he is after 10 games. Because the French media can’t stop crying over this whole debacle, we keep getting drips of information. This is from the player himself.

“I couldn’t train outside, couldn’t play. I arrived there as they were finishing the league season, so I was training alone.

“As soon as they came back from holidays, we quickly had the first friendly matches where I lacked rhythm and was a bit insufficient physically.

“The coach immediately told me that I was not ready. I would have at least liked to have a chance to rediscover my rhythm, but this is football, it’s like that.”

Errr… didn’t the French media run stories that he was totally kept in the dark? They did. Arteta gave more weight to the reasons and they’re basically the same as they were before: At 19, he’s not ready…

“I’ve always been very conscious that when he came back [to London] he hadn’t done the step he needed to do before joining us.

“I want to protect the player that we signed and the future that we have alongside him.

“That’s why we made that decision. I know sometimes it’s difficult to explain or understand after the money the club has spent trying to bring him in only to send him on loan, but a lot of things have happened to him.”

This is logical. What is tough to digest is that Arteta played Runarson in the League Cup knowing he was shite. It’s also hard to piece together the Europa League omission. If you’re good enough for the Nice first team, you are good enough to play against Dundalk. That was the baffling bit and it looked vindictive. The club shouldn’t have allowed Arteta to do that, especially as he kept people like Mustafi in that squad, a player we all knew was leaving.

Talking of vindictive. Mesut Ozil looks ever more likely to move to Fenerbache for the rest of the season. Quite unbelievable listening to his adult fanboys defend something the have ZERO insight into.

If you want a little insight into what people behind the scenes tell you about the player, go to 1.45 on this Keown interview. These are the things that bothered Arsenal. The injuries, the illnesses, a whole manner of things that said he didn’t really give a fuck. That was Keown speaking at the end of the Wenger reign, did it get better? No. Emery dropped him, Freddie dropped him, Arteta binned him for good. If you need to find a conspiracy with evidence like that, you have deep problems. Weird that there’s literally a Qanon like group that follow some of our players.

If the player is moving now, it’s because it suits him, and I’ll make a £10 bet with you… he’s not going to lose a penny from his final 5 months. Let’s also see where he goes next, his fans are hoping it’s an elite club, myself suspicion is the clubs he’s being linked to are the level he’ll find. A real shame for someone of his age and talent.

Anyway, we move, it’s 2021, I have no time for toxicity.

The Arteta presser was a whole different mood. He seemed upbeat, positive about how the form had changed, and happy that things are moving in the transfer market.

He’ll be taking the game against Newcastle seriously this weekend. The FA Cup is a backdoor into Europe. One that we’ll likely need if our inconsistency continues this season. I’d also be looking at this game as a good way to bring players back into full fitness.

As I correctly reported, Thomas Partey should be available. I hope they put sensors on that knee and massage it with horse placenta. We need it strong for the remainder.

I haven’t checked, but I’d assume we’ll have Gabriel (defender) back in the mixer again. It looks like we’re starting to get some choice back in the team. I think Pablo Mari has done an excellent job. They like him at Arsenal because he’s a hugely positive influence behind the scenes. It’s a minor thing, but our squad has quite a few Debbie downers, positivity helps, especially when you’re looking to bring kids through.

Will we see some game time given to Pepe, Willian or Luiz? Maybe. They’ve all been showed up by the Hale-Enders. Our run over the next couple of weeks isn’t shocking. We have 4 days recovery after the FA Cup game before we play Palace. Then it’s 3 days until we welcome Newcastle again.

There will have to be rotation. I’d prefer it to happen in the FA Cup. Newcastle will have one thing on their mind this season: Survival. They aren’t going to win a cup this season. They might stay up. They have a HUGE 6 pointer against Sheffield United on Tuesday at their gaff, so I expect efforts and minds to be there.

3 games has changed the mood around the club, the players, and the manager. That could all change over the next 10 days. If Arteta slips back into old habits again, we could find ourselves in trouble again. These next three fixtures are all about momentum. Arguably, the two most important games of the season are at the end of the month. Southampton is gunning for the top 4 and United, as it stands, are title contenders. Bring home 4 points there and we will be right where we needed to be heading into February. The run-in becomes a cup run. This team is built for that.

However, 4 points against United and Southampton will mean fuck all if we botch the next three games. Arteta needs to show us he can defy our low expectations. He’s had his shocking run. We can brush it off as a horrible blip. What he needs to do now is show he can take this squad to greater heights using the ingredients that helped him escape his nightmare.

Let’s see what he has.

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Kenyangunner

Bslogun is the new Chuba Akpom. Much hype but will end up in second tier football

Terraloon

I truly am surprised that so few can’t see that there really should be loud alarm bells warning about the dangers that clearly Arsenal are in financially Forget the bottom line in the accounts it’s cash that is the issue and it’s abundantly clear that the coffers at Arsenal are well and truly empty and the loss of the best part of £120 million that will never be recovered is going to be a massive issue going forward . It’s not as if Arsenal went into the last two seasons with an ever expanding bank balance or indeed was income… Read more »

Sid

By the time diet Pep is through with this squad there will be 0 alpha male players, just a bunch of meek lambs singing
Meh meh meh
1 for meh master and 1 for the dame

S Asoa

Sid
You put it funnily, but our Senor Insecure Don Quixote cannot tolerate other way than his highway MY-way.,and is nasty with anyone with an opinion ion.
Guess that only leaves lambs with macho lions all culled

Graham62

Why can’t we play Nketiah and Balogun together?

Dissenter

Terraloon
Which club is facing some type of financial peril?
Arsenal’s financial strains are no different from what’s happening elsewhere.

Pierre

Graham
Eddie and Balogun are different types of strikers so in theory should compliment eachother .

Balogun is good with his back to goal, strong and powerful , whereas Eddie is more of a poacher.

I think they would make an excellent partnership.

Bojangles

Tony

There are a lot of things I prefer but then reality steps in and I have to accept the inevitable.

Moray

I love Keown, and I can easily forget his enabling of Wenger when he was looking to get work back at the club. He’s an astute guy and a club legend. He should be coaching at the club at the least.

I read that barca are interested in a guendouzi for Coutinho swap. Not sure what I think about that to be honest. I think Coutinho could be excellent for us but it would be another high salary we are carrying and he’s not in the age bracket we should be targeting.

Northbanker

Graham62 – I think we’d all prefer the Europa league to the FA Cup if it was a choice (it usually isn’t!!) – for one very obvious reason that the former gives a place in next year’s CL whereas the latter is the Europa. That said, the choice factor isnt there other than resting key players which isn’t too necessary at this point given the fact theres been a week off. So i want wins in every game we play and more than happy to see another FA Cup in our trophy room, but it’s the least of our 3… Read more »

Northbanker

Moray – i hope not. I don’t want us to sign Coutinho. That will only add to our drain from older players.

I’d prefer that Guen got a year under his belt at Hertha – returns and delivers at Arsenal or we sell on for a hefty fee once Hertha have finished adding back the value lost last year

MilanoGunner

Tierney is the type of Alpha male needed at the club and ‘Diet Pep’ wouldn’t F with him anyways

Freddie Ljungberg

Northbanker

Problem with Guen is that he only has 12 months left of his contract in the summer. It’s kind of now or never with him whether we sell or extend his contract (unlikely) Same goes for Laca, really hope there’s a plan for him that doesn’t involve giving him a new contract or letting him run this one down. We have to stop wasting money.

Dissenter

Freddie
Guendouzi’s contract ends in 2023. He will still have 2 years on his contract in June 2021.

The problem is that these players can make the situation untenable and force their way out. He can make it clear in no uncertain terms that he’s not going to work with the manager or the technical director.
We can either sell him or fool around ‘punishing’ him but that latter option hurts us financially.

China1

I don’t know if it’s true but reports that we will recall guen shortly. If we plan on partnering him with Partey then that would be an interesting turn of events

No idea if it will work out but interesting none the less

Dissenter

Chuna1
Which ‘reports’ are you referring to regarding Guendouzi?

Goobergooner

Raulishuss
“Pierre I’m sure they’ll turn on Arteta if Eddie starts banging it in for westham”

Such a moronic statement, with which Pierre agrees 😂😂😂.

If Eddie starts a goal scoring spree, at west ham of all clubs, then Arteta has to be a massive part of the blame. Just like he should be part of the blame for all our forwards misfiring due to negative tactics not associated with arsenal, that even he contradicted himself by playing negative football.

For fucks sake, Arteta can do no wrong to some people

Goobergooner

Blame* for his lack of goals at Arsenal*

China1

Yeah keowns achievements dramatically outweigh him being soft in wengers final years

He was a monumental character and a major contributor to our most successful teams, he coached a pretty shocking lineup to be the best defense in CL history and he bleeds for the club.

His van nistelrooy moment is one of the top 10 most memorable things in arsenal history. He is the absolute definition of a legend. Infinite love for the guy

Freddie Ljungberg

Dissenter Are you sure, most reports has it as 4 year contract. China It’s either to play him or sell him. I’d rather see him next to Partey than ever seeing Xhaka again. Think he’ll be good next to a proper player. He was our best CM under Emery and he was handicapped by playing next to the pointy swiss cunt. He’s also a year older now and has more experience. That all depends on if Arteta can handle him and that they both don’t hold grudges so in all likelihood we’ll be looking at moving him on if we… Read more »

The BFB

Danny+S ; Perfect summing up of Wenger and his top 4 mindset.

China1

Fully agreed on all points Freddie

Dennis+the+Menace

Yeah the attacks on Keown by Henry19 are shoddy.

China1

Tho unless we already have a buyer lined up it would be surprising for us to recall him now if we don’t plan to play him

Raulishuss

If Eddie starts a goal scoring spree, at west ham of all clubs, then Arteta has to be a massive part of the blame. Just like he should be part of the blame for all our forwards misfiring due to negative tactics not associated with arsenal, that even he contradicted himself by playing negative football.

Lol. Eddie has been delivering for ARSENAL incase you don’t know moron

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Looks like BBB has made a blunder on Mattie
Boy playing out of his skin…
Contract ends June
Smart move arteta … Twat

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Balogun
Will join a long list of malen bennecar adadalsir n gnarby who will go on to be worth good money …

Smart move arsenal board …. Twats

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Sid…

Haha … I like the lamb analogy

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

The balogun v Eddie is very reminiscent of the Campbell v Cole in the early 90s…
Or betamax v VHS …

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

We will keep the right one

Valentin

Most sources have Guendouzi’s contract expiring at the end of June 2022. He may have an option to extend but that seems doubtful. A decision about his future has to be made pretty quickly. The story about recalling his loan seems to be about him being sold on a permanent basis or testing whether bridge can be amended with Arteta before deciding this summer to sell or extend. Recalling a successful loan without selling nor offering an olive branch (keeping him in the U23 competition is not my definition of olive branch) would be another stupid move. Unless he receives… Read more »

ADKB

Has anyone noticed Tierney in the training video on arsenal.com? Others are in hats, snoods, scarves, gloves, tights (only thing missing’s probably Wenger’s long coat). And Tierney’s in just T-shirt and shorts! Is he from the North Pole?

Bob N16

‘Is he from the North Pole?’ – Yes, Scotland.

Terraloon

Dissenter For one Arsenals operating model is based on CL and minimum of 25-26% gross income through match day. For two Arsenal owe tens of millions in respect of pre 19/20 transfers. To date two clubs have taken advantage of the facility. Spurs and Arsenal. Man Utd have borrowed in excess of a £100 million but not through this scheme.Even then there is a distinct difference between Arsenal and Spurs. That is the fact that it’s not the Spurs holding company that borrowed the money it’s a subsidiary. One by one clubs are publishing their 19/20 accounts. But in a… Read more »

jwl

ADKB/BobN16 – I Canadian but one of my grannies was Scottish and she would 100% love Tierney with his tesco bags and short sleeves in winter. The worst people in world were “big-time charlies’ and ‘southern softies’, according to my nan, and i think Tierney had similar granny. ———– “His resistance to cold feeds into the idea that still runs through football that manliness and toughness are important traits. I don’t blame any player that hates being cold, but Tierney’s willingness to go out to training while it’s -7, fighting off a couple of snow leopards and a polar bear… Read more »

Guns of SF

Sell Eddie,
No brainer…. he is not the level we need. With that money, blow it on Bissouma or someone in that mold to partner Partey.

The XHaka El neny duo needs to go…. our attack will benefit too.

If we get ANY money it should be spent this way…. those 2 CM’s have done our team in enough

London gunner

has the lineup for todays game been released.

if eddie is included he is probably staying

Nelson

Leno, Cedric, Luiz, Mari, Tierney, Elneny, Willock, Pepe, Willian, Martinelli, Aubameyang.

Subs: Runarsson, Chambers, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Saka, Nelson, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Lacazette.

Nelson

Can you believe what Arteta said about giving more chances to Balo?

Thorough

If that’s William in the CAM position then maybe Arteta is finally listening. Willian is never a winger. Try him somewhere else. If he sinks or swims then so be it. He’ll never amount to anything on the wings no matter how hard we try.

Cheney10

Looking at the squad for tonight’s game, Eddie is staying and Balogun is leaving.

Time Up

As predicted Willian is the experience no 10. No signing this window.

Cheney10

I’m not fussed at Willian playing 10 in the cup, means he will be nowhere near the Premiership team…

Freddie Ljungberg

No Parety and no Balogun , other than that it looks good for an Fa cup gamez as long as it’s a 433 (4-2-3-1 or whatever) and not a 7-0-3 with Willian as a false 9 or something equally stupid.

Willian Cam, Pepe right and Martinelli and Auba switching positions and it could be a fun game to watch. Our CM is still wank though so maybe not. Need another class CM in there pronto.

Time Up

Arteta is not the manager that trust the kids. For that reason alone, he should not be a manager. He has short term plan to win and move to another club, it’s all about him not the long term vision for the club. If we carry on with him, we’ll lose all our younger players.

I’m surprised, no one can see this with him.

Jamie

Balogun doesn’t even make the bench.

Buzzy

I might be the only one but I used to love Willian at Chelsea..I think last season he was one of their best players..good quality players dont suddenly turn shit..I think he has quality but he’s not meant for the wings…todays no.10 role is where imo he fits in the best…the last time he played there was against SHU and he was immense…I think he’ll have a good game!

I hate Green Bay

Why the fuck start Martinelli and Tierney, makes zero sense.

Kris

Why is Tierney playing when he could be rested for AMN? It’s not the semifinal or final LOL

Xhaka on the bench means he is still in the starting 11 for the EPL. Fantastic 🤦‍♂️

Nelson

Time Up

That’s why Edu has to do his job.

Pierre

Thorough
Theres only one CAM in today’s line up and it’s not Willian

The Godfather

Win or lose I’m beginning to hate Arteta.
Bloody hell WTF?

Pierre

Oops… it’s not smith rowe either..i thought he was starting.

The Godfather

Is Partey not ready to play yet and Gabby still yet to recover?
Both of them trained, no?

Time Up

Because of Arteta we’re going to lose Guen, Saliba and Balo, I’m sure Martinelli won’t have the minutes required and if an offer come he would sell him. I just hope Edu can see that and stop this Spanish farmer.

Nelson

I read somewhere that Arteta wants to trade away our youngsters but Edu only allows them to go on loan.

Karsa

Maybe Balogun has said he’s going regardless.

Time Up

Pierre,

Willian is the CAM, you’ll see. He already played there in the second half agains Everton. If he does well, ESR would take a back seat, just like Martinelli for Auba on the left.

Time Up

Nelson,

It’s so obvious, Arteta not the one to play the kids, he wants older players. He promised Willian to win the CL in thee years.

Dortmund model my ass to dis supporters.

ADKB

jwl/BobN16

I hope our SNP friends don’t get “offended” by these comments 🙂 Anyhow, I doff my (woolly) hat to Sir Tierney, our Snow King, the Legend from the North!

Nelson

ESR has more chemistry with other youngsters. On the other hand, I wouldn’t mind Auba plays up front with Laca or Martinelli. Those three can rotate for the striker and the LW spots.

Gazzap

I want martinelli in the hole today. Still cannot believe balogun not even in the squad. Really poor. He’s going.

The Godfather

No one in their right mind would hand the keys to their Rolls Royce
to a kid who has never driven a car before … this thing with Arteta is nuts, win or lose.

Chris

Well I’m glad to see a pretty strong line up, I love the FA Cup but it’s also important from the perspective of potentially qualifying for Europe, as well as further stating our dominance in the competition.

Unless things go extraordinary well in the league in the coming months (it’s likely we’ll see a few more slip ups upcoming, as football is football) I think we will see Arteta take the EL and FA Cups very seriously, the latter part of the season may see league games used for resting players.

Up for the cup, come on Arsenal

Gazzap

AMN instead of tierney is an absolute no brainier. Arteta makes some strange decisions.

The Godfather

Odd that they have the physicality of Andy. Carroll and JoeElington and we counter that with Luis and Mari, with Holding, who struggles against pace but is decent in the air, not even on the bench … again win or lose, Arteta is a fool

Chris

Although should add the Be fica tie will be very difficult, but revenged for 91 would be nice, who was that Brazilian fella who played for them, with longish hair, scored twice in extra time at Highbury, the name escapes me, any other older heads remember?

Kris

Embarrassing that our back-up GK is not even good enough for the 3rd round of the FA Cup.

Have never seen that before at Arsenal.

Nelson

Chris
“I think we will see Arteta take the EL and FA Cups very seriously, the latter part of the season may see league games used for resting players. ”

That’s what I think also. There are at least 5 teams who are too strong for us to catch. I also believe that some teams will figure out how to stop our new offense by targeting ESR.

Bob N16

The Godfather, can we assume you don’t rate Arteta?

Bob N16

I quite fancy our attack today. Willock’s going to have to put in a shift!

Left Testicle

No midfield to speak of.

Guns of SF

Is Martinelli hurt in the warm up? or is this BS

https://twitter.com/Vitu_E/status/1347952889717796865

Major_Jeneral

martinelli injured in warmup

Guns of SF

more reports now shit!

London gunner

might just be a little knock hopefully he can play today

MidwestGun

Sup Ladies? Hope Auba gets back on the scorecard today.. Really need him to get back with the program. Anyhow, lineup is okish…But now we are set up for a possible Xhaka/Partey midfield next match which would be terrible. Bascially, Partey would just get injured again running around trying to makeup for Xhaka. Speculative.. anyhow.. but these are the things I worry about.

London gunner

Midwest

what you think about balogun excluded from the squad.

I want to like arteta but he makes some baffling decisions at times its hardly conducive to keeping the player.

Karsa

Midwest.

As I mentioned earlier, maybe Balogun has told Arteta that he’s off regardless.

Leftside

Martinelli does look quite prone which isn’t a good sign

Karsa

Sorry – London Gunner

izzo

Martinelli is i.injured in prematch warmup. WTF!!!

MidwestGun

London-
I think Balogun has pretty much decided he is off.. might have even told the Club that.. Other wise if it’s just Arteta’s decision then that is daft.

Balgun seems like the type of player that likes to keep all his options open and gets his head turned easily.. Hasn’t been able to make a decision between US,Nigeria and England for the national side either. If he wanted a guaranteed start and playing time the US would be a no brainer.

Time Up

Martinelli out injured in warm up. He’s crying, I hope it’s not serious. Nelson in his place.

izzo

Guys just forget about Balogun already. If he wants to go then good riddance. Another impressive striker will turn up in the academy before you blink an eye.
I’ve learned to not attach myself to any footballer. Its all about the money and plating time and they will go whenever they please. GET OVER IT!!!

I hate Green Bay

Well, there we go. Martinelli crocked. Arteta massive cunt starting him and Tierney

Batistuta

Just seeing William starting enough to put me off

MidwestGun

Ugh.. I hope Martinelli .. isn’t injured too badly if true.. Its crazy how dependent we are on Marti and Saka. and now ESR.. for the rescue of our season.

Jaffa

Gutted for Martinelli, looked painful

Freddie Ljungberg

Doesn’t seem like his knee again which is good, hopefully it’s not that serious, just painful and frustrating for him to get injured again after that long out. This happens all the time when players are coming back from injury though so too soon to worry about him being injury prone.
Hope he’s back quickly.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Where is the youth on the bench…
What’s the point having them training with the first team if you don’t promote them

Get him gone
Spanish archer

London gunner

where was martinelli being played before his injury was he being played as striker? with auba on left or vice versa

Gazzap

Cannot believe balogun isn’t even in the bench for a cup game. Arteta doesn’t read the fans emotion very well. Reminds me of a time when Wenger didn’t pick arshavin in the cup vs Chelsea.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Wtf
Why is that cunt playing him in the red zone
Fuck off arteta

jwl

And it’s Arsenal,
Arsenal FC,
We’re by far the greatest team,
The world has ever seen…

London gunner

such a dissapointment to see reiss nelson play instead of martinelle.

its like going on a date with gal gadot and Nancy pelosi turning up instead.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Nelson should have been on his place from the off

Arteta out and soon.

London gunner

willian finally playing in the centre lets see if that can get a good performance out of the old dosser

G

” read somewhere that Arteta wants to trade away our youngsters but Edu only allows them to go on loan.”

.. Bollocks