GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALL!
Waking up to a new keeper signing was the fuel I needed to get me through the day.
Matt Ryan joins us on loan from Brighton for the remainder of the season. The Aussie comes with over 100 Premier League appearances worth of experience. He’s a very capable signing and he will allow us to all breath a sigh of relief when we watch Bernd Leno play. Make no mistake, Runnarson would have been deadly to our season if we’d needed to have called upon him.
Signing for the club you grew up supporting as a kid ✔️ @Arsenal
Buzzing to be beginning this new chapter and will give everything I’ve got to contribute to the first club I ever loved. pic.twitter.com/IUohEjFKVK
— Maty Ryan (@MatyRyan) January 22, 2021
Some folk are pointing to poor save percentages, and sure, he’s been out of form this year, but this Brighton fansite points out that maybe covid and family separation has added to that. Overall though, he’s been a big part of keeping a very underfunded team in the league and he’ll add the strength we’ve lacked to the keeping department.
There also sounds like there are rumblings on the left-back front. Currently, Kieran Tierney is backed up by Pablo Mari or Bukayo Saka. Neither option are satisfactory. We’re apparently looking very closely at Ryan Bertrand. The experienced 31 year old is running low on his deal and could be loaned in like Cedric was last year. Not the ideal age profile, but ultimately, we’re up against it this window and as long as there isn’t a 14 year deal at the end, I’m fine with this.
The really exciting rumour? Martin Ødegaard. The NORWEGIAN youngster has gone from ‘no chance’ to ‘very good chance.’ Kike Marin about-faced on his doubts. He’s now leading the charge with Ornstein that the player is very close to making the move to London.
This would be a real coup. We’re not in the financial space to be dropping mega-money on Buendia this window. The best move was always likely to be a loan. What I love about bringing this precocious talent to the club is that it ‘seems’ like a shift in mindset from Edu and Arteta. The easier move and the sexier one might have been Isco or Eriksen. They’d give you instant impact, where Martin Ø might take some bedding in.
… but man, this makes us instantly more exciting. Last season, he played an important role at the exciting Real Sociedad project. He was 2nd to only Messi for progressive balls. I think he was also second with through balls. Third was Santi!
There are limitations to his game. Zizou doesn’t like his nice hair and the defensive lapses in his game. Let’s be real, Madrid is a long, long way from where we are as a club. The bar for making us more creative is quite low. We’ll be better for having him in the squad.
The 22 year old Norway international had a hand in 16 goals during 36 Sociedad outings – and they wanted him back. Solbakken said Arsenal would suit the Madrid playmaker and fits the Arsenal style of play.
“It (Arsenal) is a team with great traditions that have underperformed for a while now. I like Arteta, I think he is a very good manager. But he is not going to a club that is a self-propelled machine. He is going to another country, another league, a different tempo. It shows he has great belief, which makes me happy. The way Arsenal play can fit him well, a kind of football that suits him. He can also play in different midfield roles, whichever Arteta chooses, different formations. He will get assists and be a good team player.”
David Nielsen, his manager at Strømsgodset, likened him to David Silva and Lionel Messi. International teammate and Rosenborg winger Morten Gamst Pedersen dubbed Odegaard “The most talented player I have ever seen. For his age he is unbelievable – his knowledge of the game is unbelievable and his technical skills are fantastic.”
Those quotes are SEXY.
We are not hitting the top 4 this season. This sort of signing for me is all about showing the fans what the future of our football ‘could’ look like. What we’ve badly lacked is quality in the final third, we’ll land that with Martin. Imagine him feeding the runs of ESR, Martinelli, Auba, and Saka.
Finally… Matteo Guendouzi having a bust-up coming out for the second half with one of his teammates? COLOUR ME SHOCKED. He might be talented, but he is Mario Balotelli levels of ‘loose cannon’ and he likely always will be.
See you in the comments.
‘Edu probably thinks Ødegaard is a ski lodge’
via @trentmcginn
We both hope this ages badly.
— Le Grove (@LeGrove) January 19, 2021
Nketiah’s effort was Arsenal’s first shot on target since Martinelli’s in the 16th minute
Their goal kicks are so ridiculous
Only in this decades would it be seen as high level tactics to have 3 defenders in the box for a goal kick and the keeper passes it 3 yards to a defender standing directly next to him LOL
When with the dumbass fade involving keepers stop
This all started when guardiola arrived and now everyone thinks making goal kicks as hipster as possible is going to win you games
Southampton have never beaten us in the Cup another record for Arteta
Guessing Laca for Eddie was too obvious.
We’re need a goal so we have Saka LB?
I think Pepe is looking better with Saka laca partey and Cedric around him
No wonder he can’t olay with Willian and bellerin
We are too slow up front
Willian is just so static.
He’s hardly running anymore
Just pathetic.
Arteta rather have TWO goalkeepers on the bench than including Aeez, or Balogun here.
Truly hopeless.
Williams demonstrated he shits on Arteta . Umpteen times skied shot
Wtf is wrong with cedric
Cedric waiting for Willian to overlap and Willian just stood there like a fucking cone.
Soton passing the ball so much quicker than us. No excuse for that really.
Yep Cedric should be absolved from any criticism
The idiots on this site eh!
Matches like this is what gives RedTruth moral to say what he says.
No one seems to want to shoot.
We are back to playing Laca as a #10
Cedric making aimless crosses. No physical person in the box.
Shit
I find Pepe doing better on the left.
I wonder if Runnarsson has ever played as striker before
That could be the substitution that unlocks this game
Another shit cross
All part of the Saucy Script.
Get out from the Cup,
Focus on the League,
Storm through the relegation battle and claim Midtable
The only way we’re going to score here is if we get a penalty or something.
The point of 2 keepers on the bench?
I would have given one of those spots to an U23 player…
Oh dear. Pepe
Ah well can’t win every year…
Still shocked at the line up tho.
Poor shooting technique Eddie
Oh see, the negativity brigade are out in full force 😃🤣
No divine right to win every year but not this sort of performance. Its almost a walk over
I must admit that agreed with the Arseblogger before the game, we need to rotate but when I saw the lineup I wasn’t in the mood to watch the game any more.. I’ve had it on but I am just sitting down now with 12 minutes to go and it has played out as one could expect with this starting lineup
Here we go
Terrible shot from Eddie anyway
Why can’t any of our players hit the ball properly….. Every pass is behind the player or too soft and out shooting is fucking atrocious……
Nketiah, Willian, Pepe are so poor.
Why did we take Gabi off. He might have sniffed a chance or two since we are creating a few with Laca , Partey and Saka on.
Soton look more hungry focussed and working as a team. Again no matter who you play there should be no excuse for this gulf of application and desire.
You can’t win football games with only one competent kid, we need to eeinvorce cm so badly
Neither Neketiah nor Pepe exhibit any degree of anticipation during the course of an attack.Their movement off the ball is almost non existent. Surely Arteta must realise that these players offer absolutely nothing to this team and the likes of Balogun must be worth a try in their stead.
This ref is so so poor.
We cant click without ESR. Totally dependent on him now.
Pepe suddenly looks bothered. Been shite for an hour then starts trying.
Need a pepe wonder strike
At least hit the target and test the keeper!
Alot of posters have gone awol, this Arteta Arsenal side isn’t worth the hassle. Don’t blame em.
And no
Captain Tierney I think you misspelled Manager
Bye FA cup.
Arteta out
I like Eddie an thought he could be the answer …
Not so sure …
Maybe we are selling the wrong kid
We have to take a loss on Pepe, just sell him in the summer.
We’ll be lucky to get 20 million for him. It will be a colossal loss but do it and move on.
Time for shane longs annual goal
But a terrible free kick from Pepe. One thing you must not do is blast it over.
We are again back to crosses from the sideline. Where is our CAM?
Thought we’ve played well second half
We can’t play our way through the middle of the pitch in tight spaces
No tricks, no skill
This goes all the way back to emery giving away all of our creative players.
We can only go wide or go back with ESR not playing.
What positives Arsenal produces in this game ?
As long as Arteta manages this Arsenal side and continues to pick his “Favourites” whilst being so devoid of tactical ideas then we as Arsenal supporters will continue to feel completely frustrated watching this largely turgid dross.
Captain TierneyJanuary 23, 2021 13:56:06
We cant click without ESR. Totally dependent on him now
Ct
Because we never replaced our creative players
Ceballos and Suarez 😂
I think most players know that pepe will cut in to his fav left foot now. They don’t mind giving him space to run down the wing.
That was a pen haha
Ralph Hasenhüttl was the braver manager and he deserves this victory
It’s all about momentum. He chose his best team to start.
They still have the advantage on Tuesday. That’s what happens when you strike the fist blow playing the same team back to back.
I really can’t understand the decision to push Saka to left back when we’re chasing the game.
Delicious from Saka.
How is Balogun (don’t care that he’s likely leaving or whatever) not replacing Nketiah? Balo can strike a ball and scored a hattrick yesterday. What a waste! Look at Nketiah fucking up chances in the box. Can’t hit the ball cleanly. Zero technique. We shouldn’t be enabling players that don’t have anything to offer on the pitch. Sell them, loan them whatever get them out of the first team. I’d rather watch younger talented under 23s play games like this than these marmite players stealing a living after getting way too many chances.
Team plays like relegation fodder when we take one of ESR, Saka, Laca and maybe Martin off.
Arteta subbed in Saka, then proceeded to nullify him by making him a full back.
Probably the best cross all game.
As I have consistently said Cedric and Willian should have never been signed.
2 minutes to rescue this!
That was it
Fuck it
I’m happy to go out of the cup if it means I never see Willian play for arsenal again
This game was lost when the team sheet was announced.
Dissenter it’s the difference between a real manager and an overpromoted number 2
Did you ever get the feeling that any one of them on the pitch truly wanted to win this match today?
How is that not a yellow.
This ref really doesn’t know what he’s doing
Wanker ref
Yellow card all day
Wanker
This cup made Arteta and he puts out this side today. We arent doing anything in the league.
Error after error from Arteta.
The ref is useless though. How the fuck isn’t that a card.
Nketiah strikes a back like a non league player.
Graham
Are you the lieutenant in the negativity brigade on legrove?
You need to love your club more, stay positive.
Well that was pants.
Last ditch not good enough.
Goodbye FA Cup.
See u in 2022….
Arteta got it all wrong today. Our second string just isn’t up to it. Willian proving to be the worst player in the league. Just massively disappointing performance. No defence for arteta or the players.
*ball
Put your best team out , win the game then take them off.
Simple.
Arteta out
Today’s loss is all down to Arteta
Taking off Martinelli instead of Nketiah sums up the manager. Clueless and unable to see even the most obvious things.
Arteta post match:
“We played very well, I think we were unlucky.”
Arsenal under Arteta has still not won a game when falling behind. The best was 1 draw, every other games has ended up in defeat.
With this final chance, Nketiah has had 3 chances in the opposition box today. Maybe 1 full chance and 2 half chances.
He hasn’t had a clean shot even once.
Really Really average player.
Well that was shite
I still can’t our chances Tuesday with Tierney, ESR and Benitez
No more Nketiah unless we are comfortably winning
He’s Aubameyang without the composure.
William won MfOTM by tens of miles…
I find Nketiah so annoying
Man… this is tragic at times.. 75 mill we paid for Pepe.. Willian for 3 more years. Things that will haunt us for years.
*sigh* We surrendered the Cup pretty easily.
7 changes. Arrogant from Arteta.
Generational managed to lose to Southampton for the first time in their history and stop being negative.
Eddie has 21 touches and pass completion of 107 %.
That’s the back door into Europe closed. Very dependent on ESR to get results now.
Hard to take that.
Wanted a cup run.
*sigh*
Whimper performance
Ni3 we have to face them again in 72 hours in the same stadium
Squad hull of mediocre players who want to take the money for no effort.
What excuse will Arteta have today?
Shit manager, addicted to shit players who have let us down time again
Nkethiah, William and Pepe means you don’t plan to win a game.
On to Europa and a top 10 finish.