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.
1m50 onwards is what you’d hear off the record on Ozil if you spoke to people that worked with him.pic.twitter.com/wbH3VqTlgc
— Le Grove (@LeGrove) January 8, 2021
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.
Let’s hope that the Martinelli’s is not too serious.
A bit annoyed to see that Balogun is still not in the line up.
Not sure why Arteta does not want to let Balogun show whst he can do.
I mean if Arteta does not want to focus on young players then that just shows that Arteta has learnt the worst trait that Pep has: being a cheque book manager.
Come on The Arsenal!!
Maybe Nelson will step up today and work his way back into the first team.
Guys ffs you cannot blame Arteta for starting Martinelli tonight. He didn’t play the last league game so he was always going to start this one. Let’s just hope it’s not too bad!
I hope that Martinelli’s injury is not too serious. A bit of a blow as he is the one player that we have that can terrorize defenders.
Willian is not a bad no 10, ESR just better.
I said yesterday.. I just wanted a match with no injuries.. frustrating. But what you gonna do.
Arteta never learns
Let Pepe take it.. oh…nevermind.. terrible fk.
Pepe needs to be more aggressive when attacking if he wants to have a future here.
A bunch of for sale out on the pitch
Too many rusty players this line-up but the manager does have to rotate.
This team would struggle until subs….
Sheesh… terrible tackle..on Nelson. could have been a Red.
Great ball pepe
Nelson showing why he should go
Spanishdave
“Nelson showing why he should go”
He hasn’t played in like forever and you’re already on his case after 10 minutes.
Shame that Nelson couldn’t quite control that ball. He was on goal had he managed to do so.
That central midfield pair is quite meh
Don’t know why players do not padd to Auba even when he is clear..His finish is more lethal than all thos long range direct shots towards goal. Their HK is very good.
Unless is to pad up shots on target. Nowadays statistics seem to be important for Le Sauce
It’s hilarious to see that illegal streams have better HD quality than the BBC iPlayer!
Plain an simple
Arteta is not the man to take us forward..
At least emery blooded youth … This man won’t
Pepe is looking more interested than usual.
Db10
I’ve noticed that … BBC n sky down Res the quality for sure
” Nelson showing why he should go”
Clueless.. The comment not the player
Don’t want to seem like jumping on the lad but nothing about Joe Willock screams quality
So flat… once key players are off
Despite an offside, did u see our players still jogging towards the box when Tierney alreadu dashed to the byline and cutback…. so hardly any bodies there,
Pepe looking very lively today
Bati
Agreed, just don’t ever recall him looking a player above Europa League farmer level.
Willock should be loaned out…absolutely useless
Pepe’s touch and control for a 72m player is shocking.
What’s AMN got to do to get a game in midfield?
Salina hadn’t played forever and adversely judged by our generational coach in a few u23 ramp up games as not good enough… so I think it’s not unfair to suggest Nelson smay be should go.
Why did we refuse 20m for AMN in the summer is the real question.
Elneny is actually playing pretty well today so far. Looking to pass forward between the lines anyhow.
Too many players struggling for form in that front 5. As in all of them. Every one of them low on confidence. Arteta better know what he’s doing here.
Pepe may be lively but there’s no quality.
Pepe looks worse than Iwobi lol
Willock and Pepe are technically very very deficient – poor touch, weight of passes not quite there and little poise and balance. You can’t learn these things at this stage now.
True that TR7
Willian shit.
Bastard Willian. Chav reject.
Eeeeore!
R.S.P.C.Arsenal
And it’s even more galling when we are/one is paying a license fee/ subscription for such poor quality.
Makes you wonder where the money is going.
Pass from willock was to heavy and at Pepe not where he needed to run into. I like the way Pepe is coming in field more.
Reiss Nelson is not getting into the game enough
How realistic is it that we can move Willian on in the summer? His contribution to date has been fucking horrendous!
William couldn’t even hit it first time!
Ugh…. Auba… is just not having any luck right now.
When the rebound went to Willian , I knew the chance was gone
William is shit…….
At least with Nelson you can say there are basic ingredients to become a good player but Pepe and Willock are out of their depth.
We have half a team of ‘nearly there’ players
Willock and Pepe are technically very very deficient – poor touch, weight of passes not quite there and little poise and balance. You can’t learn these things at this stage now
I’ve been saying this about Willock for ages but eveyone keeps throwing the young tag out.
Thst was so crap from Willian. And he had to take his time for that…. why didn’t he shoot when he had miles of space instead of moving forward.
Weagle
Willock, Nelson and Nketiah… Just not at the level of ESR and Saka and Martinelli
David Luiz surely is a bum. Cesc like passes.
I think Willian is my least favourite Arsenal player ever.
Willian is a disaster. Needs to be kicked out asap. Arteta should take a pay cut if Willian refuses to leave. He is the one responsible for signing Willian.
The thing about Pepe is I dont know if it’s lack of quality so much as he has to play so much to one foot. So he makes errors because of it.. so maybe that’s the same thing. I don;t know.. He just spends too much concentration on it. So things aren’t natural.
Williams has been consistently skying his shots..What the fuck Fraudeta done to get it ironed off?
Think this sauce is better in managing opinions than any coaching
Carroll dirty fucker as always
Jeez! That William deal so poor
Shoot !
Nelson got to hit that first time.
There’s why Riess Nelson won’t make it here. Poor judgement
What a mess.
Half the players couldn’t get a game at Southend.
Shambolic
Nelson is poor..no need to take a touch there…gabi would have buried that
Well it’s been the resident genius Pierre blowing smoke up Willock’s arse just as he has Nketiah.
Knows something about the latter that escaped Bielsa clearly.
Tierney must be wondering why he has been picked for the reserve team.
Tierney was always good but in the last few weeks he has reached another level. Intensity of his game has gone up significantly.
Pepe is a much better player than Nelson
Noi ifs, ands or buts.
Pepe may not be a £72 million player but he’s not in the same bracket as Nelson.
Nelson just rubbish . Most of us wouldnt have taken a touch….
William looks like that kid who wants to overdo everything because he thinks he is great at football.
There’s why Riess Nelson won’t make it here. Poor judgement
I can forgive that. Nelson has a bit of quality about him. He just needs to play more games.
Nelson doesn’t have ‘it’
What’s all these noise about Balogun? Why are people like these? Developing hbp because of a youngster.
If he goes, then so be it.
“I read somewhere that Arteta wants to trade away our youngsters but Edu only allows them to go on loan.”
Enough of these lies please. Valentine posted the same shit but could only post a link that didn’t mention anything about Arteta willing to sell all our youngstars and edu objecting such moves. If you have the link let’s have it. Else, out an end to the lies.
if we somehow manage to get buendia for Nelson it’ll be deal of the century
No idea why Nelson has to have a little deer dance before shooting or passing.
Willian lucky. Not a free kick. He’d lost the ball.
Tee
Why are you so obsessed about Balogun?
Don’t have as much hope for Nelson myself.
Willian doesn’t have ‘it’
Yeah Willian and Nelson’ve been really poor so far 🙁
WE
Willock is average
Cometely wasteful there Nelson. Neeeds to be offloaded asap
Mari always calm and composed. Very very good trait for a defender
Soares could have fed Auba… a no brainer really. Auba kinda threw his hands.
Nearly.
Some of you need to take a moment before typing, blaming Arteta for Martinelli’s injury in a warm up illustrates how warped your thinking is.
Martinelli has not been over played, quite the opposite so to suggest he was in the ‘red zone’ is laughable.
Whether Arteta should be manager is obviously debatable, but when someone comes up with such silly reasons it weakens the argument against him.
I know they don’t get loads of chances to shine but I just don’t see Nelson and willock as being top class footballers….. Not even championship level imo…….
What the heck. Why didn’t u shoot, pepe???
just bang it pepe fs
Classic Pepe there.
Pepe and that sweet right foot
LOL
sheesh
One footed bandit.
Nelson is pure crap. Never going to be a premier league starter for any team.
Maybe a sports psychologist could help him at least get more confidence??
Pepe’s not getting any support on the right side
Has to do it all on his own
Same story every game
Tierney is playing amazing… see Pepe… doesnt need to switch it to other foot… shoot!
Pepe was looking for a penalty when he should have been trying to square the ball.
Pepe couldn’t shoot w his right peg that’s why
Db10
Going into the pockets of the over 150 staff non actors earning six figure yearly sums.
Or on the 75 million EastEnders hd refit which was budgeted at 25million
What annoys me is that bbc is selling stuff on Brit box to us We own the fucking material buyin what we own… Fuck the BBC